Welcome, as soon as once more, to the Weekend Version. I gained’t let you know what occurred in video games on Friday night time, and I’m not going to let you know what I believe goes to occur in video games that’re on Saturday afternoon, or on Sunday. However, I’m not going to cease you speaking about these video games within the feedback; actually, I’d find it irresistible.
So, what’s going to I write about? I’m within the information that falls by the cracks every week. I’m hoping to choose up the odd bit of stories that is available in after Hoss’s marathon news-gathering efforts on Fridays. If that fails, I could should make some shit up.
This week, I’m going to take a look at a Tongan journey for Harry, a plea to only take the shot for purpose, and information right this moment the Sekope Kepu is to retire.
A Downside With Endurance
Or is it greed?
On the Speaking Groups podcast final Wednesday, I talked about my frustration with Australian sides and their incapacity to construct scores.
This was highlighted within the Reds v Drua sport when the Reds, trailing 18-14 within the 46 min have been awarded a penalty 15 metres out and immediately in entrance of the posts. A straightforward shot at purpose would’ve left the Reds one level behind and receiving the ball from the kick-off. The Reds lineout wasn’t travelling effectively, they’d already misplaced three of their very own throws. The Reds ignored the sport scenario, the convenience of the shot and their lineout woes and kicked for the nook.
Anybody who watched can let you know what occurred subsequent. The Reds misplaced their fourth lineout, the Drua broke out of their 22, ran the size of the sector and scored beneath the posts. Alongside the way in which, a Reds winger caught his leg out for the second time within the match and was crimson carded for his effort. The Reds trailed by 25 to 14 and have been right down to 14 for 20 minutes.
This was the turning level of the match.
I’ve seen the identical sample repeated time and again within the final twenty years, with various difficulties of kicks at purpose. Australian sides will nearly at all times flip down the kick, regardless of how straightforward it’s, it doesn’t matter what the sport scenario is, regardless of how our lineout goes, regardless of how good the maul defence is.
Our sides flip down a greater than 50% probability at three factors for an opportunity at 5 factors that we convert lower than 50% of the time. Then we take a kick from the sideline for an additional two factors that our kickers convert lower than 40% of the time. I’ve made all these figures up from simply my feeling for the sport. I don’t have the flexibility to return and discover what number of pictures at purpose we now have turned down for a lineout within the nook.
I’d counsel to you, that until our groups are chasing the sport, we ought to be trying each shot at purpose we now have a greater than 50% probability of getting. I believe that we expect we have to rating tries to entertain our followers, however these tries aren’t very entertaining, and profitable with penalties is way extra fascinating than shedding with lineout tries.
So, please, Australian coaches and captains, take into consideration profitable extra video games and begin taking each straightforward level that’s obtainable to you.
Reds Tongan Tour Continues To Excite
The dual excursions of Tonga in July by the Queensland Folks’s Republic of Queensland Reds males’s and girls’s sides continues to construct. Including to the spice is the potential return of Harry Wilson from his damaged arm for the tour.
Wilson was vying with Rob Valetini for a spot within the Wallaby again row. Whereas it might be tempting to attempt to shoehorn their ability units into the identical backrow, neither of them are nice lineout jumpers and I believe we’d be higher served by a workhorse, leaping blindside flanker within the check facet. Liam Wright, Ned Hanigan and Rob Leota come to thoughts. So that you’re left with a selection between Valetini’s energy sport and Wilson’s reference to McReight and his work ethic and offloads. It’s an fascinating conundrum.
As soon as once more, I’ve been distracted.
“I’ll undoubtedly be slot in July to be thought-about for an excellent journey,” Wilson mentioned in a press release. “I used to be fortunate sufficient to journey to Tonga final yr with Australia A, so I understand how superior the native crowd is. They solely cheer for one crew, however that’s fairly cool being on the opposite facet of it. The bottom was so packed, folks have been watching from timber.”
Younger reds prop Massimo De Lutiis can be eager for a spot on the tour after a 14-week lay-off with damage. “We’re all actually excited, particularly the younger boys. They’re all excited to develop their expertise enjoying towards a world crew with totally different types of rugby,” De Lutis advised rugby.com.au.
“I’m undoubtedly placing my hat within the ring, but it surely’s clearly as much as the coaches. I’d like to play, and I’d be so excited to go to Tonga. I used to be a bit jealous of the boys going to Fiji, so I’d love the chance to go.”
Sekope Kepu Calls It A Day
After 110 Wallaby caps, hundreds of Tremendous Rugby caps and 19 years enjoying on the high degree Sekope Kepu has determined that that is his final season of high degree rugby.
“Within the final couple of weeks, it’s type of dawned on me that that is the precise time. Everyone that retires says you recognize when it’s time,” he mentioned in a press release. “All I dreamt of was to play rugby professionally, and I’ve been very blessed to do this. Whereas I’ll miss it, I’m trying ahead to being there for my youngsters.”
“I simply need to thank the followers, as a result of with out them, we don’t have a sport,” added Kepu, who’s contemplating transferring to teaching. “My mother and father as effectively, the previous man used to return to my coaching and video games each weekend and that planted the seed.”
Everybody at greenandgoldrugby.com needs Sekope Kepu all the very best within the subsequent chapter of his life. Get pleasure from this time with your loved ones, you’ve achieved your nation, your state, and your golf equipment proud.
Shout Out To Gus Gardner.
Gus grew to become probably the most capped referee in Tremendous Rugby final night time. Respect man. Effectively achieved!
That’s it from me. Have an excellent weekend and I’ll see you within the feedback.