John Eales
John Eales
Critical misjudgments cost Wallabies famous win
John Eales One of the tributes at a mate’s 50th on Friday night suggested there was just one glass of wine between him being boring and being interesting – although it wasn’t clear who should be the one to...
Opinion
Not perfect, but Wallabies show signs of improvement
John Eales In Australian sport there are a few coaches who transcend their codes. Wayne Bennett is one, Rod Macqueen another, Ric Charlesworth actually moved between codes, and in AFL, Kevin Sheedy fits the...
Rugby
How the Wallabies can bounce back
John Eales So Robbie Deans and the Wallabies have just seven days to turn around an eight-point deficit. From some of their comments after the disappointing 27-19 loss to the All Blacks in the opening match of...
John Eales
It's a brave Wallabies fan who scoffs at Scotland
John Eales Just under 12 months ago, as the Wallabies prepared for their opening Test of the year against Samoa, our 1991 World Cup winning team held a 20-year reunion.
Rugby
Dilemma putting a Smith up against the Jones boys
John Eales Fifteen reds, 10 whites, nine greens and only three blues. No Jonny Wilkinson either, but no real surprise there, although sentiment can sometimes trump realism, age and form when picking a team...
John Eales
Speed trumps precision in Reds v Brumbies
John Eales The expressions on the players' faces at the end of the Reds and Brumbies 19-all draw on Saturday night revealed neither joy nor relief, or even a hint of satisfaction.
John Eales
What rugby union can learn from league
John Eales In the 1970s, although he never specified any particular hierarchy, one of the old Marist Brothers at my school used to list three evils in the world: rugby league, communism and Christian Brothers.
John Eales
Don’t believe the romantic myths of rugby consistency
John Eales The conception of romance is subjective. A common man’s view may suggest it is conceived with dessert and what happens there afterwards whereas, a woman’s view will invoke the aperitifs, entrée, main...
John Eales
Team culture and the 'we, me' call to arms
John Eales A friend of mine believes that all boys need are cuddles, a kick up the backside and food – but he doesn’t indicate how much of each and in what order.
John Eales
HK Sevens party kitted up for Olympic status
John Eales What do animal cloning and rugby Sevens have in common? It’s not a vet pharmacologist, it’s that they both originated in Scotland: cloning through Dolly the sheep; and Sevens in Melrose in 1883.
Rugby
A great coach needs more than just winning ways
John Eales Despite at times vastly different personalities, the best coaches are typically more similar than they are different – they have to be.
John Eales
Kicking off is the easy bit
John Eales Years ago, as I scratched for some advice after a friend's break-up, I said: "Mate, it's not the one you start with that counts, it's the one you end up with that matters.
John Eales
Different strategy needed against All Blacks
John Eales There were two really important victories for Australian rugby over the weekend, both cliffhangers. The first occurred in Auckland, where the Australian Schoolboys, in a composed and expansive...
John Eales
Why high altitude is no place for a bad attitude
John Eales It's been a tough week for the Wallabies. A lot tougher than it should have been, even considering it doesn't get much harder than playing the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld, a venue where they have...
John Eales
Pumas show commitment is in their DNA
John Eales If you were to construct the perfect rugby team, they would play with the everlasting commitment of the Argentinian Pumas.
Rugby
When courage is not enough
John Eales Before the Eden Park Bledisloe Test in Auckland at the weekend the All Blacks reverted to their own haka, Kapa O Pango.
John Eales
Test break will reveal Super management skills
John Eales "We're just going to take it one week at a time, mate.” It's the oldest of adages in sport – cliched, yes, but also relevant, although perhaps not as relevant as it used to be with the...
John Eales
Mrs Barnes delivers, and so does her hubby
John Eales The human mind can make for a cantankerous companion, confounding when it may liberate and liberating when you think it may consternate or even collapse.
John Eales
Poetic justice: Welsh show Kiplingesque courage
John Eales There's no downhill in sport, progress is continually uphill. Just because the Wallabies had sealed the series against Wales after game two didn't mean they would relax.
John Eales
Hooper a lesson in timing and how to think
John Eales My father was a schoolteacher by trade, which was great if you wanted to be able to read before you went to school but not so good if you wanted to dodge discipline because he knew every excuse.
