Bledisloe #4 New Zealand vs Australia Nov 7 2020

[Pfitzy]

Swinton was pretty much on track to a MOTM performance before the card. I think he has cemented his spot ahead of Hanigan despite the card. His tackling and line-out work was superb.

Multiple ball carries as well. So abrasive and sat a few blokes on their arse. Exactly what you want from a blindside flanker. Opposition will be watching to see where he defends as they know there are no easy metres.

The next Fardy?

 

[Spruce Moose]

His flaw was not getting Laumape penalised first for sealing off. That was one of Berry's decisions where you couldn't hear AFG jabbering away on the mic.

Yeah I agree that had he played it smarter that was a wallabies penalty and perhaps if it were Hooper or Wilson at the breakdown I would be more critical. However he is a winger from league background so willing to let him slide a bit on messing up those things as I believe his intent and desire is in the right place 100% of the time (I.e. not shirking responsibility in defence). I would say he is lining up to be one of our best league converts, potentially equalling Sailor atm and catching up to Folau.

One part of his game he could improve is tucking in his shirt. Potentially would have got 1 or 2 additional tries if it were tucked in today.

 

[maxdacat]

Main criticism has to be our strange ability to always concede straight after we score. Just a big way to relieve pressure on the opposition. Is it a focus issue? Being suprised that we scored against the ABs?

I know - score a massive try then 5 mins to go what do we do.....box kick to their back three and let them romp in for 7 points. A bit more tactical nouse in situations like that would be nice but very glad they held on

 

[Drew]

All the accolades for Swintons cameo prior to his brain snap though well deserved should be tempered with the fact that he ate off one performance v Queensland in Super rugby. IF he can bring that hard edge week in, week out and not get penalised for it he has a big future

 

[upthereds#!]

Swinton not really the 'next fardy'.

Fardy had huge work rate, good linking and a pest at the breakdown but couldn't hit people like Swinton can, and Swinton hasn't got the level of skill as Fardy IMO.

BUT he is the next guy who could really hold down the 6 jersey. He has enough height, power, mobility and workrate whereas LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was lacking a bit of mobility and workrate, hanigan was lacking the power and Samu was lacking the height.

Swinton and Wilson together have all the boxes ticked as long as one of the 2nd Rows also has some real go forward. Like LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) or Skelton.

 

[wamberal]

I would say he is lining up to be one of our best league converts, potentially equalling Sailor atm and catching up to Folau.

Tuqiri was far better than Sailor. Koro is better than both of them, I reckon, does a helluva lot more work off the ball, and he is in a comparatively weaker team. Folau had some big flaws

 

[TSR]

Well, enjoyed it watching that again this morning.

I expect there will be a lot of calls for new players/debuts for the games v Argentina but give we’ve already debuted 10 players in this series plus we have a group of guys like BPA, Uelese, Fainga’a, Petaia & Wright who all have just a handful of tests I’d rather see continue to use the group that has played so far.

I also hope Rennie resists temptation to start McDermott & Lolesio at this time. Lolesio showed the value of getting introduced from the bench. I thought he was really good and it will be great for him to get some minutes/experience that way.

Likewise to Bell - I didn’t think he was ready for test footy yet, but he was really good and is going to get better. Hats off to him, what a kid.

Well done to Tom Wright - very good on debut. Swinton was exceptional until the card. Hope he can just rein it in a touch because he is otherwise exactly what we want at 6.

 

[KiwiM]

Congrat Wallabies fans. Well deserved win. Brought the intensity on both sides of attack and defence and were just tidier across the board in a scrappy game.

One Wallaby who in particular who stood out to me was Paisami. I thought he was magnificent - perhaps 12 is his spot. In fact the 9-10-12 axis for the Wallabies schooled the ABs.

For the ABs felt particularly sorry for Akira - he was having an absolute stormer in his debut and had to go off through no fault of his own. He deserves another start.

Perenara was the worst AB on the field - man was he bad. His core work is just poor - his passing is poor - his decision making is horrendous and his kicking was poor. He should have been yanked for Weber far earlier. Laumape is great at Super but does nothing at test level and Richie/Beaudy 10/15 is far better than Beaudy/Jordie 10/15 or Richie/DMac 10/15.

Can't quibble about the red cards - thems the rules - Scott Barrett's yellow was fair as he was a cynical idiot - Koroibete's yellow looked a little harsh to me - perhaps Perenara thought so too cos he butchered an AB try with his decision making right before halftime.

 

[TSR]

Unfortunately Koroibete’s card was a team yellow for repeat infringements. Can’t really argue with it as there were a series of penalties and the decision itself was right.

Agree on Akira - very unlucky in debut.

 

[Drew]

Agree on Akira - very unlucky in debut.

Yeah, that sucks

 

[wamberal]

Congrat Wallabies fans. Well deserved win. Brought the intensity on both sides of attack and defence and were just tidier across the board in a scrappy game.

.

The most bizarre sporting series of any kind comes to an appropriate end. The ABs were unrecognisable against a patched up, improvised, Wallabies side. Still cannot believe it, let alone understand it.

 

[Derpus]

Cudos to Rennie for identifying Swinton as test quality. I never saw anything (except a couple of big hits) to suggest he would step up or warranted selection (particularly over Samu). But im a mong.

I hope he now knows and settles a little more on his favoured team for next year. I think these younger blokes need some consistency.

Ill be sure not to watch the Argie tests live to ensure we win those too.

Edit: with JOC (James O'Connor) back do we shift Hodge to 12 or 15 or back to the bench?

 

[Dctarget]

I expect JO’C to come back in to 10 but hard to ignore Hodge......

 

[Dismal Pillock]

I'd say Rennie has lost the series but won the mind games over Fozzie by identifying who is up to it (Wilson, Philips etc) while all Fozzie has is who isnt up to it.

Sorry, had to do it.

 

[The Nomad]

I expect JO’C to come back in to 10 but hard to ignore Hodge..

I know you don’t pick your 10 for their defensive work rate , but how good was it to have a 10 defending the 10/12 corridor and doing it well ?

The whole backline looked better connected .

 

[Derpus]

I'd say Rennie has lost the series but won the mind games over Fozzie by identifying who is up to it (Wilson, Philips etc) while all Fozzie has is who isnt up to it.

Sorry, had to do it.

 

[tragic]

I’d be tempted to give hodge another go at 10.
We know what O’Connor brings, he’s not getting any younger and we’ve struggled for a backup.
Hodges performance was a surprise to me but he should be rewarded with another start.
And Paisami was too good not to get another start at 12.
I’d bring O’Connor back via the bench if he’s fit.

 

[Viking]

Multiple ball carries as well. So abrasive and sat a few blokes on their arse. Exactly what you want from a blindside flanker. Opposition will be watching to see where he defends as they know there are no easy metres.

The next Fardy?

The next Owen Finegan

 

[Viking]

Congrat Wallabies fans. Well deserved win. Brought the intensity on both sides of attack and defence and were just tidier across the board in a scrappy game.

One Wallaby who in particular who stood out to me was Paisami. I thought he was magnificent - perhaps 12 is his spot. In fact the 9-10-12 axis for the Wallabies schooled the ABs.

For the ABs felt particularly sorry for Akira - he was having an absolute stormer in his debut and had to go off through no fault of his own. He deserves another start.

Perenara was the worst AB on the field - man was he bad. His core work is just poor - his passing is poor - his decision making is horrendous and his kicking was poor. He should have been yanked for Weber far earlier. Laumape is great at Super but does nothing at test level and Richie/Beaudy 10/15 is far better than Beaudy/Jordie 10/15 or Richie/DMac 10/15.

Can't quibble about the red cards - thems the rules - Scott Barrett's yellow was fair as he was a cynical idiot - Koroibete's yellow looked a little harsh to me - perhaps Perenara thought so too cos he butchered an AB try with his decision making right before halftime.

Yeh what is going on with TJ? He is such a world class 9, but I think that was one of the poorest games I've seen from him, slow service and poor decision making. A huge step down from A.Smith. Is TJ past his peak?

 

[Viking]

Cudos to Rennie for identifying Swinton as test quality. I never saw anything (except a couple of big hits) to suggest he would step up or warranted selection (particularly over Samu). But im a mong.

I hope he now knows and settles a little more on his favoured team for next year. I think these younger blokes need some consistency.

Ill be sure not to watch the Argie tests live to ensure we win those too.

Edit: with JOC (James O'Connor) back do we shift Hodge to 12 or 15 or back to the bench?

I think we need JOC (James O'Connor)'s distribution. So i think Hodge at 12 makes sense. Paisami can cover 12/13 on the bench.

Going forward there is some healthy competition (eying RWC in 4 years)

9. White / Tate / Gordon
10. Lolesio / Harrison
12. Hodge / Stewart / Simone
13. Petaia / Paisami
11/14. Wright / Dungunu
15. Banks / Maddocks

All look like they have similar foundation skillsets and can be quite interchangeable. I'm sure a few more wingers will pop up too. Koro will be 32 by RWC, might still be around too. To'omua and JOC (James O'Connor) will be 34 so i'm not sure they will be around.