Nicely, nicely, nicely, my G&GRs. What a splendiferous weekend of rugby. Worldwide check rugby is again. And that was on high of the Tremendous Rugby Pacific 2024 grand last, and the Wallabies squad announcement. An excessive amount of rugby is rarely sufficient, girls and boys.
Let’s begin with the SRP24 grand Closing, dive into the worldwide exams, have a little bit of a root round in Joe’s group announcement, after which end with some teaching shenanigans. So sit down in entrance of your ‘puter, seize an enormous cup of you understand what ☕, and immerse your self within the recreation we love essentially the most.
Tremendous Rugby Pacific Grand Closing 2024
Auckland Blues 41 defeated Waikato Chiefs 10
One other beautiful Tremendous Rugby Pacific season is completed and dusted. The pretenders had been found (sure Waratahs, I’m speaking about you), and the champions took their lap of honour with gusto. And so it was the case for the Auckland Blues with their brutal and surprising 41-10 victory over the outclassed Waikato Chiefs in wet and damp circumstances. I don’t learn about you G&GRs, however I tipped the Blues by 5, I do know just a few who tipped the Chiefs by 7. However I don’t suppose anybody thought it was going to be the full blowout it ended up being. The Blues powerhouse of a winger Caleb Clarke bagged a hat-trick as they decimated the Chiefs in Auckland on Saturday night time. Touchdown the Blues their first Tremendous Rugby title since 2003 (the Blues did win the Covid affected Tremendous Rugby season).
The Chiefs got here out firing within the first jiffy of the sport, however the Blues having seen the Chiefs final two finals performances labored out a strategy to shut them down, and did so shortly. They then powered away to a primary half lead of 20-3 with the Chiefs going into the sheds now realizing how their final two opponents felt, completely shellshocked.
The Blues pack was immense, powering excessive of the Chiefs, and flyhalf Harry Plumer slotting all of his seven photographs on the sticks. There have been loads of Blues gamers who had been screaming to Razor Robertson ‘Choose Me’ throughout the recreation, with Patrick Tuipolotu, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie and Caleb Clarke to call just a few. The Chiefs however, did themselves few favours for choice, and D-Mac demonstrated how simply he may very well be shut down by an enormous pack.
The Chiefs additionally suffered from a extreme self-discipline drawback inside their 22, with referee Nic Berry (who had a reasonably strong recreation) continually pulling up the Chiefs for infringing. Chiefs prop George Dyer was given a slice of cheddar 🧀 for his infringement within the 22 after half time. However to be trustworthy, it might’ve been a slew of Chiefs gamers, and so they had been fortunate to not have extra gamers within the bin sooner.
The Blues powered away to victory in what was a brutal show of ahead pack rugby that I feel only a few groups would have been capable of counter, even worldwide groups. And so ends Tremendous Rugby Pacific 24, with deserved victors the Auckland Blues celebrating. However not for too lengthy. The exams are coming and lots of these Blues gamers are greater than more likely to don the Black. (And no Yowie, that isn’t a cryptic Sport of Thrones reference.)
Worldwide Assessments
England 52 defeated Japan 17
Eddie Jones’ Worldwide teaching profession has picked up the place it left off, by choosing a bunch of younger lambs and main them to the slaughter. Nicely achieved Eddie!
I received’t write up this recreation as our resident Cleaning soap Dodger and ‘deep pocketed and brief armed’ Tasmanian mayor is doing the information tomorrow, so I received’t steal his thunder and I’ll let him do a match report on his beloved Poms.
South Africa 41 defeated Wales 13
The reigning Rugby World Cup Champions, the Rassie Erasamus watered Dutch Filth Farmers, managed to overpower the Northern Hemisphere sheep 🐑 shaggers, in a recreation that had extra 🧀 than the Margaret River cheese manufacturing facility. Warren Gatland’s inexperienced, veteran missing and ‘I’m going to experiment like a bastard til I’m going to Australia’ aspect suffered a seventh successive worldwide defeat. Wales’ lacking males listing was appreciable:
Absentees included the injured Jac Morgan, Tomos Williams, Taulupe Faletau and Adam Beard, with Gareth Anscombe, Josh Adams, Will Rowlands and Ryan Elias rested this summer time. In distinction Springboks behemoth Eben Etzebeth had just one much less cap than your entire Wales beginning pack, with the Bokkies trotting out 637 caps in comparison with Wales’ 300.
To be trustworthy when wanting on the group alternatives I assumed this was going to finish up being a complete massacre. A crushing defeat to the Welsh. However alas, Gatland’s younger group dug deep to remain within the recreation. Thoughts you they didn’t assist themselves with Rio Dyer and Aaron Wainwright given a slice of 🧀, decreasing Wales to 13 gamers. Amazingly the Welsh hung robust, and at oranges went into the sheds down just one level.
However the second half was a distinct story. The Welsh remained scoreless and the biltong eaters commenced their energy recreation and surged forward. Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi and Edwill van der Merwe all scored tries within the second. Even with a person within the bin for a flying foot to the neck, the Saffas floor out a powerful victory.
Gatland now has extra of concept of what he’s coping with previous to touching down in OZ, in what’s shaping as much as be an excellent collection.
Barbarians 45 defeated Fiji 32
Within the worldwide recreation that I used to be wanting ahead to essentially the most this weekend, I wasn’t let down, with a shocking show of operating rugby that noticed the BaaBaas defeat the Flying Fijians 45-32 in a magic daytime recreation at Twickenham. Even a hat-trick for enigmatic Fiji’s Epeli Momo wasn’t sufficient to save lots of Mick Byrne’s Fijian group in his first worldwide defeat.
The star studded BaaBaas performed scintillating rugby with Lachlan Boshier, Jonny Could and Leicester Fainga’anuku bagging doubles, and Zach Mercer grabbed himself a peach of a attempt. It was probably the final time we might see Sam ‘Hodor’ Whitelock on the market on the rugby area. And to be trustworthy he nonetheless seems to be fairly younger and spritely to me, delivering a close to MotM efficiency. Regardless of Whitelock giving my Reds and the Wallabies a tough time all through his profession, he’s really the most effective locks to ever play the sport, and I for one might be unhappy to see him go!
The Fijians via younger flyhalf Caleb Muntz kicked seven factors, and regarded good again on the paddock after happening with a big harm previous to the 23 RWC. Whereas a loss, Mick ‘The Kick’ Byrne would see lots there to work with for Fiji’s up and coming check season. And it needs to be ringing alarm bells for his or her worldwide opponents.
Wallaby Squad Announcement
And so after the completion of the Tremendous Rugby Pacific 24 season, new Australian coach Joe Schmidt has named his broader squad for the up and coming check collection. Let’s dive in and take a look see.
Wallabies 2024 squad for Wales and Georgia Assessments
Forwards (21)
Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Alex Hodgman, Tom Hooper, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Ryan Smith, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson and Liam Wright.
Backs (17)
Kurtley Beale, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, David Feliuai, Josh Flook, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Darby Lancaster, Noah Lolesio, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Nic White, and Tom Wright.
Joe’s Commentary
After watching the squad announcement and the next press convention in addition to Joe’s interview with Michael Atkinson from STAN rugby, there was one general obtrusive sentiment. The adults are again in cost. Joe continually referring to the group of coaches, by no means himself. His calm, well mannered, self effacing, and deliberate method are only a welcome aid for Wallabies followers that lived via the Eddie ‘It’s all about me’ Jones and Michael ‘Arse Clown’ Chieka period.
Fortunate / Unfortunate
There have been just a few noticeable absences, and some I feel had been unfortunate to be included. Right here’s Brisney’s tackle the squad:
Fortunate
Kurtley Beale – This man needs to be nowhere close to the Wallabies squad. Even when he was the very best rugby participant on the face of the planet, this man ought to by no means be thought-about for Wallaby choice. He’s poisonous, and his off area behavioural traits over the period of his profession present he isn’t the individual you need to have round any of the younger gamers.
Jake Gordon – Didn’t have a flash season in a group that was utter 💩. Requested for a launch from the Tahs, so clearly doesn’t need to be right here. He’s fourth finest 9 by my monitoring.
Angus Blyth – Though I’m a Queenslander, Angus has solely simply returned from harm and actually hasn’t demonstrated the shape this season to warrant choice. However our second row shares aren’t precisely flash in the intervening time and with Izack Rodda leaving Australian shores moderately than being pressured to play for the Tahs, we’d like some huge our bodies who’re ready to do the grunt work and put their head in darkish locations.
Unfortunate
Seru Uru – Seru Uru had an actual escape season this 12 months, an utter work horse for the Reds. Additionally with the ability to play 4/6 offers him some actual utility within the squad. I’m wondering if we’ll see him again for the Rugby Championships.
Josh Canham – Josh had an actual strong 12 months this 12 months, and in addition demonstrated some actual tempo for an enormous man. Nevertheless, he’s nonetheless fairly younger and desires a bit extra bulk to spherical out. I additionally suppose we’d see Josh throughout the TRC.
Tim ‘ Junkyard Canine’ Ryan – Based mostly on this season Tim Ryan regarded like a monty to be chosen for the Wobs squad. However after listening to Joe Schmidt’s causes, I’m fairly pleased for him to not be chosen, but it surely would possibly’ve been nice to get him across the excessive efficiency setting to help in his improvement.
Total I feel the squad, plus or minus one or two is about proper. What do you G&GRs suppose?
Teaching Shenanigans
As reported right here Dan ‘Chuckles’ McKellar has been given the arses as coach of Leicester, with G&GRs favorite Michael Cheika being rumoured as his alternative.
McKellar, former Brumbies and Wallabies ahead coach has appeared to have been left holding the newborn after the Tigers had a surprising season, taking the function after Steve Borthwick left as coach and taking the entire Leicester teaching group with him to move up the Cleaning soap Dodgers.
Reporting within the UK states neither the Leicester board nor the gamers purchased into Chuckles’ view for the group. Reporting additionally suggests the Cheikmeister is a possible alternative candidate. I’m certain this may be the case, however isn’t fascinating that when ever a rugby group loses its coach, previous Cheik boys identify appears to return up.
There’ve additionally been rumours that McKellar could also be in line for the Waratahs teaching function. And to be trustworthy, the Tahs might do lots worse than Dan as he’s lots higher than a lot of the different names in competition for the function. However RA appointing one other sacked coach will most likely not go down nicely with the rugby pundits.
Anyway, sufficient of this previous man ranting. Over to you G&GRs. Have at it!