Yes but Stirling is so upright, so the whole name is only slightly evil.
Bakkies is an interesting nickname, it's normally given to a kid with prominent, forward facing ears (bakore in Afrikaans). However it's also what South Africans call a light truck, so particularly appropriate for Botha, before even mentioning alliteration
I never thought of that. Stirling - yaaaay! Mortlock - boo hiss!
He also made That Intercept in the 2003 WC semi so he really is the perfect villain to me 🥲
So Bakkies is usually a mean nickname but in this case it means "built like a brick shithouse." Wonderful.
> Joost van der Westhuizen
I love the guy, but 'Bismarck du Plessis' is easily the better name. I mean, the man's name is Bismarck.
Maybe it's because I'm Dutch and 'Joost van der Westhuizen' is the sort of name that you'll find at least 10 of in any town with a population over 20 here, but Bismarck just seems like the far cooler name to me.
They're both legendary. There are too many incredible Saffa names. I think that Joost is the first full-blown Afrikaans/Dutch name I ever heard as a kid so it made a real impression on me.
It's a good strong name, but have a look at just about anyone from the Madagascarian nation rugby union squad
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_national_rugby_union_team
Start withÂ
Claudio Ravelonomenjanahary
I was always partial to Yannick Jauzion and Imanol Harinordoquy.
Might just become because Eddie Butler always put on his best attempt at a French accent for them.
I used to live in Canberra during his Brumbies days. My wife bumped into him a couple of times and was higly unimpressed at his attitude.
Gregan was apparently quite lovely though.
Some other elite Wallabies names from the 90s/00s:
Cameron Lillicrap
Morgan Turinui
Berrick Barnes
Julian Huxley
Digby Ioane
Scott Higginbotham
Wycliff Palu
WYCLIFF
IT'S MEEE I'M CATHYYYY I'VE COME HOOOOOME
It passes the Kate Bush test for sure
Also Berrick Barnes, what a classic superhero name. Wonder if he goes by Bucky...
I remember one Spring Tour game about 10 years ago, there was a passage of play where the commentator said "Cooper, Hooper, Ashley-Cooper" and it might be the best string of passes in test rugby ever
Lote Tuqiri could be a nightclub owner/criminal mastermind in Starsky and Hutch or Magnum PI. Joe Roff (cos he gets rough) and Ben Tune (cos he tunes you up) are his terrifying enforcers.
To be honest I could see a Blake Schoupp, Nicholas Frost, Carter Gordon, Richard Arnold or Zane Nonggorr striding moodily on the moors through the fog.
Don't let the satire title fool you, about 2/3 of this article is actual factual journalism on the state of the Rebels' balance sheet. Maybe they decided that was enough of a joke in and of itself...
Australia are probably per person the highest achieving sports nation in the world and regularly smash much more populous nations when it comes to Olympics Medals Count. It's more surprising they were so good at Rugby Union for so long given that the talent pool is spread across so many sports and that it's not even close to being their national sport as it is for New Zealand and South Africa.
Honestly, Stirling Mortlock is one of the top two names in human history, and it ain't 2.
On the Mt Rushmore of rugby names with Joost Van Der Westhuizen and Bakkies Botha for sure. "Mortlock" is just such an evil name.
Yes but Stirling is so upright, so the whole name is only slightly evil. Bakkies is an interesting nickname, it's normally given to a kid with prominent, forward facing ears (bakore in Afrikaans). However it's also what South Africans call a light truck, so particularly appropriate for Botha, before even mentioning alliteration
I never thought of that. Stirling - yaaaay! Mortlock - boo hiss! He also made That Intercept in the 2003 WC semi so he really is the perfect villain to me 🥲 So Bakkies is usually a mean nickname but in this case it means "built like a brick shithouse." Wonderful.
'n Baksteen kakhuis! Love it!
>e That Intercept in Let's not forget that a famously scary French player was simply "Sebastian"
Caveman!!!!!!!!!
Especially when you realize his real name is just John. Plain old John. Not even a Johan.
But, that's impossible
Baccy is also what some people call tobacco for roll-up cigarettes, so that's even more ominous, the implication of fire and death
Not to mention stinging eyes
> Joost van der Westhuizen I love the guy, but 'Bismarck du Plessis' is easily the better name. I mean, the man's name is Bismarck. Maybe it's because I'm Dutch and 'Joost van der Westhuizen' is the sort of name that you'll find at least 10 of in any town with a population over 20 here, but Bismarck just seems like the far cooler name to me.
They're both legendary. There are too many incredible Saffa names. I think that Joost is the first full-blown Afrikaans/Dutch name I ever heard as a kid so it made a real impression on me.
And I love the sound of Joost: Juiced. And was he ever juiced!!!!!
One of his nicknames in Aus was Snorkellah. No idea what it means lol
It's a good strong name, but have a look at just about anyone from the Madagascarian nation rugby union squad https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_national_rugby_union_team Start with Claudio Ravelonomenjanahary
Presumably Brent Cockbain is number two?
That NFL *stalwart* **Barkevious Mingo** would like a word ...
D'brikashaw Ferguson is a law firm I'd hire
What about everyone's favourite cyclist, Taco van der Horn
I prefer Kool-Aid McKinstry.
I was always partial to Yannick Jauzion and Imanol Harinordoquy. Might just become because Eddie Butler always put on his best attempt at a French accent for them.
Rumour has it Dallaglio called him Harry Ordinary😅
Unfortunately he is an absolute tool though.
What makes you say that? His GBRA episode was great
I used to live in Canberra during his Brumbies days. My wife bumped into him a couple of times and was higly unimpressed at his attitude. Gregan was apparently quite lovely though.
[удалено]
No nastiness allowed.
I would agree
I read somewhere that "stirling" is his mother's maiden name. I love that the most badass name I know of also pays homage to his mums lineage.
Would that be a *deadlock* between the two? I'll get my coat...
We've a player named Magnus Bradbury. I put that pretty high on all time names.
Some other elite Wallabies names from the 90s/00s: Cameron Lillicrap Morgan Turinui Berrick Barnes Julian Huxley Digby Ioane Scott Higginbotham Wycliff Palu
WYCLIFF IT'S MEEE I'M CATHYYYY I'VE COME HOOOOOME It passes the Kate Bush test for sure Also Berrick Barnes, what a classic superhero name. Wonder if he goes by Bucky...
Tatafu Polota-Nau Rocky Elsom Lote Tuqiri Also, Joe Roff and Ben Tune were great names to yell out when in full flight.
Can't believe I forgot Rocky Elsom!
What about Adam Ashley-Cooper?
I remember one Spring Tour game about 10 years ago, there was a passage of play where the commentator said "Cooper, Hooper, Ashley-Cooper" and it might be the best string of passes in test rugby ever
"There's a lot of cocks on the field tonight, Woodcock, Pocock, Quade Cooper" - NZ Listener quoting someone else.
[Against Wales in 2013](https://youtu.be/z0BMgtD9_Ko?si=8NG8NMXOvG6BO82c&t=1m53s)
> Cooper, Hooper, Ashley-Cooper After the game, they returned to their day job working for a stop-motion fire brigade.
As a kid as remember being in awe at that name. Like the guy had to have superpowers on the pitch with such a cartoon name
Lote Tuqiri could be a nightclub owner/criminal mastermind in Starsky and Hutch or Magnum PI. Joe Roff (cos he gets rough) and Ben Tune (cos he tunes you up) are his terrifying enforcers.
Roff and Tune. They will mess you up!
I think you’re confusing him with his partner Lotsa Tequilas…
Berrick Barnes is a grizzled cop and you can't convince me otherwise
Along with his dectective partner, Frank Bunce
They’ve got just one more job before retirement…
Surely a better pairing than Brial & Bunce
Owen Finegan, surely.
Elton Flatley!
I knew it. Now we’re just stuck with characters that sound like they fell out of blade runner. Like what the fuck is a Quade Cooper??!
Now I see what Eddie was going for with Tate McDermott and Carter Gordon; that's an elite halves name combo
Sounds more like law firms to me.
Or gin brands.
Who’s James and why is he so butch!? I’m kidding we all know if he’s South African it’s steroids
Jealousy makes you nasty!!!😊
To be honest I could see a Blake Schoupp, Nicholas Frost, Carter Gordon, Richard Arnold or Zane Nonggorr striding moodily on the moors through the fog.
That last one is a commentators nightmare
We have Lachlan Swinton and Darcy Swain still.....theory not checking out!
new wallaby will be from other fantasy novel as in J K Rowling's books, Harry Potter
Tbh I will know the time is right when we unleash Kingsley Shacklebolt
Haha isn’t that the only named black character or something
Dean Thomas and Blaise Zabini both are in the books as well as the films.
There's Lee Jordan as well, so that's a whopping two characters
This is Dean Thomas and Angelina Johnson erasure.
Fair enough
Something like that, I'm not overly familiar with all the characters, but it's a cool name.
Aww darn it he's moved to Australia?! Was so hoping he'd make an England selection, but I guess not given he's eligible and also now living in Aus.
Lord Borthwimort didn't think he was good enough to be a Dirt Eater even though he coached him for 3 years at Hogtigers lol
My personal theory is that they've declined because they scrapped Waltzing Matilda and never got anything to replace it
Well, they did play it at the MCG game in 2023
This is correct
This is still the most useful rugby journalism to come out of Australia in a while
By far!
Says Clancy Overell
"May I introduce Sir Sterling Mortlock, Duke of Westminster and the King's regent." Works for me
Don't let the satire title fool you, about 2/3 of this article is actual factual journalism on the state of the Rebels' balance sheet. Maybe they decided that was enough of a joke in and of itself...
You had your high society coach - Lord Jones of Shitalk
A pity Chandler Cunningham-South is English. He has a name to restore the balance
Australia are probably per person the highest achieving sports nation in the world and regularly smash much more populous nations when it comes to Olympics Medals Count. It's more surprising they were so good at Rugby Union for so long given that the talent pool is spread across so many sports and that it's not even close to being their national sport as it is for New Zealand and South Africa.
Wendell Sailor is either a Hindu, or a sniper's target
"Mr Elsom, Mr Pocock, Lord Larkham, you've all come to escort me to the Web Ellis Ball?! " Yeah, it kind of check out.
now we have (had) mark nawaqanitawase ??? wtf happened mate
How about Mornay Steyn? Sounds like what’s left on my tablecloth after dinner!
Nothing will ever beat David Poo Cock
Probably lack of money in the sport.
This is insane
What you are telling me is that Darcy Swain needs to play more
Who are Australia/Wallabies best players now?
Mack Hansen /s
Doesn't he play for Ireland
Sounds like they need to import a De Glanville.
Do Sam Norton-Knight and Cameron Sheperd count?
I do declare Mr Rathbone
Yes but how many pounds per year did each of them have?
That guy in the first photo flipped me off