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

[Mr Pilfer]

Very happy to see Williams impact off the bench with at least 3 crucial plays, after a lot of supporters and media calling for his head. Tupou and Nic white also shutting up the critics and vindicating coaches selections

 

[Dctarget]

How good fellas. Best series lost ever. Moral victories all round.

Still can't get over how far we've come from RWC23.

We won four out of six halves of rugby, points differential of -1 point. All whilst missing many of our best players.

All the boys deserve MotM points, so hard to separate out but for me:
3. Skelton 2. Pietsch 1. White HM: everyone else.

Also how has Joe made us a team that gives away so few penalties but also impressively niggly?

 

[Major Tom]

Which we now have. We should start a constructive discussion thread, throw some ideas around and forward it to RA. If GAGR is nothing else, at least from what I’ve read elsewhere, it seems to be the most measured online supporter group around. It probably needs to be started by a mod to be properly moderated though.

I agree we will have some money to spend.
Overall, I think our talent ID is fine just need to throw a bit of coin at some special players. For instance, Heinz Lemoto (probably going to France now) he would be a special talent to go after. Should do the Jorgenson style deal.
The young props in France would be the ones to look at. Bring them back once we have more money and they might be bit homesick.
Viseo Kite probably the most Skelton like.
Apologies for chucking all these thoughts in the wrong thread.

 

[Dctarget]

I can get you a Skelton replacement in 2.5 years. Meafou's last game for France was March '25 Tell him to stop playing for France and he'll be 29 years old by the time he's qualified. At that, Sione Tuipulotu is eligible in 2 years... The things I'd do if I had a billion dollars.

 

[Major Tom]

I repeat my earlier assertion: for all the white collar money that Rugby schools produce, we should surely have someone managing a multibillion dollar hedge fund that can keep the game afloat off interest payments, rather than TV deals

There’s that rugby fund which I tried to look at yesterday. Target is 100mil but don’t know what where it’s at yet.

 

[stillmissit]

Based on Hooper being pulled for Gleeson, I would suggest Wilson is being told to play a different game. With the likes of Taniela, Pollard and Skelton there, you need guys that constantly get to the ruck. The Lions had a lethal backrow combination at the end of the game, there's no point getting over the advantage line if they disrupt your ball or win it back.

It is only useful to get over the line if you are playing in pod's with players sealing off, ensuring quick attacking ball. The Lions BR were very good, particularly Curry, who shut McRight down and stopped several of our attacks. To sum up, Harry is a very good Super Rugby player but not our long term #8.
In the row, I reckon Amatesero will be in the RWC squad, and I am hoping Swain is as well. We are short of big locks who can make an impact. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) must go to SA with a serious talk regarding his propensity to go walkabout.

 

[Major Tom]

I can get you a Skelton replacement in 2.5 years. Meafou's last game for France was March '25 Tell him to stop playing for France and he'll be 29 years old by the time he's qualified. At that, Sione Tuipulotu is eligible in 2 years... The things I'd do if I had a billion dollars.

If you had a billion dollars you’d buy a lot better players from NRL. We’d never lose a game again!

 

[Dctarget]

There’s that rugby fund which I tried to look at yesterday. Target is 100mil but don’t know what where it’s at yet.

Yeah it's a brilliant initiative though I'm still miffed that they refused my peanuts because there's a minimum investment of $50,000.

Anyone know where the Rugby Future Fund selection is on Aus Super? Don't care if it goes belly up, I don't wanna live into old age if the Wallabies aren't here

 

[stillmissit]

There’s that rugby fund which I tried to look at yesterday. Target is 100mil but don’t know what where it’s at yet.

Never heard of that MT, how is it going?

 

[Dctarget]

I've seen a lot of online criticism about playing music whilst Ryan was knocked out on the ground. Am I not a nice man because what else are they meant to do? A moment of silence? It's not disrespectful to keep the 80,000 fans entertained and the mood away from being funereal.

 

[Dctarget]

Never heard of that MT, how is it going?

Currently they have $20 million invested from 25 investors. It's outpaced the S&P 500 and ASX300 by more than 3 percent so far.

 

[Dctarget]

Currently they have $20 million invested from 25 investors. It's outpaced the S&P 500 and ASX300 by more than 3 percent so far.

 

[stillmissit]

If you had a billion dollars you’d buy a lot better players from NRL. We’d never lose a game again!

No we have been here before, buying league players who took 2 seasons to get the basics of union. Better to find or build our own and hold them, not easy but essential. By find I mean young athletes before the NRL comes sniffing. Example: I used to live in the Hawkesbury in Blue Mountains, I spoke with a young guy who was big and nearly 7ft tall at 16, and playing rugby, he said nobody had ever spoken to him about a pathway into pro rugby. I guess he went to league or just dropped out.

 

[Major Tom]

Never heard of that MT, how is it going?

Australian Rugby Foundation launches Rugby Future Fund

www.rugby.com.au

I think it was up to 10mil like straight after it was launched.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Who says he can’t make an impact? He’s done just that in this series. And he is very skilful IMO and without his workrate we would have been a lot worse off this series. Everyone looks for highlight plays but it’s the workers like Wilson that are needed for any team to be successful

Hooper's workrate last night was phenomenal and very impactful. Moreso than Wilson. Imagine that workrate combined with Rob Valetini's physicality. That would make most test sides in world rugby very nervous.

 

[stillmissit]

I've seen a lot of online criticism about playing music whilst Ryan was knocked out on the ground. Am I not a nice man because what else are they meant to do? A moment of silence? It's not disrespectful to keep the 80,000 fans entertained and the mood away from being funereal.

DC, I felt a bit like that, but then my logic kicked in and I wondered what I would want if I were in the crowd. I thought an announcement regarding him being OK might have been a nice touch.

 

[Ignoto]

I've seen a lot of online criticism about playing music whilst Ryan was knocked out on the ground. Am I not a nice man because what else are they meant to do? A moment of silence? It's not disrespectful to keep the 80,000 fans entertained and the mood away from being funereal.

Yeap I don't understand it either. No-one has articulated what the problem is other than say it's "disrespectful" without expanding why.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

How good fellas. Best series lost ever. Moral victories all round.

Still can't get over how far we've come from RWC23.

We won four out of six halves of rugby, points differential of -1 point. All whilst missing many of our best players.

All the boys deserve MotM points, so hard to separate out but for me:
3. Skelton 2. Pietsch 1. White HM: everyone else.

Also how has Joe made us a team that gives away so few penalties but also impressively niggly?

Joes success should end eddies coaching career

 

[Major Tom]

No we have been here before, buying league players who took 2 seasons to get the basics of union. Better to find or build our own and hold them, not easy but essential. By find I mean young athletes before the NRL comes sniffing. Example: I used to live in the Hawkesbury in Blue Mountains, I spoke with a young guy who was big and nearly 7ft tall at 16, and playing rugby, he said nobody had ever spoken to him about a pathway into pro rugby. I guess he went to league or just dropped out.

Stephen Creighton
The hammer
Kotoa

 

[griffins]

Wilson isn't a block buster 8.

Superb feet, good hands, and decent pace make him a good link man. That's why Valetini is usually in the team with him

Does he have good feet. Basically every carry he seems to t bone defenders. He does run into holes off other forwards well though.

Agree he has excellent skills.