RWC Pool D: Wallabies v Fiji, Sat 21st September, 2.45pm AEST, Sapporo Dome

[Dan54]

Oh I see, but the stills the NH media re using are the correct ones. We'll see what WR (World Rugby) have to say about it, nothing thus far.

It certainly wasn't a calculated targeting like the one that saw ScoBar miss one game.

Personally I thought it was pretty accidental, just stupidity comparing it with Barretts (and I know you probably only stirring JRoss) I actually thought it was almost exactly same as Farrells couple of tackles that had everyone on here suggesting red cards etc, but in all honesty it is different to both games and just dumb to compare them really, my actual real view is I don't think there anything in it , and although definite contact to head (like Barrett ) I really thought it was accidental and hope it's left as it is!

 

[fatprop]

I actually reckon we should switch JOC (James O'Connor) and Kerevi around. JOC (James O'Connor) is there for the second playmaker role and Kerevi's skills and read aren't quite good enough for a 12.

Kerevi is a far better 12 than 13 and he is our only weapon, with rush defenses it is a reasonable game plan to use him as the crash ball and go around him to someone wider who can set up play a little wider as it suits. Him running a line at 12 fixes defenders stopping drift

 

[dru]

Personally I thought it was pretty accidental, just stupidity comparing it with Barretts (and I know you probably only stirring JRoss) I actually thought it was almost exactly same as Farrells couple of tackles that had everyone on here suggesting red cards etc, but in all honesty it is different to both games and just dumb to compare them really, my actual real view is I don't think there anything in it , and although definite contact to head (like Barrett ) I really thought it was accidental and hope it's left as it is!

I have no idea what you are talking about on Farrell.

Just managed to find video footage, only in real time. No doubt those who suggest there is a problem know what they are talking about, the bloke after all did miss the rest of the game. Still the game seems lessor to me if rugby incidents like this are to result in punitive action by the authorities.

 

[Show-n-go]

I thought JOC (James O'Connor) had a slightly above average performance, did some great passes and had good vision. As he gets used to the players around him he is only going to get better and better

 

[KOB1987]

Kerevi is a far better 12 than 13 and he is our only weapon, with rush defenses it is a reasonable game plan to use him as the crash ball and go around him to someone wider who can set up play a little wider as it suits. Him running a line at 12 fixes defenders stopping drift

Ok fair enough, keep the same numbers on their back but maybe there's an argument to switch them around to capitalise on some attacking opportunities.

 

[Ulrich]

Please win the next one Aussie. Argentina already lost. They are virtually out of the tournament now.

Please win.

 

[Dan54]

I have no idea what you are talking about on Farrell.

Just managed to find video footage, only in real time. No doubt those who suggest there is a problem know what they are talking about, the bloke after all did miss the rest of the game. Still the game seems lessor to me if rugby incidents like this are to result in punitive action by the authorities.

You obviously don't watch all the Wallaby tests then Dru. Farrell's no arms tackles were also discussed on here a fair bit fairly similar occurrence to what happened with Hodge, kind of got himself all stuffed up and ended up with a no arms tackle.

 

[BDA]

Just re-watched the game with fresh eye. Some general thoughts...

1. This game really shone a light on 2 major issues that will likely prevent us from going any further than the quarters, that being game tactics and goal kicking. It seems to me that the game plan early in the game was to go out there and play an expansive running game against the Fijians.....seriously?! we have 2 years to plan this game and that's the strategy we come up with? It played perfectly into their hands. The fact that it took us 30 minutes to realise that we should be playing a tight and going straight up the middle is dumbfounding. I'm worried Gatland is going to make Cheika look like a fool next week.

2. The Wallabies need to work on their breakdown . Too often guys get isolated.

3. those suggesting that Pocock didnt have a very good game really werent paying attention. He was at the centre of just about everything in the second half, in particular the rolling maul. Got one turnover, forced another turnover with a dominant tackle close to our line, topped the tackle count. He may not have lived up to lofty expectations, but he was still one of the best on field.

4. The Refereeing was very frustrating. O'Keefe seemed to be much harder on the wallabies than Fiji, particularly in the first half. The Fijians werent pinged at the breakdown and he didn't rule them offside once, despite the fact they were regularly creeping up offside. The short line out in the first after went nowhere near 5 metres. In the first half he ruled advantage over after we get tackled in goal, yet the fijians do the same in the second half and he says no advantage. Pocock was, in my opinion, unfairly penalised in the second half when he was ruled to be off his feet when pilfering. Not long thereafter the fijians get a penalty turnover when the man quite clearly goes off his feet. I'm not sure whether referees are subconciously tougher on the tier 1 nation is these types of games but there seemed to be a bit of that going on.

5. Some nice performances off the bench. real impact. I'd probably start Genia next week and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Pocock can switch spots

 

[Slim 293]

Suprised you didn't mention Koroibete as a positive, thought he had a great game. Worked hard, even saw him working a scrum half a few times and a great try at the end. Looking forward to seeing more of him over the next weeks.

But I did.........

 

[Adam84]

I thought JOC (James O'Connor) went OK, made some good yards and put players around him in better positions

I thought JOC (James O'Connor) went pretty well also, in the first half he was the only one in the backline who seemed capable of reading and reacting to the Fijians rushing defence.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Poey nearly got his head ripped off during the maul that leads to the Aussie try at 56ish minutes.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Just re-watched the game with fresh eye. Some general thoughts.

1. This game really shone a light on 2 major issues that will likely prevent us from going any further than the quarters, that being game tactics and goal kicking. It seems to me that the game plan early in the game was to go out there and play an expansive running game against the Fijians...seriously?! we have 2 years to plan this game and that's the strategy we come up with? It played perfectly into their hands. The fact that it took us 30 minutes to realise that we should be playing a tight and going straight up the middle is dumbfounding. I'm worried Gatland is going to make Cheika look like a fool next week.

2. The Wallabies need to work on their breakdown . Too often guys get isolated.

3. those suggesting that Pocock didnt have a very good game really werent paying attention. He was at the centre of just about everything in the second half, in particular the rolling maul. Got one turnover, forced another turnover with a dominant tackle close to our line, topped the tackle count. He may not have lived up to lofty expectations, but he was still one of the best on field.

4. The Refereeing was very frustrating. O'Keefe seemed to be much harder on the wallabies than Fiji, particularly in the first half. The Fijians werent pinged at the breakdown and he didn't rule them offside once, despite the fact they were regularly creeping up offside. The short line out in the first after went nowhere near 5 metres. In the first half he ruled advantage over after we get tackled in goal, yet the fijians do the same in the second half and he says no advantage. Pocock was, in my opinion, unfairly penalised in the second half when he was ruled to be off his feet when pilfering. Not long thereafter the fijians get a penalty turnover when the man quite clearly goes off his feet. I'm not sure whether referees are subconciously tougher on the tier 1 nation is these types of games but there seemed to be a bit of that going on.

5. Some nice performances off the bench. real impact. I'd probably start Genia next week and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Pocock can switch spots

The goal kicking could be fixed by simply getting the kickers to line it up correctly. I knew Hodge was going to miss the conversion to the right just by looking at how the ball was lined up. Same for every time Foley misses.

Is there a current kicking coach in the Wallabies or Super Rugby team for that matter? And if so, then they clearly aren't paying attention.

 

[Penguin]

Ok fair enough, keep the same numbers on their back but maybe there's an argument to switch them around to capitalise on some attacking opportunities.

They definitely are already doing this, as well as JOC (James O'Connor) sometimes popping in at flyhalf. His pass for Hodges try was superb.

 

[KOB1987]

They definitely are already doing this, as well as JOC (James O'Connor) sometimes popping in at flyhalf. His pass for Hodges try was superb.

I did wonder that and was going to pay closer attention on my rewatch later today.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'm watching everything on replay so here's a few random thoughts after the first watch....

Negatives -

There's a real issue with Kerevi - tackle busting ability aside, he gave away a couple of tries or spoiled a few opportunities through either ball hogging, or throwing the ball to his opposition number.

JOC (James O'Connor) was a passenger.... the centre partnership is an issue.

But generally our backline attack is still stuck in the past...

White brought out all of his worst habits....

Latu was great around the ground, but his line out throwing was terrible.

We were pathetic at the breakdown, and seemed to be absent on so many occasions in attack despite playing two open sides.

Positives -



Individually Hooper led by example. MOTM for mine... Pocock also played well. the breakdown issue seems to be a game management issue.

Arnold and Rodda both played well... in fact, tight five in general did - scrum was great.

Wingers played well... despite Hodge getting hammered early on.

DHP, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Genia all good off the bench.

Pretty much agree with all observations Slim. I was starting to think I was the only one not impressed with JOC (James O'Connor). The same issues of lack of combination between 12 and 13 were evident as when Kuridrani plays 13, so looking like the problem might be one spot infield at 12. And Kuridrani is just so much stronger and effective in defense than JOC (James O'Connor) so time for that experiment at 12/13 to be shelved, I think.

 

[Brumby Runner]

They definitely are already doing this, as well as JOC (James O'Connor) sometimes popping in at flyhalf. His pass for Hodges try was superb.

I think I've seen a couple of your posts referring to JOC (James O'Connor)'s pass setting up Hodge. In fact, the ball went to JOC (James O'Connor) who passed to Beale who then passed to Hodge. At first, I thought Beale could have scored himself, but on replay it was clear that the defense was coming over and would have him covered. It was Beale who set up Hodge to score.

 

[Penguin]

I think I've seen a couple of your posts referring to JOC (James O'Connor)'s pass setting up Hodge. In fact, the ball went to JOC (James O'Connor) who passed to Beale who then passed to Hodge. At first, I thought Beale could have scored himself, but on replay it was clear that the defense was coming over and would have him covered. It was Beale who set up Hodge to score.

Nope, 1st comment on the subject. I don't think JOC (James O'Connor) was the only man in the play that set that try up, but his pass to Beale was a beauty and helped it become a scoring move.

 

[VassMan]

I need to watch the game again with sober eyes. I'm a huge Latu fan but why was he so good this game, or was it just the two team maul tries? Hodge should have been dragged at half time in my opinion, what did he do so well in the second half to redeem himself?

 

[Slim 293]

Latu was just generally good around the ground, but his lineout throwing was poor.........

Will have to fix that up for Wales.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

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4. The Refereeing was very frustrating. O'Keefe seemed to be much harder on the wallabies than Fiji, particularly in the first half.​

2nd half it felt like ref had his arm out signaling advantage Aus for large stretches of the half, seemingly waving them through. Fiji knackered by then though so probably much deserved​

Please win the next one Aussie. Argentina already lost. They are virtually out of the tournament now.

Please win.