'Stitch-up of convenience' - New Ospreys chairman issues derisive statement as first point of business

They seemed pretty uncomfortable last year after the final whistle in 2024, I gotta say.

World class comes from what my eyes see at the international game, and I see some silky smooth operators in Tizzano and Wilson, and some physicality that you can only really find in a 7 from Kolisi, du Toit, and Savea from Valetini. Their all pretty amazing players.

I’m also a kiwi, so they’re not ‘my’ team. I’m just saying that straya is a bit underrated right now and could potentially walk away with a Lions series win.

I personally never liked Kerevi either.

Mate, I’ve gotta say, you’re pretty contrarian. Everything I say, you criticize as wrong. For no reason. Just back up your argument with something REAL. Stats, performances, idc. Just give me smth to work with here.

I’m not saying global superstar, your taking words out of my mouth, but I am saying solid international player. Not someone to ignore.

So it was the 12/13 axis that won the 3rd test? Not the Lions pack that utterly assaulted the Wallabies?

Did you even watch it?

I keep a little dog under my desk. He’s called Teddy Rocksteady. He wears one of those vintage Munster rugby jerseys from the 70s. He handles all my technical requests.

I’d just say, “Teddy - block Edward!” and the wee lad hops up to the computer and does it. He’s magic. Does my tax returns too.

I’d never block you though.

I’d never block you, Ed. Never.

I think it’s all mindset with the Boks and they obviously target RWC more than others. Rassie is pragmatic. They know what they need to do and seemed to be among the first of the test nations to treat the modern game as four 20 min quarters rather than a game of two halves. Take a bow, Rassie.

They play expansive rugby to get to knockouts but then change the game plan. They are the only nation to look like 2 different teams in a tournament. 1 team in the pools, another in the business end. It’s certainly not a criticism. It absolutely works for them.

18 PTS would be enough to have won EVERY edition of the previous 10 RWC finals.

15 PTS would have won 80 % (or 90% as the 2003 final went to extra-time and Oz only scored 14 PTS inside the 80 mins).

7 PTS - incredibly - would have won 3 finals!

You’ve made a great point about Durban and it’s something plenty of the Irish media missed. A one PT win after back-to-back drop goals. And yet the same media enjoy ridiculing the Boks for their 10-man game. Our boys were treated like returning war heroes. Double standards.

It’s a new code of rugby they are building down in Oz. A crazy hybrid between union, league and AFL skillsets. Their running, ball in hand play looks scary. If they go toe to toe I think the Wallabies will roast them.