sidelined

A few interesting results from the first round but that shouldn’t be a worry. It may take a few rounds for any real trends emerge as who (apart from the Crusaders) will be the teams to beat this year. Onto this round: Result: Chiefs 32 v Hurricanes 39 Result: Stormers 3 v Force 22 Result: [...]

The Super 14 kicks off this weekend. Fixtures are below (all times AEDT) and the comments for your thoughts on the round. Blues v Crusaders, Auckland, Friday 5.35pm Result: Blues 43 Crusaders 25 Western Force v Highlanders, Perth, Friday 9.05pm Result: Highlanders 8 Westen Force 7 Lions v NSW Waratahs, Johannesburg, Saturday, 4.10am Result: Waratahs [...]

I am almost too disappointed to write this. Frankly, what a waste of a game. I suggested before that the backline selection was illogical, and indeed two people who had never played together in the centres before turned out, against arguably the best centre pairing in the world, to be a liability not a magical [...]

The Wallabies get thumped by the Irish and the threat to raid rugby league to find attacking backs is on again. I dunno much about the workings of the Australian Rugby Union but this is panic inspired, ridiculous, short sighted approach.The ARU claim to have a junior development program in place but the suggestion to [...]

also featuring: Ireland A v Australia A, Limerick, 15 November 2006 First, a quick hello to the sidelined.com.au community. My name is, obviously, Patrick, and I, obviously, like Rugby. So I will be writing about it from time to time here, but I certainly should not want that to discourage anyone else who wanted to [...]

An interesting reaction by Peter Jenkins in today’s Daily Telegraph in response to the Wallabies debacle Wales. Time to raid league ranks again Comment by Peter Jenkins November 03, 2006 AUSTRALIAN Rugby Union bosses must pull their heads out of the sand and launch a full-scale assault on the rugby league ranks in the wake [...]

Anyone who watched the final of the Currie Cup (the provincial Rugby tournament of South Africa) over the weekend would have been impressed with the vibrant health of Rugby Union in South Africa. The Cheetahs led with minutes to go only for the Blue Bulls to draw level at 25-25 at full time. After 20 [...]