Australia vs South Africa - Brisbane 7th Sept 2013

[Ulrich]

There's more that can be added...

6. Etzebeth's turnover on Genia was not really legal as he held on as tackler and never released. I suppose if you're constantly on the back foot these sorts of decisions go against you.

7. The Springboks' main focus this year has been the breakdown, hence the specialist Scottish assistant in this regard. They took some flack for the lacklustre performance in this area after Mendoza and worked hard on it this week. Australia won't always suffer like this.

8. Which goes to show as long as your forwards are taking a beating no matter how good your fetcher is (Hooper) his influence will be largely negated.

9. Australia perform very well even if their forwards only get parity. Tonight some glimpses could be seen despite a hammering up front. Again, things will get better.

10. History counts for nothing. Especially in the modern game where teams play one another several times a year.

 

[lewisr]

The problem as I see it,is the players Link relied upon heavily in the Reds setup,are not performing in Gold.
His refusal to drop Genia,is a good example.

Firstly, which players in the team ARE performing in gold?

Secondly, Genia is considered one of the best Halfbacks in the world. You don't just drop one of the World's best because his form is questionable. The All Blacks are a good example of how you can balance picking on form with a base of reliable world class players. I wouldn't have minded if he had gone with White, but I can see why he's continued to choose Genia. His refusal to drop Genia is not some obsession with giving Reds players an extra leg. Get over the provincialism, Ewen is a Victorian who coached the tahs and the reds for God's sake.

 

[PaarlBok]

Bokke played really well. To many ysters in the tight 5. Etsebet is simply awesome. Willie le Roux ditto in the backs. Lots of positives for the BIG one next week. Hard luck Aussies. You are in a bad habit now.

 

[PiXeL_Ninja]

I think with a rejigged back row that includes Pocock and Higgers would immediately improve the Wallabies.

Most of the shoving power comes from your locks, I would say that is your weakest position.

Quite ironic that ARU were pushing so hard to get rid of the old scrummaging laws (which in hindsight actually suited you chaps) even though there were more resets. In saying that though, I (an most of the scrummaging nations) are really enjoying the new scrums where it becomes a strength contest rather than who gets the best hit.

To those oaks who say that Deans atleast knew how to beat the boks, I am not sure that it would have been any different with these new laws that place a bigger emphasis on a solid scrum - as the team selected in the B & I lions is largely the same one fielded over the past couple of weeks.

Also helps when you have a half decent coach in Meyer, as the players admitted to having to been virtually self coached in the 08-11 tenure with PDivvy.

Next week the argies may put up a fight initially, but they dont have the 16-23 to go all the way.

 

[RoffsChoice]

I completely understand not dropping Genia, his poor form is fixed by a break and then a game - aka a week off, then playing the boks in Brisbane.
What I really think he needs is competition for the jersey, and the only way to get that is to drop him for the argies game. I don't mind if it's Phipps or White, just have Genia on the bench and give him 10mins top. He should pull something out for that and you'll see him play better for it.

 

[PiXeL_Ninja]

Bokke played really well. To many ysters in the tight 5. Etsebet is simply awesome. Willie le Roux ditto in the backs. Lots of positives for the BIG one next week. Hard luck Aussies. You are in a bad habit now.

Usually I can call a MotM after a game, but damn.. who do you pick? Bone Collector? Suppose if he hadnt been carded, so Vermeulen?

Would like to give it to that pack if it were up to me.

Also Pienaar - For most improved. Cleared up that crabbing before passing.

 

[Bardon]

Firstly, which players in the team ARE performing in gold?

Secondly, Genia is considered one of the best Halfbacks in the world. You don't just drop one of the World's best because his form is questionable. The All Blacks are a good example of how you can balance picking on form with a base of reliable world class players. I wouldn't have minded if he had gone with White, but I can see why he's continued to choose Genia. His refusal to drop Genia is not some obsession with giving Reds players an extra leg. Get over the provincialism, Ewen is a Victorian who coached the tahs and the reds for God's sake.

Genia on top form would walk into any test team in the world. However on current form alone, most Tier 1 nations would have him warming the bench and the rest wouldn't have him in their 23.

If he does start the next test I hope he rediscovers some of his form as he's a great player to watch when he's anywhere near the top of his game. But there should be no sacred cows and for some players a game or two on the bench is a great motivator to that end.

 

[Brumbieman]

1 Fat Cat
2 Moore
3 Kepu
4 Douglas
5 Horwill/Pyle if injured
6 Fardy
7 Hooper
8 McCalman
9 White
10 To'omua
11 Cummins
12 Horne
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14 Crawford
15 Folau

Fixed.

So, you'd drop the player who's scored 98% of our points in international rugby this season? Good one.

Crawford over Beiber? He was about the only back to actually make metres.

And, you'd pick Kepu again? He should be dragged out the back of the stadium and shot. I'd pick Tony fucking Abbot to play prop for Australia before Sekope fucking Kepu ever gets near a gold jersey again.

I've never seen such a lazy, mentally weak, unfit, technically incompetent front rower in all my fucking life. He was just beyond pathetic. Useless in the scrum, and his input around the field was to make soft tackles that gave each bok runner the advantage line + 5 metres, then lie down for a few minutes while the useless bastard slowly worked his way back onto his feet and staggered around like the office secretary on her first day at fat camp, until he found a breakdown 16 phases later and then attempt to clean out a Bok forward 4m away from the ball, lyinig motionless and face down on the grass. The technique of which was just to fall on top of him like the fat kid at the end of the compulsory PE class at school.

I'd pick Salesi "who ate all my pies" Ma'afood before Kepu. I nearly had a fucking stroke watching him tonight.

 

[mst]

There seems to be something not quite right in the Wallaby camp ...
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/a...-search-of-a-simpler-plan-20130907-2td1f.html
Not the best way to inspire team cohesion and unity by publicly insulting your players.

 

[crangs81]

Dropping Genia should be the kick up the arse the entire squad needs. The proplem comes with who gives Link the kick up the arse he needs to dish shit out

 

[SammyP]

There seems to be something not quite right in the Wallaby camp .
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/a...-search-of-a-simpler-plan-20130907-2td1f.html
Not the best way to inspire team cohesion and unity by publicly insulting your players.

Was just about to mention this article. Yes, most players were not at their best, but to suggest it is necessary to dumb the game plan down to match their skills is pretty poor. All of these players have been selected because of their skills and have previously demonstrated their ability. So what has changed? A worrying environment when a coach clearly has no faith in his team.
Plus now I have to face my South African workmate who will never let me hear the end of this! Not happy!

 

[jollyswagman]

So, you'd drop the player who's scored 98% of our points in international rugby this season? Good one.

Crawford over Beiber? He was about the only back to actually make metres.

And, you'd pick Kepu again? He should be dragged out the back of the stadium and shot. I'd pick Tony fucking Abbot to play prop for Australia before Sekope fucking Kepu ever gets near a gold jersey again.

I've never seen such a lazy, mentally weak, unfit, technically incompetent front rower in all my fucking life. He was just beyond pathetic. Useless in the scrum, and his input around the field was to make soft tackles that gave each bok runner the advantage line + 5 metres, then lie down for a few minutes while the useless bastard slowly worked his way back onto his feet and staggered around like the office secretary on her first day at fat camp, until he found a breakdown 16 phases later and then attempt to clean out a Bok forward 4m away from the ball, lyinig motionless and face down on the grass. The technique of which was just to fall on top of him like the fat kid at the end of the compulsory PE class at school.

I'd pick Salesi "who ate all my pies" Ma'afood before Kepu. I nearly had a fucking stroke watching him tonight.

Absolute GOLD Brumbieman!!!!! Couldn't have said it better!!!!

 

[Jfunk]

Can we finally end the Quade Cooper experiment. He was the Springboks best player last night. Set up 3 of their tries, nearly more.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Cummins need a new nickname...

Giving yourself a nickname based on an Internet sensation you're several years too late on is seven shades of lame...

So the Wallabies revival is to be led by changing nicknames?
Nothing else is working so I'll go with that.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

What Link is doing is weird. The problem with the Deans era was a lack of competitive work at the breakdown/line-out time and overall structure. Now they seem to be playing with less.

Attendance at rucks seems to be optional.
Link is talking about dumbing it down - I think that's a good option and I'd start with a gross dumbing down to an oversimplification:

A forwards job is to win and retain possession

 

[Slim 293]

So the Wallabies revival is to be led by changing nicknames?
Nothing else is working so I'll go with that.

I think individually they should all have outdated youtube fads for nicknames...........

Slipper - Laughing Baby
Moore - Numa Numa
Kepu - Sneezing Panda
Simmons - Friday (Rebecca Black Song)
Horwill - Leave Britney Alone!
Fardy - Harlem Shake
Hooper - Charlie Bit My Finger
Mowen - Tron Guy
Genia - Dramatic Chipmunk
Quade - Samwell
JOC (James O'Connor) - Star Wars Kid
Lilo - Tay Zonday
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - Kony 2012
Cummins - Honey Badger
Folau - Gangam Style


"Afro Ninja" is obviously reserved for Samo.........

 

[TooEasyWobbles]

Too easy...

 

[Pfitzy]

I'd pick Salesi "who ate all my pies" Ma'afood before Kepu. I nearly had a fucking stroke watching him tonight.

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.

 

[Slim 293]

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.

Questions like...........

Why is he the only one capable of putting players into gaps?

and the one I kept asking a few weeks ago.........

Where is his support??!!?

 

[HJ Nelson]

This will be a crap yellow. That is an excellent tackle.

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

Some more photos here.