Wayne Smith
Wayne Smith has been a sports journalist for more than 40 years and is one of Australia's leading rugby union commentators.
Opinion
Rugby World Cup
Reds livid over referee after Vest’s broken neck
A blunder over Connor Vest’s broken neck will have the Queensland Reds questioning whether one match official is fit to adjudicate at the World Cup.
- by Wayne Smith
Latest
Opinion
Australian rugby
Who can blame fans for turning their back on Super Rugby when clubs keep doing the same?
New Zealand may be the main culprits in resting players, but rugby’s position is far less precarious across the ditch and the policy has already cost one Australian side dearly.
- by Wayne Smith
Analysis
Super Rugby
Wayne supreme: My namesake nailed it when summing up refs mess
Former All Blacks player and coach Wayne Smith revealed he recently switched off his TV in frustration. Rugby should heed his dissatisfaction with the way the game is being officiated.
- by Wayne Smith
Opinion
Australian rugby
Get Carter: Rebels playmaker shows it’s too early to cut out Cooper alternatives
Eddie Jones has heavily implied Quade Cooper is his preferred World Cup five-eighth. But Carter Gordon is giving the Wallabies coach some welcome headaches.
- by Wayne Smith
More wins, more to worry about: Reds up against it in Waratahs showdown
Making the eight-team Super Rugby finals is proving a tough task for Australia’s highest-profile teams.
- by Wayne Smith
Opinion
Australian rugby
Shake-up call: Why Marinos’ exit opens door to an RA overhaul
Will Hamish McLennan opt for a low-key appointment for the chief executive role or, as a risk-taker, sense a golden – and timely – opportunity to revamp Rugby Australia?
- by Wayne Smith
Opinion
Rugby World Cup
Wallabies’ discipline not a matter of life and death – it’s far more important
Eddie Jones and the Wallabies have been handed a dream run to a third World Cup. But they’re as a good chance as any opposition is of spoiling it for themselves.
- by Wayne Smith
Opinion
Super Rugby
Why all-at-sea Reds have already missed the boat
The reason why Queensland never considered Dan McKellar to replace Brad Thorn is patently obvious. Now, he is exactly the man the under-siege Reds need.
- by Wayne Smith
Opinion
Australian rugby
Struggling Reds losing faith in Vunivalu, so how has he won over Jones?
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has spoken at length about picking players prepared to roll up their sleeves. Suliasi Vunivalu couldn’t be bothered removing his cufflinks against the Crusaders.
- by Wayne Smith
Opinion
Australian rugby
Suaalii shows rugby’s priorities are off ... in more ways than one
The Sydney Roosters prodigy is not diving into a shallow talent pool among the Wallabies’ backs, and that’s before you get to rumblings over his $5 million price tag.
- by Wayne Smith
Opinion
Wallabies
Brumbies in gold: How can the Wallabies be anything else while Reds, Tahs are struggling?
Reds coach Brad Thorn is in his sixth year of Super Rugby coaching, Darren Coleman in his second, but each man wore the same look of bewilderment after their weekend games.
- by Wayne Smith