Time to Get Healthy and Wealthy

Former Scotland rugby union captain Kelly Brown and Seattle Seahawks' Brandon Shell discuss how they used sport to help them live with stammers. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/58135453 https://blog.therugbystore.com.au/how-two-elite-sportsmen-learned-to-live-with-a-stammer/

Rennie is a man with a mission. With Rennie at the helm the Wallabies are no longer a shipwreck waiting to happen, with previous skippers thrown or leaping overboard. The Wallabies crew needed a strong leader to navigate this rugby ghost ship. For years the green and gold jersey has struggled – struggled to impose themselves on the world of rugby, struggled to intimidate the top three teams and struggled to be recognised as something valuable and worth following. It’s strange how far the Wallabies have drifted off course when you consider they’re the closest team to the All Blacks, not just geographically but also culturally. The two nations share common interests, strengths and ambitions. Both countries seem to put extracurricular activities ahead of educational values. The youth are exposed far more to sporting legends than academic superstars. They look up to sports men and women for inspiration. Legends like Tom Carroll in surfing to Mal Meninga in rugby league or Cathy Freema...

The Wallabies had flashes of brilliance and some rough patches in their 33-25 loss to New Zealand. We asked you to rate every single player – here’s how you saw it. Following his strong series against France, Michael Hooper was again named the best Wallabies player, with the skipper being the only visitor to post a score above seven. Andrew Kellaway wasn’t far away, finishing at 6.91, while Tate McDermott’s 6.19 was enough to see him round out the podium. In his column for The Roar , Will Genia was full of praise for Kellaway, Rob Valetini and Matt To’omua off the bench. “I was hoping would be someone who really steps up. For me, he looks like he’s still searching for that performance to really cement himself in that position. He had a little bit of a shaky start, but he really worked his way into the game,” he said. Wallabies Bledisloe 1 player ratings 1. James Slipper Average score: 6.07 Most common rating: 6 (34.7%) 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa Average score: 5.20 Most common...

Versatile England back Sarah McKenna signs a new one-year contract with Premier 15s club Saracens. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58157071 https://blog.therugbystore.com.au/england-back-sarah-mckenna-signs-new-saracens-deal/

After a Lions series full of rancour and underwhelming rugby, how will the tour be remembered and where do the team go from here? Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58146218 https://blog.therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-how-will-the-south-africa-tour-be-remembered-and-what-next-for-the-lions/

It was an interesting game we were presented with on Saturday night. Conditions weren’t the best, and errors and poor discipline created a stop-start match. Front row George Bower and Nepo Laulala had a solid showing. The scrum held up well against the Wallabies where they said they would target. Replacements coming on were up and down in the scrum. On attack the front row combined had a couple of solid carries. Laulala was quiet, Codie Taylor and Bower contributed the most. Taylor was solid in lineout throws. Locks Both Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick were at their best disrupting the lineout for the Wallabies and securing the ball for us. In play Retallick brought some mongrel into his game but also infringed a few times. Both were solid on defence, and we missed Retallick in that final 15. Patrick Tuipulotu coming on certainly affected our dominance from the prior 15 minutes. With Beauden Barrett dropping out we struggled not having that physically dominant lock on. Brodie...

Alun Wyn Jones admits it would be a “travesty” if British and Irish Lions tours were to fade from the international calendar after his own illustrious career in the red jersey ended in heartache. The Lions are having to fight increasingly hard for their place in a cluttered global programme, with their fruitless trip to South Africa squeezed from six weeks to five. Head coach Warren Gatland has repeatedly stated his desire for prospective series to be protected when rugby’s powerbrokers discuss the future of the world schedule. Veteran captain Jones, who conceded the agonising 2-1 defeat to the Springboks will be his fourth and last series after appearances in 2009, 2013 and 2017, echoed Gatland’s view and believes Lions contests remain among the pinnacle of the sport. “It’s funny, being involved in 2009, I remember the furore after that – the Lions is this, the Lions is that. Should it exist? he said. “… In its most basic concept it is something that is very special and it ignite...

British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones defends his right to be "overly emotional" after his spectacular injury return ended in a narrow series loss to South Africa. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58138564 https://blog.therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-alun-wyn-jones-defends-right-to-be-emotional-after-loss/

Richie Mo’unga was hailed as the difference maker in a breakthrough performance as the New Zealand media reacted to the All Blacks’ 33-25 win in the Bledisloe Cup opener on Saturday night. Mo’unga was preferred in the No.10 jersey to Beauden Barrett after they shared duties in the Pasifika Series and was instrumental as well as scoring a blistering intercept try and out-kicking his young Wallabies rival Noah Lolesio. “Just as he did for the Crusaders all season, Richie Mo’unga dug deep into his bag of tricks to turn the first Bledisloe Cup Test and push the All Blacks into an assailable position,” wrote Gregor Paul in the New Zealand Herald. “It was clunk, clunk, clunk for 50 minutes and then, with little warning the All Blacks were suddenly in fifth gear, punching big holes when they ran from deep and monstering the Wallabies all over the field. “And the spark for this incredible transformation came from Mo’unga. That’s been his special thing all year – finding a way to produce on...

The British and Irish Lions lose an agonisingly close series decider to South Africa as Morne Steyn's late penalty seals a 19-16 victory. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58130765 https://blog.therugbystore.com.au/south-africa-19-16-british-and-irish-lions-morne-steyns-late-penalty-wins-series/

The Wallabies will be out to change 35 years of history at Eden Park on Saturday night in their Bledisloe Cup opener with the All Blacks. New Zealand, in contrast, will be celebrating it. Aaron Smith will become just the tenth All Blacks player to notch 100 Tests when he runs out in Auckland. Right alongside Smith will be captain Sam Whitelock, the only other current Kiwi centurion, just as he was 19 years ago. The pair first met on the way to their first day of high school in Feilding, a town of 17,000 people set in the beautiful rolling hills of the Manawatu. Sports opinion delivered daily       function edmWidgetSignupEvent() window.roarAnalytics.customEvent( category: 'EDM', action: 'EDM Signup', label: `Shortcode Widget`, ); “I remember it really clearly,” Whitelock said. “Walking acros...

The British and Irish Lions' decisive third Test in South Africa "has huge implications for the future of rugby", says three-time tourist Ronan O'Gara. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58119049 https://blog.therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-v-south-africa-has-huge-implications-says-ronan-ogara/

Wales hooker Ken Owens will finally make his first British and Irish Lions Test start on Saturday in the series decider against South Africa in Cape Town. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58099716 https://blog.therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-ken-owens-proud-of-first-start-in-south-africa-series-decider/

British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones wants to maintain the tempo of the game and urged his players to engage less with under-prepared South Africa. He will talk less to referee Mathieu Raynal and has urged his players to avoid scuffles with South Africa that will slow down the play in their series decider with the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday. Last weekend’s second Test lasted more than two hours with breaks in play due to confrontations among the players, injuries and Television Match Official referrals, which played into the hands of the Boks as they ran away comprehensive 27-9 winners. With the home side’s preparations for the series having been severely disrupted by a COVID-19 outbreak in their squad that meant many of their leading players couldn’t train, the Lions should have the edge in fitness and the greater vigour for the closing stages of the game. That is if they can avoid the multiple stoppages that allowed the Boks to catch their breath in the second ...

Australia drop Marika Koroibete, Isi Naisarani and prop Pone Fa'amausili for Saturday's match against New after breaking a team curfew with a drinking session. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58086862 https://therugbystore.com.au/australia-trio-dropped-from-new-zealand-opener-after-curfew-breach/

New Zealand have opted for Richie Mo’unga at No.10 over Beauden Barrett as they named their team for the opening Bledisloe Cup match against Australia on Saturday. Mo’unga started at No.10 for the first Test of the campaign against Tonga before Barrett replaced him for the first of two Tests against Fiji. Mo’unga got the job again for the second Test and has retained it for this match. The starting front row remains intact from the most recent Test with loosehead prop George Bower, hooker Codie Taylor and tighthead Nepo Laulala first choice ahead of props Karl Tu’inukuafe and Angus Ta’avao, and hooker Dane Coles. Brodie Retallick returns to start alongside Samuel Whitelock at lock. Ardie Savea has been named at No.8, Dalton Papalii at No.7 and Akira Ioane at No.6 with Luke Jacobson providing loose forward cover. David Havili and Anton Lienert-Brown combine in the centres with Rieko Ioane moving to the left wing, Sevu Reece to right and Damian McKenzie at fullback, with Jordie Barr...

If it had been a boxing contest, it would have been stopped to prevent further punishment. The triumph of the South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus was not only over the British and Irish Lions, but over World Rugby in the build-up to the second Test at Cape Town. There is no other governing body in professional sport which would have given Erasmus such license to criticise its officials and not issue immediate sanction. Rassie has swapped roles effortlessly, from director of rugby, to water-boy, to social media influencer. By the end of the game, the shape-shifting was complete. He was orchestrating the officiating crew from the sideline as expertly as Nigel Owens used to do in his pomp from the middle of the pitch. The broad grin on his face told you everything you needed to know. More AFL The AFL must use an interstate hub for finals – and there's only one safe choice Who are the AFL...

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland says he will be speaking to the referee about speeding up the game before the deciding third Test against South Africa. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58073124 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-warren-gatland-wants-quicker-third-test/

South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus will face a misconduct hearing after his criticism of the match officials following their first-Test defeat by the British and Irish Lions. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58064491 https://therugbystore.com.au/south-africa-rassie-erasmus-faces-misconduct-hearing-for-criticising-officials-in-defeat-by-lions/

Well, the Wallabies are in New Zealand ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup Test, and I must say, it’s a bit surprising we still don’t know where the second match will be played yet. Of course, there’s good reason for that, and one of very many would be that the Nine Network in Australia is working feverishly with the NRL and several state governments around plans and possibilities and numerous contingencies around how to keep rugby league being played in a rapidly-changing COVID situation in Sydney and Brisbane. Games being played in other sports, even games little more than a week away, would be down the priority list at the moment, and that would make things difficult for Rugby Australia to gain the clarity they would most certainly need for the rest of the series and The Rugby Championship beyond. Hopefully, the next week questions are answered soon enough. This week, on the other hand, raises different kinds of questions that can only be answered on the field with the first match ...

When all of the nonsense associated with this Lions versus South Africa series is stripped away – and that will take some doing – what will be left is a measure of both sides against rugby’s base elements. Who won the contest for possession, who won the contest at the gain line, who limited their errors, who took opportunities to convert field position into points? The first 120 minutes of the series delivered near to a stalemate. But Saturday’s second half, a 21-0 whitewash, accurately reflected the Springboks’ dominance in all of those key aspects, and in the process, has shifted all of the pressure back to Warren Gatland and the Lions to find a way to eke out a series victory next weekend. To say that there has been little expressive, open rugby played is to state the obvious, however this is a series dominated by exceedingly well organised defensive lines, compressing and squeezing space from the field, while executing with ruthless precision on the tackle. Both groups may have...

British and Irish Lions prop Kyle Sinckler is cited for an alleged bite during Saturday's second Test defeat by South Africa. Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58051015 https://therugbystore.com.au/kyle-sinckler-british-and-irish-lions-prop-cited-for-biting-during-second-south-africa-test/