Author: Yowie

Not the usual news, but a great piece of footage found by GAGR’s Tasmania-based northern hemisphere correspondent Keith Butler this morning. Heads we win… Bridgend full-back Howley’s unorthodox effort wins it at Swansea Embed from Getty Images The BBC [ https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/rugby-union/59453849 ] has a great 43 second video of Bridgend Ravens full-back Edd instinctive actions leading to the winning try in Welsh rugby’s Indigo Group Premiership Cup at Swansea. According to KARL it is legal. The visitors won 20-13 at St Helen’s.

Today’s rugby news sees James Slipper named Wallaby Captain, Angus Scott-Young’s NPC stint, Jaapie tears and Joe Biden celebrating with the Irish. Slipper named Wallaby Captain for Welsh Test GAGR’s Nathan Williamson has given the official go-ahead for James Slipper to Captain the Wallabies for the upcoming Wales test (3:30am Queensland/correct time Sunday morning). On Tuesday evening Rugby Australia confirmed that Slipper would step up in place of Michael Hooper, with the flanker ruled out with a foot injury. It will mark just the second time the 32-year-old will captain the side, handed the honour against the USA ahead of…

Today’s news (which an un-named Kiwi forgot to do) sees Covid hit the England camp, Men’s sevens fallout and Ellia Green retire from Sevens. It slightly bothers me that, apart from being three stories not four, this 30-minute fill-in effort seems to be virtually indistinguishable to the news items I spend 1-2 hours preparing… Positive Pom Embed from Getty Images According to the Guardian, England’s preparations for Saturday’s autumn international with Australia have been hit by after Joe “Irish horse” Marler was ruled out of facing the Wallabies because of Covid. Marler has been forced into isolation after contracting the…

Today’s news sees the Reds run through the jungle, “World 12s” rugby tournament no fortunate son, Beale denies sinister purpose and the night time is the right time for telling jokes according to James Haskell. Reds camp it up With the Wallaby contingent in the UK, the rest of the Reds Super Rugby AU-champion squad have gone through an intense three-day camp at the notorious Kokoda Army Barracks training facility at Canungra according to Ex-P.F.C Williamson. The site has become a favourite of coach Brad Thorn, adopting a similar approach in 2018 ahead of his rookie season, the three-year break…

Jagged Little Will France-based stars Will Skelton, Rory Arnold and Tolu Latu have previously been confirmed in the Wallabies Spring Tour squad. Now Channel 9 have written a piece on the redemption arc of Will Skelton. In 18 Test matches for Australia between 2014 and 2016 Skelton was 2.07m and 148kg and one of the biggest bodies in professional rugby. However, the giant lock copped criticism for his fitness and work ethic. Skelton moved to Saracens in London in 2017. “He came in initially for a bit of injury cover,” says Kevin Sorrell, a veteran of 195 games for Saracens…

With Hoss presently on the run from the ICAC corruption probe it fell on the rest of the GAGR News Team to draw straws to do today’s news. Counselling is available to assist the disappointed – not to be confused with Hoss’ current nemesis – Counsel Assisting the Commission. McKellar explains tour squad omissions Nine reports that Wallabies assistant coach Dan McKellar has elaborated on the reasons for omitting Noah Lolesio and Harry Wilson from the Spring Tour. Head coach Dave Rennie has asked five-eighth Lolesio to put on some muscle in the off-season in a bid to improve his…

Wednesday’s rugby news sees the proposed new centralised model for Australian Rugby, New Zealand confirmed to be number twos, the Tahs recruiting from Manly and To’omua to miss the spring tour due to concussion. Straight from Central Casting As reported in the comments* earlier this week, Fox Sports reports that Rugby Australia is on the cusp of moving to a more centralised model, following the lead of the Oirish and the Hobbit Kingdom. (*we’ll report the news thank-you-very-much) Rugby Australia will be involved in all the appointments of head coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, player signings as well as have…

Len Ikitau re-signs until 2023 22-year-old centre and Brisbane boy Len Ikitau has been quickly locked into a contract extension by the Brumbies and Rugby Australia until the 2023 Rugby World Cup after his two-try rampage against then World No 1 South Africa last Saturday. Nathan “True Blue” Williamson reports that Ikitau was quick to deflect praise when speaking to media on Tuesday. “I scored two tries but they were team tries, I guess I was just there in the right place,” Ikitau said on Tuesday. “I feel like I’m trying to get better each week and improve my game.…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees Cooper and Rodda return from the wilderness, the Welsh study into rugby brain injury, the Seppos learning rugby via reality television and Rassie not touring to Australia. Cooper & Rodda dare to dream GAGR’s own Nathan “True Blue” Williamson reports that Queensland refugees Quade Cooper and Izack Rodda could play on Sunday in the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth, after centre Hunter Paisami and second-rower Lukhan Salakaia-Loto both left camp to be with their expecting partners. 70-Test Cooper has not played for Australia in four years and will soon depart for another season in Japan.…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees the Argies shift the Wallabies to 7th in the world, Referee treatment chat, Tim Walsh sticking up for the Sevens program, former Wallaroos coach Dwayne Nestor’s response and some recruitment gap-filler. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 130 – The Old Familiar Sting [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies slip to 7th in meaningless arbitrary rankings Australia have slipped below Argentina in World Rugby’s global rankings (shut up rankings you’re not my real dad!) following nothing in particular on the last two Saturday nights. Rugbypass reports that this is the joint lowest position the Wallabies have occupied since…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees Kerevi (potentially) back in gold, the deep insights of Aaron Smith, Sydney making history and Olympic Sevens fallout. [one_half last=”no”] Samu Kerevi in squad for Perth Bledisloe Channel Nine reports that wrecking ball centre Samu Kerevi will return to the Test squad for the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth on August 28. Kerevi has not played for the Wallabies since the 2019 Rugby World Cup after taking up a contract in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath. But the 27-year-old is in Sydney in hotel quarantine after representing Australia in sevens at the Tokyo Olympics. “The big thinking for us around…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees Bledisloe anticipation, Giteau, Ashley-Cooper & Darren Coleman clean-up for Los Angeles, the Lions Series race to the bottom and Shannon Frizell controversy. Green And Gold Rugby · The Dropped Kick-Off 25 – Knee’den Park [one_half last=”no”] Bledisloe 1 GAGR’s own Nathan Williamson reports that Matt To’omua has enjoyed the change in positions and responsibility as he allows Lolesio to take control of the side in James O’Connor’s (groin) absence. “It’s been good playing for Noah,” To’omua said on Tuesday. “We’ve seen him develop across those three Tests and I think he did really well to close out…

Thursday’s Rugby News sees the Bledisloe back on, a men’s Sevens wrap-up, Rassie Erasmus’ multiple Twitter personalities and the on going Super Rugby format arm-wrestle. Green And Gold Rugby · The Dropped Kick-Off 24 – Paying The Rent [one_half last=”no”] Bledisloe back on New Zealand closed the quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia last week, despite NSW’s gold standard contact tracing. However New Zealand Sports Minister Grant Robertson said the Wallabies had been granted entry under a clause allowing exemptions for events that have a “sugnuficant economuc umpect” according to Rugby.com.au. “This is important economically,” Robertson said, putting a…

Thursday’s Rugby News sees Jesse Mogg back in Canberra, Tah signings, the Lions Tour limping along, TJ Perenara back in black and no main image due to technical gremlins. [one_half last=”no”] Jesse Mogg returns to Brumbies Embed from Getty ImagesBrumby & Wallaby fullback and Brisbane boy Jesse Mogg has returned to the Brumbies for the next two seasons after six years playing in France according to the Brumbies website. The 32-year-old made 60 appearances for the Brumbies from 2012 to 2015 and made his Wallabies debut against the British and Irish Lions in 2013. Mogg spent three years at French club Montpellier, winning…

Wednesday’s rugby news see’s the ABs devolve towards League, Olympic Sevens selections, Reds talent retention and a grab-bag of other news items. [one_half last=”no”] ABs train with 14, Nic White available Rugby.com.au report that New Zealand have been training to play with 14 men ahead of Tests against Australia to prepare for the loss of red-carded players. The All Blacks lost 24-22 in Brisbane last year when both sides received a red card, and were also defeated by the Wallabies in Perth in 2019 when lock Scott Barrett was sent-off for a high tackle during the 47-26 clash. NZ coach Ian Foster…

Wednesday’s Rugby News, compiled by a bloody champion three beers and one whiskey in on the night of a Wallabies test, sees the soufflé rise, Lions tour dramas, the Reds firm-up their 2022 squad and Quade Cooper’s passport problems. [one_half last=”no”] Pressure on non-Queensland stadia to justify hosting rugby tests Barely more 20,000 fans at AAMI Park (Melbourne) last night witnessed the French win 28-26  as another chapter in the ground’s reputation as a graveyard for the Wallabies. Australia has lost the three inbound Tests played there against Tier One nations (England, Ireland and France) since 2016. Newcastle also has much for which to…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees anticipation of the French test series reach fever pitch, John Kirwan’s Pacific solution, Wallaroos PONI list announced and Coleman’s plan to turn the Tahs around quickly. [one_half last=”no”] Aust v France – 1st test tonight! The so-called second-string French side have come out of  stifling quarantine conditions and are anticipated to playing without fear off the back of low expectations. But according to Kurtley Beale “It’s an exciting bunch. They always play an unpredictable style that if you are lazy, not focused or not switched on they will pounce and create opportunities that leave you 15-20 points behind,” “You can’t blink an eye against…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees Haylett-Petty’s new direction, non-whinging Poms, American Rugby keen to hose a World Cup and “thank you linesmen” getting a rest after a recent event. [one_half last=”no”] Haylett-Petty looks to Japan Wallaby, Force player and  Rebel  Dane Haylett-Petty, 31, is off-contract with the Rebels at the end of the season and is poised to reignite his career in Perth club rugby before taking up a new contract in Japan, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Concussion has caused Haylett-Petty to not play a professional game for more than seven months since a Bledisloe Cup match on 31 October 2020 in Sydney. DHP is…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees Dan McKellar appointed Wallabies forwards coach, the surprising effects of throwing petrol on a fire, the official Super W season launch and some soap-dodger push & shove. [one_half last=”no”] Rennie signs McKellar Snow Mexicans’ coach Dan McKellar has been appointed Wallabies forwards coach, commencing at the end of the Trans-Tasman season. The Sydney Morning Herald notes that McKellar was set to join Wallabies coach Dave Rennie’s staff in 2020, but opted to stay at the Brumbies when his assistant, Peter Hewat, left to take a job in Japan’s Top League. Geoff Parling (Rebels assistant coach) was rushed into…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees justice for high-shot merchants, reports on the latest ball technology, reports on Brumbies musical chairs and some special moments for the Reds this Friday bring a tear to the eye. [one_half last=”no”] McKenzie’s trans-tasman series over Embed from Getty Images GAGR alumni Nathan Williamson reports that Damian McKenzie’s red card has turned into a three-week suspension. Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Adam Casselden: “With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul…