Hail and nicely met all you Cobbers and different buddies I simply haven’t met but. Welcome to the Chewsday Chew. With Tremendous Rugby successfully over for we Aussies as of final Saturday, I’ll make just a few feedback concerning the Brumbies semi-final loss in ‘Was that Tremendous?’, then talk about some ‘Huge Greenback Information’ that arose this week, take a look throughout nation footy in ‘Across the campfires’ and end with some information of my very own. So with out additional ado…
Was that Tremendous?
However Brissy’s artfully crafted providing yesterday (HERE), with the ACT Brumbies dropping to the Auckland Blues by 34-20 on Friday night time, so fell the curtain on Aussie involvement within the 2024 Tremendous Rugby sequence. The Tremendous Ultimate this coming weekend between the Blues and the Chiefs might be a cracker of a match, though the Chiefs are on the hunt for a Hooker and the Blues are with out their talismanic captain and premier lock Patrick Tuipulotu. However for we Aussie pundits, that might be chilly consolation.
Coming into this semi-final, I genuinely believed the Donkeys had an opportunity. However these possibilities took a major blow with the lack of Jimmy ‘Outdated Man’ Slipper within the warm-up, when his troublesome calf didn’t go the take a look at. His loss launched Rhys Van Nek into the beginning lineup and whereas Rhys is an effective lad, the lack of Jimmy Slips capacity at No1, his large match expertise, and the absence of his normal management total, was keenly felt. That solely served to additionally exacerbate the Donkeys ongoing points round bread & butter set-piece fundamentals, which for thus lengthy has been their core energy. And all rolled up, that meant the match was over by halftime.
To be honest to the Blues, they began ‘on-fire’ with energy working and slick dealing with off the again of a ‘shock and awe’ forwards show that delivered a veritable clinic in ‘Piggies at play’ fundamentals. However greater than that, the Brums had been their very own worst enemies. To be particular, the Donkeys murdered three first-half kick-off receptions, gifting two tries to the Blues. And this was compounded by no less than three, arguably 4, first half lineouts within the Blues quarter that had been all fluffed. In earlier years, these alternatives had been nearly ‘bankable’ Brumby tries. And it wasn’t simply their piggies letting the Brums down, because the backs weren’t overlaying themselves in glory both with over-reads and poor situational consciousness driving nails into their coffin as nicely. Maybe the best instance of that got here some 10min into the 2nd half when a 5 on 3 overlap alternative was one way or the other butchered and one other should-of pie went begging.
And so whereas James Doleman should absolutely be castigated for what was a mesmerising show of bewildering refereeing (in each instructions to be clear), the Donkeys opened the gate for a rampaging Auckland Blues outfit to smash via, run riot and, deservedly, take the bikkies. So congratulations Auckland and over to you Saint Joe and the Wobbs.
Rugby Future Fund
In line with stories within the Australian newspaper (HERE) and elsewhere, together with yesterdays chat part, quietly within the background of company Australia have been a small group of a dozen or so finance-industry aficionados, beavering away to cobble collectively approx $100million in capital to ascertain a Rugby super-fund. Apparently the fund is to be modelled considerably equally because the ASX-listed ‘Future Era Fund’ that donates to charities and psychological well being teams, and is to be focused at constructing the ladies’s recreation and in broadening ‘grass roots’ participation. That mentioned, apparently the pitch additionally goes on to speak about ‘excessive efficiency’ issues, so I’m unsure how that aligns with ‘grass-roots’.
Nonetheless, with names related to the mission corresponding to David Paradice , Geoff Wilson and Phil King, I’ve little question {that a} substantial amount of cash might be on the desk. As ever, the satan might be within the element and I can’t assist however surprise what kind of affect might be demanded, and by whom, as the worth (both formally or unofficially) of such largesse. Then once more, beggars can’t be choosers. And if we will one way or the other conjure a little bit of a plate of benefactors that RA will truly discuss to (versus telling them to ‘get bent’ ala Twiggy-style), then maybe we might have a solution, or no less than a part of a solution, on-hand to a prayer or three that we’ve all made at instances. Time will inform.
Maybe these of our readership who know extra of such issues might give their opinions within the feedback beneath?
Across the Campfires…
As ever, there have been loads of comings, going and doings about nation footy over the past weekend, and so let’s have a wee look concerning the panorama:
Out within the Western Plains zone, Warren Puma’s powered house within the final 10min to defeat the Bogan Bulls 28-23 within the Bomber Moxham and Barry Seashore Cup, whereas the Bourke & Brewarrina BaaBaa’s had it over the Cobar Camels by 41-17. However within the match of the spherical, Gulargambone Galahs defeated Coonamble Rams to place the suitable stamp on the Gulah Women Day.
In what was an absolute ‘showdown’ celebration of all issues good about nation rugby, The Flamin’ Galahs received the ladies’s 24-17 and the lads’s likewise went to Galah by 20-19, on the day the place Galah rejoice ‘Sara’s Women Day’, a special day in reminiscence of a really outstanding membership supporter.
For Galah, the ladies’s factors went as 3pts to Makaila Gordon, 2pts to Sharna Steedman and 1pt to Heidi Ferguson whereas Gamers Participant went to Paige Wilson. For the lads, 3pts went to Mitch Graham, 2pts to Jack Bradley and 1pt to Issac Grimshaw.
Down in Southern Inland, the weekend previous noticed the Wagga Waratah’s knock over the Tumut Bulls by 42-20 at Connelly Park, the CSU Reddies make the trek south to defeat Albury Steamers 38-17, and the Leeton Phantoms rise up over next-door rivals Griffith Blacks by 39-34. And in what was positively the match of the spherical, Wagga Metropolis continued their unbeaten run by knocking over cross-town rivals Wagga Ag Faculty 43-36 in a tightly contested affair out on the Uni grounds.
These outcomes see blue & white hoops of Wagga Metropolis proceed to dominate all and lead the desk on 9 wins from 9 begins and so 44pts. Remarkably the Boiled Lollies have solely left a single bonus level untaken within the season up to now. Ag Faculty are 2nd with 6 from 9 for 34pts whereas third spot are the Tahs on 6 from 8 and 34pts (so have a recreation in-hand).
The SIRU competitors this 12 months is an actual story of the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’, particularly with the way in which and method in-which Wagga Metropolis in-particular have established such dominance within the zone of late. And so, whereas I’m a giant believer in not kicking a canine as a result of he received a combat, some actual questions are actually at-hand about competitors sustainability given the character of the present Wagga Metropolis supremacy. One hopes the wheel turns earlier than too lengthy, and a stage enjoying area reemerges, earlier than irredeemable harm is finished to probably the most enduring nation competitions within the land.
Again up a bit in Central West rugby, Cootamundra Tricolours scored a incredible 36-19 win over next-town-rivals Younger Yabbies. Native stories are that, within the newest iteration of the Ben Smith Memorial Trophy, the Coota lads ‘flew out the gates’ to ascertain an early lead which a valiant and ‘quick ending’ Yabby mob couldn’t reign in earlier than the pea blew one final time. Coota’s factors went as 3pts to Matt Berkrey, 2pts to Paddy “Mr Widespread” Cameron at Exterior Centre and 1pt to ‘Captain Jack’. Gamers Participant was fullback Epi, with some brilliantly touches from the deep, amply demonstrating his class to an appreciative viewers.
In different Central West outcomes, Grenfell Panthers ‘did the enterprise’ in opposition to the Blayney Rams by 32-20, whereas the Temora Tuskers beat a tricky West Wyalong Weevils outfit by 38-19.
However it was the Harden Pink Devils who pulled the upset of the spherical, with their ladies’s crew firstly defeating the Boorowa Goldilocks by 59-0 after which the lads beating the table-leading Boorowa Goldies 31-25 within the newest rendition of their rivalry, the Annie McGuigan Protect. The boys’s match began with the Boorowa lads establishing early dominance and seeking to have the match nicely in hand. Nevertheless in what has been described as an ‘inspiring’ resurgence, the Harden lads settled, regathered, after which overcame the early 10pt deficit, to bolt out to a 31-13 lead earlier than the Boorowa Beast re-awakened within the second stanza and got here thundering again. However the Goldies couldn’t retake their lead within the time remaining and so the Pink Devils grabbed the glory of the day.
From these outcomes, Boorowa nonetheless leads one and all on the desk with 8 wins from 9 begins for 39pts, however Harden have narrowed the hole now at 7 from 9 for 34pts, in addition to firing a warning shot over the desk toppers – over their kneecaps one would possibly say. In the meantime, regardless of the Coota vs Younger rating, Younger Yabbies nonetheless cling to third spot with 6 from 9 for 31, simply forward of the Tricolours at 6 from 9 for 30pts. In order-ever, bonus factors are proving to be the ‘make or break’ issue because the season matures.
Within the South-Coast and Monaro, Yass Rams knocked over Bungendore Mudchooks 32-29, Taralga Tigers sworded ADFA 24-3, Crookwell Canines defeated Cooma 27-17 and Braidwood Redbacks had an Outdated Boys match supported by all method of different shenanigans earlier than someplace in there they flattened Batemans Bay Boars 81-0. A lot to the credit score of the Braidwood crew, they did contribute round 4 or 5 gamers to the Boars trigger, together with one dubious-looking, aged entrance rower of clearly unhealthy mood, unwell reputation and even much less obvious capacity, who then went on to make a proper ache the arse of himself to the Redbacks in rucks, mauls and scrums all day (so I’m reliably knowledgeable). However even such benevolence as that gave couldn’t stem the regular movement of pink & black Redback tries that rained down at a gentle cadence as soon as the pea was blown.
However match of the spherical was actually the 28-all draw between Corridor Bushrangers and Jindabyne Bushpigs. The day began at Corridor Showgrounds with the Corridor ladies setting the tone by way of a 24-19 win, and in doing so, setting the stage was set for an epic encounter within the males’s, contemplating the Jindy males are actually undefeated into their third season. And while the Jindy lads introduced a full bench and extra – befitting their table-topping standing – in comparison with the Halls half-bench at finest, the Corridor lads met them head-on from the soar as either side ‘set-to’ in a torrid affair that noticed the ultimate scores locked at 4 sauced pies and a smattering of cheese served each methods.
Finest for Corridor had been halfback Hayden Cummings with two pies whereas Capt James Murphy landed all pictures, whereas for Jindy, winger Ethan Cawthorn snavelled a pair of pies and Capt Dylan Johnson additionally landed all pictures.
All that mentioned, after solely simply scraping house in opposition to a depleted Braidwood just lately, and now to be held to a draw by Corridor, the Jindy Bushpigs are nonetheless technically undefeated and nicely clear at prime of the desk. However their dominance over the South Coast and Monaro competitors has actually been given a shake and the sharks are seemingly starting to circle the clearly wounded and discombobulated Pigs. Who will step as much as (re)declare the mantle?
And now, in closing this week, I do hereby give discover to you good those who this might be my final Chewsday Chew for some time. I’ve taken on a brand new job, one that truly pays me, and that wants my unfettered consideration for a spell. So I’m giving my weekly dribble and rant on this website a relaxation. However don’t be unhappy! Firstly, I reckon I’ll be again in some unspecified time in the future. After 15-16yrs of hanging about this website in its varied varieties, I’ll nonetheless be across the feedback/chat often and with two world cups and a BIL tour on the horizon, there might be loads to gab on about. And secondly, renewal is the elixir of life, so others will step into the breach with their very own perspective, humour and normal ‘take’ on all issues rugby till in the future somebody might say “bear in mind when Nutta…” and the reply might be “who’s Nutta?” Such is the character of life.
I’ll take this second to thanks all on your suggestions, feedback, corrections, rants, accusations and occasional belligerence concerning my choices over my time writing right here. I’ve genuinely appreciated it, even when I discovered it confronting, as if nothing else it compelled me to be a greater author. And to Hoss, Brissy and the opposite good fellows of the Craparazzi, I likewise supply my thanks for his or her perseverance, endurance and tolerance.
In parting, for what it’s price, I’ll notice that my favorite contribution to this website stays HERE as for me no less than, the soul of our recreation nonetheless resides in nation footy, in these dozens of in any other case forgotten video games, those performed each Saturday within the arse finish of nowhere, when “From The place?” meets “Towards Whom?” When unusual fellas (and gals now) drive the miles, strap an ankle, fly into tackles, shake some arms, skoll just a few beers after which quietly return to their tractors, mines, lecture rooms and welding kits. After which they do all of it once more subsequent Saturday.
So with that folk, bear in mind to play laborious, run straight and deal with courageous. Keep in mind that every time we pull on a jersey, we put one other sew within the material of that jersey, and that then will get handed on to whoever comes subsequent. So make your sew worthwhile.
And above all, at all times do not forget that Saturday is rugby day (someplace).
Nutta out.
