Aussie Pro Rugby

@NTA said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@KiwiMurph said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

I don't think the speculation is that outrageous

There's a home Rugby World Cup in 2027

What else does he have left to achieve in League?

People get out of contracts all the time

Not long to get his head around that level of change - needs a lot of time at pro level if he's going to be a playmaker.

Did Cleary even play at school? Suali'i did which would have helped, but IMHO he still looks a little hesitant to position around rucks etc

Yes he would need to make the switch very soon. I guess the flip side is he'd probably back himself to make the squad - 10 isn't exactly a position of strength.

That's a move that can only help his career.

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

That's a move that can only help his career.

It worked for Lolesio and then he fell off.

@NTA said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

That's a move that can only help his career.

It worked for Lolesio and then he fell off.

A system that gave more front ball and structure for Lolesio will make Edmed first choice #10 for the Wallabies at the RWC.

RA seems to be trying to provide more opportunities for players above club level.

Disappointing they didn;t go one step further and have a Vic or SA state team...but i guess you know....money

state players v full time professionals? Yeah nah

Bloody good start for what they need in Aus.

@mariner4life said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

state players v full time professionals? Yeah nah

i expect the best pros will be trying to get gigs elsewhere, not knocking around a new short domestic comp, mostly i would guess it will be development and squad players

and we need to give players in these other states some sort of pathway

@Dan54 said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Bloody good start for what they need in Aus.

Feels suspiciously like we've gone back in time to 2014

@antipodean said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@Dan54 said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Bloody good start for what they need in Aus.

Feels suspiciously like we've gone back in time to 2014

Sydney clubs scuttled every other attempt at a competition without their specific representation.

This is what we have left...

The first Wallaby squad for the Fiji test.

No real surprises there. Salakia-Loto might be the most notable omission, he was good last year.

No Canham surprises me

Harry Potter heading to the Tahs.

A luxury signing considering their big needs in the tight 5 and at 10.

Wow, so quick

Excellent work by the Wallabies here

Have released a cheap range of merchandise through Best & Less

$40 for a long sleeve supporter's jersey. Beanies, scarf, t shirts etc

@antipodean Pasitoa doesn't have a contract - is going to play NPC - I believe for Northland

Tom Donnelly to become the Wallabies' new lineout coach. Heck of a bounce back from big Sas. Unwanted by Otago and the Landers, to having an international gig.

Ioane Moananu signed by the Tahs.

@NTA

Tahs could not get his position correct in the image

@Duluth said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@NTA

Tahs could not get his position right in the image

Keep in mind that a lot of the Tahs operations have been centralised under RA, as a first point.

I'll tell you - for free - that the corporates who run our game nationally have Fuck All Idea about rugby

A few have chipped in the hooker thing in the comments.

Is he eligible for Australia? And if not how does he not have a NZ contract?

@NTA said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@Duluth said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@NTA

Tahs could not get his position right in the image

Keep in mind that a lot of the Tahs operations have been centralised under RA, as a first point.

I'll tell you - for free - that the corporates who run our game nationally have Fuck All Idea about rugby

Maybe "amok" ?

QLD lock Angus Blyth signs with the Tahs.

With Matt Philip also coming to Sydney it gives us some decent options

Been thinking about the general positioning and talk of rugby in Australia.

For all the talk of rugby dying, or being 'back', I actually think we've found our level over the last 5-10 years and it's where we will stay.

We're a second tier rugby nation, on and off the field. There's enough support to sustain a viable Super competition, 6-8 Wallabies games a year and the odd Lions tour or World Cup. We will field competitive rugby sides that may have the odd good spell but will never be dominant.

Within the sporting landscape here, our place is to sit below AFL, NRL and cricket but above basketball, soccer and netball.

It's not super interesting to discuss, but I think that's how it is. And I'm largely OK with it, but it does mean accepting that a World Cup win in my lifetime may be a bit of a long shot.

it very interesting as weve just a week back in NZ and two things i took from the week after the melbourne lions test

the coverage on the news in NZ of the game was 2-3 longer than what we would have got in aussie...which is wild....so i think IF they did want to make rugby even slightly more popular....they need to get the coverage on side

secondly....loads more people went to the game than i thought would, i had a saffa, english and american guy from work say they got some tickets and went, i think everyone from my club went, it was awesome to see

My entire view of picking overseas players is reversed now that i understand Will Skelton goes home today. Fucking loved watching him running around the track grinning as he made an absolute menace of himself. Will be sorely missed, especially in South Africa

In a way it actually makes me firmer in my views. What if it was eight blokes getting on a plane instead of one?

fair point.

Economics are a bitch.

@barbarian said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Been thinking about the general positioning and talk of rugby in Australia.

For all the talk of rugby dying, or being 'back', I actually think we've found our level over the last 5-10 years and it's where we will stay.

We're a second tier rugby nation, on and off the field. There's enough support to sustain a viable Super competition, 6-8 Wallabies games a year and the odd Lions tour or World Cup. We will field competitive rugby sides that may have the odd good spell but will never be dominant.

Within the sporting landscape here, our place is to sit below AFL, NRL and cricket but above basketball, soccer and netball.

It's not super interesting to discuss, but I think that's how it is. And I'm largely OK with it, but it does mean accepting that a World Cup win in my lifetime may be a bit of a long shot.

A realistic if slightly pessimistic appraisal

How old are you?

@barbarian said in Wallabies vs Lions III:

In a way it actually makes me firmer in my views. What if it was eight blokes getting on a plane instead of one?

I want to agree with @mariner4life point, because with Skelton vs without the Wallabies are just better.

But if you continually pick from overseas, there are no good places to draw the line. Giteau rule etc are all just arbitrary.

For me, it depends on whether we are prepared to give up our domestic rugby competitions as ‘premier’ comps or not. Arguably we already have but that’s a different topic.

To stay on topic, it was clear at the start of the series that the Wobs with Bobby V and Skelton would be a different beast. Both of them are fit and available from test 1 and the wallabies win that series, I think - probably still losing the first but winning the second so at least we’d have had a decider.

@MiketheSnow said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

@barbarian said in Aussie Pro Rugby:

Been thinking about the general positioning and talk of rugby in Australia.

For all the talk of rugby dying, or being 'back', I actually think we've found our level over the last 5-10 years and it's where we will stay.

We're a second tier rugby nation, on and off the field. There's enough support to sustain a viable Super competition, 6-8 Wallabies games a year and the odd Lions tour or World Cup. We will field competitive rugby sides that may have the odd good spell but will never be dominant.

Within the sporting landscape here, our place is to sit below AFL, NRL and cricket but above basketball, soccer and netball.

It's not super interesting to discuss, but I think that's how it is. And I'm largely OK with it, but it does mean accepting that a World Cup win in my lifetime may be a bit of a long shot.

A realistic if slightly pessimistic appraisal

How old are you?

I am 37. Maybe slightly pessimistic. But I'd peg it at maybe 20% chance? We weren't that far away in 2015, if you get a good draw and the bounce of the ball you never know.