All Blacks v Wallabies, Dunedin, 19th October 2013

[FilthRugby]

Anyway, Cooper was fantastic in most areas tonight; goal kicking defence and passing in particular. Most of the backs really impressed me.
2 points of bother. The Wallabies have to look at the kick-offs, nearly every times the All Blacks won the ball straight back when kicking off! Secondly backline defence, nearly all of the AB's tries resulted in overlaps and poor marking up by the Wallabies backline. But, overall I'm really proud of the Wallabies efforts, yes they were beaten, but they NEVER gave up and I can see plenty of potential, specifically in the backline! Cant wait for the 2015 World Cup, we will be bloody dangerous if the potential is used.

 

[Scotty]

I love AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) but when he got that short ball from QC (Quade Cooper) shortly before QC (Quade Cooper) made his first error for the night in the long pass to IF - he needed to catch and pass in 1 motion and we were in.
I know its easy sitting here and in hindsight but someone needs to be telling him these things so that next time at least he considers the option. its the weakness in his game.
He's still my first picked for everything else about him.

He is quickly becoming a player that isn't guaranteed a spot.

While he is dependable in most areas, to me he is a clear example of what is wrong with the wallabies over the last few years. They don't play as a team and can't finish off breaks.

There is no room for selfish players out there and it is hard to argue that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) either isn't selfish or just does have basic vision and passing skills (or a combination of all three).

 

[Scotty]

James Horwill is useless. He has to go. At one point he stood and watched a ruck <1m from him and the All Blacks turned the ball over. Zero effect as a tight 5 member. Compare his contributions to Retallick and Whitelock - he's the captain and suppose to lead by example.

Problem is the bloke who would replace him as captain is the next weakest forward. Mowen makes little impact at the ruck, no dominant tackles and limited metres with ball in hand. We can't keep picking a 6/8 for the line out alone.

I'd have Fardy at 6 and McCalman at 8 in the next game.

 

[Dan54]

Thats Moono..not mono! Another Kiwi insult!

Geez Moono, I am on my knees in apology mate, how could I get it so wrong!!
Actually I should perhaps withdraw my comments about Marto and Kearnsies comments, I just watched a bit of their comments now and really I suppose I am a little bit happier that they didn't get too negative to Wallabies, and I say that as a rugby fan in Aus. Thought thinking that losing by 8 was almost a win, but what the hell!! Anyway time for to go to golf!!

 

[aeneas]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is an excellent player but he makes it too easy for the defence as there is no danger that he will ever pass. He needs to stick to the end of the line only.

 

[fatprop]

If the wobs play like they did last night, they will win more than they lose.

This ABs side is damn good, maybe one of the best sides ever, make no mistake



Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Penguin]

Do not expect anything intelligent, balanced, or rational to spring forth from Martos lips.

He is the Clown Prince from the Principality of Idiocracy.

Kearns isn't much better.

I'd rather put up with more ads on Tens coverage & have decent commentary than put up with the Foxtel idiots!

On Hooper, I can't help but wonder why he isn't getting called out for seagulling, he's always getting in the way & killing a backline move. He's mostly ineffectual at the break down. There is no denying he has a big heart & a big work rate.... it's just that he's ineffective.

So happy to hear the boos for QC (Quade Cooper) getting fainter & fainter as the match progressed. I hope this ugly chapter is finally put to rest. Genia, QC (Quade Cooper) & To'omua worked very very well together and I hope this nexus will be allowed more time to gel.

All Blacks are simply too good at this point..... they're like the Harlem Globetrotters of the Rugby world, very entertaining to watch, even whilst giving my country's team another beating. Still.... next year.... next year....

 

[Penguin]

I wouldnt go as far as to call tonight kiwi side a 'B' team, but keep in mind that the wallabies still failed to beat a team missing McCaw, Carter and Smith - who are each the best player in the world in their position. Plus Kaino is still overseas, Retalic was on the bench, Jane was injured.

I think the last two games have been improved performances, but there is still a lot of work to do ( in the tight 5 especially), before we can hope to win more than the odd game against top opposition.

And how many Wallaby front liners were missing? Add the fact that our depth is about one tenth of what N.Z. Rugby has I'd say this statement is irrelevant.

 

[The Incredible Plan]

And...it's over.

Insane after the siren.

Good game to watch in the end.

So there was a bit of champagne rugby in those few minutes, but how good was that to see 30 professional sportsmen going hard at it after the result was no longer in question?

 

[wamberal]

Secondly backline defence, nearly all of the AB's tries resulted in overlaps and poor marking up by the Wallabies backline.

We had a winger playing his first test, an inside centre who usually plays fly half, and an outside centre who has played a couple of games. It would have been totally amazing if they had not struggled in defense.

 

[Penguin]

So there was a bit of champagne rugby in those few minutes, but how good was that to see 30 professional sportsmen going hard at it after the result was no longer in question?

So very entertaining. One of the things I like most about Rugby is that the final siren isn't the last play of the game.

 

[The Incredible Plan]

I didn't mind Marto and PK last night but the exaggeration of Clarkie, Canno, et al during the game was starting to really get to me. And particularly when applied to the Wallabies. I may have misquoted these but its comments along the lines of: "Brilliant in the air" = he jumped and caught the ball without much opposition. "Brilliant hands" = a catch and pass that any test player should be able to execute. "Fantastic carry" = the wallaby forward got to the gain line and after contact maybe just got over it.

Any one know where you can get the NZ commentary - Is there a button on fox tell you can press as there was for the Lions tests?

 

[Zander]

If the wobs play like they did last night, they will win more than they lose.

This ABs side is damn good, maybe one of the best sides ever, make no mistake

That's a pretty shit, defeatist attitude, same thing Deans got criticised for last year.

 

[Ruggo]

The conundrum over James Horwill's form slump has a few angles to it. The captaincy issue is that he is a follow me into battle type leader but his current form isn't reflecting that but when he is in form, it works well. Who replaces him? The only other viable choice that can be considered on the grounds that when in form, practically walks into the Wallaby 15 is Genia but he is only just working his way out of his own form slump. There is Mowen but moving forward he is far from a certain to be in the starting 15 in the future. In reality I think a fit Higgers would displace him from the Wallaby 8 jersey quickly and surely Fardy has made significant ground in locking in that 6 jersey.

To me Horwill's issue looks like a confidence in his body issue. It is like he is just waiting for the next major injury and has slipped into preservation mode. That's no good Kev. How do you snap out of it?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Hooper is being shown up out there

Hooper v Cane - just as it was in the U20s final. Hooper that day finished on top and iirc was man of the series. But Cane has come on further in the meantime and now has the better of Michael.

 

[BDA]

That's a pretty shit, defeatist attitude, same thing Deans got criticised for last year.

haha. are you referring to Deans' comments after we lost 22-nil? In that context Deans deserved to be criticised

 

[Ruggo]

That All Black side has some bloody fine players in it. Some draw a lot of attention and some are generally very underated. Sam Whitelock is currently the best lock in world rugby at the moment in my view. Forget Romano because the combination he has formed with Retallick is bloody well balanced. Those two allow the back row to play with the diversity around the park that they generally do. It is one of the highlights in how the All Blacks play. Kieren Reid is the best rugby player in the world without doubt.

Not having followed his junior career I often wondered about the hype over Sam Cane and thought Matt Todd was by far a better prospect. Last night I did see what the hype was about. Very gutsy player with a big work load.

The biggest problem the All Blacks have is Hooker. All you have after the old fellas is Coles.

 

[Zander]

haha. are you referring to Deans' comments after we lost 22-nil? In that context Deans deserved to be criticised

Yes

 

[A mutterer]

I think the only times I've noticed horwill in the past handful of games is when he is being dismissed by the ref.

 

[Viking]

What a great game to watch. We didn't win but i was very please that we looked threatening almost every time we had the ball - I think McKenzies influence is beginning to show (at least in attack).

NZ continue to amaze me with there skill and execution across all 15 players.

But what amazed me more then anything was the sheer strength/technique in the tackle by NZ. I re-call Slipper running at full pace into Kerian Reid and nearly being held up. This happened several times through the game to many players, I re-call McCalman and Slipper the main victims.

This is a combination of terrible body height into the collision (running at full pace by a prop or number 8 - i didn't think body height would matter too much but clearly it did against NZ), coupled with sheer strength by NZ and effective use of the leg drive by NZ.

That being said, the future looks bright for the wallabies with Pocock, Higgers, Fardy, TPN, Palu returning.