April 3, 2025 • 36 mins
Georgie is still off gallivanting around the world, so ABC’s Catherine Murphy is joining Abbey to talk about everything rugby union, including why you should care about the upcoming Lions tour.
This episode is bought to you by Harvey Norman. It’s time to upgrade your TV and appliances for footy season! Ask a specially trained Harvey Norman staff member for advice. Go Harvey Norman!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Here at two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge
the traditional owners of the land on which we record
this podcast. There were innerie people. This land was never seated,
always was always will be. Hello and welcome to two
Good Sports. It's sports news told differently.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm Abby Jelmy and if I'm doing the intro, you
just know that Georgie Tunney must be absolutely killing the
Amazing Race. But I am joined by the amazing Catherine
Murphy as a stand in mirth.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Welcome, Oh thank you for having me in. And Georgie
she's got to be winning the Amazing Race. I mean
her and Rob even their little fights about how to
do it would be cute. They should just win the
cutest couple in Australia race.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I was about to say, surely it's a popularity vote
at one point and they just have to win it anyway.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
They'll definitely win one percent. I'm just glad to be
here while she's off winning.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Well, mrth you have to be firstly my Good Sports.
So tell us a little bit about yourself. Obviously you're
the ABC Sports presenter. You've also written a book with
Zach Tuohey, so you're across all sport more. But how
did you end up being a sports journalist?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
That's a crazy I feel like I don't know about you, Abby.
I feel like it was all I was ever meant
to do. I remember signing up for journalism in UNI
and straight away gravitating towards the sports aspect of it.
I played a lot of sport in Uni. I played
Gaelic football really badly, and I was so inferior. I
(01:32):
just interviewed Aaron Phillips today on News Breakfast, so I'm
really aware of how I was never going to make it.
You know when you look at someone that really made
it and you know exactly why you didn't.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
But Aaron Phillips is particularly humbling because she's played basketball
for Australia and won a silver medal, as well as
being one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in
my mind AFLW player that we've ever seen.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
So she's a duel code star.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So no wonder You're like, Okay, could I just have
had one?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Do you look at her and you feel so inferior athletically?
And I always think when I'm talking to amazing athletes
like that, God, I need to go to the gym
or do you close with health?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Yeah, do you have that thought process?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
We work with athletes all the time. Ob you just
look at them and I go, I just believe you're
better than me. Oh yeah, like I just believe you're
better than me in all aspects. And Aaron is one
of those ones that I've been so lucky to work
with in commentary. Not only is she delightful, but she
does have that glow of like not many toxins into
my body.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Oh my god, exactly her guns.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
I'm like, I need to go to the gym, I
need to lift things, I need to go outside.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
And she's just the nicest.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Meanwhile, if you tested us for toxins right now, let's
not go there.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
But she is amazing.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Honestly, if I told you what I had for breakfast alone,
you be horrified. I think I had chocolate for breakfast
because they get a bred me. I know when they
don't give you breakfast and you're so hungry by nine
am and it's your lunchtime that I have been known
to eat terrible things by nine am, which Aaron Phillips
would never do. But yeah, so failed Gaelic footballer but
(03:08):
always loved sport, and as soon as I got into
my course, I knew it was going to be sport.
And I ended up getting a tour of a TV station.
My cousin worked there, so a bit of nepotism got
me in the door for that day. She was just
showing me around the TV channel, and I remember thinking, Abby,
(03:30):
TV is so fun, Like I was just straight away
transfixed by the cam you see on TV and the
chaos behind the scenes, and I love chaos, and I
just loved the chaotic nature of it, the deadlines, the adrenaline.
I started as a producer, I didn't know if i'd
(03:52):
ever do on camera stuff, and yeah, started there, so
I kind of feel like I always knew just because
of that day, kind of that you have in your
life where you just all of a sudden, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Well, that's beautiful firstly, and it's amazing that you've been
able to forge your career for yourself as well. And
you are our favorite, your Georgie's favorite as well, You're.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
My favorites, and I just love that you're are offsiders
Hostle Abby. When I got that news, and I got
it earlier than I should have, I did.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Before my parents just quiet, like they told me I
wasn't allowed to tell a soul and Murphy just sends
me a sly text being like, I don't know, but
if you know that, we know that, I know that
you know.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
And I was like, wait what, I'm not going to
tell anyone. I had to do an investigation. And you're
a real journalist.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
You're sometimes when I really want to know something. And
I was so delighted when I heard it that I
did try not to message you, and the person who
told me warned me enough to message you, but I
had to message you because we're so lucky to have you,
and I can't wait to be on the show.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Sometimes soon as I say when are we getting you back,
I'm going to happen. I'm feeling like it's personal. You
haven't look you're more of a Kelly goal I get it.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Oh my god, I am dying to come on the show.
And it's going to happen very soon, I promise.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
And one of the topics that we need to talk
about this year is rugby, which is going to be
a major not.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Rugby league, rugby union.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And there are some people that you have to discern
that we're talking about the Wallabies. We're talking about the
British Irish Lines tour. But as a listener of the podcast,
you will know that we do a good sport off
the top or a bad sport, and I'm going to
lob up my bad sport as every account that designers
to do an April Fool's post, because they got me.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
They got me, Murph in a real way.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So as you well know, we do stories throughout the
week for offsiders that we try to keep an eye
across all things.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I sent a message to Danny, my producer. Yes we
love Danny.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Simply just a screenshot of this exclusive DCE to sign
a bombshell contract with the Reds Wallaby's debut for Bledisloe
Cup looms.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Oh it Dane.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
He was going to do a five year contract with
one point four million dollars and I've screenshot it and
said part of my French but holy shit.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Honestly, do you know what really got me is on
the day I was very aware that there was going
to be a lot of pranks online.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I didn't know what date it is. I don't know
what date is any day, but.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
The problem is on April second, because of the algorithm,
a lot of them.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Obviously they get most pushed up.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yes, so they're coming into your algorithm on April second,
and I got caught really bad because I just finished
News Breakfast. It's nine o'clock and your biggest fear is, well,
your biggest fears.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
That you sleep in and you're not even there.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
But second biggest fear is that you miss something big
when you're busy and it's really hard to always be
across everything all of the time. So I opened my
phone at nine am and I see a post that
former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has been appointed the Welsh
national coach and I shrieked because it's believable. I mean,
(06:55):
I'm still traumatized from when he was doing those zooms
with Japan, so like, I'm ripe for the pecking. So
when I saw that, I almost died. I was like, here,
I am. I love covering Rugby, want to do more
of it on News Breakfast, and I've missed the fact Eddie.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Jones is now coach of Wales.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Figured out shortly after it he is not just to emphasize,
but yeah, that is the worst.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Well, let's lean in now to our main discussion then,
because we mentioned if we're talking about coaching, we're talking
about Wallabies. We are still waiting to find out who
is going to be the Wallabies coach, especially looking forward
to a World Cup that we have in twenty twenty seven,
and they're calling this the golden decade of rugby events
that we're going to have in Australia.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Leading stop it.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Even the phrase is a little bit triggering after everything
that's happened. For sure, we're going into the good years now. Sorry,
well it's been the best any therapy, this will be
like rugby therapy.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well that's maybe it will be.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
And that's why we always talk we I mean, did
the Rebels expose last year on what exactly had happened
there and you mentioned Eddie Jones and the saga that
that was. It feels like rugby in Australia has been
wading through the murky waters and has finally found its
way into the light because things are happening. We've got
all four of the Australian Super Rugby teams in the
(08:25):
top six, we have the Reds on top of the
table for the first time in twelve years. All these
positive things are happening, but we just need to know
who this new coach is going to be.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
We are going to know.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I literally say any minute now. Was expected that it
would be today or tomorrow. I'd love that not to
happen today. We're but I'm keeping an eye on my phone.
We now don't think it will be today or tomorrow,
and more likely early next week. I would say right now,
as we said here, Les Kiss, the Queensland Rad's coach,
(08:59):
is well and truely the man for the job. But
it's not a done deal. Nothing's been signed. There's a
lot going on behind the scenes, a lot going on.
For example, Stu Lancaster, who was with England, He's also
worked in Ireland, he's worked with Joe Schmidt before. His
name is suddenly in the mix. Now I can't see
(09:19):
a former English coach getting that role, but I could
see him potentially taking over the Reds job if Les
Kiss leaves, assuming that gets done. But there's a lot
going on behind the scenes, and it was actually, wait
for it, a genuinely extensive process and I understand in
(09:41):
huge breaking news all of those who applied for it
are actually happy with the process. So what I mean,
it's a long way from a glass of Chabblis with
Eddie Jones and let's just say that's how that got done.
So we're actually doing sports governance in rugby.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
There's a process and Oliver which Philbore is one.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Of them, and there was more than two meetings. I
understand with each applicant and they're all happy. I understand
with the process. As we says here right now, it
looks like it's Les Kiss, but there's a lot going
on behind the scenes, so we won't know until we know,
but we would expect it to happen next week.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
The problem being Joe Schmidt, who obviously is an incredible coach,
and he put his own hand up and said, look,
I'm happy to be basically the caretaker for this period.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
But I've got family comments.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
He's spoken openly about his son having disabilities and needing
to care intend for him. So we have absolutely loved
his tenure and seeing what he's done with the Wallabies.
The problem being Joe said he's not doing any media
until the new coach is announced, so you've got this
gap in being able to promote what's going to be
such an incredible tour in terms of the British and
Irish Lions tour, which is only eighty days away, Murphy,
(10:49):
if you can believe it.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
Yeah, and I feel like I know why Joe was
doing that, but I want to have to foot the questions.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Yeah, and I haven't spoken to Joe. But from the outside,
look at this. The names that are ultimately looking to
be successful out of this whole process, Les Kiss, Stu
Lancaster may be getting a role somewhere. These are guys
that Joe Schmidt has worked with and it's becoming really
clear that Rugby Australias still want Joe involved. What's going
(11:19):
to be interesting is if he is involved, what exactly
is the title? Could it even be a director of rugby?
Surely not because he wants to beg himself in New Zealand.
Will he be a high level consultant? I do hope
he's involved in some way because I worry about him
being completely unattached to the Wallabies back in New Zealand.
(11:40):
He's already worked with the All Blacks. We can't have
that ip. No, we're going over to New Zealand. Hi
to Alista, the producer of this podcast, who's from New Zealand.
I just had to throw that out there, so we
can't lose that IP. We've already lost a lot of IP.
So David Nusiphora is a name that not all of
our listeners will have heard of. He is from Canberra,
(12:01):
he moved to Ireland to Dublin. He's set up all
of the structures that ensure the Irish rugby team made
it to number one in the world. Now, can I
just say you're not number one unless you win the.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Rugby World Cup. It's just a ranking, doesn't matter as much.
But much like world football, the World Cup is the
beyond end.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Or exactly, and Ireland unfortunately haven't been past the quarterfinals.
We're not discussing that your listeners.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Murphy just looked to the ground like it was solemn
and that she couldn't believe that she had to admit to.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Because if I don't admit it, people will point it
out to me in social media. So David usafora set
up those structures. Then Rugby Australia managed to get him
on board as a consultant in the new high performance
unit which is now in place. Guess what he's working
with the British and Irish Lions. And everyone was saying
don't worry about it because he was just helping with
(12:53):
some contracting. You don't go into a governing body and
just help with some contracting. You get a lot of
I and now he is on the opposition side. So
from that point of view, I hope we keep Joe
Schmidt in some form, but it's going to be interesting
to see what that is. Will the new coach have
the final say, will he be a consultant? That's if
(13:16):
it is Les Kiss and did that deter other applicants
like Stephen Larkham, who is definitely in the mix.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
I name that Australian rugby fans immediately feel comfortable.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
With exactly, and so they should because if you look
at the Brumbi's and they just are excellence personified.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
They're always successful.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
So they're fourth on the ladder at the moment, it's
so tight with the Reds and number one.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Stop the count. Let's end soup. Yeah, everyone press the buzzer.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Let's just leave it with all Australians in the top
six because it just doesn't happen.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
It doesn't, and you know why it's happening, Abby, Yes,
all the best players are now condensed into four sides. Boy,
we'd loss of rebels exactly. Four great coaches. That for
me is the reason we're seeing such great performances. And
to have four great super rugby coachus means we'll probably
have a great Wallabyes side because they're the ones coaching
(14:13):
the players all year before they get handed over to
Joe Schmidt. So that's really important. There's no side that's
kind of dragging players down.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
That was something that Eddie Jones spoke to when he
was sort of listing the issues as to why the
Wallabies were supposedly not performing. As he said that we
don't have enough control over what these players are doing
at club level. But if the club level has all
lifted and the standard ass all lifted, and as you said,
they've all got a leak coaching, all of a sudden
you find those feeder systems which are so important to
how we perform at a national level, are starting to
(14:44):
meet the mark. And I just I think when you've
got such an important tour coming up, those players that
are vying for a Wallaby's position, even though you'd like
to bring your best every week, they just find a
different gear mouth.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Oh totally, And you're so right about just the standard
being lifted in every site, like look at the Western
Forest just barely losing to the Reds.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
They've had to win over the Brombies.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
That's good coaching across the board in Australia and we
need it this year, we really do.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
You mentioned see the Western Forest, they're one of the
teams that have collapsed. They're not collapse and Twiggy Forests
came in. We've seen so many different iterations of Super Rugby,
which is now the Super Rugby Pacific, and we know
it's difficult to garner attention in the Australian sporting landscape,
particularly when this is a Pacific competition, so you're not
guaranteed to have an Australian team doing well or certainly
(15:35):
winning the competition. How important is it for the Wallabies
to hit this golden era with momentum and really capitalize
a home World Cup. This is meant to bring two
billion dollars of revenue to Australia with the amount of
people that we're expecting to see travel and again you
think they're twenty twenty Seven's that far away? It's really not.
(15:56):
And that will all springboard off this British and Irish
lines tour Marv growing up like, of course everyone in
our house had a Wallaby's guernsey. Everyone like it was
something that was you know, everyone loved George Gregan, like
you had household names as part of that Wallaby's fold.
And in one generation or less than in a couple
of decades, that fight for relevance has never been more important.
(16:19):
But I just feel like this could be it. And
with names that Joseph Kuso Suali, you playing so well
and doing that massive jump from codes, You've got like
an origin star that decides no, I'm going to play
for the war Retars and for the Wallabies. I just
feel like there's a genuine momentum shift and it's so exciting.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah, and you know what, it makes me sad to
hear you talk about your family all having Wallabies jerseys
because I did. That's so unbelievable to me, because that's
what I thought as an Irish rugby fan. I thought
I was moving to the center of the universe when
it came to Rogby, because super Rugby when I first
moved here in two thousand and six, was the envy
(16:59):
of the world. I soon started to find out, particularly
in Melbourne that rugby players were not recognizable, even Wallaby's players.
I remember being in a chemist really early days and
watching a couple of Wallabies players order anti inflammatories at
the counter and I was like, I felt like going on, going, guys, keep.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
It down, I know you're injured.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
And then I realized no one else in the chemist
knew they were, including the guys handing out the prescriptions,
so they were fine to hide their injuries and playing
sight and that really shocked me.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
And how far rugby did fall.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Like you say, there is a huge opportunity, So Australian
rugby has had all this money before, but they clearly
haven't used it. Well you mentioned Joseph Suleihi, I mean, wow,
he is so impressive, the global nature of fascination in him.
I was really struck by it when he went over
(17:58):
on the spring tour and obviously had that player of
the match performance against England and him going to Dublin
and I beating England.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Oh, how good? Like it was almost fairy tale stuff.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Fair right, No, but you always do as Australia have
the right to beat England. And I find it really
funny to watch a play out It's absolutely one of
the biggest rival time.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Surely he was a player of the Test, which is just.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Incredible, incredible and unbelievably. Then when I was heading back
to Ireland for the Test in Dublin, my dad was
asking about Joseph. My dad was obsessed and I'm like,
because Irish people are really, you know, hardcore rugby fans
and just seeing that, I was like, this is amazing
to have a name that is bringing that attention to
(18:46):
the sport. One thing I really love about Joseph when
I watch him is I feel like he really loves
rugby union. Remember his face when he walked out onto
twicken and he smiled up at the crowd and then
he talked about but this is what I've been.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Saying all along. I love it. My dad brought me
to Wallaby's matches when I was a toddler.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
He talked about his dad taking to him a game
where they played Samoa and he was like, for my
whole life, Like, you know, Unions sort of been what
I wanted to do. Because there has been that speculation
his contract is meant to be with options that he
can opt into up to and over nine million dollars
for five years and that money just simply isn't available
to you if you are going to stay in rugby league.
(19:26):
So a lot of people thought this was a cash
grab and that maybe he jumped codes because of the
money that was on offer, whereas he's very quickly proved
also how level headed, such a lovely young man that
he can be.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
But he's just like, I wouldn't move unless.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I loved it, and you can see that radiating off him,
and even the fact when he was injured for the
war retars he went and watched the women's side and
sat with the injured women. Like there's that level of
just good personness for wander a better word about him
that I think is so important because you need people
Alaya George Greens where people want to go and buy
(20:00):
their guernsey and people want to buy Sulei EA's jumper,
and that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
People want heroes and they also want villains. It's okay
to have villains as well, but we need them. We
need villains. We need heroes, like every one of them,
even though though they're so bloody nights. Whenever I meet
when I'm like stop making me, like you just stop it.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I don't want to have these feet, so please or
thank you, just sit down.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
I know. Oh and speaking of Joseph Sueley and the
roosters of you talked about April fool ranks for this,
oh what he did to So they set up a
chat with him, and Dan mckellor's his coach at the Wartouse,
secretly filmed him walking up. Don't know how he kept
his straight face saying, hey Dan, listen, just another thing,
what do you want me to work on this week?
(20:47):
And then just another thing. I've been talking to the roosters.
I'm going back there next year.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Also one more thing. I'm not sure I was gonna
tell you, but I've been speaking to the roosters. I
think I'm going back there next year.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Serious.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Yeah, yeah, I didn't know how I was on, I
tell you, but yeah, I'm not here. I didn't know
I was an ador, but I just wanted to.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
So this is the multi multi multi million dollar man
speaking to his head coach, and you just say to
mkella like he goes white, like he genuinely bought every
second of it.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
That got me as well. I'm not built for April
fools Day's stone.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
No, I messaged down mccallar and was like, how did
you not tell him to guest? Yeah, he said he
was in so much shock for those few seconds when
he believed it.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
He was just like stunned.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
It's actually the best egg Bril fools prank that I've seen.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
So we've got our hero, We've obviously got our semi
got an idea for who our coach will be, but
we're just waiting to find out whether he is going
to be less kids.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
So the pieces are falling into place.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
But when we look at this Wallaby side, what would
be a pass mark for the British and Irish Lines
tour Because and to give people context for what this
is because it has been twelve years, so some people
I go, what are they on about? The first game
is on June twenty first, it's nine games across six cities.
Tell us a little bit more about what this tourism,
why it's so special.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
So it is so special because in the Northern Hemisphere. Okay,
so for anyone who doesn't know, the team is selected
from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. The best players from
those four nations get selected for the Lions Tour. Andy Farrell,
who's the Irish rugby coach, is the head coach of
the British and Irish Lions. It is hard to explain
(22:34):
what an honor it is for a player to be
selected for the Lions tour. You're either a Lions player
or you never were. And that's how I'm hearing it
being talked about because Andy Farrell has announced his assistant
coaches and even to hear the emotion of the assistance,
it sounds life changing to get to go on this tour.
(22:56):
And that, my friend, is where the problem arises for
the Wall because you're not just playing the best of
four nations, right, And look to put that into context,
I mean, Ireland only has what five million people are
so and rugby's like the fourth most popular sport. But
in Ireland the market isn't as saturated, so it's really big.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
So you're not only playing against the best. When you
get the.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Best together, those guys are desperate to play because they
want to say they played in Alliance Test and when
they get in that jersey, that coveted jersey, they want
to stay in it. So you're talking about highly motivated
individuals who aren't just like on the tour. They are
desperate to stay in the side and that is so
(23:42):
difficult for really in this Wallabies era of Joe Schmidt
and what he's done in such a short space of time,
that is not easy. That is an absolutely massive challenge,
and of course they'll do it. They look ahead to
that and just think. I think there's so many positives
because of the super rugby performances that win a Twickenham abby.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
That was really.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Important because there were certain former lines players who were
talking down the Wallabies and saying the British and Irish
lines shouldn't tour to Australia like they do every twelve years,
they should skip it and go back to South Africa.
That was really offensive to everybody, but I think it
really helped the Wallabies beat England because it was the
(24:27):
English former players that were saying that you.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Didn't hear that was the shock jock, Like, what are
they saying? Just to make theirs and ruffles and feathers, and.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
They did the Wallabies a favor. You notice that none
of the Irish former lines said that because they're all
friends with Joe schmidten They love, genuinely have a great
relationship with Australia. So that win over England after what
was said, that is really important.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Yeah, they made them pay where it matters. Yeah, they
made them pay in a pack twicken them.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Oh and it's just one of those things that I
think when you were talking about the British Irish Lines tour,
there for me the only thing I could like in
it too, potentially in Australian sport, even though it wasn't
at a national level. It's like State of Origin, how
coveted it is. And when those plays, when the best
of the best come from different teams together, they lift
again because there's almost this caliber of greatness.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Yeah, and horrid to believe.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Joseph Suwele he played State of Origin as well, Like
it's just it's wild to think of how young he
is and how many experiences he's had.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
So what are your hopes again? Firstly, when you've got
to watch this, what Guernsey are you wearing? This is
the real question, Murphy.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
That's a really tough one. Abby.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
And I love my job. I love living in Australia.
I love paying my bills. Joking aside, I really love
I just love not being unemployed.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
It's great.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
It's just so handy cost of living doing a grocery shop.
But I do love the Wallabies, and you know what.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
It was, you don't have to by the way I
actually mean it.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
And it was a really weird time in Dublin when
I went home because this the Wallabies playing Ireland on
the Spring tour last year and I went along and honestly,
the Wallabies are such a good group of guys to
deal with.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
They always have been as a rule. They're just delightful.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I remember when I was doing my internship at Fox Sports,
I went to an NRL press conference and the guy
basically grunted and was terrifying.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
And then I went to the Union one and the.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Guy was like, oh, you must be new here, hello,
and like introduced himself to everyone at the press back,
made sure everyone had waters. And I was like, well,
this is just a different caliber of person. But they
tend to be like that, don't they.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
The Wallabies just are so good.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Yeah, and to the point where, even when I'm in
Dublin covering them and the Irish they're playing the Irish team,
I so want them to do well, and you know,
Irish people want them to do well because when I
even admitted or I just broke down and told my
family I was having these feelings about the Wallabies that
I wanted them to do well against Ireland. And you
(27:05):
know what, all my family and friends were like, everyone
wants them to.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Chat.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
It's like, guys, I've got something to admit now. You're
very conflicted, so confused. You've got to help me with this.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
So when I talk to rugby fans in Ireland, the
reality is globally, everyone wants the Wallabies to be successful
because for rugby to be successful globally, Australia needs to
be great again and it hasn't been. And that's why
everyone voted for Australia to get the World Cup because
(27:41):
they want to help Australia rebuild and that's why Australia
has this big opportunity. And yeah, the Wallaby is just
great to deal with. So when it comes to the
British and Irish lines, it's tough. But I really want
the Wallabies to do well and I wanted to be
highly competitive. That it's the most important thing because British
(28:02):
and Irish Lions tours are famed for their competitiveness, so
we really needed to be competitive and I actually think,
and it's the first time that I've been able to
let myself think this.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
I think it can be.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
It's going to be difficult, but I think with the
way or Super Rugby sides are going, I think Australia
can be really competitive.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
I feel like we need to leave it there because
it's just such a positive note to end on. And
we've spoken about a lot on this podcast and that
there's been so many turbulent times with the Eddie Jones
as you mentioned, like is he meeting with Japan? Is
he not going to surprise he's actually going to Japan?
Who knew everyone knew, And also just knowing what a
struggling time it's been for Super Rugby with especially with
(28:46):
the rebels being dissolved and how many people were heard
in that process. It's just to hear that hope and
that very informed hope that you have for what rugby
can be in Australia in the next twelve months, in
the next you know, leading up to the Games in Brisbane,
they want the Sevens to be the opening there's rumors
that the Sevens are going to be the very first competition.
Can you imagine what that would be like? In a
(29:08):
new stadium in Brisbane.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Wow, just amazing, and I should mention as well while
i'm here, just really quickly women's rugby, oh okay, only
four levi yeah is in Greek incredible and SEVENS just
has that platform. But in Super Rugby for women's abbe
only four rounds, we don't have any time to learn
(29:30):
their stories. It's not breaking through. It's so far behind
the NRL. Wow that women's competition and state of origin.
Kudos to them. They are leading the way giving the
NRL women a state of origin. So they're leading AFLW
so far ahead.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
That even the women's team being part of the exhibition
they had in Vegas, Oh that was so good. So
they're thinking about putting women on that platform. Because you're
right when you talk about the domestic competition for women's rugby,
I'm ashamed to say I'm just wait when.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
It hasn't had any breakthrough, and that's because it's only
four rounds and they really need to invest in it.
They need to make it a longer season so that
we can follow the stories just like we do the
men's competition. So there's a long way to go in
Super Rugby for women and shout out to Obviously the
Melbourne Rebels had a women's side as well, and it's
now gone too. So that's the only thing I want
(30:23):
to caveat all of this positivity with that there is
work to be done in women's rugby.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
And arguably more of a chasm than we see in
most of our domestic codes between the men's and the women's.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Absolutely, yes, yeah, But other than that, it is it's
an exciting time. Got a year ahead, what a couple
of years ahead?
Speaker 4 (30:42):
I'm going to I'm going to find a Guernsy. More
of what I'm going to find a photo of me
wearing a gunsy, please do. And I think that's where
we want to come back to.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Is we just implore Australians or anyone listening just to
get behind rugby.
Speaker 4 (30:53):
Yeah it's going to be and a.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Promise that if you do invest in some kit, in
some memorabilia, you are going to get cost per way
down over the next ten years with the amount of
tours and the amount of excitement that we have going on. Murph, Firstly,
(31:17):
we love that chat, thank you, and we love talking rugby.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
I knew that you were the perfect woman for it.
But you've got a fun fact for us to round
this out.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
I have a fun fact that was inspired by your
last episode, which was brilliant by the way, So you
samboled oh's brilliant.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
You've met him.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
You're talking about how you've met him professionally and this
is all great, and he did the rounds and media.
I recall the time I met him in a very
different situation. So this was years ago, Abby and my
friend was living in Australia for a few months at
the time, and she doesn't know anything about sport. A
(31:53):
lot of my friends don't. I mean, what are they
doing with their lives?
Speaker 4 (31:55):
I don't know. I only see them when there's no
sport on. I'm surprised that you have anything in common
with them. But that's fine.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Yeah, there was that girlfriend that you need to call
like well, also, even you feel like, especially when rugby
is your sport, you still need to start podcasts like
this where people love sport by going union league, different things.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
You still need to have that conversation. So it's very
much a thing totally.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
So this friend of mine, Amri has, I thought she
had very little idea of sport, but I was about
to find.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Out ry by the way.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Yeah, hey, Amory, she lives back in Ireland and so
we can talk about this freely. So I said to her,
you've got her. When you're in Sydney, go to Opera Bar.
It's just stunning. I know it's a cliche, but like
having a drink there is just the best.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
And if anyone hasn't been to Opera Bar, it is
the single most picturesque spot you eat.
Speaker 4 (32:41):
Very good friend for recommending it.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
It's literally at the bottom of the Opera House, but
you're looking back onto the Sydney Harbor, so.
Speaker 4 (32:47):
You've got the bridge.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
It's just spectacular on a beautiful day. It's arguably the
most pristine spot in the country. It's different or one
of the most.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
If it's not the most beautiful bar in the world,
I don't know if I can think of what the
most beauty for publics, that's a good one.
Speaker 4 (33:01):
We're happy to go on a junket if anyone wants
to try.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I'm there, So Amory I send her there. Of course
I'm late, because I always am, not for work but
for everything else in life. And I text her ands
out on my way and she said it's too busy,
we're going to have to leave, and I said, no,
it's worth it. We'll get a table. So then she
calls me and says, I've actually got a table with
two guys who were kinded of is gone to let
(33:25):
me sit on the end of their table. And oh,
that's so good, I think. I said, I'll get the drinks,
you just hold the table.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Which is another that's an Olympic sport. Trying to line
up for the d that's a whole different takes a
long time. I come back. Guess who she had asked
to sit in the end of the table. What do
you even ask him? Not the friend, you say, bold, She.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Didn't recognize the fastest man on the planet. So when
I woke up to the table, this is years ago, maybe.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
Still in his prime. He's still Oh he's a ragining
Olympic champion.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
I don't think he's got to his central coastmar in
his face that you discussed yet. And I walk up
to the table and I look at him, and he
looks at me, and.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
I was sports jo, and you're just like.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Wide eyed, and he immediately realizes that, of course I
know who he is.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
And you've got.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
And He's like, I know, she knows, she knows, I know,
but anything. So I just went a Marie, I can't
believe you find this kind man to help us get
a table. Thank you, kind stranger. And I sat down
drinking my drink looking at him. So there was music on.
We all have a bit of a dance. Then everyone
starts to see it's use same bold and from the
(34:38):
top deck. Yeah, and my friend's like, sir, what So
we had to leave because everyone else except my friend.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Amrie knew who he was.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
The end, I just you know what, you just would
give anything to be a fly on the wall.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
Have you been all right? We've got ric.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
And how much were you eyeing just to have a
cone of science between you and your friend to be like,
by the way, arguably the greatest athlete of all time.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
And I also, before I would even tell her, I'd
be like, how do you know? Do you just not
watch regularly news or are you just shut off from society?
Speaker 4 (35:19):
What happened to you, Amory? That's what I would have asked.
Do you live in a vacuum? Yeah? She couldn't believe
it when he was gone, that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well, I would also love to hear her rendition of
that story and just whether or not his face was like, yeah,
well you want to sit on the end of you
with any general publications you don't want probably asking for
a photo like hi Sarah and he's like yeah, all right,
get the phone out and she's like no, can I
just sit?
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Yeah? Yeah? Do you know what?
Speaker 3 (35:44):
She's the loveliest human alive and she's so yeah, she's
so fun.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
He really liked her. She just didn't know who he was,
a very very fun fact. Murphy. As always, it is
a total delight. You are welcome back anytime.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
George would be so jealous that we've been hanging out
without her, but thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (36:05):
And again just a.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Joyful, joyful chat about Australian rugby and we want more
of them.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Yeah, and thank you Abby and Georgie.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
Good luck.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
I know you're winning the amazing where she is who knows?
I love your work on offside is Abby?
Speaker 4 (36:21):
Love? Oh God, bless you. And until next week, everyone's
bigger Sport
Here at two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge
the traditional owners of the land on which we record
this podcast. There were innerie people. This land was never seated,
always was always will be. Hello and welcome to two
Good Sports. It's sports news told differently.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm Abby Jelmy and if I'm doing the intro, you
just know that Georgie Tunney must be absolutely killing the
Amazing Race. But I am joined by the amazing Catherine
Murphy as a stand in mirth.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Welcome, Oh thank you for having me in. And Georgie
she's got to be winning the Amazing Race. I mean
her and Rob even their little fights about how to
do it would be cute. They should just win the
cutest couple in Australia race.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I was about to say, surely it's a popularity vote
at one point and they just have to win it anyway.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
They'll definitely win one percent. I'm just glad to be
here while she's off winning.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Well, mrth you have to be firstly my Good Sports.
So tell us a little bit about yourself. Obviously you're
the ABC Sports presenter. You've also written a book with
Zach Tuohey, so you're across all sport more. But how
did you end up being a sports journalist?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
That's a crazy I feel like I don't know about you, Abby.
I feel like it was all I was ever meant
to do. I remember signing up for journalism in UNI
and straight away gravitating towards the sports aspect of it.
I played a lot of sport in Uni. I played
Gaelic football really badly, and I was so inferior. I
(01:32):
just interviewed Aaron Phillips today on News Breakfast, so I'm
really aware of how I was never going to make it.
You know when you look at someone that really made
it and you know exactly why you didn't.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
But Aaron Phillips is particularly humbling because she's played basketball
for Australia and won a silver medal, as well as
being one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in
my mind AFLW player that we've ever seen.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
So she's a duel code star.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So no wonder You're like, Okay, could I just have
had one?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Do you look at her and you feel so inferior athletically?
And I always think when I'm talking to amazing athletes
like that, God, I need to go to the gym
or do you close with health?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Yeah, do you have that thought process?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
We work with athletes all the time. Ob you just
look at them and I go, I just believe you're
better than me. Oh yeah, like I just believe you're
better than me in all aspects. And Aaron is one
of those ones that I've been so lucky to work
with in commentary. Not only is she delightful, but she
does have that glow of like not many toxins into
my body.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Oh my god, exactly her guns.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
I'm like, I need to go to the gym, I
need to lift things, I need to go outside.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
And she's just the nicest.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Meanwhile, if you tested us for toxins right now, let's
not go there.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
But she is amazing.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Honestly, if I told you what I had for breakfast alone,
you be horrified. I think I had chocolate for breakfast
because they get a bred me. I know when they
don't give you breakfast and you're so hungry by nine
am and it's your lunchtime that I have been known
to eat terrible things by nine am, which Aaron Phillips
would never do. But yeah, so failed Gaelic footballer but
(03:08):
always loved sport, and as soon as I got into
my course, I knew it was going to be sport.
And I ended up getting a tour of a TV station.
My cousin worked there, so a bit of nepotism got
me in the door for that day. She was just
showing me around the TV channel, and I remember thinking, Abby,
(03:30):
TV is so fun, Like I was just straight away
transfixed by the cam you see on TV and the
chaos behind the scenes, and I love chaos, and I
just loved the chaotic nature of it, the deadlines, the adrenaline.
I started as a producer, I didn't know if i'd
(03:52):
ever do on camera stuff, and yeah, started there, so
I kind of feel like I always knew just because
of that day, kind of that you have in your
life where you just all of a sudden, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Well, that's beautiful firstly, and it's amazing that you've been
able to forge your career for yourself as well. And
you are our favorite, your Georgie's favorite as well, You're.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
My favorites, and I just love that you're are offsiders
Hostle Abby. When I got that news, and I got
it earlier than I should have, I did.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Before my parents just quiet, like they told me I
wasn't allowed to tell a soul and Murphy just sends
me a sly text being like, I don't know, but
if you know that, we know that, I know that
you know.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
And I was like, wait what, I'm not going to
tell anyone. I had to do an investigation. And you're
a real journalist.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
You're sometimes when I really want to know something. And
I was so delighted when I heard it that I
did try not to message you, and the person who
told me warned me enough to message you, but I
had to message you because we're so lucky to have you,
and I can't wait to be on the show.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Sometimes soon as I say when are we getting you back,
I'm going to happen. I'm feeling like it's personal. You
haven't look you're more of a Kelly goal I get it.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Oh my god, I am dying to come on the show.
And it's going to happen very soon, I promise.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
And one of the topics that we need to talk
about this year is rugby, which is going to be
a major not.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Rugby league, rugby union.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And there are some people that you have to discern
that we're talking about the Wallabies. We're talking about the
British Irish Lines tour. But as a listener of the podcast,
you will know that we do a good sport off
the top or a bad sport, and I'm going to
lob up my bad sport as every account that designers
to do an April Fool's post, because they got me.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
They got me, Murph in a real way.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So as you well know, we do stories throughout the
week for offsiders that we try to keep an eye
across all things.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I sent a message to Danny, my producer. Yes we
love Danny.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Simply just a screenshot of this exclusive DCE to sign
a bombshell contract with the Reds Wallaby's debut for Bledisloe
Cup looms.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Oh it Dane.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
He was going to do a five year contract with
one point four million dollars and I've screenshot it and
said part of my French but holy shit.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Honestly, do you know what really got me is on
the day I was very aware that there was going
to be a lot of pranks online.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I didn't know what date it is. I don't know
what date is any day, but.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
The problem is on April second, because of the algorithm,
a lot of them.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Obviously they get most pushed up.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yes, so they're coming into your algorithm on April second,
and I got caught really bad because I just finished
News Breakfast. It's nine o'clock and your biggest fear is, well,
your biggest fears.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
That you sleep in and you're not even there.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
But second biggest fear is that you miss something big
when you're busy and it's really hard to always be
across everything all of the time. So I opened my
phone at nine am and I see a post that
former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has been appointed the Welsh
national coach and I shrieked because it's believable. I mean,
(06:55):
I'm still traumatized from when he was doing those zooms
with Japan, so like, I'm ripe for the pecking. So
when I saw that, I almost died. I was like, here,
I am. I love covering Rugby, want to do more
of it on News Breakfast, and I've missed the fact Eddie.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Jones is now coach of Wales.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Figured out shortly after it he is not just to emphasize,
but yeah, that is the worst.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Well, let's lean in now to our main discussion then,
because we mentioned if we're talking about coaching, we're talking
about Wallabies. We are still waiting to find out who
is going to be the Wallabies coach, especially looking forward
to a World Cup that we have in twenty twenty seven,
and they're calling this the golden decade of rugby events
that we're going to have in Australia.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Leading stop it.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Even the phrase is a little bit triggering after everything
that's happened. For sure, we're going into the good years now. Sorry,
well it's been the best any therapy, this will be
like rugby therapy.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well that's maybe it will be.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
And that's why we always talk we I mean, did
the Rebels expose last year on what exactly had happened
there and you mentioned Eddie Jones and the saga that
that was. It feels like rugby in Australia has been
wading through the murky waters and has finally found its
way into the light because things are happening. We've got
all four of the Australian Super Rugby teams in the
(08:25):
top six, we have the Reds on top of the
table for the first time in twelve years. All these
positive things are happening, but we just need to know
who this new coach is going to be.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
We are going to know.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I literally say any minute now. Was expected that it
would be today or tomorrow. I'd love that not to
happen today. We're but I'm keeping an eye on my phone.
We now don't think it will be today or tomorrow,
and more likely early next week. I would say right now,
as we said here, Les Kiss, the Queensland Rad's coach,
(08:59):
is well and truely the man for the job. But
it's not a done deal. Nothing's been signed. There's a
lot going on behind the scenes, a lot going on.
For example, Stu Lancaster, who was with England, He's also
worked in Ireland, he's worked with Joe Schmidt before. His
name is suddenly in the mix. Now I can't see
(09:19):
a former English coach getting that role, but I could
see him potentially taking over the Reds job if Les
Kiss leaves, assuming that gets done. But there's a lot
going on behind the scenes, and it was actually, wait
for it, a genuinely extensive process and I understand in
(09:41):
huge breaking news all of those who applied for it
are actually happy with the process. So what I mean,
it's a long way from a glass of Chabblis with
Eddie Jones and let's just say that's how that got done.
So we're actually doing sports governance in rugby.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
There's a process and Oliver which Philbore is one.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Of them, and there was more than two meetings. I
understand with each applicant and they're all happy. I understand
with the process. As we says here right now, it
looks like it's Les Kiss, but there's a lot going
on behind the scenes, so we won't know until we know,
but we would expect it to happen next week.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
The problem being Joe Schmidt, who obviously is an incredible coach,
and he put his own hand up and said, look,
I'm happy to be basically the caretaker for this period.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
But I've got family comments.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
He's spoken openly about his son having disabilities and needing
to care intend for him. So we have absolutely loved
his tenure and seeing what he's done with the Wallabies.
The problem being Joe said he's not doing any media
until the new coach is announced, so you've got this
gap in being able to promote what's going to be
such an incredible tour in terms of the British and
Irish Lions tour, which is only eighty days away, Murphy,
(10:49):
if you can believe it.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
Yeah, and I feel like I know why Joe was
doing that, but I want to have to foot the questions.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Yeah, and I haven't spoken to Joe. But from the outside,
look at this. The names that are ultimately looking to
be successful out of this whole process, Les Kiss, Stu
Lancaster may be getting a role somewhere. These are guys
that Joe Schmidt has worked with and it's becoming really
clear that Rugby Australias still want Joe involved. What's going
(11:19):
to be interesting is if he is involved, what exactly
is the title? Could it even be a director of rugby?
Surely not because he wants to beg himself in New Zealand.
Will he be a high level consultant? I do hope
he's involved in some way because I worry about him
being completely unattached to the Wallabies back in New Zealand.
(11:40):
He's already worked with the All Blacks. We can't have
that ip. No, we're going over to New Zealand. Hi
to Alista, the producer of this podcast, who's from New Zealand.
I just had to throw that out there, so we
can't lose that IP. We've already lost a lot of IP.
So David Nusiphora is a name that not all of
our listeners will have heard of. He is from Canberra,
(12:01):
he moved to Ireland to Dublin. He's set up all
of the structures that ensure the Irish rugby team made
it to number one in the world. Now, can I
just say you're not number one unless you win the.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Rugby World Cup. It's just a ranking, doesn't matter as much.
But much like world football, the World Cup is the
beyond end.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Or exactly, and Ireland unfortunately haven't been past the quarterfinals.
We're not discussing that your listeners.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Murphy just looked to the ground like it was solemn
and that she couldn't believe that she had to admit to.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Because if I don't admit it, people will point it
out to me in social media. So David usafora set
up those structures. Then Rugby Australia managed to get him
on board as a consultant in the new high performance
unit which is now in place. Guess what he's working
with the British and Irish Lions. And everyone was saying
don't worry about it because he was just helping with
(12:53):
some contracting. You don't go into a governing body and
just help with some contracting. You get a lot of
I and now he is on the opposition side. So
from that point of view, I hope we keep Joe
Schmidt in some form, but it's going to be interesting
to see what that is. Will the new coach have
the final say, will he be a consultant? That's if
(13:16):
it is Les Kiss and did that deter other applicants
like Stephen Larkham, who is definitely in the mix.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
I name that Australian rugby fans immediately feel comfortable.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
With exactly, and so they should because if you look
at the Brumbi's and they just are excellence personified.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
They're always successful.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
So they're fourth on the ladder at the moment, it's
so tight with the Reds and number one.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Stop the count. Let's end soup. Yeah, everyone press the buzzer.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Let's just leave it with all Australians in the top
six because it just doesn't happen.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
It doesn't, and you know why it's happening, Abby, Yes,
all the best players are now condensed into four sides. Boy,
we'd loss of rebels exactly. Four great coaches. That for
me is the reason we're seeing such great performances. And
to have four great super rugby coachus means we'll probably
have a great Wallabyes side because they're the ones coaching
(14:13):
the players all year before they get handed over to
Joe Schmidt. So that's really important. There's no side that's
kind of dragging players down.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
That was something that Eddie Jones spoke to when he
was sort of listing the issues as to why the
Wallabies were supposedly not performing. As he said that we
don't have enough control over what these players are doing
at club level. But if the club level has all
lifted and the standard ass all lifted, and as you said,
they've all got a leak coaching, all of a sudden
you find those feeder systems which are so important to
how we perform at a national level, are starting to
(14:44):
meet the mark. And I just I think when you've
got such an important tour coming up, those players that
are vying for a Wallaby's position, even though you'd like
to bring your best every week, they just find a
different gear mouth.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Oh totally, And you're so right about just the standard
being lifted in every site, like look at the Western
Forest just barely losing to the Reds.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
They've had to win over the Brombies.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
That's good coaching across the board in Australia and we
need it this year, we really do.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
You mentioned see the Western Forest, they're one of the
teams that have collapsed. They're not collapse and Twiggy Forests
came in. We've seen so many different iterations of Super Rugby,
which is now the Super Rugby Pacific, and we know
it's difficult to garner attention in the Australian sporting landscape,
particularly when this is a Pacific competition, so you're not
guaranteed to have an Australian team doing well or certainly
(15:35):
winning the competition. How important is it for the Wallabies
to hit this golden era with momentum and really capitalize
a home World Cup. This is meant to bring two
billion dollars of revenue to Australia with the amount of
people that we're expecting to see travel and again you
think they're twenty twenty Seven's that far away? It's really not.
(15:56):
And that will all springboard off this British and Irish
lines tour Marv growing up like, of course everyone in
our house had a Wallaby's guernsey. Everyone like it was
something that was you know, everyone loved George Gregan, like
you had household names as part of that Wallaby's fold.
And in one generation or less than in a couple
of decades, that fight for relevance has never been more important.
(16:19):
But I just feel like this could be it. And
with names that Joseph Kuso Suali, you playing so well
and doing that massive jump from codes, You've got like
an origin star that decides no, I'm going to play
for the war Retars and for the Wallabies. I just
feel like there's a genuine momentum shift and it's so exciting.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah, and you know what, it makes me sad to
hear you talk about your family all having Wallabies jerseys
because I did. That's so unbelievable to me, because that's
what I thought as an Irish rugby fan. I thought
I was moving to the center of the universe when
it came to Rogby, because super Rugby when I first
moved here in two thousand and six, was the envy
(16:59):
of the world. I soon started to find out, particularly
in Melbourne that rugby players were not recognizable, even Wallaby's players.
I remember being in a chemist really early days and
watching a couple of Wallabies players order anti inflammatories at
the counter and I was like, I felt like going on, going, guys, keep.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
It down, I know you're injured.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
And then I realized no one else in the chemist
knew they were, including the guys handing out the prescriptions,
so they were fine to hide their injuries and playing
sight and that really shocked me.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
And how far rugby did fall.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Like you say, there is a huge opportunity, So Australian
rugby has had all this money before, but they clearly
haven't used it. Well you mentioned Joseph Suleihi, I mean, wow,
he is so impressive, the global nature of fascination in him.
I was really struck by it when he went over
(17:58):
on the spring tour and obviously had that player of
the match performance against England and him going to Dublin
and I beating England.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Oh, how good? Like it was almost fairy tale stuff.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Fair right, No, but you always do as Australia have
the right to beat England. And I find it really
funny to watch a play out It's absolutely one of
the biggest rival time.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Surely he was a player of the Test, which is just.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Incredible, incredible and unbelievably. Then when I was heading back
to Ireland for the Test in Dublin, my dad was
asking about Joseph. My dad was obsessed and I'm like,
because Irish people are really, you know, hardcore rugby fans
and just seeing that, I was like, this is amazing
to have a name that is bringing that attention to
(18:46):
the sport. One thing I really love about Joseph when
I watch him is I feel like he really loves
rugby union. Remember his face when he walked out onto
twicken and he smiled up at the crowd and then
he talked about but this is what I've been.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Saying all along. I love it. My dad brought me
to Wallaby's matches when I was a toddler.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
He talked about his dad taking to him a game
where they played Samoa and he was like, for my
whole life, Like, you know, Unions sort of been what
I wanted to do. Because there has been that speculation
his contract is meant to be with options that he
can opt into up to and over nine million dollars
for five years and that money just simply isn't available
to you if you are going to stay in rugby league.
(19:26):
So a lot of people thought this was a cash
grab and that maybe he jumped codes because of the
money that was on offer, whereas he's very quickly proved
also how level headed, such a lovely young man that
he can be.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
But he's just like, I wouldn't move unless.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I loved it, and you can see that radiating off him,
and even the fact when he was injured for the
war retars he went and watched the women's side and
sat with the injured women. Like there's that level of
just good personness for wander a better word about him
that I think is so important because you need people
Alaya George Greens where people want to go and buy
(20:00):
their guernsey and people want to buy Sulei EA's jumper,
and that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
People want heroes and they also want villains. It's okay
to have villains as well, but we need them. We
need villains. We need heroes, like every one of them,
even though though they're so bloody nights. Whenever I meet
when I'm like stop making me, like you just stop it.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I don't want to have these feet, so please or
thank you, just sit down.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
I know. Oh and speaking of Joseph Sueley and the
roosters of you talked about April fool ranks for this,
oh what he did to So they set up a
chat with him, and Dan mckellor's his coach at the Wartouse,
secretly filmed him walking up. Don't know how he kept
his straight face saying, hey Dan, listen, just another thing,
what do you want me to work on this week?
(20:47):
And then just another thing. I've been talking to the roosters.
I'm going back there next year.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Also one more thing. I'm not sure I was gonna
tell you, but I've been speaking to the roosters. I
think I'm going back there next year.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Serious.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Yeah, yeah, I didn't know how I was on, I
tell you, but yeah, I'm not here. I didn't know
I was an ador, but I just wanted to.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
So this is the multi multi multi million dollar man
speaking to his head coach, and you just say to
mkella like he goes white, like he genuinely bought every
second of it.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
That got me as well. I'm not built for April
fools Day's stone.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
No, I messaged down mccallar and was like, how did
you not tell him to guest? Yeah, he said he
was in so much shock for those few seconds when
he believed it.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
He was just like stunned.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
It's actually the best egg Bril fools prank that I've seen.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
So we've got our hero, We've obviously got our semi
got an idea for who our coach will be, but
we're just waiting to find out whether he is going
to be less kids.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
So the pieces are falling into place.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
But when we look at this Wallaby side, what would
be a pass mark for the British and Irish Lines
tour Because and to give people context for what this
is because it has been twelve years, so some people
I go, what are they on about? The first game
is on June twenty first, it's nine games across six cities.
Tell us a little bit more about what this tourism,
why it's so special.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
So it is so special because in the Northern Hemisphere. Okay,
so for anyone who doesn't know, the team is selected
from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. The best players from
those four nations get selected for the Lions Tour. Andy Farrell,
who's the Irish rugby coach, is the head coach of
the British and Irish Lions. It is hard to explain
(22:34):
what an honor it is for a player to be
selected for the Lions tour. You're either a Lions player
or you never were. And that's how I'm hearing it
being talked about because Andy Farrell has announced his assistant
coaches and even to hear the emotion of the assistance,
it sounds life changing to get to go on this tour.
(22:56):
And that, my friend, is where the problem arises for
the Wall because you're not just playing the best of
four nations, right, And look to put that into context,
I mean, Ireland only has what five million people are
so and rugby's like the fourth most popular sport. But
in Ireland the market isn't as saturated, so it's really big.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
So you're not only playing against the best. When you
get the.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Best together, those guys are desperate to play because they
want to say they played in Alliance Test and when
they get in that jersey, that coveted jersey, they want
to stay in it. So you're talking about highly motivated
individuals who aren't just like on the tour. They are
desperate to stay in the side and that is so
(23:42):
difficult for really in this Wallabies era of Joe Schmidt
and what he's done in such a short space of time,
that is not easy. That is an absolutely massive challenge,
and of course they'll do it. They look ahead to
that and just think. I think there's so many positives
because of the super rugby performances that win a Twickenham abby.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
That was really.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Important because there were certain former lines players who were
talking down the Wallabies and saying the British and Irish
lines shouldn't tour to Australia like they do every twelve years,
they should skip it and go back to South Africa.
That was really offensive to everybody, but I think it
really helped the Wallabies beat England because it was the
(24:27):
English former players that were saying that you.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Didn't hear that was the shock jock, Like, what are
they saying? Just to make theirs and ruffles and feathers, and.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
They did the Wallabies a favor. You notice that none
of the Irish former lines said that because they're all
friends with Joe schmidten They love, genuinely have a great
relationship with Australia. So that win over England after what
was said, that is really important.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Yeah, they made them pay where it matters. Yeah, they
made them pay in a pack twicken them.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Oh and it's just one of those things that I
think when you were talking about the British Irish Lines tour,
there for me the only thing I could like in
it too, potentially in Australian sport, even though it wasn't
at a national level. It's like State of Origin, how
coveted it is. And when those plays, when the best
of the best come from different teams together, they lift
again because there's almost this caliber of greatness.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Yeah, and horrid to believe.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Joseph Suwele he played State of Origin as well, Like
it's just it's wild to think of how young he
is and how many experiences he's had.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
So what are your hopes again? Firstly, when you've got
to watch this, what Guernsey are you wearing? This is
the real question, Murphy.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
That's a really tough one. Abby.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
And I love my job. I love living in Australia.
I love paying my bills. Joking aside, I really love
I just love not being unemployed.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
It's great.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
It's just so handy cost of living doing a grocery shop.
But I do love the Wallabies, and you know what.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
It was, you don't have to by the way I
actually mean it.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
And it was a really weird time in Dublin when
I went home because this the Wallabies playing Ireland on
the Spring tour last year and I went along and honestly,
the Wallabies are such a good group of guys to
deal with.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
They always have been as a rule. They're just delightful.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I remember when I was doing my internship at Fox Sports,
I went to an NRL press conference and the guy
basically grunted and was terrifying.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
And then I went to the Union one and the.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Guy was like, oh, you must be new here, hello,
and like introduced himself to everyone at the press back,
made sure everyone had waters. And I was like, well,
this is just a different caliber of person. But they
tend to be like that, don't they.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
The Wallabies just are so good.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Yeah, and to the point where, even when I'm in
Dublin covering them and the Irish they're playing the Irish team,
I so want them to do well, and you know,
Irish people want them to do well because when I
even admitted or I just broke down and told my
family I was having these feelings about the Wallabies that
I wanted them to do well against Ireland. And you
(27:05):
know what, all my family and friends were like, everyone
wants them to.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Chat.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
It's like, guys, I've got something to admit now. You're
very conflicted, so confused. You've got to help me with this.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
So when I talk to rugby fans in Ireland, the
reality is globally, everyone wants the Wallabies to be successful
because for rugby to be successful globally, Australia needs to
be great again and it hasn't been. And that's why
everyone voted for Australia to get the World Cup because
(27:41):
they want to help Australia rebuild and that's why Australia
has this big opportunity. And yeah, the Wallaby is just
great to deal with. So when it comes to the
British and Irish lines, it's tough. But I really want
the Wallabies to do well and I wanted to be
highly competitive. That it's the most important thing because British
(28:02):
and Irish Lions tours are famed for their competitiveness, so
we really needed to be competitive and I actually think,
and it's the first time that I've been able to
let myself think this.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
I think it can be.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
It's going to be difficult, but I think with the
way or Super Rugby sides are going, I think Australia
can be really competitive.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
I feel like we need to leave it there because
it's just such a positive note to end on. And
we've spoken about a lot on this podcast and that
there's been so many turbulent times with the Eddie Jones
as you mentioned, like is he meeting with Japan? Is
he not going to surprise he's actually going to Japan?
Who knew everyone knew, And also just knowing what a
struggling time it's been for Super Rugby with especially with
(28:46):
the rebels being dissolved and how many people were heard
in that process. It's just to hear that hope and
that very informed hope that you have for what rugby
can be in Australia in the next twelve months, in
the next you know, leading up to the Games in Brisbane,
they want the Sevens to be the opening there's rumors
that the Sevens are going to be the very first competition.
Can you imagine what that would be like? In a
(29:08):
new stadium in Brisbane.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Wow, just amazing, and I should mention as well while
i'm here, just really quickly women's rugby, oh okay, only
four levi yeah is in Greek incredible and SEVENS just
has that platform. But in Super Rugby for women's abbe
only four rounds, we don't have any time to learn
(29:30):
their stories. It's not breaking through. It's so far behind
the NRL. Wow that women's competition and state of origin.
Kudos to them. They are leading the way giving the
NRL women a state of origin. So they're leading AFLW
so far ahead.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
That even the women's team being part of the exhibition
they had in Vegas, Oh that was so good. So
they're thinking about putting women on that platform. Because you're
right when you talk about the domestic competition for women's rugby,
I'm ashamed to say I'm just wait when.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
It hasn't had any breakthrough, and that's because it's only
four rounds and they really need to invest in it.
They need to make it a longer season so that
we can follow the stories just like we do the
men's competition. So there's a long way to go in
Super Rugby for women and shout out to Obviously the
Melbourne Rebels had a women's side as well, and it's
now gone too. So that's the only thing I want
(30:23):
to caveat all of this positivity with that there is
work to be done in women's rugby.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
And arguably more of a chasm than we see in
most of our domestic codes between the men's and the women's.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Absolutely, yes, yeah, But other than that, it is it's
an exciting time. Got a year ahead, what a couple
of years ahead?
Speaker 4 (30:42):
I'm going to I'm going to find a Guernsy. More
of what I'm going to find a photo of me
wearing a gunsy, please do. And I think that's where
we want to come back to.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Is we just implore Australians or anyone listening just to
get behind rugby.
Speaker 4 (30:53):
Yeah it's going to be and a.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Promise that if you do invest in some kit, in
some memorabilia, you are going to get cost per way
down over the next ten years with the amount of
tours and the amount of excitement that we have going on. Murph, Firstly,
(31:17):
we love that chat, thank you, and we love talking rugby.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
I knew that you were the perfect woman for it.
But you've got a fun fact for us to round
this out.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
I have a fun fact that was inspired by your
last episode, which was brilliant by the way, So you
samboled oh's brilliant.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
You've met him.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
You're talking about how you've met him professionally and this
is all great, and he did the rounds and media.
I recall the time I met him in a very
different situation. So this was years ago, Abby and my
friend was living in Australia for a few months at
the time, and she doesn't know anything about sport. A
(31:53):
lot of my friends don't. I mean, what are they
doing with their lives?
Speaker 4 (31:55):
I don't know. I only see them when there's no
sport on. I'm surprised that you have anything in common
with them. But that's fine.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Yeah, there was that girlfriend that you need to call
like well, also, even you feel like, especially when rugby
is your sport, you still need to start podcasts like
this where people love sport by going union league, different things.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
You still need to have that conversation. So it's very
much a thing totally.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
So this friend of mine, Amri has, I thought she
had very little idea of sport, but I was about
to find.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Out ry by the way.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Yeah, hey, Amory, she lives back in Ireland and so
we can talk about this freely. So I said to her,
you've got her. When you're in Sydney, go to Opera Bar.
It's just stunning. I know it's a cliche, but like
having a drink there is just the best.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
And if anyone hasn't been to Opera Bar, it is
the single most picturesque spot you eat.
Speaker 4 (32:41):
Very good friend for recommending it.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
It's literally at the bottom of the Opera House, but
you're looking back onto the Sydney Harbor, so.
Speaker 4 (32:47):
You've got the bridge.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
It's just spectacular on a beautiful day. It's arguably the
most pristine spot in the country. It's different or one
of the most.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
If it's not the most beautiful bar in the world,
I don't know if I can think of what the
most beauty for publics, that's a good one.
Speaker 4 (33:01):
We're happy to go on a junket if anyone wants
to try.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I'm there, So Amory I send her there. Of course
I'm late, because I always am, not for work but
for everything else in life. And I text her ands
out on my way and she said it's too busy,
we're going to have to leave, and I said, no,
it's worth it. We'll get a table. So then she
calls me and says, I've actually got a table with
two guys who were kinded of is gone to let
(33:25):
me sit on the end of their table. And oh,
that's so good, I think. I said, I'll get the drinks,
you just hold the table.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Which is another that's an Olympic sport. Trying to line
up for the d that's a whole different takes a
long time. I come back. Guess who she had asked
to sit in the end of the table. What do
you even ask him? Not the friend, you say, bold, She.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Didn't recognize the fastest man on the planet. So when
I woke up to the table, this is years ago, maybe.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
Still in his prime. He's still Oh he's a ragining
Olympic champion.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
I don't think he's got to his central coastmar in
his face that you discussed yet. And I walk up
to the table and I look at him, and he
looks at me, and.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
I was sports jo, and you're just like.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Wide eyed, and he immediately realizes that, of course I
know who he is.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
And you've got.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
And He's like, I know, she knows, she knows, I know,
but anything. So I just went a Marie, I can't
believe you find this kind man to help us get
a table. Thank you, kind stranger. And I sat down
drinking my drink looking at him. So there was music on.
We all have a bit of a dance. Then everyone
starts to see it's use same bold and from the
(34:38):
top deck. Yeah, and my friend's like, sir, what So
we had to leave because everyone else except my friend.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Amrie knew who he was.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
The end, I just you know what, you just would
give anything to be a fly on the wall.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
Have you been all right? We've got ric.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
And how much were you eyeing just to have a
cone of science between you and your friend to be like,
by the way, arguably the greatest athlete of all time.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
And I also, before I would even tell her, I'd
be like, how do you know? Do you just not
watch regularly news or are you just shut off from society?
Speaker 4 (35:19):
What happened to you, Amory? That's what I would have asked.
Do you live in a vacuum? Yeah? She couldn't believe
it when he was gone, that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well, I would also love to hear her rendition of
that story and just whether or not his face was like, yeah,
well you want to sit on the end of you
with any general publications you don't want probably asking for
a photo like hi Sarah and he's like yeah, all right,
get the phone out and she's like no, can I
just sit?
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Yeah? Yeah? Do you know what?
Speaker 3 (35:44):
She's the loveliest human alive and she's so yeah, she's
so fun.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
He really liked her. She just didn't know who he was,
a very very fun fact. Murphy. As always, it is
a total delight. You are welcome back anytime.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
George would be so jealous that we've been hanging out
without her, but thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (36:05):
And again just a.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Joyful, joyful chat about Australian rugby and we want more
of them.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Yeah, and thank you Abby and Georgie.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
Good luck.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
I know you're winning the amazing where she is who knows?
I love your work on offside is Abby?
Speaker 4 (36:21):
Love? Oh God, bless you. And until next week, everyone's
bigger Sport
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!