The Super Rugby season doesn’t get any easier for the Waratahs
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 9:19 am
Off to New Zealand this week to play the Blues in Aukland. The Blues have had an indifferent year but will offer stern opposition for the Waratahs at Eden Park. The Brumbies are at home to the high flying Chiefs who will be keen to retain their lead of the NZ Conference. A loss for the Brumbies and win for the Waratahs will see the Waratahs move to the top of the Aussie group. I’m tipping a win for both Aussie teams, so the order will probably stay the same. My tips for this week, Waratahs, Brumbies, Sharks, Hurricanes, Force and Stormers.
Benji Marshall thought he was going to be able slip straight phone number library into Super Rugby with a minimum of fuss. It was never going to be that easy for the former Tiger. With the exception of the freakish Israel Folau, the other high profile league converts took a couple of years to make their presence felt in Rugby. Benji Marshall at 29 years of age left his run a bit too late.
The sequel to the 30 seconds of mayhem from round one at Camden was played out in the IDRU Judiciary last week. Lee Russell from Camden and Aaron Warren from Shamrocks, were found guilty and handed long suspensions. Rams center Lee Russell copped a seven week ban which will put his chances of making the Country squad in huge jeopardy. I understand Camden are lodging an appeal against the Judiciary findings. It should serve as a warning to all that the Judiciary is going to take their task very seriously this year. Virtually every IDRU first grade match is videoed these days which makes the whole process much more efficient. It’s also worth a look for players, coaches and club officials at the ARU Recommended Sanctions. They make for interesting reading. You can find them in the Resources section of the IDRU website under Judiciary.Here's the direct link
The Under 20 Colts competition will get underway next week. Unfortunately there will only be four teams taking part in a 12 round series which will finish with the Grand Final in September, along with the other Senior Grades. Bowral, Vikings, University and Shamrocks will field sides and it is hoped that other clubs will be able to field teams at some stage of the year to give more players a bit of a hit-out. I can’t help but ask, If 4 clubs can manage to get teams up, why can’t more clubs do the same? Surely there must be plenty of young blokes around this age looking for a game.
Benji Marshall thought he was going to be able slip straight phone number library into Super Rugby with a minimum of fuss. It was never going to be that easy for the former Tiger. With the exception of the freakish Israel Folau, the other high profile league converts took a couple of years to make their presence felt in Rugby. Benji Marshall at 29 years of age left his run a bit too late.
The sequel to the 30 seconds of mayhem from round one at Camden was played out in the IDRU Judiciary last week. Lee Russell from Camden and Aaron Warren from Shamrocks, were found guilty and handed long suspensions. Rams center Lee Russell copped a seven week ban which will put his chances of making the Country squad in huge jeopardy. I understand Camden are lodging an appeal against the Judiciary findings. It should serve as a warning to all that the Judiciary is going to take their task very seriously this year. Virtually every IDRU first grade match is videoed these days which makes the whole process much more efficient. It’s also worth a look for players, coaches and club officials at the ARU Recommended Sanctions. They make for interesting reading. You can find them in the Resources section of the IDRU website under Judiciary.Here's the direct link
The Under 20 Colts competition will get underway next week. Unfortunately there will only be four teams taking part in a 12 round series which will finish with the Grand Final in September, along with the other Senior Grades. Bowral, Vikings, University and Shamrocks will field sides and it is hoped that other clubs will be able to field teams at some stage of the year to give more players a bit of a hit-out. I can’t help but ask, If 4 clubs can manage to get teams up, why can’t more clubs do the same? Surely there must be plenty of young blokes around this age looking for a game.