The Roar
The Roar

The Roar

Brett McKay

Expert

Joined September 2008

4.31m

Views

1.3k

Published

29.6k

Comments

Brett McKay is one of The Roar's good news stories and has been a rugby and cricket expert for the site since July 2009. Brett is an international and Super Rugby commentator for ABC Grandstand radio, is the voice of ACT club rugby, has commentated on Under-20s Championships, Women's Uni Sevens and National Rugby Championship coverage, and has written for magazines and websites in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. He tweets from @BMcSport.

Published

Comments

Older Submissions

Don’t NZ still have their draft, Jacko? Isn’t the issue now more around warehousing?

It’s an interesting point you make about 12, too. I do wonder which team will be the first to go away from the ball-tucking 12 and bring back the natural football, pseudo 2nd playmaker. In turn it might bring back long-kicking fullbacks..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

No, it’s got nothing to do with me Phil, nor who I am or am not a fan of. And I’ve been pretty consistent on this Foley v younger players question.

I only used Lolesio because you mentioned him, and I’ve thrown Donaldson and even Edmed into this question regularly.

The point is the Wallabies in 2022 are playing off 9, just as the Brumbies switched mid-year, and even as Qld did more of once O’Connor went down. So flyhalf run stats are down because that’s the way the game is being played currently.

Foley’s numbers on this tour don’t make for great reading either, though he’s been able to pick a moment in some games since his recall.

But the question remains. I’m far from convinced about Foley, and there’s a huge question on whether Cooper gets back – yet there is no desire to back any of the young 10s, and that doesn’t make sense to me..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Because that’s apparently easier than even simply copying and pasting ‘Nawaqanitawase’ from pretty much any rugby story at the moment… 🙄

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Exactly why I asked the question, Dr…

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Haha, that just made laugh, thanks Bokkabies.. 😂

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Yeah that’s a fair call Jez, and I certainly had a say early on.

I’ve not really thought about him in terms of surprise I guess. Maybe, it’s relief that we’ve actually seen it come through on the international stage? And the whole start v bench concundrum for him is interesting…

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

All good calls, Numpts..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Phil, I keep going back to a point I’ve been making a bit this season.

Is Foley really any better than Lolesio? He’s more experienced, obviously, but does he really offer anything Lolesio can’t? Or Donaldson for that matter? And if the answer is no, the queston remains, why?

Isaac Lucas being thrown up always amuses me. What makes you drop his name in here? Are you basing this on current Japan form? And if so, is there any indication he wants to come back?

Because I really can’t see him getting a rails run into the natonal side after the stance he took and the decision he made…

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Great observation, Craig..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

This is certainly true BS, but the prospect of “getting them all on the park” is probably one that just cannot be met, becuase as we all now, there’s always someone on the injury list.

But certainly, even if the injury list was only a quarter as long, or even half as long, the Wallabies would be in a better state..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

It’d be a bold coach who encouraged illegal play, Deano..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Really good point on pressure RS69, and we often talk about ‘playing to a level’, don’t we, where teams or players lift against better opposition, but maybe slide against opponents they should beat well.

And it’s a great shout on Ikitau, too..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Ah yes, the perfect whataboutism – throw in two names and everything will be better.

Easy to say Wiz, impossible to quantify..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

And will they only with certain players on the field, Biltong?

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

They certainly do..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

It’s really interesting ATW, the four year cycle, and we kind of touched on it this week on the pod, around whether we’re heading to the point of ‘friendlies’ in between RWCs..

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Two pretty good points here, Chookman. I knew you had it in you… 😂

The Thursday Two-up: what have we learned and who has surprised on the spring tour

View Comment
Rugby
 
Today

Oh, sorry mate, I missed your comment above.

But thanks for confirming, so the talking to happened after the Irish high tackle on Tom Wright, that was the 29th min penalty I’m pretty sure.

Fainga’a walking past the chat actually makes it worse!!

Response in Dublin: Three Wallabies ‘betters’, still one lingering ‘but’

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

Yeah, it’s a really good point, Mug..

Response in Dublin: Three Wallabies ‘betters’, still one lingering ‘but’

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

From the original squad of 36 + Darcy Swain for Matt Philip Bobby, I count eight players have gone home, plus Foley and Skelton are out this week too.

So, 27. Maybe 26 if Banks has gone already, too..

Response in Dublin: Three Wallabies ‘betters’, still one lingering ‘but’

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

Cleanouts no Phil, but the ANS match pages list lineout wins for individuals..

Byrne holds his nerve to edge Ireland past Australia

Response in Dublin: Three Wallabies ‘betters’, still one lingering ‘but’

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

Your second sentence is unresolved there, Mirt… 😁

Response in Dublin: Three Wallabies ‘betters’, still one lingering ‘but’

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

Hooper, Bobby?

Response in Dublin: Three Wallabies ‘betters’, still one lingering ‘but’

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

Yeah, that’s a not invalid observation, Hugh..

Response in Dublin: Three Wallabies ‘betters’, still one lingering ‘but’

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

No, it was much better than last week!

Response in Dublin: Three Wallabies ‘betters’, still one lingering ‘but’

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d
Older Comments
close