Wallabies vs Ireland - 3rd test - Saturday 23rd June 2018 - Sydney Football Stadium

[sidelineview]

Well in the time he was there, he was late to at least two rucks one resulted in a turnover, threw a forward pass and a low one to Foley leading to a knock on. Gordon is better but so is Phipps

That's hard to disagree with. Unfortunately, Powell put in a poor performance.
There's a bit of a traffic jam of 9s behind Genia.

 

[dillyboy]

Problem is he did it twice. Watch the opening kickoff again. He can't be consistently causing ass over tit incidents 10 feet up.

Yeah I was really worried on his challenge at the kickoff - I thought if they looked at it again he was going off. ....

 

[KOB1987]

Phipps threw more bad passes than good. Blame that low knock on Foley, his position was too wide from the ruck, hiding like most of the game.

Oh so the intended receiver should move to where the halfback is going to land the pass. I see..

 

[KOB1987]

In terms of our performance we are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were this time last year. The coaches at least seem to be settling on what our best squad is, can’t see too many more debutantes in between now and Japan. So it’s now a matter of how much we can improve the current setup, I’m relatively confident but the lack of 10s is a massive concern.

 

[wamberal]

I thought the back line looked second rate in attack. Our forwards could learn a huge amount from the Irish and the way they carry the ball and go into contact. Are they so effective because they are so physically strong? Or is it about technique?

 

[cyclopath]

I thought the back line looked second rate in attack. Our forwards could learn a huge amount from the Irish and the way they carry the ball and go into contact. Are they so effective because they are so physically strong? Or is it about technique?

The latter, I think, is the key. They always work in unison - ball runners with one or two on the hip, clean-out and counter-ruck work. They truly have the team dynamic worked out. Too many of our interactions are players on their own.

 

[Dan54]

The latter, I think, is the key. They always work in unison - ball runners with one or two on the hip, clean-out and counter-ruck work. They truly have the team dynamic worked out. Too many of our interactions are players on their own.

Yep Cyclo, and fortunately or unfortunately Wallabies have some great ball running forwards who don't really need someone on their hip, so maybe it's not practised!
I thought it was a bloody absorbing test, proper bloody arm wrestle, I think Irish deserved to win series win, but I in no way think Wallaby supporters should be depressed, as I thought at times they played some pretty good rugby, and we have seen their team that will basically be taken to WC, will only improve with time and tests together.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I thought the back line looked second rate in attack. Our forwards could learn a huge amount from the Irish and the way they carry the ball and go into contact. Are they so effective because they are so physically strong? Or is it about technique?

Don't think there's that much difference Wambers, or at least not at an individual level.

Their game is designed to setup those sort of contests where the forwards repetatively get over the gain line. To their credit, they are disciplined enough to do it 20+ times in row and pick their targets across the field when the do it.

We play a different game using the pods which is designed to free up space for the backline

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[Istanbul]

I think there is strong potential in that wallabies team and with a few tweaks it has the ability to go with the Allbacks. Four changes needed:

1. Pocock to 7 and Samu to 8
2. Latu to starting hooker
3. Tomua to 10, Foley to French Rugby
4. Tupou to start

 

[Derpus]

So, sober thoughts:

1. We should have won. We had all the momentum for basically 30 minutes of the second half and failed to convert it more than once. You just know the All Blacks would have sealed that with a clutch play after the buzzer. Ireland didn't bring anything new to the table, but we couldn't find a way around. Even once we got front foot ball.

2. Phipps played very well. Powell did not. That said, the Wallabies never play as well as when Genia is on.

3. I didn't think Hooper could be injured. Huge blow for us early on. Samu did well at least. As did Tui and Poey. Strong backrow performance i thought.

4. Set piece was good, except mauling (does that count as set piece?). Tupou has one hell of a career in front of him.

5. I thought both teams defended brilliantly and attacked terribly. Wallabies showed a bit more zip but it very rarely came to anything. Kerevi finally made the break we'd been promised but he failed to find his support runner. He defended okay though.

6. TMO was once again far too involved. It's getting ridiculous. Fortunately, no match deciding decisions were made. Folau's card was soft but so was Stockdale's. I thought the ref was generally consistent but far too involved to facilitate an entertaining game of rugby.

7. That the Irish can win so easily by simply generating breakdown penalties all night is a bit shit. Who wants to watch that?

8. Best team won the series. It could be a long rugby championship.

Edit: 9. Foley played fine for 99% of the match but missed a key kick and flung it out after the buzzer. I think until someone shows even half his ability we ought to can talk of his being dropped.

 

[Istanbul]

So, sober thoughts:

1. We should have won. We had all the momentum for basically 30 minutes of the second half and failed to convert it more than once. You just know the All Blacks would have sealed that with a clutch play after the buzzer. Ireland didn't bring anything new to the table, but we couldn't find a way around. Even once we got front foot ball.

2. Phipps played very well. Powell did not. That said, the Wallabies never play as well as when Genia is on.

3. I didn't think Hooper could be injured. Huge blow for us early on. Samu did well at least. As did Tui and Poey. Strong backrow performance i thought.

4. Set piece was good, except mauling (does that count as set piece?). Tupou has one hell of a career in front of him.

5. I thought both teams defended brilliantly and attacked terribly. Wallabies showed a bit more zip but it very rarely came to anything. Kerevi finally made the break we'd been promised but he failed to find his support runner. He defended okay though.

6. TMO was once again far too involved. It's getting ridiculous. Fortunately, no match deciding decisions were made. Folau's card was soft but so was Stockdale's. I thought the ref was generally consistent but far too involved to facilitate an entertaining game of rugby.

7. That the Irish can win so easily by simply generating breakdown penalties all night is a bit shit. Who wants to watch that?

8. Best team won the series. It could be a long rugby championship.

Can't disagree with anything you've said.

 

[KOB1987]

I think there is strong potential in that wallabies team and with a few tweaks it has the ability to go with the Allbacks. Four changes needed:

1. Pocock to 7 and Samu to 8
2. Latu to starting hooker
3. Tomua to 10, Foley to French Rugby
4. Tupou to start

So playing a line busting 12 who can't kick to save himself and is unavailable will solve the problem?

 

[Rugbynutter39]

So some thoughts...

Front row stocks looking really looking good - with Latu best game seen him play and Tupou just a beast and the much maligned Robertson showing he is now the real deal as scrum been strong when he has come on as a replacement.

Locks and backrow also solid and some depth there.

But then that is where we start to fall away when get to 9.....Phipps and Powell are no world beaters and problem with Foley is we don't really have a decent alternative 10 to sub him if he is down on his game etc which hurts us on that critical lack of depth at 10 issue in oz rugby. And there lies our problem as we don't have the perfect 9-10 axis - not really bad but equally against best sides where to beat the worlds best your 9-10 axis is key for that.

Thought DHP was outstanding as big call out as his running lines and rugby smarts are just so impressive.

 

[wamberal]

Don't think there's that much difference Wambers, or at least not at an individual level.

Their game is designed to setup those sort of contests where the forwards repetatively get over the gain line. To their credit, they are disciplined enough to do it 20+ times in row and pick their targets across the field when the do it.

We play a different game using the pods which is designed to free up space for the backline

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

It also seemed to me that far too many times their ball carriers broke through the initial tackle on his own, or with minimum support.

 

[Istanbul]

So playing a line busting 12 who can't kick to save himself and is unavailable will solve the problem?

Mate put anyone who isn't Foley there. Foley is the problem not the answer.

 

[Dan54]

Just spent an interesting 20 minutes or so on Youtube watching the press conference of the 2 coaches, very interesting I thought . Had just watched Shag Hansen's after AB test also, you know we say we need to promote game in Australia, I just wonder if perhaps Chuckles could do with a bit of coaching how toe do these. Look at all 3 and make up your own mind.

 

[KOB1987]

Mate put anyone who isn't Foley there. Foley is the problem not the answer.

It's not that simple. The problem isn't Foley as such, the problem is that Foley is the best option we have.

 

[Istanbul]

It's not that simple. The problem isn't Foley as such, the problem is that Foley is the best option we have.

I don't disagree that there isn't an obvious replacement waiting in the wings but the sooner we start trying alternatives the sooner we will find one that works. There was no obvious replacement when we lost TPN and the next 2 best hookers, but very quickly we have uncovered a couple of very good options. We need to move on from Foley and find the next best thing.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

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[Dan54]

Geez DP, any team that plays rugby like that should be pretty easy to beat shouldn't they?