Bruce Ross
Ken Catchpole (46)
I agree with you, Scotty, that there now seems to be a greater emphasis on muscular Christianity, i.e., aggression and grunt, in our team selection. We certainly need it given the task at hand.
Arguably, we've spent a decade trying to find someone with as much mongrel and grunt as Owen Finegan.
And finally, most learned of rugby bloggers, can anyone out there tell me if there is going to be TV coverage of the Canada v Australia A game ?? thanks
I still don't think anyone has reached the level of mongrelness that Finegan had.
Maybe we just need to get The Rock to say Duck a l'orange 10 times really fast before running onto the field.
I read this morning in the Courier Mail that the IRB have issued an edict to the referees to start policing the "grapple cleanout" and "cleaning out past the ball". Can any ref out there confirm?? It staggers me that they wait until the very eve of the world cup to start tinkering with the interpretations. There is one team that will be disadvantaged more than most if the refs execute the second part of this directive ( hint :and it is not the wallabies) Also what is Wayne Barnes likely to bring to the contest on Saturday. Has he been in good form etc .. does anyone know ??. And finally, most learned of rugby bloggers, can anyone out there tell me if there is going to be TV coverage of the Canada v Australia A game ?? thanks
You can watch it on Foxsports website from 7:30 im pretty sure.
And finally, most learned of rugby bloggers, can anyone out there tell me if there is going to be TV coverage of the Canada v Australia A game ?? thanks
kick & chase, defensively sound back three with no real game breakers who can beat their man one on one with pace or footwork. The midfield is the most capped combination in the game and the front five is experienced and disciplined while their back row a no-nonsense smart, physical mobile group.
This NZ team will not be out-worked or managed easily out of a game. There are no “flighty” players here. They all show up for work each and every game. From an Aussie point of view, it’s disappointing that they are not persevering with Ali Williams, a player who is living off rep and is only there to manage the lineout late in a tight game.
Expect to see a WC squad have Cowan start, Weepu off the bench (he can’t last the 80), Ben Franks replace the pretty poor Afoa. Vito gives more ball carrying and speed off the bench but has he ever performed well at Test level.
SBW is expendable in this lower risk NZ squad.
It staggers me that they wait until the very eve of the world cup to start tinkering with the interpretations.
I still don't think anyone has reached the level of mongrelness that Finegan had.
Maybe we just need to get The Rock to say Duck a l'orange 10 times really fast before running onto the field.