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‘Love playing afternoon footy’: Tim Horan all for Wallabies’ kick-off time
By Finn Morton
Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Tim Horan can’t wait for the Wallabies’ first afternoon Test of the year, with the Aussies taking on giant slayers Georgia at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
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Georgia poses an intriguing challenge for the men in gold, with the small European rugby nation coming off a win over Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms in Japan. They’ll take plenty of confidence out of that victory as they seek more history on Australian soil.
As for the Australians, they have the longest active winning streak out of any men’s tier-one nation at the moment dating back to last year’s Rugby World Cup. With one win over Portugal and another two against Wales this month, they’ll be looking to extend that run to four.
The Wallabies played in front of more than 34,000 fans when they played in Sydney earlier this month, and they’ll be hoping for another strong, family-friendly crowd. Australia will also host the All Blacks in an afternoon Bledisloe Cup Test later this year at Accor Stadium.
Australian rugby legend Tim Horan has praised the afternoon kick-off slot but has gone one step further by calling on Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh to schedule every Wallabies game in Sydney at the one venue.
“Hopefully a lot of families turn out, a lot of kids who can’t go to those late night games. I think it’s fantastic,” Horan explained on Stan Sports’ Rugby Heaven.
“Afternoon Test footy, if it’s dry, it’ll allow the Wallabies to try and express themselves and get some width in their game and play this open, expansive game of rugby.
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“Night footy, you can get that dew on the ground. I used to love playing afternoon footy.
“I spoke to Phil Waugh, the CEO of Rugby Australia the other day about this, every Test match in Sydney, I think till now till Rugby World Cup, should be at Allianz Stadium… if I’m Phil Waugh, I want every single Test match at Allianz Stadium.
“The atmosphere, 36,000 there against Wales, was incredible.
“People are coming out of the pubs, walking down the hill. It was a great atmosphere prior to the game and also after the game.”
Joe Schmit is off to a winning start as Wallabies coach but the New Zealander went with a relatively settled side in the two Tests against Warren Gatland’s Wales. It’s a different story with the team to take on the Georgians.
Schmidt and the rest of the coaching staff have picked a starting side which includes 10 changes to the one that played in Melbourne one week ago, and there are more than a handful of differences on the bench as well.
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Allan Alaalatoa comes into the run-on side for Taniela Tupou at tighthead prop, and the Wallabies veteran has also taken up the captaincy. Alaalatoa is the third Wallabies captain in as many Tests this year after Liam Wright and James Slipper.
With an all-new tight five, the inclusion of Harry Wilson at No. 8, and some headline-grabbing selections in the backs including the debut of Darby Lancaster on the left wing, this is a golden opportunity for these men to stake their claim before The Rugby Championship.
“They’ve been given these opportunities, a lot of these boys, to show that they can perform when we get into the serious ones in a couple of months’ time,” former Wallaby Cameron Shepherd explained.
“Confidence and calmness under pressure, it’s gonna come in those big games. When the chips go down, and (never is a game) perfect, these guys need to show that they’re the ones that can bring the group together, galvanise and get through the tough times.
“That’s what I’ll be looking for on Saturday afternoon.”
More importantly, the fans love afternoon KO’s too. Crowds have increased 20% in 2024. A welcome upside to not having to pander to (weakened) SA teams/viewers. Decrease the involvement of TMO’s, fewer scrum resets and turn down the stadium tannoy so fans can, like, actually talk rugby between themselves and not listen to Slice of Heaven on repeat. Watch the crowds grow back even more. Its not rocket science, unless youre a rugby administrator of course.
I think Australia will be the surprise package at the RC. Would not be surprised if they finished second in the competition this year.
Afternoons are nice but club games in the same city as the Test match are already on in the afternoon. Rugby is competing against itself in Sydney.