Argentina v Australia, Mendoza 4/10/14

[Ulrich]

Those tackling stats are off the charts. We're going to be fatigued and travelling to a desperate Argentina in hope of getting their 1st win.

Can't see us winning this.

I reckon AUS will play out of their skins to secure a big lead by the end of the 1st half against a team generally off the pace at this stage of the competition. Thereafter a point or two may be scored but if AUS find themselves relatively far ahead I think they'll end up kicking the ball away the entire game.

Nah, I actually think you guys will be okay. Building nice depth.

 

[Ulrich]

Regardless of how good Beale's form is he will still be poor under the high ball, a poor defender and soft in contact. 2014 has shown that. He was exceptional in Super Rugby in 2014. Yet every 2nd test he has been woeful for us, and generally not related to his attacking form.

I disagree. Morne Steyn was a running flyhalf coached into a kickbot.

Actually despite the little joke above (which is true by the way - look at where Willie le Roux is heading), I'm quite serious. A player can be coached and given instruction and plans on how to train himself during his own time to improve areas that would make him more valuable to the national cause.

Mohoje and Nyakane lost some Kgs. The entire team learnt how to compete for the ball (mostly) legally during the last 2 years.

Aus have learnt how to attack. Sure, not the finished article yet, but there's clear signs of development there. The AUS pack has learnt how to scrum since last year, that's a massive improvement. The pack has also greatly improved breakdown/ruck play.

We moan when our coaches don't implement changes and then we moan because we believe players are incapable of learning/changing.

I sincerely believe Australia will go very far next year. Just a gut feeling I have and possibly also because I always try to see the bigger picture.

Here's a bit of a newsflash: While it's not the national coach's job to improve basic skills, sometimes it turns out that way. Especially in SA where we have a bunch of fairly incompetent coaches if you ask me. Australia is not very different in this regard. We're not NZ where everyone stick to a national plan unfortunately.

Sometimes the best coach in the country actually is the coach running the national team. Hence the gradual changes seen from top-level down. In AUS you have Cheika at least. Here in SA we have no one, especially since Jake decided to make himself available early this time for whichever national position becomes available after next year's world cup.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I reckon AUS will play out of their skins to secure a big lead by the end of the 1st half against a team generally off the pace at this stage of the competition. Thereafter a point or two may be scored but if AUS find themselves relatively far ahead I think they'll end up kicking the ball away the entire game.

Nah, I actually think you guys will be okay. Building nice depth.

I think the argies were thinking about this game last week.

 

[matty_k]

The Wallabies luggage didn't make it to Buenos Aires.

 

[Scrubber2050]

The Wallabies luggage didn't make it to Buenos Aires.

Fucking Argies sabotaging us already

 

[Deputy Van Halen]

Maybe the wobs could borrow the Argie alternate strip for the game? Not a bad piece of kit that one. Just dab the southern cross on the chest with some white out and it'll be good to go.

 

[Mr Doug]

The Wallabies luggage didn't make it to Buenos Aires.

I remember Sam Carter's father Dave telling me that on his Wallabies tour of France in 1989, not only was their luggage "lost", but they were put up in "second-rate" hotels. There are more ways to beat a touring team than during the 80 minutes spent on the field!

 

[Viking]

What is impossible to ignore is the struggle with the basics (ie tackling and points scoring) the former being a team function (or lack of for the 80) and the latter concentrated in the fly, with all contenders being consistently poor. To'omua, not enough time in settle in, Beale, yes but we also know he is a game changer (and winner) and Foley has not shown the arsenal that his groupies trumpet. i hear it, but glaringly I see no points on the board, nor the ability to unlock one of the most potent back lines on paper in world rugby, perhaps the safest fly in the game. Is there such a thing call safe rugby. I was thinking Foley would almost be a Cooper Cronk clone if league was his poison

I agree but Beale is not answer, He has been tested to break the game open twice and failed miserably. Now he's failing from the bench. I agree with all the rest but we simply don't have the cattle, we need to work with what we got and currently Foley is miles ahead of Beale. I'm quietly confident when Cooper comes back he will get things firing.

 

[Joeleee]

The Wallabies luggage didn't make it to Buenos Aires.

Hopefully their baggage didn't make it either

 

[Train Without a Station]

Hopefully their baggage didn't make it either

Ba-doom-tish!

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Hopefully their baggage didn't make it either

That's good chat, well played.

 

[Biffo]

Fucking Argies sabotaging us already

nah, the USA starting retribution on the Argies for dudding some of its banks

 

[Scrubber2050]

Remember the 'General Belgrano"

 

[fatprop]

I agree but Beale is not answer, He has been tested to break the game open twice and failed miserably. Now he's failing from the bench. I agree with all the rest but we simply don't have the cattle, we need to work with what we got and currently Foley is miles ahead of Beale. I'm quietly confident when Cooper comes back he will get things firing.

I didn't realise his work at the breakdown was that good

 

[Rugby Is My Life]

I'd love to see Genia involved - no one can dispute the fact when healthy, he's a world class player. It'd also be great to see Skelton thrown into the mix ASAP. He brings aggression, size (+ weight at scrum time) and a unique skill set as a link player who draws mutliple defenders.

My team would be the below given it looks as though Simmons & To'omua are gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooone:

Slipper
Fainga'a
Kepu
Carter
Skelton
Fardy
Hooper (C)
Higginbotham
Genia
Foley
Tomane
Horne (Beale cannot defend here in Test rugby)
Kurindrani
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Folau

Bench - Hanson, Alexander, anyone but rolly polly Robinson, Horwill, Hodgson, Phipps, Beale & Lea'liafano.

The likes of Genia, Cooper, Pocock, TPN, Moore, Speight, Sio, etc cannot return fast enough. I think he's a pest and really hope he's grown up but the same goes for O'Connor - the kid can play.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Mate can we please stop referring to Skelton as assisting the scrum. He scrummages too high and therefore appears to be less effective (when comparing scrum performances in games between when he is on and when he isn't) primarily due to his biggest strength, his bulk.

Will will be in the team no doubt but his unique skill set, etc. have been less effective against top tier opposition so let's not get carried away as if he will undoubtedly be the savior.

And speaking about Will's, I can only hope Genia does not get anywhere near the starting line up as with the exception of 1 or 2 games he was pedestrian in 2014.

 

[BDA]

Agree re Skelton's scrummaging although I suspect he's had more scrum training under link over the last 2 months than has had under Chieka for the previous 6. With a bit of work he'll become a solid scrummaging lock.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Simmons was fucking abysmal when he first game on the scene. Skelton is average as he likely struggles to get into position. As he streamlines his physique a little I'd say he will become dominant in that aspect.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

If To'omua is out and Godwin isn't on the plane already, then Horne should be the 12 for this week. He's played heaps for the Tahs there and would be fine to fill in.

 

[Bairdy]

Except not recently. Link needs to play the next best 12, whoever that is out of Beale and Lealiifano.