Jul 2

Changes galore in South Africa v Lions 3rd Test

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Out with the old and in with the new. Or is that the other way around? The Springboks and the British & Irish Lions have both named their test sides for this weekend’s donnybrook at Ellis Park in Jo’burg. There is an experimental look to the Bokkies in particular; but with the Lions it’s probably more about ‘the last man standing’.

The Bok coach has made no less than 10 changes to the side that clinched the series with a 28-25 win over the Lions in Pretoria last Saturday.  Zane Kirchner will make his Springbok debut in the No 15 jersey and forms a back trio with Sharks wing Odwa Ndungane and Cheetahs flyer Jongi Nokwe. I’m not sure how they’re going to go defensively though? Read more »

Jul 2

3N Squad announced: Sanchez not so dirty

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Deans tries a sanchez

Deans tries a sanchez

The Wallabies squad to take out the 2009 Tri-Nations was announced today. It’s largely the same as the existing squad with just a few changes.

In case you live under a rock (or just outside of Australia) the previously highest paid man in Australian rugby  - Lote Tuqiri - is out having been arsed by the ARU just yesterday. Rather than draft in another outside back, Deans has beefed up the ranks of the back row, slotting the much awaited Rocky Elsom (still with dodgy knee) and Wycliff Palu (fully fit) back into the squad. Read more »

Jul 2

After Lote Tuqiri, should rugby be interested in Karmichael Hunt?

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Lost in the noise of Lote getting punted from the ARU, was the news this morning that Brisbane Bronco’s wonder boy, Karmichael Hunt is looking to move to rugby. In a delicious irony, as one former Bronco leaves rugby, a current Bronco is looking to join it.

After a fairly turbulent off field career, Hunt will not play rugby in Australia as the ARU’s High-Performance Unit Manger, David Nucifora stated earlier this year. Read more »

Jul 2

G&GR Wallaby Player of the Year - Game 3

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Each week the members of our forum cast their 3-2-1 votes to contribute to the prestigious Green and Gold Rugby Wallaby of the Year.

So far this year Noddy has collated over 200 votes, and we expect this to bulid through the Tri-Nations.

The weekly Man of the Match for each test to date can be viewed on this page, which will be updated throughout the season.

As well as the voting, there’s plenty of discussion on the forums of who’s voting for whom and why from our informed and knowledgeable forum contributors.

If you’re at work or browsing on your phone, there’s also a mobile version of our forums for you, available here.

Head over to our forums to get involved in future G&GR Wallaby of the Year votes.
Jul 1

Lote Tuqiri shown the door by ARU

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UPDATED UPDATE - Friday 3 July: Lote Tuqiri has so far refused to comment on the reasons for his sacking, only prepared to say that the matter will now be in the hands of his solicitors and is sub judice (or words to that effect). The mail is that the previously surmised Crown Casino late night episode may have facilitated a code of conduct breach, which has contributed to his demise. Channel Nine is reporting that Lote was offered 6 months dosh to end his contract but that he declined.

UPDATE - Thursday 2 July: At a press conference this morning, where the Wallaby Tri-Nations squad was announced, ARU chief John O’Neill refused to discuss or expand on the Tuqiri dismissal. He sited the pending legal action as the reason for not being able to comment. 

O’Neill confirmed the police were not involved and said he had consulted with Tuqiri’s Super 14 club the NSW Waratahs and they had agreed with the decision. He indicated that Tuqiri was aware of the reasons for the contract termination and he was free to discuss that in the media if he so wished. Read more »

Jul 1

Ask Bakkies: I can’t see straight

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For feck's sake!

For feck's sake!

Dear Bakkies,

I’m an Irish rugby player recently involved in a nasty incident that took place in an international test match that you might be aware of.

Within the first minute of the game, one of your team mates stuck his fingers so far into my eyes that they took his reverse finger prints off the back of my skull after the game!
Read more »

Jun 30

Vid analysis: Driving me rucking crazy

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Adjudicating the match between the Wallabies and France last Saturday was a random penalty generator, otherwise known as David Pearson.

Some of his decisions were mystifying, but there was one pretty early on that truly pissed me off and it’s in the video below.

It’s not the inconsistency that shits me as much as the complete pointlessness Read more »

Jun 30

Leagies showing their Stupidity?

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A friend (not Andy) was telling me about this (NRL) Footy Show segment. In it El Masri (who has recently announced his retirement, probably because of this GAGR Exposé [he's a time traveller]) kicks a regulation (NRL, coke zero) ball inflated with helium over soccer goals from a supposed 100 metres distance. Of course i did not believe him because i have seen it busted twice on mythbusters (once with a throwing machine and then revisited with a kicking [punting] machine).

But then I started searching online video Read more »

Jun 30

The Amateur Selector

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I am what you might call an amateur selector. One of my favourite hobbies is picking Rugby XVs. At any given time I could provide you of my all time Wallaby XV. My favourites Reds XV. Brumbies, Waratahs even the bloody Force.

And I’m not parochial either. Want to hear my all time World XV to take on my Wallaby XV? Fine, its all up here (taps head knowingly). A running rugby XV? A bearded XV? A tacklers XV? Check, check, check.

But there is on thing all these XVs have in common. One caveat to every selection. Read more »

Jun 29

Video analysis: Aussie scrum vs France

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We sure do take our scrummaging seriously these days, so when a few calls went against the Wallabies on the weekend, we decided to take a closer look…..

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