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Monday, Jun 24

03

Gatland rejects player’s ‘disrespect’ claim as he prepares wounded Welsh for Australia tour

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Wales’ dwindling front-row resources will come under the microscope as coach Warren Gatland finalises his tour squad for the two-Test series against the Wallabies in Australia. Hookers Elliot Dee, Sam Parry and Ryan Elias are already out…

Sunday, Jun 23

23

Schmidt has named the weakest Wallabies squad in memory. He didn’t have to – but it could pay off

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Joe Schmidt hasn’t made it easy on himself. He could have looked overseas to any number of foreign-based stars, including Marika Koroibete and Samu Kerevi for his first Tests in charge of the Wallabies. He didn’t. He could have selected…

22

The Wrap: Unrelenting Blues power to superb title win, Wallabies selection a sign of the times

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When Mark Twain talked about lies, damned lies and statistics, he clearly wasn’t referencing the 2024 Super Rugby champions, the Blues. Their 41-10 win was not only a superb exhibition of wet-weather, finals football, it tied directly to…

10

Exclusive: Two-horse race for vital Tahs head role as standoff beckons over displaced Rebels

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Twelve months out from hosting the British and Irish Lions and the Waratahs are in no-man’s land, but the NSW board will try to rectify their shambolic planning ahead of 2025 by naming a head of performance by week’s end. It’s believed…

07

Afghanistunner! Maxwell heroics in vain as veteran’s four-for, openers’ century stand leaves Aussies on World Cup brink

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Afghanistan have rolled unbeaten World Cup heavyweights Australia, defending 149 with a stunning bowling performance which means Mitch Marsh’s team needs to beat India in their final Super 8s game to ensure they make the semi-finals and…

02

Race for Tahs job heats up after McKellar ‘mutually’ departs English heavyweight with Cheika in line as replacement

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The race for the Waratahs’ head coaching role just got a whole lot more interesting after Dan McKellar, the highly respected Australian coach, separated from Leicester Tigers over the weekend. The decision to “mutually” part ways occurred…

01

Wales all at sea after Springboks flex muscles but Erasmus not satisfied: ‘There were things that didn’t click’

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Wales have produced a battling performance before World Cup champions South Africa turned on the power to emerge 41-13 winners at Twickenham. Despite conceding two tries and collecting two yellow cards during the first 15 minutes on…

‘We can still improve’: Unbeaten India send ominous warning after belting Bangladesh

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Unbeaten India have inched closer to a semi-final berth in the T20 World Cup following their comprehensive 50-run victory against Bangladesh in the Super Eight stage. Allrounder Hardik Pandya smashed a 27-ball half-century as India posted…

Cheika set for coaching return after Leicester make surprise call on McKellar

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Dan McKellar has been sacked as coach of top English club Leicester, with another Australian rugby luminary Michael Cheika being hotly tipped to replace him. McKellar, the 47-year-old who left his job as forwards coach with the Wallabies…

Saturday, Jun 22

23

Exclusive: Wallaby-in-waiting Lynagh re-signs with Reds in boost for Aussie rugby

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A day after being called up to the Wallabies for the first time, rising star Tom Lynagh has put pen to paper to sign a contract extension with the Queensland Reds. Lynagh was already contracted until the end of 2025, but in a major nod to…

12

Blues break 21-year Super Rugby drought to smash Chiefs as Stern Vern changes the game

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Twenty-one years after Carlos Spencer dazzled to lead the Blues to a Super Rugby title over the Crusaders, the men from Auckland are Super Rugby champions once again after a 41-10 demolition job over local rivals the Chiefs at Eden Park.…

02

‘Hard to coach’: Moment that convinced Schmidt Beale was worth another Wallabies crack

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If you want to know when Joe Schmidt got the reminder he was after about Kurtley Beale’s worth, you must go back to May 18 against his former side, the Waratahs, at HBF Park. After a few typical Beale balls against the Drua during the…

Friday, Jun 21

20

Super Rugby has become stale – here’s how to make the code strong again in Australia

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Average crowds have plummeted and local derbies, once fiery and passionate, have become just another game on the calendar.

10

The Roar’s Super Rugby expert tips and predictions, grand final: Chiefs ‘deserve’ a title but Stern Vern couldn’t care less

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We’re down to the last match of the Super Rugby season with Auckland Blues hosting the Chiefs in the Grand Final at 5.05pm Saturday AEST. Thanks to everyone who has tipped along this season. Feel warm in the knowledge that every single one…

08

Wallabies winners and losers: Moment ‘courageous’ Tom Lynagh wowed Joe, and why coach left out Junkyard Dog

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Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt named 38 players to prepare for the July Tests and said he rang 31 others who failed to make the cut ahead of Friday’s announcement – his first squad as Wallabies coach. Schmidt opted against picking any…

06

Wallabies coach reveals stance on early exits for NRL converts, explains why he hasn’t picked a skipper

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Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has suggested he would be open to allowing Carter Gordon to leave early for the Gold Coast Titans after deciding the World Cup flyhalf is surplus to requirements with the Wallabies. Schmidt, as expected, opted…

04

Wallabies’ tight five issues intensify with World Cup hooker off to France and Schmidt relying on rookies

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For now, Jordan Uelese’s international career looks over, with the former Rebels rake excluded from Joe Schmidt’s first Test squad. It comes after the two-time World Cup member, who famously was first selected by Michael Cheika for the…

02

Wallabies squad CONFIRMED: Beale’s back and 13 new boys including Cale, ex-All Black in Schmidt’s first selection

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Kurtley Beale’s bid to become the first Indigenous player to reach 100 Test caps is back on course after he was named in Joe Schmidt’s first Wallabies squad on Friday. Schmidt named 12 uncapped players in his squad of 38 – plus former All…

Thursday, Jun 20

23

Super Rugby’s top 10 most improved: Big leaps for Junkyard Dog and Rebel, All Blacks next-gen’s ominous warning

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Where did that season go? As we gear up for the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season, it’s important to see how many quality players have shone in the 29th iteration of the competition. Back in February, our list of the Top 50 Super Rugby…

20

Should Joe Schmidt have picked Marika Koroibete in his Wallabies squad?

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The powerhouse winger has been not just one of Australia’s, but one of the world’s finest players since he made his debut in 2018.

11

Exclusive: Wallabies suffer fresh blow on eve of Schmidt’s first squad with star lock heading to France

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Rugby Australia has been rebuffed on the eve of Joe Schmidt’s first Wallabies squad announcement, with Izack Rodda rejecting a new contract and heading to France instead. After months of negotiations between Rodda and RA, The Roar can…

08

It’s Waugh: Eddie blames Wallabies walkout on RA CEO’s failure

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As he prepares for yet another return to the international arena, Eddie Jones has reopened wounds by saying Phil Waugh’s failure to deliver on promises left him with no choice but to leave his post as Wallabies coach. Amid a month of…

06

Time to end the Eddie blame game and confront the real reasons for Australian rugby’s sad state

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The longer Australian rugby fixates on Eddie Jones, the further it will find itself from solutions. Yes, Eddie’s tenure was a monumental failure. Yes, the 2023 Rugby World Cup was our worst ever. Yes, Jones got much more wrong than right.…

04

Predicted All Blacks squad: Seven debutants expected as Razor faces Crusaders conundrum

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Scott Robertson names his first All Black side on Monday evening, with the whole thing feeling like a fresh new era. For a start, the All Blacks have waited until after the Super Rugby final to make their announcement for once, meaning…

The Rebels may be gone but Victoria’s pathway problem must be solved NOW – and the Brumbies might hold the answer

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There is a growing to-do list in the corridors of Moore Park, and truth be told, it’s concerning how long it is starting to get. When Phil Waugh, and later Daniel Herbert came into the building, there was genuine optimism about what could…

Wednesday, Jun 19

23

‘It’s killing the game’: Knuckles calls on Waratahs to appoint Hoiles to help fix Aussie rugby, Wisey emerges as option

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John Connolly might bleed red but the former Queensland and Wallabies coach says NSW’s performances are “killing Australian rugby” and the veteran statesman of the game has thrown his weight behind emerging coach Stephen Hoiles to turn the…

12

Heavies, workmen, or experience in the tight-five: The three options Schmidt has when picking first Wallabies team

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July is almost upon us and with it comes the start of the Test-match season and the announcement of Joe Schmidt’s first ever Wallabies squad. Friday’s first squad announcement will give those chosen just under two weeks to get across the…

07

‘Affecting him mentally’: Lockyer reveals Cobbo opted out of Origin II – ‘I congratulate him for being open and honest’

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Queensland selector Darren Lockyer has revealed Selwyn Cobbo told Maroons coach Billy Slater he wasn’t up to playing in Origin II next week. Cobbo’s demotion from the team that won the opening game raised plenty of eyebrows with pundits…

Super Rugby Grand Final teams: ‘Talisman’ rushed back for Blues, Chiefs dig deep into hooker stocks

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The Blues have been boosted by the shock return of their skipper for the Super Rugby final against the Chiefs in Auckland on Saturday (5.05pm AEST) Patrick Tuipulotu is back in the starting XV for the sold out showdown at Eden Park, two…

05

Rugby News: Fresh deals for Hooper, Nasser, Roosters pushing for Wallaby’s early exit, Swinton’s farewell present

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Wallaby forward Tom Hooper has signed a one-year extension with the ACT Brumbies, while Queensland Reds hooker Josh Nasser has also been locked down for next season. Hooper, 23, broke into the Test team last year, making his debut in South…