All Blacks v Wallabies, Dunedin, 19th October 2013

[ACT Crusader]

wise words from the goat:
RD: Did trust in your team help you get through that final?
RM: Absolutely. Trust is the biggest thing in rugby. I believe there’s very little difference in talent between teams at this level; it comes down to the mental side of things. We spent a lot of time building relationships in the team, so when the pressure came on, we trusted each other to do exactly what was needed. We know each other’s vulnerabilities, strengths and weaknesses and, if someone doesn’t get it right, we help each other out. Those bonds build trust.
- See more at: http://www.readersdigest.co.nz/new-...person-2012-richie-mccaw#sthash.845kowtr.dpuf

He'll go places this young fulla will....

The combinations and trust within a group is the critical factor and it's what's been lacking in OZ rugby for some time in my view. This has been due to a number of reasons, two of the main ones have been injuries and selections.

Yes there are skill and ability issues but when you see a disjointed wallaby pack operating across 80 minutes or the backline not in sync, it's not the skill or committment or even the 'mongrel' that is lacking, but the trust that comes from time together.

Just when I thought OZ had been building a combination say in the backrow (ELsom, Pocock, Palu) one of them always seemed to get broken and what was building is disrupted. Then make shifts are tried and because of lack of form or simply not being ready/up to test footy, the pressure is on the selectors to try someone else - see Hodgson, Brown, McCalman etc etc.

The midfield became a veritable turnstile of selections during Eddie's, Knuckles and Dean's tenures, particularly the latter two coaches. Giteau and Mortlock knew how to work together and had built a trust that stemmed from Super rugby and they were pretty effective at test level.

Tight 5, well probably the most talked about on this forum after QC (Quade Cooper), Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) of course. The last 8-10 years there have been some class players, even world class at points in time, but again under the last 3 coaches and early in Link's tenure, there appears to be this lack of confidence in the guy next to them and that innate belief in knowing what they are going to do and how they will do it.

It's a big task for Link to turn that around. Hell it took Henry a few years.

 

[emuarse]

can someone explain the reference to sir richie goat please?

I heard it was because he preferred them to sheep.

 

[emuarse]

Simmons and Timani have both been 5 on the G&GR scale in their games, and Horwill has struggled to out-perform. If Timani was staying around next year I'd go for Timani and Simmons.

I thought Timani is staying around next year and playing for the rebels. Didn't his overseas contract fall through?

 

[Groucho]

I heard it was because he preferred them to sheep.

That's perverted. Goats - yeuch!

 

[RoffsChoice]

I thought Timani is staying around next year and playing for the rebels. Didn't his overseas contract fall through?

Pretty sure he's quoted as saying "Even if the ARU doesn't release me, I'm going."

 

[emuarse]

Pretty sure he's quoted as saying "Even if the ARU doesn't release me, I'm going."

I would'nt sign my life away on this, but I'm sure I saw a news article about 4 weeks ago that said his overseas offer fell over, and that he was having discussions with the Rebels about joining them.
I thought it was the reason Link called him up for the Wallabies after previously discarding him.

Can anyone put some light on this?

 

[cyclopath]

@emuarse I've heard both in recent times. Distinct lack of clear info on this one. If his heart isn't in being here, he should go. Where he should go, I don't know. An under-developed resource, I would say. Partly down to him, partly to the people overseeing his training / conditioning I reckon.

 

[Muttonbird]

That's perverted. Goats - yeuch!

Lol, this is supposed to be be harmless banter, yet multiple RC winning coach Steve Hansen's mild observation about Australian self confidence is, at the same time, offensive and bigoted.

 

[Badger]

It was a personal opinion, not a statement about how rugby should be. He usually waits until someone actually says anything before wailing about it, but good to see he's pre-empting now.
It's a no-win for any Australian player or coach - if they're asked if they are confident going into a Test, and say they're going into it it trying to win, they're "arrogant / cocky / talking themselves up". I'd love to see him have to answer hard questions sometime.

I reckon it could happen during the finals at RWC 2015. Hopefully, it will be the result of some Wallabies class.

 

[Groucho]

Lol, this is supposed to be be harmless banter, yet multiple RC winning coach Steve Hansen's mild observation about Australian self confidence is, at the same time, offensive and bigoted.

The difference is that Hanson's your national team coach. If the measure of what officials can say in press conferences is to be based on what happens on Internet forums then we're in for some spectacular goats, I mean gaffes.

 

[Ash]

That's perverted. Goats - yeuch!

Wallabies could definitely do with a GOAT or two - maybe they should try this:

 

[Bowside]

Back to the rugby - who is replacing Lilo?

And who is taking the kicks at goal?

 

[Braveheart81]

Back to the rugby - who is replacing Lilo?

And who is taking the kicks at goal?

Presumably To'omua replacing Lilo and Cooper kicking for goal.

I can't see Harris being rushed into 12 after not being in the squad for the whole series (after it was whittled down from the initial 40).

 

[Scrubber2050]

Presumably To'omua replacing Lilo and Cooper kicking for goal.

I can't see Harris being rushed into 12 after not being in the squad for the whole series (after it was whittled down from the initial 40).

but he will end up on the pine

 

[Braveheart81]

but he will end up on the pine

I'm not so sure.

I think Foley will be the backup goalkicker on the bench and CFS will come back into the matchday 23.

 

[baz]

harris was in 30 man squad and will likely ride the pine to cover 12, 15 n kicking. seem to remember played n kicked well against the darkness in Suncorp draw....

 

[Braveheart81]

harris was in 30 man squad and will likely ride the pine to cover 12, 15 n kicking. seem to remember played n kicked well against the darkness in Suncorp draw..

No he wasn't. He was in the initial 40 man squad or whatever it was and then was released.

Wallabies 30-man squad: James Horwill (capt), Albert Anae, Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Quade Cooper, Nick Cummins, Kane Douglas, Saia Fainga'a, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Liam Gill, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Ben McCalman, Hugh McMeniman, Jesse Mogg, Stephen Moore, Ben Mowen, James O'Connor, Jake Schatz, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Joe Tomane, Matt To'omua, Nic White.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/the-rugby-championship/ewen-mckenzie-names-30-man-wallabies-squad-matt-To'omua-bernard-foley-set-to-battle-quade-cooper/story-e6frf4qc-1226694215068#ixzz2hl6kEUsH​

He is in the 32 man squad for the EOYT though.​

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Qantas Wallabies ‏@QantasWallabies1m
ANNOUNCEMENT: wingers Joe Tomane & Chris Feauai-Sautia ruled out of 3rd #BledisloeCup Test. @NSWWaratahs winger @p_betham added to squad

 

[Braveheart81]

Joe Tomane and CFS are both out for this test.

Pete Betham has been added to the squad.

I wonder if Foley will be given a run on at fullback, Folau to one wing and Betham to the bench or whether Folau will stay at fullback and Betham will be handed a start?

Are there any other options?

Are we now looking at a backline of:

Genia
Cooper
Folau
To'omua
Kuridrani
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Foley

or

Genia
Cooper
Betham
To'omua
Kuridrani
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Folau

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Watching the youtube clips cummins was running at wing with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the other and Tavita at 13 so i would say he is ready to go.