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Sorry folks I
have been absolutely tardy in updating the website, my
apologies. My main excuse is that the awful Rugby the Wallabies
have dished up has left me completely unmotivated to write about
it. To be honest I have really enjoyed watching Rugby League in
the latter half of the year, the Grand Final was great and the
first test against the Kiwis was also grand, especially the
punch up. Watching the Wallabies has left me cold, you can
predict exactly what will happen, forwards smashed in the
lineout’s and scrums with a resulting struggling backline. I am
absolutely sick and tired of the Wallaby forwards getting belted
from pillar to post. In putting the knife in, I will say there
were some glimmers of hope in the 29 – 29 draw with Wales on the
weekend.
For once the
Wallabies had a number of players who really played well on the
weekend. Vickerman and Sharpe were the standout in the forwards,
they were everywhere; carting the ball up, off loading in the
tackle, making tackles and winning the lineout’s.
 Roy
Slaven and HG Nelson have a classic saying for Nathan Sharpe’s
performances over the last few years “I have not seen him break
a tackle in three seasons”. How true for Sharpey, he was woeful
for the Force this year and has been stealing oxygen for the
Wallabies over the last few seasons but give him his due he
played very well against Wales on the weekend. Giteau was
outstanding at halfback, doing stuff that wins games and can’t
be coached, his pass was even good. Look out George Gregan the
press will be absolutely baying for his blood after this
performance by Giteau.
Chris Latham
was sensational and really deserved his man of the match award.
He is not especially quick but his size, power and sheer passion
make him hard to stop. Steve Larkham also had a very good game
at inside centre; too bad Rogers had another below par
performance at Number 10. Certainly helps the coaching staff
when you get most of the team putting their hand up and playing
well. Unfortunately we still can’t get the scrum to perform at
this level. The last play of the game was a scrum near the Welsh
line, if the scrum had just held we would have had a very good
chance of scoring. It was roller skates all over again and the
Welsh simply monstered us forcing the turnover.
The Wallabies
really lost their structure when Giteau had to shuffle out the
backline when Larkham got injured. If the backline could have
stayed in place, I am sure this would have been a Test win for
the Wallabies. The Welsh for some reason did not contest the
tackle area; they made the tackle then fanned in defence. The
Wallabies must have thought it was Christmas with Wales not
contesting the tackle area especially after they had been belted
in this area by the Boks and All Blacks all year. The Wallaby
scrum was again below par, Blake struggled at tight head as he
has all year and Baxter just has not played enough loosehead.
There has been some slight improvement as they were not
completely demolished; they will struggle again this weekend
against a very accomplished Italian front row. Look for the
Italians to really have a go at the Wallaby forwards, for many
years the Italian tight forward play has been superb. I am
predicting a close score line against the Italians this weekend.
The social
event of the year was not the Melbourne Cup but Stormin Norman’s
wedding two weeks ago in Coff’s Harbour. Stormin Norman will
have to curb his bachelor ways and keep his phone on silent; he
will also probably have to change his phone number as his number
of female admirers is legendary. William “The Snake” of Coff’s
reports that Norm’s numerous trips to Wollongong have now ceased
and he is reported to have gone straight. So well done to Norm
and his lovely wife Frances, I certainly had a great time at the
wedding the Kava flowed and Soni and the boys had the Fiji music
pumping. It was great to see Soni turn up as he usually
moonlights at the Gosford Reptile Park on the weekends.
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