rugbyAU
Ken Catchpole (46)
Yep Doran reporting he’s coming over to Perth tomorrow
2025 Bledisloe Cup Series
- Thread starter Dismal Pillock
- Start date
Pfitzy
Phil Waugh (73)
My questions were always going to be about whether McDermott and JOC (James O'Connor) - who have been the finishers of late - could run the ship from the start.
They're not responsible for the ABs having a mountain of possession and territory to start the game, and Tate's injury was unfortunate as he didn't get the chance to prove me wrong. I think he can still be our starting #9 if he's given enough opportunities either in November or during the season at the Reds. Lonergan was good tho.
As for the #10 - some unforgiveable misses there by JOC (James O'Connor) that could have been hero moves e.g. finding touch 5m out instead of handing it back to the ABs. However his experience in running the backline was also key to a lot of our better moments, so I think he gets a farewell gig in Perth before we start putting the right kind of pressure on the remaining 10s on the Euro tour.
We've got time to find the right people, and IMHO it should be a combination like McDermott + Lynagh at the Reds
They're not responsible for the ABs having a mountain of possession and territory to start the game, and Tate's injury was unfortunate as he didn't get the chance to prove me wrong. I think he can still be our starting #9 if he's given enough opportunities either in November or during the season at the Reds. Lonergan was good tho.
As for the #10 - some unforgiveable misses there by JOC (James O'Connor) that could have been hero moves e.g. finding touch 5m out instead of handing it back to the ABs. However his experience in running the backline was also key to a lot of our better moments, so I think he gets a farewell gig in Perth before we start putting the right kind of pressure on the remaining 10s on the Euro tour.
We've got time to find the right people, and IMHO it should be a combination like McDermott + Lynagh at the Reds
Spamnoodle
Bob Loudon (25)
It's pathetic.
Yoda
John Solomon (38)
My comments re 10's is that none of them play a perfect game. JOC (James O'Connor) was hailed as our best and HAD to start. He made some mistakes. They all have. Tests are won on the team that makes the least mistakes and who is penalised less. Our Wallabies are improving under Schmidt definitely. We were in that last Test. We can definitely win in Perth. It's mastering the simple things.
HogansHeros
Vay Wilson (31)
And the only way to fix it is to ridicule them and protest for their sacking. They will rightfully be replaced by..... oh wait.
rugbyAU
Ken Catchpole (46)
I think Donaldson should be higher up the ranks, can't understand why Edmed is in the 23
Tomthumb
Jim Lenehan (48)
Yeah Edmed over Donaldson was a strange one, and pretty disappointed that not a single journo actually asked Schmidt as to why because it would be good to understand
HogansHeros
Vay Wilson (31)
Yes donno is basically the only man left standing. Would be happy for him to get a run. But if he makes one mistake there will be hell to pay!
Tomthumb
Jim Lenehan (48)
no one is expecting no mistakes. But I don’t think it’s too much to ask a 70 test veteran to kick a ball over a sideline or kick off inbounds
O’Connor should be held to a higher standard than these young guys
rugbyAU
Ken Catchpole (46)
it's just the inconistency, he was the #2 ten last year
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Backintheolddays
Bob Loudon (25)
I know Phil socially, good guy, great family man and rugby through and through.
While not solely his call, the hiring of Joe is the best thing for Australian rugby in a decade.
But, he is not a CEO, at least not yet. Strategy and execution is a key requirement and what Australian rugby desperately needs. We’re no longer amateur, we need top tier talent to nail a strategy, ignore the old school tie and embedded state biases, and smash home execution of the strategy over the next five years. No I don’t want a Joyce or Private equity, but we’ve got to move away from ex players running the show, both at board and management level. ( board is much improved from a decade ago).
League was on its knees in the mid 90s yet we his the premium product behind a paywall, gutted the rugby development officer fraternity, and walked away from grass roots footy.
with Joe and the injection of Lions and RWC funding Phil has the perfect opportunity to reestablish our sport to where it belongs. I hope he has the strategic and execution smarts to get us there which remains my concern and the establishment self interest at the state level in our game.
rugbyAU
Ken Catchpole (46)
Yeah, even Harry Wilson could find touch
BDA
Jim Lenehan (48)
Agree...the penalty seemed like a 50/50 call in real time. Upon replay i reckon even a penalty would be tough call but at least arguable . Squinting as hard as possibl l cant see how the ref justified a yellow. Even the warning he gave shortly prior that seemed completely unwarranted. We were penalised twice in the last 30 mins effecting a pilfer; both went against us, both could havd, arguably should have, been penalties in our favour., both gave the all blacks cheap points,when they were clearly struggling to get much traction. i can only assume those penalties were part of the refs justfication for a team warning prior to yellow, which makes it even harder to swallow
In that same period NZ were given 2 penaties for steals at the ruck both of which were borderline. It didnt seemed like we were getting the same benefit of the doubt our oppoents were. Sure that's part and parcel of having home ground advantage (you tend to win most of the 50/50 calls) but its still disappointing and from my perspective fairly glaring in this instance. And all those calls are particularly egregious considering the all blacks seemed largely on the backfoot and we appeared to be the team in ascendancy
Ulimately we made too many silly mistakes to allow us to take ref out of the game (thats on us) and they were clinical enough to take advantage of those opportunities.
I would love to think we'll get the same luxuries afforded to us on home ground next week but i wouldnt bet of it
John S
Ken Catchpole (46)
Like when he missed a kick against Italy, coming on in the last few minutes and getting pasted for "losing the game" by the peanut gallery.
Mr Pilfer
Vay Wilson (31)
So I am guessing they won’t have the rugby championship trophy in Perth and a celebration waiting for the winner, as the boks could then win it all a few hours later.
Would therefore be a pretty big anticlimax if argies won and the all blacks or wallabies finished on top but don’t get to celebrate on the field. Can’t remember last time that has happened?
Would therefore be a pretty big anticlimax if argies won and the all blacks or wallabies finished on top but don’t get to celebrate on the field. Can’t remember last time that has happened?
Yoda
John Solomon (38)
I guess it was a bad time to pick up an injury when he had to pull out v SA. Edmed is not a better 10 than Donaldson imo. Maybe Joe will give Donaldson the reins on the Spring Tour?
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
I must admit I a bit concerned with Love at only cover at 10 too WOB, but seems he the only one they taken.
On a selfish note, I am reasonably happy, as Jacomb is crucial for the Naki in NPC (and perhaps not a hell of a lot on next week's test), I was actually saying at golf yesterday, I was worried as I thought he would go with ABs, and the Naki may struggle(it will be hard enough against Canterbury).
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Mate Aussie's not alone in that, we got plenty that do that too.
Strewthcobber
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
I don't really see the issue with it. Potter enters the contest and immediately isn't supporting his bodyweight (hands in front of the ball).
Then a ruck forms, and his hands are still on the ground. He can't touch the ball at this point.
Then it's just one of the fundamentals of rugby, "no hands in the ruck". He causes the ABs to lose possession, so forces the ref to blow the whistle, and it's 5m out while ABs are red hot on attack - that's a cynical penalty, and a yellow card.