Australia vs British and Irish Lions 2nd Test (Melbourne)

[disco]

Our backline moves look great but when players aren't running straight or taking on the line & hitting holes they're basically training drills for both sides.

I like Mowen I thought he was great again last night, I don't know if he is instructed or he takes it upon himself to really hassle the halfback but he did a good job last week & he did it again last night.

 

[Gnostic]

Well it is interesting to see mostly the same pundits trotting out the same defences for Deans risk free tactics as they trotted out in support of the Hickey and Foley plan at the Tahs. I argued strongly against it then that it would indeed grind out some close fought victories and just as many close fought losses with a few inexplicable capitulations thrown in. They never sought to dominate and dictate the play and this Wallabies set up doesn't either. This win as the loss was last week is down to the high quality of the players and their absolute commitment. As with the Tahs such wins and losses are just not enough.

We have seen that the ARU is dying the death of a thousand cuts financially, they cannot afford to continue to play this dire imagination-less game that appeals to a very narrow blind portion of the Rugby community. It doesn't do anything to attract new followers to the game. Do not let the overwhelming atmosphere and crowds of these once in a decade games distract from the fact that apart from Bledisloe the Wallabies haven't sold out a stadium in Australia for some time.

Just as with the Tahs my three year argument regarding their dire play and the need to be more adventurous and complete with their style of play has been proved correct, I believe totally that this will also be the case with the Wallabies. I hope it isn't too late for so many of what I see as perhaps the most talented generation of players since 1989-1994.

 

[Tangawizi]

The Folau v North Contest on the Wing over the first 2 Tests has been fantastic to watch.

Despite the Fireman carry last night, I've got Folau ahead. 2 tries to 1 in Brisbane and last night he made metres, North only made memes.

Rugby Stats has it 65m to 9m whereas the Lions Official website has it 90m to 7.

Lions outside backs made next to no metres last night so well done to the Wallabies for keeping them quiet.

 

[barbarian]

Absolutely. We won the set piece battle overall and Moore was also really strong around the park. Our best forward, IMO.

Disagree. I thought Moore was quiet last night, and also made three silly errors in the first half.

Lineout throwing was good but it was no more than a 6/10 game IMO.
.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

We were dominated at the breakdown,and had no backline.
With a 10 with no kicking game.And a non existant game plan.
With a coach with no idea about using his bench.
Did I miss anything?
How did we even compete,let alone win?
Or maybe things aren't quite as bad as the doomsayers suggest?

How do you think what we dished up last night would be handled by the ABs?



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[fatprop]

Well it is interesting to see mostly the same pundits trotting out the same defences for Deans risk free tactics as they trotted out in support of the Hickey and Foley plan at the Tahs. I argued strongly against it then that it would indeed grind out some close fought victories and just as many close fought losses with a few inexplicable capitulations thrown in. They never sought to dominate and dictate the play and this Wallabies set up doesn't either. This win as the loss was last week is down to the high quality of the players and their absolute commitment. As with the Tahs such wins and losses are just not enough.

We have seen that the ARU is dying the death of a thousand cuts financially, they cannot afford to continue to play this dire imagination-less game that appeals to a very narrow blind portion of the Rugby community. It doesn't do anything to attract new followers to the game. Do not let the overwhelming atmosphere and crowds of these once in a decade games distract from the fact that apart from Bledisloe the Wallabies haven't sold out a stadium in Australia for some time.

Just as with the Tahs my three year argument regarding their dire play and the need to be more adventurous and complete with their style of play has been proved correct, I believe totally that this will also be the case with the Wallabies. I hope it isn't too late for so many of what I see as perhaps the most talented generation of players since 1989-1994.

blah blah blah Foley Tahs bad, therefore that whole style of play is clearly bad

the leading Aus S15 side plays grind out test style rugby and no one complains, they don't play in their own half, they kick and chase and compete and they take the points offered.

maybe because they are doing in properly and winning

 

[barbarian]

Just watched the game again. A few comments:

Quality was better than I remembered, there were dropped balls but the game was fucking fast and physical.

I think JOC (James O'Connor) played pretty well. I remember him being average, and most people here have put the boot into him here and elsewhere. But I am going to swim against the tide. I thought he was a big improvement on Brisbane.

He didn't do anything particularly memorable, but he didn't need to. His distribution was crisp, and his defece solid. His kicking game was very god, and he had a couple of good runs (which IMO were the right option almost every time).

I reckon he made only two errors all night. A knock-on in the first half, and the out on the full kick in the last minutes.

I'd keep him at 10 in Sydney, and going forward. I thought our backline played bloody well all things considered, and if we can keep it fit and firing we will take apart plenty of sides. Lilo was a very nice addition.

As for the pigs, plenty of 'solid, but not outstanding' games. Mowen had some nice moments but gave away a few costly penalties (including the last one). Benny Robbo and Kev played a solid 80, but Hooper got through a tonne of work so gets my 'best forward' award.

Genia, Folau and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) immense in the backs. All World XV players at the moment.
.

 

[Gnostic]

blah blah blah Foley Tahs bad, therefore that whole style of play is clearly bad

the leading Aus S15 side plays grind out test style rugby and no one complains, they don't play in their own half, they kick and chase and compete and they take the points offered.

maybe because they are doing in properly and winning

As I said cogent arguments. You do yourself a dis-service.

The Brumbies do not play a risk free game plan. They are more a traditional conservative game plan, and one that relies heavily on accurate execution of kicking from hand. That is a big contrast to the Wallabies and the Tahs under Hickey/Foley.

 

[hawktrain]

There must be some temptation to just switch JOC (James O'Connor) and Lealiifano, the latter just has more command at 10 IMO, and I don't think that switching them would be that big a disruption to the rest of the team.

Wouldn't do it now though, but for the RC. You've got to leave things as they are for the final test.

They had some good backline moves, a major improvement on the first test, but they did them a mile from the advantage line and the Lions just slid with them.

As for the Lions attack....not much can be said from last night. Most of the time they either had to kick it for field position or they chose to put in an attacking kick, didnt see a whole lot of the backs with ball in hand.

 

[Pusser]

blah blah blah Foley Tahs bad, therefore that whole style of play is clearly bad

the leading Aus S15 side plays grind out test style rugby and no one complains, they don't play in their own half, they kick and chase and compete and they take the points offered.

maybe because they are doing in properly and winning

The Brumbies wingers have scored more tries than the Reds, the team has scored more tries than the Reds, they have scored 120 odd points more than the reds, have more bonus points than the Reds and Genia and Cooper have kicked more than their brumbies equivalents. Objectively it would seem they are not just grinding.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Just watched the game again. A few comments:

Quality was better than I remembered, there were dropped balls but the game was fucking fast and physical.

I think JOC (James O'Connor) played pretty well. I remember him being average, and most people here have put the boot into him here and elsewhere. But I am going to swim against the tide. I thought he was a big improvement on Brisbane.

He didn't do anything particularly memorable, but he didn't need to. His distribution was crisp, and his defece solid. His kicking game was very god, and he had a couple of good runs (which IMO were the right option almost every time).

I reckon he made only two errors all night. A knock-on in the first half, and the out on the full kick in the last minutes.

I'd keep him at 10 in Sydney, and going forward. I thought our backline played bloody well all things considered, and if we can keep it fit and firing we will take apart plenty of sides. Lilo was a very nice addition.

As for the pigs, plenty of 'solid, but not outstanding' games. Mowen had some nice moments but gave away a few costly penalties (including the last one). Benny Robbo and Kev played a solid 80, but Hooper got through a tonne of work so gets my 'best forward' award.

Genia, Folau and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) immense in the backs. All World XV players at the moment.
.

You must not rate using a 10 for cash ball from a tight head win an error.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[namtrak]

.......Folau ...made metres, North only made memes........

Great line.

I had to go and check the result after reading the last few pages here - thought we must have lost the game.

From what little I remember last night I thought we played a very patient game, our defense was without peer and I thought when we got our hands on the ball we looked more threatening than they did.

 

[Pusser]

Just watched the game again. A few comments:


As for the pigs, plenty of 'solid, but not outstanding' games. Mowen had some nice moments but gave away a few costly penalties (including the last
.

You need to watch again. Robinson was penalised for not releasing the tackled player as The ref clearly explains to him.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Shiggins]

Warburton had his best game I have ever seen. If he is out next week it's a massive loss for the lions. Especially if we bring smith in

 

[JSRF10]

As I feared the Lions lacked ball carriers and they were just too defensive. Warburton played ok but his selection as captain has thrown the Lions pack dynamics out of kilter. If SOB had played 80 minutes I think the Lions would have a series victory. If your loosehead prop is the main ball carrier your in trouble

The atmosphere the whole day was awesome, again the Australian fans were a credit to themselves. Had me standing arm in arm with singing Advance Australia Fair before the game.

Also Adam Ashley-Cooper, what can you say, is he the most under rated 13 in the world? What a player

 

[Shiggins]

If anyone re watches the game. At 49 min warburton steals the ball while bod is standing on he wrong side of the ruck. Saying that someone should of smashed bod

 

[Quick Hands]

How do you think what we dished up last night would be handled by the ABs?



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quite easily.

 

[maxdacat]

When JOC (James O'Connor) kicked out at 77 mins, look at all the space he has in front of him. Easy to say in hind sight but in a very tight game with not many gaps you need to exploit them when they appear. A quick side step would have seen him gain 20 easy metres.

 

[barbarian]

You must not rate using a 10 for cash ball from a tight head win an error.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

No I don't. Just watched that again now. Lions defence was drifting, and JOC (James O'Connor) decided to straighten the line and set up for the next phase. I don't think it was a clear opportunity for the outside backs.

It was a 50/50 call and in the end he took the conservative option. Don't see that as an error at all.
.

 

[Pete King]

You must not rate using a 10 for cash ball from a tight head win an error.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Or a no look inside pass to no one in one of the few times we had a scrum in their 22