Wales vs Australia, 5 November 2016, (1:30am 6 November AEDT) @ Millenium Stadium

[Lorenzo]

I think what we saw on BEin (studio aspects aside, which were clearly BEin) was the BBC broadcast? I thought they were quite good. Brian Moore is an idiot but he was mostly quiet, and on this occasion wasn't nearly the idiot that learns is on every broadcast.

It was enjoyable to hear praise for wallaby play that wasn't coming from fox's hardcore homers.

 

[PeterK]

Keep Timani where he is and try someone like Dempsey at 6. Holloway, if he recovers and kicks on with his 2015 form would make for an excellent impact 8 off the bench.

just as happy to have a good 6 come along and keep Timani at 8.

My point is a good 6 or 8 is needed with Timani a must as a starter at either 6 or 8.

 

[PeterK]

Also nice to see the backs are used as backs and forwards for in tight and getting over the line.

Hooper plays as a 7 as a support runner (and link player) letting the more highly skilled backs make the initial breaks.

 

[KOB1987]

I'm inclined to think Holloway would make an excellent No 6 in the Jerome Kaino mould. But, of course, if that ever turns out it will be because that's what M Cheika had in mind the whole time and sent me telepathic messages to make sure I posted the idea on here.

There's that vendetta thing again..boring.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

One of the things I liked last night was the shape of our attack and defence. Firstly, we constantly had our big ball runners one, or two at the outside, passes from the breakdown and not just one, several of them. When the contact happened, there was another player immediately up the ball carrier's backside to either receive a short ball or push him through the tackle. That's great for getting some go forward. Foley's short balls to these guys (and Hodge) were the kind of thing we saw the Tahs doing at their best. Makes you wonder why we haven't seen in it sooner, but maybe we didn't have the grunt in the back five of the pack to pull it off.

In defence we had a more traditional formation with our midfield backs defending their nominal channels. Again, I like that. It's simpler and easier to execute under pressure.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I agree about a sour taste in terms of Coleman, Arnold and Timani.
(and Kerevi).

All performed in super rugby very well last year and this year.

Timani and Kerevi were exceptional last year and should have been included in the RC and then probably onto the RWC.

This year from the 1st test against England onwards.

Coleman and Arnold introduced for Douglas when he could not reproduce his form prior to injury. These 2 were introduced reasonably this year IMO , lock was the only area where new players were introduced without injury forcing it.

It did take him a bit long to try the Coleman Arnold combo though.

And one more thing re Timani, a number of us always thought he should be at No 8, while it appeared that the Rebels and Wallabies' coaching staff viewed him as a lock.

 

[Brumby Runner]

There's that vendetta thing again..boring.

I'm sure you recognise that it's not aimed at Cheika but perhaps a bit closer to home?

 

[KOB1987]

And one more thing re Timani, a number of us always thought he should be at No 8, while it appeared that the Rebels and Wallabies' coaching staff viewed him as a lock.

Yeah I'm not sure about that. He played lock at the Rebels because he's a big fucker. I think the reason he took a while to debut was because they were working on his skillset to adapt him to the back row. I said that early on before he debuted. He came on for his first test at 6 and has been at 8 since, I'm not sure who in the Wobs you think had him as a lock.

 

[fatprop]

Foley's short balls to these guys (and Hodge) were the kind of thing we saw the Tahs doing at their best. Makes you wonder why we haven't seen in it sooner, but maybe we didn't have the grunt in the back five of the pack to pull it off.

Lack of front foot ball, when that happens Foley can play closer to the advantage line and all sorts of good things happen

 

[Strewthcobber]

Some pretty incredible stats from this game

George North, 0 tackles, 4 misses (!)
Halfpenny 8 runs, 2 defenders beaten, 8m made (!)
Izzy, 156m run
Coleman, 14 tackles, 14 runs, 7 passes

 

[fatprop]

And one more thing re Timani, a number of us always thought he should be at No 8, while it appeared that the Rebels and Wallabies' coaching staff viewed him as a lock.

His play at 8 for the Tahs was just woeful, just bad decisions and couldn't catch a ball, but for Southern Districts he was always very solid

Limiting his role at lock for Rebels appears to have got him over that; and now he appears to be not out of place in a Wobs jersey

 

[disco]

Trouble is Douglas misses a lot of tackles, and his work rate is too low for an impact player, he should do a lot more if he is on for only 20 mins.

You must remember that Douglas has only played a hand full of games since coming back from knee surgery so we can't expect his RWC form straight away I'm hoping he can find that form again soon though. It will be nice to have some real depth at lock.

 

[PeterK]

You must remember that Douglas has only played a hand full of games since coming back from knee surgery so we can't expect his RWC form straight away I'm hoping he can find that form again soon though. It will be nice to have some real depth at lock.

true but cheika should never have given douglas a game until he was fit after such a long lay off.

 

[disco]

I did like how the Wallabies went wide twice and the Welsh up an in defence snuffed it out so the next two times Foley puts it on DHP and Folau's chest and the Welsh have to change plans.
Finally some smart rugby which gave Folau space and time to run.

 

[disco]

true but cheika should never have given douglas a game until he was fit after such a long lay off.

Agreed. I think he played two and a half games of Super rugby and then the All Blacks.

 

[Brumby Runner]

So, after one of the most dominant forwards displays by the Wallabies in many a year, we now have posters calling for the inclusion of a couple of powder puffs in Simmons and Mumm to bolster our forwards for Scotland. It does my head in.

 

[Dave Beat]

AB's v Ireland
AB'd v Wobs
Wobs v Welsh

We lost 3 zip to the AB's and the Poms, we came 2nd in the RC, and we should have put more on the Welsh.

The Puma's pushed the AB's in the first game.
Our last game against the AB's, we played for 60 minutes, had a questionable try disallowed, and got stung big time on turn over ball.
The shamrocks just played hard for the full 80.

Allot of positive posts above, possibly relating to - bout time.

But there was some good stuff, yes, but we need to develop that and be ruthless. That can be a pass mark, yes, but there was probably only 15 minutes of sublime rugby in attack and also in D. Hard marker yes, but we need to keep getting better.

Enjoyed the game, and great work beIN.

 

[PeterK]

So, after one of the most dominant forwards displays by the Wallabies in many a year, we now have posters calling for the inclusion of a couple of powder puffs in Simmons and Mumm to bolster our forwards for Scotland. It does my head in.

In context though.

This is assuming Pocock is out.
Also against Scotland whose strength is the lineout and kicking.
So IMO you need 4 lineout options.

I would not start Pooper nor have McMahon at 6 or 8.

So you could start Fardy at 6 and for balance should with Hooper at 7.
However I would prefer Simmons at 6 over Mumm.

I would not have Mumm in my 23 though.

 

[Twoilms]

In context though.

This is assuming Pocock is out.
Also against Scotland whose strength is the lineout and kicking.
So IMO you need 4 lineout options.

I would not start Pooper nor have McMahon at 6 or 8.

So you could start Fardy at 6 and for balance should with Hooper at 7.
However I would prefer Simmons at 6 over Mumm.

I would not have Mumm in my 23 though.

That would be playing to their strengths then, and not our own?

Weakening ourselves in the collision and in carriers in the middle of the park for a line-out option is not necessary.

 

[KOB1987]

That would be playing to their strengths then, and not our own?

Correct. We want/need them to work out how to counter our selections, not ours theirs.