Wallabies v France, Paris, Sun 6th Nov 7am AEDT

[Viking]

The good thing about this is that France is not gonna win the next RWC. If this average Wallabies side can match them, they are not the pinacle of the game

This was their first game, some key players not in the squad and a few first games back from injury.

But Dupont was contained pretty well, I actually think White was the better 9 on the day.

 

[Shiggins]

Great effort from the Wallabies.

I thought both french trys were not trys. The last one was a forward pass from a stationary palyer. The first was after a clear knock on and then looked held up

Payper was shocking around the rucks. France got away with basically everything and the Wallabies were penalised for yeh slightest of issues. The penalty near the end against the Wallabies for getting in the way of a pick and drive is a great example of the Wallabies copping the weakest penalties. The last call was 50/50. Probably a ruck, Hodge probably kicks the 3 from there and Wallabies win.

Wallabies made some bad errors in the last 10 and gave France a chance to win

 

[Derpus]

Anyway lets move on to the positives of what was ultimately a fairly reasonable performance.

The counter attacking try was a beaut. Didnt think we could do that kind of thing anymore.

I was impressed with Tupou, Ikitau, all of the locks (including Skelton), Holloway, Foketi (briefly) and Campbell.

Holloway in particular seems to have improved his physicality and was involved in a very consistent set piece (outside the FUCKING lineout throwing - how can a pro hooker not know how to throw?)

Campbell looked quite assured at the back and took his try well. Unfortunately, as predicted, his lack of physicality did end up costing us at the end. Penaut swatted him away like a fly. I dont buy that he isnt expected to make that tackle. He absolutely is.

White was fantastic. Any half decent playmaking came from him. Generally kicked and defended well too.

 

[Viking]

Agreed. Foley's bad bits are what everyone remembers, but his fingertip offload set up the breakout try, and he distributed well trip get Campbell in. The pass to nobody was bad of course, as was missing touch.

Is he going to get better? Probably not.

But he can definitely iron out the mistakes

But he's made the same mistakes almost every game now?

Two games in a row failed to kick for touch off a penalty. Two games in a row pushed a pass under pressure which led to tries.

I think with Foley, you just have to accept he is going to give away one or two crucial errors a game. I do agree, he was pretty good besides those errors, but I don't think he is the type of player who can "iron them out" otherwise he would have by the time he is age 34.

So you stick with Foley and accept his errors, and hope to score more points, or you go with Noah or Donaldson and develop them into less error prone players.

 

[LeCheese]

Campbell looked quite assured at the back and took his try well. Unfortunately, as predicted, his lack of physicality did end up costing us at the end. Penaut swatted him away like a fly. I dont buy that he isnt expected to make that tackle. He absolutely is.

Less a size/physicality issue and more covering tackle technique for mine - let's be real, most of our outside backs are probably making a similar attempt at that tackle. Thought Campbell tackled well and held his own in rucks the rest of the time.

White was fantastic. Any half decent playmaking came from him. Generally kicked and defended well too.

White did play well. His service was good and he kept his mouth shut. Thought Gordon smothered the game again. White and Tate has to be the combo moving forward

 

[stillmissit]

The biggest problem in our game is a lack of on field disciplne and that should be on the shoulders of the captain. This team needs a no-nonsense captain and not one that supports every whinge that the other 14 make. For every decision that Slipper gets turned over by the ref, we do 10 that we whinge about for no clear reason. The guys do not know the rules and latest suggestions from IRB.
If the players are, like most of us here, whingeing about the refs as the main reason they are losing then no wonder we are making no progress.

 

[Shiggins]

Another positive. There were plenty of times in the game were we would have seen wallaby players screaming at the ref for decisions they don't agree with. Not tonight. Good to see

 

[Viking]

Anyway lets move on to the positives of what was ultimately a fairly reasonable performance.

The counter attacking try was a beaut. Didnt think we could do that kind of thing anymore.

I was impressed with Tupou, Ikitau, all of the locks (including Skelton), Holloway, Foketi (briefly) and Campbell.

Holloway in particular seems to have improved his physicality and was involved in a very consistent set piece (outside the FUCKING lineout throwing - how can a pro hooker not know how to throw?)

Campbell looked quite assured at the back and took his try well. Unfortunately, as predicted, his lack of physicality did end up costing us at the end. Penaut swatted him away like a fly. I dont buy that he isnt expected to make that tackle. He absolutely is.

White was fantastic. Any half decent playmaking came from him. Generally kicked and defended well too.

Well said Derpus, this sums up my thoughts also.

Holloway starting to hit hi straps. Maybe there is something in giving players enough game time to find there feet?

I loved how Tupou, Skelton, and Valentini all hit it up one after the other, that was great to see. I want more of that. Tupou is back and played really well I thought.

Foketi ie becoming one of my favorite players now. I feel like he is just built for test rugby, he thrives on the pace and physicality of it. He has a nack of making a turnover which is much needed in the current squad.

Ikiatu is surely our most consistent player, Valetini a close second.

Both locks were solid. Porecki getting better around the park. I was happy with most the of the forwards.

 

[RugbyReg]

Agreed. Foley's bad bits are what everyone remembers, but his fingertip offload set up the breakout try, and he distributed well trip get Campbell in. The pass to nobody was bad of course, as was missing touch.

Is he going to get better? Probably not.

But he can definitely iron out the mistakes

that's my issue? Why are we bringing a 33 year old who we still need to iron out his mistakes???? Let's invest in the young kid who has showed some promise and work with him to iron out his mistakes?

 

[Viking]

I think Hooper is losing his effectiveness. He really is a step down this season. He seems to be working hard and trying hard but just doesn't have the same impact anymore.

I'd rather go all out attack and bring in Samu or start McReight as his turnovers would be very handy and even he has shown this season to be more industrious then Hooper on attack.

 

[Viking]

that's my issue? Why are we bringing a 33 year old who we still need to iron out his mistakes???? Let's invest in the young kid who has showed some promise and work with him to iron out his mistakes?

Well said. Foley makes mistakes. Always has and always will. 95% of the game he is cool, calm, and collected, then 5% of it is a liability.

 

[Shiggins]

Everyone should be fair on Hodge. The guy usualy comes on and does quite well. That penalty at the end goes to us for hands in the ruck and he probably wins the game for us.
It's not the path forward, everyone knows this but can we have a specialist 10 on the bench ?

 

[Silverado]

I also think they missed a clear kick out on the full outside the 22 but there was no reply of it..

I watched the game on delay, so rewound when Mitchell cast his doubts. Looked OK to me. The Stan commentators annoy me when they act like AB commentators and question the ref every t8me a close call goes against the Wobs. It's not a good look, IMHO

 

[rugboy]

Everyone should be fair on Hodge. The guy usualy comes on and does quite well. That penalty at the end goes to us for hands in the ruck and he probably wins the game for us.
It's not the path forward, everyone knows this but can we have a specialist 10 on the bench ?

I dont think too many people are blaming Hodge, it's on Rennie. Foley didn't have his best game with the pass to no one for the first try and not kicking out on the full, but in the last 5 minutes when a test is on the line I'd rather have a genuine 10 who had been out there the whole game than a guy who is really at best emergency injury cover at 10 to guide the team to a test win, particularly without White's experience at 9 and Paisami at 12.

 

[Derpus]

I think Hooper is losing his effectiveness. He really is a step down this season. He seems to be working hard and trying hard but just doesn't have the same impact anymore.

I'd rather go all out attack and bring in Samu or start McReight as his turnovers would be very handy and even he has shown this season to be more industrious then Hooper on attack.

McReight maybe but Samu isnt effective enough on defence and he does nothing for our ruck security.

 

[Viking]

I think it's fair to say Foley, Fainga, and Wright have had enough chances now, they are too consistent at making errors at crucial times, time to move on from them.

 

[stillmissit]

Holloway starting to hit hi straps. Maybe there is something in giving players enough game time to find there feet?

Agree Viking but the player must have enough basic skills and headroom to warrant additional time. Holloway has always had a good skill set but stuck in the 2nd row, his back-row skills have rarely been able to show.

 

[wamberal]

I would like to see Gleeson given a run on from the bench at 7.

 

[stillmissit]

I would like to see Gleeson given a run on from the bench at 7.

Next week most probably at 8 with Bobby V given a break, lesser replacing Holloway.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Thought Campbell had a blinder and hardly put a foot wrong.

The missed tackle to let in the try was a very difficult one. He has to trust his winger in that scenario but the way in which Wright missed his attempt gave Jock almost no chance to put his body in the right position as he was setting up for a ruck recovery. Great shame, it would have gone down as a starting debut for the ages if we'd won.

Very excited to have an out and out full back at full back.