23 July 2024 #003. Week 3 of the early take a look at season.
One other weekend with too many rugby video games to look at!
Whereas the weekend had some one sided scores because of the tier one groups taking part in rising nations, there have been loads of highlights and nice play as coated by BLL right here.
Crew of the Week
One other massive disclaimer (or admission): it’s a lot simpler to choose if you see the complete match and you recognize the gamers, and a few gamers don’t essentially make the spotlight reels. The participant choice under was additionally influenced by the match itself. Australia v Georgia was shut and a balanced contest so good particular person performances stood out. Equally NZ performances in opposition to Fiji featured.
The reserves are a mix of the gamers who got here off the bench, or had been the following greatest within the place they began in.
Let me know what you assume within the feedback.
The Olympics begin tomorrow
There’re loads of locations to learn concerning the Olympics and the rugby sevens, which kicks off on Wednesday evening. One of many massive questions is whether or not Antoine Dupont can lead the French deep into the event on dwelling soil.
Males’s event
The Australian males function within the opening recreation of the event in opposition to Samoa, and observe that up with video games in opposition to Kenya and Argentina. The boys’s squad seems to be aggressive, particularly with the added categorical tempo of Corey Toole.
Nathan Williamson previews the motion right here. You may as well hear all about it on the Dropped Kick Off Pod right here.
MEN’S
1. Henry Hutchison
2. Ben Dowling
3. Corey Toole
4. Dietrich Roache
5. Mark Nawaqanitawase
6. Henry Paterson
7. Hayden Sargeant
8. James Turner
9. Matt Gonzalez
10. Nick Malouf (c)
11. Maurice Longbottom
12. Nathan Lawson
Ladies’s event
The Aussie girls’s workforce enter the event in nice type after clinching the world SVNS title. They kick off their marketing campaign in opposition to South Africa and observe up with video games in opposition to Eire and Nice Britain.
The Aussie girls’s workforce shall be making an attempt to capitalise on their latest type and replicate their gold medal in 2016. There’s a whole lot of expertise, tempo and profitable habits within the girls’s workforce.
WOMEN’S
1. Bienne Terita
2. Sharni Smale
3. Religion Nathan
4. Dominique Du Toit
5. Teagan Levi
6. Sariah Paki
7. Charlotte Caslick (c)
8. Kaitlin Shave
9. Tia Hinds
10. Isabella Nasser
11. Maddison Levi
12. Bridget Clark
Will we see extra celebrations like this one?
As Australian rugby followers we needs to be excited concerning the possibilities for each groups, I’m actually trying ahead to it.
Opinion piece from this random man
Australian groups have been typically very poor taking part in when now we have a participant off the sphere with a yellow card, or purple card (with the Wallabies in opposition to France from a few years in the past a notable exception). The mode of operation has typically been kick the ball at each alternative, hoping that we will safe some form of discipline possession and gradual the sport down. Whereas I perceive taking a shot at objective, and consuming time that means, I don’t perceive why you’ll kick the ball again to the opposition once they have extra gamers.
It appears to me that the higher plan of action is to attempt to retain possession, as a result of whereas you might have much less gamers, you even have much less concerned in every play when you may have the ball. It seemed just like the Wallabies tried to play with the ball when Daugunu was off the sphere and it appeared to pay dividends.
I’m thinking about your ideas on this.
English gamers do have hearts
On a severe observe, the Telegraph reported that Ben Youngs had coronary heart surgical procedure after collapsing at a Leicester coaching run, and that he’s hoping to make it again onto the pitch within the new season. I’m certain we will all want Ben a speedy restoration and one of the best of luck getting again on the pitch.
That’s a wrap for this week
I’m certain that there’s loads extra to cowl however I’ll depart it for Yowie, Karl, Happyman, and naturally Hoss later within the week.
That’s it for me this week, over to you G&GRs.