Author: Yowie

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…

Today’s rugby news the stuff indicated above and detailed below. Also, Karl will have no choice but to agree that today’s edition is literally the ultimate RDU Wednesday news. World Cup squads and viewing times/channelsNathan Williamson has published the full lists of World Cup team squads. See the link. It’s too long to paste here and we don’t want to set off an international diplomatic incident by leaving out the teams we don’t care about. We can do without their famous South American fiery temperaments. Rugby World Cup 2023 will be hosted on Stan Sport and the Channel 9 network.All…

Wednesday’s news has a Wallabies injury update, a return to the finest traditions of South African rugby, Drua players make up 54.5454 (recurring) percent of Fiji World Cup squad and this week’s episode of UK Soccer Grub Watch. “I’ve had worse” – Kerevi to start World Cup despite probable broken handThe SMH reports that the Wallabies are confident centre Samu Kerevi will be available for the opening Rugby World Cup clash next month despite picking up a probable broken hand in the final stages of the Wallabies’ near-win in Dunedin.Kerevi left the field in the 74th minute after catching his…

Today’s news sees pre-World Cup experiments, a later draw for 2027, Eddie Jones raiding more overseas players, Welsh training horror stories and three-wheeled hijinks. World Cup warmup to try shot clock & ‘bunker (& 2027 draw to be later)The BBC reports that the “World Cup warm up” Summer Nations Series (29 July-27 August with Australia, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Romania, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa and Wales) will trial a shot clock (90 seconds for a conversion, 60 seconds for a penalty kick), a “bunker” review system for upgrading yellow cards to red and Hawk-Eye technology to “act…

On this significant July the 19th, Rugby Sevens has a shake-up, Stan to gather crucial evidence for upcoming Royal Commission, Airline frustrations for Wallaroos and spare Aussies available to French clubs & Barbarians during World Cup. New global Sevens series includes Perth leg (26-28 Jan 2024)Perth might sound “like somebody being sick” but RugbyPass reports that the new “HSBC SVNS” series will include a Perth stint. The festivals will feature the world’s best men’s and women’s sevens athletes, offering a global stage for 12 teams at each location. The event dates and venues are set, starting in Dubai in December…

Wednesday’s rugby news sees the Springboks split their squad for the early Rugby Championship games, England coach Steve Borthwick rejects Eddy-era mind games, former Scotland international and Ireland U-20 assistant coach Greig Oliver dies following South Africa paragliding incident on Monday, and National Rugby Training Centre opens at Ballymore.Springboks split squad for first two Rugby Championship gamesRugbyPass reports that the Catholics are to employ a split squad tactic this year and will send a number of first-team players to New Zealand this week to acclimatise ahead of their second Rugby Championship fixture against the Southern Hemisphere Canadians in Auckland on July 15.It…

Todays rugby news sees discipline loom as the All Blacks’ Achilles Heel, a good time to own two televisions for 7:00pm Thursday night (Wallaroos v NZ and Jnr Wallabies v Ireland) and referee Ben O’Keeffe discusses Super Final perfomance.NZ players growing accustomed to lenient treatment?This item by Gregor Paul at RugbyPass questions whether officials running New Zealand games are going easy, and whether this is setting up the All Blacks for a World Cup shock.The Super Rugby Pacific final had an obvious moment that would likely have been treated more harshly had it happened anywhere else in the world.The incident…

Today’s rugby news sees the Wallabies training well, Australia A to take on Tonga on 14 July, a deaf Rugby World Cup wrap-up and NZ playing the underdog violin in a confusing mixed metaphor.Wallabies train wellThe SMH reports that the Wallabies have used Coogee Beach for one of their first big training sessions.An oversize Wallabies squad is camped in Eddie Jones’ beloved beachside suburb this week, ahead of a final 33-man squad being named on Sunday for the Rugby Championship. Taking a week’s break after their seasons ended at the weekend, Brumbies players – and France-based locks Will Skelton and Richie…

….or “D-day plus one” 79 years ago, a crucial period of World War II, sees ex-Tahs coach Rob Penney take up the Crusaders coaching gig, Christian Lealiifano looking to represent Samoa at RWC2023, US Major League Rugby players turn into a bunch of commies, and stabbing is ‘unacceptable’ at South African club matches. Rob Penney to replace Robinson at CrusadersFormer Waratahs coach Rob e (above, looking surprised at the news) has been named as the successor to Scott “Shaver” Robinson at the Crusaders according to Pravda. His appointment completes one of the great coaching comebacks.Penney was shown the door at…

Today’s Rugby News has Hooper considering his post-Super options, Cron encouraging Folau Fainga’a to ease back on the BS, Aaron Mauger to step down from coaching Moana Pasifika and NZ Sevens players accused of “gamesmanship”.Hooper to play last Super game in Sydney next weekThe SMH reports that 31 year old Michael Hooper is nearing the end of a five year contract and has informed NSW Rugby he will not be continuing in Super Rugby. That means the Waratahs’ tight clash with Moana Pasifika on Saturday week at Allianz Stadium is almost certainly Hooper’s last game at home.The sixth-placed Tahs are…

Today’s rugby news has Brumby movement at the station, Eddie Jones booking a psychologist, wowdy webel Josh Kemeny suspended for three weeks and the latest episode of Cooper Watch. Nic White and Pete Samu to leave BrumbiesThe Western Force have confirmed the signing of Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White for 2024, while Pete Samu has signed a two year deal with French powerhouse Bordeaux from 2024, according to Pravda and Rugbypass and “Parkour*” Nathan Williamson.[*Range Rover thanks mate]White’s two-year deal will keep him in Australian Rugby until after the British and Irish Lions tour in 2025.”I couldn’t be happier to be…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees Koroibete announced (!) as 2022 John Eales Medallist, One Hot Minute by Red Hot Quadie Cooper, Dave Rennie knocks back a Blues gig, Super W Fijiana Drua nearly go hungry and Yank & South African coaches cover themselves in glory in the MLR. Breaking news! Koroibete announced as 2022 John Eales Medallist (and Australia wins 1983 America’s Cup!)As the finale to the newish “drip feed the year after” [system/excitement factory] of Australian rugby awards, Marika Koroibete has been announced as the winner of his second John Eales Medal, becoming the sixth Wallaby to win the award on…

Today’s rugby news has Reds lock Angus Blyth cop a three match ban, Waratah playmaker Will Harrison out for the season after re-injuring his knee, racism “rife” in English rugby and Nigel Owens knocking back a Springboks coaching role to start a family. Blyth out for three games for high shot on Corey TooleRugbypass reports that Queensland Reds lock Angus Blyth will miss three Super Rugby Pacific games for his late, high shot on Corey Toole that left the Brumbies winger bloodied and concussed.testBlyth launched himself at Toole with a ducked head, collecting the winger on the chin in the…

In this loig-free Wednesday’s Rugby News, possible Super-style card treatment at World Cup (and Stuart Hogg retirement), ABs lament lack of ideas, Brad Thorn chatter and Deaf Rugby Sevens. Super(ish) card treatment at 2023 World Cup?Nine reports that the Super Rugby yellow/red card system is being seriously investigated ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.This year, Super Rugby Pacific organisers introduced a new procedure whereby television match officials review yellow card infringements and determine whether it warrants an upgrade to a red card with very little loss of game time.However, there would be a distinct difference between the…