The Rogues Rant

Welcome to The Rogues Rant, an occasional look at all things Rugby.

There was another Milestone match last week when Tech Waratahs Legend Harry Hawksworth took the field for the club for the 300th time. After a couple of years in retirement Harry could no longer resist the urge to play especially when the opportunity came to play alongside his 19 year old son Chris. That opportunity came earlier this season when the pair played beside one another in the lower grades. Chris is now carrying on the Hawksworth tradition in the front row of the clubs First Grade side. Harry was a mainstay for the club during their golden era in the 2000’s, winning top grade titles in 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2009. Now well into his forties Harry is adamant that there will be no more comebacks. Well done Harry.

On milestone matches, Viking’s Andrew Stanton had a memorable day in more ways than one for his 400th a couple of weeks back. With the match in the balance, ironically against Tech Waratahs, Andrew scored the match defining try in the dying stages of the match. He then stepped up and showing all the skills of goal kicking from a bygone age converted the try with a straight on approach and kicking with his Toe for a 21 – 12 victory for Vikings.

The knives are out for Michael Cheika, not warranted in my view. The Wallabies sliding world rankings is a symptom of the much mentioned failure of Rugby Australia’s Coaching and Development programs of the last twenty odd years. Cheika’s coaching record since returning to Australia has been admirable. A Super Rugby title with the Waratahs and a World Cup Final berth with the Wallabies showing along the way that he has the ability to get the very best out of the players he has at his disposal. He’s not doing himself any favors though giving the Journo’s a mouth full like he did last week.