The Wrap - Loud and Late, But Feeling Fresh

Every now and then there is a weekend with too much sport. It was this weekend! The remote is still recovering.

1. The Cricket. The featherbed of a deck at Lords will take some work to unlock as the Poms chase over 500. Love the style and poise of Smith. He has sent a bit of a message. Rogers looks strong too - wobbly overnight - but strong mentally. I like his style. Johnson better, but Starc is a bit soft. Just before lunch he bowls wide when the pressure is on. He gets injured waking up in the morning. Toughen up! Nevill  looked sharp too...great footwork. That was very promising. I am also impressed with the work of Lyon. He is looking good after a terrible start to the tour before the Tests started.

2. NRL. Is it a "go to the ground" spectator sport anymore? I suspect the game has now almost made itself redundant to a live crowd.

Disgrace I. Chris Sandow. Thankfully his immature temperamental outbursts will soon come to an end. It is an awful thing to suggest, but there was evidence of him tanking for Parramatta v the Bulldogs. A tantrum to get his own release and in so doing, annoy and disgust his team mates. His no running, missed tackles and kicking game disgrace were appalling. A shame they can't sack him instantly. Good riddance to a bloke who was far too inconsistent to be good.

The Dragsters. Six losses in a row is a bit worrying. Where has their great defence gone?

3. Tennis Disgrace II. Nick Kygrios. For him to lose a Davis Cup tie was appalling v Kazakhstan. Deservedly sacked for the return singles and that old fighter who is a tremendous strength in world sport - Lleyton Hewitt - steps up to rescue us. I hope Nick was watching closely. 40 Davis Cup appearances for Hewitt...amazing! Sam Groth did well too. A rare thing to win a Davis Cup tie after being down 0-2.

 

By the way, can Tomic act a bigger tool than at present? The thought of him getting his Dad's advice to change countries for tennis would now be less of a surprise than last week!

4. Lucky escape for the Wallabies. Why you would persist with Cooper is beyond me. Toomua or even Foley not kicking in such a big event... ridiculous. Is Giteau big enough?

 

I must say that the Rugby advantage rule was no doubt well intended. Meant to get the referee out of the way and let play continue. The stupidity of rugby however has now meant that the advantage stretches far too long...stupidly long...and the ref brings it back and continues to dominate and ruin games. Nice to see the Irish failure of a ref - Paddy O'Dud - not there this week. The refs should also focus on all the drinks/ huddles and nonsense time wasting between set plays...too slow to ever become prime TV viewing. The refs are to blame and the players/ coaches exploit it.

 

5. Footballroos. Someone is making some huge cash out of these Juventus- Liverpool- ManU - Chelsea visits....they are everywhere.

 

6. British Open Golf. Has anyone asked the question about why there is not a wind farm at St Andrews? They are something else. Aussies well placed.

 

7. Hawthorn. Give them the flag. Roughead too good. Swans appalling. No running and defence not there. Tippett terrible. Forward line ineffective including Buddy. Permanent scars! The only scars for Hawthorn were from the rogue dynabolts. Did anyone see the stupid groundsman put the mat over them. Amateur hour and rudeness to Lingy who was explaining it all. The folk at 'The Back Page' will have a lot of fun with that this week.

 How many serious injuries have occurred from advertising hoardings, fences and rogue foreign objects... I can think of Marcus Bai, Luke Lewis...advertising hoarding injuries...Ricky Ponting at the SCG...

 8. Warnie Gold. I must say, no matter how crass, loud or overbearing, Warnie is a funny bloke. Talking to Tubby about the previous night's drinking and socialising activities, he said to a demure Taylor.."I was loud and late, but feeling fresh today!". Magnificent!