Greg Growden
Greg Growden is Chief Rugby Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald
What a round for everyone: as they say, it's been emotional
Greg Growden The latest round revolved around conflicting emotions and, with it, the intrigue of a Wallabies squad announcement. Players, officials and rugby heavies everywhere were juggling how they felt.
Waratahs' follies in another one-point defeat puts greater pressure on Foley's grip on the top job
Greg Growden THE Waratahs are in crisis following the most exasperating and brain-dead of losses in South Africa where, for the third time this season, they fell just one point short of their opponents.
Rugby
Cooper skids into Wallabies contention
Greg Growden QUADE COOPER was fast-tracked into the Wallabies' train-on squad last night because of concerns that Kurtley Beale, the first choice Test five-eighth, might not be able to play against Scotland in...
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 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.
Rugby
Waratahs to turn up excitement without kicking out game plan
Greg Growden THE call to be more extravagant has come from above, but don't expect the Waratahs to suddenly become the great entertainers of this year's Super Rugby tournament.
Sulking South Africans stand no chance of adding to Super quota
Greg Growden It's February, the Super Rugby season is about to start, and - shock, horror - the South African provinces are having an almighty whinge.
Mitchell tipped to miss half season
Greg Growden Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell is in danger of missing half the Super Rugby season, which will force the Waratahs to play two youngsters for their opening match against the Queensland Reds in Sydney...
Rugby
NSW side to face Reds a testament to player attrition
Greg Growden THE Waratahs are scheduled to have just eight survivors from their triumph over Queensland a year ago, when they meet the Reds at ANZ Stadium in the Super Rugby opening round on Saturday night - a...
Africans won't take no for answer on expansion plan
Greg Growden AUSTRALIA and New Zealand have discovered that where SANZAR is concerned, South Africa are ever persistent, endlessly pushing their cause on and off the field.
Ruck and Maul
Cheika could check in back home
Greg Growden The prospect of Heineken Cup-winning coach Michael Cheika being in charge of an Australian Super Rugby team has intensified.
Rugby
Cooper no shoo-in to take spot from Reds superboot
Greg Growden NO WONDER Quade Cooper was looking a bit edgy during a television interview after the Reds' win over the Force in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Deans ready with replay button as new faces audition
Greg Growden ON AUSTRALIA'S Super Rugby Saturday, several fringe Wallabies candidates have the chance to convince the selectors they are ready for top-level football.
Monday Maul
After House of Pain, Tahs realise some gain
Greg Growden Australian Rugby's Super Saturday taught us that covered stadiums are the way to go, referees have too much of a say in outcomes, the Waratahs are the Hard-luck Hals of the competition, the Rebels do...
SANZAR seeks security report from Bulls on bottle-throwing incident
Greg Growden SANZAR have contacted Bulls officials demanding improvements in ground security after All Blacks hooker and Blues skipper Keven Mealamu was hit by a bottle during the team's win at Loftus Versfeld in...
Rugby
World Cup proved Samo is the man to answer Reds' SOS call
Greg Growden A HIGHLIGHT of the Wallabies' World Cup campaign last year was the unexpected sight of Test No.8 Radike Samo playing on the wing against Russia in Nelson.
Tahs ready to bench marquee halfback
Greg Growden THE Waratahs' marquee overseas signing Sarel Pretorius is in danger of being demoted to the bench for his team's first encounter of the year against his countrymen when they play the Sharks in Sydney...
Overhaul is the only sure thing next season
Greg Growden The Waratahs are uncertain how many will be in their squad next year or how much they can spend, but several high-profile players are already looking elsewhere.
Only deluded would back local team for title
Greg Growden Six Super Rugby rounds completed and Australian rugby has been hit for six.
Unbeaten and unbowed: savvy Stormers blow Highlanders away to sit on top of the heap
Greg Growden THE Stormers have certified themselves as dangerous Super Rugby frontrunners in a dramatic round that involved brawls and accusations of eye-gouging.
