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Amanda Shalala Take a Curtsy!
In recent times we seem to have focused on the short comings of certain senior Rugby journalists in Australia but I would like to give full credit to one who is showing that not every story has to be spiteful, negative, self-obsessed, ego stroking, divisive pap.
Amanda Shalala, a young journo for the ABC, has written a sequence of articles for the ARC's ARC Broadcast site www.abc.net.au/sport/rugby_union/arc/default.htm that has focused on the positives of the competition for Australia's players and the future of Australian Rugby.
While passionate Rugby followers don't want to live with their heads in the sand, they also want to know what is good about this sport we love.
Well done Amanda for some great articles and a great site by you and the ABC.
I recommend you all go over there and take a look.
The Battle Begins
August 8 2007 | by Amanda Shalala
After many years of planning, the Australian Rugby Championship is finally here, and you can be sure it's ready to live up to its self-generated hype. The significance of the competition should not be underestimated- it's the first of its kind in Australia in a quest to fill the void between club rugby and the Super 14. Australia's Tri Nations counterparts South Africa and New Zealand have been running similar set-ups for many years, so it was only natural that we should (belatedly) follow. It's not going to be easy for the ARC to make its presence known in the already bulging ranks of Australian football, as its season will overlap with the AFL, NRL, and A-League. But we are a nation of sports ravishing fiends, and if any country is going to sustain four pro football competitions, it has got to be Australia.
The ARC will feature eight teams, with five states and territories represented, including feeder teams for the four Australian Super 14 sides. The Australian Rugby Union has decided to flirt with a Melbourne team, with hopes the self-proclaimed sports capital of Australia will embrace the Rebels. The rugby strongholds of NSW and Queensland will field five teams- the Sydney Fleet, Western Sydney Rams, Central Coast Rays, East Coast Aces, and Ballymore Tornadoes. The Perth Spirit will ride off the back of the Force's success, while the Canberra Vikings will round out the sides. The ARU's big hook for the competition is the promise of seeing “tomorrow's Wallabies today”, and with names like Kurtley Beale, Digby Ioane, and Anthony and Saia Faingaa, it might just live up to its grand billing. There’s no lack of high profile players either- there's over 90 Super 14 players spread across the 8 ARC teams, with the rest of the squads filled by local club players.
The ARC will also test eight Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), developed in South Africa, and trialled in various club competitions around the world, including Sydney and Brisbane. The ELVs are being touted as the best thing to hit rugby in a long time, as they're designed to promote more open and exciting play, as well as keeping the ball in play a lot more. Whether or not this will actually be the case, well you'll just have to watch this space.
At any rate, the ARC will give club footballers a real chance to make the leap to the Super 14, as well as giving higher profile players much needed competitive rugby. And if you’re not among those lucky enough to be heading over to France for the World Cup, you can substitute the experience with heading out to your nearest ARC game, whacking on a beret, and yelling “Allez les Rams.” After all when you think about it, Parramatta isn't really that far removed from Paris…
And if you can't get to the games, the ABC will be broadcasting two live matches a week, as well as having live streaming on this very site, so there's no excuse for missing any ARC action. It all begins on the 10th of August, so here's a preview of round one.
Friday 10th August
Sydney Fleet vs Central Coast Rays, North Sydney Oval 7pm
The NSW Rugby Union was the most vocal opponent to the ARC, with the Sydney Club Competition arguably the strongest of its kind in Australia. But they've had to accept the gale force winds of change bearing down on the game, and the first ever match of the ARC will see many of the Sydney Club combatants face off in this elevated arena. The toughest task for both sides will be an internal struggle, as they learn to play with teammates who they've come to hate through the deep seeded club rivalries such as Sydney University and Randwick for the Fleet, and Manly and Warringah for the Rays. The Fleet should have a slight edge though, with many crucial combinations surviving the club amalgamation.
Players to Watch:
Sydney- Daniel Halangahu
Central Coast- Sam Norton-Knight
Perth Spirit vs Western Sydney Rams, Members Equity Stadium 7pm
The Western Force will perhaps be the greatest beneficiary out of the entire ARC experiment, as they’ve struggled to keep their players occupied in the Perth club competition at the conclusion of the Super 14 season. Western Sydney has a host of Wallaby potentials, with the grand jewel in their crown 18-year-old sensation Kurtley Beale. But Perth at home is a formidable task, and the Spirit can expect a host of public support to kick off their ARC campaign with a win.
Players to Watch:
Perth- Ryan Cross
West Sydney- Lachie Turner
Saturday 11th August
Canberra Vikings vs Melbourne Rebels, Manuka Oval 2:30pm, ABC TV from 3pm (AEST)
Although the Rebels are starting from scratch in Melbourne, they have a multitude of Super 14 players amongst their ranks to give them more than a fighting chance this season. Meanwhile, Canberra is fortunate in being able to call upon the strength of the Brumbies as well as players from the local comp. It will be interesting to see how the Melbourne experiment fares, and whether the public will take to the band of imports.
Players to Watch:
Canberra- Saia Faingaa
Melbourne- Peter Playford
Sunday 12th August
East Coast Aces vs Ballymore Tornadoes, Gold Coast Stadium 4pm, LIVE on ABC2
The local derby between the two Queensland sides will be a real test of mettle, with the bulk of the Reds lining up for these two sides. There'll be a lot of pressure on the teams to perform, though they don’t boast the marquee players of other sides. They'll be out to prove that Queenslanders can play footy, after the Reds finished the 2007 Super 14 in last position.
Players to Watch:
East Coast- Quade Cooper
Ballymore- Blair Connor
Wallaby Watch
August 10 2007 | by Amanda Shalala
The Wallaby is an intriguing species, smaller than an All Black, with cleaner habits than a Springbok, and known to eat grass when pinned under the feet of Les Bleus. It migrates to a different destination around the world every four years, in the hopes of eliminating its prey. But before embarking on this season’s migration to France, a group of Australia’s most advanced Wallaby species will first farewell the less developed of their kind who will be hibernating in Australia.
In case you didn’t catch the hint, seven members of the Wallabies World Cup squad will play in the opening round of the ARC, ensuring the round’s rugby can live up to the game’s razzle dazzle reputation. The Central Coast Rays will call upon the services of Wycliff Palu, Mark Chisholm will play for the Canberra Vikings, Chris Latham will line up for the East Coast Aces, and the Ballymore Tornadoes boast the quartet of Greg Holmes, Sam Cordingley, Berrick Barnes, and Sean Hardman.
The presence of these players is obviously going to help the ARC’s cause in attracting crowds and viewers at home, but the simple fact of the matter is that it’s the last chance for many of these players to push for a starting berth and prove their fitness. And they’d better slip, slop, slap, because all 7 blokes will be under a glaring spotlight.
The one Wallaby who will be under the mother of all microscopes is fullback Chris Latham. The ageless warrior has come back from a cruel knee injury, which killed off his Super 14 season with the Reds. The only rugby he’s had this year has been a couple of club games for the Gold Coast, and a 23-minute stint against New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup. Questions still remain over Latham’s fitness and whether his trademark zip and zeal will be the same after such a devastating injury. But a player of Latham’s ilk should never be doubted, and he won’t just be the Ace in East Coast’s pack, but a Royal Flush.
The Ballymore Tornadoes are practically overflowing with Wallabies for round 1, but it’s the presence of flyhalf Berrick Barnes that will generate the most excitement. The 21 year old managed to raise the Botox filled eyebrows of Joan Rivers with his inclusion in the Wallabies squad, as a back up for Stephen Larkham. So he’ll be keen to show he’s deserving of that golden ticket to France, with a dominant performance for the Tornadoes.
Central Coast number eight Wycliff Palu will finally leave Injury City when he plays his first game since doing his shoulder against New Zealand in June. There are still concerns over his fitness, and with Jone Tawake waiting in the shadow World Cup squad, all 120 kilograms of Palu needs to prove it can handle the rigours of high level rugby.
Holmes, Cordingley, Chisholm, and Hardman will all have their own personal battles to win as well, as they must handle the pressure of living up to the standards we expect of our World Cup campaigners.
So while the Wallabies might not be here for the whole of the ARC season, at least we’ll get a glimpse of our country’s most advanced marsupials, while we get a whole eight weeks to watch those freshly delivered from the pouch.
When You Wish Upon A (Rising) Star
August 13 2007 | by Amanda Shalala
The Australian Rugby Championship was always going to be about unearthing the next generation of superstars in the game, and after Round 1, the signs (and stars) are looking good. Predictably, the old hands such as Melbourne Rebels skipper David Croft, and East Coast Aces fullback Chris Latham excelled in the opening round. But it was the emergence of the younger brigade, which has gone some way to re-elevating the status of the game they play in heaven. There was no shortage of upstarts spread throughout the four games, and while their names and faces might draw blank stares from you now, when the ARC is over they’ll be sure to have left an indelible imprint.
In the ARC’s first ever match, between the Sydney Fleet and Central Coast Rays, it was fitting that a player uncapped at Super 14 level took out man of the match honours. 22 year old Fleet inside centre Tom Azar managed to hold his own against the Waratah’s centre pairing of Sam Harris and Ben Jacobs, and was an integral part of the Fleet’s come from behind win.
The Perth Spirit is overflowing with Western Force players, but it was the relative unknown James Stannard that put in a good showing. He came on as replacement for injured Spirit scrumhalf Matt Henjak, and proved more than a capable back up to his skipper.
The Melbourne Rebels provided the upset of the round with a win over the Brumby-laden Canberra Vikings. 22 year old Rebels centre Jack Farrer and 23 year old halfback Luke Burgess were crucial in helping secure the win, and proved that Victorians (or at least players based in Victoria) can play rugby.
The East Coast Aces beat the Ballymore Tornadoes 27-21, but that was after leading 27-0. The excitement generated throughout the game was thanks in large to the rugby produced by a host of newcomers, including the man of the match, Aces 19 year old flyhalf Ben Lucas. George Smith’s (pre 2006) doppelganger AJ Gilbert was another strong performer for the Aces, while 18 year old centre Blair Connor lit up the Tornadoes attack.
And if those names aren’t getting you fired up, well never fear, here’s a few more young up and comers to look out for over the coming weeks.
Ballymore Tornadoes
- Will Genia: 18 year old Genia was born in PNG and made his Super 14 debut for the Reds in 2007, without having played a senior rugby match.
- Leroy Houston: The 20 year old was a Wallaby tourist in 2005, and has a lot to prove, after he was axed by the Waratahs for repeatedly missing training. He’s now a Queensland Red.
Canberra Vikings
- Anthony and Saia Faingaa: These 20 year old twins have already played Super 14 rugby for the Brumbies, and will only get better so watch out for them in the ARC.
- Rowan Kellam: An Australian Under 19 rep, and a member of the Brumbies Academy, looking to make the step up to Super rugby.
Central Coast Rays
- Jared Waerea-Hargreaves: At only 18, Kiwi born Waerea-Hargreaves has been attracting interest from rugby league, and is an impressive physical specimen.
- Pat McCabe: 19 year old McCabe has had experience with the Waratahs Academy and Development Squad tours, as well as having represented the Australian Under 19s.
East Coast Aces
- Josh Afu: A member of the Reds Academy, 20 year old Afu is a former Australian Schoolboy and Under 19 rep.
- Ben Mowen: 22 year old Mowen is a former Australian Under 21 captain, and has represented Australia in Sevens and at Schoolboy level.
Melbourne Rebels
- David Dennis: This 21 year old lock/backrower is on the Waratahs books, and will want a strong ARC campaign to add to his solitary Super 14 cap.
- Richard Stanford: Stanford is signed with the Brumbies, and made his Super 14 debut this year. A tall and powerful backrower.
Perth Spirit
- Will Brock: Perth product Brock is a member of the RugbyWA Academy and has represented Australia in Sevens.
- Ratu Siganiyavi: Fijian born 19 year old Siganiyavi is the son of former Australia B representative Illiesa Siganiyavi, and at over 6 feet tall and 118kg, will be very hard to miss.
Sydney Fleet
- Andrew Barrett: This 19 year old wing/centre is the equal most capped schoolboy of all time, and is an Australian Under 19s representative.
- Pat McCutcheon: Another Australian Under 19s player, 20 year old McCutcheon captained the Schoolboys in 2005.
Western Sydney Rams
- Ben Roberts: This 22 year old hooker is a former NSW Under 19s player and will be pushing for a look in at the Waratahs.
- Sam Wykes: Wykes has signed with the Western Force for 2008, and this 19 year old is a forward of the future.
'Super' Clash
August 15 2007 | by Amanda Shalala
Friday night’s game between the Perth Spirit and Canberra Vikings will have a heavy Super 14 flavour as both sides have the highest representation of professional players out of all 8 ARC teams. 14 of Perth’s 22 listed to play this weekend have Super 14 experience, while 13 of Canberra’s side have played at that level. It’s virtually a Western Force second XV playing an ACT Brumbies second XV, and none of the other six teams can boast such riches.
But does such clear strength in two teams defeat the purpose of the ARC? The idea of the competition is to spread the talent around evenly, so that club players can get a run at a higher level, whilst professional players get much needed practice. And on paper these two teams should be belt all the others. This didn’t quite eventuate in round 1, as Melbourne’s motley crew upset Canberra, and Perth had a tight game against Western Sydney.
So there’s one side of the argument that says the dominance of Super 14 players in the sides means that they’re taking the place of promising young club players. On the flip side, it could be argued that such high profile names are good for ensuring quality rugby and attracting people to the competition. Who’s right? It’s hard to gauge at this stage, but perhaps a happy medium should be found. The ARU could consider limiting the number of Super 14 players each side can sign, forcing sides like the Spirit and Vikings to delve deeper into their local club stocks. But you get another problem there, with Sydney and Brisbane club players consistently playing at a higher standard than those in other cities’ local competitions. There are so many variables when it comes to this issue, and it’s one that probably will only be resolved as the competition continues and we all get an idea of whether there’s a sufficient spread of talent across all teams.
Enough speculation of the future, and onto Friday’s game. Both sides will be out to play some high-class rugby, and after one round of the new Experimental Law Variations, they should be well on their way to adapting. The Spirit will be captained by the man who once boasted the best muttonchops in the game- Scott Fava, with regular skipper Matt Henjak expected to miss the game with a knee injury. Pek Cowan will also line up for the Spirit, after he escaped suspension for striking. The Vikings have some very experienced campaigners, particularly in their forwards, with the likes of Nic Henderson, Al Campbell, and Adam Wallace-Harrison.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
I think its good to see someone writing something positive about the comp and not just bagging it out
Excellent reporting and creative writing, loved it and read every word, what a positive addition to an otherwise bland media....
Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....
More "Shalala Gold"!
Rugby Renaissance
August 20 2007 | by Amanda Shalala
Forget Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, there are new Renaissance Men in town, and they’re helping to instigate the rebirth of rugby. In round 2 of the Australian Rugby Championship there were a number of players who turned on performances to make even the sternest critic crack. One of these players was a likely figure- Western Sydney’s 18 year old sensation Kurtley Beale. At the other end of the age spectrum it was the much more unlikely figure of 38 year old Melbourne Rebels prop Heamani Lavaka who starred for his side. But the age and profile of the players is not as important as the fact that rugby finally appears ready to re-ascend that stairway to heaven.
While it might not quite be time for us to start dancing in the streets (or grandstands), the foot tapping may certainly commence after an exciting and refreshing round of the ARC. The Experimental Law Variations have certainly helped to make for a more continuous game, as well as seeing players willing to take more risks, with great results. Beale was the man for the Rams in their game against the Central Coast Rays, and he was the difference between the two sides, in what was arguably the match of the round. While no number of superlatives could quite describe him, perhaps the most apt would be the label ‘freak.’ Every time he touched the ball, there was anticipation in the air, and more often than not he didn’t disappoint. His short kicking game was brilliant, helping to create chances all over the field. And the kid has a need for speed, his running game was not just incisive, but he hardly let his speedometer drop below 100km/h. He set up two tries, and scored another two, clearly earning man of the match honours. Though credit must also go to the Rays who were unlucky in losing, and contributed to the spectacular spectacle. We’ve all known for a few years now that Kurtley Beale is the future, but thanks to the ARC…the future is now.
The other noteworthy game of the round was the Melbourne Rebels versus the East Coast Aces. Last week Melbourne pulled off a great upset win over the Brumby filled Canberra Vikings. This week they were supposed to fold to the Aces, but in front of a healthy crowd at Olympic Park in Melbourne, they managed to do the unthinkable and win two in a row! For the record, they’re the only team to have won both their games, and who’d have thunk it- Melbourne is now on top of the table. Out of Melbourne’s 22 that played on the weekend, only three players had racked up double figure Super 12/14 appearances (Matt Cockbain- 78, David Croft- 81, Digby Ioane- 20), while the East Coast had 7 players with more than 10 Super caps. Melbourne’s efforts are all the more remarkable considering hardly any of the squad have played together at club level, putting them at the biggest disadvantage of any team. Perhaps they should consider swapping their moniker with Perth, because Melbourne’s spirit has been instrumental in their inspired start to the ARC. Tongan international Heamani Lavaka was man of the match thanks to scoring two tries- something a prop has no right to do, let alone a prop who is closer to 40 years old than 30. Halfback Luke Burgess also played a key role in the match, and if his form continues there’s no reason why the Rebels can’t ensure the underdog remains on top.
Rugby has copped a lot of flak over recent times for being a dour affair, with too much interference from the referee, teams too willing to kick for territory rather than chance their arm, and that ever dreaded tendency to constantly kick for penalties. Rugby is at its best when players are able to display the full extent of their skills, and put on an entertaining and hard fought show. The revival has begun with the implementation of the ELVs and the blossoming of players and teams. Let’s just hope that this Renaissance can help lead rugby back into the Golden Age.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Now that's what I call quality journalism!!!
Where is her work published (apart from here)?
CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!!
Haven't seen her elsewhere other than the ABC ARC site so far JK, will keep an eye out though.
I understand she is fairly fresh out of Uni?
In some ways her writing reminds me of Fitzy's style where she involves the reader rather than just narrates the events.
Heard a great ABC Radio interview reloaded with Fitzy on Sunday evening where he explained his method, which he refined from learning from an Inside Sport contributor.
Will try and find the podcast, it was really interesting.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Read the 'renaisance' piece, wished I was at that game. Very interesting writing style, really gets you intertested.
Not only is she a class reporter, likes rugby, but looks great too.
Why does rugby attract great looking women?
heres her video blog.
http://www.abc.net.au/sport/rugby_un...s/s2007057.htm
Why would ABC have a dedicated ARC web site then NOT link it to their sports pages?
Burgs - she likes 39 yr old props![]()
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61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Coach.....lets get an invite out to this lady...she is pure GOLD.
CHIEF RUGBY CORRESPONDENT
Yeah, try to get her online, she would enjoy the banter on here...
Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....
invite sent![]()
As a 33 year old Lock/Backrower there'll be no conflict of interest thenOriginally Posted by Thequeerone
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"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
What about "soon to be married, 34yr old ex props"....We don't get a look in.....Oh i hope gemma doesn't go online now....mmmmmmmmmmm
Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....
you guys are out of your league........Scottish back-row forwards (very recently retired.....due to work commitments, not age or lack of fitness reasons) would definitely be more her style!!!!
Wonder if she drinks wine??!!!!
CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!!
There is nothing sadder than old retired forwards chasing young skirt.![]()
Just happy to be here