Search results

Indeed. Both the Tahs and Highlanders play high-risk rugby and choose to accept the error rate that brings with it.

It's worth pointing out that Beale is very likeable as an individual. That's pretty much a universal opinion amongst players and others who know him personally (with the obvious exception of the obvious exceptions). It's the public perception of his personality that is in the doghouse, because...

Indeed. Beale wouldn't defend at the back in a Beale, Tomane, Folau setup. Instead, Beale and Folau would share the fullback role with Folau in position to dissaude midfield bombs as currently. Beale could then share the playmaking role in attack with whoever plays 10, giving us three...

I deliberately left out Kefu and Ofahengaue, wamberal. They're very good examples of players who more than held their own against equally excellent All Black opponents. Sometimes they produced skittling runs (as indeed did David Lyons from time to time) but not as often as they do in the sunlit...

Which recent Wallaby has regularly had an 'impact' against the Boks and ABs? Perhaps only Pocock, Larkham, Gregan, Mortlock and Smith. Campese and Horan going back a bit. If the role of our 8 man is to skittle those sides like ten-pins, then we've never had one. It's a romantic re-invention of...

This 'baby' talk is frankly bizarre. Who names their junior rugby teams 'babies'? New Zealand and South Africa. A psychologist would have a field day with that.

And you were right. Vaea could well be a great Wallaby. He may never lose the flab though.

He did play wider at the Reds, but that's because the Reds played a wider game, and Higgers' role was to run in those channels in order to increase the width of the backrow umbrella, and thus enable the wide game to be played.

I hope you named them Smith and Waugh!

Jake White never played anyone as a 7. As the man himself once said, "the only fetcher I need is my son when I ask him to fetch me a beer from the fridge".

I think that's a bit of a hairy chestnut. The ARU changed their eligibility rules to increase the availability of overseas players in the face of a long-term, almost-existential threat to Australian rugby, which is the financial advantage that Northern Hemisphere clubs have in the open market...

Picking up the ball while retreating at high speed is a very important skill in Wallaby rugby.

I'll take you then Brumbieman. You can be my wingman and get all the supermodels.

Is that the hint of a New Zealand accent there? o_O

Regardless of how much promise Godwin is (or was) considered to have, he's shown absolutely nothing this year to warant consideration for higher selection. The ball's in his court, not his coach's. Foley hasn't coached him not to try to beat a man occasionally. Godwin shows about as much...

Unlike in civilians, for whom fatness is a proxy for lack of exercise, in athletes fitness and fatness are largely (sic) unrelated quantities. Fat may affect mobility, but it says nothing at all about either aerobic capacity or strength. Plenty of extremely fit-looking people wouldn't survive a...

Good point. Vaea and Timpani are two of the very few players we have who can play the Potgeiter role in a Cheika Wallabies. Wouldn't it be good if Higginbotham could be taught to rampage?

PAE has unlimited potential, and is about to get schooled (in both senses of the word) in Europe for a year or three. It's a very wise investment to cap him.

I doubt you'll find many indignant Tahs fans if Hooper goes to the bench as part of the gameplan. Franchisitis is a disease that only affects some rugby supporters.

Hooper's tackle stats and workrate aren't those of a seagull, let alone the "king of seagulls". The fact that he runs in the ten channel on attack is irrelevant: that's where he's the most effective. Kieran Reid runs in the 13 channel and no one would accuse him of being a seagull.