It's been a bizarre seven days in Australian rugby.
What have you missed in this week of rugby?
Hanigan's small gesture makes fan smile
In a difficult week for anyone involved in rugby, one act by Wallabies flanker Ned Hanigan at least brightened the dark for one fan.
Hanigan was chatting to Oliver at the Wallabies’ captain’s run on Friday, and asked whether they youngster would be heading along.
Told he didn’t have any tickets, Hanigan decided on the spot to give Oliver some of his family and friends allocation, giving the kid and his dad, also at the session, a good memory.
Taf's sledge on rookie hooker
Tatafu Polota-Nau and Jordan Uelese have formed a fast bond in Wallabies camp, but there’s one thing the elder statesman can’t help but make fun of when it comes to his younger colleague.
Speaking on Thursday about his potential debut, Polota-Nau was full of praise for the 20-year-old, except in one area.
“I just bag him out for his dislikes, and the fact that he’s got shocking hair,” he said.
“Embrace it really. You just want to grow it, because (then) everyone wants to touch it.”
He tempered that though, with some jealousy about Uelese’s natural rhythm.
“Mind you he can dance – that’s one thing I don’t have. I’m quite envious of that.”
Winger blitzes field in SA grand final
We’re all for spectacular tries and this one from last weekend’s South Australia first grade grand final is one of the best.
Though we could relay the score in detail, we’re happy to let the video do the talking.
The Brighton Tigers took the win in the end, as well.
Nic Nat nearly gets it right
Here's to the @qantaswallabies winning at the same time as @WestCoastEagles 🤞🏿 https://t.co/iixlCxBHWE
— Nic Naitanui (@RealNaitanui) September 9, 2017
West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui might have to stop wishing for victories soon, after posting this photo with Israel Folau during the week.
The injured Eagles ruckman crossed his fingers for wins for the Wallabies in Perth and the Eagles in Adelaide.
Both games were draws at full-time, and though West Coast had the chance to steal an epic win in extra-time, the Wallabies weren’t quite so fortunate.
Sevens stars meet sprint star
They couldn’t run out at the Macquarie Uni 7s but Aussie Sevens co-captains Sharni Williams and Shannon Parry found a pretty good way to spend their Saturday night.
The pair were the team’s representatives at an Optus event where they met and spoke to the recently retired superstar Usain Bolt.
Fair to say they were pretty stoked, Sharni writing on Instagram, "When you meet @usainbolt with your best mate @shan_parry and he asks us to be his body guards 💪 oh and you make it on his snap chat feed #winning #yesmusic #optus @1065kissfm @optus @ghmummau @theavalanches #poweratthespeedofbolt #howgoodslivin."
Players cop fan frustration
There was plenty of anger in Perth this week, after news of the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Rugby WA’s appeal, and the Wallabies were not entirely immune.
A group of players visited the Rugby WA junior grand final day on Saturday and were confronted by some angry supporters.
Though we’re told there wasn’t anything too ugly about the exchanges, the ire wasn’t quite directed at the right target.
There were also suggestions that fans were kicked out because of protests and banners, but ground staff said that only occurred with a flag obscuring other fans’ views, with behaviour generally positive on a night that could have turned ugly.
Post-match debrief
One high-profile former Wallabies star was spotted having a sitdown with a certain WA billionaire the morning after the Test.
