Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
My thoughts and something I've not done for a few years just to spur the discussion and redress some chronic Provincial bias.
The initial thoughts of many here and else where, including the commentators (and players) was the skills execution was poor. Including but not limited to kicking from hand. I have to ask the question, why has this been the case in every bad loss and scraped in lucky (thanks Mr Clancy
) since the retirement of Flatley? The poorness of of the Wallabies kicking from hand has been a point of discussion for the better part of a a decade and a half now, so why in a country dominated by a kicking from hand game is there no specialist coach in this key skill? Amazing that the ABs have an ex-AFL coach on their squad. Perhaps because it is this fascination with a purely "running" game that blinds them to the fact that the most successful teams have a complete game, and that includes the ability to judiciously kick the ball with accuracy and distance.
The Wallabies are attacking!!!!! Thank F%$# for that. At least we aren't putting up with the hope killing mind numbing crap that Deans served up. But this is not going to make the ride much easier, rather Bi-Polar like the highs will be higher and the lows lower. The reason being the lack of structures and combinations. The attack was just getting going after two games against the French (I'll ignore the real aberration in the middle) then the "master tactician" decided to change it and through Beale in at 10 and totally put it back to the start, against the ABs no less. WTF? Last night we got to see another start, and it was pretty good, though there is still a lack of a second wave in attack. and close support. That will come but only with combinations and consistency in selection and tactics.
Now for my ratings:-
1. Slipper - 9. Very good until injured. Doing all asked of him.
2. Hanson - 6. Played very well, and still developing, and it would be unfair to compare him to TPN or Moore but that is what is required. Not bad, just not dominanting.
3. Kepu 7 - defended and scrummaged well. Needs to up his work rate, but as we discussed here for a long time I'll accept a pot plant if he anchors the scrum and dominates. Either or Mr Kepu, and make no bones about it I think you have the best potential of any Prop in Oz.
4. Carter 4 - His form has really dipped. Just anonymous, and it isn't because he is buried doing the hidden hard yards his opposites do that as well and still manage to dominate conspicuously in attack and defence.
5. Simmons 3 - if he is there as a lineout master he is failing badly with at least two losses on Wallabies throws every game and no steals. Couple that with an impact like Carter excepting one or two tackles per game and the now obligatory stupid penalties every game I really fail to see why he gains selection.
6. Fardy 5 - trying hard there is no doubt. Just not having the impact we saw last year. I could almost think he is injured.
7. Hooper 8 - whilst I remain astounded at his work rate he needs help. and with two under performing backrow partners this trio is just ineffectual.
8. Palu 4 - one big tackle in 3 games in this RC. Thats it. This was without a doubt his best ever year in Super Rugby but that just hasn't translated. I am left wondering why. Is it the balance of the whole pack with only him and Kepu as real heavy traffic runners? At the Tahs there was Kepu, TPN, Jackpot, Skelton as well as him. Maybe. I don't know.
9. Phipps 8 - I don't know how people can say he under performed. Must be watching and judging on something other than speed to the breakdown and clearance, as well as passing effect. The only thing that Link must realise is that Phipps at this pace is not an 80 minute player. 65 at best.
10. Foley 8 - attacked the line and played flat. Passing accurately and kicking from the tee was point for point with one of the best in the world at that aspect. Kicking from hand remains an issue but he isn't alone there and nobody in Oz currently is any better, so its hard to mark him down on something he has never been coached to do properly.
12. To'omua 8 - provides the point of difference to Foley and looked so much better with the structure that Foley brings to 10. See Foley re kicking.
13. Kuridrani 8 - as good as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was for the Tahs this year at 13, he isn't as good as Kuridrani can be. He just has to put this sort of performance out there all the time, much the same as Mr consistency AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) does.
11. Horne 7 - not a winger, really doesn't have the top end pace to cover breakouts but is doing what is asked of him. See above re:- kicking
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 7 - Mr dependable/consistent. Doing what is asked of him but as with Horne can't compete with the likes of Savea/Habana/Pieters etc when it comes to pace.
15. Folau 7 - is struggling to develop an effective rugby kicking game, amazing that there is no dedicated specialist coach to help him and his team mates with this skill (or did I mention that?). He is being very heavily marked this year and without the support structures in attack he is having a much harder time of it.
16. Man-Rae - not used
17. Pec Cowan 8 - Did very well in all aspects.
18. Alexander 7 - Did well for the time he was on.
19. Horwill 6 - very silly penalty to start (loses 1), but picked it up from there. Should be starting in front of Simmons.
20. Higgers 8 - IMO made the biggest impact of all the subs. Conspicuous in maul defence which I was very happy to see.
21. Hodgeson 7 - Did well, and I'm very happy that he has got another cap. Certainly somebody worthy of consideration in a tight defensive oriented game.
22. White - Not enough time to rate
23. Beale 5 - all the hype, really? I just didn't see what he did that was so amazing. I don't see that he lifted the side, that came from the piggies, in particular Higgers and Horwill. In fact his first carry he was turned over. The try to Horne was created by Foley handling twice as good 10s often do. I just don't get it. Certainly worthy of a bench spot with his skill set covering multiple positions especially with the 7:2 split but please ease up on the hyperbole.
One final point, I hate the Wallabies defensive pattern. Much like the Qld pattern this year it is offering the outside to the opposition hoping the rush at 12 &13 can cut the attack off and shut it down, the touble is judicious accurate kicking and well execute passing get get in behind or around it and the Wallabies do not have the pace to cover. It just doesn't suit the skill set available.
The initial thoughts of many here and else where, including the commentators (and players) was the skills execution was poor. Including but not limited to kicking from hand. I have to ask the question, why has this been the case in every bad loss and scraped in lucky (thanks Mr Clancy
) since the retirement of Flatley? The poorness of of the Wallabies kicking from hand has been a point of discussion for the better part of a a decade and a half now, so why in a country dominated by a kicking from hand game is there no specialist coach in this key skill? Amazing that the ABs have an ex-AFL coach on their squad. Perhaps because it is this fascination with a purely "running" game that blinds them to the fact that the most successful teams have a complete game, and that includes the ability to judiciously kick the ball with accuracy and distance.The Wallabies are attacking!!!!! Thank F%$# for that. At least we aren't putting up with the hope killing mind numbing crap that Deans served up. But this is not going to make the ride much easier, rather Bi-Polar like the highs will be higher and the lows lower. The reason being the lack of structures and combinations. The attack was just getting going after two games against the French (I'll ignore the real aberration in the middle) then the "master tactician" decided to change it and through Beale in at 10 and totally put it back to the start, against the ABs no less. WTF? Last night we got to see another start, and it was pretty good, though there is still a lack of a second wave in attack. and close support. That will come but only with combinations and consistency in selection and tactics.
Now for my ratings:-
1. Slipper - 9. Very good until injured. Doing all asked of him.
2. Hanson - 6. Played very well, and still developing, and it would be unfair to compare him to TPN or Moore but that is what is required. Not bad, just not dominanting.
3. Kepu 7 - defended and scrummaged well. Needs to up his work rate, but as we discussed here for a long time I'll accept a pot plant if he anchors the scrum and dominates. Either or Mr Kepu, and make no bones about it I think you have the best potential of any Prop in Oz.
4. Carter 4 - His form has really dipped. Just anonymous, and it isn't because he is buried doing the hidden hard yards his opposites do that as well and still manage to dominate conspicuously in attack and defence.
5. Simmons 3 - if he is there as a lineout master he is failing badly with at least two losses on Wallabies throws every game and no steals. Couple that with an impact like Carter excepting one or two tackles per game and the now obligatory stupid penalties every game I really fail to see why he gains selection.
6. Fardy 5 - trying hard there is no doubt. Just not having the impact we saw last year. I could almost think he is injured.
7. Hooper 8 - whilst I remain astounded at his work rate he needs help. and with two under performing backrow partners this trio is just ineffectual.
8. Palu 4 - one big tackle in 3 games in this RC. Thats it. This was without a doubt his best ever year in Super Rugby but that just hasn't translated. I am left wondering why. Is it the balance of the whole pack with only him and Kepu as real heavy traffic runners? At the Tahs there was Kepu, TPN, Jackpot, Skelton as well as him. Maybe. I don't know.
9. Phipps 8 - I don't know how people can say he under performed. Must be watching and judging on something other than speed to the breakdown and clearance, as well as passing effect. The only thing that Link must realise is that Phipps at this pace is not an 80 minute player. 65 at best.
10. Foley 8 - attacked the line and played flat. Passing accurately and kicking from the tee was point for point with one of the best in the world at that aspect. Kicking from hand remains an issue but he isn't alone there and nobody in Oz currently is any better, so its hard to mark him down on something he has never been coached to do properly.
12. To'omua 8 - provides the point of difference to Foley and looked so much better with the structure that Foley brings to 10. See Foley re kicking.
13. Kuridrani 8 - as good as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was for the Tahs this year at 13, he isn't as good as Kuridrani can be. He just has to put this sort of performance out there all the time, much the same as Mr consistency AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) does.
11. Horne 7 - not a winger, really doesn't have the top end pace to cover breakouts but is doing what is asked of him. See above re:- kicking
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 7 - Mr dependable/consistent. Doing what is asked of him but as with Horne can't compete with the likes of Savea/Habana/Pieters etc when it comes to pace.
15. Folau 7 - is struggling to develop an effective rugby kicking game, amazing that there is no dedicated specialist coach to help him and his team mates with this skill (or did I mention that?). He is being very heavily marked this year and without the support structures in attack he is having a much harder time of it.
16. Man-Rae - not used
17. Pec Cowan 8 - Did very well in all aspects.
18. Alexander 7 - Did well for the time he was on.
19. Horwill 6 - very silly penalty to start (loses 1), but picked it up from there. Should be starting in front of Simmons.
20. Higgers 8 - IMO made the biggest impact of all the subs. Conspicuous in maul defence which I was very happy to see.
21. Hodgeson 7 - Did well, and I'm very happy that he has got another cap. Certainly somebody worthy of consideration in a tight defensive oriented game.
22. White - Not enough time to rate
23. Beale 5 - all the hype, really? I just didn't see what he did that was so amazing. I don't see that he lifted the side, that came from the piggies, in particular Higgers and Horwill. In fact his first carry he was turned over. The try to Horne was created by Foley handling twice as good 10s often do. I just don't get it. Certainly worthy of a bench spot with his skill set covering multiple positions especially with the 7:2 split but please ease up on the hyperbole.
One final point, I hate the Wallabies defensive pattern. Much like the Qld pattern this year it is offering the outside to the opposition hoping the rush at 12 &13 can cut the attack off and shut it down, the touble is judicious accurate kicking and well execute passing get get in behind or around it and the Wallabies do not have the pace to cover. It just doesn't suit the skill set available.
