Wallabies v Lions, 19 July Suncorp

[The Red Baron]

"Donaldson opened the game up a bit at the end, which is exactly what his role was supposed to be, so don't @ me with the Lynagh/Donaldson stuff."... I'll give you that stuff. Lynagh was poor in his kicking and the backs did nothing with him leading them. Why bring Donaldson on with 20 to go when the game is nearly gone? He needs to start. If we want to have a chance of winning.

Uhh...gameplan? Donaldson did well against a tiring defence, which is exactly what his role was.

Seriously dude, go whine to someone else about it.

 

[Super Hooper]

Sua'ali'i is a big body but he isn't a wrecking ball. You need someone who despises their body and gains metres in every contact. This is rugby, not chess.

 

[Heavyd]

The TMO missed a yellow with a tackle in the air and a no arms tackle. The fix was on.

 

[Shiggins]

Agree that our 12/13 isnt working.

I think we need to bring another 12 in (call my crazy but JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)), Len to 13 and move JAS to the Wing for Potter which would be tough on Potter.

We need a bigger team

Next week

1. Bell
2. Pollard
3. Alan
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. JAS
12. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)
13. Ikitau
14. Jorgo
15. Wright
16. Fassler
17. Slipper
18. Robertson (assuming Tupou is still out of form)
19. Williams
20. Hooper
21. Tate
22. Lynagh
23. Potter/Kellaway

Tizzano had a blunder off the bench. How does he not fit into this side. JOC (James O'Connor) at centre is not happening. Tate for Gordon.

 

[griffins]

Anyway didn't end up being nearly as bad as I thought. Thoughts:

- We didn'tm use our backline at all. Guess Schmidt doesn't think we can after the Fiji game but god damn its a bit predictable.
- 7As (Allan Ala'alatoa) (Allan Ala'alatoa) Wallaby POM for me. Dude had a beast of a game.
- Frost did his high workrate thing without making any catastrophic defensive misreads. Good stuff.
- Having said that, lineout failed miserably.
- JAS and Ikitau got negative space and both still made gainline and sucked in defenders. Not sure what people are smoking if they think our centres are the problem.
- Gordon was criminally slow.
- Our kicking was too deep. When we actually got it on point it created all sorts of chaos. But it was 1 in 4.

Agree with all of this. I also agree Curry should have been a yellow after you and others picked me up on my earlier post btw.

 

[Tex]

Closer than the scoreline. The refereeing of the JAS try was really peculiar. In all I think the better team won but am scratching my head at some of the calls.

 

[Shiggins]

We've seen Tate start a number of games. All his best performances have been off the bench against a tiring team.

I respect that. But Gordon is not the guy. Bring lonergan in then

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

Uhh...gameplan? Donaldson did well against a tiring defence, which is exactly what his role was.

Seriously dude, go whine to someone else about it.

All I will say on this is I’m not sure it was fair on Lynagh to start him in this game at his home ground in his fourth test when he is under done in fitness and it’s such a big occasion. Because some of that story and pressure was evident in his play and kicking. (Particularly his chip kick.) But he will be better for it and has a bright future ahead.

 

[cyclopath]

Sua'ali'i is a big body but he isn't a wrecking ball. You need someone who despises their body and gains metres in every contact. This is rugby, not chess.

He needs to be hitting the line like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) used to, flat, fast and then be feeding Jorgo and Potter. Too often he gets it well behind the ad line and not at pace. His strength is in the ability to offload in a break / half-break. They're not getting it right.

 

[Uh huh]

I really like this take on where the game is going.

Well it's a very similar argument for Tate staying on the bench, which I think he should.

 

[Super Hooper]

I know you hate League but after this game I would study every wrecking ball player in any League comoetition who aren't as famous as Sua'ali'i and invest in them. There is no wrecking ball players in all 4 Super Rugby franchises. The scrum has been an issue in the last decades, tonight was pretty solid. So you have to find what you miss

 

[Shiggins]

Seriously where are the arguments for lynagh starting next week ? I'm not sure if dono would be better but we have to try. Lynagh had mostly a shocker. I'm not saying he isn't the future 10 but it's not now. He looked like a child out there as well.

 

[Shiggins]

I don't think the refs will ping the lions for being offside in defence. The wallabies were always a meter onside. They need to start getting offside. The lions have all the time in the world and the wallabies get tackled as they receive the ball almost every time.

 

[Uh huh]

Tizzano had a blunder off the bench. How does he not fit into this side. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) at centre is not happening. Tate for Gordan

Tate is too important on the bench. I'm down with dropping Gordon, but for me it's either White or Lonergan to start.

 

[cyclopath]

Well it's a very similar argument for Tate staying on the bench, which I think he should.

I agree Tate is the ideal bench 9. I don't think we have an ideal starting 9 but I kind of get why Schmidt has Jake there. It's imperfect.

 

[JackJill]

Ben OK game finished and swept under the rug. That tackle on Lynagh from Curry was one of the most blatant card moments I’ve seen in a long time. Ben Earl shoulder charged/ axed JAS in half without any consequence, as well as wealths of forward passes, denied pilfering opportunities and offside ignorance.

I don’t want to sound the panic alarm. But if we introduce a 6-2 bench split, it should counteract everything the lions throw at us. If we select this team, we should start strong with front forward ball carriers such as bell, Skelton, Valetini. Try to weigh the lions down in the first 50 minutes, match physicality and hopefully pressure will translate to early points, or Lions mistakes. This would allow Lynagh more time to feed it out to JAS and Wright, who can then utilise the space out wide to full effect. That was a problem met tonight, where our pack never got out onto the front foot And couldn’t create a platform for Lynagh to work off. Bring on a strong platform off the bench while the lions get tired, McDermott to work around the ruck and Donaldson pushing it wide to create opportunities further out, and that would spell a massive task for the lions. Could even swap Tizz for Gleeson. Daugunu for centre coverage also.

Here’s what I’d have:
1. Bell
2. Faessler
3. Alaatoa
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. BobbyV
7. Mcreight
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Lynagh
11. Jorgo
12. Ikitau
13. JAS
14. Daugunu
15. Wright
16. Pollard
17. Slips
18. Robertson
19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
20. Hooper
21. Tizzano
22. McDermott
23. Donaldson

I know it may seem to far, but to win a series against a team of 4 nations, risks are needed to be taken.

 

[Super Hooper]

He needs to be hitting the line like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) used to, flat, fast and then be feeding Jorgo and Potter. Too often he gets it well behind the ad line and not at pace. His strength is in the ability to offload in a break / half-break. They're not getting it right.

He isn't that kind of player. He's a freaky athlete and could be a top class but he isn't a wrecking ball. RA needs someone like Bundee Aki

 

[Uh huh]

I don't think the refs will ping the lions for being offside in defence. The wallabies were always a meter onside. They need to start getting offside. The lions have all the time in the world and the wallabies get tackled as they receive the ball almost every time.

And while we're at it, let's start wrecking fluffybunnys in the air when they go up for bombs. Sure we'll concede penalties, but if cards are off the table it's a great way to get them to stop trying to catch the ball.

 

[Yoda]

Uhh...gameplan? Donaldson did well against a tiring defence, which is exactly what his role was.

Seriously dude, go whine to someone else about it.

Reds fan?

Uhh...gameplan? Donaldson did well against a tiring defence, which is exactly what his role was.

Seriously dude, go whine to someone else about it.

Reds dude. Not whining. Observing. Lynagh was there, allegedly, for his great kicking and defence. His general kicking was poor.. missed touch right on half time and a goal than normally I would expect him to slot with his better percentages. Backs did nothing with him running the show. The team looked better with Tate and Donno on, tired defences or not. Still can't believe Schmidt picked him to start. However I will assume he starts all 3 Tests so we don't wreck his confidence but I just don't think we'll win with him calling the shots.

 

[cyclopath]

He isn't that kind of player. He's a freaky athlete and could be a top class but he isn't a wrecking ball. RA needs someone like Bundee Aki

Um, I'm not saying he's a wrecking ball. He's a big body who offloads well, so have him hit the line flat at pace and offload - he will attract at least 1 defender each time. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was not not big, but did this job well. It's about timing, not smashing.