Wales v Wallabies, Cardiff, Nov 30 2013

[Alex]

Weaknesses in Australian team. Second rows, props, blindside flanker and depth on bench. Teams like the orcs, nz and as are still going to present problems for you.

Thanks Cardiffblue - always interesting to get an outside perspective on things you are close to.

I certainly agree with you on the second rows. Any match in which our locks gain parity is a good one. Horwill has it in him to be better - and has been, but not recently. There is potential, but I am concerned that we will need to make do with some decent tradesmen in the meantime. A John Eales coming through would be great, but what would we do for a David Giffen.

I see a lot more potential in the front row. Fatcat and Palmer are genuinely good scrummagers, Kepu and Slipper do OK. Ryan, Sio, Smith have potential. What I struggle to understand what we are thinking - the scrum has become a disproportionate source of penalties. No one penalises you for being poor in any other position, so why do we tolerate selection of anyone other than the best scrummagers - and why does the backrow not stay bound. Against each of Ireland in the WC and England in the autumn we gave up 7 scrum penalties - unacceptable. I was very interested by Gary Gold's analysis back around 2010 when he demonstrated that Australia had the most penalised scrum amongst major nations, but also had the most successful attacking scrum when the scrum was allowed to complete. I think the Wallaby scrum is better than a lot of people think, but it needs to be even better to shake the perception of a decade.

A couple of injuries and we are in a world of trouble at hooker.

I actually think we are OK at 6, but desperately shallow at 8 (but this may be my expecting different things from teh two positions). An 8 who can make dominant hits, brutal cleanouts and big defence sapping carries close to the ruck will allow a Higgenbum/Fardy/Mowen to play to their strengths and look brilliant. A fit and firing Palu can do this, but too often he is not fit or firing and we don't have any others in the cupboard. Would have loved to have seen whether Higgers could reproduce the form he was showing last year at test level. Even Bob Dwyer might have been impressed.

Kuridrani has shown promise but 13 is not resolved. We do need centres with a passing game.

If our bench can include the likes of TPN, Fatcat, Fardy, Hooper, White, Lilo/Godwin, Beale etc we are in reasonable shape.....all depends on luck with injuries.

I suspect NZ and SA will cause problems for everyone with the current crop of talent available to them

 

[BDA]

Having a different view to yours,doesn't make it a lie.

I agree, but CardiffBlue didn't express the comment as an opinion, but as a fact. Perhaps lie was a poor choice of wording. Factually incorrect is probably the better term.

 

[fatprop]

Enjoyed the game.

I was thinking if Tomane didn't have great hands we would have lost that game.

Cooper's wild flicks needed to be caught, as did Folau's rubbish pass

 

[BPC]

Off to strangle a gnome

That's an interesting euphemism.

 

[Braveheart81]

The try by Leali'ifano was very All Blacks-esque in how clinical it was.

We forced a turnover from an excellent tackle, spread the ball quickly through numerous hands and scored in the opposite corner of the field.

There was some great bits of skill along the way but everyone involved did their part and made sure it happened.

It definitely showed what you can do from turnover ball if you move the ball quickly and in the direction of where there is an opportunity. Probably the best try we scored all year due to the combination of clinical execution with a little bit of razzle dazzle to top it off.

 

[JSRF10]

With 2015 in mind the Welsh should be worried. This game showed the same deficiencies that they have shown against SH opposition since Gatland took over. You can win a 6 Nations with decent defence and a dead eye goal kicker but their attacking plan of give the ball to George will only result in losses against better teams. Gatland hasn't shown any ability to develop a game plan capable of toppling the big 3.

Also those Quade Cooper offloads, the closest thing to rugby porn will get I think!

 

[Viking]

With 2015 in mind the Welsh should be worried. This game showed the same deficiencies that they have shown against SH opposition since Gatland took over. You can win a 6 Nations with decent defence and a dead eye goal kicker but their attacking plan of give the ball to George will only result in losses against better teams. Gatland hasn't shown any ability to develop a game plan capable of toppling the big 3.

Also those Quade Cooper offloads, the closest thing to rugby porn will get I think!

I think they got most bases covered for a complete team - apart from a playmaking 10. Just image how different there back-line attack would be with a Cooper, Sexton or Carter setting up the likes of North, Cuthbert, Roberts, and Half-penny coming into the line also. Their 10 is a real weak point IMO. Most other positions they are quite competitive.

 

[barbarian]

The best thing about Quade's performance was his running game. This is the last cog that he needed before he could get back to 'all time' best form. Through this season his passing and organisation were both good, but like Genia he can only be so effective if he doesn't present a threat to defensive lines on his own.

To see him smoke Halfpenny, and stride effortlessly through the Welsh defense was a thing of beauty. Shows his confidence is sky high, and I can't help feeling a bit disappointed we have to now go back to Super Rugby.
.

 

[I like to watch]

The try by Leali'ifano was very All Blacks-esque in how clinical it was.

We forced a turnover from an excellent tackle, spread the ball quickly through numerous hands and scored in the opposite corner of the field.

There was some great bits of skill along the way but everyone involved did their part and made sure it happened.

It definitely showed what you can do from turnover ball if you move the ball quickly and in the direction of where there is an opportunity. Probably the best try we scored all year due to the combination of clinical execution with a little bit of razzle dazzle to top it off.

Some might say that they played what was in front of them!

 

[Slim 293]

3. Scott Fardy is the find of the season.

He received a bear hug from his captain Ben Mowen in the 58th minute, just one example of his huge influence in the darker places.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/quade-cooper-puts-swagger-back-into-the-game-20131201-2yjj4.html#ixzz2mHSA5uZI

That was one of the many highlights for me........

The Welsh were attacking on our 5m line and Fardy puts in a massive cleanout at the ruck that leads to a turnover and penalty, followed by a pretty good clearance from Quade.......

It was definitely the best team performance for a long time........ can't say that anyone played badly........

 

[JSRF10]

I think they got most bases covered for a complete team - apart from a playmaking 10. Just image how different there back-line attack would be with a Cooper, Sexton or Carter setting up the likes of North, Cuthbert, Roberts, and Half-penny coming into the line also. Their 10 is a real weak point IMO. Most other positions they are quite competitive.

I'd add they need a 9 and another ball carrier in there back row also. Lydiate's lack of being able to do anything but tackle really weakens them IMO.

To paraphrase Shane Warne they haven't 30 odd test matches against the big 3 under Gatland, they've played the same game 30 times. Different game, same tactical and skill weaknesses.

 

[nugget]

Fardy is a god, and must never shave that beard. The bigger it gets the better he plays.

Mo'wen is a god too, but that mofo'n mo' is plain wrong, no mo' mo' mowen!

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Fardy is a god, and must never shave that beard. The bigger it gets the better he plays.

Mo'wen is a god too, but that mofo'n mo' is plain wrong, no mo' mo' mowen!

Scott Fardy Australias Samson

 

[Scotty]

The best thing about Quade's performance was his running game. This is the last cog that he needed before he could get back to 'all time' best form. Through this season his passing and organisation were both good, but like Genia he can only be so effective if he doesn't present a threat to defensive lines on his own.

To see him smoke Halfpenny, and stride effortlessly through the Welsh defense was a thing of beauty. Shows his confidence is sky high, and I can't help feeling a bit disappointed we have to now go back to Super Rugby.
.

I just logged on to make this exact same comment.

Cooper has re-found his running game and it creates so much more space for his outside men.

 

[wamberal]

If, and when, Michael Hooper learns to take the short-cuts (like his Manly colleague, George Smith) he will be a world class 7. Plus, he will beef up a bit as he ages, he needs a bit more strength over the ball. But he really put in at the Millenium.

 

[Forcefield]

Wales appear very reliant on Adam Jones and to a lesser extent Gethin Jenkins.

Neither of those guys are spring chickens.

If some more of our plays had stuck (e.g. Genia not dropping the ball), we'd have probably had the game far out of reach by the time the Welsh fightback came.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

The try by Leali'ifano was very All Blacks-esque in how clinical it was.

We forced a turnover from an excellent tackle, spread the ball quickly through numerous hands and scored in the opposite corner of the field.

There was some great bits of skill along the way but everyone involved did their part and made sure it happened.

It definitely showed what you can do from turnover ball if you move the ball quickly and in the direction of where there is an opportunity. Probably the best try we scored all year due to the combination of clinical execution with a little bit of razzle dazzle to top it off.

Yeah mate, totally agree. I actually leapt out my chair and cheered (even watching the replay) that try. It was breathtaking footy and something I hope we see a lot more of. Great tackle, great turnover, but then excellent presence of mind and the sight of Cooper flying onto the ball to set up the try was awesome. I could watch that shit over and over again.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Fardy is the real deal.
Simmons should keep the beard: he's a different player with it.

 

[Scrubber2050]

There were some great performances across the park
Cooper, Moore, Folau, Horwill, Slipper, Fardy and Hooper were great and the rest being very good. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) "scored" the best try for the Welsh - poor bastard To be behind by 7 at 1.54 and then come back shows a willingness and belief that has been missing for a while (actually a long time).

Things are on the up and up.

To me, it will be so interesting when Higgers, Pocock and Beale return
IMO Higgers v Fardy - jeez Fardy has played well and is the incumbant
Hooper v Poccock - Hopper has been the best performing wallaby for 2 years so should get the nod
Mowen v Palu - Mowen has performed OK but Palu's running over the advantage line will probably see him get the nod
Beale: Izzy has fullback locked down, The Badger 1 wing and big Henry probably the other. Does he slot in at 13 and push AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Great delimma for Mckenzie to have.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

shaping up very nicely. just a few areas that need a bit of work.
props, second row, centres.
Slipper
Moore
Kepu
Simmons (shaping up very nicely particularly in the lineout)
Horwill ( I think he will stick around in the XV and is picking up his game. would like to see a bit more work off the fringes and less penalties!)
Fardy (won't be unseated if his play keeps up)
Hooper ( i have heard a few times from different that pocock is really struggling with his knees).
Higginbotham (if he returns to form like he was showing at rebels, he's better than mowen and a more dynamic 8 man in the Kieran Read mold).
Genia
Cooper
Cummins
To'omua (he's awesome and a great back up 10 to have on the field as well)
Kurindrani (needs a bit more polish but another super rugby season, RC and tests should go a ways. his defense has really improved, though he just needs a bit more pace. such a big body, just needs to improve a few basics). If he doesn't improve as hoped, then AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Speight (if he qualifies for Aus) otherwise Tomane who is improving a lot each season. great power with the ball in hand, just needs to work on ball retention. he goes in to contact with one hand on the ball too much.
Israel.
TPN (we need a third hooker. Faainga is too much of a step down from Moore at the moment)
Benny - great hussle by him when he came on against wales. gained ground, got the ball back and scrummaged well. good little fat man
other prop - toughest one around. hopefully one of the new boys at the Rebels picks it up. Otherwise Alexander.
Hugh Pyle - boy got game
Ben Mowen - I think higgers at best is better than him, but you might start with Mowen and bring higgers on to run amok at half time.
Liam Gill - need another flanker and Gill can cover 6 as well.
Nick White - few players could pop up into the squad here, but for now white.
Lilo - solid defense, great kicking, good in attack. solid bench player
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - if not starting, on the bench to cover 13, 11, 14, and 15.
Kurtley Beale/Tomane - if beale returns to form and fitness, he'd be a cracking super sub and can cover everything but 9.

bubbling in the background and keeping the depth strong we have
Kimlin (when he's back) Neville, Douglas, Dennis, Mcalmen, Schatz, Palu for the back and second row
Alexander, Mafu, Faainga for the front row.
Phipps, Burgess, Strzacker for 9
To'omua, Lilo, Godwin, Beale? at 10.
Lilo, Godwin, Inman, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Tapuai and harris in the centres
Beale, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Mogg, at fullback.

good depth building in my opinion, just need more front row stocks.