Wallabies v All Blacks, Saturday 19th August, ANZ Stadium Sydney

[tragic]

It makes you wonder why the All Blacks are so damn good and NZ are generally a bit shite at everything else (cricket team has been good last few years, granted).

As of 2016 they had 65,000 registered males under 13 vs our 27,000
More of their kids still play rugby compared to here.
The same goes for adult males.
Explains why we are struggling.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Young bloke with lots of potential thrown in the deep end well before he's ready to the disappointment of all. Sounds familiar.

Derpus, in what sense does it sound familiar? Can't remember the last time a young bloke was thrown into the deep end at Wallaby level, and at Super Rugby level Wessells himself is an example of that working.

 

[Derpus]

Derpus, in what sense does it sound familiar? Can't remember the last time a young bloke was thrown into the deep end at Wallaby level, and at Super Rugby level Wessells himself is an example of that working.

Hanigan, as just one of a long list.

 

[Brumby Runner]

The second half comeback was important.

Whether it was AB complacency or Wallaby skill is more or less irrelevant, but I was at the game and was pretty surprised at how buoyant the crowd was in those last 15 minutes. They were waiting for the team to give them something, anything to cheer for and finally got it.

It could have been 70-80 points, an all-time embarrassment. As it ended, it was just 'more of the same shit' in the eyes of most fans.

Am I clutching at straws? Yes. Was it still a fucking shambles? Of course. But we all need to sleep at night.
.

This is the sort of apologist papering over of a complete failure that really irks me. After such a dire performance, and it was dire regardless of the "late comeback" that had more to do with the ABs' errors and drop in intensity than any lift by the Wallabies, every fan should be looking to hold the coaching staff, and some players, accountable for what was a truly embarrassing performance.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

This is the sort of apologist papering over of a complete failure that really irks me. After such a dire performance, and it was dire regardless of the "late comeback" that had more to do with the ABs' errors and drop in intensity than any lift by the Wallabies, every fan should be looking to hold the coaching staff, and some players, accountable for what was a truly embarrassing performance.

Absolutely.
Taking comfort from the last 30 minutes is a very sure way to entrench our lack of progress.
Frankly, the idea that we are entitled to measure our performance when the game is completely gone by reference to the way the ABs played when the game was there to be won is symptomatic of the soft and woolly thinking in the game in this country.
Stop making excuses and patting ourselves on the back for scoring some points when it was irrelevant.

 

[Quick Hands]

Bring back Knuckles I say.

He's too busy suing the QRU for unfair dismissal

 

[Quick Hands]

Larkham "I don't think it was necessarily a poor performance"

Is everyone in the ARU drinking from the same Kool-Aid?

Yes, they are.

 

[Quick Hands]

This is the sort of apologist papering over of a complete failure that really irks me. After such a dire performance, and it was dire regardless of the "late comeback" that had more to do with the ABs' errors and drop in intensity than any lift by the Wallabies, every fan should be looking to hold the coaching staff, and some players, accountable for what was a truly embarrassing performance.

Correct. The ABs emptied their bench too early and lost all rhythm. I like the way that we never gave up and managed to score tries, but for people to try to use it to rationalise a humiliating defeat is ridiculous.

 

[ACT Crusader]

This is the sort of apologist papering over of a complete failure that really irks me. After such a dire performance, and it was dire regardless of the "late comeback" that had more to do with the ABs' errors and drop in intensity than any lift by the Wallabies, every fan should be looking to hold the coaching staff, and some players, accountable for what was a truly embarrassing performance.

I'd love to know how are you holding "them" accountable BR?

 

[TOCC]

Correct. The ABs emptied their bench too early and lost all rhythm. I like the way that we never gave up and managed to score tries, but for people to try to use it to rationalise a humiliating defeat is ridiculous.

Biggest factor for the All Blacks was subbing off Crotty at 45mins, he is the defensive lynchpin and the most underrated player in that backline. That's when the ABs defence lost their structure

 

[cyclopath]

Correct. The ABs emptied their bench too early and lost all rhythm. I like the way that we never gave up and managed to score tries, but for people to try to use it to rationalise a humiliating defeat is ridiculous.

They did empty their bench, but it's hardly a shit bench, and they're usually the ones finishing with a wet sail, not a damp squib. I don't think the Wallaby comeback in any way mitigates the shite that preceded it, but I don't think it should be completely dismissed either. I think it's reasonable to look at any situation and try to see how every facet played out - scrum, lineout, breakdown work, tackles made / missed, line breaks, etc............ Some things did work, most did not, but to ignore the ones that did is silly. Build on them and fucking fix the ones that were utter crap.

 

[cyclopath]

Biggest factor for the All Blacks was subbing off Crotty at 45mins, he is the defensive lynchpin and the most underrated player in that backline. That's when the ABs defence lost their structure

Yep, he is pure class.

 

[KAOPointman]

Man what are you ranting about? Quade has been shite all season. He's a liability and has been on the wain for years. Foley is barely a test quality 10 and can be pretty shit at times. Quade is much worse.

Calm your pants.

Mate if your talking to me...your can take your attitude elsewhere. I've backed up my opinions with more then my fair share of facts and as unbiased comprehensive analysis of Foley all year! Feel free to do the same yourself!
I watched the SA v Pumas game and Sanchez and Janties were awesome running their attacks! THATS the calibre of "playmaker" we need. If that means Quade (who WAS in the Wallaby squad) and hasn't even had a chance to show his form or lack of form) then so be it. I'd be thrilled. But IMHO......anyone right now is better then Foley(Beale maybe).......CANT WAIT for the game this week. Foley better pull his finger out.

 

[Up the Guts]

This is the sort of apologist papering over of a complete failure that really irks me. After such a dire performance, and it was dire regardless of the "late comeback" that had more to do with the ABs' errors and drop in intensity than any lift by the Wallabies, every fan should be looking to hold the coaching staff, and some players, accountable for what was a truly embarrassing performance.

It should have been clear to anyone watching Super Rugby that the Wallabies would put up that kind of first half performance. You might have hoped that a 4 week training camp could have improved some of the problems occurring at super level but it seems Cheika and co. were too busy with team bonding exercises like that tape over the mouth gambit to devote any time to developing effective systems.

The Wallabies coaching staff seem to be basing their coaching manual on b-grade US high school football movies where an unlikely bunch of misfits come together and eventually rise to the top. Of course there's a time and place for team bonding but there's a bit more to winning international rugby matches than knowing what the guy outside you likes to eat for lunch on the third Sunday of the month. That the Wallabies had 4 weeks together and their defensive structure wouldn't cut it at schoolboy level is squarely on Gray's head.

I mean, for fuck's sake, they seem to have regressed defensively under Cheika and Gray, granted Folau has never been a great defender but when he debuted against the Lions he had a great battle with North--anyone remember when he got that big hand under the ball and stopped a certain North try? Now he can't even defend on the wing without jamming, the cardinal sin of defence out wide. I still have a vivid recollection of my coach yelling every game of my u11 season to stay 'on my wing man' and nobody's telling this to the Wallabies?

 

[TOCC]

Whilst I've been a long term Simmons fan, he is horribly out of form and demonstrated nothing to suggest he should have been in the squad ahead of Carter or Phillip.. That selection is just baffling and doesn't reward good form.

 

[TOCC]

It should have been clear to anyone watching Super Rugby that the Wallabies would put up that kind of first half performance. You might have hoped that a 4 week training camp could have improved some of the problems occurring at super level but it seems Cheika and co. were too busy with team bonding exercises like that tape over the mouth gambit to devote any time to developing effective systems.

The Wallabies coaching staff seem to be basing their coaching manual on b-grade US high school football movies where an unlikely bunch of misfits come together and eventually rise to the top. Of course there's a time and place for team bonding but there's a bit more to winning international rugby matches than knowing what the guy outside you likes to eat for lunch on the third Sunday of the month. That the Wallabies had 4 weeks together and their defensive structure wouldn't cut it at schoolboy level is squarely on Gray's head.

I mean, for fuck's sake, they seem to have regressed defensively under Cheika and Gray, granted Folau has never been a great defender but when he debuted against the Lions he had a great battle with North--anyone remember when he got that big hand under the ball and stopped a certain North try? Now he can't even defend on the wing without jamming, the cardinal sin of defence out wide. I still have a vivid recollection of my coach yelling every game of my u11 season to stay 'on my wing man' and nobody's telling this to the Wallabies?

The same defensive deficiencies were highlighted in June when Scotland and Italy racked up their highest scores on Australian soil. To me that suggests the coaches refuse to acknowledge and address their failures, or if they have acknowledged it they don't know how to fix them.

 

[KAOPointman]

New Zealand players defend their positions. Our players simply can't play all aspects of their role. Kerevi can attack but couldnt defend against an u12s side. We have a long and labored history of carrying incomplete players. Folau for example, cant kick or tackle for shit but because he's so damn good going forward we make allowances. We chop and change to try and make a workable defence with incomplete players.

Tired of it. Get a player who can play an all round game for the position he is supposed to be playing in. Beale at fullback, Meakes or Hunt at 12, an actual number 6 at number 6. Timani at 8. If we do this then we don't have to fumble around in the dark like preteens getting in on for the first time in defense.

We'll still lose it just won't look so goddamn shambolic.

I'm sorry but here is where you show how much attention you pay when you watch.maybe you listen to the commentators rather then watch what actually happens too much!
For EG...You do realize the First try of the game was simply due to Foley defending on the wing and failing to trust his inside man.....who happened to be Kerevi who came across COVERING for someone else's rush tackle....and Kerevi covered his man and someone else's. Kerevi "supported" and covered his man perfectly.....it just looks easy to blame Kerevi because he was the one scrambling across field to support the new overlap. I notice NOONE including yourself has mentioned Foleys failing in defence...which directly cost the wallabies a try and the momentum! I find that INTERESTING!

And to imply " our players simply can't play any aspect of their role" is rediculous. It disrespects the ABs.....debutants....new combinations and the straight up fact the wallabies are playing the worlds best team with Zero game time. Plus every player makes bad descisions sometimes.....there is sooo much more to it then just piling on the hate because we lost and it's easy. The Wallabies won the second half...that's a HUGE positive!

 

[zer0]

They did empty their bench, but it's hardly a shit bench, and they're usually the ones finishing with a wet sail, not a damp squib.

Not lately. They've 'lost' the second half for their last three matches. For some perspective, they only lost the second half six times from 2012-2016. I believe this largely comes back to what I said earlier on Read's captaincy.

For mine, this team is currently leering closer to the 2005-2007 outfit rather than the clinical 2010-2015 teams.

 

[Froggy]

Okay KAOP, everything is Foley's fault, anyone who disagrees with you doesn't know what they're talking about, WE GET IT, but it's starting to get tedious.
Write to Cheika, we don't pick the team!

 

[sidelineview]

I believe most just drop soccer during or after high school. I don't imagine there's too much of a crossover, though Ali Williams was a notable example of one who did. Many (junior) NRL players are rugby players having a go in the NRL (e.g. Kasiano), who may switch back later (e.g. Milner-Skudder and Laumape).

But, as has been said, soccer has comfortably the largest participation amongst younger kids. Though basketball could end up giving it a run for its money.

Yeah soccer is very popular but we have AFL as well, which has made significant inroads into Sydney junior and school sport from South of the border. Unfortunately.
But from what I understand the whole structure of NZ school and junior rugby is superior to that of Australia's in terms of promoting the game and developing players at the grassroots level and beyond..