Wallabies vs England, Sydney, 3rd Test, 25 June @ 8:00pm

[Brumby Runner]

Tim gives me the impression, and has done so for years, that he speaks from a script rather than having anything insightful to say. He's not alone there among the commentators though.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I don't think the Bledisloe Cup matches and their subsequent results will tell us anything about where England are at. I know its fun for commentators and fans to jump to conclusions about these things but a rugby game over 80 minutes has far too many variables to draw connections with games against another nation.

 

[Mr Doug]

How long have I been harping on about specialist coaching and coaching general? I have reluctantly admitted that coaches at Super Level don't have the time to spend on basic skills, but then we have to ask where do the players learn the skills since out of school they are more and more moving into elite squads which don't have that time either apparently. The NRC is not a development competition.

So if the players aren't taught these skills in the EPS and Super sides then when do they learn?

I am sick of seeing players derided for failures in their skills execution when it is obvious that they haven't received adequate training. Even if they spend the time a Carter, Wilkinson or Farrell practicing on their own, if they have errors in technique it could well make the issues worse rather than better.

As a side it was mentioned by the Barnes in commentary that Farrell spends at least 40 minutes a day kicking.

In a 'previous life', (in the late 1990s), I managed a Colts team here on the Gold Coast. We were given a (kicking) training tape by the QRU, which featured the then England [71 caps], and British and Irish Lions [5 caps] #10, Rob Andrew.
As a former second rower, I can remember being impressed by the importance of how you held the ball, depending on what you were trying to achieve with your field kicks, even down to how you wanted the ball to land, (eg: roll straight ahead, or break to the left or to the right)!
I'm sure that in the absence of multiple top-class kicking coaches in this country, our players could do a lot worse that get hold of that video, or a more recent equivalent.

 

[Scrubber2050]

In a 'previous life', (in the late 1990s), I managed a Colts team here on the Gold Coast. We were given a (kicking) training tape by the QRU, which featured the then England [71 caps], and British and Irish Lions [5 caps] #10, Rob Andrew.
As a former second rower, I can remember being impressed by the importance of how you held the ball, depending on what you were trying to achieve with your field kicks, even down to how you wanted the ball to land, (eg: roll straight ahead, or break to the left or to the right)!
I'm sure that in the absence of multiple top-class kicking coaches in this country, our players could do a lot worse that get hold of that video, or a more recent equivalent.

Were they toe poking the place kicks back then Mr D

But good relevant post

 

[Mr Doug]

Were they toe poking the place kicks back then Mr D

But good relevant post

Hi Scrubber. I can't remember the place-kicking techniques on that video, just how "complicated" the field kicking was, and how a good kicker could 'manipulate' the ball! Our current players catch it, kick it, and hope for the best!!
BTW, Rob Andrew could kick (effectively) with both feet!

 

[Lindommer]

Been a bit crook this week so apologies for the tardiness in posting this report.

The occasion

It was a delight and joy to be at this match, dead rubber 'n' all. One can only presume a lot of Sydney Poms had purchased tickets some time ago and were going no matter what. Add travelling Poms and loyal Australian rugby supporters and a record crowd of 44,065 turned up. The atmosphere before the game around the stadium and over at the SCG with its new open space was one of a big party, a very cold party but fun nonetheless. Well done, rugby fans.

The venue

I was three from the front on the south-west corner (same corner as Moore's dodgy throw, Stephen had very right to smack the TJ/AR for distracting him. Poor call from the ref not to ask for a rethrow) and had excellent sightlines all match. The SFS is a great stadium to watch sport and a wonderful place to be when it's full. Anywhere on the side shells is perfect for viewing, although the ends could do with some improvement, maybe a complete, rounded set of seats a la Twickenham's the way to go. BUT, get away from the viewing area and the SFS is crap: narrow thoroughfares, which leads to cramped spaces for catering queues, and they're too dark (Pfitzy suggests paint the internal concrete walls with bright, white paint and put in decent lights). I can't see why the underneath spaces and, maybe, the bottom external walls can't be knocked down and rebuilt. To spend $1 billion on the mooted new stadium for an extra 10,000 seats which are going to be rarely used seems extravagant in the extreme to me. Get cracking and fix the service areas, SCG Trust and NSW Government.

Watching the AB/Wales test on the big screens at the back of the Noble Stand on a bitterly cold night here made me think what a great stadium the indoor one at Dunedin is. Canberra, get off your clacker and put in a copy on the Reid pool site. I'm sure the architects'd cut you a good deal.

The match

There are reports elsewhere which have chewed over this match previously so I won't go into it at length. Two things:

• Locks: it gives me no joy to be proven right about Skelton, he wasn't fit enough. It probably wasn't as apparent on TV as the cameras focus on the play around the ball, I made a point of watching him five minutes before half-time and he could hardly raise his feet; he was nowhere near the ball. Same for the second half. Picking big Willie was always a risk as there was the chance he may've had to play 80 minutes, and so it was. The best laid plans of mice and men..... I've been banging on for some time to give Coleman a go, and once again I was right: Adam was magnificent. If locks are sorted into lineout generals who generally pack down on the LH side the pecking order looks like Coleman (on potential), Simmons and Carter; rock-shifting grunts who pack at TH would be Arnold followed by Horwill and Skelton down the order with Douglas lurking to challenge for top spot. I'd cream my pants to see Coleman and Douglas pack down in an EoYT test. The positive thing is some sorting out was done, let's use that info.
• The selection of two backline conductors made our team look so much better. A shame To'omua wasn't fit enough to play another test. We're going to miss Matt, and Kurtley, next year.
• It was a great game of rugby, apart from the result.

 

[USARugger]

I may be totally wrong but I think Simmons generally packs on the THP side, at least for the Reds?