Pubcast Episode 22

This weeks edition was recorded at "The Cove" (Coral Cove Bar & Bistro) with the regular panel of The Tinman, Johnnyjojoshabadoo & The F1 Adonis.

Before talking the week in sport a few shout outs were required and the main one was for NITV's Barefoot Sports show. Do yourself a favour and check out this great program that covers the indigenous sports stars of Australia.

The NRL always takes centre stage this time of year and with Josh Dugan signing with the Dragons we start the talk there. A few tactics are talked about to counter NSW in the Origin and Madmartymackay gets some late mail in.

Rugby is always in the headlines and with the Reds running rampant are they the answer for Kurtley Beale? Also talk about the prospect of the proposed Lions vs Anzacs game in the future.

The F1 Adonis updates us on the world of Formula 1 and with racing this weekend in Spain the Adonis is getting excited about the European schedule.

The beach volley debrief is required to update Johnnyjojo on how we faired this week at Beach 365. It wasn't pretty.

Awards always wrap it up but you will need to listen to find out who got he Marto, Bryce & SSO Fail but the following clips might give you an insight for the SSO Fail.



Closing song is a bit of Diesel - Tip of My Tongue. Remember that you can put in your suggestions for closing song and or any sporting topics.

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Weekend Wrap

With Origin midweek and the continual focus on one incident from a game in which one could find plenty missed by the refs for both sides, it would be easy to think nothing happened on the weekend.

Firebirds in a Thriller

The Firebirds one point win over the Fever was a nail biting thriller to the end. The Firebirds streaked ahead on many occasions that credit must be given to the Fever for stretching them all the way.  Not often does Netball have me cheering and fist pumping in the lounge room, but on Sunday it certainly did that. In the end it was the nerves of steel defence of  Laura Geitz who took a match saving intercept at the end that got the Firebirds across the line.  Although it was a nervous finish as the Fever had one last chance to tie up the game.  In the first half Jacinta Messer was on fire whilst Romelda Aiken was being well held by Fever's Susan Furhmann. It is the tight wins like this that really count at the end of the season. 

Reds Keep Rolling

Wasn't good to see Horwill going off injured

What an interesting finish to the Super Rugby lays ahead.  The Red's who were written off from the start of the season and never given a chance when they hit a run of losses are now a realistic chance to finish top of the Australian conference after a gritty win over the ACT Brumbies. The Brumbies missed a penalty at the death which would have gifted them victory but thankfully the kick was offline. I say thankfully as I always believe a team that cannot score a try never deserves to beat a team that does. Especially when you have a game like this one where the ref feels a need to blow the whistle every time he exhales.  Yet misses blatant penalties when they are on offer.  With 5 rounds to go and only 5 points between the Brumbies and Reds it will be a tight race.

And for those who still don't rate the Australian Conference remember one little fact that shows why the competition is biased.  Australia enforces a salary cap on their teams, New Zealand & South Africa don't. 

Webber wins Monaco

Mark Webber has won for the 2nd time at Monaco making him the first Australian to achieve the feat.   Now Webber only needs to have every race held there and he would win his first Championship. This year has also seen 6 different winners for the first 6 races, meaning the championship race is wide open this year and the first driver to win multiple races will be at a great tactical and mental advantage.

Collingwood and the Rort

How is it that one of the biggest AFL clubs and also one of the biggest financial clubs has been given a $10 million dollar grant by the Federal Government? Why does the government even need to help out a club in a code that that is firmly entrenched in it's own market?  This is the sort of decision that not only adds weight to the growing reasons to turf our government but also adds to why everyone hates Collingwood.  Imagine how all those regional sporting associations around the country are thinking after hearing this. Most regional clubs struggle and get very little help if any at all.  Yet here is a wealthy club, that is financially viable, runs at a profit and is heavily backed by sponsors getting a hand out. Compare that to the under 9 side I coach - I provided the training equipment, the match ball, and the parents of the team are looking at sourcing and providing a new playing strip.  And this is what you will find at most grassroots sporting teams all around the regional part of Australia.

Transfer Window Almost Open

With the Barclay's Premier League summer transfer market about to start it will be interesting to see how many of the rumours that circulate are nothing more than rumours. Personally I am only interested in what moves Liverpool make and I really wish they had appointed a new manager by now to enable them ample chance to consolidate the team and make best use of all opportunities available. It does seem a certainty that Liverpool will offload a few players and make a move in the market, it is just a matter of who they get rid of and who they buy. Because it won;t matter who they hire as manager if they don't get the personnel right.

Weekend Wrap

Roarsome

That is the only way to describe the Brisbane Roar at the moment.  With an unbeaten run of 32 matches and a 7-1 victory last start how much better can this team get.  The are leading the way not only on the table in in their playing style as well.  This is a team that performs at a level that is above anything I have seen before in Australia bar International games.  Ange Postecoglou must be given full credit for how he has this well oiled machine working.  (Late mail today has reports of the Urawa Red Diamonds rumoured to be looking at Ange or Graham Arnold as their next coach).

4 Nations



There were no surprises in the opening games of the tournament.  Australia easily defeated New Zealand, the ref was a far cry short of what is required at this level, the English defeated Wales comfortably and yet New Zealand still think they have a chance.  There has been a very vocal outcry over the Issac Luke cannonball tackle and the Kiwi camp have been very quiet as they think there is nothing wrong with it.  Watch for Luke to have a mark on his head next game he plays against Australia.

Next games see Australia take on England and I think England will be brought back to earth as Australia start to step up their campaign.  New Zealand will be easy winners over Wales but look for Wales to give the Kiwis a scare.

Indias Formula One Debut

It was a new venue for Formula One but the same old story.  Vettel won and no-one seemed to be able to get close to him.  Vettel is a good driver no doubt but I wonder how he would go in Webber's car.  There is definitely a difference in the performance of the two cars but that is the benefit of being a teams number one driver.  What annoyed me for this race though was the amount of dust.  It clearly affected the track and watching a Formula One race in a haze of dust doesn't look that flash no matter how good your HDTV is.

Liverpool Win Away

Liverpool had a good dominant win (2-0_ over West Bromwich Albion and should hace scored more.  Firstly the clean sheet for Reina was great but what is starting to be worrying is Carroll's read of play.  He gets plenty of ball in the box but tries to score everytime.  Regardless of whether he can score or not he blasts away in attempt.  He needs to develop his combination with Suarez better, rather than always feeding off Suarez he needs to set Suarez up as well, if he can start doing this more often then in attack they will be more dangerous as a combination.


And all the focus in Australia will turn to the Melbourne Cup tomorrow.  Good luck in the tipping and if you have a drink don't drive home.

Weekend Wrap

Rugby World Cup

The World Cup has come to a close and it all went according to a well written script.  New Zealand can now say the are the World Champions.  I would say rightful, but when certain points that were pointed out by my sideline reporter in a previous post, it is hard to do so. Here all I can simply do is quote my well versed reporter:  "This whole tournament was designed to give the ABs the victory. Home soil, easiest pool, compliant local media, sympathetic referees - you name it; they got it - so its no wonder they actually won the thing."

I will even go as far to say that their home crowd are the most unsporting of all crowds.  It is not gallant sportsmanship to boo a player every time he touches the ball yet applaud when he comes off injured with a serious injury.  Yes it is tradition to applaude when an injury player leaves the field, but when you have booed him the whole tournament it does not come across as a respectful sentiment.  The kiwis approach to Cooper even had his own mother ashamed to be a Kiwi.  Says something.


Man United Get Thumped

It is not every day you see Manchester get their pants pulled down and cop a good rogering and Manchester City are now able to say they have given Sir Alex Ferguson the biggest defeat in his 54 year career. To lose 6-1 when you consider yourself to be one of the top two teams is very embarrassing indeed.

Unfortunately I cannot say Liverpool had a win but a draw will do.  This team is making all the chances but cannot convert  It seems the killer instinct is not there at the moment.  With Chelsea also losing Liverpool are missing great chances to make good ground on the front runners.



Australia Crash

Australia could not carry on from the last game and were very disappointing.  I watched the first 20odd overs and the bowling was very ordinary.  Not sure if it was the pitch or not but they cannot blame the pitch for bowling on the legs too often.  The batsmen failed and the bowlers let the South Africans score over 300 not a good overall performance.  With Watson going down injured whilst bowling may have had a large impact on the result but this is what happens when Australia keeps rushing players back from injury.  Surely Watson is more important to the Test match series then to risk on a one dayer. 

Not A Good Week For Motor Racing

Motor sport has unfortunately been in the news for reasons one never wants to read.  Firstly a serious crash in Indycar Series saw the death of  two time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon.  Wheldon had 16 wins, was the 2005 Indycar Series Champion and 2003 Rookie of the year.

Yesterday saw horrific crash in the MotoGp which saw the untimely death of the talented Italian Marco Simoncelli. The officials called off the race after the crash which is one the smartest moves in racing for a long time.

Both of these crashes were horrific to watch unfold and left that uneasy feeling in you stomach.  What has to be remembered  though is the nature of Motor Sport Racing.  It is a high speed, dangerous sport.  Their are safety precautions and lots of safety gear but things can still go wrong.  There are always close calls in almost every race, unfortunately for these two racers their time came.  Remember their good racing not their final race.



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