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About Greg Growden
About Greg Growden
Greg Growden has been the Chief Rugby Correspondent for the The Sydney Morning Herald since 1987. He started writing about rugby union in 1981, and in more than 25 years has reported on more than 200 test matches and covered countless Wallaby tours. He has chronicled the big changes in rugby: The birth of the World Cup, the turn to professionalism, the rise of the Super 14 and Tri-Nations tournaments and the return of South Africa to the international fold. France 2007 will be Growden's sixth World Cup.
Waratahs find themselves in a whole Lote trouble
THE cash-strapped Waratahs, who have just lost their biggest drawcard, Lote Tuqiri, will have to search overseas for attacking players to bolster their dwindling back-line stocks next season.
Dark Shark's demise feels like a wet fish
Amazing Scenes Part One: When the Australian Rugby Union announced in July 2002 that they had lured Lote Tuqiri, one of the biggest names in rugby league, it was treated as a major coup. One anticipated dancing girls, brass bands and big balloons to accompany the announcement.
Sacking was a bolt out of the blue but discarded Tuqiri will fight for his money
A "shocked" Lote Tuqiri received little warning he was in the Australian Rugby Union's gun sights and that his multimillion-dollar contract with the Wallabies was about to be torn up.
Flash of Genia's comes out of left field
Will Genia was head down at Ballymore yesterday, immersed in his business diploma course when a piece of paper was thrust into his hand. It said that he had made the Wallabies Tri Nations squad. Half an hour later, a shocked Reds and now Wallabies halfback was still gasping for breath.
Mystery sacking: Tuqiri to fight ARU
Lote Tuqiri's days as a Wallaby and Waratah are over, after the
Australian Rugby Union last night terminated his
multi-million-dollar contract for unspecified reasons.
Pocock no longer sleeps with gun under bed
Taking on international forward packs holds no fear for David
Pocock after what he's already been through, writes Greg Growden.
Palu's likely return even has the backs on edge
THE anticipated return of Waratahs No.8 Wycliff Palu to the Wallabies Tri Nations squad this week has several forwards, in particular Peter Kimlin, and even under-used backs Timana Tahu and Lote Tuqiri fearing they could miss the 30-man cut for the tournament.
Monday Maul
WHEN the Wallabies returned to their team hotel on Saturday night after grinding down the French, the brutal reality of what they will confront during the Tri Nations tournament hit them.
Wallabies fined over food fight as ARU gets tough
THE Australian Rugby Union has fined three Wallabies including teenage star James O'Connor for being involved in a St Trinians-like food fight in Canberra two weeks ago, in a sign that no ill-discipline in the Test squad will be allowed to go unpunished.
Elsom to miss first date with McCaw
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans is hoping his team confronts the All Blacks' big two of Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter during the Tri Nations, but is unlikely to have the formidable Rocky Elsom to quell them in the early part of the tournament.
Deans defence: seeing is believing is winning
BERRICK BARNES admits that when Wallabies coach Robbie Deans decided to revamp the team's defensive structure last season, there was scepticism in the ranks.
Giteau puts the boot into Frenchmen
THE Wallabies took advantage of France incessantly hearing the sound of referee Dave Pearson's piercing whistle to win a grim and far from glittering Test match at ANZ Stadium last night.
French whispers of being ready for bed fail to seduce Australia
Australia are ignoring claims from the French camp that the visitors may struggle in the one-off Test at ANZ Stadium tonight because of the fatigue factor caused by their energy-sapping trip to New Zealand.
The seven key areas for the Wallabies
In what will be the best June international in Sydney in years, the Wallabies will discover against France if they are contenders or pretenders. Greg Growden details the areas that the Wallabies must control if they want to be successful tonight.
Ruck and Maul
Reds officials carry the can but Turinui blames players for dumping
Brown can hear Elsom and Palu's footsteps behind him
WALLABIES No.8 Richard Brown is not happy with his form.
Horan a big fan of Giteau the leader
MATT GITEAU does not have the little "c" for captain next to his name on the team list, but his rise as a solid Wallabies leader is regarded by the inner sanctum as a prime factor for the Australian team's improvement over the past year.
Wallabies try to get maul rolling
THE Wallabies forwards are bracing, even hoping, for a heated training session today so they will be primed for the marauding French rolling maul during Saturday night's Test at ANZ Stadium.
Slow starter honoured to put everything on the line
Luke Burgess is part of an illustrious group of Wallabies, including 1991 World Cup-winning skipper Nick Farr-Jones, who have proved you do not have to be a schoolboy star to make it at the highest level.
Deans boosts the ranks for 'next step'
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans has brought back his big guns up
front, given Adam Ashley-Cooper the No.15 jersey and Drew Mitchell
a spot on the wing for Saturday night's showdown with France at ANZ
Stadium.
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