Gordon Bray

Time to blow the whistle on referees

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:42:10 -0800

The very public humiliation of Australian referee Stuart Dickinson by IRB referees' boss Paddy O'Brien is a bit rich and warrants some inquisitive reflection.

According to O'Brien, following post-match analysis of the clash between Italy and the All Blacks, Dickinson got it totally wrong. Both Italian tight-head props, he revealed, were guilty of illegal boring-in on rookie Kiwi prop Wyatt Crockett. ...

No Vintage Crop for Wallabies

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:53:57 -0800

It was racing's equivalent of the Great Train Robbery. Not once, but twice, the brilliant Irish stayer Vintage Crop pinched the southern hemisphere's greatest race from under our noses.

Two replica Melbourne Cups sit proudly in the foyer of the exclusive K Club in County Kildare should you need a friendly reminder.

And now to make matters worse, the Irish rugby team has done a ‘Vintage Crop' and snatched a possible grand slam away from the improving Wallabies. ...

Redskins can scalp green army

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:34:02 -0800

'Once a Queenslander always a Queenslander' will have special significance here in Dublin this Sunday.

No less than 10 of the Wallaby starting XV honed their rugby skills in the Sunshine State.

Although only half are still contracted to the Reds, all assuredly remain spiritual brothers-in-arms, raised on that unique rugby heritage of passion and parochialism, nurtured so affectionately north of the Tweed. ...

Welcome to a coach's nightmare

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:03:58 -0800

As the dust settles on Twickenham, England coach Martin Johnson has been lambasted for his side's so-called inept display. One newspaper critic has called for Lions' coach Ian McGeechan to be installed immediately.

From my vantage point in the Northern Stand, one key selection could have made a huge difference for the home coach. Injured ball playing centre Ricky Flutey would have challenged Australia’s inexperienced midfield defence. ...

Twickers fizz a perfect tonic

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:29:49 -0800

It is a home away from home for we colonials. The former market garden is not only the spiritual headquarters of rugby (according to the Poms), Twickenham also sits at the summit of Australian rugby achievement.

Uppermost, it was the field of dreams in 1991 when Nick Farr-Jones held the Webb Ellis Trophy aloft in front of Her Majesty the Queen, his champion team having just subdued the host nation in an epic encounter by 12-6. ...

Wallabies lost in translation

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:05:55 -0800

Memo: Paddy O'Brien IRB Director of Referees:
Please keep players on their feet before it is too late!

By way of explanation, allow me to digress.

Picture a desperate Aussie tourist on match eve, seeking a good old fashioned nerve-soothing 'cuppa' after the obligatory Cityrama bus tour through the congested streets of the Tokyo CBD.

Hallelujah! I then discovered 'Maccas' at the Tokyo Tower.

"One very hot tea ... ...

Opportunity knocks - Wallabies must answer door

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:36:30 -0800

The evidence is irrefutable. England won the recent Ashes series on the toss of a coin.

Ricky Ponting emerged with just one of the five tosses which meant the Poms grabbed the initiative and set the tempo from the outset.

Therein lies the key for the Wallabies this weekend against the All Blacks in Tokyo. Not the actual winning of the toss, but absolutely the notion of seizing the high ground early and never letting go. ...

All Blacks wary of icebergs

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:20:50 -0800

So the coaching deck chairs have been rearranged on the good ship All Blacks.

Two years out from hosting the next Rugby World Cup, the Kiwis have made a bold, if not somewhat bizarre strategic move.

Head coach Graham Henry is changing his role from defence to the forwards, allowing Steve Hansen to guide the backs with Wayne Smith shifting to defence. ...

"We before me" is Wallaby catchcry

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:47:54 -0800

It's time for the Wallabies to wholeheartedly adopt the Zen Master approach of legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson. Inspiringly, this master of the mind built basketball dynasties on the strength of a simple premise... 'We not me.'

Jackson had to deal with strong personalities like Michael Jordan in his playing ranks. Yet to still evolve as one of the greatest sporting coaches of any era is the ultimate accolade to his policy of mutual respect. ...

NRL offers Wallabies a spring clean

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:40:54 -0800

The Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels provided the best possible manuscript for coach Robbie Deans and his beleaguered Wallabies.

You had to admire the meticulous execution of the Storm whenever they created tryscoring moments. Decoy runners, precision passing, straight running and pinpoint kicking.

Likewise the never-say-die attitude of the Eels when all seemed lost, oozed courage and character. ...