The UAFC

McCloskey sometimes plays like a trombone in a strings section. He can put on the blinkers and either miss numbers around him or simply pick the wrong shot. At precisely 41.35 minutes on the Red clock Ulster had a THREE ON ONE outside the big horse. Both Cave & Lyttle we calling for ball either ...

It was Nuclear for CL to put the pill into the green seats in the 70th minute. His team needed a breather after sandbagging in & around their own 22 for a prolonged period. The resulting quick take was the start up for the McCloskey mistackle on Henson & the 71 min try in the corner. Jim Nee...

I don't mind being a rugby ecumenic Baggy. The RLWC Tonga - Kiwi match in the next few hours will set a marker as to whether this vaunted (& bolstered) Tongan team can make it all the way to the Finale. I wouldn't be surprised. The three big line breaking hitters in their pack - Taumalolo, Tauke...

Cooper Cronk. Watched him play football with the Storm over the last 13 years and like everyone else who follows the other code, I've been in awe of his work ethic and professionalism. Ranks alongside Jonny Wilkinson for single minded dedication, preparation, determination, humbleness and an obsessi...

Farrell's handoff on Tuperic at 35 minutes and his torso bumper carry in the second half that sent the Osprey 12 flying on his backside were both noteworthy. Farrell is gangly limbed, doesn't have natural 13 gas or shown any tactical kicking nous yet and has a skillset very similar to Taute in midfi...

[Is that second last picture, Deysel stealing Arno's contract?] The Blue jumper is Dewald Potgieter. A tough grafter who made the most of his talent in a crowded Bulls third row. Arnie was destined by some in Pretoria to become the new Pierre Spies. Behind all the injuries he was simply over hyped. ...

Want to see Marcel lifting the standards of the players around him and taking them with him. His game is built on quick reactions and fast line speed in both defence and attack. Few back row players can bounce off the floor and get back into the game after a carry or tackle quite like him. He's got ...

Donald got game time as an injury back filler this season for the Chiefs, mainly as a linking second five eight in the matches I saw. Working in a high energy team has sharpened him physically. He's been pushed hard, stayed injury free and has looked in great shape. He's in a better place now than w...

Lions v Canes should be a great match up on a dry pitch. Coles v Marx is a fascinating sub plot. The pressure will be on the home team to avenge the two spankings the Canes gave them last season. Even without Whiteley they are a light footed, dogged, craggy team to play against. Jankjies is the Afri...

Multi skilled brilliance from the Blacks. Surprisingly Aumua only made 8 carries in the final before being taken off at 65 minutes. For a small guy he's an electic mix of Samoan strength & Fijian speed. The No. 9 delivered wonderful long range fizzing passes. The No. 15 Jordan is a wonderful 2 h...

Ruan reminds me more of Cameron Smith the current & long time Storm, Queensland and Kangaroo captain than any current union player. Both players have brought a patience and calmness to their teams. The occasion has never got to them, they know their way around a football pitch, they know their r...

What made the Ireland - Scotland game exciting was the perfect weather conditions and the Scottish running from deep. The back 3 of Graham, Nairn & Kinghorn were skelectric. As a team they played an exhibition of quick running lines and one handed offloading, exemplified by a thrilling length of...

Don't underestimate the ability of a few committed individuals, with help from a local club, to change the Rugby fortunes of a school. From a scratch beginning 15 years ago St Fintans High (State) Boys School in Sutton has evolved into a serious rugby school in the Leinster circuit. Key to it's deve...

Higher work rate from the Irish backs than the forwards in the first half!! The Green pack turned the tables round in the third quarter which Ireland dominated. However they couldn't add to the two quick fire tries from electric wing man Nash at the start of the second half. Some defining moments 24...

Powerful tunnel carrier. The fact that he never added vision and simple offloading to his carries (so far during a long career) is criminal.
Let's hope his leg speed doesn't tail off in the next 2 years.
Very different proposition to Arno Botha.