Welcome back to all of you, friend and foe alike, for another year of, to paraphrase the great Rampaging Roy Slavin, “where too much rugby is never enough”.
This year I’m starting out positively. I have decided not to blame the current administration for the errors of the past but only to hope that the new RA board learn from it. I will judge the current board on what they do from now going forward.
However as the KGB says “Trust but Verify”.
As always this is a fan run site and any contribution is always welcome feel free to reach out to me at happyman@greenandgoldrugby.com.au be it with an article an idea or an opinion piece.
There’s also a ‘Submit a Story’ option. So feel free to have a crack as the more the merrier.
The Dropped Kick Off and Other Media
The boys are back. I hope they go full rogue and keep it weekly.
There are many great rugby podcasts and lots of people who love the game doing good things to promote it so get around them. My list of Australian sites doing good things either in pod format of socials:
Pick and Drive Pod
Pig Athletic Club
Pillar to Post
Most of these guys have Facebook, YouTube and Instagram feeds so get among it.
Feel free to list more in the comments section as based on the ABC and Murdoch press nothing happens that isn’t aerial ping pong or gaol rugby.
Australian Super Teams Coaching – Opinion
I saw a piece on facepages earlier in the week where it made the statement that Darren Coleman had until round four to determine if he was going to be the coach going forward. I made this comment last year that the best organisations have stability at this position. The Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Team has had 4 coaches in 55 Years, the Tahs have had 4 in ten years.
Let’s look at the facts. A professional coach is appointed usually as a result of underperforming team results. From a contracting perspective he usually deals with a 25% turnover of talent each year. So unless he inherits a very good roster it usually takes two seasons to turn the roster into a team that plays the way he wants.
I would argue that Australia’s Super teams have the best coaches they have had in quite a while. Each has had success at every point along the road.
Darren Coleman inherited an omnishambles, he now has what looks to be a good roster capable of doing good things.
Kevin Foote has transitioned the Rebels into a very interesting roster, one can only hope it stays together.
Simon Cron has developed the Force into a tough squad that could do things with a bit of luck. No team will want to take the trip west this year.
Les Kiss has had success at every step along the way and has a great squad. The transition seems to have been smooth from the Thorn era so I can see success. He also seems to be the type of coach who will ask a lot of questions of the opposition.
Stephen Larkham IMHO is under the most pressure. His squad is ageing and he’s unlikely to seen 7As at all this year (the most important player is your tighthead).
In a business where the result is binary you must define what success looks like and own your results.
Six Nations Round Two
Scotland v France
As a Scotland supporter, which is always difficult, I fear for a French backlash after they were well beaten by the best team in the world on the weekend. Scotland got the BOK treatment and managed get a lucky win in Cardiff last week, a win which shows Scotland are still a fragile team.
Scotland by I don’t care how much, just get it done.
England v Wales
England were lucky against a plucky Italian team to get away with a 3 point win. Wales were unlucky not to finish the job after being 27 points in arrears against the Scots. For mine the English will win this one as I cannot see a very young and inexperienced Welsh team being able to replicate the 2nd half against the English.
England by 7.
Ireland v Italy
I don’t want to sound too disrespectful against the Italians but this will be a contest between a hammer and a nail. Irish at home should win by 20 at least.
Rugbynomics How to Build a Better Australian Rugby Landscape
Earlier in this article I made mention of the fine work from the guys at Pillar to Post. They are affiliated with the Wests club in Brisbane. https://www.westsbulldogsrugby.com.au The Wests club provide a blueprint on how to regenerate a facility. They have the best clubhouse (it used to be the worst by some margin) in Brisbane and what is clearly a sustainable business model. Pillar to Post put out some slides (which I have borrowed/Stolen) and I can only hope Phil Waugh saw and is working on now.
Santos Rugby Festival at Roma
If you don’t have anything on this weekend this is the type of event that rugby does better than any code in the world. Link Here
In partnership with Queensland Rugby Union and New South Wales Rugby Union, Santos is pleased to present the Santos Festival of Rugby, 9 – 10 February 2024.
The centrepiece of the festival will once again be a pre-season game between the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs. Playing for the Santos Cup, this is a chance for the teams to get a good hit-out before the Super Rugby Pacific tournament kicks off.
The annual celebration of rugby will also include Roma Sevens, and men’s and women’s Super Rugby fixtures. Besides the action on the field, the program of events includes junior coaching clinics and family fun activities. There’ll be live entertainment on the Friday and Saturday nights with a performance from Hot Dub Time Machine on Saturday 10th February.
Thank you to the Maranoa Regional Council for their continued support and the Roma Echidnas Rugby Club for hosting this event.
WHEN: Friday 9 February to Saturday 10 February 2024
WHERE: Gallas Fox Park, home of the Roma Echidnas Rugby Union Club (Warrego Hwy, Roma, QLD 4455)
