RC - Wallabies vs Springboks, Gold Coast Sunday 12 September 8:05 PM
- Thread starter Blue
- Start date
Cancelled Account
Desmond Connor (43)
If that happens, no Cooper, no Rodda and no Carter Gordon.
I'm a huge Brad Thorn fan, but I think building a Wallaby team and a club team are two different things. If Thorn was involved in the Wallabies I'd hope he'd pick the best playing group and not change that for players with different..... Things..... to what he has.
Kenny Powers
Ron Walden (29)
Isn’t that Scott Johnson's job to manage? It was with Chekia.
KOB1987
Rod McCall (65)
They had that silly selection panel thing with Michael O’Connor and Johnson, but that seemed to disappear with Cheika. I’m actually not sure what Johnson’s job is these days, he seems to get paid 3/4 of a bar to do fuck all but that’s for another thread.
upthereds#!
Ken Catchpole (46)
Recent article says jury still out on Thorn as an actual technical Coach. (kind of important if you want a portfolio of technical responsibility) but obviously very much he driver of culture and expectations.
Fine for a HC when you have a good staff (which is why he got given an upgrade in assistants before covid)
Fine for a HC when you have a good staff (which is why he got given an upgrade in assistants before covid)
Drew
Bob Davidson (42)
Hodge has been the reserve back who could fill in anywhere but halfback from the bench. Seems at present that he’s equal to or better than the players he’s brought on to replace.
dru
Tim Horan (67)
Let's think about that claim.
Is Hodge better than Paisami at 12 - maybe. 13? No
Is Hodge better than Ikitau? Touch and go.
Is Hodge better than Koroibete? Not a chance
Kerevi? Nope.
Kellaway - with that drunken Camel running style? Go to be kidding.
To'omua? Mostly no, else wise touch and go.
Banks? OK you got me.
Lolo? That's the big question.
Drew
Bob Davidson (42)
Yeah, I kind of meant the last two. Should have written some of the players. It just seems unfair that his utility value is hurting the national side, when he offers more than the incumbent fullback and although he’s not as skilful or exciting as Lolo he has a calmer head and maturity to his game.
Derpus
George Gregan (70)
Jeffrey
Chris McKivat (8)
1) The Boks are really good because they generally adopt very low-risk options, and also asks very difficult questions of the opposition. In particular, I love their defense. The rush has both shape and urgency, and matches the type of players they have well. They have excellent organisers. Statistically, they concede a shade under 50% less points per game than any other team.
2) For the Wallabies to do well, I hope people don't just see this is a Quade Cooper redemption. A lot of Quade's hype is based on the counter-factual. The Wallabies have at times been poor, which in turn forces the 10 into poorer options. Most 10s struggle in situations like this, but because Quade wasn't playing, it is much easier to imagine that "if only Quade played, we would be 5x better on attack and complete shit on the opponents". It's very unlikely that this is the case.
3) Instead, I always hoped for fans to appreciate the various parts of the game. The tactics of the team - in particular why box-kicking is so often used by every team despite most fans moaning about it. All the work that goes on at the lineout and scrum. The little details on what each opposing player likes to do. The patterns of attacking and defensive alignment. The coverage in the back 3. Even if one or two players are spectacular, the game is so much more than the most salient and exciting moments. Lukhayno Am is a great example of this. He does so much right defensively, it is as if nothing is happening. Damien De Allende is such a great gain-line runner that he carries more than anyone else. But because gain-line metres are not spectacular, it appears that nothing is happening. Franco Mostert is an absolute workhorse, putting his body on the line in so many different ways. But the coverage of ground to provide options and the constant grind at breakdowns are not always visible. Faf can be spectacular because for a small guy, he really smacks people. But it's his unyielding dedication to rushing in defense that takes the option of a wide pass out of the equation for the opponents, so that, again, nothing seemed to have happened.
Yet the Boks are world champions and Lions' series champions for a reason.
I don't think they will be at 100% coming in. The Lions series was brutal. Physically it was completely different level to NZ Aust. There was also so much emotional and mental drain. I don't think they can keep at peak mental and physical form for so long. So this would be a chance for the Wallabies:
- Don't give stupid penalties away because the rolling maul is very difficult to defend
- Be patient because the rush defense is very good.
- Expect a lot of high balls. Back 3 better be ready
- Reinach is tactically more naive than Faf.
- Kolbe is missing, so they might lack X-factor.
- Make the subs early, espeically Tupou who should be playing 30+ mins. The Boks with their 6-2 split is extremely taxing on the forwards.
- Take the points when they are on offer.
- Big test for the 12 and 13. They need to get pass the gainline especially from first phase.
2) For the Wallabies to do well, I hope people don't just see this is a Quade Cooper redemption. A lot of Quade's hype is based on the counter-factual. The Wallabies have at times been poor, which in turn forces the 10 into poorer options. Most 10s struggle in situations like this, but because Quade wasn't playing, it is much easier to imagine that "if only Quade played, we would be 5x better on attack and complete shit on the opponents". It's very unlikely that this is the case.
3) Instead, I always hoped for fans to appreciate the various parts of the game. The tactics of the team - in particular why box-kicking is so often used by every team despite most fans moaning about it. All the work that goes on at the lineout and scrum. The little details on what each opposing player likes to do. The patterns of attacking and defensive alignment. The coverage in the back 3. Even if one or two players are spectacular, the game is so much more than the most salient and exciting moments. Lukhayno Am is a great example of this. He does so much right defensively, it is as if nothing is happening. Damien De Allende is such a great gain-line runner that he carries more than anyone else. But because gain-line metres are not spectacular, it appears that nothing is happening. Franco Mostert is an absolute workhorse, putting his body on the line in so many different ways. But the coverage of ground to provide options and the constant grind at breakdowns are not always visible. Faf can be spectacular because for a small guy, he really smacks people. But it's his unyielding dedication to rushing in defense that takes the option of a wide pass out of the equation for the opponents, so that, again, nothing seemed to have happened.
Yet the Boks are world champions and Lions' series champions for a reason.
I don't think they will be at 100% coming in. The Lions series was brutal. Physically it was completely different level to NZ Aust. There was also so much emotional and mental drain. I don't think they can keep at peak mental and physical form for so long. So this would be a chance for the Wallabies:
- Don't give stupid penalties away because the rolling maul is very difficult to defend
- Be patient because the rush defense is very good.
- Expect a lot of high balls. Back 3 better be ready
- Reinach is tactically more naive than Faf.
- Kolbe is missing, so they might lack X-factor.
- Make the subs early, espeically Tupou who should be playing 30+ mins. The Boks with their 6-2 split is extremely taxing on the forwards.
- Take the points when they are on offer.
- Big test for the 12 and 13. They need to get pass the gainline especially from first phase.
Joe Blow
Peter Sullivan (51)
The difference we should look for in Quade is an ability to read the game and adjust, being able to pass short and long both ways and the ability to put others in space. These are all elements that so far Lolesio has failed to grasp. He may in time. Quade also has an excellent kicking game.
The SA rush defence would shut Noah down in a flash. We need to chip in behind and to show some variation to set them back half a step. Rennie knows that SA prefer to play most of the time without the pill so we can look forward to having it a lot. I’m not sure that we have the pace out wide to take advantage this week and we will need to be very smart about when we use it and when we give it back. Our kicking game has been pedestrian, invariably giving it directly back to the ABs in space. That needs to change.
We are also going to have to make some yards up the middle before we go wide. No easy task against this Bok side yet we did this reasonably well when Hodge came on at 10 last week.
Expectation is low as far as a win goes this week but I am looking for a varied smarter game to counter what the opposition throws at us. Of course we also need to front up at the coal face. Looking forward to it.
The SA rush defence would shut Noah down in a flash. We need to chip in behind and to show some variation to set them back half a step. Rennie knows that SA prefer to play most of the time without the pill so we can look forward to having it a lot. I’m not sure that we have the pace out wide to take advantage this week and we will need to be very smart about when we use it and when we give it back. Our kicking game has been pedestrian, invariably giving it directly back to the ABs in space. That needs to change.
We are also going to have to make some yards up the middle before we go wide. No easy task against this Bok side yet we did this reasonably well when Hodge came on at 10 last week.
Expectation is low as far as a win goes this week but I am looking for a varied smarter game to counter what the opposition throws at us. Of course we also need to front up at the coal face. Looking forward to it.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
Big concern with Quade as it was in his last games for wallabies is his defence. Not sure heard anything to suggest his defence improved so that side of his game may still be a weakness
KOB1987
Rod McCall (65)
I'm not sure of the point you are trying to make but it reads as though you think that the players who have started the tests are entitled to stay there there because they were selected to start. I don't think anyone is rewriting history, we're all focusing on the now, which is pretty shit. It's never bothered me ever seeing Reece Hodge's name on the teamsheet anywhere, I've always been a supporter.
dru
Tim Horan (67)
Fabulous first post. Welcome Jeffrey.
The Lions chances changed dramatically in the third game when, not by choice, they had to introduce a 10 with creativity.
Boks v ABs will be the one to watch. One being a grind where the Boks say "try and score some points" and the ABs "try to keep up on the score board".
WBs will give the Boks a taste of it, but probably are not the real game in town for them. Feel free to admire the Bok game, for most of us it is negative, dull, uncreative. If it proves consistently to be successful I'd hope either rules or interpretations change for the betterment of the game. The Bok athletes are incredible, their discipline is excellent. I'll be behind them against the ABs but despite the reality, I'll be cheering for an EarthQuade tonight.
Last edited:
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
There is no lockdown as yet. If there is one (70% chance) it would not start today, it would start at 4 pm tomorrow, based on previous experience. It would be for three or four days, I reckon. Anna being Anna, she will bend over backwards to keep all the pro sporting events full functional.
KOB1987
Rod McCall (65)
Yes, I kind of had similar thoughts myself, that was written before yesterday's presser BTW. Politics would dictate that if there is a lockdown it will be after all the sport has finished tonight and be lifted in time for next weekend's fixtures - 'be seen to be doing the right thing'.
Drew
Bob Davidson (42)
Not me, I always considered him as the perfect utility off the bench. It just seems that although he still fills that role well, some of the players ahead of him are getting picked ahead of him as they don’t have that versatility. You have to drop banks altogether if not picked as he can only really play fullback. At five eighth he’d be close to our best option at present because JOC (James O'Connor) is injured and Lolo (or any of the other young playmakers queueing up) needs more experience. In years to come we aren’t going to talk about him like we do Gregan, Ella, Horan, et al, but at present he’s unlucky not to be getting a start.
Last edited: