Tuesday 28 July 2026

Good morning GAGRs and welcome to another episode of Tuesday news. It’s an interesting week, after the frenzy of test matches over the last three weeks, we’ve got two weeks off before the Wallabies take on Japan. Of course the break does give Les Kiss and his team some time to assess the squad and start to put together the changes that they want to make. I’m not the most technical of rugby fans, so I won’t try to talk about what the technical aspects of what might change, but I suspect it will be tinkering, rather than wholesale changes, which probably leads to a question.

What are the key areas to improve for the Wallabies

As Wallabies fans, what would we most like to see the Wallabies change between now and the world cup next year? What would you like to see change, defensive line speed, more players working harder in the tackle contest to slow the ball down or turn it over, less box kicking, less pointless (I’ve run out of ideas, so I’m going to kick this thing back to the opposition with only one player chasing it) box kicks, better goal kicking, more players supporting Bobby V with tough carries and hard tackles, a better defensive setup that doesn’t get overlapped and exposed like the French did?

Goal Kicking

You know what I think I would like the most? A goal kicker that you feel confident in, a goal kicker that can match it with the best in the world, when was the last time we had that? Elton Flatley at the 2003 world cup maybe? Since then, our kickers have occasionally been good by international standards, but not in the elite group of kickers like Ramos rules over now.

I think there is a cause and effect between our kickers and our overall play, and ranking. It feels like there isn’t enough accountability for individual skills growth in our professional set up. Karl talks about it regularly, good players who don’t work on their deficiencies, Israel Folau not being able to kick properly, Quade’s defensive reads, Foley’s kicking length, etc. It’s a drum I’ve been beating for years, but if I was a player wearing a high number in the Australian set up, I would be practicing goal kicking, because I think that the focus would lead to other skills development, and maybe just maybe, if it came down to a selection choice, picking the guy that is also a gun goal kicker would be useful.

Look at Cheslin Kolbe, he doesn’t really need to add goal kicking to his arsenal, but there he is, kicking for the Springboks in test matches.

Keen to hear what you think in the comments. I’m sure similar things could be said about be said about lineout throwing, passing from the base of the ruck, keeping some depth in attack, and passing the ball backwards but still in front of the support player.

The Road to 2027

By my count there are thirteen test matches between now and the start of the world cup next year, we will play:

Japan twice, home and away

Argentina twice, both away

South Africa once, in Perth

New Zealand thrice, home and away this year, and home in Brisbane on Anzac Day next year

England once, away

Scotland once, away

Wales once, away,

The third or fourth placed northern hemisphere team in the final weekend at Twickenham

Ireland once, at home next year.

Nutta and others were speculating in the comments on Monday about how many wins would be ok, how many would be good, and what would excellent look like.

The Wallabies need to rediscover winning close games against good teams, so for mine, 7 of 13 would be ok, 8 would be good, and 9 or more would be excellent.

New Zealand Touring South Africa

Springboks: Courtesy of SA Rugby

I know this doesn’t involve Australian Rugby, but New Zealand are embarking on what should be an epic tour of South Africa, with four tour matches, and four men’s test matches, three in South Africa and one in Baltimore. On top of that, the third test in Johannesburg will be a double header with the Springbok Women hosting the Black Ferns before the Springboks take on the All Blacks.

With 8 games in 5 weeks, the depth of the All Blacks squad will be tested, particularly with a midweek game against the Lions at Ellis Park between the first and second tests. The full list of matches is:

Stormers vs All blacks – Cape Town – 7 August

Sharks vs All Blacks – Durban – 11 August

Bulls vs All Blacks – Loftus Versfeld – 15 August

Springboks vs All Blacks – Ellis Park Johannesburg – 22 August

Lions vs All Blacks – Ellis Park Johannesburg – 25 August

Springboks vs All Blacks – Cape Town – 29 August

Springbok Women vs Black Ferns – FNB Stadium Johannesburg – 5 September

Springboks vs All Blacks – FNB Stadium Johannesburg – 5 September

Springboks vs All Blacks – Baltimore – 12 September

Not surprisingly, the All Backs have named a large squad to tour, with a mix of experience and youth, with three players likely to make their NZ debut on the tour. Aside from Injuries to Scott Barrett, and Tamaiti Williams, the biggest surprise seems to be the absence of Du’Plessis Kirifi, but they do certainly have a lot of good back rowers in the squad.

It will be interesting, the Springboks have home field advantage throughout, and have what should be a very competitive test against Argentina, while the All Blacks will play 3 tour matches before the first test. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the All Blacks will sweep the tour matches, and draw the test series 2 all, winning one of the games at altitude and the match in Baltimore.

Whichever way you look at it, it should be a great tour, and go the All Blacks.

Brisbane Club Rugby – Hospital Cup

There are 2 weeks left in the regular season in Brisbane for the men’s comp and Brothers have the minor premiership stitched up, though there is still plenty to play for. Easts (Tigers) have 2 chances to overtake Norths for second spot and the all important second chance in the semi finals. Third and fourth place are also up for grabs, with Bond, and UQ needing two wins to push their way in, and for Bond it’s in their own hands, as they play the struggling Sunnybank, and then Wests, who are above them on the ladder. It is all to play for as the teams head into August.

Brisbane Club Rugby – Founders Cup

It’s also a close affair in the Founder Cup, with two rounds to go. It looks like Bond, Sunnybank, and Wests have their semi-final spots locked in, though the order could change, while UQ and Easts are battling for fourth spot. This week sees a top of the table clash between Bond and Sunnybank, a win for Bond would secure the minor premiership, while a win for Sunnybank would leave it wide open going into the last round.

That’s a wrap

That’s it for me this week, as always, thanks for reading have a great Tuesday, and look forward to the comments.

Cheers

RAWF

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