It’s the one time that co-habitation with the NRL/AFL has benefited rugby union in Australia. Both those codes adopted professionalism earlier then union, and rugby in Australia benefited through osmosis.
if you go back and look at the history of the wallabies you realise we have had three anomalies in regards to results - The 84 Grand Slam, the 91 RWC and the 99RWC-2001.
Yeah noticed this as well - seems to be personal choice, as Porecki (and I think Slipper in the background of one of the stories) had lifting shoes, while Nonggorr was barefoot. Not really best practice
From Memory, 84 Alan Jones, 91 Bob Dwyer and 99 McQueen. Having lived through them all I believe the McQueen era was the one I am hopeful that we repeat. Jones had a good team with Ella at his peak and he scored in every test, Bob Dwyer took an average team and rebuilt it with young talent and some old heads. McQueen took the job that nobody wanted and the ARU didn't want him, regardless of the great presentation he did to the board. Then proved all of them wrong with a slightly radical approach he had adopted at the Brumbies, assisted by a great NRL defence coach Mulligan?
Suggest you look at how deep they’re squatting
Muggleton.
2000 - beat Argentina twice, South Africa three times, NZ 1-1, beat Scotland, France and lost to England by 3 points
I thought about using 2003 as the cut off. And could quite easily have done so and still made the same point.
As a long time rugby man from NZ, I will say that although there were goodish Wallaby teams at time up to the mid 90s, and then very good teams for 10 years or so. I just trying to explaun how it looked from over here. Wallaby teams were never considered anything but almost 2nd tier , then 80s came along, and Wallabies had players like Mark Ella (and in NZ most rugby people thought of him as probably best 10 seen up until then) Campo, who many kiwis loved to hate, because he such an enigma, could make a cock up but then destroy your defence all in 10 mniute interval. Trouble was in those days they were an ordinary team with a couple of stars? Then late 80s Wallabie were on upward curve and seemed to have a lot better balance of players all the way through . and I still believe that the fella from Qld reds (can't remember his name now) who said that it came about because NZ teams were coming over and playing provincial games that was a huge factor.
) , chock full of very very good players, with a few greats of the game. Were a joy to watch and when or if the ABs tipped them over was really a thing to celebrate. I think perhaps after 2006-7 or so it lost it's way a little and hasn't quite recovered .
Ideally there is a major balls up by Neville in this game that means we don’t see her again. She is by far the worst official in the world and Australia will definitely be picked apart by her pedantic and overpowering style.
100%. my in-laws are kiwis. I'd almost call it small man syndrome. Heaps of anti-Aus sentiment in NZ, I don't think they realise that over here (in Aus) we dont have the same anti-NZ sentiment.
This is what I always referred to as the 'Jesus' hope. Companies who were struggling were hoping the 'Jesus' manager would turn up and fix everything.
I hold it.
