Bledisloe 1 - Wallabies vs All Blacks, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 8:05pm

[teach]

Until that last try, ABs looked like setting a new biggest winning margin over Wobs. Will have to settle for biggest winning margin in Sydney.

 

[Marcelo]

 

[Rugrat]

We may have just witnessed the death of taking the Wallabies seriously as a rugby team. One trick Chieka, talks a great game but delivers so little. Frankly the entire Aussie set up by the Aru is pathetic. Always looking for a simple fix instead of dealing with the big issues so obvious to the outsider based in the grass roots. Hooper being used as a line out option will do me. That was a joke.

 

[KOB1987]

Have just read all the posts from in between when I nodded off and now. As usual there are some great ones and some rubbish ones (just my opinion). As usual there is talk of wholesale changes to the players and of course the coach.

We do need a 12 and a new 13 and I do agree that the Pooper has run its course. Outside that I don't think there was anything fundamentally wrong with the make up of last night's team when all other options are considered.

As for Cheika, it shouldn't be up to the national coach to teach elite players to pass, catch, kick and tackle, it's his job to coach a team that can put it all together. If we had done those basics right we would probably still have lost, but by a far smaller margin.

 

[Pfitzy]

Haven't seen the game. Unlikely to ever see it.

Disappointing to lose by that much at home. I could almost accept losing that much at Eden Park. Particularly these days.

As for Cheika, it shouldn't be up to the national coach to teach elite players to pass, catch, kick and tackle, it's his job to coach a team that can put it all together. If we had done those basics right we would probably still have lost, but by a far smaller margin.

Bingo. Cheika has to take responsibility for the loss, overall. Of that there can be no question. But the NATURE of the loss is down to execution.

The people calling for the national coach to turn water into wine are all wrong. It is never an expectation for any coach at professional level to do this. The talent must be right, otherwise they shouldn't be selected.

A week is a long time in sport. I would expect improvement. If not, then sacking the coach is to be flagged as an option.

But who gets the gig?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Hooper being used as a line out option will do me. That was a joke.

Its a joke alright but its also an admission that the selection was unbalanced: using him proves we didn't pick enough line out jumpers.

 

[Dan54]

Even players like Hooper and Poey who normally make dominate tackles looked weaker then usual.

I was shocked.

I think the Pocock/Hooper thing should be shelved, well I haven't seen it look good against the All Blacks, and the loss of a lineout jumper is hurting Wallabies too much. Perhaps use Pockock/Hooper should be used in the right matches, but it seems to me to be a flat track bully combo. Am I now allowed to say the same with Kuridrani, I know I never been a huge fan (think he thebackline version of Cliffy Palu), I really think he needs to be saved for teams that get a bit scared when they see a big Islander run at them!!

 

[Bullrush]

Can't believe Cheika didn't start Fardy. Pocock was the best on park for mine. Folau has to go to 13. Surely he needs to have the ball in his hands more often than what he got last nite. Hopefully that is the last time Giteau starts a Wallaby Test. I know he got something like 8mins but the left boot that is apparently so important to the team cost them the first try. Too bad about To'omua and Christian is obviously just a sad situation.

Long term, the Wallabies MUST find ways to keep the likes of Genia and QC (Quade Cooper) in Australia and not just playing but developing and improving.

 

[Quick Hands]

I think in hindsight I'm very glad I went out for dinner and didn't watch this game. I doubt I'll watch the replay either. Dark times in Camp Wallaby. The thing is though, who are the alternatives? If this is the best we can put out there then I would suggest the game is in trouble in this country.

It's actually been in trouble for quite a while, it's just that most people, (including the ARU and their highly paid bureaucrats), haven't really noticed because success at super and test level has masked what has been going on at the grass roots. Like a tidal wave, this decline in grass roots rugby has now swamped the professional game and people are running around like headless chooks wondering what has happened.

I'll give you another example from last night. I am normally with the kids for these Homebush matches so we normally leave right on full time to get on the 1st bus so we can be home before 11.30-12.00. The first bus normally leaves a little after 10 and gets back to the beaches around 11.15pm. The first bus never leaves until it's full. Last night we left early (after 60 minutes it was so bad) and we weren't the only ones. The first bus was full at 9.40pm and on its way, with a line of people waiting to get on the next bus. How many won't be back?

 

[Pfitzy]

Attendance was mid-60s? That means 15-20k have already decided they don't attend Bledisloe. Was also finals day for three divisions of Subbies, so that wouldn't have helped

 

[liquor box]

It was a bad loss but did anyone really think we would win?

The margin was bigger than expected but the result was predictable.

 

[Rugrat]

Its a joke alright but its also an admission that the selection was unbalanced: using him proves we didn't pick enough line out jumpers.

Not an admission by coaching and selection staff though. Hooper just didn't suddenly jump. They must have actually trained for it and thought they would get a result. Symptom of a coach that thinks being smart is going away from the basics and doing sneaky things to gain an advantage. Just embarrassing really embarrassing.

 

[wamberal]

It was a bad loss but did anyone really think we would win?

.

Yes, I did.

 

[Dan54]

Right now as an All Black supporter I going to say what I liked. Dane Coles to play a whole test carrying that rib injury was great, and I know BB got MOTM, but by geez Retalic,Cane (where are all the Cane knockers?) Kaino were immense, I thought Read was in absolute beast mode and maybe my MOTM. Mind you the Smith boys were not too bad in the backline, and our midfield seemed to survive alright.

 

[A mutterer]

A week is a long time in sport. I would expect improvement. If not, then sacking the coach is to be flagged as an option.

But who gets the gig?

I'm not sure, but you'd have to think assistants get the chop first.

For some unknown reason, we decided to give 20 metres of space between defender and line to wingers who are markedly faster than ours. I'm not sure what the fuck we were trying to do defensively, but Grey has not got this team working well in its defensive structures and the entire system looks like its been picked apart by 2 coaches in a row now.

and aggression? looks like it was only used in the application of hair products.

 

[Gnostic]

Can't believe Cheika didn't start Fardy. Pocock was the best on park for mine. Folau has to go to 13. Surely he needs to have the ball in his hands more often than what he got last nite. Hopefully that is the last time Giteau starts a Wallaby Test. I know he got something like 8mins but the left boot that is apparently so important to the team cost them the first try. Too bad about To'omua and Christian is obviously just a sad situation.



Long term, the Wallabies MUST find ways to keep the likes of Genia and QC (Quade Cooper) in Australia and not just playing but developing and improving.

In all honesty it has got to the point and seen obviously with our Super sides this year that going overseas is a better development opportunity.

 

[fatprop]

Hooper being used as a line out option will do me. That was a joke.

The concept is fine, but not the first of a match

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Changes that have to happen for our next game.

1. Have a game plan and execute the game plan
2. Accept that Kurindrani is past his best and not going to improve - so get a player in there for the future who can improve over time in that position - Kerevi or Folau. Thanks for the memories Terevi but your best days are behind you.
3. Accept Simmons is not the answer to solving our lock problems or going to improve on what he has to offer and again put a player in there for the future and who can improve over time in that position - Coleman - or Arnold when recovers from injury. Douglas only just returned from injury so will be better for the hit out.
4. Accept Mumm is also past his best - time for change there. Dare I say it I would now even choose Skelton at this point.
5. Don't play DHP on the wing - ruthlessly exposed - Drew is probably obvious replacement. Luke Morahan possibly as well other option in interim. We got some high profile speedy league wingers (ex rugby players) coming to union next year and to my mind they can't come quick enough (pardon the pun). Still open to play DHP in his favoured position of fullback if Folau moves to 13.
6. The Pooper experiment is dead. Our 8 stocks are so low at the mo with Ita retirement and Holloway injury so no quick fix there. Mcmahon at least offers a lot of mongrel and would seriously consider him in the interim, with Holloway a shoo in once he recovers (and never thought I would have said that at the start of the year.
7. 12....Giteau injury a pity but would like to see hodge or kerevi blooded in there for future options - still play Giteau off the bench or starting and have hodge or kerevi starting or as bench option / cover. Time to start giving these players game time to build for the future as at the moment our future looks rather bleak with current crop of players.

 

[fatprop]

I think the Pocock/Hooper thing should be shelved, well I haven't seen it look good against the All Blacks, and the loss of a lineout jumper is hurting Wallabies too much. Perhaps use Pockock/Hooper should be used in the right matches, but it seems to me to be a flat track bully combo. Am I now allowed to say the same with Kuridrani, I know I never been a huge fan (think he thebackline version of Cliffy Palu), I really think he needs to be saved for teams that get a bit scared when they see a big Islander run at them!!

That presumes we have better cattle to replace them

Kuridrani I think will be saved by the amount of 12s gone. Who is next in line? Hodge? or does Foley lpay 12 with Cooper going to 10 ........................... at Eden Park

 

[Gnostic]

Bingo. Cheika has to take responsibility for the loss, overall. Of that there can be no question. But the NATURE of the loss is down to execution.



The people calling for the national coach to turn water into wine are all wrong. It is never an expectation for any coach at professional level to do this. The talent must be right, otherwise they shouldn't be selected.



A week is a long time in sport. I would expect improvement. If not, then sacking the coach is to be flagged as an option.



But who gets the gig?

Come on Fitzy, if the coaches aren't going to create improvement where are they going to improve. Oh that's right the 8 week NRC? FFS.

Compare to last night's opposition, players like Savaea couldn't pass, kick or even catch when they first came on the scene. He improved and achieved potential. How many of our players can say the same. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) for all his tests left Australia regarded as a good Wallaby but not a great, and still had fundamental flaws in his game. Folau is into his third season and still cannot kick effectively if there is anybody in cooee because of technique, Foley getting charged (AGAIN FFS) is technique.

I don't accept that it isn't up to coaches at any level.

There is nobody in line for the test job behind Chieka IMO, I don't think Larkham has the runs on the board to be assistant let alone a head coach and the Brumbies were horrible this year.