Wallabies v Lions, 19 July Suncorp

[Dan54]

I'd also be curious what his percentages off the tee are too. Ever since he hurt his ankle (I think it was?) a couple of years back his kicking hasn't been as good.

Yep molman, I can't see JOC (James O'Connor) being an answer to much. I think a lot was made of a penalty he got for Crusaders that won the game, and too little of the fact he never really dominated the play (he was good ,but not great) and seemed to struggle when he started.

 

[Major Tom]

I heard Burke on between the two post saying he was a bit disappointed with the Wallabies reaction to the lynagh hit in the air. I agree, the boys appealed but I would have thought it warranted at least a bit of jersey grab. Can’t be ok with your flyhalf getting cheap shotted like that.

 

[John S]

It's one thing to appeal and possibly get the card, totally another to start some hand bags at 50 paces and potentially get the penalty turned around - there's been times on here we (the generic forum we) have called out a Wallaby for rushing in and getting the penalty turned for similar behaviour

 

[Major Tom]

I get that but they could have at least dragged curry off him ffs. I get the discipline but you’re not reversing a penalty for that. Anyways, pissed me when off. Let’s hope he gets flattened next week.

 

[John S]

I get that but they could have at least dragged curry off him ffs. I get the discipline but you’re not reversing a penalty for that. Anyways, pissed me when off. Let’s hope he gets flattened next week.

Yeah maybe. It ticked me off as well, along with curry pitching camp in our backline all night

 

[Joe Blow]

On starting Tate or bringing him off the bench. Yes he can change the speed of our game and present issues for the opposition around the ruck. If that happens at 24-5 it may well be too late. It would make sense to start him with Lynagh or at least team him with him as a starter or off the bench. Same for Donaldson and White/Gordon.
I would give Tate the start this week if Lynagh is retained. Same with Bell, Skelton etc. They should try and gain the ascendancy from the first kickoff rather than try to “hold” them and then bring on a bomb squad of sorts when the game is no longer in the balance.

 

[Derpus]

On starting Tate or bringing him off the bench. Yes he can change the speed of our game and present issues for the opposition around the ruck. If that happens at 24-5 it may well be too late. It would make sense to start him with Lynagh or at least team him with him as a starter or off the bench. Same for Donaldson and White/Gordon.
I would give Tate the start this week if Lynagh is retained. Same with Bell, Skelton etc. They should try and gain the ascendancy from the first kickoff rather than try to “hold” them and then bring on a bomb squad of sorts when the game is no longer in the balance.

We have the cattle to do both IMO.

Start with Skelton and Valetini and then bring Bell, Tupou and Gleeson off the bench. Or, once again, just pick LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto).

 

[Joe Blow]

Playing a fast paced power game can get you ahead and a slower steady approach can also get you home, as it did for the Lions on the weekend.

 

[wamberal99]

Playing a fast paced power game can get you ahead and a slower steady approach can also get you home, as it did for the Lions on the weekend.

They had plenty of speed when they wanted to use it. Even their hooker.

 

[Super Hooper]

Skelton and Valetini for the first half. Bell, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Gleeson and Toole for the second half

The scrum was pretty solid. I wouldn't change the front-row

 

[Upthemaroon!]

Skelton and Valetini for the first half. Bell, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Gleeson and Toole for the second half

The scrum was pretty solid. I wouldn't change the front-row

Yeah the scrum was pretty solid, if you bring on Bell at around 50 minutes I think he will have a bit more of an impact. Toole + Tate could tear open tired defensive lines

 

[Tomthumb]

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto isn’t even in the squad, why do people keep naming him in their teams

 

[Dctarget]

What happened to Potter? What was so poor about his performance?

 

[Marbig]

I was also very critical with his work under the high ball, and I daresay with good reason. Otherwise agree with your other comments.

I don’t recall any specific howlers, I’ll have to go back and have a look. The only high ball I can remember him being under was when Curry disrespected the laws of the game!

 

[Marbig]

Yeah O'Connor is a false dawn. Even at his peak, did he ever put in a flyhalf performance that was much of a step up from Lynagh's last night? Foley at least had that one against England in the World Cup to hang his hat on. O'Connor has never delivered at 10, and getting older and slower won't have increased his chances.

Obviously different to a test match, but O’Connor was a class above in the Reds clash against Wales last year that in itself was better than any other 10s performance against Wales in the tests.

 

[Tomthumb]

What happened to Potter? What was so poor about his performance?

His decision making was poor again. After his howler last week where under pressure he threw a stupid pass infield to Nick Frost, he then decided after having no ball and finally getting some space he will kick it dead in goal

He isn’t effective into contact and he had no ability to steal the high balls. What does he offer that Pietch doesn’t?

 

[Tomthumb]

I think Schmidt has made some howlers in regards to selections and it’s probably too late to change back now. Lynagh may be up to it in a couple of years, but he clearly isn’t now. He looks confused around the team shape and when to get nasty himself, all his kicks were poor and he was out of his depth catching high balls at the back

On top of that the midfield seems super clunky. Ikitau being used as a crash ball merchant isn’t really ideal and Suualli needs the ball in more space than this system allows at 13. Wallabies really need to pick up the tempo but he’s stuck with Gordon who really isn’t suited to that

It seems like he’s just trying to play a conventional game with an inferior team

 

[Braveheart81]

On top of that the midfield seems super clunky. Ikitau being used as a crash ball merchant isn’t really ideal and Suualli needs the ball in more space than this system allows at 13. Wallabies really need to pick up the tempo but he’s stuck with Gordon who really isn’t suited to that

I think a lot of those problems are eased if we don't get so physically outplayed in the first half.

It wasn't like we played the first 40 with good ball and a good platform that was wasted by Gordon playing slowly.

Tate was good when he came on and we got closer to physical parity in the second half. I don't think he really helps things in the first half though. Gordon's kicking was pretty accurate.

I'd be surprised if they switch around and Tate starts.

 

[Tomthumb]

I think a lot of those problems are eased if we don't get so physically outplayed in the first half.

It wasn't like we played the first 40 with good ball and a good platform that was wasted by Gordon playing slowly.

Tate was good when he came on and we got closer to physical parity in the second half. I don't think he really helps things in the first half though. Gordon's kicking was pretty accurate.

I'd be surprised if they switch around and Tate starts.

Wallabies are always going to lose the physical battle when they set up the conventional way and run into a set defence. The opportunities are around the ruck, where the Lions aren’t as nimble and can’t utilise the rush system. They didn’t improve just randomly, Tate’s effectiveness around the ruck and his ability to build tempo is crucial to tiring the Lions and creating go forward

If we employ the same slow, generic attack with mediocre box kicks then we might as well not show up because that’s plays into the Lions hands. We need to play with tempo and play closer to the rucks to slow the defensive line speed