The Roar
The Roar

The Roar

Ken Catchpole's Other Leg

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Joined September 2016

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As much as it saddens me to hear counter-fairytales JN, I understand that we need them less than we need nuanced truth.
But fairytales warm the heart for a moment until our truths mature.

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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No reason that the Insta influenza writing the headlines could see?

Things get feisty as Argentine fly-half shoves Ronan O'Gara... for absolutely no reason

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Never thought I’d say it, but blessed memories.

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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I will agree to disagree OSR.
To win a World Cup 2 x10s minimum are required. NZ once needed 4.
Eddie’s game plans butchered any opportunity’ he gave to Quade.
Pretoria saw our ten make more tackles than passes.

‘The Future’ only became a thing when Eddie’s trash talk came up empty.

Eddie the ideologue is playing with our players as if chess pieces.
World Cups are not For the Future. That Are the future.
Donaldson can wait a few weeks to prove he’s ‘our second best 10’ He certainly is not this week.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

Similar observations in Sydney BF.
I believe that it might also be the ‘corporate’ sanitisation of officiating that might be a factor too.
I have some friends who whist not representing state or nation were quite well known and competent at Shute level in Sydney. Of a group of 5 of us,. one is a former pro coach. One has played and coached professionally overseas. Of the group I am the only one who watches pro rugby.
Most need me to tell them who won a test match.
Eddie and Hamish may be getting eyeballs, I don’t know. But rugby has already lost a lot of broken noses and mangled ears, in Australia at least.

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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“ Rugby still matters a lot in New Zealand, but in general, today there is a more healthy perspective when things don’t go right.”
My remote general observation agrees Geoff.
But has this memo reached the zoo?

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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Sorry about that, BB.
You could write a thank you card to Eddie. He has managed to halve my interest in this cup (ergo my posts) with just one wrongheaded selection.
So it could be worse. 😛

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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That’s the trouble too Jacko, once you’ve had a GOAT wear your 10 jersey, every successor must match the memory.

Not aiming this at you because DC was unique, but I wonder if critics of our current WB 10’s have compared Ella’s dominant tackle stats to those pilloried today.
The past is another planet.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

I am nowhere near the WBcamp, and have only a little Intel from the current squad, but historically McKenzie said of Quade ‘the best implementer of a game plan in the squad’.
Your point may be valid in the context of EDDIE’S musical game plans, but some would argue that the wrong part of the Jones’ first test phase picture was rubbed out (I do).
‘Defensive frailties’ as a criteria seems like selective data. Gordon, who I rate and support as a worthy investment, has missed a higher percentage of tackles this test season. One of those became a try last game.
The maligned ‘flaky one’ nailed Will Jordan in Dunedin after the AB had run past or through WBs selected specifically for tackling (and not to kick pressure goals, or to hit runners wide right and left).

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

Yes terrence, there was a phase in Tah history that saw Rogers with the ball on a string. His development was interrupted by injury and he never rediscovered that sweet spot.
At that time his rising trajectory was steep.
We as a nation are poor at building 10’s. We pop corks when we find one, then chuck bricks when they fail to meet our ridiculous expectations- the worst being
Attack like Ella, Tackle like Kefu.
There is unappreciated craft in playmaking. Most Oz fans, including some coaches, don’t see ‘enablement’ as the core skill of a playmaker.
Someone has referenced here Quade’s ‘tackling’ as a case in point.
Btw. I’m not arguing against Carter to start at 10, but his missed tackle stats are currently higher than Quade’s.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

Fiji will have more fans in this cup.
And they deserve them. In the game of ‘who has the most fun wins’ Fiji wins every time.

From sleeping on floors to training in the mud: Inside Fiji's camp that helped make them RWC's biggest wildcard

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“ Give us six weeks or so and we will know more.”
Give us six weeks or so and we might be ready to play a World Cup.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

The most talented playmaker since Larkham has been Cooper.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

Other than a miracle, scrum, a World Cup requires 3 good THs and a couple of good tens, as a minimum- Eddie is rewriting the rules of engagement, and the remit of miracle departments .

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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Today

Cheers Colvin.
But which one?

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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Today

10 is such a lonely number, Jacko.
Once anyone is any good, carnivorous backrowers salivate and attack. But it gets worse – there’s the fans and critics after the game.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

Appreciate the empathy Geoff. 😛
And speaking of empathy- while I was very much in the AB corner in ‘95, the joy of Pienaar and SA was contagious.

Ireland will be one of my teams if or when the WB chooks feared come home to roost.
If Ireland prevail no one would begrudge them. If only there was an Australian who knew how to centralise a Union. 🏉

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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Today

Easy, ‘91.
Lansdowne Road.
Two minutes from the end, Ireland score to take the lead. The crowd is wild. They will progress to the World Cup final.
WB Captain and talisman Farr-Jones is off injured. Lynagh is now captain. He rallies the men behind the posts with a plan. Like Henry at Agincourt, his ‘once more into the breech’ became “kick it, retrieve it, and go right to the corner”.
Which his men dutifully did, even if it required a requisite Hail Mary at the crux.
The crowd went mute, except for the two dozen Australians who launched into circus acrobatics.
Now their names are ‘familiar in our mouths as household words’.
Greatest
WB
Moment
Ever.

The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more

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Today

I love it when Jacko clenches his fists and starts swinging ‘em at his own, instead of his regular, red-blooded, Quade-lovin’ Australians.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

“ You’ve got to pick the best player in all positions.”
Agreed Old School.
And one of those positions is back up 10.
And you would say that is Donaldson.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

Yes John, an article about top 10’s is a ‘brave’ assignment.
And to do so, this month, in Australia, might be more than brave.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

Interesting, Cam?
Eddie has sold us an omelette, and on the way to making it he’s cracked some very expensive eggs.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

“ The most talented flyhalf we’ve seen since Larkham”
Big call, Old School.
Most promising rookie, possibly. Most well rounded.
The most talented was not on the plane.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

I agree Old School. But there are no test matches before this World Cup starts. And that is what this article is about.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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1d

You are spot on Nobes.
This is a company line piece, fashioned to feed the chooks. Carter as a top tenner is part of the narrative that the WBs are a new improved, corporately designed WC contender. Which we may well be, but I’m not sure which World Cup.
There is another WB eligible 10 that would make John’s list, but his name has suffered an uppercut.

Top 10 playmakers at Rugby World Cup - and why the Wallabies' young gun has the game's toughest gig

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