The 20,000 paying public at Hunter Stadium might disagree with you, BR, I certainly do. I reckon the CC boys wouldn't've given up that opportunity for quids.
First time I've been there since the Tahs/Fiji warmup match in 2009, much improved venue since the new western stand's completed. I like the fact the stands are quite steep, every spectator gets a good view of the game. When the ends are completed (what is it about mungo grounds with their crappy corporate boxes on stilts behind the goal posts?) it'll be an excellent stadium, certainly better for rectangular sports than either Canberra or Homebush.
On to the match. The BIL backs (loping Lions?) seem to've picked up from where they left off in SAf in 2009, BOD and Roberts understand each other very well and North's a bloody big handful. I was very impressed with the work the BILs did off the ball: on one occasion 'bout the middle of the second half three BIL players sprinted across to the middle and far right to make a well-structured and numbered backline. Sure enough, the ball was recycled near the left touch line and a try was scored in the right corner. I noticed in this instance there was only one CC player ambling along across the posts to get back into position resulting in a lack of numbers out wide. Towards the end of the first half there was a lovely try down my end when the ball went from the BILs' right side through every backs' hands (I think there may've been one extra in that backline movement) to the left winger and a try in the corner. What impressed me was the simple, short passes to he next bloke's midriff and the timing to deliver the ball before the tacklers arrived. Macqueen was very insistent on this: there are times in broken play when it's imperative the ball carrier NOT get tackled and die with the ball.
When CC had the ball the BILs' tackling was robust and efficient. I don't know how many turnovers CC committed but's it's not surprising there were many as the BILs looked so much better physically. And their defence was well-organised with an uncanny ability to shepherd the CC ball-carrier into a corral of BIL tacklers. But the Wallabies are going to be a considerable step up from the CC lads and I reckon they'll find progress through our backs to be bloody difficult.
The mass injection of replacements in the second half seemed to upset the BILs' cohesion more than CC's. About this time I reckon CC worked out the BILs were only flesh and blood and matched them bloody well in the set pieces.
Coupla beers and a pizza with Moses at The Grain Store (Newcastle's new craft beer venue) and chauffeuring duties home while he edited his match photos. A good night all round. Had a word with Grumbles at half time when he was trying to escape back to Sydney. Fancy that, a rugby reporter declining to watch all of a one-sided game. He missed a much more competitive second half.
First time I've been there since the Tahs/Fiji warmup match in 2009, much improved venue since the new western stand's completed. I like the fact the stands are quite steep, every spectator gets a good view of the game. When the ends are completed (what is it about mungo grounds with their crappy corporate boxes on stilts behind the goal posts?) it'll be an excellent stadium, certainly better for rectangular sports than either Canberra or Homebush.
On to the match. The BIL backs (loping Lions?) seem to've picked up from where they left off in SAf in 2009, BOD and Roberts understand each other very well and North's a bloody big handful. I was very impressed with the work the BILs did off the ball: on one occasion 'bout the middle of the second half three BIL players sprinted across to the middle and far right to make a well-structured and numbered backline. Sure enough, the ball was recycled near the left touch line and a try was scored in the right corner. I noticed in this instance there was only one CC player ambling along across the posts to get back into position resulting in a lack of numbers out wide. Towards the end of the first half there was a lovely try down my end when the ball went from the BILs' right side through every backs' hands (I think there may've been one extra in that backline movement) to the left winger and a try in the corner. What impressed me was the simple, short passes to he next bloke's midriff and the timing to deliver the ball before the tacklers arrived. Macqueen was very insistent on this: there are times in broken play when it's imperative the ball carrier NOT get tackled and die with the ball.
When CC had the ball the BILs' tackling was robust and efficient. I don't know how many turnovers CC committed but's it's not surprising there were many as the BILs looked so much better physically. And their defence was well-organised with an uncanny ability to shepherd the CC ball-carrier into a corral of BIL tacklers. But the Wallabies are going to be a considerable step up from the CC lads and I reckon they'll find progress through our backs to be bloody difficult.
The mass injection of replacements in the second half seemed to upset the BILs' cohesion more than CC's. About this time I reckon CC worked out the BILs were only flesh and blood and matched them bloody well in the set pieces.
Coupla beers and a pizza with Moses at The Grain Store (Newcastle's new craft beer venue) and chauffeuring duties home while he edited his match photos. A good night all round. Had a word with Grumbles at half time when he was trying to escape back to Sydney. Fancy that, a rugby reporter declining to watch all of a one-sided game. He missed a much more competitive second half.
