Showing posts with label australia. Show all posts
Propping Up The Wallabies
By Tim Cronin
Australia should have a fantastic front row.
It’s no secret they are a sports mad nation, and the volume of their population who take part in sport obviously contributes to the fantastic global success they experience in any number of events. And it’s no wonder that people love to get outside and run around – the environment is simply conducive to playing sport.
So, with high participation levels and a country which is used to competing, and indeed achieving excellence, I can’t figure out why the Wallabies struggle year after year to get a decent front row together.
Australia should have a fantastic front row.
It’s no secret they are a sports mad nation, and the volume of their population who take part in sport obviously contributes to the fantastic global success they experience in any number of events. And it’s no wonder that people love to get outside and run around – the environment is simply conducive to playing sport.
So, with high participation levels and a country which is used to competing, and indeed achieving excellence, I can’t figure out why the Wallabies struggle year after year to get a decent front row together.
The Rugby Championship: Australia Team Profile
By Rowan Birch
The Wallabies had on the whole a 'decent' year in 2012. The Queensland Reds won the Super Rugby championship plus the Wallabies won the Tri Nations and collected a bronze medal at the World Cup. The year was topped off with a win against Wales at the Millennium stadium. The Aussies successful year was graced with fantastic form from Scott Higginbotham, the brilliant David Pocock and Radike 'Afro' Samo.
However, there was also a sour taste left in the mouth of the Australians. Not only did they lose in the semi-final of the World Cup to 'the Enemy' but they also got well beat by Ireland in the group stage. Even worse though, the form of some of the Wallabies top players dropped significantly heading into the world cup, which led to doubt over their position in the team.
The Wallabies had on the whole a 'decent' year in 2012. The Queensland Reds won the Super Rugby championship plus the Wallabies won the Tri Nations and collected a bronze medal at the World Cup. The year was topped off with a win against Wales at the Millennium stadium. The Aussies successful year was graced with fantastic form from Scott Higginbotham, the brilliant David Pocock and Radike 'Afro' Samo.However, there was also a sour taste left in the mouth of the Australians. Not only did they lose in the semi-final of the World Cup to 'the Enemy' but they also got well beat by Ireland in the group stage. Even worse though, the form of some of the Wallabies top players dropped significantly heading into the world cup, which led to doubt over their position in the team.
Wales Down Under: What went wrong?
By Jake Harvey - Welsh Correspondent
Wales travelled to Australia three weeks ago with incredibly high expectations; now that it’s time for them to make their way home it seems as if those expectations seemed rather unrealistic.
Wales yesterday played their third and final test of their Australian tour. They had lost the two previous games to the world’s second strongest side but went into the match looking for Welsh Rugby’s first win against the Wallabies in Australia since 1969.
Wales travelled to Australia three weeks ago with incredibly high expectations; now that it’s time for them to make their way home it seems as if those expectations seemed rather unrealistic.Wales yesterday played their third and final test of their Australian tour. They had lost the two previous games to the world’s second strongest side but went into the match looking for Welsh Rugby’s first win against the Wallabies in Australia since 1969.
Another disappointing weekend for Northern Hemisphere rugby
David Hendy's review of the second round of Test matches in which all of the Home Nations lost again.
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Wales suffer second Tour defeat against Australia
By Jake Harvey - Welsh Correspondent
Wales were again denied their first Test win against Australia down under for 43 years as the last kick of the game clinched a lucky 25-23 win for the Wallabies.
Wales got off to the best possible start when 20 year old winger George North went over the line after picking the ball from the base of the ruck a few metres out to score a try in the 4th minute. The Welsh held on to the lead until the 39th minute when Ozzie Fly-Half Berrick Barnes broke through to set up a try for Rob Horne so the Wallabies could go in at half time as the leading side.
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| Bradley Davies (Getty) |
Wales got off to the best possible start when 20 year old winger George North went over the line after picking the ball from the base of the ruck a few metres out to score a try in the 4th minute. The Welsh held on to the lead until the 39th minute when Ozzie Fly-Half Berrick Barnes broke through to set up a try for Rob Horne so the Wallabies could go in at half time as the leading side.
Home Nations suffer defeats in opening Tests
By David HendyDisappointment for the three of the Home Nations as they all bowed down to the superiority of their hosts. Ireland suffered a heavy 42-10 defeat to current Web Ellis champions New Zealand.
Wales were defeated by a resurgent Australian side 27-19 and England were edged out of a tight contest against South Africa, losing 22-17.
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Teams named for Wales vs Australia clash
By Jake Harvey - Welsh Correspondent
Wales and Australia have now named their sides to play each other on Saturday. Sam Warburton returns to the starting line-up to captain the Welsh team.
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, George North, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips, Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Adam Jones, Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins Replacements: Matthew Rees, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Ashley Beck
Click 'more' to view Australia team
Wales and Australia have now named their sides to play each other on Saturday. Sam Warburton returns to the starting line-up to captain the Welsh team.
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, George North, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips, Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Adam Jones, Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins Replacements: Matthew Rees, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Ashley Beck
Click 'more' to view Australia team
Super Rugby Round One Review
By David van der Merwe - Super Rugby Writer
The first weekend of Super Rugby has come and gone and what a weekend it was. We could not have asked for more excitement, controversy or closer games, but then there also were those games that a surgeon could use to put a man down before open heart surgery and then struggle to wake him up afterwards.
I would love to know how your predictions went and your thoughts on the games so let me know. Here is how I did and a brief take from me on the games...
The first weekend of Super Rugby has come and gone and what a weekend it was. We could not have asked for more excitement, controversy or closer games, but then there also were those games that a surgeon could use to put a man down before open heart surgery and then struggle to wake him up afterwards.
I would love to know how your predictions went and your thoughts on the games so let me know. Here is how I did and a brief take from me on the games...
Will the Hurricanes blow Super Rugby 2012 away?
By David van der Merwe - Super Rugby Writer
The Hurricanes is a New Zealand rugby franchise team
representing the lower North Island of New Zealand. The region is made up of
East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti, Manawatu, Poverty Bay, Taranaki,
Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui and Wellington provincial Rugby unions. They have
never won the Super Rugby title, but have been in the top 4 positions 6 times
and finished second once. Their worst finish was in 2004 when they finished
11th out of 12 teams.
The Hurricanes is a New Zealand rugby franchise team
representing the lower North Island of New Zealand. The region is made up of
East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti, Manawatu, Poverty Bay, Taranaki,
Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui and Wellington provincial Rugby unions. They have
never won the Super Rugby title, but have been in the top 4 positions 6 times
and finished second once. Their worst finish was in 2004 when they finished
11th out of 12 teams.
Most of their players are from Wellington with a couple from
Taranaki and Hawke's Bay. 24 of their players are protected and may not be
selected by other New Zealand teams. The rest are up for selection by any team.
They can also select players from other regions who are not protected. All of their players are currently playing for teams in the Air New Zealand Cup. The
Air New Zealand Cup is the NZ equivalent of the Currie Cup, played by 14 teams
annually.
Super Rugby Preview - Part 1
By David van der Merwe
Our South African columnist, David van der Merwe, will be providing a weekly team-by-team preview of the Super Rugby season. He will preview one team from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia every week and in this edition he will preview The Brumbies, The Lions and The Blues.
Our South African columnist, David van der Merwe, will be providing a weekly team-by-team preview of the Super Rugby season. He will preview one team from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia every week and in this edition he will preview The Brumbies, The Lions and The Blues.
Preview: Barbarians v Australia
The last time these two sides met was back in 2009 when Australia dominated the invitational side by fifty-five points to seven. But as the fixture returns to Twickenham it seems the much anticipated encounter will provide a fantastic display of rugby for the world to see.
After the late call-up of Wigan Warriors star, Sam Tomkins, along with the other world class names such as Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana, the Barbarians will surely be the dominant force. The Wallabies will hope to round off what was a fairly successful year of rugby off the back of a bronze medal in the Rugby World Cup.
After the late call-up of Wigan Warriors star, Sam Tomkins, along with the other world class names such as Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana, the Barbarians will surely be the dominant force. The Wallabies will hope to round off what was a fairly successful year of rugby off the back of a bronze medal in the Rugby World Cup.
Rugby World 3rd Place play-off Preview: Wales v Australia
The third place play-off in this year's Rugby World Cup is a reply of the 1987 3rd place play-off. Australia will face Wales in a match that can go either way. Both teams have lost 2 games up to now and both are determined to finish 3rd.
Wales were unlucky in losing to France in the semi-final. Losing their captain as early as the 18th minute didn't help them. Playing for 60 minutes with 14 men and still only losing 9-8 shows that they have got the heart. They out played France by far and the difference was 3 missed kicks in the last 20 minutes.
Wales were unlucky in losing to France in the semi-final. Losing their captain as early as the 18th minute didn't help them. Playing for 60 minutes with 14 men and still only losing 9-8 shows that they have got the heart. They out played France by far and the difference was 3 missed kicks in the last 20 minutes.
Semi Final Preview: Australia v New Zealand
The Wallabies can count themselves very lucky to be playing in this semi-final. On Sunday the Springboks totally out played them. The try that they scored came against the run of play as did the winning penalty. The fact that they weren't penalised for infringements at the rucks as well as two forward passes by the Springboks saved them. Coming Sunday will be a different ball game though. They will have to watch Richie McCaw at the rucks and Sonny Bill-Williams on attack. If they can stop them they might well win the game. They will also have the 23rd player to content with: the crowd.
Wallabies out play the Springboks
Report by David van der MerwePeter de Villiers' Springbok side took on Australia in a do or die game for the coach. Australia came in to this game confident that they could beat the Springboks as they have done so already twice this year. The Springboks though had the confidence that their experience would carry them through.
Rugby World Cup Preview - South Africa v Australia
By David van der Merwe
The first of the Southern hemisphere quarter finals are played by two teams that knows each other well. They have faced 76 times with the Springboks winning 44. Of late though the Wallabies have won 4/5.
Australia came into the RWC as the favourites to win the competition. The Irish showed that they are beatable if you play clever rugby against them. They will want to become the first team to win the RWC 3 times and the first to do it after losing a game. Injuries to key players will hamper them. They will be though team to beat.
Australia came into the RWC as the favourites to win the competition. The Irish showed that they are beatable if you play clever rugby against them. They will want to become the first team to win the RWC 3 times and the first to do it after losing a game. Injuries to key players will hamper them. They will be though team to beat.
Ireland 15-6 Australia
Certainly the best match so far. Ireland will be very pleased after an intense win in front of proud Irish supporters. Australia will not be so pleased. They led once or twice early on and made no more points after that. It was disappointing from the Wallabies but Ireland proved there low ranking does not reflect the quality they play at. They are definitely a competitor for this trophy and will look to improve further in the coming games.
The first half was dull with the scores tied at 6-6 as the sides headed inside to prepare for what was to be a spectacular second half. O'Connor scored two penalties in the first half with Sexton also scoring one for Ireland. With Australia holding a three point lead, Sexton levelled the scores to 6-6 going into the break.
Half time update: Australia v Ireland
A close, tightly fought first half. Mistakes and misses have lost both sides points but nobody is the favourite and this will be a battle to the end.
Australia have taken two penalties, both from James O'Connor who was re-called after a one match ban from the Australian management. Ireland had one penalty from Jonny Sexton and also a few misses from the young fly-half. However, Sexton redeemed himself with a drop goal to tie the scores at 6-6.
Australia will be disappointed that they have taken the opportunities to get more points and the half time score is the same as their opening clash with Italy. 6-6. Click read more to view players of the half and our predictions.
Australia have taken two penalties, both from James O'Connor who was re-called after a one match ban from the Australian management. Ireland had one penalty from Jonny Sexton and also a few misses from the young fly-half. However, Sexton redeemed himself with a drop goal to tie the scores at 6-6.
Australia will be disappointed that they have taken the opportunities to get more points and the half time score is the same as their opening clash with Italy. 6-6. Click read more to view players of the half and our predictions.
James O'Connor re-called by Australia
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| Getty Images |
The young Wallabies star missed the squad announcement last month and was punished by the Australian management with a one match ban. However, he redeemed himself as he returned to playing rugby in Australia's world cup opener against Italy last weekend.