Leah Manning

Even the most passing of glances at recent global news will reveal the difficulty we have in reconciling the beauty and the beast within human nature. It is a seminal story which seems to be ever more central to our evolution as a species. It is also a powerful dynamic in the construction and development […] http://dlvr.it/SK2tPG

Even the most passing of glances at recent global news will reveal the difficulty we have in reconciling the beauty and the beast within human nature. It is a seminal story which seems to be ever more central to our evolution as a species. It is also a powerful dynamic in the construction and development of modern rugby teams. The best rugby sides of the professional era are at ease in both poles of the spectrum, and can switch between ‘Beast’ and ‘Beauty’ mode with blinding speed and efficiency. The All Blacks in their decade of domination (@2006-2016) could turn in the blink of an eye, converting turnovers ruthlessly won in contact into opportunities for creative counter-attack which delighted the eye. The darkness and the light morphed and worked together seamlessly. All of the top nations in world rugby are seeking their own best version of this balance as the 2023 World Cup hurries over the horizon. The current World Champions South Africa are far more Beast than Beauty and a...

The NSW Waratahs are wary of debutants Fijian Drua in the opening match of the Super Rugby Pacific this week.After a winless 2021 Super Rugby season, the Tahs grabbed an unbeaten run during their trials against the Queensland Reds, Brumbies and combined Shute Shield. The side is entering the 2022 season with huge confidence and will not let go the winning momentum slip away against the Fijian Drua outfit on Friday.  Rugby.com.au reports that Waratahs’ former sevens specialist Dylan Pietsch said the Fijians were very strong during their 28-26 win over Melbourne Rebels in the first trial match. 📢 Major announcements today, family 🐚 🏟 Your Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will run out for the first time ever in a Super Rugby Pacific match on Friday 18 February against the Waratahs at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, Western Sydney. pic.twitter.com/kDRxyt3xt0 — Fijian Drua (@Fijian_Drua) January 17, 2022 “The thing is with Fiji, they can score from wherever, whenever.” “So if yo...

The NSW Waratahs are wary of debutants Fijian Drua in the opening match of the Super Rugby Pacific this week.After a winless 2021 Super Rugby season, the Tahs grabbed an unbeaten run during their trials against the Queensland Reds, Brumbies and combined Shute Shield. The side is entering the 2022 season with huge confidence and […] http://dlvr.it/SK2Py4

Well, here we go. The competition so many of us have long desired, catering for our teams in our part of the world, and with a long overdue injection of Pacific flair is ready for launch. And let’s just hope that we have no more games postponed in week one! On that, it’s an obvious […] http://dlvr.it/SJzSSg

From halting attacking progress to creating super transition ball, jarring or tearing ball loose is an amazing defensive weapon. And as Opta by Stats Perform shows us, it’s happening regularly Duhan van der Merwe loses the ball against Wales (Inpho)Have you noticed how many Spills and rips in the tackle there have been in two rounds of Six Nations? Here’s the surprising number source https://thedailyrugby.com/six-nations-statistics-spills-and-rips-in-the-tackle/

Well, here we go. The competition so many of us have long desired, catering for our teams in our part of the world, and with a long overdue injection of Pacific flair is ready for launch. And let’s just hope that we have no more games postponed in week one! On that, it’s an obvious shame that Moana Pasifika’s much anticipated Super Rugby Pacific debut couldn’t be played in Auckland to start with, and now can’t be played at all after a number of their squad tested positive for COVID-19 in the Queenstown bubble the New Zealand sides rushed to in the hope they might avoid cases. Fingers will remain crossed their isolation works and they can get onto the field for Round 2 next week. And equally obviously, it’s almost certain this won’t be the last postponed game in 2022. The Queensland Reds are still coming off the back of a COVID outbreak themselves, that impacted key players and coach Brad Thorn alike. As I’ve written in previous years, this is the best week of a new rugby season. E...