Author: Yowie

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees law changes, soft treatment for star players, NZ captaincy speculation and South America seen as the solution for both the injury-ravaged Tahs and certain types after VE Day 1945. Makes you think, doesn’t it.World Rugby law changes for faster game stir conspiracy theoriesThe SMH reports that a range of fan friendly law changes, trials and studies were approved by the World Rugby executive this week. Following Super Rugby’s lead to eradicate kick-tennis, the Dupont law offside loophole has been shut, and the dangerous crocodile roll clean out has also been banned.The most significant law change was…

Today’s rugby news has late big hits, Wallaroos named, RA finances, possible career moves and pain in Spain. Samipeni Finau – any later and he’d be pregnantAs noted by Brisney Spears on Monday, on the weekend Tahs fly-half Tane Edmed was flattened by Chiefs flanker Samipeni Finau, continuing the latter’s run of borderline tackles on players just after they have passed the ball.Nine reports that Stephen Hoiles has eased back from his initial criticism. “I’m now sitting on the fence of, yeah, he got it right, but certainly he’ll get it wrong at some stage,” said Hoiles.Morgan Turinui said “I’m…

Today’s rugby news sees Ian Foster head off to Toyota Verblitz, experimentation for the women’s game, a Jordie Barrett Irish sabbatical, Jake White shows his class and create some *ahem* contrast, and David Pocock has come here to chew bubblegum and kick arse, and is all out of bubblegum.Former NZ coach Ian Foster to be big in JapanStuff reports that Ian Foster will take charge at Japanese club side Toyota Verblitz later this year in preparation for the 2024/2025 season.Foster, who will replace former Highlanders and Hurricanes flanker Ben Herring, already has a high profile recruit on his books with gaol…

Hoss had to hand over the Friday’s Rugby News keys due to a medical emergency. Not to worry. At the time of writing, Hoss is lying on his belly in the recovery ward, texting me his game tips after a successful extraction.Let this be a warning for any of us tempted to change a bathroom light bulb by standing on a rickety chair while kitchen condiment bottles are on the floor. I hope the experience hasn’t permanently put you off Worcestershire sauce, mate.Weekend GamesSee all team news in Happy’s Thursday News.Women – Friday 12 April 5:05 pm AEST – NSW…

No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that two stood against many. That’s what’s important. Valour pleases you, Cron… so grant me one request. Grant me revenge. And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you!Wallabies go for Mike Cron level scrum precision The Wallabies coaching team will be increased by one Mike Cron (0.001 millimetres), the former All Blacks assistant coach and renowned “scrum doctor”.The Guardian reports that the New Zealander helped prepare the All Blacks pack for more…

Wednesday’s rugby news sees Joe Schmidt give away some selection clues (maybe), more Rebels drama, the judiciary resembling Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Total Recall woman disguise (“Two weeks”) for Owen Franks, and Stephen Hoiles getting excited early for the Reds. Schmidt, talking about selections Nine reports that newly-appointed Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt is prioritising Super Rugby Pacific players over Aussies playing overseas, despite Schmidt’s carefully-worded answer not giving much away. Speaking at the announcement of tickets going on sale for the British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia, Schmidt said his priority was on local players. However, that came…

After a cracking Super Round and before we get stuck into round 3 predictions, it’s time to deal with the weeds the easy way and not be a sook about carcinogens. Rebels give RA 5:00pm Wednesday deadline……and also require wheelbarrows in which to carry their enormous testicles.The SMH reports that the board of the Melbourne Rebels has set a deadline of 5:00pm Wednesday 6 March for Rugby Australia to express its willingness to meet to resolve financial differences and the future of the besieged rugby club. The Rebels board informed RA of the proposed course of action in a 10-page…

….pation. Super Rugby 2024 kicks off this Friday with relative unknowns, the Chiefs and Crusaders, starting the build-up to Saturday night’s epic collision between the dastardly Waratahs and the heroic Reds. Until then, we’ll just have to put up with Wednesday’s Rugby News. Kiss to unleash Harry Wilson RugbyPass and AAP report that coach Les Kiss has given his Queensland Reds permission to push their limits in a move he thinks will set Harry Wilson free again.No.8 Wilson was a walk-up Wallabies pick in his first season of Super Rugby in 2020, playing 10 of 11 Tests before quickly falling…

…of a CadillacNumber one with a bullet, I’m a power packMy bail conditions backing-off to allow use of the internet couldn’t have come at a better time for the first Wednesday’s Rugby News of 2024:Jed Holloway opens up about Eddie Jones’ WallabiesRugbyPass reports on Jed Holloway’s thoughts on the Eddie Jones stint. Holloway was a Wallabies regular under former coach Dave Rennie. The New South Welshman (but good bloke, notwithstanding) debuted against the Pumas in 2022 and started at either blindside flanker or lock in all but one of the remaining 10 Tests that year. Holloway, now 31, played at…

The Australian women have won the Dubai Sevens for the fourth time at that tournament venue, ending New Zealand’s world-record 41-match unbeaten streak.Despite the Aussies chalking-up 21 wins in a row prior to kick-off, New Zealand went into the final as favourites, having won four out of five of the previous encounters between the two teams.New Zealand kicked-off to the Australians, which turned out to be a mistake thanks to Bienne Teria stepping New Zealand’s Tenika Willison and scoring within 20 seconds. Check it out early in the highlights video:(the full game on Stan is well worth a watch too)With 4:30…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees the latest on national alignment, the NRL preparing their chequebook and lasso, New Zealand moving on from the RWC final just fine, and the Australian preliminary Under 20s squad named. Waratahs welcome new insect overlordsThe Guardian reports that New South Wales has become the first state member union to formally commit to Rugby Australia’s plan to align the sport across the country.The agreement to centralise means the operations of the Waratahs’ professional entities will be passed on to RA from 1 January 2024. RA will take over the Waratahs’ high performance operations, assets, liabilities, and commercial…

No, it’s not Hoss today. You’ll cope. The big man’s had a tough time this week, as he explained to this writer over the phone: “I was minding my own business in the garage putting a ‘Magic Happens’ sticker on the back window of my Kia Niro when I saw a scary spider. Mrs Hoss heard my cry for help and took the spider away with a glass and a postcard, but I was still so distressed I couldn’t make it to the Hunter Valley Friends of Friends Association memorial for Chandler. I can’t do any rugby news this week…

Today’s rugby news sees the Wallaroos as favourites (over-dogs?) against Welsh, speculation on the next Wallaby coach, World Cup referee abuse and pure class from South Africa.Wallaroos take favourites tag ahead of Wales clashLachlan Grey at Pravda reports that, after last week’s 29-20 win over France, the Wallaroos are favourites in the game against Wales this Friday 3 November at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium (5pm AEDT – available on Stan).Conversely, Wales are yet to win at WXV1 after heavy defeats to Canada (42-22) and New Zealand (70-7).Wallaroos centre Georgina Friedrichs – who impressed against France and started last year’s RWC…

The much-maligned bronze playoff served up a more entertaining spectacle than the England-South Africa semi-final (which, admittedly, isn’t saying much).The MatchEngland kick off. At 1:22 Argentina are isolated at the breakdown and Tom Curry secured a turnover after a tough week in the spotlight. Farrell kicks 3 points. At 7 minutes, just outside the Argentina 22 metre line, Farrell passes to Marcus Smith, to Ben Earl for a great try to England. Farrell converts. Score 0:10 to the Soap-Dodgers.After a kicking duel Argentina run the ball out of their 22 eventually. At 11:30 Nic Berry gives an England penalty. Farrell…

Like Subarus built after 2021, this Wednesday’s Rugby News is an EJ-free zone. We check in on the Springboks, Cheika pointing the “stubborn” stick, Wallaroos prep against England and wag the finger in Grub Watch. Rassie talks green stuffThe Guardian reports on the remarkable number of HIA-related substitutions in the second half of Monday morning’s victory over the goose-botherers.South Africa’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, says he and his coaching team called for multiple head injury assessments during the second half of Sunday’s quarter-final triumph against France because “there is life after rugby” and they’re serious about prioritising the safety…

Today’s news sees commentary on Tier Two challenges, Marika Koroibete hanging up the rocket boots, Fiji’s Josua Tuisova playing under the weight of terrible news and an “own goal” in Scottish club rugby. Smaller rugby nations doing it tougher at World CupFormer USA player Will Hooley writes about the deck stacked against second-tier teams in this column for the Guardian. Edited extract below:While most of the attention is focused on who will make it through to the knockout stages in France, some smaller nations still have their eyes set on a golden ticket of their own: automatic qualification for 2027…

The Match8:08 Scotland 12 (Cameron Redpath) shoots out of the line and sheds a defender. Scotland 7 (Hamish Webster) scores near the corner to open the bar tab for the Jocks. Conversion successful. Score 7:nil.15:50 Scotland maul. 14 (Darcy Graham with the platinum blonde haircut) passes to 9 (Ali Price) for a try near the posts. Score 14:nil.19:45 Scotland with possession & under advantage. 14 (Darcy Graham) cuts through the middle and scores near the posts. G&GR game notes say “Man of the Match?”. We called it early and correctly. Easy conversion successful 14 Score 21:nil. This is going to…

The MatchFirst HalfGeorgia came into this match as formidable veterans with a brutal scrum. Portugal had never won a Rugby World Cup game or beaten Georgia.At 1:12 Georgian winger Akaki Tabutsadze opens the scoring with a cracking TRY off the back of some keep-the-ball-alive play. ჩვენ აქ არ ვართ ობობებთან სექსით is Georgian for “We’re not here to f*ck spiders”Successful conversion by Tedo Abzhandadze. 7-0 to Georgia.Frustrating scrum-half behaviour defies national and language boundaries at 6:30 when Georgian No. 9 Gela Aprasidze causes a push and shove session (and a penalty against Georgia) by deliberately preventing Portugal from playing-on quickly.…

Wednesday’s rugby news has an explanation for all the away strips, the Wallaroos squad announcement, opinions on more World Cup teams and Joe Marler in peak media form. Funky ‘away’ jerseys aid colourblind fansThe ABC reports on the reasoning behind “away” kits prevailing even when there is no clear colour clash. World Rugby says an estimated 300 million people live with some form of colour vision deficiency (CVD), which means they are unable to see or differentiate certain colour combinations — including World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.September 2021, World Rugby published its Colour Blindness in Rugby guidelines, which included…

They say you have two writing stints with Green & Gold Rugby. Once on the way up and…um. Anyway it’s good to be back. All Blacks “weakest in history” according to former French internationalRugbypass reports the hard-hitting fact that the 2023 All Blacks are the “weakest in history”, at least according to former French international Olivier Magne ahead of the Kiwi v Frog Rugby World Cup opener in Paris on Friday night (05:15 AEST Saturday 9 Sept).Magne, who was a part of the famous 1999 side that upset New Zealand in the semi-final (and presumably was no stranger to a bit of…