George Smith says so long to the Wallabies

Feb 5

Posted by Noddy
31 Comments

It's time to say goodbye!

Wallaby Legend George Smith is leaving the building. In this odd metaphor, harking back to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the King is George Smith and the ‘building’ is the Wallaby team. In a somewhat surprising development, we today learn that we will never get the chance to see George Smith play for the Wallabies again. Effective the end of the Super 14 season this year, Smith will no longer play rugby in Australia, having been granted a release by both the Brumbies and the ARU.

It is a stunning development for someone who has achieved everything in world rugby – except for a World Cup win. Given his retirement will commence a little over 12 months prior to the kick of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the decision seems even more staggering. Now, Australia are by no means certainties to bring home the Web Ellis Cup, but we’re in with a shot. And regardless of the emergence of David Pocock, Smith is still a valuable and almost indispensable part of this Wallaby team. Read more »

Jan 15

G&GR Wallaby Player of the Decade & e-book

Posted by Noddy
13 Comments

Click to Download the eBook

In the lead up to New Years Eve 2009, we published a series of articles looking back at some of the highlights of Australian Rugby throughout the decade. This culminated in the selection of the Wallaby Team of the Decade and the nomination of five players as Wallaby Players of the Decade. The Player of the Decade post can be seen here.

The voting and debate was torrid. And in the end very very close, with only two votes splitting first and second place. In the end the winner was….. Read more »

Dec 27

G&GR Wallaby Tries of the Decade #2

Posted by Noddy
6 Comments

Just kidding. It's not this one!

I reckon there’s a fair bet that this next try, number two on the list, would have probably been most people’s choice for the try of the decade. Correct? Then why the hell have I not appointed it as such!!! All the elements are there. Beautiful set piece playe, last minute try that wins just about every trophy available. It is an amazing piece of individual brilliance that combines with some bang on team elements. Hell, it’s even scored by a Queenslander!

Hang on, I’m starting to question myself now, so must stop before I have to completely redo this series. The McQueen era of Wallaby success was somewhat typified by our ability to snatch last minute defeats. It was positioned as our never say die attitude, or constant belief in our selves.

Either way we did it v the Boks at the 99 World Cup, we did it against the Black and the Boks the following year in the Tri-Nations, and went bloody close in the ‘Game of the Century’. And then…we did it against the All Blacks again in 2001. But the only one of these games we won the match with a try was the last one, which must mean…. 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 »

Dec 13

Wallaby Open Side Flanker of the Decade

Posted by Noddy
23 Comments

Pocock - the future or the now?

Wow. Only five players have worn the Number 7 Wallaby jersey in the last 123 tests. That’s quite a record. It is the same sort of record as scrum half and in both scenarios the position is dominated by a test centurion.

The list of Open Side Flankers for the decade, and their starts, are:

George Smith (70 starts), Phil Waugh (39), David Wilson (7), David Pocock (6), David Croft (1).

What a high quality list. The fact that David Croft only started in one test throughout this period is a fair indication as to the quality that was in front of him. Croft, more because of his lone start, was an obvious player to miss out on our top 3. The other player was more difficult to cut. So let’s go to the G&GR’s selections.

Dec 6

Wallaby Winger of the Decade

Posted by Noddy
23 Comments

Shmoo?

From the period 2000-2009, eighteen different men have worn either the Wallaby Number Eleven or Fourteen jerseys in a test match. Interestingly eight of these were also on the fullback list (Julian Huxley and James O’Connor being the only two fullbacks NOT to start a test on the wing).

So, our noughty wingers were:

Lote Tuqiri (51 starts on the wing); Wendell Sailor (29); Joe Roff (28); Drew Mitchell (20); Mark Gerrard (17); Clyde Rathbone (16); Peter Hynes (15); Stirling Mortlock (14); Lachlan Turner (11); Ben Tune (6); Andrew Walker (5); Chris Latham (5); Digby Ione (4); Adam Ashley-Cooper (4); Matt Burke (3); Matt Rogers (3); Cameron Shepherd (3); Scott Staniforth (2).

Whereas previously we normally pick a top three for each position, we are not differentiating between right or left wing, so we are going to pick the top six wingers of the decade. Again this is based on their performance at test level, this decade, in the wing position.

And our top wingers (in no particular order, well in the particular order of the alphabet in fact):

Dec 5

Wallaby Fullback of the Decade

Posted by Noddy
33 Comments

From the period 2000-2009, ten different men (perhaps nine men and a boy) have worn the Wallaby Number Fifteen jersey in a test match.

They are:

Chris Latham (57 starts at fullback); Adam Ashley-Cooper (17); Matt Burke (14); Matt Rogers (9); James O’Connor (7); Drew Mitchell (6); Julian Huxley (6); Joe Roff (4); Cameron Shepherd (2); Stirling Mortlock (1)

Now our task at G&GR was to come up with the three leading candidates for the Wallaby Team of the Decade. How do we do this? Well we did it as simply by looking at their performances in this position and how dominant it was. So now, our top three fullbacks of the decade:

Nov 26

Great Wallaby Tries: 1984 Grand Slam v Wales

Posted by Noddy
11 Comments

And so we reach the final test of the tour, which was actually the penultimate test 25 years ago. This time, however, we won’t win the Grand Slam. Hell, its more than likelywe won’t win this test.

Our backs are looking ponderous and directionless. The odd break is being made, but it inevitably dies out. The skills just look lacking as players try to overplay their hand or just plain don’t know what to do. So let’s pause for a momnet and review highlights of the famous Welsh test way back in 1984:

Nov 25

Save the Wales, or is that the Wallabies?

Posted by Lance Free
18 Comments

Jones

This is what the Welsh think – a poll from the South Wales Echo:

Do you think Wales can defeat the Wallabies on Saturday?

Yes, they’ve got the ability 85.0%

No, it’s too big an ask 7.4%

Jones

It’s too close to call 7.7%

The Welsh can sniff it again. The vulnerability of this seemingly disparate Wallaby touring side, inconsistent and incontinent (well, pissing in the wind anyway) with a lack of game day direction. Read more »

Nov 19

Great Wallaby Tries Analysed: 84 Grand Slam v Scotland

Posted by Noddy
8 Comments

Ok, so we are a little out of order here as the 84 Grand Slammers played Scotland last, whereas this year’s lot play them in the penultimate test on tour. But change is good, so let’s work with it. This next try is one of my all time favourites, so let’s get into it.

Enjoy the full highlights, and there are many in this game – Slack’s pass to Campo’s first try is a ripper; Mark Ella’s try, for his own Grand Slam of tries, was special; Nick Farr-Jones’s snipe down the front of the lineout; but I love this try. So make your way to the 5:28 mark. The match and the Grand Slam are well in the bag at 31-12 so the Wallabies are certainly enjoying themselves. So enjoy this try:

Nov 4

Ullo Jonny! Gotta new motor?

Posted by Lance Free
11 Comments

Borf mate - cor blimey, innit 'arf awful

Alexei Sayle sings: “I keep tropical fish, in my underpants. Ullo Jonny! Gotta new motor? Ullo Jonny! Gotta new motor”.

Leave it out! Jonny Wilkinson ain’t got a new motor. He’s got a reconditioned motor temporarily minus an Ian Beale warranty.

It’s the sort of deal Arfur Daley would approve of, although Arfur would front up with a dodgy MOT after a few VAT’s down the Winch – “put it on the slate Dave”.

Wilko is an absolute, dead-set ancient Greek. Not only between the poles but working the geezers around the light and dark. And what he can’t do with an Albert Hall! Read more »

Nov 4

Great Wallaby Tries Analysed: 1984 v England

Posted by Noddy
10 Comments

The first half of this game was scrappy as both teams seemed to push to hard to turn position into points. Drop goal attempts went wide and the score at the break was all tied up at three apiece. Not too long after the kick off to the second half, we eventually find ourselves (as in the Wallabies) with a scrum 5m out from the try line in a great position. To see how we got into this position, check out the video below from about 2:36 to see the class that is Brendan Moon.

team

Oct 27

Wallaby team for Tokyo Bledisloe named

Posted by Noddy
38 Comments

"The bench you say? Hmmmmm"

Five changes to the Wallaby starting team, four to the backline, is the notable news in today’s team announcement.

But its the ommission of George Smith, picked on the bench, that will cause most dicussion.

Is it a dropping? Is it a resting? Rotation? Reward? A sign of things to come? Robbie only knows.

The backrow of Palu, Elsom and Pocock does seem better balanced, but will need to up its work rate, along with the rest of the pack, to compete with an All Black team that blew them off the part at their last meeting. Read more »

Oct 18

All Black for some including ‘demoted’ Hansen

Posted by Lance Free
9 Comments

Otago's Ben the bolter?

The All Black team for their Northern Tour was announced today and it contained a solid core of the usual suspects; a few players who you could say are lucky to be retained, and of course a couple of bolters.

The squad features 18 forwards and 15 backs and will again be captained by Richie McCaw. Interestingly, there has been a change in the coaching responsibilities.

Steve Hansen has lost the job of forwards coach to Graham ‘Smug’ Henry in the reshuffle. Hansen will concentrate on attack duties and Wayne Smith moves to become the defensive coach.

Oct 11

Where does Giteau go?

Posted by Gagger
33 Comments

"well what about Assistant Vice Captain?"

It’s taken two domestic seasons to do it, but through the unveiling of the squad to go to Europe this spring, together with a revolutionary new leadership team of Rocky Elsom and Berrick “sookface” Barnes, Robbie Deans has well and truly put his stamp on the Wallabies. However, if silly season press stories are to be believed, this has more than ruffled a few feathers in the Wallabies.

According to stories in the Australian and the Herald, Antipodeans didn’t exactly smooth the waters before announcing the new Captain and Vice-Captain: even long-term incumbent Stirling Mortlock found out along with the rest of the team. Together with his Japanese talks a few weeks back, it would seem to be sayonara Stirling at the end of this tour.

But if there’s one senior player from whom most alleged disgruntled noises have been coming from, it’s Matt Giteau. Read more »

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