The Rogues Rant
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:53 am
The transformation of the Wallabies continues with the series win over the French. Last Saturdays win at the SFS was the seventh straight test match victory for the Wallabies. The change of fortunes for the national team has been nothing short of astonishing in the less than twelve months since the change of coaching staff. Under the previous structure the Wallabies were dour and appeared to lack the required skills to compete, playing a negative game without flare or commitment. Now we are enjoying watching a team that plays the way the game was meant to be played with flare, power and commitment. Twelve months ago we were questioning the depth of Australian rugby. Now with players like Moore, Genia, Cooper and Pocock missing the depth suddenly seems to be there with new players coming in and getting the job done. All this can only be put down to the performance of one man. Ewan McKenzie is at the forefront of the transformation and yes he is a former front rower. He turned the Waratahs around, won a title with the Reds and is now transforming the Wallabies. That’s one for the big guys.
Former Vikings junior Reece Hewitt has been selected phone number library in the Qld No.1 Schoolboys team for the national schoolboy’s championships. Reece is now a boarder at St Josephs Nudgee College in Brisbane and is making a name for himself, as have many Wallabies before him at Nudgee. Rumour has it that he may also be named as captain. Another Illawarra junior on the path to success. Good luck Reece from all at Illawarra Rugby.
We are now at the halfway mark of the IDRU Builders Club premiership, so it’s worth a look at how things are shaping. Things are starting to look a lot like last year. Avondale unbeaten on top and eight points clear of Uni who have one loss and a draw. Camden are next five points back and improving. The top three will have their run home disturbed again with the Country Cockatoos to play one more game on July 12 against the Qld Country Blue Heelers in Brisbane. They will all lose players to this match again and should then be able to settle in for the run home. Avondale and Uni look pretty safe at the top and should figure in the Major Semi Final. Camden will need to put some consistent form together over the next few weeks to keep the chasers at bay. Vikings, Kiama, Shamrocks and even Tech Waratahs could still figure in the Minor Semi race. Shoalhaven and Bowral can start giving 2015 some thought.
Super Rugby is back on this week. The Aussie and Kiwi sides are up, with the South Africans off for one more week. The Waratahs and the Crusaders have an opportunity to take the lead in the tournament with wins this week. The Waratahs are at home to the Brumbies and the Crusaders play the Hurricanes away. The Force will be striving for a win at home against the Blues to force their way back into the top six. There are all sorts of possible scenarios developing for the last three rounds before the semis. My tips for this week Chiefs, Rebels, Crusaders, Waratahs and Force.
Former Vikings junior Reece Hewitt has been selected phone number library in the Qld No.1 Schoolboys team for the national schoolboy’s championships. Reece is now a boarder at St Josephs Nudgee College in Brisbane and is making a name for himself, as have many Wallabies before him at Nudgee. Rumour has it that he may also be named as captain. Another Illawarra junior on the path to success. Good luck Reece from all at Illawarra Rugby.
We are now at the halfway mark of the IDRU Builders Club premiership, so it’s worth a look at how things are shaping. Things are starting to look a lot like last year. Avondale unbeaten on top and eight points clear of Uni who have one loss and a draw. Camden are next five points back and improving. The top three will have their run home disturbed again with the Country Cockatoos to play one more game on July 12 against the Qld Country Blue Heelers in Brisbane. They will all lose players to this match again and should then be able to settle in for the run home. Avondale and Uni look pretty safe at the top and should figure in the Major Semi Final. Camden will need to put some consistent form together over the next few weeks to keep the chasers at bay. Vikings, Kiama, Shamrocks and even Tech Waratahs could still figure in the Minor Semi race. Shoalhaven and Bowral can start giving 2015 some thought.
Super Rugby is back on this week. The Aussie and Kiwi sides are up, with the South Africans off for one more week. The Waratahs and the Crusaders have an opportunity to take the lead in the tournament with wins this week. The Waratahs are at home to the Brumbies and the Crusaders play the Hurricanes away. The Force will be striving for a win at home against the Blues to force their way back into the top six. There are all sorts of possible scenarios developing for the last three rounds before the semis. My tips for this week Chiefs, Rebels, Crusaders, Waratahs and Force.