Greetings from the invigorating and soul cleansing air of the Blue Mountains. Home to artisans, writers of skill, insight, wisdom and me for a few days as well. Today we are bulging with Rugby News, so let’s hook in.
Let’s cast off the yolk of despair from last weeks shite-show in Saffaville and instead look for signs of life with ‘Mr Jones & Me’. Preview this weekends test against the Argies in ‘No Prize for you Argentina!‘ . Cast our eyes east, across the dutch and the upcoming NZ v SA match with ‘When Two Tribes’. Look at our Wallaroos chances with ‘Plucka Duck Returns.’ And wrap it all up with ‘Friday’s Goss with Hoss‘, currently on the ‘banned reading’ list in NZ schools.
Mr Jones & Me.
This week we witness, at close quarters, a contest between two former Randwick team mates, one a former & now resurrected current Wallaby coach, the other himself a former Wallaby coach who still harbors Wallaby coaching resurrection in his future (‘bloody Raelene’), going head-to-head. Throw in a dash of pantomime villainy, one or two gentle barbs and it’s almost enough to make you forget that both of these guys teams blew chunks last week. Almost.
I had occasion to share a drink or three with Nutta over a steak this week & we both agree that trying to delve into the mind of one E.Jones for us rugby fans was a pointless exercise. Was the team he picked for the Saffa’s test a chance to either rule some in or rule some out? Was it the ‘litmus test’ for those players he himself was maybe unsure of? Was it a ‘it’ll do’ side while others recovered from injury or rediscovered form via the training paddock or Aussie A side? Whatever his reasons, the performance rolled out in Pretoria was abysmal. The game plan seem confused & incoherent, at least his players interpretation of it seemed so and what unfolded was the second biggest loss on Saffa soil by a Wallabies side ever. Let than hang on the air for a minute: second worse ever.
Meanwhile in South America somewhere, the FISM’s were similarly fed their backsides by a clunical NZ side who scored early & often and perhaps switched off a fraction in the second half, with the game well & truly already settled.
So to Saturday and what might lay ahead.
Our coach ‘Brian’ (‘I am not the messiah’) is perhaps under the more immediate pressure of the two. Since returning to the golden shores of Oz he has ‘talked the talk’. Ambitious, aggressive, inspirational and confident. Frankly, all the things us long suffering Oz fans wanted him, nay needed him to say, but much more than that, need him to actually deliver on.
I for one did not & do not expect said ‘talk’ to mean 2023 RC triumph and lifting the trophy. But I do expect it to mean coherence & clarity around game plan & selection. Neither of which we saw in SA. If Super Rugby form was truly the lead indicator for making the squad, on what basis was Vunivalu, Hodge & wait for it, Michael Hooper selected? Where they consistently the best in their respective positions during the SR season? Hardly. So is it any surprise that those players not at the pinnacle of Oz SRP form getting selected and our national team getting absolutely flogged in the process?
With only the three RC tests & one ‘warm up’ remaining to forge our side, his side, we face the very real prospect of hitting the RWC at one from five (with a loss to The Catholics, likely twin losses to The Darkness & based on rankings, also a loss to the Frogs in the Frogville ‘warm up’). Hardly the type of form to fill you with any expectations of getting through a RWC QF, regardless of our ‘pool’.
So for mine, it will be the performance that matters this weekend, more than the results. It will be the players coherence & clarity around the game plan. It will be the use of the bench, the players commitment and understanding of their individual roles as part of the overall collective. Sure the result must follow, but first comes concise execution and then comes results.
Brian often speaks of ‘respect’ for the Wallabies from the Aussie public. Well coach, respect must be earned & you & yours have another chance this Saturday evening in Parramatta to earn said ‘respect’. For me, anything other than what I’ve outlined above, will mean that August & everything after will be a complete waste of time.
No prize for you Argentina.
So, to this weekends match. Teams, times & coverage details courtesy of possibly the greatest rugby writer in Australian history, certainly the most handsome, best cook and most interesting person at Rugby Australia, including senior executives ( I believe this meets our agreed ‘cease & desist’ Natho?), Mr Nathan Williamson. Take it away NW:
Australia v Argentina, CommBank Stadium, Sydney. Sat, 15 Jul 7:00pm Kick off 7:45pm AEST on STAN, 9 & GEM
There’s certainly a better ‘look’ to the Wallabies side this week, compared to that trotted out like lambs to the Pretorian slaughter last week anyway. Still a few players I would consider ‘lucky’ to be in the XXIII. Uelese and his throwing, as I believe Ally Oz may have once termed, couldn’t hit the side of a barn from inside the barn. Tom Wright was poor last round, but was largely consistent across the SR season. However with The Ginger Ninja recovering from injury Wright too will be looking a little anxiously over his shoulder.
Angus ‘The Bull’ Bell returns via the bench and one hopes his toe injury is a thing of the past. Not only is he (& Tupou) rather handy at scrum time, but also a point of difference in our go forward, combined with good hands at the contact line. Elsa Frost is a tad unlucky, but I read that more so that Elsa is secured for France and instead Brian gets a look at Skelton, Arnold & Phillips. And with Neville & Uru getting a run in the ‘A’s’ all three must stake a claim if they want to eat escargot anytime soon.
I hope to see more play off QC at #10 & find the criticism of his outing last week bemusing given the orange ones played mostly off #9, Nic White. Flash Gordon was impressive, tempered somewhat by the fact the Popes Lot were already over 40 in front by the time he got on and thinking of NZ already. So whilst he showed promise for sure, lets weigh that against the match situation as well.
All in all a more rounded team for this one, but they must step up and meet the FISM’s physicality before expressing themselves through the backs. Also, they want to take the referee out of the equation, for it’s everybody’s favourite ref, Jaco Peyper and we all know Jaco likes nothing better than being the centre of attention!
Fearless Prediction: I said it above. For me it will be the quality of the performance, perhaps more so than the score line that will matter most. Having said that: Wallabies by 17.
Wallabies (1-15): James Slipper (capt), David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Richie Arnold, Will Skelton, Jed Holloway, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Len Ikitau, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Tom Wright. Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Angus Bell, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon.
Argentina: Emiliano Boffelli; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo De La Fuente; Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Juan Martin Gonzalez, Santiago Grondona, Pablo Matera; Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno; Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (capt), Thomas Gallo Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Hahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Eduardo Bello, Lucas Paulos, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni
Match Officials: Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: James Doleman (NZR) TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
When Two Tribes.
NZ v South Africa. Mt Smart Stadium. Sat, 15 Jul 4:00pm Kick off 5:05pm AEST. Live & exclusive on STAN.
What can you say about this mouth watering clash?
Two traditional foes, two traditional rugby world powers and both at near full strength and with the RC title up for grabs almost as an aside, but with far wider implications and ‘messaging’ ahead of the RWC.
It would seem that fact is also not lost of NZ coach Ian ‘Fozzie B Bear’ Foster when he has named almost as strong an AB’s side as possible, with the exception of Sam Whitelock, who whilst now recovered & available for selection, is being ‘saved’ for later on.
As for the Boks, given we no longer see them in SRP you kind of get lulled into a false sense of security that perhaps they aint that strong. Well, think again, They smashed the Wallabies last week in every facet of the game. And that without the likes of Grouch Marx, Etzebeth, Kwagga Smith & co in the side, but instead already in NZ plotting a rugby coup.
The clash of the loose forwards alone will be worth the price of admission. The current world champs v the team you simply must beat to be world champs. Everywhere you look the ‘head-to-heads’ are of players of the highest order. As a rugby fan I simply cannot wait.
Fearless Prediction: Well, the Saffa’s weren’t standing next to us at Gallipoli. NZ by 5. And for spits & giggles, look who is referee!
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa’i, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Braydon Ennor, Caleb Clarke.
South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse, Faf de Klerk, Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Pieter Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok.
Match Officials: Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
‘Plucka’ Duck Returns
The match on Stan Sport on Saturday 15 July, with kick-off set for 9:00am AEST.
Wallaroos skipper Piper ‘Plucka’ Duck will make her first appearance since being named captain for the retiring legend Shannon Parry, from the bench.
The Wallaroos take on the North American Kiwis, Canada, this Saturday and will be keen for a win against the 4th ranked side in the world, to assure their place in Novembers WXV1 in NZ (top three from the P4 comp qualify)
Our golden girls returned to spanking form last week against the Seppos and a win would give them two wins for the campaign and a spot in WXV1.
If the Wallaroos can maintain their defensive efforts and alignment and utilise the pace & skill in the higher numbers, then anything is possible.
Fearless Predicition: Wallaroos by 9.
Wallaroos: 1. Bree-Anna Cheatham 2. Adiana Talakai 3. Eva Karpani 4. Michaela Leonard (c) 5. Kaitlan Leaney 6. Ashley Marsters7. Emily Chancellor 8. Grace Hamilton 9. Layne Morgan 10. Arabella McKenzie 11. Ivania Wong 12. Siokapesi Palu 13. Georgina Friedrichs (vc) 14. Maya Stewart 15. Lori Cramer Reserves 16. Tania Naden 17. Madison Schuck18. Bridie O’Gorman 19. Sera Naiqama 20. Piper Duck 21. Jasmin Huriwai 22. Trilleen Pomare 23. Alana Elisaia
Friday’s Goss with Hoss.
Fathers Passing.
We kick off todays Goss’ by passing on our respects to Eben Etzebeth and his family on the news of the passing of his father Harry Etzebeth. Being half way around the world and receiving this news would be extremely confronting and troubling. From all on RDU to the Etzebeth family, we hope you can be together and find peace and comfort in each others presence and find some solace in coming days.
128 & counting.
Jimmy Slips is closing in on ‘The Governor’ George Gregan’s test appearance record of 139 matches. Slips is currently on 128 & running out for #129 this Saturday. With both the RWC and his re-signing with RA to the ’24-’24 season, if he stays fit, well……………
Spanners set.
Australia A team to play Tonga at Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa on Friday 14 July, 3:00pm TOT/12pm AEST. No Australian coverage that I can find?
Aussie A skipper Bernhard ‘Spanners’ Foley is urging his team mates to ’embrace the challenge’ when they run out to face Tonga this afternoon. The ‘A’ side contains some players who were unlucky to miss out on RC squad selection, but are still within touching distance of the RWC squad.
I’d similarly invite Spanners to ’embrace the challenge’ of making more than 15 metres on touch finders, kicking for touch quickly, not making numerous forward passes and having an 80% kick success rate.
Australia A: 1. Tom Lambert 2. Folau Fainga’a 3. Taniela Tupou 4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 5. Cadeyrn Neville 6. Lachlan Swinton 7. Brad Wilkin 8. Seru Uru 9. Jake Gordon 10. Bernard Foley (c) 11. Corey Toole 12. James O’Connor 13. Joey Walton 14. Lachlan Anderson 15. Jock Campbell Finishers 16. Lachlan Lonergan 17. Angus Wagner 18. Sam Talakai 19. Ned Hanigan 20. Harry Wilson 21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa 22. Ollie Sapsford 23. Josh Flook
U20’s TV Balooza.
4th v 5th playoff: Wales v Australia. Athlone Sports Stadium. Fri, 14 Jul 9:50pm Starts 10:00pm. Live on STAN
3rd v 4th playoff: South Africa v England. Athlone Stadium Sat, 15 Jul 12:20am Starts 12:30am. Live on STAN
U20’s Final: Ireland v France Athlone Sports Stadium Sat Sat, 15 Jul 2:50am Starts 3:00am. Live on STAN.
Until next week. Go you good things
Hoss – out
