Tag Archives: Rugby

Rugby: Time to give McKenzie a break!

September 12, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

I have been fascinated by calls of late questioning the selection of Ewen McKenzie as coach of the Wallabies following his first three test matches. There is only one person I blame for the poor form of the Wallabies and it is not Ewen McKenzie: blame for Australia’s poor form has to rest with Robbie Deans.

McKenzie has had, since the end of the Super Rugby season less than two months to work this Wallabies team into a team that plays, for want of a better term, the “McKenzie Way”. It is ridiculous to suggest that the Wallabies were going to be able to magically erase 5 years of Deans’ coaching and strategy in such a short time frame.

Even with the injection of new players there are still a significant number of players in this current team who were schooled in the game at test level by Deans. McKenzie needs time to mould this team into his own image and to his own style of play. The move to drop Will Genia is an important part of McKenzie stamping his authority on the team, indeed it is more important that the return of Quade Cooper in my view.

We need to give McKenzie some time without knives in his back: to even the least ardent of Wallabies fans it must have been obvious that immediate improvements were a pipe dream and now we know that to dream to be a reality. Let’s assess the start of the McKenzie “era” at the end of the Rugby Championship or even after the end of season Northern Hemisphere tour. By then we will know whether McKenzie’s midas touch as a coach, as we saw at the Reds, translates to the international game.

In the meantime, here’s hoping that Australia win and win well against Argentina this weekend in Perth. To lose will only increase the disharmony in the ranks of the fans, if nothing else.

The Rugby Championship: Wallabies side named to face the Springboks

September 4, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

Ewen McKenzie has named his team for the Rugby Championship match on this Saturday at Lang Park this morning as follows:

Israel Folau, Nick Cummins, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, James O’Connor, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, James Slipper.

Bench: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Jake Schatz, Nic White, Matt Toomua, Jesse Mogg

The biggest change is Quade Cooper in for Matt Toomua whilst Israel Folau moves to fullback and Nick Cummins comes into the side on the wing. Ben Alexander has been dropped to the bench with Sepoke Kepu taking his place in the front row. Jake Schatz replaces his Queensland team mate Liam Gill on the bench whilst Jesse Mogg moves to the bench in place of Brumbies team mate Tevita Kuridrani.

Much will be made of Cooper coming in for Toomua. Frankly though it is the right decision given the spluttering attacking displays of the Wallabies in their first two outings in this Rugby Championship. That said, Will Genia has not been anywhere near his best so far so all of the blame ought not rest on Toomua’s shoulders.

Personally I continue to scratch my head at the ongoing selection of James O’Connor on the wing. He has been a liability in defence thus far and needed to be dropped for mine.

Kick-off is 8pm Saturday night Brisbane time.

Bledisloe Cup: Game 2 Keys to Victory

August 24, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

Game 2 of the Bledisloe cup kicks off very shortly and here are my keys to victory:

1. 4th choice fly half?

Tom Taylor comes in at fly half for the All Blacks following injuries to Messrs Carter, Cruden and Barrett. He is a young player who has spent a large part of the domestic season at inside centre. He has been picked ahead of the Highlanders Colin Slade and the Australian’s have been overt in their intention to place as much pressure as possible on him. If he performs well then the All Blacks machine will march on one suspects.

2. O’Connor factor

I mentioned in my keys to victory for the first test that the battle between O’Connor and Smith would be a key to success in that game and so it proved with Smith, frankly, playing O’Connor off the break last time out. One can expect that the All Blacks will direct most of their attack to O’Connor’s wing again and if he is the turnstile he was in the first test match the All Blacks will likely win.

3. The Master v The Apprentice

In my preview last week I dared to question Richie McCaw’s fitness and, yet again, I was proven wrong with Lord McCaw putting on a classic display of ruck and running play. He is the best forward in the game without question at the moment. In the gold jersey opposing him is Michael Hooper: a young man on the rise with a significant reputation as a dynamo at number 7. If Hooper can play to his reputation and best Lord McCaw here that will go a long way to an Australian win. Conversely, a McCaw masterpiece will again rest the game to the All Blacks favour.

4. Battle of the Benches

The bench for the All Blacks is the least experienced it has been for a long time. At the same time the Wallabies have a number of experienced charges to call on in the event of an injury, particularly in the form of Quade Cooper who, one suspects, will play a large part in the second half when the opposition forwards are tired and the gaps are opening up.

This will be another exciting contest and, after the thrashing the All Blacks gave the Wallabies in the first test, the Wallabies will be looking for some redemption and to keep the series alive for the 3d test in October at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Shumpty’s Punt: Weekend Multi and Saturday Specials

August 23, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Another massive weekend of sport beckons and I have a five leg multi that I am particularly keen on as well as three bets at Eagle Farm that I think will bring a return for punters.

Sports Multi

Leg 1: Wellington to cover the line (-8.5 points) against Taranaki in the ITM Cup ($1.90)

Leg 2: Waikato to cover the line (-7.5 points) against Otago in the ITM Cup ($1.90)

Leg 3: Detroit Tigers to cover the line (-1.5 runs) against the New York Mets in the MLB ($2.01)

Leg 4: Pittsburgh Pirates to defeat the San Fransisco Giants in the MLB ($2.24)

Leg 5: South Africa to cover the line (-13.5 points) against Argentina in the Rugby Championship

This bet will pay $31.20 for each dollar invested. Please note that you have to get this one on by 4pm this (Friday) afternoon.

Horse Racing

All of my best this weekend are at Eagle Farm on Saturday and are as follows:

Race 2: Number 4 Bribie (each way) ($6.00/$2.00)

Race 4: Number 3 Awesome Ransom (win) ($4.00)

Race 7: Number 2 Funtantes (each way) ($9.00/$2.80)

As always, please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose.

The Bledisloe: Australian and New Zealand Teams Named

August 22, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

The teams for the second Bledisloe Cup test match have been named by the respective coaches and are as follows:

Australia:

Jesse Mogg, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’ifano, James O’Connor, Matt Toomua, Will Genia, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (c), Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper

Reserves: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani

New Zealand:

Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Tom Taylor, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Steven Luatua, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau

Australia has only made one change with Scott Fardy coming in for the injured Hugh McMeniman. Kane Douglas takes Fardy’s spot on the bench.

New Zealand have their first three choices at fly half, Carter, Cruden and Barrett, all out injured so Tom Taylor comes in in that position and Colin Slade joins the bench. Brodie Retallick replaces the injured Luke Romano with Jeremy Thrush taking his place on the bench.