England v Australia

[Rugbynutter39]

That why Dwyer wants to play them together. TK is so brutal in contact on both sides of the ball, and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has so much guile.

So where does Dyer want to play them then.....agree AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and TK should play together but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) not a great winger...TK inside centre....maybe...left field....but maybe...

 

[Rugbynutter39]

If JOC (James O'Connor) can replicate the form he's showing as a winger in French Top 14, he will be the first winger picked. Speight has enormous potential, but made a couple of bad reads in defence, allowed himself to be pushed out on or around the half way line and generally looked exactly what he is - raw and inexperienced at this level. He's certainly worth persevering with, I'll be interested to see how he goes in super 15 and TRC.

On current form Phipps will be 9, White's ahead of Genia, but if Burgess can play the sort of game that Phipps is playing i.e. passing directly off the ground without skip steps he'll be ahead of them both.

Cooper was good when he came on, but there wasn't a significant difference in either the game plan or the execution - so how Foley and Cooper perform in 2015 will decide the issue (as it always was going to do)

But realistically, it's not going to matter who is in the backline if the scrum doesn't improve.

EDIT: I thought To'omua was superb last night - best Wallaby on the field.

JOC (James O'Connor)'s form in top 14 means he should be no brainer as winger for next season for wallabies.....it is not backs that are the problems though....although yes need better wingers so definitely good though...but forwards where real problems are ....

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I'm big fan of Foley but the speed of Quades pass is so impressive. It gets to those outside him just a fraction quicker than Foleys which allows the backs to make more ground.

I'm a bit concerned about Speight. His attack is impressive as always, he can tackle well, but his defence read and positional play seems to be lacking at this level. Nothing that can't be fixed but he was out of position on quite a few occasions on this tour.

Spreight has not convinced he is world class winger on EOYT display......JOC (James O'Connor) definite wing option....horne on england display next best option in terms of form with Tomane probably next pip down....

 

[KOB1987]

So where does Dyer want to play them then...agree AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and TK should play together but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) not a great winger.TK inside centre..maybe.left field..but maybe.

yes, Bob has been advocating TK at 12 with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13 forever..

 

[Shelts89]

Personally I don't get why you lot argue over Foley vs Cooper so much. As a non-aussie I get the heebee jeebies everytime Cooper is on. Harsh on Foley who hasn't been bad, but he doesn't make anyone's defence as nervous as Cooper does.

 

[fatprop]

All the great ideas on how to improve our backline, seriously they were fine, it was the forwards who were not up to it.

All this shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic is just baffling. forwards not at least breaking even = no win, simples

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Cardiffblue]

Personally I don't get why you lot argue over Foley vs Cooper so much. As a non-aussie I get the heebee jeebies everytime Cooper is on. Harsh on Foley who hasn't been bad, but he doesn't make anyone's defence as nervous as Cooper does.

Don't get it either. Think someone needs to start listening to fatprop

 

[Shelts89]

Indeed, essentially the same game plan has been applied by France, Ireland and England for 3 weeks in a row, and all 3 got a win. The Aus pack is simply to weak.

 

[Bardon]

People stop bitching about the scrum laws.

If we were kicking arse at them, we'd love them.

How about we start paying tighthead props some of the money that over rated, jumped up little shits with " X FACTA!!!!" get, and value them instead.

As a neutal it's one of the big points of difference between the ABs and Aus over the last 10 or more years. Aussies always seem to want to change the rules while NZ adapt and change the game.

 

[Strewthcobber]

All the great ideas on how to improve our backline, seriously they were fine, it was the forwards who were not up to it.

All this shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic is just baffling. forwards not at least breaking even = no win, simples

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

I agree with you but they are the best forward options we have and realistically we aren't going to see any significant improvement in the fundamental problems in 10 months and 5 games.

Despite it probably being true "We have no hope" doesn't make for very interesting discussions!

 

[Cardiffblue]

I agree with you but they are the best forward options we have and realistically we aren't going to see any significant improvement in the fundamental problems in 10 months and 5 games.

Despite it probably being true "We have no hope" doesn't make for very interesting discussions!

Disagree. It's fascinating. Come rwc time you know exactly how england are going to play, but to counter it is going to require big change in forwards play. But learning and practicing it against nz or South Africa youll be cruising for a bruising in the run up. This will be great test of cheika

 

[Strewthcobber]

Disagree. It's fascinating. Come rwc time you know exactly how england are going to play, but to counter it is going to require big change in forwards play. But learning and practicing it against nz or South Africa youll be cruising for a bruising in the run up. This will be great test of cheika

Which bit do you disagree with?
That these aren't Australia's best available forwards?, or that we can hope for improvement from the current lot?

 

[Cardiffblue]

Which bit do you disagree with?
That these aren't Australia's best available forwards?, or that we can hope for improvement from the current lot?

Yeah wasn't v clear! I meant that you are going to have to improve the fundamentals despite everything, with that personel. IMHO i think they are good players poorly coached.

 

[Cardiffblue]

The other issue is that the back row is the key to ultimate success and there is something badly amiss. If I were coach I'd aim to do just one thing. Knock off nz at Eden park or failing that the other game. One win over them next year And the whole mindset in the run up to rwc will be completely different. someone needs to show they are fallible

 

[maxdacat]

We can put a man on the moon but Australia seemingly doesn't know what it takes to have a stable scrum.

 

[Shelts89]

We can put a man on the moon but Australia seemingly doesn't know what it takes to have a stable scrum.

That was the Yanks, don't you go stealing other countries accomplishments!

 

[qwerty51]

We can put a man on the moon but Australia seemingly doesn't know what it takes to have a stable scrum.

Bullshit. Massive overreactions to this scrum performance. All year the scrum under Slipper and Kepu was solid. 15th Test of the year and Slipper and Kepu didn't receive one rest. What do you expect?

 

[maxdacat]

JOC (James O'Connor)'s form in top 14 means he should be no brainer as winger for next season for wallabies.

really...that simple is it, even if he is not currently playing at test level. I think it's natural when the team isn't going well to cast around for alternatives but JOC (James O'Connor), Hunt and anybody else not in the squad aren't just going to walk in to the starting line up.

 

[maxdacat]

Bullshit. Massive overreactions to this scrum performance. All year the scrum under Slipper and Kepu was solid. 15th Test of the year and Slipper and Kepu didn't receive one rest. What do you expect?

So just tiredness then, nothing to do with poor technique or training? I would have expected the odd collapse but not getting demolished several times.

 

[qwerty51]

So just tiredness then, nothing to do with poor technique or training? I would have expected the odd collapse but not getting demolished several times.

So they used a different technique vs NZ, SA, France, Ireland, Wales, Argentina?