Australia vs British and Irish Lions 2nd Test (Melbourne)
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jollyswagman
Ron Walden (29)
I agree with you in principle BR but I think what let us down in this case was that the support players weren't being accurate enough. Yes, they need to be deep enough in a support line sense but as soon as that player hits the ground they were too slow, or ineffective at cleaning out. This is what allowed Warburton to run amok, get some steals, slow it down or we were pinged for holding on.
I will be hugely disappointed if we don't see George Smith next week. His presence on the field alone let alone around the ruck would be huge....especially with the likelihood of Horwill not being there.
biggsy
Chilla Wilson (44)
Really, I wish I was watching it as a Blues and All Blacks Supporter.
If that was the All Blacks we would have got pumped
CTPE
Nev Cottrell (35)
Beale to 10, Folau to 15 and O'Connor to the wing. Tomane big question mark - did nothing.
Wales Fan
Alfred Walker (16)
Bairdy
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Not a great spectacle thanks to Joubert. Wont go into his decisions like the Poms did last week with Pollock, but will say 'Joubers' was the MOM as he consistently killed the game.
What fucking heart by the Men in Gold; never give up and play until the 80th minute. Absolutely proud of this team, and the scenes after the game where Kev was in tears - immense! Lost my voice screaming at my tv!
What fucking heart by the Men in Gold; never give up and play until the 80th minute. Absolutely proud of this team, and the scenes after the game where Kev was in tears - immense! Lost my voice screaming at my tv!
CTPE
Nev Cottrell (35)
Was hoping that Rudd may have had the numbers to roll Dingo as well - at least until the end of the Lions series before a fresh ARU election.
ACT Crusader
Jim Lenehan (48)
But is it the gameplan or the nerves and what's happening out on the field that causes a large number of the players to play within themselves and take fewer risks.
Tomane for example seemed non-phased, still carrying the ball in one hand in close quarters trying to get through lots of traffic. It's risky but it's what he does. But then you have Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) and even Genia at times playing conservative.
It was similar to the All Blacks last week when the game was close vs France, Ranger just went into his shell and played as conservative as I've ever seen him, trying not stuff up but at the same time being pretty ineffective. I don't think that was the gameplan on how he was to be used at all, but it's what happened because of the situation at hand.
Pfitzy
George Gregan (70)
Losing the ball in contact is more excusable than dropping it cold with no opponent in cooee.
Rain forecast in Sydney until Tuesday I think. Ground well drain well. Need some wind because not much sun will touch the grass this time of year.
It'll still be better than the fucking cesspit that is Suncorp. Fabulous stadium. Shit surface.
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Rain forecast in Sydney until Tuesday I think. Ground well drain well. Need some wind because not much sun will touch the grass this time of year.
It'll still be better than the fucking cesspit that is Suncorp. Fabulous stadium. Shit surface.
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maxdacat
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
was good to see him make a few more yards in his carries and some good hits but not quite a stand out. i think it was a hard game for anyone to standout.
ACT Crusader
Jim Lenehan (48)
Is that why he got dragged.....
Pfitzy
George Gregan (70)
Behind (in no particular order) Moore, Robinson, Horwill, Mowen, and probably even Hooper.
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jollyswagman
Ron Walden (29)
I am not a Palu hater so much and I thought the big guy had a better game tonight.......my issue with him is who he keeps on the bench. We have other options and I liked the shape of the pack a lot better when Mowen went to eight.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Last week I commented straight after the match I thought we had seen a change in the set up with the runners having more effective close support. Scott Allen told me I was dreaming. Well on the back of today's test I have to say yes I was. On too many occasions the Wallabies runners were truly one out, other sides do NOT do this. There was a clear 2-3 seconds after the tackle before a support player arrives. Hence the turnovers. Now with the runners and particularly the running forwards nobody is running with the intent of fast attack from the run, no offloads (because it adds risk) no mini-mauls and drive, no pick and drive (at pace). It is set up to be ruck to ruck, one out runner to one out runner.
As for Deans no dropping passes etc etc. That has been the excuse for the entire time he has been coach. Considering the Wallabies rarely run a backline play it is shocking that they cannot maintain security of the ball in contact. What do they do at training?
Pfitzy
George Gregan (70)
He made two decent runs later in the game, and got mullered the rest of the time.
Mostly he's playing like a number 6. Grunt work is good, but I'd like a line breaker
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Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
When have the Wallabies played differently in the last two years?
As for Tomane, he played exactly like he does for the Brumbies IMO.
jollyswagman
Ron Walden (29)
Agree with your there. The difference between tonight and last week was the lack of space out wide - or rather our inability to get the ball to the outside when the space was there. Tomane is of the same mold as Folau in that they need the space to be at their most damaging. When our midfield has nothing to threaten the Lions were able to slide way too easy and shut Tomane & Folau down. Too much crabbing across field by JOC (James O'Connor) when a nice long pass across the face of some dummy runners coming back on the angle would ave down the job on a couple of occasions.
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