← Previous Post
Next Post →

Wallabies v. Scotland: Player Ratings

Jack Norton June 6, 2012 84

No GravatarWith the Wallabies’ season off to such a cracking start, who can’t wait to get stuck into rating some of the star performances from the first ever Test in Newcastle?

If the rest of you don’t mind I’m just going to read and re-read that first sentence until I believe it.

Some of you might venture beyond these first couple of lines and, while you’re free to do so, I wouldn’t recommend it.

…

Last night’s game was depressing for so many reasons.

It was depressing because the Wallabies lost.

The weather was depressing.

The game itself was depressing — the rain and gale-force winds meant more dropped ball and shithouse kicks than you  see at a Tahs game.

The Wallabies were always ripe for an ambush in Newcastle. The team was scraped together three days ago, and many of these guys have never played together. To boot, six players were making their debuts.

The fact it was scheduled on a Tuesday after a weekend of Super Rugby and four days before a Test against Wales is just mind-boggling.

Rating the players after a game like this is almost unfair, but here goes:

Player Rating  Comments
James Slipper 5 Toiled hard around the park, with success. Scrummaged well but gave away the final penalty.
Stephen Moore 7 Looked near his best, constantly working and aggressive in contact. Led by example in the forwards and G&GR Man of the Match.
Dan Palmer 6 Solid debut, scrum looked solid while he was on and he almost played the full game (subbed at 69 min).
Sitaleki Timani 5 Got through a lot of work, but seems a little ineffective in his carries for a man of his size. Needs angry pills.
Nathan Sharpe 7 Usual performance. Led the forwards, led the lineout and mauls, and got things done.
Dave Dennis 6 A decent debut given the conditions, always working in the tight. Hopefully we’ll see more soon.
David Pocock (c) 5 As a player he performed very well. Poey tackled everything and secured turnovers despite constant targeting from the Scots. Needs to be a more vocal captain, both to his men and the referee. Probably should have gone for the sticks too but given the weather it may have been the right call.
Scott Higginbotham 5 Played a lot more tight than usual, as the conditions dictated, and got through a decent amount of work. Ran too upright and was ineffective in too many carries.
Will Genia 3 Not great. Service and kicking were OK but too often he looked like he had no idea what to do. Needed to show more leadership and give direction.
Berrick Barnes 5 Kicked well under the circumstances but distribution was not impressive. Will probably get more than his share of the blame.
Joseph Tomane 7 Best of the backs, along with Diggers. Always looking to run and saved a certain try from a Genia fumble.
Mike Harris 5 Only touched the ball when taking place kicks, and got two from four in horrible conditions. I guess that’s 50 per cent.
Anthony Faingaa 5 Tackled very well but his only real chances were in defence, as he hardly saw the ball.
Digby Ioane 7 Very good, with limited chances. Always looking to run and always threatening when he did.
Luke Morahan 4 Not a good debut. Probably got pneumonia and would have been easier to see with one of those foil hypothermia blankets. Not his doing but must have shot his confidence.
Saia Faingaa - Did not play.
Ben Alexander 5 Came on with 10 to go, and put in around the park. The scrum looked noticeably less solid while he was on.
Rob Simmons 6 Almost scored a try and was much more effective than usual in tight. Should probably have started over Timani.
Michael Hooper 5 Sent Pocock to the blindside when he came on but looked a little overwhelmed. He must have done some work — he was covered in blood at full time.
Nick Phipps - Did not play.
Pat McCabe - Did not play.
Adam Ashley-Cooper - Did not play.

The patented G&GR ratings guide:

10 – A legendary performance to go down in the history books
9 – Outstanding performance: Man of the match shoo-in
8 – Excellent all-round game
7 – Good game with a few sparkles
6 – Solid performance
5 – Average – ho hum
4 – Below par
3 – Had a bad game
2 – Tell your story walking pal
1 – A complete joke

Fire away with your ratings and comments!

TAGS » , , ,
POSTED IN » Rugby, Scotland, Wallabies
About the author: Jack Norton View all posts by
Tell 'em nothing, take 'em nowhere and get 'em home early.


Twitter -

Related »

Waratahs Lineout Woes

Waratahs Lineout Woes

The Thursday Top 5

The Thursday Top 5

Who Should Be The Wallaby Fly-half?

Who Should Be The Wallaby Fly-half?

WHERE TO NOW FOR THE ARU?

WHERE TO NOW FOR THE ARU?

Discussion

  • Joe Mac

    I actually thought Timani played really well. He saved a certain try and got through a ton of work….

    They should have played more Brumbies players. They are acclimatised to these conditions after training in Canberra all season as opposed to all of the Red’s players who have been training in sunny Queensland.

    • Who?

      That certain try save by Timani, that wasn’t where he interfered with the scrummie at the back of a ruck, forcing a knock on around 7 minutes in, was it..? I thought it should’ve been a penalty, and could easily have been a card. It was a card against the Lions when they did it to Genia a couple of weeks ago.

      And you’d have thought a coach from the South Island would’ve been able to tell blokes how to play in wet and windy conditions, wouldn’t you? You know, little things, like, “Don’t put the high ball up into the wind.”

      • JezaCBHS

        Im from the south and actually, when its wet ans windy putting it up in the air is generally a popular tactic. It makes it harder to deal with at full back

        • Robson

          JezaCBHS, I’ve played rugby in the south and the west (the wettest place in NZ) as well as the far north (just as wet, not as windy) and I gotta tell you that putting the ball high when you are playing into the wind is near suicidal because you give the opposition a real opportunity to attack the ball when it has drifed behind you. With the wind – different story, but not too high and not too much velocity, but enough to put the pill awkwardly behind them.

    • Brax

      You obviously haven’t been to Queensland for a while…. been a lot of rain about in the last couple of years.

      I had to watch on a dodgy stream so can’t make too much comment on your ratings. However I think 3 is a bit harsh for Genia, you’re effectively making him the scapegoat when compared to all the other ratings.

      And it was Harris who kicked the ball dead.

      • Patrick

        No 3 was about right for Genia, he really needed to start moving the ball off the deck, particularly in the second, and instead he slowed down to junior rugby speed and effectively killed any chance we had of actually getting any momentum.

        • muffy

          How many times did we see a forward start his charge, have to stop and go again while Genia stuffed around????

          It put a taget on a flat footed forward runner who never crossed the gain line.

          Sorry but even through my Red tinted glasses, Genia needs to take a lot of blame

        • Skippy

          Patrick mate… a lot of criticism for Genia here. Bit harsh mate… I’d like to see you play 9 behind the Wallaby forward pack, with the limited attacking ability and ball running ability of this pack and tactics from the coach… in that weather with a ball that was obviously incredibly hard to handle. Pull your head in mate.

        • Robson

          I think that Genia has to take a lot of the responsibility too, but in fairness the poor fellah’s brain was just about numb with the cold. It’s hard to make quality decisions in any environment when you feel like a walking ice block let alone when you feel the same in a rugby test match.

        • Kiap

          If players like Genia are getting so cold out there in these sorts of conditions that it is affecting motor-control, etc, then why aren’t they wearing better clothing?

          Get an extra layer on.

          A lightweight warmer polyprop version of a shoulder protection vest or bike shorts similar to what the players often already wear may be all that’s needed.

          Especially for the backs who were often standing out there shivering waiting for the ball which never arrived.

      • AngrySeahorse

        Oh no Skippy that “it’s the Wallaby forward packs fault” ain’t gonna fly this time. I was there watching the game. The forwards actually were doing some very good carries, Pocock & Moore in particular, we were in fact gaining ground in most cases. There is no where to hide, Genia had a shocker. He was slow to use the ball at the breakdown, he passed the ball slow & lobbed to Barnes which then took away any time Barnes had in front of a storming (excuse the pun) Scottish defense & lastly coughed up the ball nearly resulting in a try if not for Tomane cleaning it up.

        I like Genia but christ – call a spade a spade.

  • dobduff11

    Pretty sure Hooper bumped into Joe Ansbro on his way off the field..

  • Meatsack

    Rating the players after a game like this is almost unfair,

    I agree, and I think you’ve probably rated a lot of them 1-2 points too low just because we lost. Scotland just had great defense, but on the same token, so did we.

    • suckerforred

      I actually think that he rated them 1-2 points to high. but having said that – how do you rate Harris who only touch the ball 4 times to put it on the tee? Was that his fault?

      Rating for Deans – 3. If we lose on Saturday the will drop.

      Rating for JON – 2. And don’t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out.

      • Patrick

        I think you’re being generous to JON there champ….

        That asshole needs to go.

        • suckerforred

          Good point.

        • Patrick

          That was not actually me but I do agree that JO’N and Deans need to go.

          That was about the most tactically naive match I’ve seen us play in a long time, and Genia should have been subbed off at the 60mins mark if not earlier.

      • johnny-boy

        I would rate Deans a 1, just for turning up. Couldn’t see that he made any other worthwhile contribution. I would rate him even higher if he didn’t turn up. So would the players.

        • Graeme

          As anti-Deans and disappointed as I am, with only a couple of days of preparation vs a team that spent month(s) in preparation, I think he is hardly to blame.

          But for agreeing to schedule such a farce JON deserves a 1. If this game was played purely for the money, how many future sales have been lost by supporters who actually did turn up and will never want to turn up again to such an embarrassment.

    • Cantab

      I can’t remember a game with worst weather, but saying a few of the Scotish blokes probably got sunburnt

      • Cantab

        …great English.

  • suckerforred

    I see Dingo has returned to not knowing how, when & why to use his bench.

    • The Rant

      It’s starting all over again! You would given the short turn around to saturday that at least pocock and genia would get subbed!

      But as usual Deans has no trust in 16-22. The tighter the game – the less chance he’ll send reinforcements, completely backwards mentality. He showed at the WC he has no problems playing people into the ground or without proper prep – how many players needed surgery or time off post WC? Elsom, Palu, Mitchell, QC, McCabe, Vickerman, Beale etc…

    • Robson

      Returned to not knowing? Did he ever know?

  • Jets

    You’re very kind to Genia. A 1 at best. He seems to have massive issues playing in gold.

  • TahMan

    I thought it was Harris that kicked the ball dead, not Morahan?

    • Jack Norton

      Hmmm, I may have got that one wrong but you’re the second to mention it so I may have to change things….

      • redbull

        Nah, I am pretty sure it was Morahan. I thought he played well until that point. Was looking for the ball whenever it got past Barnes.

        • RJ

          100% it was Morohan

        • p.Tah

          After the ball went dead the camera focused on Morahan after the kick, I though why was the fullback playing first receiver. I checked the tape and it was in fact Harris who kicked it, but what are the chances the ball would travel 70m? Right idea, just bad execution because of the weather.

        • The Rant

          replays is on youtube – it was 12 – HARRIS – stellar debut!

  • Red Kev

    I don’t think anyone played poorly enough for a 3 nor well enough for a 7 to be honest on your scale.

    Where the hell are you getting the notion that Timani got through a lot of work, he was insipid.
    Timani: 7 runs for 16 metres, 4 tackles, 7 ruck involvements (in 55 minutes).
    Sharpe: 18 runs for 39 metres, 10 tackles and 17 ruck involvements (in 80 mintues).

    I’d also like to see the tool brigade come in here and lambast Higginbotham’s work rate:
    Pocock: 9 runs for 21 metres, 15 tackles, 10 ruck involvements (in 80 minutes).
    Higginbotham: 9 runs for 34 metres, 11 tackles, 9 ruck involvements (in 80 minutes).
    Seems pretty damn good to me.

    • Scarfman

      Pocock hit 10 rucks? Those stats are no good bro.

    • mac bazzy

      Complete goose. Pocock is an openside and is not meant/designed to blockbustingly run. At 8 you have greater responsibility and opportunity.

      I like Higginbotham,but how effective were his “ruck involvements” compared to Poie, who may have gained three or four turnovers/penalties to H’s none.

      Ditto Timani vs Shapre. I like Sharpe, especially at lineout, but his ballrunning was not penetrative last night. Timani’s was, and its no coincidence the scrum was dominant with Timani and Palmer on. Kept us in the game against the fircest wind ive seen on a rugby pitch, including Munster last year.

      Congrats Scots – a well deserved win. Wallaby selectors need to quit.

    • Nipper

      Yeah, your Higgy was awesome. World-beater.

      • Red Kev

        No actually I thought Higginbotham played decidedly average. I posted the stats to stop certain others (you all know who you are) trying to come in and label him lazy. The stats were the only ones I could find – from Rugbyheaven – and should be taken with a grain of salt. But I can’t be bothered spending 4 hours to generate my own.

        I do my own evaluation (similar to the above) just for fun after Wallaby games and also rated Higginbotham a 5:

        Higginbotham 5/10 – good defensive and lineout work but thoroughly ineffective running in tight, body position too high in contact, plus although his scrum work has improved from last year he was still not good enough on the engage, he’ll need to rectify those issues if he genuinely wants to be a number eight.

        • Fin

          was he ‘decidedly average’ or ‘pretty damn good’? -i’m confused or is it you?

        • Red Kev

          It’s you.
          Workrate (if you read the post you will realise that is what I am referring to – comparable to Pocock who noone has ever called lazy) = pretty damn good.
          Overall performance / player rating = decidedly average.
          The difference occurs because stats never tell you the whole story as I posted a couple of weeks ago.

    • Patrick

      Actually I was really disappointed with Higginbotham.

      He lost a ball three metres from the try-line because he thought he would just run straight at the defender with the ball on his chest: works a treat if you are Jonah Lomu or its the under-eights but pretty stupid any other time. Let alone in the conditions!

      He then rarely drove low and hard into contact (as the ball-carrier) and thus struggled to really get quick front-foot ball back to Genia (who then wouldn’t have passed it quickly anyway, but that’s another story).

    • redbull

      Nah Kev, I recall the 20-30 minute mark was a lot of pick and drive and Higgers was unsighted until the line cam and he spilt it from being too high in the tackle. Same thing happened in the second half. The only ruck involvement he seemed to have was leaning in after it went to ground. A pretty shit performance from Higgers I thought.

      A bit unfair on Genia though. I thought he played okay but not great.

      Pretty glad Barnes played his best rugby while at the Reds and took his shit game to NSW. What have you bastards done to him?

  • mac bazzy

    The idiot brigade out in force yet gain. I am talking abou the Wallaby selectors and certain posters above.

    The ultimate reason we lost was Simmons and Alexander labouring under the misapprehension that they can scrummage. ALEXANDER IS TOO TALL FOR THP, AND COLLAPSED EVERYTHING AFTER A STELLAR PERFORMANCE FROM PALMER – 8/10. Repeatedly Alexander is selected as a THP when Kepu, Palmer are demonstrably better and now Sio and Salesi Manu will be monsters as early as next season.

    Turning to SIMMONS – YOU ARE A PONCE. Timani can scrummage, saved a try and made several breaks. Actual linebreaks, unlike Sharpe who trucks it up one dimensionally and never passes/breaks the line.

    Lineout and scrums went to bits when ALEXANDER AND SIMMONS CAME ON.

    Here is the greatest blunder: no mauls. FFS. Going to ground creating a contest against NH teams in a filthy wet match? Dear me….Get multidimensional: MAULS, MAULS MAULS IN THE WET, FFS.

    • Red Kev

      Not to cloud your rant with facts or anything, but the scrum and lineout were still holding parity wh en Simmons came on. He actually played the best of the forwards in his 25 minutes actually making an impact.
      Timani was thoroughly useless. I am surprised anyone that watched the match could think otherwise.
      The scrum collapsed when Alexander came on.

      • mac bazzy

        The scrum diminished when Simmons came on and diminished further when Alexander came on. The first half was a powerhouse scrummaging performance from the Wobs. In fact, the middle 40 was clearly dominant. Alexander is a poor THP and a fantastic LHP, but the penny just isnt dropping for Deans. Simmons is a young lock that shouldn’t have played gainst the strong Irish pack last year and wont blossom, if at all, until his mid 20′s.

        The Tah scrum overpowered all comers except 1/2 vs Chiefs. They should be selected as one this weekend. Having said that, the Brumbies front row, with Palmer at THP and Alexander at LHP, is also a fine unit.

        No Reds, rebels or Force props should be allowed anywhere near the Wallaby starting team, although Scott Sio and Salesi Manu will each start for the Wallabies sooner rather than later.

        • Fatflanker

          Spot on. The Oz scrum was the better one for most of the game. Lose one scrum badly and every kiwi, pom and saffa jumps in banging on about the weak Oz tight 5.

          We will beat the Welsh 2-1.

    • thebigcode

      Hardly anyone had a good game, except maybe for Digby and Moore. I am not sure what Tomane did to deserve the same rating as Digby, although he wasn’t bad.

      I thought Timani and Sharpe were both very poor. Timani showed some flashes but seemed pretty useless around the field. Sharpe got isolated a number of times, turned it over a few times and just generally worried me everytime he touched the ball.

      We must be watching different games mac bazzy because I thought Simmons was good when he came on, and had a real impact on the game. He made a couple of good runs and added the hunger Timani didn’t seem to have. I didn’t notice the scrum go to crap when he came on, but rather when Alexander came on it did look a bit shaky. However it was Slipper that gave away the final penalty.

      As for that final penalty, it was a penalty, but that same scrum had been play on all game because the ball was playable at the back. For mine that’s good officiating because no one wants to watch constant scrum resets, especially in those appalling conditions. So there is a consistency issue there.

      In the end its moot really as we hardly deserved to win. Too many players not up to it, and insulting scheduling from the ARU with one of the home nations coming across the world to play on a Tuesday night sandwiched between Super rugby and another Test.

      • redbull

        Sharpe played his usual role of line-out and “ruck to reset” ball carrying. He seems to struggle to get over the advantage line but always seems to make it there. Sharpe is picked because you know exactly what you will get and it will be solid. I thought he played well. Timani does seem ineffective for a big bugger. Was pleased Simmons came on and got his hands on the ball and was effective in tight.

      • mac bazzy

        yeah we were watching different games. every time simmons packs down in the scrum i cover my eyes. he cant jump in the lineout. he may be good when he grows into his body – mid 20′s? facial mannerisms and body language not that of a champion.

        • mattyinred

          Mac bazzy – do I smell a bit of realistic lycanthrope about you? Why so aggressive? Why we all come here to read and discuss is due to the fact its passionate without being aggressive or overtly derogatory on things outside the player/coaches/refs actions around the game. We can disagree and argue with passion (and intelligence) not anger or abuse – can you do that?

        • mac bazzy

          mattyinred –

          i see you dont have a reply button – why? i dont fancy your name calling either. the world of the polysyllabic is foreign to me – you must have a uni degree or somefink.

          yes, still angry that the reds players + deans lost us the rwc. dicky scrum – simmons/slipper/alexander THP and i think the useless midget finger was in the mix too.

          yes, still angry deans continually fails to pick the correct horses for the NH course, although I am delighted to see the Tah front row being selected as one this weekend. I will hang my hat on their performance one way or the other.

          All the very best

          Mac Bazzy

  • tommy

    Are you serious in saying that Morahan’s kick that went dead in goal was his first touch of the game or are you just guessing? If it is true, it has got to be some kind of world record!

    • ballboyz

      no world record. it was harris that kicked ball dead not morahan.

      • RJ

        Negative. as Moro

        • The Rant

          negative. as Harris (youtube has full game if you want to check – 76th minute)

  • Seb V

    So both Higgers and Timani were poor ball carriers. Why do we always have these big athletic players who are poor ball carriers? Frustrates the hell out of me.

    • RJ

      HIggers is an epci ball carrier. thats not even up for debate

      • Red Kev

        Mate I’m as one-eyed a Higginbotham supporter as you’ll find but even I know Higger’s ball carrying skills (superb as they are) are more suited to wide channels. His running in tight is no where near as effective as his runs in the 10-12-13 channels. Last night he also committed the cardinal sin for anyone carrying the ball in tight – he was not low enough in the contact.

        • redsman

          That is why even as a red fan I know SH is not suited to test rugby. He could be but he has been taught so many bad habits by mckenzie which means he will be on the test scrap heap.

          maybe he’ll learn better habits at the rebels?

  • ST

    I have to question how some of these guys were selected in the first place.

    Timani has been ordinary all season for the Waratahs. Someone built like him should make much more of an impact.

    As for Barnes, there are subbies teams in Sydney that he wouldn’t make, let alone playing 10 for the Wallabies. Far too slow, both his passing and kicking are very poor.

    The main problem is an inability to score points without some kind of ‘x-factor’ player doing something miraculous. Take Beale, Cooper and O’Connor out of the team and there is no method for scoring tries in the backs.

  • AJ

    A few things.

    Barnes – this bullshit about him being a bad super rugby player and a quality test player is just that. You don’t become a good player just by being selected for the Wallabies – you’re made to look good by better players around you and this is the case with Barnes. WTF has he won for the Wallabies? Nothing. Yes we had no one else, but seriously this guy offers sweet f*ck all in terms of tactical nous, ball distribution or kicking so why the f*ck is he at first receiver!

    Slipper – cannot play tight head any better than Alexander. Again we’re short on depth here but has Deans been watching this guy get pummelled at Super rugby level and crucified by the refs all season? So why the f*ck put him at tighthead at test level? By comparison I read Palmer has given away three penalties all season at tighthead. Leave him on, and sub Slipper for Alexander.Idiots.

    Pocock – don’t make your talisman your captain. This guy needs to focus on getting stuck into the opposition forward pack and doing work. He doesn’t have McCaw’s influence over refs so let him do his job and find Sharpe or Horwill or some other senior player to manage the ref. He ain’t the captain, I’d rather Genia there. He seems to lift his game to another level when given the responsibility.

    Why the hell did Pocock go for touch twice in our 22? Nuts absolutely nuts in a game so close. I love Sam Ikin but his garbage about going for the try is just stupid at international level – you take the points when you can.

    Overall body height looked absolutely shit from our forward pack (barring Moore). This is school boy – why the hell are these guys being held up by two or more players – has Deans learnt nothing from the Ireland game last year? Just not good enough.

    Well done Scots – you took your opportunities when it mattered. Well deserved winners.

    • bill

      That was one of Pocock’s flatter games, he hasn’t qualified as our talisman yet. He’s a wonderful player but he’s not George Smith… besides we’d have to be winning for him to be a talisman.

      It’s difficult for an openside to be captain, but probably no more so than for a halfback, both guys are probably in the ref’s eye more than most positions, excepting the props.

    • AngrySeahorse

      So you say you don’t become a better player just because you are selected to play for the Wallabies (Barnes) but you think giving Genia the captaincy would have magically “lift his game to another level when given the responsibility”. Can you see how both methods of reasoning are pretty much the same? One is assuming a jersey will lift someone, the other is the title of a captaincy – but same principle. You can argue that there is proof captaincy raises Genias’ game, well based on the RWC anyone could equally argue that Barnes did do much better at test level than when at Super Rugby level.

      Genia admitted himself that the cold had effected him (as it had done a number of the team obviously), the cold slows down thinking of those who are effected by it. If Genia had the captaincy Tuesday based on this then he would not have been his usual self. If anything he would have been bogged down & the result probably would’ve been a bigger margin favouring the Scots. Actually being at the game & seeing what was happening I’m glad Genia wasn’t the captain.

  • AJ

    One more rant.

    Regardless of whether we beat Wales in the series – we won’t win the Rugby Championship or the Bledisloe (sorry its all that f*cken matters, even if we did lose last night). If this is the case Deans must go by the end of the year.

    McKenzie deserves three years to plan for the next World Cup and cultivate a squad and playing style. The good thing about link is he knows how to build a style and strategy around every team – it doesn’t always work – but he understands you have to adapt and be smarter tha the other sides. He can provide – but for gods sake give him absolute control over scheduling and final right of approval/veto over all selections. He needs complete control – no fuckin meddling from senior management or bullshit castol ad filming – it needs to be his way for at least the next three years. The guy is a detailed planner let him work his magic.

    • johnny-boy

      Amen to that AJ

      • adc

        Deans has to go before the 4 Nations/Bledisloe to give McKenzie time to build a team for the Lions tour.

  • Larkhage

    “Sitaleki Timani: …Needs angry pills.”

    Haha, I agree

  • http://BigFella Big Fella

    Hey Wallaby forwards, here’s a concept for wet weather rugby;
    - Don’t panic or throw short passes, get tight and set in your maul, take smaller steps forward with your feet wider apart for balance, actually lift and carry the front player as your spearhead forward DON’T put all of your collective weight on him until he collapses.

  • fetch

    I am that close to starting a:

    http://www.Facebook.com / McKenzie for Coach

    page its not funny. Im serious … With 100 000 likes , it will have an impact right to the top if media catches on.

    Any Likers ?

    • RJ

      Can you please befriend the page “Bryce Lawrence to never referee again”. They got 80,000 so surely some spill over there.

      If Bryce never refs the wallabies/reds, and Dingo never coaches the wallabies/reds, I could actually die a happy man today knowing the two biggest cluster fuck situations in my rugby world are ending.

  • bill

    Due to channel 9 perth having technical difficulties, i.e. they got railroaded by foxsports, or their studio crew were too busy blowing each other, i only saw the first 10 or 20 minutes …but i did get to see it 3 f*ing times. Scheduled replay from 2330 to 0130, filled with national anthems and maybe the first 20 minutes.

    Personally in that time I thought Scotland looked fresh, the Wallabies looked flat as tacks. From what I saw the scots were backing their hands in the conditions and we didn’t.

    I didn’t think Higgers had a great game but thought he did ok in terrms of workrate, but none of the forwards held much structure in setting stuff up, frankly I think we were lucky not to concede a try or two early. Tomane and Timani saved us. Tomane, that was a really good trysaving cleanup, he looked the goods there, but aimless everywhere else in his game from what I saw. Hopefully he played his way into the game.

    In that first 20 Stephen Moore normally one of our most effective ball runners just looked flat and without energy, worst game I’ve seen him play. Palmer needs to be a better in general play, but he’s young. Thought Timani was ok. Sharpe, well, his usual classy self with the proviso that every time he carts the ball up he looks like turning it over through getting isolated. Dennis another flat player in terms of energy. Pocock, again like Moore, maybe a ok game from a mere mortal’s perspective but from what he can do one of his worse games. Overall a very poor team effort.

    I did see the last penalty on highlights, I think Scotland were playing more composed than we were, more as a team, but that penalty was a joke. That scottish prop should consider the 10m platform at the olympics, the judges obviously like him.

  • Bones

    Didnt see the game but can conclude this: after the match Deans stated something like “we had more than enough territory and ball to win, but just couldnt find a way through” = forwards were ok except for 8 who should be able to barge over, and problem was no ceativity in inside backs = this was Barnes’ Matt Giteau / Samoa moment and Barnes just played his last test.

  • Red Kev

    I have another rating to add to the list (although not a player).
    Jaco Peyper 9/10
    I thought he reffed an excellent game – tough conditions, he allowed enough leniency for people falling over, talked to the captains about penalties as they crept up and didn’t immediately blow his whistle at scrum time.
    About the only criticism I could make is that he should have been stricter on last feet offside play.

    • bill

      I thought his breakdown was almost as ordinary as his last penalty.

  • rugby nerd

    Why all the surprise and nasty comments about Deans?

    Can we not see that although we do have arguably (without too many injuries to key players )the 2nd best 1st XV in the world……. we are not even close to being up there with rugby super powers ie we are not the 2nd best rugby nation!

    NZ, SA, France, England and more recently Wales have far more resources at their disposable both in physical resources and the cultural significance of the game. These are the super powers of world rugby.

    We are doen with the likes of Ireland, Argentina and Scotland in terms of a rugby nation. We should expect to lose games if we do not put out our strongest xv.

    • Redman

      What are joke…we dont have the 2nd best 15 in the world…who told you that.what ignorance. Id rate the safas,france and wales ahead of the wobles.nobody fears this team they’re easy beats. Cant win more than 3in a row.dnt even talk about beatin the abs they’re in another division.just another year of metrosexuals hyping them selves up again.as for the trinats win lets forget it.do you really think they would of let us have it if they realy gave a shit about it? Rugby development in this country is shit.so sick of seein 2nd string kiwis in our squad.ie mike harris.if he cant make the blues how the hell did he make the woblies.really scraping the bottom of the barrell nw.

      • rugby nerd

        um we are ranked 2nd by the irb

        but did you read the rest of my comment? what are you arguing about exactly?

  • Fuckin Dingeos

    How long will Australian rugby fans have to suffer Deans’s inefficent gameplans, use of the bench and selections. For fuck sake get rid of him. Put an actual Australian who can actually coach and understands that winning isn’t something you do once, but is a habit that winners continuely do. Do you see New Zealand losing to Scotland? No. Due to horrible selections, poor team culture and miss-executed gameplans the modern era Wallabies have and will continue to lose to teams like Scotland. Without a change in culture at the ARU things will stay the same, no even Pocock can save us from the current regime.

    • jonny boy is hat you again?

      sit down!

    • Fanatic

      Agreed. watching Deans take our Wallabies to full Wobble on the world stage at every opportunity is like watching someone continuously kick your dog and tell you it is just an accident. How low do we have to go before we say enough is enough. losing to scotland for the first time in 30 years at home should just about be the end of Deans. If not, when will this coaches win loss ratio catch up with him?

  • Robson

    Jack’s comment about Higginbotham being too upright off the back of the scrum is spot on the money.

    He needs some lessons from Buck Shelford about getting across the game line off the back. I rolled my eyes and groaned when I saw him come off the back of a scrum right on their line with his head in the air. That was a try that needed to be scored and a lot of other No. 8s in the world would have come periously close to scoring it; if not in fact crossing the paint for 5.

    Higgers never even looked like it.

    • jrsONE

      Yep, he was comfortably handled by the Scottish halfback.
      SH can be an effective runner, but he relies on pace as much as power, hence his good gains for the Reds when he is playing a bit wider. 120kg monster required at 8 in those conditions.

  • johnny-boy

    There is a danger that the Wallabies have entered that mental strike zone where they have just switched off to what Deans is saying (and who can blame them) and are unable to get cohesively motivated, in the hope that Deans gets sacked as soon as possible and replaced by McKenzie. Deans doesnt have the decency to resign, or is still deluded he is actually helping the Wallabies.

    • jonny boy is that you again?

      there you are. sit down boy!

  • Fulltime

    Any thoughts on the rest of the coaching team?

    • Fanatic

      who is coaching the backs????
      If I could put in a dream team I would put some good old brumbies rugby backlines into the Wallabies and get Bernie Larkim working the backs. this would help Blades although I would pass him over for George Smith in a heartbeat.
      But the rot starts at the top, and it goes all the way. The buck stops with the ARU who refuse to admit defeat with the massive failure of Deans.

Close