All posts tagged "matt dunning"

Sharks 27 Western Force 22 I’ve banged on a bit about Matt Hodgson being the backbone of the Force’s efforts this year but in the face of adversity you cannot fault the commitment, workrate and leadership of Captain Nathan Sharpe. Hodgo was consistently outstanding at openside when he took over from Bam...

In what has been a prick of a season so far, the Western Force have an opportunity to post a rare brace of wins following last week’s victory over the Stormers. With their international backrow of Pocock, Brown and Hodgson back on deck for the first time since Round 1, combined with...

By announcing his departure from coaching the Western Force ‘at the end of the 2011 season’ John Mitchell is effectively a dead man walking. I wonder where he’ll celebrate New Years’ Eve this year? You can bet your bottom dollar it won’t be at the Western Force. If you think otherwise you’re...

It’s not only the Western Force who have been unlucky in love recently but the Chiefs are without a swag of quality players for this weekend’s clash in Swan Laager. In good news for the Force Mark Bartholomeusz, Ryan Cross and Nick Cummins return to the starting XV and recent four-game emergency...

With the Melbourne Rebels now in the player market place, not too long after the WA Force entered, a subset issue is now a subject of hot discussion.  Who can lay claim to the player.  It is a common cry out of NSWRU and the Sydney club land that they created the...

The ‘Super Star’ CA Brumbies take on the Western Force on Friday night at the new home...

The Western Force have named their team for Friday’s match-up with the Brumbies and as flagged earlier in the week, Mark Bartholomeusz is the new black. He was recruited by the Force as a utility to provide backup at fullback and for Andre Pretorius at flyhalf – that he’s now the first choice...

If ever there was a time for the Western Force to fulfill their real potential it’s now. They’ve essentially been a journeyman outfit since entering the Super 14 competition in 2006. I don’t mean that in a negative way because they’ve achieved more in the last four years than many of the...

We finally reach the last position in the team, if only because of its numerical allocation.  For...

And so the year has drawn to a close.  The Spring Tour has been a disapointing expedition...

Final Score: Gloucester 5 – Wallabies 36 click below for Gagger’s full and exclusive coverage of this game.

Rocky Elsom has been named Wallaby captain for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere tour beginning later this month. He has taken over from Stirling Mortlock who was also named in the side. Berrick Barnes is the Vice- Captain. This will no doubt increase speculation that Mortlock’s Wallaby career may be coming to a...

Robbie Deans, and his selectors, have named a number of new faces in the 43 man Wallaby training squad in preparation for the Grand Slam tour later this year.  Perhaps the most notable rookie is scrumhalf Richard Kingi of the Queensland Reds who only last week signed an Academy contract with the...

Robbie Deans: Hi lads, thanks so much for coming on such short notice. Chris Hickey: No problems Robbie. Andy Friend: The Brumbies are glad to have the opportunity. John Mitchell: Yes, Robbie, just like old times hey? But seriously, I just want to say what an honour it is for me, I...

Following mediation discussions between the parties, an agreed settlement has been reached between Lote Tuqiri and the...

The Wallabies are battered, bruised and winless – not a great combination. With no wins from three attempts the Wallabies face the very real prospect of not winning a single game in this year’s Tri-Nations as they confront an uncompromising South Africa over the next two weeks and then travel to Wellington...

Obviously, after last week’s test, both Robbie Deans and Nick Mallet came to a gentlemen’s agreement that both would field their second XV’s for this week’s tests. The Italians have made plenty of changes to their team which makes them even harder to comment on, such is the unknown nature of the...

Here’s the ARU’s latest TV commercial which they are spruiking on their website I was reeled in....

The incumbent(s): Benn Robinson (NSW): Fat Cat has established himself well and truly in the Wallaby team. He would be, I would think, one of the first two or three players picked. In fact, there aren’t many better loosehead props world-wide than Benn Robinson. I’ll go a step further and say he...

The incumbent(s): Al Baxter (NSW): Ok, disregard the penalty try that Australia let in, during the last test of last year against Wales, the scrum was a much improved element of Australia’s game in 2008. Thanks largely to Michael Foley, then Wallaby assistant coach and now Waratah assistant coach. Whether it has...