TRC Round 1: South Africa v Australia, Sunday 21 July 1:05am AEST

[Rugbynutter39]

Ok just watched the game on replay and avoid listening to half time and after time commentary. For me wow all I noticed for first half was how good and crisp White's service was and general game management. Kerevi very good, hooper very busy, banks seemed to do ok, isi good but did not sight TK or Hodge for that matter.

And overall our decision to not have a speedy fast specialist winger proved to be a very dumb move. Expect changes for the back 3. Hodge probably goes, koriobete in and maybe start to think about Pulu as well in the squad for genuine specialist winger with pace.

 

[Ulrich]

I would just like to add something, and it is the reason I like Rassie. He may not be the best coach in the world, but ever since he has been part of this setup he has always been brutally honest. Below is a prime example; as extracted from a News24 article:

Erasmus did not mind admitting that Australia had surprised South Africa with their kicking tactics, even in the absence of the banished Israel Folau, widely considered the best fullback in the world when it comes to taking the aerial ball.

"Australia still had our number in the air, scrumhalf Nic White had some great kicks and their wings were excellent in the air."

"That caught us off-guard, I totally expected a long-kicking game. But we spent 60% of the match in our own half because of those box-kicks. I got that wrong," added Erasmus.

 

[Tex]

Reminded me of a beaten Rebels team. Lacked a dominant pack going forward, lost the collisions and a flat attack structure that was totally overwhelmed by fast aggressive defence.

 

[Up the Guts]

I would like to remind you all that from my point of view, and I believe any South African that has watched SB v AUS games, Kurtley Beale is your weapon.

I was glad he did not start. Considering your pack was getting somewhat beaten (yes, not necessarily in the scrums all the time), but on the ground, KB (Kurtley Beale) still managed to get things going and your backline is lethal even with what you consider lethargic wings.

We were fortunate on several calls, but to reiterate a point I made on The Roar recently to a comment regarding PSdT being inadequate at 7 - suck on that.

Again, this was not a B team from SA, just other members of the squad.

2 SA rugby of the year winner & possibly our best locks or close enough to it. The debutante at 9 went quite well I think.

Aus missed several chances to score which I think could have swung the game in their favour. Small little things like that. From being under pressure SA scored in the first half, not once, but twice.

All the best for you guys and thanks for the great game. I think next week's game against Argentina will be a real humdinger for a while until Australia run away with it and remind Arg that this is test match rugby.

We want to remind them too, because they need to give hell to France and especially England in the RWC.

Sound, cool-headed analysis.

 

[KOB1987]

Not sure if Beale is just a great super sub or if he deserves a starting place

I get your point and Banks was passable, but based on the combined efforts of the starting back three I'd have him out there for 80 minutes.

 

[Dan54]

We conceded two tries with a man in the bin. Settle down.

Yep but unfortunately, the Wallabies also conceded a try whi Boks had one in the bin.

Overall as a neutral, I thought it a pretty good test for first up in year, The Bokke were pretty good, though to be a little bit fair, I not sure how good the Wallabies made them look, I still think one of their big problems is the work off the ball, tend to sit back a bit I think. Wallabies would have to be happy with White, thought he went well, Kerevi really is playing bloody well this year, thought Salakai-Loto went well too, but set piece struggled a bit I thought.
Geez the Boks would be happy with their new 9, mind you he was also behind a very good pack.

 

[Up the Guts]

Yep but unfortunately, the Wallabies also conceded a try whi Boks had one in the bin.

Overall as a neutral, I thought it a pretty good test for first up in year, The Bokke were pretty good, though to be a little bit fair, I not sure how good the Wallabies made them look, I still think one of their big problems is the work off the ball, tend to sit back a bit I think. Wallabies would have to be happy with White, thought he went well, Kerevi really is playing bloody well this year, thought Salakai-Loto went well too, but set piece struggled a bit I thought.
Geez the Boks would be happy with their new 9, mind you he was also behind a very good pack.

They did score and well done to them but I think their YC was a little bit easier to manage than ours which left us a man down in a tired pack at altitude late in the game.

 

[RugbyReg]

Look I am sure it's been said on here already but the pacivity of our defensive line was glaring. Add to that two blindside tries where the defense was completely missing would indicate that the players are not responding the Grey and that he remains bloody lucky to be there

 

[Lorenzo]

It's illustrative to me that Kerevi is universally praised yet seemingly can't draw a man and pass when in a bigger space than London Hyde Park and with an option each side.

 

[cyclopath]

Interesting that Foley is still on the field. Hasnt done a thing.

He put the kick through for Hodge, who toed it down to the SA line and we almost scored; he made the break then put the kick through for DHP who bollocksed it up over the line. He kicked the goals. He did what he did. He didn't get yellow carded and do other random assorted idiotic crap. Others had that covered.

 

[Up the Guts]

He put the kick through for Hodge, who toed it down to the SA line and we almost scored; he made the break then put the kick through for DHP who bollocksed it up over the line. He kicked the goals. He did what he did. He didn't get yellow carded and do other random assorted idiotic crap. Others had that covered.

I thought he was actually did a pretty reasonable job behind a pack that wasn’t getting the same go forward as the South African. We bombed at least two tries, I don’t think it was a failure in attack so much as a failure to execute.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Lazy box kicks, nothing bombs, powder puff pack, smashed in the scrums, weak defence, lazy breakaways, inept outside backs. This game had it all, a wonderful effort by Australia.

Honestly the work at the breakdown was appalling. No-one over the ball, no contest for possession. Why do I constantly see Hooper on the wing? LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) anonymous, watch how he pulls up chasing on the try. He's not even the best 6 in QLD, not good enough at this level.

Foley still a liability in D easy metres to oppo, created nothing, nothing kicks at Ellis park should be booting them 60 yards.

Was Kuridrani on the park? First touch by Beale, turnover to Boks, 3 phase later try time. Last touch by Beale, turnover & try to Boks.

The less said about the chuckle brothers on the wings the better.

Mark for selection panel week 1 - 0/10.

 

[Up the Guts]

This is not and should never be a card. Paul Williams has a bad habit of shitting the bed every time he sees a big collision and just comes up with bullshit to justify a card. He’s the guy that gave Thor a yellow for a tackle he called “very close to being high (whatever, that means).”

 

[A mutterer]

View attachment 10892
This is not and should never be a card. Paul Williams has a bad habit of shitting the bed every time he sees a big collision and just comes up with bullshit to justify a card. He’s the guy that gave Thor a yellow for a tackle he called “very close to being high (whatever, that means).”

it was late after the whistle. yellow for the sheer stupidity in my book.

 

[formerflanker]

Hooper has a history of going for 7 points when 3 are on offer.
He must have Cheika's backing for that strategy or his direct instructions.
If not, Cheika would have stripped him of the captaincy long ago.

 

[Derpus]

There are problems and short comings with this team all over the place but the thing that kills them the most is their lack of brains.

Hooper not taking the three, DHP not covering the blimdside, Tupou with the late hit, Kerevi not being able to find a man when clean through and flanked by two supporting players, Banks dumb penalty at the start, pushed offloads, etc.

Edit: seeing Cheika whine about the ref again is painful. Fuck off you bellend.

Silly stuff that kills you a little bit at a time.

The positives for me were:

White, good box kicking and decision making. He and Genia ought be our 9s.

Banks looked good. I would put him at 14 though.

Tupous energy - yeah he got carded for a regulation clean out but he went our there with aggression and purpose. More than can be said for most.

Beale looked electric off the bench.

Hopefully, the second half was caused by a combination of altitude, and having half our starting team at home. Bring in our best front row and some actual wingers and well see where we are at.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Both antipodean teams are going out in the quarters. RWC2019 an NH fapfest.

 

[Purce]

They did look fatigued early in the game. I wonder how much impact the couple weeks of training over there had on the team. Was it a Chieka "toughen up" few weeks of training? Plus altitude.

I thought Tupou was committed to that clear out. It is very hard to pull up in an instant upon hearing the whistle. Basic human reaction time in situations like that is supposed to be 1.5 seconds, which is considered reasonably quick. Personally I think it was fine. Definitely not a shoulder charge.

 

[Strewthcobber]

View attachment 10892
This is not and should never be a card. Paul Williams has a bad habit of shitting the bed every time he sees a big collision and just comes up with bullshit to justify a card. He’s the guy that gave Thor a yellow for a tackle he called “very close to being high (whatever, that means).”

frame by frame there might be an argument, but if Tupou keeps smashing vulnerable players (after they've passed, after the whistle, this one is a pinned player nowhere near the ball) he's going to keep getting cards and I don't really have a problem with it. He's been lucky so far but one of them is going to go really bad, which will mean a long suspension, but also probably a major injury for someone.

 

['Tattsy'TaylorFan1]

Simmons clean out on Peter Steph du-Toit at the breakdown before Foley's try was really really good. Created the quick ball for Genia to feed Beale running a great line. To'omua carried pretty well and looked good coming off the bench.