Spiro Zavos on Competitions
Rugby
Lions to kick against their revered heritage
Spiro Zavos Not long after the 2013 British and Irish Lions squad was announced, I received this email from a well-informed England supporter: ‘‘The two best players in their position left behind [Andrew...
Rugby
When the music stops, McKenzie may go Irish
Spiro Zavos THERE is no doubt that by announcing the end of his association with the Queensland Reds at the end of the Super Rugby season, Ewen McKenzie is stating he wants to coach the Wallabies.
Rugby
Winning on the road is Lions' biggest challenge
Spiro Zavos HERE is a recent news flash: ''South Wales police have asked for witnesses to come forward regarding the brutal crime against 15 Englishmen on a visit to Cardiff who were robbed of a Grand Slam they...
Spiro Zavos
Cheika ready to lead the Waratahs to glory
Spiro Zavos ACCORDING to blink theory, first impressions are often the truest impressions. The first time I met Michael Cheika, the new coach of the Waratahs, was at Manuka Oval decades ago.
Campese out of order but Robbie still rankles
Spiro Zavos YOU KNOW when you've put both your rugby boots in your mouth when Wendell Sailor tweets this to you: "Well good morning to u Campo & I have to say u are on your own with this comment it's 2012 champ.
Spiro Zavos
Deans cops backlash of Jekyll and Hyde season
Spiro Zavos THE tendency of the Wallabies to lose Tests after some convincing performances is driving fans mad. A poll this week on Rugby Heaven showed that 75 per cent of 12,000 voters supported David Campese's...
Spiro Zavos
Cup chances on the line in northern festival
Spiro Zavos ABOUT 7am on Sunday, Sydney time, the Wallabies run on to the Stade de France to play the hosts. The Test is one of 10 to be played during the weekend, starting with a double-header in Wales, where...
Spiro Zavos
Democratic or dictatorial, best coaching system is a winning system
Spiro Zavos There has been a fierce debate this week about the good rucking Richie McCaw has given his former coach, Robbie Deans, in his rugbiography The Open Side.
Quade's quite correct, there is a toxic element to the camp - it's him
Spiro Zavos THOSE outrageous and deceptive dummies, passes, dinky kicks and runs that used to come off for Quade Cooper on the rugby field and no longer do at Test level are being replicated off the field.
Spiro Zavos
Cheika makes promise to hit ground running
Spiro Zavos It was a small gesture that has large implications for a better future for the Waratahs and the Wallabies.
Henry in Pumas' corner shows coaches transcend nationality
Spiro Zavos THE main Wellington newspaper, The Dominion Post, had a killer photo on its main sports page this week.
Rugby union
Myopic Deans bashers reveal the ugly head of xenophobia
Spiro Zavos THIS week a xenophobic antagonism towards Robbie Deans has emerged in mainstream media. It is being asserted publicly that a New Zealander - and an All Black to boot - can't be trusted to coach the...
Games tribute harked back to the Wallabies' golden moment
Spiro Zavos THE opening ceremony of the London Olympics had references to rugby union in it, which correctly reflected the true history of the Games.
Spiro Zavos
Deans cruelled by Test scheduling and critics' short memories
Spiro Zavos WE were a miserable group, dripping wet, cold and shattered, coming back from Newcastle on the train after the agony of watching the Wallabies snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Scotland.
Spiro Zavos
Mr Carlton, please note: the Wallabies are not the Waratahs
Spiro Zavos READERS of last Saturday's Herald might have been surprised to find in the news section of the paper a self-described ''traitorous'' rugby opinion piece by Mike Carlton.
Spiro Zavos
Conference table key to landing Super title
Spiro Zavos THE iron law of winning the 2012 Super Rugby tournament for the Waratahs is: ''Win the Australian conference.'' The Reds did this last year.
Spiro Zavos
Conference format is a winner - and South Africans cannot be allowed to wreck it
Spiro Zavos THE Australian and New Zealand unions beware, the South Africans are coming to make a mess of the Super Rugby tournament.
Spiro Zavos
In form Tahs getting a kick out of their game
Spiro Zavos WE start with a sad confession. For the first time since 1996, the year the Super Rugby tournament began, I have failed to make my annual fearless prediction that this season would be The Year, the...
Spiro Zavos
Waratahs must drop work-to-rule attitude if they want to win
Spiro Zavos IT was a dispirited and sullen crowd that shuffled from Allianz Stadium after the Waratahs' depressing loss to the Western Force last weekend.
Spiro Zavos
Hot air over depth of Australian conference neglects cold hard facts
Spiro Zavos PHIL KEARNS talked about it on the Rugby Club. John Plumtree, the New Zealand-born coach of the Sharks, says the same thing.
