Bledisloe #2 - AUS v NZL, Eden Park, Auckland, August 15th

[galumay]

Genuinely curious- do you support the Wallabies? you say "we" although you refer to Hansen as Shag

Yep, i am a Wobblies supporter. Spent a fair bit of time in NZ over the years tho' so love the rugby culture there.

 

[TahDan]

my god, i hope drink is accompanying that watching!

That ship sailed and sank over the horizon when the ABs hit 40+.

 

[flat_eric]

I've resorted to watching the basketball to make myself feel better.

Tall Blacks are making a game of it. They even did a decent job of the Haka.

 

[TahDan]

Tall Blacks are making a game of it. They even did a decent job of the Haka.

It's close, but they haven't taken the lead at any point. I feel like Australia look in control.

On the ABs I'm almost finding hard to even visualise at time when we'll beat them consistently. When they want to step it up a gear like they have the past few years after close games, they just seem insurmountable.

 

[Ruggo]

And the result shouldnt come as a surprise, not because somehow any of us are better selectors than the national coach of a professional sporting team but simply because we were playing the world's number 1 team, at home, after annoying them the previous week.

I know its just the internet, but seriously, if he had left the team the same as last week and we had been flogged (the likely result), we would all be bagging him for not making changes.

How about graciously accepting that we were ouplayed and put passioned by a superior team, playing at their best, with an accepted home ground advantage?

First up, there is nothing ungracious about my comment. Of course we were outplayed as we did to them last week. I take nothing away from the AB performance. They certainly did play to the benchmark they have set for a long time. It is what we should of anticipated from them as how they play is no great secret, they just do it so well. We got beaten by a better team no doubt but I stand by the view that the selections weakened ours. We had to back up last weeks game and take it up a gear, not reinvent the wheel.

 

[MrTabua]

It's close, but they haven't taken the lead at any point. I feel like Australia look in control.

On the ABs I'm almost finding hard to even visualise at time when we'll beat them consistently. When they want to step it up a gear like they have the past few years after close games, they just seem insurmountable.

I lean back and envisage Ruchie and Dan's retirement.

If Christchurch has to fall down, again, these are necessary steps for the greater good.

 

[Moono75]

This. It was a disappointing performance, but let's not forget who we were playing and where.

is this not half the problem. Oh were playing at Eden Park.....of course we can't possibly win. Thats half the problem right there. Attitude is never right.

 

[galumay]

First up, there is nothing ungracious about my comment.

If you re-read my comment i didnt say there was anything ungracious about your comment. I was making a suggestion as to how we might consider the result.

Of course we were outplayed as we did to them last week. I take nothing away from the AB performance. They certainly did play to the benchmark they have set for a long time. It is what we should of anticipated from them as how they play is no great secret, they just do it so well. We got beaten by a better team no doubt but I stand by the view that the selections weakened ours. We had to back up last weeks game and take it up a gear, not reinvent the wheel.

This is what I dont get, do you seriously think that you know better than a professional coaching group of a national team? Like I say, had Cheika run on an unchanged team, and we lost by a similar margin (likely IMO), the couch-coaches would have been claiming it was poor selection to play the same team twice!

 

[Froggy]

My first comment is that it's a lot easier to look the goods coming on with 20 minutes to go when everyone else is stuffed. Exhibit A & B being White and To'omua.
We seemed to lack the enthusiasm of last week, not sure why, although I think the urgency added by having Hooper and Pocock on together, along with Phipps, just lifts the tempo of the whole team. Certainly Phipps, Hooper and Potgeiter had that effect with the Tahs. These are players that get those around them fired up.
I don't think either Foley or Cooper are our answer to 10, To'omua was disappointing tonight, but still may be our best option. I didn't think White was bad, but he is slow, I would prefer Phipps with White off the bench.
I guess my starting side is last week's team with To'omua replacing Foley.

 

[Froggy]

I also don't go with the criticism of Cheika.
The guy has won competitions with the Tahs, Leinster and Randwick, is the only person to coach a championship side in both hemispheres, took the Tahs from also-rans to champions and top Aus side two years in a row, has just won the TRC, and after one stumble half those on here have got the knives out.
Must be good to never make a wrong call!

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I don't know I thought the All Blacks were not amazing and indeed looked very beatable. More we were just not on song and had best team facing them....the Cheika changes did not work but equally he got us this far and still believe heading us in right direction....so do believe in Cheika and what he is trying to do...which appreciate won't always work at this stage...

To'omua and Giteau as starting 10/12 next please

Pocock and Hooper starting please...with AB's dominating breakdown first half there is no choice....

Simmons back ASAP with Mumm / Horwill partnering

Not spreight again please.....Mitchell / horne most definitely ahead

White.....not a complete disaster but did not equally say I am the answer.....and left more questions than answers with his performance. Genia you have booked your RWC spot for sure....White a bench 9 - not a starting 9....

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I certainly don't have the knives out for Cheika. I respect the fact that he wanted to experiment and now that it's backfired he will take some things away from it. I honestly think that most of his best 23 is locked in, with a couple of positions still to be sorted out.

 

[Lorenzo]

How did the experiment "backfire"? He has been making big changes to the lineup every match this year. And we're 3 from 4. We got pumped today, but we've been getting pumped there for decades.

 

[Moono75]

Attitude and intent stunk tonight. We knew we were going into a knife fight and we turned up with chop sticks.....and have been doing so against the AB's for a decade. How can we never get our minds around the fucking concept of backing up a good win and nailing home the advantge. It was black and white the difference in attitude form last week to this. We knew what was coming but were brain fucked ourselves once again.

Quade Cooper can't play against the AB's. He is damaged goods. Forget about him. Speight underdone and has shown nothing in Green and Gold. Be a S15 star its where you belong. Too many changes in the team from last week to this. The lack of a back up scrummy hurt us. Couldn't change the pace of the game.

Maybe we were trialling for positions for the WC but we fucked up a great opportunity to make a statement by reclaiming the Bledisloe. Rugby Championship cup.....who gives a fuck about that now?

 

[ACR]

Wayne Barnes looked happy there....

Wayne mother fucking Barnes. He looked absolutely ecstatic watching Folau run goal bound. I cracked up seeing such enjoyment from a ref.

I lean back and envisage Ruchie and Dan's retirement.

If Christchurch has to fall down, again, these are necessary steps for the greater good.

Hmm, honestly, Nonu and Smith will be harder to replace. Especially Nonu. COMPLETELY different back line from last week with a proper 12 playing.

We have Barrett, Cruden, Sopoaga to replace Dan.
We have Cane, Todd, Savea and more following to replace Richie.

There are a bevy of talented fringe players leaving though, (annoyingly) some young, some old. Post WC exodus.

 

[daz]

I also don't go with the criticism of Cheika.
The guy has won competitions with the Tahs, Leinster and Randwick, is the only person to coach a championship side in both hemispheres, took the Tahs from also-rans to champions and top Aus side two years in a row, has just won the TRC, and after one stumble half those on here have got the knives out.
Must be good to never make a wrong call!

Fuck me dead. This is the problem right here. Read the posts properly and take notice of the words; I don't recall anyone saying MC should be sacked, or making any kind of call on his qualifications.

What most of the criticism of Cheika is saying is that he probably got it wrong tonight. Even Eales and Gregan said as much on Fox.

You're right; I'm not a professional coach, and neither have I played for the Wallabies. I'm not a train engineer either, but I can recognise when a train has temporarily come off the rails.

In my opinion, he coached/managed poorly in preparation and it possibly cost us the Bledisloe. Or at least the opportunity to compete.

And yes, the AB's played well, blah blah blah. Pretty over saying that after 13 years.

Oh, just quietly while I am pontificating on the subject, I'm fucking over the whole "we can't win at Eden Park" as well. It's an oval, with grass and lines and posts. Using the "hoo-doo" as some kind of excuse shits me.

Anyway, carry on.











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[MrTabua]

Wayne mother fucking Barnes. He looked absolutely ecstatic watching Folau run goal bound. I cracked up seeing such enjoyment from a ref.



Hmm, honestly, Nonu and Smith will be harder to replace. Especially Nonu. COMPLETELY different back line from last week with a proper 12 playing.

We have Barrett, Cruden, Sopoaga to replace Dan.
We have Cane, Todd, Savea and more following to replace Richie
.

We had Jackson Bird, James Pattinson, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Stuart Clark, Mitch Johnson, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus, Clint Mckay and Ryan Harris to replace Pidgeon.

 

[Pfitzy]

Thinking back now, and reading Cheika's post-match comments - its not as bad as it looked.

First half we were fairly competitive - both teams started like virgin brides it must be said. We were getting a roll on and then that counterattack try took the wind out of our sails a bit. Up until then it was fairly even with mistakes both ways.

Problem with White is he wasn't able to change the pace of the game once our forwards started to flag.

I'm of the opinion Hooper shouldn't have gone back out after that head knock, and that our one-out ball running just wasn't delivering the goods against a tight defence.

We score in that opening 20 - different game.

So not all bad.

 

[ACR]

We had Jackson Bird, James Pattinson, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Stuart Clark, Mitch Johnson, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus, Clint Mckay and Ryan Harris to replace Pidgeon.

Yes, of course, but they, are all.. they are all Australians.

 

[Viking]

Attitude and intent stunk tonight. We knew we were going into a knife fight and we turned up with chop sticks...and have been doing so against the AB's for a decade. How can we never get our minds around the fucking concept of backing up a good win and nailing home the advantge. It was black and white the difference in attitude form last week to this. We knew what was coming but were brain fucked ourselves once again.

Quade Cooper can't play against the AB's. He is damaged goods. Forget about him. Speight underdone and has shown nothing in Green and Gold. Be a S15 star its where you belong. Too many changes in the team from last week to this. The lack of a back up scrummy hurt us. Couldn't change the pace of the game.

Maybe we were trialling for positions for the WC but we fucked up a great opportunity to make a statement by reclaiming the Bledisloe. Rugby Championship cup...who gives a fuck about that now?

Bit harsh on Speight. He defended well at least (took Savea out of much of the game). Absolutely no opportunities on attack. Can't see either Horne, Mitchell or Tomane doing any better. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was worse then Speight.