At my signal, unleash hell!

Mar 8

Posted by Noddy
15 Comments

So were the inspirational words spoken by Russel Crowe as Maximus, one of cinema’s greatest ‘Rebels’, in the Oscar winning moving “Gladiator”. Rod McQueen could hardly be confused for Crowe, nor a Gladiator, and it would be unfair to suggest that he had ever planned to ‘unleash hell’ on anything. However, in one week’s time, on Monday 15 March 2010, the Melbourne Rebels are free to do just that. For that is the date the ARU have decreed is ‘Go Time’ for Rebels recruitment. And the Australian Rugby world is holding their collective breath as to what goes down.

As it stands English fly half Danny Cipriani is currently the only player to have actually signed with the franchise. But you get the impression that come next Monday there will be a number of signings announced. Read more »

Feb 23

Back to Ballymore

Posted by Noddy
15 Comments

This Saturday night Super Rugby heads back to Ballymore for the first time since 2005. It shapes as a fascinating night for Queensland Rugby as ‘traditionalists’ have been calling for a return to Queensland Rugby HQ since we left five years ago. In the end its taken a soccer game at Suncorp to get us back there, which is somewhat ironic considering soccer is now a major tenant at Ballymore.

I was at Ballymore only a few weeks ago to watch Will Chambers run around for the QLD A team. Whilst the ground itself still looks superb – as good as any in Australia, even Suncorp, the rest of the facilities are substandard. Make no mistake about it, it will be a shit fight this weekend. And I’m not talking about the footy. Read more »

Dec 14

Wallaby Lock of the Decade

Posted by Noddy
22 Comments

McMeniman - Japanese Lock of the Decade?

We now take the step into the unknown, somewhat. The tight forwards. Now for many of you this will be a scary place. Going into the unknown often is. For those backs out there we are going to be discussing some fairly foreign concepts from now one in. Things like “aggression”, “work rate”, “physicality” and “toughness”. Just keep breathing. We will start with the locks, who are those tall guys you often see jumping in the line outs and at kick offs.

Over the decade Australia has used twelve players in the starting team at lock. Interestingly less than who have played Blind Side Flanker or Inside Centre. The locks of the decade are: Read more »

Dec 14

Wallaby Blind Side Flanker of the Decade

Posted by Noddy
19 Comments

He was Samo player!

The Blind Side Flanker position has been an interesting one for Australia, not only over the last decade, but in the last few decades. Whereas we’ve usually gone for out and out poachers at Open Side; Strong running Number 8s; Ball playing inside centres, and big kicking fullbacks, we don’t seem to have tied down a ‘typical’ Blind Side Flanker role.

Is it the 3rd (sometimes 4th) lineout option? The work horse? The 2nd flyer? The ball runner? We’ve converted locks, open sides and number 8s. Even a centre. But the pure amount of players used might indicate that we haven’t been entirely successful in filling the role adequately.

From 2000-2009 Australia has used 16 different players in this position, and there are examples of each of these types of players amongst them. They are: Read more »

Oct 7

Melbourne Rebels Super 15: Recruitment

Posted by Lance Free
57 Comments

Brent Cockbain Melbourne's John Wellborn?

The good news for the proposed Melbourne Rebels Super 15 franchise is that the two main parties, VicSuper15 and the VRU Rebels, have formed a partnership and the third is now sniffing around looking for an opportunity to participate.

This is now happening under the auspices of the ARU’s co-opted financial guru, John Wylie. That might mean we now have a viable option or indeed, a going concern.

Once it comes to pass and we’re potentially handed the baton by SANZAR, they’ll be establishing the structure that will deliver the stuff that we’re really interested in like who’ll be the coach; which players will they recruit; how competitive will they be; what will they be called and what will their playing strip look like? Read more »

Jul 22

Yes, I’m turning Japanese

Posted by Lance Free
20 Comments

危ない事は怪我のうち

The recent signing by Hugh McMeniman to the Japanese rugby club Kubota Spears, the defection of league pinup boy Craig Wing to Mark Gerrard’s 2nd Division club NTT Communications, and the possible switch to union in Japan of ‘Special K’ creates a growing interest in what’s happening over there.

The Japanese have a professional Super 14 style competition called Top League. This was set up in 2003 by the JRFU with 12 teams but was later expanded to 14 in 2006. It’s designed to grow rugby union in Japan and to allow the national team, the Cherry Blossoms, to become more competitive. Read more »

May 26

QRU – the time is now!!

Posted by Noddy
16 Comments

My esteemed colleague/fellow Blogger/GAGR Rugby Correspondent, Juan Cote, has called for the ARU to lend a bit more a hand to the Reds in getting them back on top of their game in Please ARU – help the Reds help themselves!!. I’m going to be a little more dramatic. It is time for the ARU to take over Queensland Rugby, completely.

Diggers - flying the coup

I’m sorry but it’s beyond a joke now. Queensland Rugby is now driving players, young talented players, not just from our boundaries, but from our shores. In previous years Stephen Moore and Mitchell Chapman couldn’t wait to head south. Now Digby Ione and Hugh McMeniman are apparently off to ply their trade overseas. Add to that the recent development surrounding Rocky Elsom’s apparent decision to bypass the Reds and sign with the Brumbies and Ballymore is quickly becoming some sort of vortex away from which the best players are repelled. Read more »

May 5

S14 stat attack: Aussie players

Posted by Juan Cote
11 Comments

Stat gimp - went fucken batshit

We let our stat gimp loose on the teams and he couldn’t stop himself delving into the individual players as well. So here they all are.

For the most part they reinforce what you might already suspect, but there are a few surprises……..

Apr 29

Wallaby watch – Second row

Posted by Noddy
10 Comments

The incumbent(s):

Nathan Sharpe (WA): The Force captain surprised many late last year when he put in a series of aggressive and industrious performances on the European tour. Despite a slow start, 2009 has seen him continue this form. His work rate is unquestioned, perhaps it’s just the actual work, and where he does it, which is questioned. He does seem to be running just a little closer to the ruck, and his lineout work is first class. He cops flack for those wide passes of his, but in reality, he has some pretty special skills and perhaps just bears the brunt of being a modern day forward.

Apr 27

Wallaby Watch – Blindside Flanker

Posted by Noddy
27 Comments

The incumbent(s):

MMM Hugh McMeniman (QLD): The debate continues to rage. Is MMM better suited to playing lock or blindside? Some say he plays a tighter, more aggressive game when at lock, whilst others will suggest he hasn’t the physicality or strength for lock. I could imagine it would be tough to find your groove being shunted around week to week. Its fair to suggest, however, that his mobility, pace and skills aren’t in question. Just his impact. Read more »

Apr 23

Reds vs Blues preview

Posted by Juan Cote
5 Comments

Sweet bro, it's the 'entertainers', hehe

This game represents the master versus the apprentice. Watching the Reds oscillate from famine to feast then back again by playing their particular style of ‘attacking’ rugby, one can’t help but think they are trying to model their game on a team similar to the Blues.

What the Reds lack spectacularly is the ability to do the simple things well. To be able to control attacking ball, to secure tackle ball, to have a reliable line-out and scrum, and to build pressure.

All these core skills the Blues have shown in the last few weeks. Read more »

Apr 2

Force v Reds preview & teams

Posted by Juan Cote
7 Comments

Dick Brown is back

While the Force and the Reds may kid themselves they are still a chance to make this year’s finals, realistically, they are not. In fact, both teams are at their lowest point of the season after suffering losses in crucial games at their last outing.

The Force have been strengthened with the inclusion of Nick ‘Frampton’ Cummins and Richard Brown while the Reds have also made a couple of changes, Higgers comes into the run on side and Ezra Taylor replaces Tasi Luafutu. The Reds replacements are both at the back row, interestingly the area were the Reds were well beaten last week. Read more »

Mar 26

Reds v Chiefs preview

Posted by Juan Cote
2 Comments

Big Kev - the Reds' Massiah returns

The good news this week that Big Kev Horwill and Van Humphries are returning to the Reds’ team has been tempered with the really shit news that Peter Hynes has been ruled out with a knee problem. This late change gives newcomer Rodney Davies the task of making Lelia Masaga, not an easy thing to do I’d imagine. But still it could be worse; he could be on the other wing and have to mark Sitiveni Sivivatu, like Blair Connor has to…..

The wings are the area where the Chiefs are the strongest whereas the Reds are the weakest, and it is this weakness that could be the Reds un-doing. It is an irony that the Reds forwards this week look stronger than the Reds backline, the demotion of Scott Higginbotham to the bench to make way for returning players confirms this.

Mar 15

Australian Super 14 Team of week 5

Posted by Juan Cote
25 Comments

MMM - still not injured

1. Benn Robinson (Tahs) – Has gotten the better of his opposite numbers two weeks in a row and shown that he is the number one, no. 1 in the country. More often than not he was scrumming against two opponents, as George Smith would slide up along side the under pressure Brumbies tight-head and actually be in the front row. The ref’s didn’t pick it up but they missed a fair bit, still didn’t stop the Tahs from taking a tight head.

2. Tatafu Polota Nau (Tahs) – A year ago Taffy couldn’t hit the side of a barn with his line-out throws but now looks really comfortable. Had to put in a bit of overtime when he re-appeared after Frier went off with injury. Got the better of Stephen Moore and was still full of running at the end.
Read more »

Feb 25

Reds go Mad

Posted by Juan Cote
10 Comments

Angry Man is Back

Not since the return of Jesus Christ has a comeback been more anticipated. Hugh McMeniman will make his debut this weekend after a leave of absence from the first two games of this year’s Super 14.

This is a major boost for the Reds who have produced some creditable results on their tour of South Africa, despite playing with an under-powered forward pack against the behemoths of the Bulls and Stormers.

Although the return of Madness may herald a new found authority, he will not return at his preferred position of blind-side flanker, but Read more »

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