Scrum Time

THE FUTURE IS AN INTERESTING PLACE, BUT WHEN DO WE SEE THE RESULTS?

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:33:00 +0000

I'm seeing some interesting things in the tea leaves, lately.

Robbie Deans has all the hallmarks of a man who has been recruited by the ARU for a long term plan. Not just to establish ourselves now, for if that were the case, maybe we would have been more desperate to show improvement during the RWC.

Over the last, say, ten weeks or so, Robbie Deans has not looked like a man desperate to win the RWC at all costs.

Indeed, there were some pretty puzzling selections and decisions, made, weren't there?

No Giteau in the RWC squad - no back up no 7, which nearly came a cropper.

Nobody really took Quade Cooper by the coat tails and helped in his "hour of need".

Looking back on it, it's as if Robbie is a protected species, and maybe that't what has happened.

Is it too much to think that the powers that be took the view that we might or might not win the RWC, but that that was not the main game?

As Rugby has now got to find more ways to be profitable on the world stage, moves into Asia, moves into North America, NZRU teaming up with North American franchises, the prospect of Rugby in the Olympics where previously unknowns will start to throw serious money at the game ....well, maybe that frightens the likes of Australia and NZ. One of the opening salvos in that campaign was lobbed during RWC when NZ complained about the cost of mounting a campaign, and the ARU jumped right in behind them, with almost indecent haste. YOu would love to be a fly on the wall in John O'Neill.s office, at least when he is having closed door sessions with Robbie. Not much of this would be minuted, because the ARU would probably leak like a sieve.

So, if my theory is right, I take my hat off to the ARU for bravery. If you think about it, we have been living on borrowed time for years with a squad of brilliant players most years, but not a lot of depth behind them. This smacks of an attempt to build that depth, which is a move designed for the long term.

For instance ...... why has Robbie left it so long to bring James O'Connor into the midfield - his comments today suggest that James, despite his immense talent, still has a lot of development to go through...he suggests that Tapuai is a successor and cover, despite Horne and Faingaa only just beginning to settle into those spots.... a typically evolutionary process, not one driven by panic or pragmatism.

Why has he left it for so long to involve Berrick Barnes in his best position, which, patently, is no 10?

Why did we take three halves to the RWC and we are now talking about Lucas being the back up?

and importantly, when will the ARU start to put the same kind of serious effort into the forwards as they do with the backs?

It all points to another couple of years of development, and the only conclusion is that we are building for evolution and consistency, not winnign cups every four years by taking pot luck.

Just hope we can put down a few markers along the way and not always be evolving.

RWC DAILY VIDEOS

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:16:00 +0000

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/video/index.html

EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED TO KNOW FOR THE WORLD CUP!

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:51:00 +0000

ONE OF THE BEST TRAINING VIDEOS GOING AROUND...

MEMO TO WALLABIES

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 09:05:00 +0000

Get Pocock fixed up, fast!!

Tatafu was rusty, Saia wasn't..

Will Genia - lose the box kick! - all you do is kick it ten metres upfield and give it away - you could have run to that spot in one or two phases.

Why did we need to bring 3 half backs and only one openside flanker?

Please ask for no more Kiwi referees. No criticism of Bryce, but the ability to slot the Wallabies must be at least a little bit tempting.

Aussies are too one dimensional and don't ever seem to think that someone will come up with a creative game plan to nullify the attack. We effectively had 3 no 8's on paddock, last night, couldn't anyone protect Genia - did anyone tell McCalman that he was supposed to do what Pocock does?

CHECK OUT THE JEDI...!

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:54:00 +0000

I'm not usually one to plug anything Kiwi, but if you are bored with the usual suspects on Fox or Channel 9, I can suggest that you turn down the sound and tune into the Jedi (otherwise known as Jed Thian - bit fat Maori bastard, who never has a kind word for anything Aussie) and refers to us as the "West Island" or "the Criminal
Element"

...you should hear what he used to call Stirling Mortlock!! ...mind you he's not too complimentary about the Boks or the Poms, either!

But, his commentary is different, fresh and challenging (if you can ignore his love affair with Richie McCaw!!)

Now, if he just teamed up with Roy and H.G. you would never listen to anything else.

so check it out ...."Rugby, Racin' and Beer!!" at www.arcrugby.co.nz ... (I can't believe I'm doing this!...) ...and we always drink on a tight head, right??!!

....AND NOW FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT!

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:44:00 +0000

.... they teach referees to be in the middle of the game, but this is too close to home ....
A game played in Mackay last year, and its fair to say that the ref remembers some of it, but not all of it.

Thanks to www.rugbydump.com

...and look how far the ball flew after the Falcon!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY - 13TH SEPTEMBER

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:19:00 +0000

From "The Australian"..

The Irish manager talking about their chances against the Wallabies ..

Asked about Cooper, but really wanted to focus on Genia, who many think is the real brains behind the outfit ..after all Coops just goes out there and does what he does, and even he doesn't what that is until he does it! ..

'quote: .."We've got trouble right across the park!.." Couldn't have said it any better.. and nuff said

Memo to Wallabies - don't be complacent fellas, remember '91!!

13 SEPTEMBER DAILY VIDEO

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:53:00 +0000

13 SEPTEMBER

ONE OF THE BEST AUSSIE ANTHEMS I'VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:02:00 +0000

That was one of the best renditions of Advance Australia Fair that have been done in recent memory..

THE WORLD CUP WALLABIES PROMO

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:43:00 +0000

CHECK OUT THIS BRILLIANT COMPILATION .. ONE THAT YOU WILL WANT TO KEEP IN YOUR MEMORIES LIBRARY!

...RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM THE FIRST WEEKEND OF RWC

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:26:00 +0000

Some random observations which are neither here nor there!

Australia gave everyone something to think about

Ireland manager can't be serious when he says that Ireland can beat the Wallabies!

Hook's penalty kick looked pretty good to me!!

The English were rubbish and so are their insulting black jerseys .. can't even keep the numbers on .. maybe a ploy by the players to get rid of them .. how embarrassing!

Ioane's absence will not be that bad .. Mitchell should replace him and we won't miss a beat ...and I'll bet USA and Russia breathed a huge sigh of relief! (Did they see how Mitchell played against Canada for the Baa-Baa's though?

Still wish Gits was there!

Springboks showed glimpses!!

Good on the minnows!!

....AS HENRY FORD SAID, YOU CAN HAVE ANY COLOUR, AS LONG AS IT'S BLACK

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:52:00 +0000

Remember that bloke Roy G. Biv?

The acronym for kids to learn the colours of the spectrum ...Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet and every colour in between .....black isn't there, because it is not even a colour ...just an absence of light and shade ...and in the case of the RFU an absence of good sense, good taste, good judgment and good humour!!

I mean the English colours are red, white and blue, so why can't their alternative playing strip be red or blue??

What an insult!! What a humourless pack of bastards!!

What a useless wind up? No doubt some smarmy poms had a good snigger - are you over it yet, lads??

I hope you are boo'ed off the park in NZ, lads!! You want to hope that the marketing guys haven't saddled you with a ploy that's going to backfire on you.

Best of British, non-whites!!

AUSSIES OVERSEAS AND WELSHMEN HERE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:36:00 +0000

Congratulations to Gareth Delve for making the Wales squad out of the Super XV, and what a great surprise to see Adam Byrnes playing for Russia !! I'll bet his nickname will be either Boris or Comrade at the Rebels next year!!
....then again, maybe "Rasputin.."??

TV COVERAGE OF RUGBY IN AUSTRALIA

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:56:00 +0000

For those of you overseas, we have these rules called "anti-siphoning" which means that nationally important programming, including sports, must be shown on free-to-air TV. I'm sure lots of other places in the world do the same.

Anyway, we have a new Rugby franchise, the Melbourne Rebels, trying to make its way in the fanatical heartland of AFL (Aussie Rules, or "aerial ping pong" or "cross country ballet").

So one of the national broadcasters gets the rights to show Rugby in Melbourne, and promptly shows it at some ridiculous hour in the wee smalls .... bastards!!

So the boys at the Rebel Army, bless their hair shirts, go on a campaign and get the TV stations to show the Rugby live, after all, albeit on one of their satellite stations. A victory!!

...but did they know that for about twenty bucks, you can get a subscription to an internet channel that shows just about any Rugby game in the world, on streaming video?

Anyone interested go to http://www.watchliverugbyworldcup.com

Been using it for about four weeks, on my laptop and it has never let me down!!

RUGBY BUSINESS NETWORK IN WALES

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:42:00 +0000

Now that I have made all these nice new friends on Linked In, let's flog their wares...

Angela Lewis has asked me to push her Rugby event in Llanelli, and most happy to do so..good luck with the event, Angela.

Angela Lewis • Hi John can you mention my event on your blog please? see link!http://rugbybusinessnetworkllanelli.eventbrite.com/ I am hoping to have a speaker from Aus and we are going to link via webinar! I don't have full details yet but will let you know

GREAT NEW GROUP ON LINKED IN

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:19:00 +0000

Check out the Rugby Business Network on Linked In

WHY I'M NOT A GAMBLING MAN!

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:14:00 +0000

The reason that I don’t gamble for a living is that I would starve. Here is what I wrote on my blog in mid-January: The Rebels will be a force to be reckoned with and won’t finish in the red. The Brumbies will come home in a canter and the Waratahs will whither on the vine, as usual!

The Reds will play vintage rugby, but not at full bottle; the force will be with someone else and, again, the Brumbies will chase every hurdle!

I couldn’t have got it more wrong.

What a topsy-turvy season it has been; I was sure Rod MacQueen would pull a rabbit out of a hat and I was sure that the Brumbies would finally earn their “Real Madrid” tag. Instead, they became a friendless society.

The Force showed only glimpses and the Reds surpassed all expectations, showing what a canny coach Ewen Mackenzie really is.

I hope that Robbie stays a bit longer with the Wallabies, Link hangs around at the Reds and all will be well with Aussie Rugby.

As for the Wallabies, watch this space for more.

Actually, every RWC, my theme is usually “we’ll slip into Camp quietly, let all the other teams hype it up, and bight the big boys on the bum!!..”

I do think that we can still do that – technically, if you gave the Super 15 teams points for where they finished (eg 15 for 1st place and 1 for last) , despite the Reds and Waratahs finishing strongly, we (the Aussie conference) still came third, I think. But I think that that belies the depth of the Wallaby squad and the fact that Robbie has blooded young guys.

I’d love to be a fly on the wall at the first Wallaby camp, because I reckon the enthusiasm will be infectious.

Whether or not that translates to lasting the distance is another story – because in the RWC, just about every game is a final!!

…so don’t take my word for it, on past experience!!

However, if you want me to put the mockers on someone, I’d say “Go the AB’s”!!

A GLOBAL RUGBY SEASON WILL BE A REALITY SOONER THAN LATER!!

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:46:00 +0000

In ten years time ..I'm predicting that we will finally have a global season, and the competitions in being at that time, will be far different from now.

The insatiable appetite of TV and the fact that year after year, the Southern Hemisphere shows its superiority will finally be too much for the Northern Hemisphere to bear, and they will have to capitulate. What form will it take? Who knows, but let's speculate about it, anyway.

I can see a conference style competition, similar to the new Super 15 format. Players will have to travel more, but facilities and funding will be there for them.

Look how the Cricket world has changed almost overnight with the 20-20 money that has flooded into the market. It's almost impossible to keep up with who is who and who is where! The players must have good managers, or good nannies, to keep up with where they are supposed to be tomorrow and what team they are meant go be playing for, that week.

By then (10 years down the track) USA Rugby will be much stronger and attracting the big TV networks (which they are just starting to do, now, since Rugby went Olympic)..don't laugh, boys and gorillas, the groundswell is there and it is beginning to happen. The sleeping giant of Rugby has just opened an eye and yawned...,..what will be the landscape after the first Olympic Rugby 7's has been and gone ? ...whatever it is, it will be a different one from the one that we now know.

Russia and Georgia are already out there and showing signs of expansion. The interesting thing is that Russian schools only fund sports that are on the Olympic curriculum.. so since Rugby made it onto the curriculum, we can assume a bit of growth.

China is making inroads (albeit slow) but they have some pretty big boys up in the north, and the Chinese Army has adopted Rugby ...watch this space!

I read an article the other day that espoused the growth of South American Rugby. If Argentina becomes stronger, then watch what happens with Uruguay, Paraguay and even Brazil - I'm not suggesting that there will be a Rugby revolution, but there will be strong growth.

Before Rugby made it onto the Olympic calendar there were approximately 235 Olympic Nations, and there were approximately 130 odd Rugby nations (correct me if I am wrong) but that tells me that there might be a lot more by the time that Rugby is played at the Olympics in 2016. For goodness sake, some of the kids who will be playing in that tournament are only 12 to 15 years old, at the moment and who knows what will happen for some of them in the next five years.

We almost have a global season now, if you think about it ... literally the same week that the 6 Nations gets underway, so does the Super 15 and we go on until July or August - this year we have a World Cup .... and the Rugby just goes on and on ... once you begin to factor in closed roof stadiums and artificial turf it's not too much of a stretch to see that the caravan will just roll around the world for most of the year....7's will replace 15's at certain times of the year, 10's will get a look in.. the Test season will expand as more countries lift their standards etc .....pretty damn exciting when you think about it ...I hope I live to see a full global season - a World cup every four years with an Olympics two years later!! Beautiful!!...
No need to worry about going to heaven - we'll already be there!....especially if my beloved Brumbies can keep flying the flag!!

AN EARLY PREDICTION FOR THE SUPER 15

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:32:00 +0000

The Rebels will be a Force to be reckoned with, and won’t finish in the Red. The Brumbies will come home in a canter and the Waratahs will whither on the vine, as usual…..!

The Reds will play Vintage Rugby but not at full bottle,,, the Force will be with someone else and, again, the Brumbies will chase every hurdle!!

THE REBELS GET OFF TO A GOOD START

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:39:00 +0000

As usual, Rod MacQueen is playing with his poker face on.

The score line was good, there were apparently flashes of brilliance, sounds like the combinations were not quite there, but who would know. I can't wait to see some analysis and surely someone must have taken a video:

THE ART OF MANLINESS

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:48:00 +0000

Gents, you have to check out this website - a must for Rugger B@ggers!

WE NEED TO KEEP OURSELVES GROUNDED

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:27:00 +0000

I read a really nice and impassioned article tonight by Cameron Treloar, a former Tah and the only ARC winning captain (since we only had one season of the ARC .. given up on that debate!).

He's now playing in Italy and his thesis is that, while Rugby is probably only the 6th favourite sport in Italy, behind soccer, motor racing etc, and while they get tiny crowds, they can still put an Australian Rugby crowd to shame in terms of their passion. It was a good article, and if
you want to find it, you'll need to go looking for it, (but Twitter would be a good place to start - [editor please note: Twitter: http://bit.ly/hGrQrK)

He made a very good point that they don't have lots of security guards stopping kids from running onto the field at the end of the game, that players are encouraged to really interact with the crowd and drink in pubs after the game. Are we really that professional in Australia that we need to eschew all of that?

What are our points of difference from League, AFL, soccer etc?

I wonder whether we need to be selling ourselves as a professional game to the extent that we alienate the fan base. Should we persist with the notion that Rugby is entertainment, or is is truly a sport that all of its supporters can buy into?

His opening statement was: ....The very culture of how we support our teams, be it the Wallabies or a super 15 side, is sadly defined by one man… the guy in the tight black t-shirt with the clip board running the door at Cargo bar......"

He goes on to say: ........" The Australian Rugby public has only themselves to blame for this travesty. Australians go to the Rugby now to be entertained, as if it were a concert or a movie. If the entertainment doesn’t live up to expectations, the critics pan it and the crowds stay Away. We have it backward in Australia. We have come to rely on the something miraculous, something Quade Cooperish to spark us up....."

I don't think that you can argue with that logic.

Personally, these days , I prefer to stay at home and watch games on TV, because I know that there is not going to be much "after match" atmosphere at 10 pm when most people know that they have a bit of a drive ahead of them, can't really have too much to drink, and they are not likely to run into any of the players, anyway, who have had a long shower and meal in the shed and jumped on the bus back to the team hotel, either to go out on the town or get some well earned sleep. I'm too old for the Cargo Bar and there is no bloody way that i am going to stand in a queue, just to have a few beers after the footy, and pay through the nose for them!

The essence of going to the Rugby (at least to me) is getting back to the clubhouse, the boatraces, the tall tales, the catching up with mates - no way that's going to happen at the top level in the professional era.

I'm old enough to remember Test nights in Sydney and Brisbane at certain hotels (thanks, Buddha!) where most of the crowd and the players went back for a very late night/ early morning session. That was when you enjoyed being one of the fraternity. I suspect that, to do it these
days you have to get invited to the formal sessions that are run by the marketing guys or the sponsors. Most of us won't get to do that and we just have to "get on the bus and go home" after the game.

This is a bit of a rant but the theme is, I believe, reasonable .. and that is let's keep our feet on the ground and not get too far away from our roots.. what makes our game the wonderful creature that it is.

....and how are we going to encourage Aussie supporters to be more vocal, to out-sing the Welsh or the Poms, or anyone else, for that matter?

I HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT THIS IS FAIR DINKUM - WIKILEAKS COMES THROUGH AGAIN!!

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:54:00 +0000

GRATEFULLY REPRODUCED WITHOUT JAMES'S PERMISSION!!
IRB caught in WikiLeaks firing line

James Stafford

From: ESPN www.espnscrum.com
December 10, 2010

The fallout from the publication of hundreds of embarrassing emails, letters, notes and minutes belonging to the IRB and governing bodies, such as the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and French Rugby Federation (FFR), could lead to years of frosty international rugby diplomacy as nations come to terms with often blunt comments or accusations from rivals and supposed allies.

WikiLeaks have stood by the publication of all the documents claiming that the rugby world and its operations should be 'transparent and open'.

One rugby insider has claimed that some aggrieved unions have already made threats to withdraw from major tournaments such as the Six Nations or even the Rugby World Cup as a result of the WikiLeaks scandals.

Among the most damaging revelations is a top secret dossier from the IRB complaining that the 2011 World Cup should never have been awarded to New Zealand as the country 'wouldn't know a decent bloody draught beer if it came in from the wrong side of a ruck and trampled all over them'.

The statement, written by a senior IRB official, goes on to say that: "I can take the fact New Zealand doesn't really have enough big modern stadiums for a World Cup, I can accept that they may not have the infrastructure relating to transport and accommodation and I can accept the fact the ticket sales aren't going to be as big as in previous tournaments, but I can't accept the fact I won't be able to get a bloody decent draught beer for the four weeks I have to be at the tournament. We (the IRB) messed up big time on this one and I want heads to roll. We need to look at our whole World Cup bidding process and ensure this never happens again."

Another controversial secret missive from the IRB apparently warned various national unions to be on their guard when visiting Ireland over the coming few years. Due to the current dire economic situation in the Republic of Ireland the IRB feared that unnamed Irish rugby persons may choose to ply visiting guests with Guinness and whiskey and then 'indirectly drop hints about possible loans of equipment, kit and labour' to help cushion the financial impact of the economic crisis on Irish rugby.

"It is very possible," said the statement from the IRB, "that loans of tracksuits, shorts and electrical tape (for keeping players' socks up during matches) may not be returned, if at all, for many years. We urge unions and visiting kit/bag men to be vigilant." The IRFU are said to be seriously offended by the allegations.

Among other serious revelations made by WikiLeaks are the following:

Stade Francais players wrote series of letters 'begging with all their hearts' to be allowed to wear, for just one week, a set of kit that did not make them look like clowns/question their own masculinity.
RFU officials and the English media met with Vatican officials several times to try and get World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson made into fully fledged Catholic Saint before the 2011 World Cup. Merchandise sales and profits from associated Saint Jonny relics were to be split 50/50 between London and Rome if the deal was a success.
A Scottish plan to aim to score at least one try per game for the 2011 Six Nations was widely mocked by several unions in a series of circular emails as 'utterly unrealistic'.
Cardiff Blues are planning a shock move to the Millennium Stadium in 2012 due to problems coping with capacity at new ground Cardiff City Stadium. Emails from Blues' management have indicated the recent decision to abandon their historic city centre ground (which they rarely ever filled) to play in a soulless Lego-style stadium (which they never ever fill) was 'just not crazy enough'.
South Africa considered hiring an interpreter to speak 'for, on behalf and instead of' outspoken head coach Peter de Villiers at all matches, press conferences, public appearances and training sessions. One extreme memo indicates a plan by SARU to give de Villiers a significant bonus each year if he never ever spoke at all in public.
The IRB's referees boss Paddy O'Brien sent a series of emails to friends claiming the constant controversial law changes to rugby union in recent years were the result of a forfeit he had to perform after losing a drunken game of 'rock, paper, scissors' in a pub late one night.
Welsh Rugby Union officials refused The Victorian Society's request to classify Rodney Parade, home of the Newport Gwent Dragons, as a listed building and turn the ground into a 'living museum'. Apparently the WRU were initially happy to agree to the museum being created but then relented when talks broke down over the use (or lack of) the word 'Gwent' in the potential museum's name. Using 'Gwent' was deemed 'too political'.
Result of 2011 World Cup final leaked.
The IRB have produced a confidential memo on the WikiLeaks affair, which they expect to be leaked online next week, so that the wider public can read their response.

I'M OVERDUE FOR A BLOG - SO WHAT WILL THE WALLABIES SQUAD LOOK LIKE AT THE RWC?

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:35:00 +0000

Just when you thought we had a settled line-up after the Northern tour, it is worth speculating on those who couldn’t go for one reason or another, those who couldn’t be selected because they haven’t been seen yet, those coming back from injuries, those who will be next season’s “bolters.”

Once the Supe 15 season kicks off, all bets are off in regard to the last tour, though some like Cooper, Genia, O’Connor and Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell, to name a few, have definitely put a marker in the sand, as have Slipper and, Robinson, and probably McCalman.

But it’s a longer Super 15 season, there are lots more opportunities to impress, just as there are lots more opportunities for season-ending injuries before the RWC.

So it seems to me that the field is wide open.

Since Robbie Deans, himself, was quoted as saying “there are no Wallabies until the next squad is picked,” I thought that I would adopt the theme and categorise the next squad into Probables, Possibles and Bolters.

There are some old names on the bolters list, such as Mortlock, Waugh, Baxter, but you never know, a couple of strong performances, some injuries and they get a foot in the door.

You would back those guys to go all out and keep their noses in front of some of the rookies, and the World Cup year is not a time for blooding new rookies, unless one or two absolutely stand out.

I’ve also included some “league’ies” on the bolters list, such as Saffy, Rooney and Vuna, since they come across with pretty strong reputations. But they are up against it.

Here’s the list.

Probables:
Forwards
Props: Robinson, Alexander, Slipper,
Hookers: Polota-Nau, Moore, Faingaa
Locks: Sharpe, Vickerman, Chisholm, Horwill
Flankers: Higginbotham, Elsom, Brown, Pocock
No 8: Palu, McCalman

Backs:
Half back: Burgess, Genia
No 10: Barnes, Cooper
Centres: Ashley-Cooper, Giteau, Faingaa. Ioane
Wingers: O’Connor, MItchell, Turner, Morahan
Full-back: Beale, Hynes,

POSSIBLES:
Forwards
Props: Kepu, Henderson, Blake, Shepherdson
Hooker: Edmonds, Freier
Locks: Mumm, Chapman, Simmons, Kimlin, Humphries, Byrnes
Flankers: Salvi
No 8: Hoiles

Backs:
Half Backs: Phipps, Kingi
No 10: Toomua
Centres: Horne,
Wingers: Shepherd, Davies, Cummins, McCabe

POSSIBLE BOLTERS:
Forwards:
Props: Baxter, Palmer
Lock: Dennis
Flankers: Stubbs, Waugh, McCutcheon, Saffy

Backs:
Inside Backs: Karauria-Henry, Mortlock, Lealiifano, Vuna,
Outside backs: Chambers, Taumoepeau
Fullbacks: Gerrard, Huxley, Rooney

LOTE! ..MATE! . WHAT HAPPENED?

noreply@blogger.com (Scrumtime) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:17:00 +0000

What an amazing turn of events.

I think that the way this pans out will be quite interesting.

Whatever it is that Lote is alleged to have done, my uneducated guess is that John O'Neill sees an asset that is under-used, a very expensive one at that, and says....."let's cut it out of the inventory and save ourselves the mega bucks that my predecessor committed us to when we couldn't really afford it.."

Why?

It's a convenient time to do it, since all of the major footy codes (except Soccer, it seems) are running scared and trying to turn all of the players into choir boys, who are some sort of "role model" for .....who? Other choir boys, and violin players who don't play footy anyway?

I mean, if it's the mums who frighten those big, tough male administrators into this, why are they (the administrators) administering in the first place?

So, I think that Lote can become a hero out of all of this..Why? ...because now, if we believe everything that we read, he is taking the ARU on in the courts. He may well lose, on the facts and circumstances of his particular case, but this may well become a test case, especially with the media circling and ready to hop on the bandwagon of the bloke who has the best story, and who just may smell like a winner.

You see, I think that the media has backed itself into a corner where they have sensationalised every player misdemeanour and indiscretion to the point where everyone is running scared, so that the media might be almost have bitten the hands that feed them.....us, the public, the game(s) and their readership.

So, just maybe there are a few who are looking for an honourable "out" here and lo and behold, along comes John O'Neill and Lote.

You beauty! This might just be the way of getting things back on track.

How?

Well, it looks like Lote is fairly serious, otherwise the ARU would be huffing and puffing, but they are choosing to stay quiet, which means that their exorbitantly priced lawyers have advised them that Lote's exorbitantly priced lawyers are packing down with serious intent for a pushover try and, as far as Lote, the bloke (as opposed to Lote the figurehead) is concerned, this is bloody serious stuff. I mean, thanks to Gary Flowers, Lote can't earn what he would like to if he has to go back to the NRL, so he is forced to consider other possibilities.

As far as we, the great unwashed public, were concerned, as of two days ago, Lote's biggest problems were getting back into the Wallaby run-on squad and finding a matching pair of green and gold socks in the laundry basket.

Anyway, looks like this is the ticket. ARU, NRL and AFL players must have been waiting for someone to come along and take on the "employer".

How legal or proper are these sort of "3 strikes" clauses? How reasonable are they when tested against the employment norms or principles in other industries? How much of an influence on an employee's livelihood, should the "role model" issue be? Are these fair and reasonable restraints to place on employees? How far can an employer go when balancing the interests of the product against the interests of the employee? How long do you have to wait between "incidents" to justify giving someone the "flick"?

I'm no expert, but I reckon that these are some of the questions that will be asked and I think it's fair to ask them....and Lote's exorbitantly priced team will ask them, in spades, and more..!

The media must be salivating over this, which is ironic when you consider that the problem is one that they created. It's almost like the media has found the way to create perpetual motion.....create the problem then report on it ad nauseum....

In these troubled times (the "GFC") how many industries would love to be able to create a market and then exploit it to a hungry audience that they conditioned, in the first place? Pure genius.!

Lote, on a personal note, I wish you all the best.

You might be a bit of a tearaway, but that is what Rugby people understand and respect. You have never given anyone any concern about being involved in any funny business, sexually speaking and your greatest sins seem to be that you don't mind a late night drink (whoaa!!), when you have probably worked your guts out for a couple of days before playing a night game that finished around 9 pm..if we believed everything that the press tried to push on us, no Rugby bloke would be a drinker...imagine that?..there but for the grace of God.........(and the press!).

Talking of role models, blokes that play Rugby at the lower levels, the lower grades, the subbies, the bush players, the Services blokes, women, and many others might just hold you up as a role model whether you like a drink or not. We're not quite as judgmental as some would like people to believe....and those kids who everyone seems hell bent on protecting aren't as naive as some would think.

On a professional note, I hope that you push this to the limit and get some sanity back into the way that football players are treated. Dickheads need to be sanctioned, but not every footy player is a dickhead!

Of course, the irony in all of this is that you and the ARU will end up paying the legal costs and the press, as usuall will come out of it smelling of roses. However, we all know that the best roses are grown in the smelliest manure....I look forward to some well balanced reportage over the next couple of weeks, but I'm not holding my breath.. (anyway thats the best way to avoid the smell of the manure).

Hopefully, we'll see you back on the paddock (and hopefully playing Rugby) before too long. Better to be judged by the bloke with the whistle than the bloke in a funny wig!

Cheers,
Gatesy