Brian the Ruminator, true to his name, has been reflecting on the (mis)fortunes of the Wallabies in 2025 and asks the pertinent questions about finding a path forward to the 2027 World Cup.
Almanac Rugby Union – Second Test, Wallabies v British & Irish Lions: Gut punched!
July 28, 2025 by 1 Comment
Brian the Ruminator came away from the second Wallabies v British & Irish Lions Test at the MCG with mixed feelings – invigorated by an excellent spectacle but also gut punched by the controversial denouement.
Almanac Sports History – When three codes crossed borders: Ironies of footballs’ first Internationals
April 10, 2025 by 1 Comment
As the Aussie Rules footy world’s attention is drawn to the AFL’s 2025 Gather Round in Adelaide, the once mighty clash between Victoria and South Australia is being replayed on minor ovals between the men’s and women’s teams of the now second-level Victorian Football League and South Australian National Football League. Geoffrey Gold recalls when the inaugural representative match between two rival Australian colonies completed the trifecta of first internationals of major codes, Rugby Union in 1871, Association Football (soccer) in 1872 and Australian Rules in 1879.
Almanac Rugby Union: Is Joseph the messiah or just the latest false hope?
October 17, 2024 by 2 Comments
Brian the Ruminator wonders if the arrival of the latest wunderkind at Rugby Australia is messianic or just the latest false hope in the middle of the the code’s nadir.
Almanac Rugby Union – 2023 Rugby World Cup: 28 years later, All Blacks out to square ledger
October 23, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Brian the Ruminator puts the 2023 Rugby World Cup in perspective as he looks forward to next weekend’s final between the All Blacks and the Boks.
Almanac Rugby Union – 2023 Rugby World Cup: Pool Stage Wrap and Finals Preview
October 10, 2023 by 1 Comment
‘If you truly love the game played in heaven you have to revel in the spirit of the game, where the game comes first and the travails of your team a distant second.’ So says Brian the Ruminator as he reviews the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stage before offering his thoughts on the upcoming finals.
Almanac Rugby: A tale of two World Cups, or even three
August 31, 2023 by Leave a Comment
In the run-up to France 2023, Tim Burke reflects on Australian rugby’s ‘status anxiety’, its preoccupation with World Cups, and the relationship between rugby and rugby league.
Almanac Rugby Union: 2023 Rugby World Cup preview
August 22, 2023 by 1 Comment
Brian the Ruminator returns to The Footy Almanac to provide a preview of the upcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup. Who are his top fancies to claim ‘Bill’?
Almanac Rugby: Most Controversial Bledisloe Test I’ve Seen
September 20, 2022 by 2 Comments
The Ruminator is gutted by the unprecedented ending to Thursday night’s Bledisloe Cup match. It leaves him empathising with Magpies supporters.
Almanac Rugby Union: Week 4 of The Rugby Championship
September 6, 2022 by 1 Comment
The Ruminator reports on Week 4 of the Rugby Championship where the trend of bounce-back wins continued.
Almanac Rugby: Week 1 of the Rugby Championship
August 8, 2022 by 1 Comment
What’s happening at the All Blacks? Worrying signs for the eternal powerhouse of rugby…meanwhile the Webb Ellis holders are on the up and up and Argentina showed signs of their recent good form against Australia but the Wallabies came back to win their clash somewhat comfortably. All the details from Brian the Ruminator inside.
Almanac Rugby Union: Wallabies, All Blacks lose their series, Samoa wins Pacific Nations Cup
July 18, 2022 by Leave a Comment
The All Blacks have lost a series at home for the first time in 36 years! Brian Lynch provides coverage of the weekend’s international rugby union. It should be one hell of a World Cup in 2023!
Almanac Rugby Union: Week 2 of Tier 1 North v South Tests plus Pacific Nations Cup
July 11, 2022 by 1 Comment
Brian the Ruminator rediscovered his blarney as he took in Week 2 of international rugby union clashes. The results set up a fascinating conclusion to the various series this weekend.
Almanac Rugby Union: Week 1 of Tier 1 North v South Tests plus Pacific Nations Cup
July 4, 2022 by Leave a Comment
July is a big month for international rugby union as the Southern Hemisphere powerhouses host the top four ‘Home Nations’ while the Pacific nations play each other for local supremacy. The Almanac’s rugby expert Brian Lynch reviews the first weekend of competition.
Almanac Rugby: Super Rugby Pacific Final
June 20, 2022 by 1 Comment
Brian Lynch reports of the Super Rugby Pacific final before ruminating on the machinations within Rugby Australia regarding the future of the competition.
Almanac Rugby: Super Rugby Pacific Round 14
May 23, 2022 by Leave a Comment
According to Brian the Ruminator, it’s all a bit shuffling the deck chairs before the looming iceberg of finals football in Super Rugby Pacific – though notably one Australian side got the chocolates over their Trans-Tasman opponents.
Almanac Rugby: Super Rugby Pacific Round 13
May 16, 2022 by 1 Comment
It was another poor weekend for the Australian teams in the Super Rugby Pacific competition, as Brian the Ruminator reports.
Almanac Rugby: Super Rugby Pacific Round 9
April 19, 2022 by Leave a Comment
The Ruminator keeps us up to date with Super Rugby Pacific Round 9 and looks forward to Trans-Tasman action unfolding this weekend.
Almanac Rugby: Autumn Nations Series Wrap
November 22, 2021 by 3 Comments
The international rugby season has come to an end with overnight matches in the northern hemisphere. Our rugby aficionado, Brian the Ruminator, summarises the Autumn Nations Series.
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