Springboks vs Wallabies @ Newlands 27/9/2014

[Braveheart81]

It was probably a bit of a lessen in holding onto the ball for more of the game to work the Springboks harder.

Our defence was fantastic but we died badly in those last 5 minutes or so.

We made 252 tackles and missed 32. I wonder how many of those were in the last 10 minutes?

 

[barbarian]

The Springboks were really good in the last twenty minutes, too. Barely made a mistake, held the ball for phase after phase. Then exploited the space well and feasted off our errors.

 

[PaarlBok]

Bokke nearly won by 50. Great win for us and how wrong can I be about Schalk and Lampie? Look like Reinach nailed that 9 jersey altho Hougaard was great. Pollard struggled a bit but at least did not back away from the physical stuff. Now the Bokke must take the step forward this weekend. The Old Age Home got to age all of a sudden.

 

[I like to watch]

Their bench added much more value than our bench.
Pretty much that's where the game was won and lost IMO.

 

[PaarlBok]

It was probably a bit of a lessen in holding onto the ball for more of the game to work the Springboks harder.

Hopefull Meyer do this every test. We sure have the backline now and Serfontein start to look like the Danie Gerber of old.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Boet, The Green Pensioners did well didn't they, and I think HM was clever to keep them caged up until the last 20 minutes or so. Then took the field like a pack of rabid Hyenas.

I don't think Schalk would have have been able to keep up the tempo nor have made the same impact that he did if he had started the game and played for 60 minutes before being replaced. Same with Battleship, and Bakkies and all the other old fossils in Team Bokke. Matfield did well as an old age pensioner who started the game.

 

[Biffo]

Bokke nearly won by 50.

not good enough.
moral victory to the Wallabies

 

[chasmac]

Good luck to the Bokke this weekend.
Someone has to beat the AB's.
If the Bokke don't do it at home then we are all looking bad for the world cup next year.
I'm off to the Argentina thread.

 

[FrankLind]

Boks to beat the ABs next week. (especially if Retallick is out)

I just think they will have a little more motivation. (as well as home advantage)

If Vermuelen is out but Retallick isn't, then I'll pick the ABs.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I pretty much agree with those backline selections.

As for this weekend, Beale will be named at inside centre. Honestly as much as I hate to say it his partnership with Foley is probably the best way to go on short notice. The Pumas aren't renowned for their midfield attack so defence shouldn't be a major problem and Beale and Foley should be able to make a few breaks in the Puma defence.

The Pumas' centres made quite a few line breaks and half breaks against the ABs. They will have an absolute ball against a Wallaby backline containing Beale in any position, but especially at 12.

 

[Pfitzy]

Yeah like all the other Super Rugby sides did when the Waratahs lost the final............

no, wait.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Yeah like all the other Super Rugby sides did when the Waratahs lost the final....

no, wait.

Pfitzy, I'm sure you would agree there is quite a difference between Super level and Test level rugby. And really who defended in the centres for the Tahs? On most occasions seemed to be Horne and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). Not a bad duo of tacklers, but Link doesn't seem inclined to have Kurtley defending on the wing for the Wallabies. And nor should he. If he's not good enough to defend at 10 or 12, then he should not be playing there.

 

[Pfitzy]

Pfitzy, I'm sure you would agree there is quite a difference between Super level and Test level rugby. And really who defended in the centres for the Tahs? On most occasions seemed to be Horne and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

My point exactly.

Players get "hidden" on defence all the time. Its part of the modern game. Link did it with Quade, and most teams now drop their 10 to the open wing when the opposition get set piece in their own half, because largely they're going to kick it.

This whole "he should defend the same position he attacks" works for Brumbies fans, because To'omua can tackle. It makes your argument for you.

But if Link is serious about his attacking rugby plan, he's going to need attacking players at some point. To'omua still has a way to go on this front, and while the signs from Bernie were positive this year in Canberra, too often To'omua, White, and Lilo dropped immediately into fallback mode i.e. kick the fuck out of it, when things weren't running smoothly.

I'm all for To'omua at 12. I wish he'd get put there for the Brumbies so the subtleties get more time to sink in.

But above and beyond everything, I wish for all our sakes that he'd spend about three hours a day running shuttles while kicking for the corners.

Because if he's our best boot, we're fucked.

 

[Brumby Runner]

My point exactly.

Players get "hidden" on defence all the time. Its part of the modern game. Link did it with Quade, and most teams now drop their 10 to the open wing when the opposition get set piece in their own half, because largely they're going to kick it.

This whole "he should defend the same position he attacks" works for Brumbies fans, because To'omua can tackle. It makes your argument for you.

But if Link is serious about his attacking rugby plan, he's going to need attacking players at some point. To'omua still has a way to go on this front, and while the signs from Bernie were positive this year in Canberra, too often To'omua, White, and Lilo dropped immediately into fallback mode i.e. kick the fuck out of it, when things weren't running smoothly.

I'm all for To'omua at 12. I wish he'd get put there for the Brumbies so the subtleties get more time to sink in.

But above and beyond everything, I wish for all our sakes that he'd spend about three hours a day running shuttles while kicking for the corners.

Because if he's our best boot, we're fucked.

Yes - To'omua is able to defend the 10 channel for the Brumbies so there's no need to try to hide him from the action.

Don't think Link has the luxury of hiding Beale on the wing defensively because he has had to use a variety of plyaers in the wing spots even though some of them aren't wingers. He hasn't had the consistency in selections to be able to establish the required swaps.

Yes - I would also like to see To'omua used at 12 for the Brumbies and have urged this to happen though these threads all year. Lealiifano at 10 and To'omua at 12 works better imo than the opposite.

I would also like to see less kicking from both the Brumbies and the Wallabies, or a lot more effort put into practising until perfect. Seems the Wallabies don't put a lot of effort into practising the basics like kicking, passing the ball at full pace and to either side, running support lines, receiving kick-offs or (most annoyingly) winning the ball on the ground.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I share your frustration with him being played at 10 for the Ponies, Fitzy. I would have Lilo at 10 and Matt at 12, because they seem to be best suited to those positions. I can't see Bernie changing his mind though.

To my mind, To'omua is the best 12 we've had since Giteau was still playing there (jeez I hated it when he went to 10) but he needs to develop further if we're to ascend the summit of world rugby. It's such a pivotal position that we must strive for excellence there. I hope like buggery that he gets it right because if we do we're going to be very hard to beat in 12 months time, all other things improving as they are at the moment.

 

[Pfitzy]

Seems the Wallabies don't put a lot of effort into practising the basics like kicking, passing the ball at full pace and to either side, running support lines, receiving kick-offs or (most annoyingly) winning the ball on the ground.

I, and others, have made the point that it is not be the national coaching panel's job to teach players rugby. They should put the finishing touches on them in terms of building a team.

if they don't have the skills, why the fuck are they selected?

 

[boyo]

I would also like to see less kicking from both the Brumbies and the Wallabies, or a lot more effort put into practising until perfect. Seems the Wallabies don't put a lot of effort into practising the basics like kicking, passing the ball at full pace and to either side, running support lines, receiving kick-offs or (most annoyingly) winning the ball on the ground.

What are these things of which you speak?

 

[Train Without a Station]

Pfitzy how did hiding Kurtley on the wing in Auckland work?

It proved all his haters right that no matter where you hide him, he can be exploited.

Super rugby isn't chock full of attacking threats and you can line a player up against a weaker attacker. That luxury isn't available in test rugby.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Yep, every player in the backline in test footy needs to be able to defend a channel effectively. It doesn't necessarily have to be their primary channel (10,12 etc), but they have to be solid and not run the risk of being completely bulldozed by the opposition. The top echelon teams are very good at ruthlessly exposing any kind of weakness in that area, so we can't be playing guys who are a massive risk on defence. The back row helps out obviously, but they can't be expected to do all the tackling for an inside back with defensive frailties. This is one of the reasons why I don't advocate KB (Kurtley Beale) playing 10 or 12 at test level. He offers plenty of attack but it's only 50% of the game. He may not even be strong enough defending on the wing either.

 

[Ulrich]

What is it with Wallaby 12 jersey? Why do we keep picking plodders?
I still blame McCabe's limitations for Quade's bad rap at the 2011 RWC.
And now, with To'omua's lack of inspiration at 12, we are looking at a poor backline plan and blaming everyone and anyone but him.
Get rid of him.

I think Australia need a strong running #12 who has a bit of a kicking game. A bit of a hybrid between B. Barnes and Serfontein. Or, F. Steyn. You guys may just as well have him now I guess since it's unlikely he'll ever play for the Boks again.

A strong ball-carrier with a bit of a boot and a slight jink here and there. The strong carries will particularly help if the player can offload in the tackle and set up Kuridrani on a run.

Having a kicking #12 is always helpful in relieving pressure off the FH, especially if you consider playing Quade at 10 who I see as someone who poses a different threat than his kicking abilities.