After a horror 24 months, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made clear his intentions.
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Category: World Cup
World Rugby’s High Tackle Framework: For When The TMO Takes An Eternity…
What’s the go with all these Red Cards? Has World Rugby gone mad?
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Fair-weather Followers; Fickle or Fair Enough?
I recently had the pleasure of watching a documentary by the name of The Call of the Wallaby in the catalogue on Kayo. I highly recommend! It explores the highs and lows (mainly lows) of being a supporter of the Wallabies. At the time of publication, The Wallabies had lost 11 Bledisloe Cups in a row, weren’t those the golden years! Do you remember anticipating victory like a fool?
Survive the hit
Rugby is the greatest sport in the world for two key reasons. Contest and continuity. There is no other sport in which the ball is contestable at every phase of play. There is no other sport in which you could theoretically play forever.
But the best element of our sport is by far the tackle contest.
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The World in Union?
Once again the Rugby World Cup is upon us. With great rugby comes an amazing soundtrack. The World in Union was first recorded for the 1991 Rugby World Cup by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. This Song is represents everything that is good about our beloved sport; unity, diversity, collaboration, shared vision and purpose. The beauty of this song still brings a tear to my eye. Give it a listen!
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Revelation of the Heart
Today we witnessed the revelation of the Rugby World Cup Jersey to be worn by the Wallabies in Japan come September.
With little surprise, the reaction from the rugby community could be best described as “mixed.” With the majority of comments being negative or indifferent.
What struck me in watching the reactions unfold, was the sheer number of people longing for yester-year. With numerous calls to return to the jersey of 2000-2002. A genuine green and gold jersey rather than the canary yellow we’ve grown accustomed to over the last decade or so.
A jersey I loved. A jersey I still love, wearing it more often than not, although mine is not in such good condition.
Why do so many want to return to this jersey? Does everyone actually prefer the gold as a more pleasing aesthetic? Or is there something else going on?
Today was indeed a revelation, but not simply revealing a new jersey, but revealing the heart of a nation sick of losing. I reckon so many Australians long for the old jersey hoping it will somehow turn the tides of our misfortune on the scoreboard.
2002 was the last time the Wallabies lifted the Bledisloe cup. The most prized possession of an Australian Rugby fan. And with few exceptions the Wallabies at that time were generally successful. The Rod McQueen era was marked by pride in the jersey, and there was an inextricable link between that jersey and success.
Unfortunately pulling on that jersey will do little to change our fortunes. If you are disappointed in the 2019 RWC jersey, please don’t blame Asics. Blame almost 2 decades of poor rugby.
Pulling on the jerseys of the past won’t magically win us a World Cup. We need a radical transformation from the inside out. Putting on a facade won’t improve our fate.
All too often in life, we try and improve our fortunes by making superficial adjustments to our exterior, rather than doing the hard work to be transformed from the inside out.
Paul urges the believers in Rome to be transformed in view of God’s mercy;
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:1-2
The heart of the issue is not what’s on the outside, but what’s going on within.
If we’re ever going to stop being a pack of losers, we need to embrace radical transformation from the inside out.
Bring on RWC 2023…
The Reveree 