Welcome, as soon as once more, to the Weekend Version.
There’s nothing fairly as thrilling in rugby, for me no less than, because the week earlier than the primary take a look at match of the yr. The gradual construct up that begins with hypothesis of the primary squad of the yr, then the naming of that squad, adopted by the outrage and/or elation when your favorite participant misses out or makes the squad, the hypothesis over the primary take a look at crew, the leaks of the primary take a look at crew, the naming of the primary take a look at crew, the outrage and/or elation when your favorite participant misses out or makes the crew.
After the crew is introduced, we now have about two and a half days when our Australian optimism takes over and our crew may very well be world beaters. Our climb again up the rankings may very well be only a matter of time. We expect this may very well be the yr the Bledisloe makes that journey again throughout the Tasman. For 2 and a half days the Wallabies are superb. Inevitably, the Wallabies can’t reside as much as our expectations (what crew may) and we stroll away disenchanted.
This yr, I’m as excited as some other, however my expectations are tempered. We now have new coaches and a brand new philosophy. This primary take a look at crew appears to be, principally, chosen on kind and work ethic; this has not been one in every of our sturdy factors prior to now. Too usually, we now have seemed previous our gamers’ shortcomings due to the one factor that they excel in.
So, to start out with, I’m going to be proud of an excellent effort and a by no means surrender angle, whereas hoping for a win. All of the whereas hoping that the Wallabies construct because the yr goes on. Along with that, I’m going to do my greatest to cease stressing about our world rating.
It’s A Leaking Ship
As I’ve acknowledged above, I really like this week. What I don’t love is many of the take a look at facet being leaked earlier than the announcement. I used to be in a position to piece collectively the vast majority of the 23 earlier than the announcement, and that took a bit little bit of the enjoyment out of it for me.
On this week’s Speaking Groups podcast, Happyman instructed that RA may minimize the leaks out and switch the announcement into an occasion. I feel I’d be proud of one or two leaks and a crew announcement adopted by a deeper evaluation by the media. Trickle feeding the crew to the media takes away from the expertise for us followers. I do know you’re making an attempt to construct curiosity within the sport, however please don’t do it this fashion. Extra within the poddy under.
Effectively, that’s all from me this week. Have an ideal weekend, and I’ll discuss to you within the feedback.
Sully out.