Greetings Gaggers and welcome to a different Friday.
Todays rugby information has a distinctly worldwide really feel to it, however earlier than we pattern international whines, we put ahead a training answer for the Tahs with ‘Spoon Fed’. Then look into the magic of ‘targets’ in: ‘All Black?’. Take a look at a simmering battle brewing within the land of the sheep lover with: ‘Uncivil Warfare’. Study some new swear phrases at a Rob Penney presser with ‘Fargin Icehole’. Bounce into this weeks spherical #14 SRP preview with: ‘Who Cares!’. Preview the to this point underwhelming Wallaroos in ‘Harden Up Princesses’. Earlier than placing an exclamation in your rugby week by way of: Friday’s Goss’ with Hoss’ at the moment together with your probability to win an all bills paid journey, to New Caledonia.
Spoon Fed.
By no means waste a very good disaster proper? And what greater disaster in skilled sport is there, than ‘successful’ the wood spoon?
Now could be the time for RA to suppose exterior the field and appoint a brand new teaching construction for the Tahs and certainly for the longer term. At present, I announce the candidacy of a G&GR Teaching Cartel for the vacant Waratahs teaching function. A crap crack squad of distinctive expertise, foresight and ambition:
- Myself. Head Coach (naturally). My means to relentlessly delegate in order that I’ve no precise tasks in any respect, apart from appointing blame is a ability acquired over an extended and eventful profession and one which appears to suit seamlessly into RA’s present buildings.
- Professor Nutta: bush orator and forwards coach. What this man doesn’t know in regards to the darkish arts isn’t value figuring out. A fan of instilling the combat into each canine, no matter dimension. Pushed, ferocious, barely psychological and 100% scary. May also present safety for workforce capabilities
- KARL: each a referee and a Kiwi. Can be sure that the workforce is throughout the nuances of the legal guidelines of the sport, the newest interpretations and learn how to flagrantly exploit them. At all times reminding the workforce, it’s not ‘dishonest’, it’s ‘gamesmanship’. Additionally helpful as cultural attaché, when touring NZ and navigating tough livestock legal guidelines.
- Bris: at over 2 metres tall and a fan of violence, can oversee lineouts and implementing brutality towards each suspecting and unsuspecting opponents. Born in NSW and with a deep, abiding affinity with the state. Will have the ability to scare the gamers into doing it his approach. His use of ‘physique luggage’ at pre-season coaching is an actual motivator.
- Yowie: no actual rugby expertise or perception, expertise or data. Excellent as backs coach and operating automobile DIY nights through the weeks.
There you may have it Gaggers, your teaching workforce to make the Tahs nice once more. RA, I count on your name quickly. And I problem you all to ask your self this, might we actually do any worse?
All Black?
No, however just a few extra can be good.
Fascinating learn on planetrugby.com earlier within the week with a report for the South African Rugby Union stating the 2023 World Cup and recording breaking facet, had ‘failed in it’s transformation targets’. What’s a change goal you ask? Planet rugby explains:
”Regardless of the optimistic work that has been achieved over the previous few years, which included appointing their first-ever black skipper in Siya Kolisi, the Boks are nonetheless falling behind the targets set by the governing physique”.
Final yr, which noticed The Catholics win a record-breaking fourth Rugby World Cup title, the Boks have been tasked with together with 54 per cent “generic black gamers”.
”Of that quantity, 27 per cent needed to be “ethnically black gamers”, however within the the Rugby Championship it was at 39 per cent and 13 per cent respectively”.
”In the meantime, on the large dance in France, that they had 38 per cent “generic black gamers” and 16 per cent “ethnic black gamers.”
“Regardless of efforts and a dedication (to transformation), the Springboks didn’t obtain the transformation targets in any of the three sequence by which they performed (in 2023),” the report mentioned.
When requested by yours really, if SARU supposed to hand again the William Webb Ellis Cup for failing to satisfy the transformation goal, no reply was obtained.
And therein is the distinction between aspirations and imperatives.
Uncivil Warfare?
Properly what have we right here?
The NZ Rugby Gamers Affiliation or ‘CHEATS’ for brief, have issued a moderately aggressive and blunt warning to the NZRU, that has the potential to separate the sport in two. Very like the World Collection Cricket verse the Australian Cricket Board affair did within the 70’s and extra just lately like Hamish and Eddie did to Australian rugby.
Slightly than repeat it verbatim right here, stuff.co.nz has all of the gory particulars.
The brief story revolves round an upcoming vote a few proposed governance mannequin for Rugby in NZ. And if you happen to don’t suppose the gamers are severe, test this out for a quote: ‘The NZRPA letter – signed by David Kirk, Richie McCaw, Tammi Wilson Uluinayau, Sam Cane, Scott Curry, Les Elder, Sarah Hirini, Ruby Tui, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Will Jordan, Scott Eire and Rob Nichol – mentioned that skilled gamers would merely refuse to recognise NZ Rugby’s proper to manipulate the sport if its most popular proposal is blocked‘.
What’s the previous adage? By no means interrupt your enemy when they’re making a mistake. Punch on NZ, punch on.
Fargin Icehole.
Nope, not a Norwegian well being spa, however as a substitute a moderately churlish and chastened Kiwi coach.
I get being the Saders coach is probably not a lot enjoyable at current, however it’s certain as spit extra enjoyable than being the Tahs coach. Not since Mrs Hoss discovered I’d purchased one other pair of RM boots, have I heard such an expletive laden torrent at a fellow human being. Crusaders coach Rob ‘I’m gonna f**** the corpse of your useless mom and urinate in her eye sockets’ Penney, has been caught on a ‘scorching mic’ unloading on a Kiwi journo who it should be mentioned, didn’t ask something all that confrontational.
Coach beneath strain a lot? Are you able to see Dingo Deans ever doing this?
You may catch Mr Potty Mouth’s interview right here. Warning: some poor language is used.
Who Cares!
The penultimate spherical is upon us and realistically, all bar two groups nonetheless have an opportunity at making the eight. Who wins & why? I don’t actually care anymore, so I’m selecting 5 attracts.
Joyful’s Thursday Information has all of the workforce particulars.
Friday 24 Could 5:05 PM AEST – Chiefs v Hurricanes at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, on Stan Sport
Shaping up as a extremely good recreation. Fascinating to listen to the boys Speaking groups Podcast with Joyful suggesting the Chiefs have appreciable ‘grub issue’ of their DNA. The Canes, they’ve acquired just a few modifications made, most on the again of niggling accidents. While I hope they bash the dwelling snot out of one another, a Chiefs win would do wonders for the Brumbies prime #2 aspirations
Fearless prediction: Chiefs by 12 and no Canes bonus level.
Referee: Paul Williams Assistant Referees: Dan Waenga, Mike Winter
Friday 24 Could 7:35 PM AEST – ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at GIO Stadium, Canberra, on Stan Sport
As Seinfeld practically mentioned: ‘the Brumbies may very well be grasp of their very own area’ come kickoff tonight. With the Chiefs / Canes match run and achieved, the Ponies will know what they should do. Clearly they have to win first and towards an underrated Rebels facet that’s mission one. As soon as the victory is confirmed, bonus factors will grow to be very a lot a ‘stay’ choice.
However no Flash Gordon for the Rebs, means no probability for the win. In addition to, the Ponies actually do must a lot at stake to roll over on this one.
Fearless Prediction: Brumbies by 21
Referee: Angus Gardner Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, Jordan Kaminski
Saturday 25 Could 2:35 PM AEST – Moana Pasifika v NSW Waratahs at GO Media Stadium, Auckland, ad-free, stay and on demand on Stan Sport
A entrance row made up of courageous membership warriors. A chunk meal backline, free forwards enjoying out of place, a coach that’s been rissolled and a wood spoon on provide. That sound about proper?
Plus you’ve acquired the person who hates the Tahs probably the most, with the whistle. Make it cease. Simply make it cease.
Fearless Prediction: I all the time need my Tahs to win….and they’re going to. Tahs by 5.
Referee: Nic Berry Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane, George Myers
Saturday 25 Could 5:05 PM AEST – Crusaders v Blues at Apollo Initiatives Stadium, Christchurch, ad-free, stay and on demand on Stan Sport
Two groups who care little for one another. A coach beneath strain and a championship workforce and a dynasty, trying prefer it’s disappearing up it’s personal bottom.
Good theatre at the least.
Fearless Prediction: Blues by 18.
Referee: James Doleman Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon
Saturday 25 Could 7:35 PM AEST – Queensland Reds v Western Drive at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, ad-free, stay and on demand on Stan Sport and the 9 Community
Pretenders v Contenders? However simply which is which?
Final week the Communist facet fluffed it’s traces in Fiji. Positive the Drua at residence are blah blah blah blah. However you wanna put on the crown, you bought’s to win outta city (copyright Ponderosa Publishing 2024). And on this entrance the Reds appeared like the good pretenders.
The Drive, properly they’ve really flown a bit beneath the radar haven’t they. At present two factors exterior the eight and with a match towards a depleted & emotionally flat Tahs subsequent week, the Drive are threatening to not solely make the eight, but additionally trigger a mischief in the event that they get in.
The Reds do look robust on paper for this one, however I like what the Drive & Cron are constructing out West. In addition to, just a few of the Reds cattle are simply again from a spell and it’s been my expertise that first run again from the paddock, gamers simply aint at their greatest.
Fearless Prediction: Drive by 9. However beware the Damon Murphy impact. He’s to rugby officiating, what Pamela Anderson is to deportment classes. Arduous to take severely.
Referee: Damon Murphy Assistant Referees: Jorday Approach, Jeremy Markey
Sunday 26 Could 12:05 PM AEST – Highlanders v Fijian Drua at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, ad-free, stay and on demand on Stan Sport
Maybe an important recreation of the yr for these two sides. Win and your future is in your personal fingers for the highest eight. Lose and you need to win subsequent week and produce other outcomes go your approach. The Landers are maybe a greater facet than the ladder signifies. The Drua, everyone knows they’re residence floor heroes and fairly shite in all places else. Remind me once more the place this recreation is being performed?
Fearless prediction: Landers by 12.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
Harden Up Princesses.
NZ v Wallaroos. Sat might 25. Kick off 11.40am AEST – on STAN.
Let’s be blunt. The Wallaroos have been poor to this point. In opposition to the American Kiwis just a few weeks again, I might settle for a level of rust, a scarcity of cohesion and an allowance for being ‘a bit off’. However towards the precise Seppos final week, that second half efficiency was simply utter rot.
There’s no denying that the Wallaroos have just a few Ferrari’s out large. However there’s no good having the race automobiles out large if you happen to run them on watered down unleaded petrol! And that’s what the Wallaroos pack has achieved now. Twice!
It’s a properly worn rugby path, that forwards win you a recreation, the backs resolve by how a lot. Properly to this point this yr, the forwards have misplaced the Wallaroos each video games and determined the margins of the losses. And it don’t get no simpler this week once they tackle a Black Ferns facet who had their delight pricked by the Canucks final up. So if our forwards don’t entrance up, it might get ugly. Actual ugly.
Group particulars rugby.com.au.
Friday’s Goss’ with Hoss.
115 Not Out.
Large shout out to our greatest pea blower and in addition one of many worlds greatest, Gus Gardner. Gus breaks the SR report of Jaco Peyper this weekend, when he runs out for his a hundred and fifteenth recreation in cost, when he officiates the Brumbies and rebels this weekend in Canberra.
Gus tells rugby.com.au “As a lot as something, it’s simply been an superior journey. It’s attention-grabbing as a result of once I did my one hundredth not so way back, I mentioned referring is as a lot in regards to the those who helped you get there so I feel everytime you obtain a milestone in refereeing it’s nice to acknowledge the those who have helped you get there”.
Congratulations Gus.
What’s he good for?
Phil Waugh talks to the SMH, with out saying something in any respect, in regards to the seek for a information Tahs coach: “It’s a matter of constructing certain that, like we did with Joe Schmidt’s appointment, that there’s an intensive search and making certain that now we have good visibility of who is accessible within the international recreation.”
Mr Waugh additionally had this to say on the drawn out Rebels saga: “Clearly, now we have a duty to gamers, to employees, to the rugby public to get to an consequence as rapidly as attainable to offer certainty throughout the system,”. I simply checked my calendar and ‘as rapidly as attainable’ seems to have been three months in the past.
Drama Queen.
All Black #24 and president of the Ritchie McCaw fan membership, Nigel Owens, tells planet rugby.com: “I worry that introducing this new regulation is solely papering over the cracks of the sport’s points and is extra more likely to create additional issues than resolve the present ones,”
I do get what he’s inferring, nonetheless, the officers can nonetheless award full arm penalties and problem yellow card sanctions ought to scrum shenanigans warrant thus. Good article, attention-grabbing factors.
Poacher turned gamekeeper.
The Drua have proven RA what a succession plan seems to be like in appointing former SR referee and present help coach Glenn Jackson as subsequent years head coach. Jackson will tackle the function when Mick Byrne ascends the thrown to grow to be King of Fiji rugby and head coach of the nationwide facet.
See RA, it’s not actual exhausting to do.
The north remembers.
Its finals time up north. This Sunday AEST the finale of the Champions Cup takes place between Irish powerhouse Leinster & the French aptitude of Toulouse.
For Leinster they need to keep away from their third straight Cup closing defeat, whereas Toulouse need to add to their trophy cupboard and in addition their popularity as European rugby royalty.
Be a cracking recreation to look at & planetrugby.com has all of your Champions Cup information.
Getting intimate with Hoss 2.0
Who mentioned it wouldn’t final! One other podcast drops at 12.30pm at the moment. With out making a gift of any names, think about a former Waratahs champion successful coach, who took the Wallabies to a World Cup Closing and now lives in France, as my particular visitor.
Till subsequent week. Go the Tahs
Hoss -out.
