Wallabies v Japan 25 Oct

[Tomthumb]

There was some serious white line fever going on there...

After what felt like 100 pick and drives, Bell was standing one out of the ruck with a massive gap in the defensive line in front of him screaming for the ball, and Canham picked it up and went head first into nowhere... and then I'm pretty sure we turned it over a couple of phases after that.

The fact that happened with both the top Wallabies 9 and 10 on the field made it even more pathetic

 

[Where's the beef]

There was some serious white line fever going on there...

After what felt like 100 pick and drives, Bell was standing one out of the ruck with a massive gap in the defensive line in front of him screaming for the ball, and Canham picked it up and went head first into nowhere... and then I'm pretty sure we turned it over a couple of phases after that.

We turned it over when we went wide. We then go the benefit of the penalty.

 

[Where's the beef]

Some interesting decisions for next week.

9 Gordon Picks Himself
10: Edmed I think will Start
12: Piasami
13: Does JAS return here or does he keep Flook who did little wrong, but I don't think will win you a test. If he Keeps Flook, does he play JAS on wing.
14 Jorgo
15 Kels
11 Pietch or Dungunu for me.

Lonegan picks himself and will assume the goal kicking I assume
Carter Will come off the bench
I am guessing Dungunu.

With all the injuries who knows.

 

[stillmissit]

Serious question - do high performance athletes really need 4 weeks off between games?

That seems to be the main reason Schmidt has justified rolling out the team he did in terms of wanting them fresh for the main tour games.

I feel like he’s opened himself and the team up to more criticism if they now start slow against England due to having no cohesion.

NO! 2 weeks is understandable, and a break during the year, but 4 weeks between games is bordering on boredom.

 

[Brumby Runner]

In this case I don't think it's about the time since last game, as much as it is about the 5 games in a row they've got scheduled. He's spoken about the attrition they experienced by the end of the tour last year and that's what they're trying to avoid.

That said there were a couple of players reported as carrying niggles (Ala'alatoa and Tupou) who likely will have benefited from an extra week off.

I doubt that TT ever benefits fron time off. A bit like Skelton imo. He needs to be playing whenever possible to retain game fitness.

 

[Wilson]

I doubt that TT ever benefits fron time off. A bit like Skelton imo. He needs to be playing whenever possible to retain game fitness.

I kind of agree for in season super rugby when he's at home, but in the hyper controlled environment of a touring party it's very different. I also think he's turned a bit of a corner the end of this season and looks to have his head back in the game for the first time in ~2 years (though still has a way to go).

Either way, I think it was worth resting both him and Allan when they're carrying niggles, they're a level above our other options and we want both fit and firing for the big games in Europe.

 

[Yoda]

There was some serious white line fever going on there...

After what felt like 100 pick and drives, Bell was standing one out of the ruck with a massive gap in the defensive line in front of him screaming for the ball, and Canham picked it up and went head first into nowhere... and then I'm pretty sure we turned it over a couple of phases after that.

Yep. That was just bloody DUMB brainless rugby.

 

[Yoda]

Some interesting decisions for next week.

9 Gordon Picks Himself
10: Edmed I think will Start
12: Piasami
13: Does JAS return here or does he keep Flook who did little wrong, but I don't think will win you a test. If he Keeps Flook, does he play JAS on wing.
14 Jorgo
15 Kels
11 Pietch or Dungunu for me.

Lonegan picks himself and will assume the goal kicking I assume
Carter Will come off the bench
I am guessing Dungunu.

With all the injuries who knows.

13 Flook keep his spot? Are you serious? JAS will stroll straight back in. You seriously aren't suggesting Flook is better than JAS?

 

[Where's the beef]

13 Flook keep his spot? Are you serious? JAS will stroll straight back in. You seriously aren't suggesting Flook is better than JAS?

No, not saying Flook is better. But it is a long standing combo for QLD. That may.

 

[LeCheese]

I doubt that TT ever benefits fron time off. A bit like Skelton imo. He needs to be playing whenever possible to retain game fitness.

Was it not reported that he had an ankle complaint?

You have to think a fair few of the rested players were carrying niggles after some tough Tests - I don't really have an issue with them getting another week to heal up prior to the Spring Tour. It really did, however,t expose the chasm between the starters and the second/third/fourth picks.

 

[fatprop]

The fact that happened with both the top Wallabies 9 and 10 on the field made it even more pathetic

On a wet day, keeping it close and in front of the pigs is not an unusual game plan

Especially with that backline, it shouldn't have gone wide until there was a three man overlap

 

[Tex]

Tough game in very tricky conditions, and importantly against a well drilled opponent. I thought we left a few tries out there, particularly when that kind of silly pick and drive part of the first half was going on, but honestly I'm not too worried about the outcome.

I think casuals assume that the old 60+ point gaps between Japan and Tier 1.5 nations still exists... I'd kill for the Wallabies players to have some of the skill and cohesion in the Japanese backline. Great team that will continue to take scalps.

 

[PhilClinton]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned much - how come Eddie can get a 13th ranked team to come together and play above their weight. But when it came to us, he treated the players like shit and totally destroyed our season and culture.

What a disaster that whole situation was and this makes it seem even worse.

 

[rugbyAU]

Tough game in very tricky conditions, and importantly against a well drilled opponent. I thought we left a few tries out there, particularly when that kind of silly pick and drive part of the first half was going on, but honestly I'm not too worried about the outcome.

I think casuals assume that the old 60+ point gaps between Japan and Tier 1.5 nations still exists... I'd kill for the Wallabies players to have some of the skill and cohesion in the Japanese backline. Great team that will continue to take scalps.

What scalps outside of the WC's?

 

[Slim 293]

What scalps outside of the WC's?

They did beat Wales this year, and came close against Fiji who the Wallabies almost fell to with a better team...

Considering the quality of the lineup the Wallabies ran out on the weekend it was always likely to be a competitive game.

 

[Braveheart81]

We have to use these games against lower quality opposition to expose some more players to test rugby. It's absolute a risk that we lose but it's also how we build depth and get a stronger overall playing group.

The conditions were crap. We didn't play well and it was absolutely a game for the purists (hard to watch).

That said, we escaped with a win so on to next week.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I appreciate the win and in not ideal conditions (which Japan also had to play in). But who of the Wallabies really stood up and showed development from their previous ceilings? It seems to me that there are two ways of exposing up and comers to high level, test match conditions. One way is to load up the team with development players and throw them in the deep end to sink or swim. This is what Rennie did in Italy and Joe did against Japan.The other way is to drip feed development players into a strong test squad, preferably off the bench and only one or two at a time and let them learn from the top players around them. This is not what we do well with the Wallabies. Look for example at Ryan Lonergan - has been around and in Wallaby squads over years but has yet to earn a cap in a time where the halfback stocks were never very strong and the best of whom we had were or are looking to move on.

I reckon Joe got very lucky against Japan. At the end there was only one side playing to win (Japan) and our side was playing not to lose. A four point margin could have been one bounce of the ball (or a BOK moment) away from a loss which would have cost us dearly in terms of world ranking. We go on from here to play England who are a strong chance of beating us if we are lacking match fitness in a good number of spots, and then Italy, Ireland and France. The latter two sides will be favourites to beat us and Italy won't be a pushover. My pessimistic view is that we'll finish with two wins from 5 matches and probably be further away from displacing Argentina in the top 6 ranked table.

Next week's game against England is crucial. That is the best opportunity to press Argentina for that No 6 spot. I really hope Joe hasn't shot us in the foot with his selections against Japan.

 

[Braveheart81]

This is not what we do well with the Wallabies. Look for example at Ryan Lonergan - has been around and in Wallaby squads over years but has yet to earn a cap in a time where the halfback stocks were never very strong and the best of whom we had were or are looking to move on.

Was this due to the injuries and we ran out of substitutions?

We made 8 substitutions as Canham and Robertson both had to leave the field after coming on as replacements.

 

[notdeadyet]

Serious question - do high performance athletes really need 4 weeks off between games?

That seems to be the main reason Schmidt has justified rolling out the team he did in terms of wanting them fresh for the main tour games.

I feel like he’s opened himself and the team up to more criticism if they now start slow against England due to having no cohesion.

over-loaded soft tissue doesn't give a stuff 'bout being physiologically high performance

 

[notdeadyet]

I appreciate the win and in not ideal conditions (which Japan also had to play in). But who of the Wallabies really stood up and showed development from their previous ceilings? It seems to me that there are two ways of exposing up and comers to high level, test match conditions. One way is to load up the team with development players and throw them in the deep end to sink or swim. This is what Rennie did in Italy and Joe did against Japan.The other way is to drip feed development players into a strong test squad, preferably off the bench and only one or two at a time and let them learn from the top players around them. This is not what we do well with the Wallabies. Look for example at Ryan Lonergan - has been around and in Wallaby squads over years but has yet to earn a cap in a time where the halfback stocks were never very strong and the best of whom we had were or are looking to move on.

I reckon Joe got very lucky against Japan. At the end there was only one side playing to win (Japan) and our side was playing not to lose. A four point margin could have been one bounce of the ball (or a BOK moment) away from a loss which would have cost us dearly in terms of world ranking. We go on from here to play England who are a strong chance of beating us if we are lacking match fitness in a good number of spots, and then Italy, Ireland and France. The latter two sides will be favourites to beat us and Italy won't be a pushover. My pessimistic view is that we'll finish with two wins from 5 matches and probably be further away from displacing Argentina in the top 6 ranked table.

Next week's game against England is crucial. That is the best opportunity to press Argentina for that No 6 spot. I really hope Joe hasn't shot us in the foot with his selections against Japan.

we've got the points from the game and only two more injured, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) & Robbo. i say well done joe