IncREDible

The Queensland Reds have a brand spanking new advertising slogan and campaign underway and it's all centred around the word 'IncREDible'. While I'm sure hoping that my beloved Reds will live up to the slogan next season, kudos to the QRU for using QUT students to come up with the idea. QUT (Queensland University of Technology) bases a lot of business curriculum studies around 'real world' type activities and I must say it's fab to see students engaged in activities that are relevant to their studies, and which produce end results a little more interesting than an assignment that will sit in a filing cabinet gathering dust. Nice to see! (note: it is entirely possible and probable that my MBA from QUT has influenced the subject matter of the preceding paragraph!)

It seems that Taranaki is set to dip out on the NPC playing services of James Hilgendorf in 2006. Hilgendorf has signed with the Western Force, and coach John Mitchell has said that it is unlikely that the Force will release Hilgendorf to play NPC next season.

Some interesting reading in this article from Japan where Mori, the President of Japan's Rugby Football Union has his say on the IRB's decision to award the 2011 Rugby World Cup to New Zealand.

"I think there was a great deal of sympathy toward New Zealand and that was a big
aspect of the voting. When they lost the right to cohost the 2003 World Cup, the JRFU
and the Foreign Ministry asked me to try and mediate as we did not think it was fair if
Australia got all the games. We did not think it was fair on New Zealand." (Quote from Mori)

Hang on a minute there Mori.... it's my understanding that NZ lost the co-hosting rights for 2003 because they couldn't guarantee 'clean' stadiums; they wanted the host RWC games, but some of the stadiums' 'powers' could not meet the conditions that they had agreed to when the bid was put in. The ducks should have been in their rows long before push came to shove and NZ lost the co-hosting rights. That said, I look forward to RWC 2011 in the Shaky Isles - a great rugby nation, beautiful countryside, and compact enough to get around easily :)

I do feel for the Cherry Blossoms, I do understand their disappointment at not being awarded RWC 2011, but Mori also highlights some of the areas that Japan can attend to in order to make their next bid the successful one. So do it :) I can't comment on internal IRB workings - I don't work there, and they're far removed from most of us mere mortals.

Later!

Boks getting organised for 2006

Bok's coach Jake White is keen to get flyhalf Jaco van der Westhuyzen back from Japan and playing for the Stormers next season so that he can get some precious game time in the lead up to RWC 2006. Van der Westhuyzen used to play for the Bulls but they have a full squad of flyhalfs.

Chris Whittaker, contracted until the end of 2006 with the Waratahs has admitted that at this stage he will want to keep playing beyond then - maybe even in England. He's had bad luck timing wise to date - good half back!

Elton Flatley wants Eddie too!

Well it seems 'Eddie Jones for Reds' coach' is gaining momentum, with Elton Flatley supporting the idea, and Andrew Slack saying that EJ should most certainly be looked at.

Dan Crowley backs Eddie Jones for Reds coach

Well sort of! In an article over on Foxsports, Dan Crowley, who's on the QRU board has said that he will welcome an application from Eddie Jones to be the Queensland Reds coach. But..... he feels that EJ needs to brush up on his man-management skills first. Ouch! How's that for a backhander? hehhe...

Now THIS is good news - well for me at least since I'll be living in Brisvegas shortly :) July 29 next year will see a Bledisloe Cup game being played in Brisbane. Yay! I hope the Wallabies have picked up their game by then though or else I'll be tortured for weeks!

There's a whole story on George Gregan in the weekend Courier-Mail today - I've only read the headlines yet... him saying that he's not ready to retire yet. Maybe I'll read the whole thing later...

Sharpie to captain Force

Nathan Sharpe's had a nice little Christmas pressie come early with the news that John Mitchell's has appointed him as Captain of the Western Force next year. Congratz! Sharpe also got to celebrate this week after being awarded RUPA's Rugby Medal for Excellence. He's racking it in!

:)

Eddie and the Reds

Eddie Jones has apparently put up his hand to coach my beloved Reds come 2007. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

Not the Reds!!

:(


Meanwhile, Laurie Fisher, Brumbies' coach, has put his hand up to coach the Wallabies. I'm tempted to type Nooooooooooooooo, but that's probably a bit unfair - so I won't.

I went to the markets on Saturday, and saw this whole All Black paraphenalia stand. I did manage a slight giggle with the T-shirts that said 'Who's Waltzing Now?' on them. Smart arse!

Rugby news

The Sharks might be minus John Smit for the start of Super 14 2006 but they're getting ready for a big season none the less. They have confirmed the signing of Samoan international, Daniel Farani who is a very handy forward, and also star Free State centre, Andries Strauss who will no doubt add depth to their backline.

Eddie Jones has revealed that he thinks that David Nucifora should be the one who takes over as coach of the Wallabies. He doesn't think that Ewen McKenzie has 'the best record'. If the ARU doesn't ask me to be the new coach, then I think that Nucifora should get the nod as well :) He should have never been given the boot from the Brumbies.... oh wait that's right, I remember now, they don't really need a coach....

Eddie Shown the Door...

It's official! Eddie Jones has been dumped as Wallaby coach. Jones has taken a swipe at Alan Jones (ex-Wallaby coach and media commentator) saying that Alan Jones' repeated attacks on him helped to bring about his ousting. Well.... any of us who read the newspapers know that AJ has been piling heaps on EJ for a very long time. But then again, Alan Jones piles heaps on an awful lot of people. I suppose that's what some people find attractive in the man. I would like to think that Gary Flowers, head of the ARU, was a little bit more professional in coming to the decision to find a new coach.

So..... George Gregan will be next to feel the heat no doubt. He's on holidays at the present, I assume he will be doing some deep thinking and soul searching in amongst the relaxation. I think that Australia probably needs to have the broom swept through the Wallabies. Then, they can go forward.

I can't believe the ARU hasn't phoned me yet asking me if I want to take on 'the' coaching job :) My kids think it'd be great! But they are mercenary little souls..... I guess Ewen McKenzie or David Nucifora or even John 'Knuckles' Connolly will get the nod.

Have a good weekend!

D-Day for Eddie?

Maybe! Wayne Smith, who writes for the Australian says that Eddie Jones will be sacked today.

Wait and see....

Sharks will start without Smit

The Sharks will be minus John Smit for the first 3 rounds of Super 14 2006. Springbok captain and hooker, Smit, copped the IRB banning after being cited for using his elbow recklessly against France's skipper in their test last weekend. The Shark tank won't be impressed I'll bet!

The Western Force have confirmed that they have signed ex-Tah and Wallaby Scott Staniforth. He is the 33rd player signed to the side, and apparently the last. For now :)

And how stupid is this? Given all the troubles and woes of the Australian scrums..... there's a clause in the player's agreements that means that the Wallaby players are not allowed to scrummage until January 28 - two weeks before Super 14 kicks off.. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That is ridiculous. All this crapola about scrummage schools blah blah blah... what is the point?

The clause apparently only stops Wallaby players from scrummaging in that time. I say get all the other front rowers around the traps into scrummaging practise before Christmas - make the encumbants fight for their spots.