Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Well that was great to see. The Wallabies approached the game with the attitude and TACTICS from the first test. I choose to ignore the horrendous game that took place ion between.
My thought on the third test:-
1) As stated the intent was there from the start, with a more balanced game plan to the first test.
2) The application of the forwards was magnificent, in particular the grunt work done by Fardy, Slipper and Kepu around the rucks and in defence.
3) The running game of Palu was one of the best games I have ever seen from him at Super or Test level. When he was contained holes opened for the other running forwards in Kepu, TPN and Skelton. They all played extremely well in my view.
4) Set Piece - both scrum and lineout functioned well. I was somewhat disappointed in Simmons lineout calling when he attracted all the French jumpers and Skelton was alone at 2 and he didn't change the call for a quick 2 throw and lost the ball. They need to work on this aspect as Skelton is actually a lineout option if used properly, because unlike Timani before him Skelton actually has very good hands.
5) Nick White - I must say the last two games have disappointed me. The second test was a very poor match IMO simply because the skill execution was poor. White improved with a balanced game plan, but his skill execution was well below what he is capable of. Box kicks going 20 metres too deep and no where being contestable or even in a pressurable position. Loopy passes above, below or even behind the receiver. I have read much of the angst against Foley, but a key indicator of how he is playing is looking at what the dynamic is when White was replaced. The game sped up and the Wallabies play became more accurate directly leading to the try by Hooper. Foley has some issues by much of the problem is stemming from half back service.
6) To'omua - I feel that To'omua has been well below the form he showed at 12 last year. So far below that he is under genuine pressure from Beale for the position despite offering a totally different dynamic.
7) Skelton - despite the lineout issues that have been raised again and again by some I thought he had a dominating game. The fact that it was his debut is even more kudos. I have read that his numbers in terms of workrate and involvement were below some other lock prospects, but I care not one bit for statistics which take no account of actual effectiveness. I would take somebody who is very effective with 60% of the involvement of somebody else who has little to no effect on the outcomes.
8)A clean sweep against a 5 nations side, even a mid ranked 5 nations side, is nothing to dismiss. This is a very good result and the nature of the last test, in a great venue before a full house is just what Australian Rugby needed to show case the game.
One final thought, although it is impossible to compare games, the NZ v Eng Test 3 showed how far the Wallabies have to lift in terms of skill execution. The first 30 minutes by the ABs in heavy rain was at least as good as the Wallabies in the dry. The English did well to fight back as they did but that game was over before half time because of that brilliant execution of base skills. Anybody harping on about Brown being a great 15 needs to watch these last three tests, he wouldn't rank in the top 5 in the world IMO.
My thought on the third test:-
1) As stated the intent was there from the start, with a more balanced game plan to the first test.
2) The application of the forwards was magnificent, in particular the grunt work done by Fardy, Slipper and Kepu around the rucks and in defence.
3) The running game of Palu was one of the best games I have ever seen from him at Super or Test level. When he was contained holes opened for the other running forwards in Kepu, TPN and Skelton. They all played extremely well in my view.
4) Set Piece - both scrum and lineout functioned well. I was somewhat disappointed in Simmons lineout calling when he attracted all the French jumpers and Skelton was alone at 2 and he didn't change the call for a quick 2 throw and lost the ball. They need to work on this aspect as Skelton is actually a lineout option if used properly, because unlike Timani before him Skelton actually has very good hands.
5) Nick White - I must say the last two games have disappointed me. The second test was a very poor match IMO simply because the skill execution was poor. White improved with a balanced game plan, but his skill execution was well below what he is capable of. Box kicks going 20 metres too deep and no where being contestable or even in a pressurable position. Loopy passes above, below or even behind the receiver. I have read much of the angst against Foley, but a key indicator of how he is playing is looking at what the dynamic is when White was replaced. The game sped up and the Wallabies play became more accurate directly leading to the try by Hooper. Foley has some issues by much of the problem is stemming from half back service.
6) To'omua - I feel that To'omua has been well below the form he showed at 12 last year. So far below that he is under genuine pressure from Beale for the position despite offering a totally different dynamic.
7) Skelton - despite the lineout issues that have been raised again and again by some I thought he had a dominating game. The fact that it was his debut is even more kudos. I have read that his numbers in terms of workrate and involvement were below some other lock prospects, but I care not one bit for statistics which take no account of actual effectiveness. I would take somebody who is very effective with 60% of the involvement of somebody else who has little to no effect on the outcomes.
8)A clean sweep against a 5 nations side, even a mid ranked 5 nations side, is nothing to dismiss. This is a very good result and the nature of the last test, in a great venue before a full house is just what Australian Rugby needed to show case the game.
One final thought, although it is impossible to compare games, the NZ v Eng Test 3 showed how far the Wallabies have to lift in terms of skill execution. The first 30 minutes by the ABs in heavy rain was at least as good as the Wallabies in the dry. The English did well to fight back as they did but that game was over before half time because of that brilliant execution of base skills. Anybody harping on about Brown being a great 15 needs to watch these last three tests, he wouldn't rank in the top 5 in the world IMO.
