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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.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

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.

Friday, July 3, 2009

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.

Friday, July 3, 2009

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.

Friday, July 3, 2009

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.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

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.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Pocock no longer sleeps with gun under bed

David Pocock Taking on international forward packs holds no fear for David Pocock after what he's already been through, writes Greg Growden.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

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, June 29, 2009

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.

Monday, June 29, 2009

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.

Monday, June 29, 2009

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.

Monday, June 29, 2009

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.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

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.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

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.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

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.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Ruck and Maul

Reds officials carry the can but Turinui blames players for dumping

Friday, June 26, 2009

Brown can hear Elsom and Palu's footsteps behind him

WALLABIES No.8 Richard Brown is not happy with his form.

Friday, June 26, 2009

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.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

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.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

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.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

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.