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Wallabies v Japan, Oita - 23 October, 3:45pm AEDT

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
Weird game. Australia could never win. Either you win and not best Japanese by enough or you lose.

Japanese back row was everywhere, our rucks were very unprotected. Don’t know if that’s on Leota or what.

definitely missed Marika’s random line breaks.
 

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
Though Wallabies have won 5 in a row for the first time in 13 years so not terrible
That's an incorrect stat, we won 5 in a row at the RWC in 2015, and I think we might have won the lead up game against the USA as well, making it at least 6? Still, I contend that the bottom has passed for Aus rugby.
 

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
Well we love to make it hard for ourselves, eh?

As Slipper said after the game via Zoom: when we stuck to the game plan, we put them under pressure. When we went away from the game plan, we put ourselves under pressure.

That's the quote of the day.

Also: Andrew Kellaway is currently our most valuable back. If he's made more than half a dozen errors in his Test career to date, not many of them were noteworthy.
 

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
So what happened to Hodge? Is he fucked? Are we fucked? 3 first choice fullbacks down isn’t great.

wonder if Beale or Lyangh are having a chat with Rennie.
 

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
So what happened to Hodge? Is he fucked? Are we fucked? 3 first choice fullbacks down isn’t great.

wonder if Beale or Lyangh are having a chat with Rennie.

Find another winger. Kellaway to FB. Sorted.

EDIT: another TWO wingers I mean. Wright is still inconsistent. I hope that improves with game time.
 

A mutterer

Desmond Connor (43)
only consolation im taking out of this win is that this type of game was a banana skin for us in the past that we would have, in a comedy of errors, roller skated over, fell over landing head first on the skin to do another flip.

fair credit to the japanese they should be climbing the rankings in the coming year.
 

drewprint

Colin Windon (37)
There was definitely a moment where a Japanese cameraman was on the field, play was stopped with us in possession, and we got penalised at the ensuing scrum where I thought ‘we’re gonna drop our bundle entirely here.’
 

TSR

Mark Ella (57)
It wasn’t a fantastic game, but I thought there were some positives.

I made the comment that not many played well for 80 minutes, but within that I thought there were some guys who were fine but didn’t play the whole game (Tupou, Slipper & Leota) and other guys who were basically fine, but just didn’t seem involved for extended periods - like Ikitau & Kellaway - although If I watched the game again maybe I’d pick up a bunch of involvement they had that I missed the first time.

I didn’t think it was either White or Coopers best game. White seemed a bit all over the shop and Cooper seemed to want to break the shackles but I thought that led to a few too many poor options. Having said that he threw decisive passes for three tries (actually 4 - but one was for them), he was very good under the high ball and he seemed to tackle well from what I noticed. But I just felt like our biggest issue was our halves weren’t managing the team around the park. Plus our forward reserves were a bit underwhelming, except McInerney.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Pete Samu did some good things when he came on. Not sure about Leota just yet at this level. I would expect Swinton to start next week. But unless we really get more accurate we are looking at a string of losses now.
 

TSR

Mark Ella (57)
Pete Samu did some good things when he came on. Not sure about Leota just yet at this level. I would expect Swinton to start next week. But unless we really get more accurate we are looking at a string of losses now.
Well - we certainly can’t play like that in the next 3 games, but then I don’t think we did at all in the last 4, so I’m not too downcast at this stage.
 

swingpass

Peter Sullivan (51)
i think Leota did his job not sure Swinton is any better overall. Samu was very good and valetini continues to get better each outing
 
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hifflepiff

Charlie Fox (21)
i think Leota did his job not sure Swinton is any better overall. Samu was very good and valetini continues to get better each outing

Imo Leota's ball running I stronger than Swinton's but he seems to have lower workrate, particularly at the ruck.
 

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
With a couple of provisos, not too concerned with the form before the Europe part of the tour.

Kerevi, in form, would have made a world of difference to the way the backline operated.

There can be expected to be a huge lift in the forwards play with the likely selections of Arnold, Skelton and Latu. Though, given some of the rave (facetious) reviews for McInerney's 10 minute cameo, I could be forgiven for thinking our Hooker issues are now well and truly behind us.
 

TSR

Mark Ella (57)
I think it’s more an reflection that the game was still there to be lost with 5 to go and that try locked it up.
Its not the first time someone has got points based on the ‘relief’ factor.
 

Kenny Powers

Ron Walden (29)
Not the greatest of games. The one positive though is Valetini is consistently playing well even when the team is not on song. Thought he was a bit up and down in the Super season and could go missing but has shown better consistency in the test season.
Nic White seemed indecisive too many steps retreating back from the gain line before passing. Just looked too slow robbing time from and limiting the opportunities for the centre’s let alone thinking about getting the ball to the back three.
 
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