Australia vs South Africa - Brisbane 7th Sept 2013

[RedsHappy]

The gravest mistake Link has made so far in his time with the Wallabies has nothing to with selections.

Rather he's made a dangerous, serious mistake in retaining the previous regime's assistant coaches in Blades and Scrivener, combined with a lurch to the comforting known in J McKay who sadly produced nothing innovative or effective in the Reds' attack since 2011. Further, unlike the ABs, no specialist kicking and mental skills coaches have been retained. Blades and Scrivener were essentially picked by Nucifora in early 2012, and they have produced nothing in terms of Wallaby defensive excellence and set piece or breakdown skill. They are not up to it, whilst far superior choices like, for example, L Fisher remain outside the Wallaby zone.

The Wallabies - like it or not - desperately need top quality technical coaching on virtually every aspect of elite rugby. The below-Wallaby Australian development system does not produce enough truly Test-ready elite players, and the right type of coaching and related man management skills are the only way to respond and compensate.

In short, the new CEO of the Wallaby team enterprise has so far mismanaged his organisation design and the results are and will be fully consequential to that.

The worrying omen a la Link was/is the decline in coaching intensity, success and application within the Reds coaching in 2012-13 leading to growing Reds inconsistency and attacking mediocrity. One Super title was seemingly enough for Link, he deemed himself thereafter ready for 'bigger things', but crucially, he didn't get better himself, he rested on laurels and gradually forgot the massive role his entire management team played in 2011's success. That team broke up through 2012 and things were never the same again.

The ARU's ongoing financial debacle and gross extravagance under JO'N may be factor in the so far poor investment decisions re a wholly new Wallaby coaching group. But one thing's for sure: successful elite team coaching in this era requires an outstanding, total coaching staff and S&C specialists. Compromise or mis-judge around that truth - as so often did Deans - and the prices will be heavy, enduring and, commercially speaking in terms of code income over time, highly expensive.

Link needs to make major organizational changes within the Wallaby management system very soon. If he does not and constructs himself as the central genius able to live with mediocre puppets underneath him, the Deans era will quickly look good in comparison (even though Link inherited a de-skilled, demotivated and rudderless team).


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[Dan54]

I thought it was a first class ass whipping of the first order last night. Haven't read everyones comments as yet but my take for what it is worth (which isn't much), although I never a fan of Deans he was sure right about Cooper, if you want to give your outsides room to attack, PASS the ball, don't run across to them to give them the ball, it just allows the defence to drift across and shut them down!! Unfortunately Genia is really struggling inside him, partly because he is not getting enough quick ball, and he not really good enough to adapt his game when it slowed down. Loosies are just not up to it, afraid Hooper to me is just not hard enough to play a game where he can has to actually fight for ball, and didn't see other two hurt anyone close to breakdown. In fact on that performance I would get a couple of real good surgeons to fix forwards, they could do it by transplanting the testicles of a few blokes that have some and put them in Wallaby forwards.

Having said that the Boks were bloody good, I worry how the ABs will handle them next week, but can't wait for that test, I think it will be a cracker.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I don't know. I wouldn't be so happy if that was myself, or one of my players.



Some more photos here.

The tackle raises a couple of other issues: the ref had blown for not taking the tap on the mark so this tackle did not occur in live play.
I'm not suggesting that means it shouldn't be sanctioned but some consistency in that department would be welcomed.
Secondly it was no more dangerous than the immediately following no arms, no ball shoulder from the Bok 5.
I would have yellowed both if I was on a mission to get dangerous tackles out of the game.

 

[Dan54]

I didn't really think the Hooper incident was worthy of YC, mind you I thought the Bok one in first half was bloody harsh too.

 

[scott]

Well the supposed messiah coach has failed to deliver, at least Dingo won his first test. Maybe this just proves what some of us have known for a long time, regardless who is coaching, most of these players are just not up to test rugby standard, most importantly they haven't got the passion or commitment let alone the skills.
No one bothering to catch the high ball, just stand there and watch it bounce, no one in any hurry to get to the breakdown resulting in way too many turnovers. Genia way too slow.
There is obvious talent in the backs, it's just nobody seems to know how to use it best.
I would agree that the forwards are where the main problems are, but are there players available to fix things in that department?

 

[Brumbieman]

Given your shit knowledge of the front row, and your relentless Brumbieboyism, I'm not surprised at your attitude.

The combination needs to be tried, because in pure scrummaging terms he's actually the best one left in the country.

And just because Lilo can kick didn't mean he's the answer at 12, because he raises too many other questions about or midfield attack. Maybe he needs to go to 10?

I'll say it: there are too many Reds in the team who were not picked on form, and haven't displayed any since. Simmons is part of a scrum and lineout (which apparently is his specialty) that has sputtered - he goes. Genia goes for reasons that are obvious. Cooper goes for again showing he isn't the messiah, and can't tackle despite what Margo and Jim tucker would have everyone believe.

The truth will set you free, Link.

Brumboyism?

Really? So, it's a wild provincial bias, and ludicrous over the top favouritism to suggest Brumbies players (who shat all over their Aussie opponents during the Super rugby season and made the grand final) but it's NOT provincial bias to suggest.....I don't know, Waratahs players who made up the bulk of our shithouse team of the last 5 years? Players who we KNOW are not test standard?

Do fuck off. My knowledge of the front row is certainly not great, but the one thing that I do know is that Sekope fucking Kepu is NOT the answer.


If that guy is the best pure scrummager left in the country, then we are truly fucked. It cant get much worse than him, so we might as well pick someone who is at least capable of providing at least ONE positive involvement during the game.

Funnily enough, I seem to have noticed our scrum actually gaining parity and the occasional dominance once Kepu was hooked, and Sio, Fainga'a and Alexander was our front row.

Do explain that to me, oh Gandalf of the Dark arts.


Edit: you've accidentally stumbled apon one proper truth: Lealiifano should be the 10. He's the best 10 in Australia, but the Brumbies play him at 12 to accomodate To'omua.

 

[Slim 293]

Maybe this just proves what some of us have known for a long time, regardless who is coaching, most of these players are just not up to test rugby standard, most importantly they haven't got the passion or commitment let alone the skills.

I don't buy it........

There is clearly some sort of regression that occurs when these guys play for Australia, but I refuse to believe we don't have the cattle...........

And it's only 3 tests into Link's career........ if they're playing like this next year then we should be worried, but there is probably some deadweight left over from the Deans era that needs to go........

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Slim 293 Please nominate the deadweight, and their liveweight successors.

 

[Slim 293]

Not on the field, but off it Link has been left with a couple of Deans' assistants whose positions must surely come under question.........

I'm willing to wait to see if there's any improvement over the coming months though........

 

[rotary hoe]

I live in the UK and only get on here every now and then after I have been on the piss.
But my last comments,I must have a break for a while: Watched Noddy on our telly today close to tears after the game at the demise of our rugby and how the boys laughed and joked w the saffas after the game. shake hands and fuck off ,it should hurt more..

i have said a few times our only decent 10 is Christian, he is the only one in Australia who has played well in that position in the lasy 2 years.

That is all irrelevant because our forwards were men against boys. we cannot compete till they harden up.

and have worked out the identity of Slim, cracks me up!! keep up the comments boy!!!

 

[Slim 293]

My identity?

 

[TSR]

While we had problems across the field, by far our biggest isssue is that we continue to be found out in the forward pack. Particularly at the breakdown.

The most painful part of last night for me was how the South Africans created turnovers and penalties at the breakdown almost unopposed.

I am not generally a fan of knee jerk sweeping changes, but I don't see the sense in continuing to reward mediocrity indefinitely either.

Unfortunately, my biggest concern is that it is actually possible that this is close to the best team available. I would like to see Carter & Luke Jones added to the mix. I am not certain they are up to it, but I reckon they would have at least given it more of a go than some that were on the field last night.

Very downbeat post, but there wasn't much to get excited about from last night.

 

[Ruggo]

Hard pill to swallow for Wallabies fans but that was a bloody good game from the Bokke and well done.

Your scrum looks right on the money. Best it has been for years. You played the set piece to set piece game that suits you really well and dictated the pace of the game all night. Your backs showed the promise that has been shown in super rugby fore a few years now. Some great attacking rugby last night and some of those tries the result of beautiful execution.

Your game against NZ next weekend is going to be epic. On the back of the precision of that performance I think you may very well get up.

As for the Wallabies, I am sure the arm chair critics will have all the answers but we will just have to wait and see.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Given your shit knowledge of the front row, and your relentless Brumbieboyism, I'm not surprised at your attitude.

The combination needs to be tried, because in pure scrummaging terms he's actually the best one left in the country.

And just because Lilo can kick didn't mean he's the answer at 12, because he raises too many other questions about or midfield attack. Maybe he needs to go to 10?

I'll say it: there are too many Reds in the team who were not picked on form, and haven't displayed any since. Simmons is part of a scrum and lineout (which apparently is his specialty) that has sputtered - he goes. Genia goes for reasons that are obvious. Cooper goes for again showing he isn't the messiah, and can't tackle despite what Margo and Jim tucker would have everyone believe.

The truth will set you free, Link.

I have never been in a front row, but I believe my powers of observation don't leave me deluded. From my viewing, Kepu was beaten in every scrum, and I can't recall him doing anything at all in the open. I wouldn't be as harsh as Brumbieman, but I am of a similar opinion. He is not up to it and must go.

Otherwise, I completely agree with your observations about Simmons, Genia and Cooper.

 

[TSR]

Yeah - must agree with Ruggo. South Africa were outstanding. Hats off to them.

 

[wamberal]

i have said a few times our only decent 10 is Christian, he is the only one in Australia who has played well in that position in the lasy 2 years.

He was sensational at 10 until he got injured. Since his return from injury he as only played 12 as far as I know.


I fear that the injury might have been a watershed for him, he seems to have lost the spark that he had prior to getting hurt. I would want to see him playing 10 at Soup first, before putting him there as first choice in the Wobbs.

 

[Blue]

Commiserations Wallaby fans. Fuck me I don't know where to from here. It was easy to blame Robbie but what now?

Well fark me I did not expect that. Now imaging we had a 10 who can kick the goals as well as mix it up with the ball in hand?

The forwards were awesome but lets see them back this performance up next week. Then I'll believe.

Vermeulen and Bismarck were men possessed. Pienaar had a good game for once but any halfback would look good behind that pack of heathens.

Quade and Kepu should never play for the Wobs again. Can't decide who was worse. To'omua has the skills and the best thing for Wob rugby is to give the guy time in test rugby.

Link should use the EOYT to give fringe players a chance. Start with guys like Sio and bring in people like Pyle. He has to do something.

 

[scott]

Not on the field, but off it Link has been left with a couple of Deans' assistants whose positions must surely come under question...

I'm willing to wait to see if there's any improvement over the coming months though....

"couple of Deans' assistants whose positions must surely come under question..."

Seriously?? which assistants? you are scraping the bottom of the barrel here for excuses re coaching dept surely....

 

[FrankLind]

I think a lot of people thought with Quade, Genia, McKenzie in Brisban the Reds magic from 2011 would be recaptured.

Thing is, the Boks have improved, whereas the above haven't. In fact they may all be worse.

 

[No4918]

Link should use the EOYT to give fringe players a chance. Start with guys like Sio and bring in people like Pyle. He has to do something.

I generally agreed with your post Blue but not this part. If we only end up with 2 wins from this TRC then Link will be forced to throw everything into the EOYT. TRC is a write off so take some new guys on the SA and Argie legs. EOYT NEEDS to be a success.