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Here are some things that should cheer up Australian rugby fans

George Gregan and Joe Roff in happier times (Photo: Getty Images)

It’s been a tough old start to the Super Rugby season for Australian fans. In times like these it pays to remember the good times, writes Jamie Wall.

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Cheer up, Australian rugby fans! Despite the axe hovering above one of your Super Rugby teams and dubious claims that ballroom dancing has overtaken the fifteen-a-side code in popularity, history has shown that the Lucky Country has withstood far worse than this current crisis.

How quick are we to forget the good times? It was only three seasons ago that the Waratahs pulled off perhaps the best Super Rugby final win in the competition’s history. Let’s have a look at some of the other great Aussie moments of recent years.

The Brumbies: The most successful Australian side in the competition, the Canberra-based side have two titles to show for their 21 years of Super Rugby. Their GIO Stadium fortress remains one of the toughest destinations for visiting teams – whether that’s due to the Brumbies’ up-tempo game-plans or the fact it’s freezing cold and there’s just nothing to do in the Australian capital is up for debate. As well as being the launching pad for the careers of the likes of George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Joe Roff, the Brumbies have also been home to former coach Laurie Fisher’s unique ‘homeless guy who got a makeover’ look.

The old-school Reds: While the Queensland Reds famously won Super Rugby in 2011 (then quickly regressed into the coach-torching also-rans they are today), it’s worth remembering they pretty much dominated the club game in this part of the world before it went pro. The Reds won the inaugural Super Six tournament in 1992, then back to back Super 10’s in ‘94-’95 with a team stacked with some of the world’s best players.

When the Rebels were Super Rugby’s party team: It’s true that the Rebels have never actually been any good, but they at least deserve some credit for beginning their existence as a booze-glazed office Xmas party disguised as a rugby team. The signing of noted party boy Danny Cipriani certainly showed their intentions early, and his antics obviously attracted the attention of walking headline Kurtley Beale soon after. They were in the news more often for running elusive moves in bars rather than on the park. These days the only thing the Rebels are at risk of getting kicked out of is the competition.

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Israel Folau’s 2014 season: The men in sky blue were red hot the year they finally answered their many critics, and it was due in no small part to the incredible season of Izzy Folau. The code-hopping fullback (you can probably pass over his brief and below-average stint at AFL) pretty much scored at will, picking up a hat-trick in the Tahs’ first game and continuing on from there. These days he’s been in the news more for his engagement to Kiwi netballer Maria Tutaia, which must make it kind of awkward for her when the Folau’s Wallabies play the All Blacks.

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The Butterfly Effect: Wallabies and butterflies, two of the animal kingdom’s most fearsome apex predators, are on show in this ad from the mid-2000’s. While this clearly was the result of a few too many drinks at the ARU’s advertising agency, it is a shame the team never actually employed the tactic of emerging from the tunnel before a game shrouded in lepidoptera.

Brad Thorn’s glorious career: Oh wait, he’s a Kiwi who just looks and sounds like an Aussie. Sorry.

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PL 2 hours ago
Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


The officiating of last feet is non existent

The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

Last feet to last feet + 1 m


When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

25 were scrum for dissent


Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


All the s.ite would disappear


The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

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S
Soliloquin 3 hours ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

237 Go to comments
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