RuggaMatrix – Show 061 – Bye George
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The Six Nations is underway and we review weekend one and look forward to week two.
Ireland v France is the pivotal match of the tournament and we go direct to Les Kiss in camp with the Irish in Paris.
Ewen McKenzie gives us an unbiased view on the Six Nations, unlike Les, and he’s impressed with England.
We farewell George Smith from Test Rugby and speak to the man himself and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.
Our In-Depth analysis looks at LINE SPEED.
Is it all about speed? Once again there’s more to the subject than meets the eye.
RuggaMatrix – Show 060 – Six Nations
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It’s Six Nations time again and we have the latest news from the defending title holders.
Donncha O’Callaghan is our special guest.
The Muster and Lions squad member gives RuggaMatrix the inside word on his knee injury and when he expects to be back.
Donncha is also an ambassador for Unicef and he’s been working hard in helping to raise awareness for the devastation in Haiti.
We have a full Six Nations preview and talk Super Rugby with Ewen McKenzie.
Our In-Depth analysis looks at MAN DOWN.
What happens when you cop a yellow or red card? What plans should you have in place? What position is better to lose?
Once again we open up the subject with our expert panel.
RuggaMatrix – Show 059 – The Dark Side of the Scrum
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RuggaMatrix looks at a controversial round of Heineken Cup .. another replacement blunder has marred the quarter-finals make up.
Top 14 ploughed on while most other comps have a rest heading into the 6 Nations.
Les Kiss joins us from Ireland’s camp and he gives an up to date form guide on this year’s combatants.
Super Rugby trials continue and Ewen McKenzie details how the refereeing of the breakdown will open the game up in 2010.
We also hear from Justin Harrison. He plays his first match for the Brumbies this weekend after completing an 8 month suspension for drug use.
It’s a fascinating chat with a man who is now trying to resurrect his rugby career.
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS – LOOSEHEAD PROP
We’ve covered Tighthead, now the expert RuggaMatrix panel looks at the other side of the scrum. With thousands of scrum engagements between them .. Ewen McKenzie and Mark Cashman tear into this subject with gusto.
Scrum talk never sounded so good!
RuggaMatrix – Show 050 – Craic…ing Game
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This week we go deep into the Irish bunker to speak at length with Les Kiss ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster at Croke Park against the Grand Slam seeking Wallabies.
All is set for an epic clash between an Australian team boosted by a win over England and the Six Nations champions who are yet to show their stuff this autumn.
We look at England with Les and Ewen McKenzie and see if there are positives to come out of their first up defeat. The return of Jonny Wilkinson is certainly one.
The French take on the world champion Springboks and the All Blacks hit the catwalk in Milan.
Our In-Depth Analysis this week is MOVING ON and as always is brought to you by bobdwyerrugby.com.
What is the process when a player or coach needs to move on? What happens if the retirement doesn’t go smoothly?
Once again our elite panel gives you the answers.
RuggaMatrix – Show 013 – I am Pragmatic Too
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This is a coaching special.
Former Ireland head coach and newly appointed mentor of the United States Eddie O’Sullivan is our special guest star and panel member. O’Sullivan joins us for the entire show and it’s a meaty conversation to say the least. Never one to take a backward step, O’Sullivan gives us his views on a host of subjects.
The Irishman has no love for the ELVs and as a result he’s been less than impressed with Super Rugby. He mounts a strong case for the old laws and makes plenty of robust points during the discussion. The panel was deeply impressed by the maturity shown by O’Sullivan and Les Kiss on the show. Two men from different Ireland coaching regimes but enitirely respectful of each other and they both should be commended for the way they handled themselves. Class acts.
Les Kiss has again gone beyond the call of duty by squeezing us in during such an important week in the Six Nations. Kiss talks about the dangers of facing Scotland at Murrayfield and the need to maintain the rage with two matches to play.
Bruce McLane from New York Athletic Club is back on the blower this week and he’s over the moon about the appointment of O’Sullivan as Eagles head coach. The Super League season is about to kick-off in the States and McLane gives us the details.
Ewen McKenzie is back in a winning frame of mind after racking up 50 points in the Top 14 at the weekend. He’s got some strong predictions for Rob Horne the young NSW centre and firms views that the Waratahs will be back in the finals again this year.
With such a gathering this week the topic of choice for our in depth analysis is COACHING.
The subjects discussed closely mirror the issues Martin Johnson currently faces with the England team. How do they deal with skill levels? Public perception, coaching assistants and picking their skippers. It’s an intriguing look inside the minds of these elite coaches
RuggaMatrix – Show 008 – The Brumbies of Old
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The crystal ball gets a workout this week as the RuggaMatrix panel makes its bold predictions for this year’s Super 14 competition.
Wallaby captain, Stirling Mortlock, joins us from Dunedin as the Brumbies prepare to open the season against the Highlanders this Friday. Mortlock says he feels better than ever after a satisfying break. He speaks about coming back to the Brumbies to play under Stephen Hoiles’ captaincy but at the core of this revealing interview is the renewed belief in the Brumbies programme.
The Brumbies of Old could be just around the corner and many fans will be happy if it comes true. We’ll find out soon enough as the season gets away with the Brumbies and Highlanders on Friday the 13th.
Our guest panel member is Dave Campbell from Rugby News in New Zealand. Campbell is a highly experienced rugby journalist and editorial director at the organisation. He analyses the Kiwi teams and reviews the hugely successful Wellington Sevens.
Well what a start by Ireland to the Six Nations, accounting for France 30-21 in Dublin last weekend. Ireland Defence Coach Les Kiss tells us how they pulled off their famous victory and the tactics used in the match. Kiss and Stade Francais Head Coach Ewen McKenzie run a close eye across the other results with England disappointing McKenzie the most. The whole panel remains stunned by the Italian decision to play flanker Mauro Bergamasco at scrumhalf making life that much easier for the English.
McKenzie gives RuggaMatrix the inside scoop on Eddie Jones and his resignation from Saracens. McKenzie spent several days with Jones observing operations at the club while there’s a short break in the French Top 14 competition.
And the panel discusses an idea by a RuggaMatrix listener … floating the possibility of a state of origin type match if visiting teams continue to send under strength Test squads.
