SEE FULL HIGHLIGHTS HERE
It’s just the first half, so you’ll only see the Wallabies score 3 tries in this clip…..
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaKzlewbsY4[/youtube]
Share on Facebook
Tags: video highlights
Video highlights: Wallabies vs Wales 1st half
Tags: video highlights
About the Author
Matt a.k.a Gagger or GAGR (short for GreenAndGoldRugby, not a fetish)
Matt started G&GR just before the 2007 Rugby World Cup and has been enslaved ever since. You can follow him on Twitter here http://www.twitter.com/Matt_Gagger 
Great to see Benny (aka The Bald Panda) mixing it with the backs. As Rocky would say, I bet he was a bit in awe of himself after that one.
I think Quade is a tremendous talent. Reminds me a lot of a ‘bennj marshall’ type talent, a real natural with the ball in his hands. And I personally beleive he will develop into an excellent player one day. Against Wales I think he played really well however two things to consider –
1. His kick in behind the defence when at 2nd receiver for Digby and Hynes. The ball just went dead and we didn’t get the try. But!!!!…. I think Cooper decided he was going to kick before he got the ball (perhaps this is a team tactic as Gits did it earlier i.e. after we make a half break and suck in the fullback, we pass two wide and then kick again after the winger has come up because he thinks we are running)… but if he had of looked and passed Hynes and Digby had a two on one and would have scored easily. So… at the end of the day, the coaches will point this out to Quade and he will learn from it. Being able to play what’s in front of you, is a special talent. Quade has it. Gits has it. But, the great players get it right 99% of the time, and Quade still needs to up his percentage.
2. Has anyone noticed how Quade’s defence has improved greatly and he willingly does put his body and shoulder into the contact… but has anyone noticed how at present he is not finishing his tackles? That he hits, grabs, tackles etc and then releases or drops off… rather than continuing his drive and completing his tackle. Something the defensive coach will no doubt have noticed and will work with Quade to improve.
What I’m looking forward to is this possible excellent Wallaby backline over the next few years –
9. Genia
10/12 – any combination of Barnes, Gits, Cooper, Beale
13 – GASNIER!!!!! – he will carve up out wide after two long passes from Gits/Barnes/Cooper etc.
11 and 14 – any combination of Digby, Hynes, Mitchell, and that new lad Morahan?
15 – AAC, Mitchell, Cameron Shephard etc.
and in the pack – hopefully McMeniman and Vickerman will be back for further depth and size.
Whilst Mafu, Kepu in the front row will improve more in the future from working with Alexander and Robinson.
But keep your eyes on the Qld young prop, Daley and the NSW back up hooker Fitzgerald?
Things are looking positive!
P.S – Its just a shame we lost Lote and never saw the best of Tahu!
And JOC? He deserves a spot in there somewhere. I like how Robbie kept him on a leash on this tour more than he did in the 3N. I put him up there with Cooper and Beale as a future startes and after a couple of more super 14/15 seasons he will be ready for the world cup.
Sorry!… Forgot about JOC. He will certainly develop into a first class international in the future.
Need to throw in Rob Horne also. Great potential.
Another player to watch – Scott Higginbottom (backrow) from the Reds.
At the end of the day… we could list a lot of good players, but the reality is, I think within 2 years the Wallabies will be no 1 in the world, as all these youngsters will mature and develop.
Not quite convinced on QC’s defensive ability yet. Sure he seemed more committed but he really needs to need to work on his tackling. He was bouncing off a few of those Welsh platers.
re QC’s defensive peculiarities, I’ve noticed that from Giteau as well lately. I have a feeling it’s intentional, and is meant to give access to the fetchers and other assorted forwards while they get back in position for the next phase.
Robinson’s effort from 0:56 in that vid was one of my favourite moments of the tour. What a legend.
It was great to see that they knew what to do once they crossed the ten metre mark which has been plaguing them this year.
I’ve been bangin’ on for years, to anyone who would listen…what the Wobblies needed to do was to run straight at the line, spin it wide and back up. Not really rocket science. That try by Horwell was a cracker and proves my point.The bash and barge up the middle won’t score as many tries as going wide.