Author: Nick Wasiliev

Die-hard Brumbies/Country Eagles fan now based in Sydney. Author, anthropologist, musician, second rower. Still trying to make sense of the 21st century. Dropped a debut novel last year...

Blissful Ignorance…. led to a frustratingly predictable result. The Dropped Kick-Off boys are back to talk about the Eden Park blackout, where the Wallabies sit going into the Rugby Championship, Giteau’s Law shenanigans, the latest news from Western Sydney and more. WARNING: coarse language The Hot Topics: 1. name one thing or moment that you think sums up the game 2. is there any good to take into Perth Test and Rugby Championship? 3. will the Giteau law solve our issues? 4. does Penrith being kicked out have anything to do with the wallabies sucking? 5. Other news? Green And…

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Nick W, Nick H, Natho and Jacko are back to talk the end of the Lions Series, Bledisloe I and the Rugby Championship. WARNING: Coarse language 1. Did we play better or did the All Blacks go to sleep? 2. Does the Wallabies have a problem with kickers? 3. Kerevi is back. Who’d you get under the revised Giteau law? 4. The Lions series: did game three resurrect the series? 5. Predictions for the weekend. Green And Gold Rugby · The Dropped Kick-Off 26 – Blissful Ignorance

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Yep, two podcasts in one month, whoulda thought? Nick W, Jack and Nick H jump on to talk about the Bledisloe Cup, the Olympics Sevens performance, and the shitshow that is Rassiegate. WARNING: mild coarse language 1. How do we feel about the Bledisloe? 2. Quade coming back – what does it mean? 3. Tokyo Sevens – why are we so shit and how are Fiji so so good 4. Lions Series- what are thoughts on the series and on Rassiegate? 5. What other rugby has caught our attention this month? Green And Gold Rugby · The Dropped Kick-Off 25 – Knee’den…

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Nick W, Natho, Jack and Nick H return to pay some long overdue rent, with the Dropped Kick-Off finally returning to discuss the France series, the Lions Tour, the Bledisloe, The Sevens teams in Tokyo, the Wallaroos and more. WARNING: Occasional coarse langauge The Hot Topics 1. Our thoughts on the France series. 2. thoughts on the Koroibete card? 3. What is one thing that gives us confidence going into the Bledisloe? 4. Can the Wallaroos grab their first win over the Black Ferns? 5. How do we think the Sevens teams will go in Tokyo? Green And Gold Rugby…

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The Dropped Kick-Off is back for another week of audience Q&A, as Nick, Natho and Jack sit down  to answer your Twitter questions and discuss the hot topics in Aussie rugby, including the Super Rugby AU Grand Final, looking ahead to the Trans-Tasman competition, and talk a new sweet-tooth sponsorship. The Hot Topics Nick – The final: what stood out for us? Huw Tindall – Keep the AU comp next year or go back to full TT round robin home/away? Rugby Fixation Podcast – Following the success of Super Rugby AU, how important is it for the Aus sides to pick…

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It’s been a while between drinks, but we’ve been busy getting jobs at rugby.com.au! The Dropped Kick-Off is back, with Nick, Natho and Dylan sitting down to answer your Twitter questions and discuss the hot topics in Aussie rugby. WARNING: coarse language The Hot Topics Nick – Moana Pasfikia and Drua joining Super Rugby. Is this now the best competition on Earth? Rugby Fixation Podcast – You could make a very solid Wallabies side from just Brum/Reds: Slipper, Fainga’a, Alaalatoa, Neville, LSL, Valetini, McReight, Wilson, White, JOC, Daugunu, Paisami, Ikitau, Wright, Banks. Reserves: BPA, Sio, Tupou, Uru, Samu, McDermott, Lolesio, Petaia.…

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27th February 2021.  Rob Penney is sitting in the press junket in Canberra, after the Tahs were thumped 61-10 by the Brumbies. His young captain, Alex Newsome is sitting next to him, absolutely gutted and eyes down to the floor. He’s asked a question about how far behind the team were compared to the current champions, and how he feels about where the team is.  ‘People are saying we’re not hard enough on them, but you can’t whip a dog when it’s down… they’re human beings first, and rugby players second, and bloody good rugby players, and they’ll bounce. ‘I…

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The season is back underway, and with it comes another episode of The Dropped Kick-Off. Nick, Natho and Jack reunite for another Q&A sesh, and discuss the latest from Super Rugby AU, as well as all the other miscellaneous rugby banter. The Hot Topics Nick – What were our thoughts on the Stan coverage? Reds Revival – How long will it take for The Force to click this season? Natho – What’s going on with the Tahs? Natho – You can pick three players from the Wallabies to protect you while the rest of them attack you. Who do you pick?…

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Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. There is a podcast! The Dropped Kick-Off is back in 2021, and for our podcast Nick, Nathan and Jack jump on to answer the tough questions around the upcoming 2021 season: The Hot Topics: Mark Anderson (Pick & Drive Rugby) – Who is going to win Super AU and why will it be the Tahs? Is partial private ownership the answer to ring in more $ and prevent the northward player drain? Huw Tindall – How do you think the new broadcast arrangements will turn out? Any hopes/fears for it? Mitch Evans -…

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Get the tissues out. After 11 years, 327 episodes of variable audio quality and too many guests to count, the Green and Gold Rugby Show is calling it quits (but vow to return when the Wallabies win back the Bledisloe). For our final episode, Matt, Rugby Reg, Hugh and Jamie all unite to review the 2020 season, their thoughts on the new broadcast deal and the upcoming competitions in 2021, reminisce about their favourite moments over the past 11 years, and more. WARNING: coarse language The (Final) Five Burning Questions: 1. This season: pass or fail for Rennie? 2. Are the…

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Still haven’t recovered from the weekend? Neither have we. Rugby Reg, Matt, Hugh and Nick are back to chew the fat on the thrilling draw in Wellington that kicked off the Rennie era for the Wallabies. WARNING: mild coarse language The Five Burning Questions 1.  How do we feel about that game? 2. What was one thing that caught your eye about the way the Wallabies played? 3. Who was your Wallaby man of the match? 4. What should we change for next game? 5. What does this all mean for the Rugby Championship? Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast…

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The Super Rugby AU final is upon us, and the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup has been announced. Probably a good time for a podcast, finally! Rugby Reg, Matt and Hugh return for another episode of the Green and Gold Rugby Show, and chew the fat on the latest topics in Australian rugby. WARNING: mild coarse language The Five Burning Questions: 1. Who is going to win Super Rugby AU? 2. Is this format the way forward for Super Rugby? 3. The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup announcement: is this our biggest opportunity in years to turn the game around in…

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Friday’s Rugby News sees a familiar face returning, Flook earning his shot, the latest from clubland and a delicious bit of Tah-Brumby banter. (Shout out to Sully for helping write this news segment too). Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 324 – On The Clock [one_half last=”no”] Nic White is back! The Reds Tate McDermott in white-hot form (see what I did there), the Brumbies Joe Powell is humming along nicely in the capital, and even Jake Gordon is on a streak. Yet, even despite the talent on show at scrumhalf, there couldn’t be a better time to introduce Nic White back into…

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Somehow, we got Reg to come on after that Reds performance! Rugby Reg, Hugh and Matt reunite at the Super Rugby AU halfway point to talk all things rugby, including the exciting new TV bundle that has been put together by the governing body. The Four Burning Questions:  1. What are our thoughts on the new TV package, and will Optus get the rights? 2. Are you still enjoying Super AU? 3. Which team is going to win? 4. Who is a Wallaby bolter that has caught your eye? Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 324 – On The Clock

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I could make a joke about the fact that nearly half the Rebels team and the Rebels coach played for the Force, but anyway.  The Melbourne Rebels won the Battle of The Growth States, winning in super time over a spirited Western Force outfit 20-25. In what was a dogged, see-sawing clash, that saw no love lost between the sides, and they could only be separated by a last gasp try at the death to the men from Melbourne. The Force came into this game as only slight outsiders, but seemed hungry to take some revenge over Melbourne, having made it clear…

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The Brumbies showcased a masterclass in depth and defence, winning 0-24 against the Western Force in Sydney last night. The match marks the first time since 2007 that the Force have been held scoreless in a game.  Going into the match, the Force were hopeful of making history, having not tasted victory over the men from the capital since 2013, a losing streak longer than against any other Australian opposition. They had been showing some outstanding form despite two close losses to the Waratahs and Reds, and some fans had felt that an upset was on hand, given the Brumbies’ recent…

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Now that’s what I call a round of rugby! Following up the incredibly entertaining Reds-Force match was not going to be easy, but low and behold, the Brumbies and Tahs did it! The Brumbies claimed an incredible last gasp 23-24 victory over the Waratahs in Sydney last night, in a match that had literally everything. The reaction I’ve been seeing online from many Tahs fans has been negative: they choked, Simmons is a bad skipper, no direction, etc. You know, the usual buzzwords. You won’t be getting any of that here. This was, in my opinion, the best performance by the…

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The Green and Gold Rugby Show is back for another week, with Rugby Reg, Matt Rowley and Hugh Cavill sitting down to discuss the first few weeks of Super Rugby AU, including the return of the Force. The Five Burning Questions: 1. Are you enjoying rugby being back? 2. Was Reds v Rebels that bad? 3. How’d you rate the return of the Force? 4. What’s your take on the law changes? 5. What do we look for in a commentator? See Hugh’s article in reference to question five.  Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 323 – Cavill The Crooner

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The Waratahs have claimed their first victory of the Super Rugby AU competition on a historic night that saw the Western Force (finally!) return to Super Rugby.  It was no secret over the last few years that ever since the Force had been cut from Super Rugby, there had been a great big hole in the Aussie side of the competition for many.  The sheer tenacity of the fans in the West for refusing to let their team die with this announcement was nothing short of incredible, and the success the club went on to achieve both with Global Rapid…

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The footy is back, ladies and gentlemen! And with it comes the podcasts. To coincide with the return of Super Rugby AU, The Dropped Kick-Off returns for another round of Q&A, with Nick, Nathan, Jack and Dylan from the GAGR News Team answering the tough questions posed by rugby folk on the Twittersphere. The Questions: 1. Ballymore Rat – Who’s going to win Aus Super Rugby and why is it the Reds? 2. Jamie Hevia – 5 teams – is it sustainable? Both here and in NZ, purely domestic comp. as great as it is. I think not. If domestic…

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