Greg Growden
Greg Growden is Chief Rugby Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald
Rugby
Super sneaky deal gives team space to get around salary cap
Greg Growden An Australian Super Rugby province has come up with a sneaky way of getting around salary cap restrictions.
Sunday Maul
Brumbies set to snare Pocock
Greg Growden There is very strong mail coming from the west that Force skipper David Pocock will sign with the Brumbies.
Mystery solved with Anesi's unveiling
Greg Growden STARTLED Parramatta officials had to look twice when All Blacks Test winger Sosene Anesi arrived unannounced at their club training on Tuesday night looking for a game.
The fine print that puts the Reds well and truly in the frame
Greg Growden THE doomsayers are predicting the Reds have no chance of making the finals. That's because they haven't read the fine print. The Reds, on the other hand, remain buoyant for several good reasons.
Rugby
Passing comment sparks more unrest
Greg Growden At a time when the Waratahs are desperately trying to improve team morale, critical comments about their star import Sarel Pretorius have inflamed the situation.
Mitchell hopes Reds' desperation plays into Tahs hands
Greg Growden WARATAHS winger Drew Mitchell believes the Reds' pursuit of a large bonus-point win to keep their Super Rugby finals hopes alive could work in NSW's favour in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Rugby union
Much more than pride on the line
Greg Growden Waratahs-Reds encounters - the longest rivalry in Australian rugby - revolve around personal pride.
On the lookout for a winning team that likes to play entertaining rugby ... in other words, not the Tahs
Greg Growden Want to be a part of a razzamatazz sporting organisation? Like to pal around with larger than life ''Look like Tarzan, play like Jane'' footy players? Want to big-note yourself by saying you actually...
Rugby union
Brumbies' win leaves Reds on ropes
Greg Growden THE Brumbies can start preparing for the finals, while the Queensland Reds will have to rely on thrashing the Waratahs in Brisbane on Saturday night to have any chance of defending their title.
Lame Tahs hit rock bottom
Greg Growden The Waratahs are now so clueless, so dishevelled they wouldn't even be able to beat an egg.
Sunday Maul
Court to decide Wallaby line-up
Greg Growden The Wallabies are not expecting to have James O'Connor for most of the Rugby Championship but are anticipating Kurtley Beale to be part of it.
Ruck & Maul
Fantasy land: Official line can't disguise Foley's follies
Greg Growden THE latest buzz word in Waratahland is ''fantastic''. They are near the bottom of the Super Rugby ladder and have lost their past six matches.
Big deal for Pocock as Rebels try again
Greg Growden The Rebels are back in the running for Wallabies star David Pocock. Our ever reliable Melbourne snouts have told R&;M the Rebels are about to throw a ''massive offer'' at Pocock in the hope he can...
Desperate times demand half-Harted measures
Greg Growden The Waratahs' halfback position has turned into such a problem area it could see their marquee signing Sarel Pretorius heading to another province next season.
Rugby
O'Connor plays fast and loose - and creates perfect TV
Greg Growden Don't you just love those half-time interviews when TV types confront delirious players, whose eyes are still rolling in the back of their heads, and ask their thoughts on what had just happened?
Tahs to reshuffle back line
Greg Growden THE Waratahs will start Lachie Turner on the wing, play Bernard Foley at No.10 and move Adam Ashley-Cooper to fullback as part of a dramatic back-line reshuffle for Saturday night's match against the...
Sunday Maul
Foley breathes big sigh of relief
Greg Growden As the Western Force continue pursuing Michael Cheika to be their head coach next season, at least Michael Foley can feel relieved Cheika would only go for his job at the Waratahs if there was a...
Rugby
Foley likely to survive horror season and get second chance
Greg Growden MICHAEL FOLEY'S hopes of holding on to the Waratahs coaching position next season were looking far brighter last night.
Rugby
Force want Cheika, not Tahs exiles
Greg Growden A SECRET plan involving several Waratahs coaches and team officials moving to Perth next season could be thwarted by Michael Cheika's anticipated appointment as Western Force head coach next year.
Duo cashed-up and in hunt for Waratahs
Greg Growden Some Waratahs officials go on about how there is no interest in third-party deals with their team, and that private equity is not the flavour of the month.
