Marcus

Italy captain Michele Lamaro wanted to say something as @Federugby press conference wrapped "I want to emphasise that the referee, Hollie Davidson has been outstanding. It's, obviously, the first time ever for a woman referee in @SixNationsRugby, and I want to congratulate her"

Australia’s Tom Hooper is turning Greg Fisilau into future England No8 @kinson88 @JWDrennan @OBBY001 @tomdecent …Or future Wallabies No8. Surely that has to be upside of changed strategy by RA? thetimes.com/article/59d294…

Gee, I’m up for this if no replacements allowed save at start of each Q. Genius solution to the dreadful final 30 mins of most games as constant replacements add to the already delayed flow of TMO and out of play time.

@ChristypDoran @ChristypDoran you know if any of these injuries are your ending please? Likely replacements. Did the As remain, including Darcy?

The Wallabies have lost two of their three locks after 20 minutes against Japan. Replacement Josh Canham (concussion) and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (rib?) both off. Most unfortunate. Big opportunity for Japan, who trail the Wallabies 7-0.

@JWDrennan @JWDrennan that’s a great match report, you’ve covered everything and elegantly written. Also a proud Ulster/born Australian

I have followed rugby my whole life, I don't remember a Test as good as that. Proud to be Australian. smh.com.au/sport/rugby-un…

TRY OF THE SEASON? TRY OF THE DECADE?! 🤯 The Waratahs go end-to-end over 100 metres in one of the best team tries you will ever see 🔥 #SuperRugbyPacific | #WARvCHI

RIP Oleg Gordievsky, arguably the greatest man I have ever met. I collect books about espionage, as well as politics. I have signed volumes by numerous prime ministers and presidents as well as Allen Dulles and J. Edgar Hoover, even one paperback that used to reside on the shelves of Aldrich Ames, the CIA/KGB double agent. When it comes to spying, though the prized volume is the book written by Christopher Andrew, who taught me at Cambridge, and Gordievsky on the history of the KGB. I was lucky enough to meet Oleg when he came to address students on the intelligence history paper I was studying. Oleg was the most important source MI6 ever recruited. In 1983 he helped prevent nuclear war. In 1984 he helped both Mikhail Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher understand each other ahead of a summit which convinced them they could do business with each other. @BenMacintyre1's marvellous book, The Spy and the Traitor, gives a gripping account of how Oleg, in his day job for the KGB and his secret work for SIS schooled them both. It's one of the most extraordinary stories of the Cold War. The final 100 pages of that book, which recounts Oleg's escape from Russia is among the most thrilling passages of non-fiction I've ever read. When you met Oleg his face, his eyes in particular - watchful and sad - told you this was a life lived at its limits, a man who has looked death in the face and bore its scars. In that sense he reminded me a lot of John McCain, whose arms couldn't lift a coffee cup all the way to his lips because of the torture he suffered in Vietnam. They were both stubborn as mules but decent, singular men who ploughed their own furrows. In Oleg you saw the emotional scars. He was a man who made decisions he could not retract and who lived with both the honour of what he had done to destroy a system he despised and who had paid a terrible personal price. It destroyed his marriage and his family. When I think of Oleg, I think of that scene in the West Wing where Leo's wife tells him that their marriage is more important than his job as White House chief of staff. He replies: "No it isn't. Not for the next four years it isn't." Oleg put belief and principle and the safety of his adopted country before his own safety and happiness. I am profoundly sad he has died, profoundly grateful that he lived and profoundly honoured to have met him. Ben has a brilliant piece here which is well worth a read: thetimes.com/world/europe/a…

Oops camp Starts on 8 January. Apologies to all awaiting white smoke on Schmidt @TalksRugby

@TalksRugby @TalksRugby Walkabies training camp started today (allowing Joe to tell players first) and journos all very quiet so expecting they are ready to be briefed if not late tonight, tomorrow I’d suggest there should be media conference. My hunch.

Anyone have anything?

@haribaldijones @ConorTee @LekkerRugbyPod @89combo I see what you did there #cheekybuttrue

@ConorTee @LekkerRugbyPod @89combo Was being a big cheeky

What do you reckon?

@ChristypDoran @ChristypDoran you expecting white smoke tomorrow from wallabies camp on Joe? #injoewetrust #wallabies

Schmidt names one uncapped player in 40-man squad to kick off Lions campaign - as Rugby Australia waits on contract call theroar.com.au/2024/12/20/sch…

@TalksRugby He’s already said he’s spending a week in Dublin after the game which is an opportunity for him and his family (wife and kids) to discuss what works best for them. In addition to his wife he mentioned his brother will be there so clear he’s got the process to decide in place

...and to be clear, I really hope I'm wrong and Schmidt signs on to 2027, but I'm just reading between the lines on how he's answered a few probing questions. I suspect he's waiting until after the tour to announce it so as not to disrupt game prep.

Reading the tea leaves, I suspect Schmidt will announce after this tour that he'll leave after the Lions. Disappointing, but understandable if it happens. It does make Super Rugby 2025 a bit of an audition for the top job... Kiss, Larkham, and McKellar... who wins?

We won the Australian Short Course Championship point-score 🙌🙏🙌🙏 GO #griffithuni Swim Club 💪 @Griffith_Uni

We are proud to announce that we are establishing a new campus within the Brisbane CBD at the historic Treasury Building. Opening in 2027, it will be a hub for our Business, IT, & Law disciplines, alongside postgrad and executive education. news.griffith.edu.au/2024/09/06/gri…

@Griffith_Uni 🟡6.01pm 100m Backstroke- Tom Gallagher (Final 2.05am) 🟢6.10pm Kayak 200m- Curtis McGrath 🟡6.20pm Va’a 200m- Susan Seipel 🟢7.35pm Kayak 200m– Susan Seipel 🟡8.05pm Va’a 200m– Curtis McGrath 🟢3.15am Wheelchair Basketball Aus v Netherlands- Tom O'Neill-Thorne

SILVER for @Griffith_Uni Alumnus Rowan ! #GriffithUni

BRONZE for @Griffith_Uni alumnus @madiderozario. @GriffithBiz #Griffithuni

Vidya Makan has taken the stage as Eliza in @HamiltonMusical at Sydney's Lyric Theatre for its final Australian season. Having studied Musical Theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium, Makan said she's never felt more 'herself' in a role. news.griffith.edu.au/2024/08/26/ham…

Wow Brian! This has Number One stamped all over it! Thanks. Eamonn Mallie. @MiriamOCal @Tedsmyth @GlobalIreland @irishinbritain @skydavidblevins @EamonnHolmes @PatricKielty @JCKP1966 @mcccartney_jenny @purdypols @bigkenreid @FrBrianDarcy @tombradby