And then there were four.
The first ever Super Rugby Pacific quarter finals have been run and won with the Brumbies the sole survivors on the Aussie side.
This week’s column comes to you from between sets of push-ups as I look to do 3139 of them across the month of June.
More on that later…
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https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1533705252821684224?s=20&t=6FmabPK-_DtKSWyImH8FPQ
SIO SO GOOD
Mehrts and I caught up with Brumbies legend Scott Sio for this week’s episode of Between Two Posts and the funny man didn’t disappoint.
Among other things, Sio mentioned his real concern for teammates Alan Alaalatoa and Folau Fainga’a when he leaves the club at season’s end.
“Sometimes it’s hard for a parent to say to his kids: ‘look, you now have to go out into the world all on your own, I can’t keep looking after you.’
“I’ve been their father for so long – now is that time.”
Sean Maloney and Andrew Mehrtens look back on the Super Rugby Pacific quarter finals and talk to departing Brumbies legend Scott Sio
https://omny.fm/shows/between-two-posts-1/the-dirty-reds-and-the-slavic-league/embed?style=cover
Sio’s work off the bench was instrumental on Saturday night as the Brumbies outscored the dangerous Hurricanes 20-3 in the second term.
The match was played at an incredible intensity with the handling unbelievable on both sides.
We didn’t get our first scrum until the 36th minute – staggering in the wet.
The Canberra win sets us up beautifully for the rematch against the Blues who narrowly won a few weeks back in an emotion-charged battle.
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SEVENS SURGING AGAIN
I was lucky enough to catch up with the recently crowned Aussie women’s sevens world champions in the gym last week and my word are they in phenomenal nick.
Inadvertently body shaming me in the process, the champs would mix up some huge weights with short, sharp sprint work at their base at Rugby Australia.
Moving as fast, if not quicker than I’ve ever seen her, was veteran Sharni Williams.
The rainbow headgear wearing two-time Olympian credits strength and conditioning coach Tom Carter with her sharp times.
Also popping up for day one back at training was another sevens hall of famer, Alicia Lucas (nee Quirk), who’s having a tilt at the Commonwealth Games and sevens World Cup later this year.
The playmaker has been away for a few years following the arrival of her baby girl Matilda, whose dad is former Waratah and Brumby Matt Lucas.
THE WILSON-EALES CUP IS BORN
Stan Sport commentator and host of the popular Clubland show, Andrew Swain had a rare afternoon off on Saturday and headed straight back to Crosby Park in Brisbane, home of his herculean efforts with Brothers many years back.
Swainy said it was a star-studded afternoon with the first-ever running of the Eales-Wilson Shield, named after World Cup-winning Wallabies John Eales (Brothers) and David Wilson (Easts).
https://twitter.com/HulaBulaJim/status/1532965256842313737?s=20&t=6FmabPK-_DtKSWyImH8FPQ
Also watching on was Samu Kerevi who, Swainy reports, is looking rock-hard fit following the close of the Japanese club season.
It was the visitors who claimed the shield with Ealesy doing some of his best work in the famously named Hobbit’s Bar.
WING OR WIDE RECEIVER?
The LA Giltinis had one of the biggest names in the NFL catch their practice last week with Seattle Seahawks and All-Pro star DK Metcalf watching on closely.
With his squad too nervous to approach the 193cm, 107kg wide receiver, Aussie coach Stephen Hoiles wandered over and got chatting.
Turns out DK was doing weights at the LA Lakers gym which adjoins the Giltinis’ track, then finished with routes around the Giltinis field.
Hoilesy reckons he was there for 90 minutes watching the rugby crew go about their work.
Metcalf might’ve been Seattle’s lucky charm with the Seawolves defeating Hoiles’ team in the final game of the season.
PUSH IT UP JUNE
As mentioned at the top, I’m attempting to nail 3139 push-ups throughout the month of June.
It’s all part of the ‘Push Up Challenge’ which raises money for various charities.
My donations are headed to Lifeline, who, as you know, do some terrific work in these crazy times.
If you back me to finish the lot, you can donate via this link:https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/fundraisers/seanmaloney/the-push-up-challenge
WHO DAT?
Which hugely loveable first grade coach in Sydney’s Shute Shield won the raffle at a school lunch last week which saw him claim a $10,000 gift voucher towards his child’s school fees for the next few years?
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