Wallabies v Lions - 3rd Test, Accor Stadium, Saturday 2 August

[A mutterer]

Haha the lions fans are quiet tonight. Only a few saying it was a dead rubber and a useless non competitive series still

None of the fans at the ground were saying that. Brilliant atmosphere, and great banter. Best was hearing the wallabies chants every time the lions chant started.

 

[BDA]

Exactly, it has to be done if we want to be a winning side, ludicrous that we can’t that easily, look at SA

With a world cup on the horizon i highly doubt theyll enforce those rules strictly

 

[Dazzling]

How do we replace Will Skelton? While he’s had plenty of detractors over his career you cannot underestimate the impact his presence has on our opposition. Whether it’s niggle, scuffles, standing up for team mates or just crunching people in tackles or flops he just causes the opposition players to lose their focus. I’ve watched him several times at La Rochelle and he is utterly revered by the supporters. You just had to listen to Ronan O’Gara speak about his impact on and off the field on those who play with him. Of the big locks trotting around in Super, I guess we have Miles Amatesero, Angus Blyth and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) who have the basic physique but Miles hasn’t really delivered, Angus drifts in and out of games and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) seems to be out of favour.

 

[Super Hooper]

Are you ever embarrassed at how consistently wrong you are?

It was the best Wallabies performance in a decade. The Lions won the Series, so I'm not sure how wrong I was

 

[Slim 293]

A decade is ten years.

 

[Super Hooper]

Yeah. I know how to count. The last great Wallabies side in my books was the 2015 World runner-up coached by Cheika

 

[Rugby King]

The missed kicks weren't great considering kicking is one of the primary reasons he was picked, however the dropped high ball that led to Curry's try was a backbreaker

You've just got to hope he learns from a game like that

He makes less mistakes than our 13

 

[Dan54]

Well have to say I was real pleased to get up this morning and see result. I was reasonably neutral on series, though obviously leaning towards Wallabies (as were most kiwis I have spoken too). But I strongly didn't want it to be a whitewash, for a couple of reasons.
1 I think this Wallaby team is better than many are giving them credit for (I said that last week too)
2 I don't really think it was a great Lion's team, was good without deserving a tag of great.

Only pity last night was the lightning stoppage for me, as I intended to watch whole game, but it was getting to late here to sit through the stoppage.

 

[kiap]

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) seems to be out of favour.

He needs to be back in favour.

Starting with TRC

 

[Ignoto]

There're only two things I'm disappointed with in this series.

1 - the terrible precedent this now sets for what is and isn't acceptable to do in a ruck and smacking blokes head. And

2 - how much better the Wallabies looked when they used a rushed defence taking time away from the opposition and putting pressure on the opposition who would make mistakes.

Hopefully we continue on with this style of defence as it worked.

 

[Tomthumb]

Sheehan has been cited for his absolute dog act cheap shot on Lynagh

 

[KOB1987]

Good. Hopefully they can use missing it as a reason to take Jonker down with him. Sheehan should get a lengthy stint on the sidelines, but I’m sure sure they’ll structure it to ensure he’s back in time for the spring tours.

 

[Sword of Justice]

None of the fans at the ground were saying that. Brilliant atmosphere, and great banter. Best was hearing the wallabies chants every time the lions chant started.

One Welshman said it to me over a beer and then later asked me who I thought the player of the series was to be which I replied the ref and he didn’t have a reply.

 

[griffins]

In saying that he’ll be better when he returns. Gleeson will be missed too but he’ll come back better.

Shows why Schmidt is reluctant to lock Wilson in as captain, he's clearly not in our best backrow. Another wholehearted effort last night but just doesn't make an impact.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

How do we replace Will Skelton? While he’s had plenty of detractors over his career you cannot underestimate the impact his presence has on our opposition. Whether it’s niggle, scuffles, standing up for team mates or just crunching people in tackles or flops he just causes the opposition players to lose their focus. I’ve watched him several times at La Rochelle and he is utterly revered by the supporters. You just had to listen to Ronan O’Gara speak about his impact on and off the field on those who play with him. Of the big locks trotting around in Super, I guess we have Miles Amatesero, Angus Blyth and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) who have the basic physique but Miles hasn’t really delivered, Angus drifts in and out of games and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) seems to be out of favour.

I actually had a similar thought last night. Skelton is 33. At best he'll probably look to go out at a home RWC so we have two more years of the man. His impact on the pitch is notable. He gives us a big body with an aggressive mindset to balance things out. They next closest we have to that from the last 6 weeks is Valetini and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto). But I think we need to find at least one or two more Skelton like players.

And there is a place where we can look. The NFL is now running academies here and attracting some very large young blokes. Something the NFL is good at is identifying athletes. But even then only a small number of them will go beyond this stage. We should be scoping these kids out and looking to get some across.

 

[Upthemaroon!]

This is probably not the thread for this discussion, but you are dead on. RA need to start identifying blokes too big for League and before they get swooped up for PR by the NFL. Get some centers of excellence running in Western Sydney (and Melbourne imo, you can funnel those lads through to the Force or something). This is the moment for RA to make some good decisions that can pay off in 20 or 30 years.

 

[Yoda]

What did you not like in his starting performance. He missed a difficult kick from the sideline and picked up a HIA for unfortunately being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Got any other specific mistakes?

My point being Lynagh was not without blemish and I was referring to the first two Tests. His line kicking wasn't great and missed conversions and he was in there for his kicking? He dropped the ball cold off a kick and from the ensuing scrum the Lions scored in Melbourne and he missed touch from a penalty near the end. Horan never comments on Lynagh's blemishes. Just nothing said. Donno was 100 percent off the tee. Not mentioned. Backline looks better in attack with Donaldson. Starting a novice 10 for this once in 12 year series was crazy imo. We need both playing well though. I hope Tom's HIA does not see him sidelined for too long but that is my biggest concern for him. Definitely a player that will play plenty of Test footy no doubt about that.

 

[Super Hooper]

Shows why Schmidt is reluctant to lock Wilson in as captain, he's clearly not in our best backrow. Another wholehearted effort last night but just doesn't make an impact.

After this game, my starter backrow would be:

6- Hooper
7- McReight
8- Valetini

Impact player:

20- Gleeson

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

If RA had scheduled more than 1 warmup game vs Fiji we might have had some more cohesion in Brisbane. If the ref had blown the 79th minute penalty in Melbourne. Definitely feels like a lost opportunity. Plus Joe Schmidt is in the departure lounge. Hooper, Gleeson, Lolosio, TT all heading off shore. Close. Very close.

Fairly comfortable in saying that with another warm up game and Valetini and Skelton fully fit we win the series.

 

[Super Hooper]

I actually had a similar thought last night. Skelton is 33. At best he'll probably look to go out at a home RWC so we have two more years of the man. His impact on the pitch is notable. He gives us a big body with an aggressive mindset to balance things out. They next closest we have to that from the last 6 weeks is Valetini and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto). But I think we need to find at least one or two more Skelton like players.

And there is a place where we can look. The NFL is now runninh academies here and attracting some very large young blokes. Something the NFL is good at is identifying athletes. But even then only a small number of them will go beyond this stage. We should be scoping these kids out and looking to get some across.

Sadly Meafou was the perfect succesor but some things happened. Not enough money and spots to keep the kid in Australia. With the money of British Lions Tour and the RWC on home soil, RA should secure the next generation of Union superstars quickly