Australia v England

[The Honey Badger]

You can't deny his effort.

Agree with that, and he is always consistent. But it wasn't his best game and he didn't stand out. Think the Snitch sledge might have put him off his game.

I thought the whole front row was quiet as well. Someone tell me, where was TT again?

 

[Joe Blow]

What is it about our kicking game?

It’s a simple concept, a tactic that many less skilled sides have mastered,yet it’s been our Achilles heel for generations.

It appeared as though the tactic was to kick down the middle, often directly to the opposition and then back our defence in gaining ground? Not very sound tactically based on our defensive record over the past few years.

 

[Slim 293]

Agree with that, and he is always consistent. But it wasn't his best game and he didn't stand out. Think the Snitch sledge might have put him off his game.

I thought the whole front row was quiet as well. Someone tell me, where was TT again?

It was embarrassing to have the English commentary (Barnes?) refer to a decade old Wallaby scrum weakness, and then watch them going backwards to support the ignorant claim..........

 

[Joe Blow]

The sole reason I think is to hide the underperforming defenders, Foley, Beale and Folau. Can't or won't tackle, get rid of them.

It was interesting to see how England successfully targeted Foleys “wing” and made a lot of ground through that channel. He may be even less adapt at defending against big back 3 oppo with space than in the centre where he has back up from our backrow. A lot of the poms play was directed at Foley.

 

[Derpus]

It was embarrassing to have the English commentary (Barnes?) refer to a decade old Wallaby scrum weakness, and then watch them going backwards to support the ignorant claim....

I don't understand how or why our scrum is so weak. Our scrums in Super rugby were fine. Even the lightweight Tahs pack managed to hold it's ground most of the time.

TT was looking like a literal cement pillar against any and all opposing scrums. As soon as he gets put into a Wallaby set up he gets pushed back by the exact same LH's he was otherwise demolishing?

Same shit with the lineout. Just replace the player names.

 

[KOB1987]

In the 3-2-1 Hooper keeps getting a few 1's
Have I missed any of his play apart from his 3-4 m crawl and getting under an otherwise certain try? Was that it because all i remember is 4 or so runs with 0 metres gained, no steals .

I gave him 1. Getting under said certain try stood out because it was a certain try otherwise. But he was everywhere, he tops the tackle count not from making front on or dive tackles, it's stopping people in their tracks in cover a lot of time.

In a game where most players put in a <5/10 performance he wasn't hard to single out as one of the better ones, but he it was between he and Dempsey for that 1 point for mine.

 

[gel]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...-player-tensions-surface-20181125-p50i96.html
Did Hooper know about the "indiscretion" and do nothing about it until team mates forced the issue?

Earlier reports indicated that the coaching staff and management were only notified about the incident after Hooper raised it with with them (albeit late). But that article indicates that the team mates were concerned over double standards and took that to the "senior team figures" - not usual language for coaching staff or management btw.

That seems to strongly indicate that these senior team leaders (which I would think would be the captain) knew about it, kept it quiet and did nothing about it until the balance of the team made an issue out of it.

 

[The Honey Badger]

The Telegraph had similar story. But it names the leadership group. From memory, Hooper, Pocock, Kepu, Foley and Phipps.

Given the Beal and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) wouldn't have put themselves in. I wonder where the complaint came from.

 

[RugbyReg]

The Telegraph had similar story. But it names the leadership group. From memory, Hooper, Pocock, Kepu, Foley and Phipps.

Given the Beal and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) wouldn't have put themselves in. I wonder where the complaint came from.

and Kerevi too. Given it all revolves around Sefa's suspension, I suspect it came from him or the Pac Islanders through Kerevi.

 

[Derpus]

The Telegraph had similar story. But it names the leadership group. From memory, Hooper, Pocock, Kepu, Foley and Phipps.

Given the Beal and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) wouldn't have put themselves in. I wonder where the complaint came from.

Sounds like provincial squabbles. Why would the leadership group be majority Tahs? That seems pretty stupid.

Surely Genia is part of the senior leadership group?

 

[Braveheart81]

I can't access the Daily Telegraph article but in the brief bit at the start the first three names listed in the leadership group are Hooper, Pocock, Ala'alatoa.

I would have thought it was those three plus Coleman, Foley, Genia.

 

[Joe Blow]

Depending on what actually happened it was probably not the best way to deal with it.
I’m with FitzSimons on this.
Shows a squad divided.

 

[Up the Guts]

If this was a movie, now would be the time for the hero to step forward and save the day.

Yeah, Quade returning from the brink.

 

[Joe Blow]

I see that Jake White and Scott Johnson have put their hands up.

 

[Slim 293]

White wants a multi year deal, even though you couldn't rely on him to stay on until the completion of the contract.........

 

[Joe Blow]

White wants a multi year deal, even though you couldn't rely on him to stay on until the completion of the contract...

Wouldn’t be bad. Get back to basics. That’s what test footy is all about. Give Beale, Folau, Petaia and co some good front foot ball to work with.

 

[Slim 293]

Wouldn’t be bad. Get back to basics. That’s what test footy is all about. Give Beale, Folau, Petaia and co some good front foot ball to work with.

To be fair, I'm coming around to the idea......... but they could really only offer him an incentive based contract depending on RWC results.

 

[formerflanker]

I reckon at 16 points down you take the 3. At 17 points you are playing for a draw if you take 3. If there is time left to win it, that should be the objective.

Full time professional players with at least 4 full time coaches will have these scenarios plotted before the season starts.
Captaincy would then require simple maths - are we 16 or less behind? If so, take the 3. If not, go for a try.
Is our line out winning all its ball? if yes, kick for the corner. If not, quickly run a rehearsed tap move.

It's easy from behind the keyboard!

 

[formerflanker]

I genuinely believe we have the talent in the side. Almost every player showed a flash or two of what they are capable of. They are just being let down by tactics, composure and execution.

Excellent point.

 

[Derpus]

Full time professional players with at least 4 full time coaches will have these scenarios plotted before the season starts.
Captaincy would then require simple maths - are we 16 or less behind? If so, take the 3. If not, go for a try.
Is our line out winning all its ball? if yes, kick for the corner. If not, quickly run a rehearsed tap move.

It's easy from behind the keyboard!

I never understand why people rarely go for the tap. Seems a decent option a lot of the time.