Wallabies v Italy - 9 November

[TSR]

A couple of observations from me -
- Schmidt must regret tying himself to Fisher’s ‘connected line speed’ defence. It’s been our biggest issue and continues to be
- although our ability in the air is a close second
- early in the season our discipline was very good. Now we seem to have fallen back into old habits. We are constantly giving easy metres/points to the opposition team
- on top of that 4 kicks out on the full . Basic forward passes off set plays. Basically we were just kicking our selves in the nuts
- early in the year our bench was providing a step up for us. The likes of McDermott & Tizzano off the bench were a point of difference. Williams off the bench was a very different player to Williams starting. We no longer have Bell coming off the bench either. We aren’t getting that lift anymore.
- I don’t think Frost & Williams works as a starting pair.
- our best two halves this year have been White & McDermott. Gordon is a step down. If Schmidt doesn’t trust Lonergan than maybe give Thomas a go. At least he might bring some spark. But I wouldnt mind seeing Lonergan get a start
- without Ikiatau, Wright & Jorgenson the backline has lost a lot of bite. But it still doesn’t explain why we’ve reverted to such a narrow game plan
- I thought C Gordon did pretty well. Hope his quad is okay. But don’t like the idea of using Kellaway as goal kicker

Positives - McReight & Hooper both did very well. Tupou is playing his best footy for some time.

Hard balance for the next test. As much as change is needed large scale changes aren’t going to get a better result. Ikitau and Skelton to come back in - or if Skelton isn’t available play Salakai-Loto. Bring Jorgenson back. I dunno who else.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Yes but he didn’t show an adequate passing game in the nrl either
More saying I don’t think there is one
Can’t bellieve we are so thin in the centres
And a lack of size accross the backline

I get the point but he’s not in the team to pass the ball.

He’s there to get it and run and the Wallabies aren’t doing enough to create opportunities to do this. If he was being fed the ball and passed and kicked it we’d all be screaming for him to run it.

We’ve seen him break lines in Super Rugby and at times International games. He’s great in space and is physically much bigger than most players he’ll line up against.

Teams aren’t threatened in attack by the backrow, 9 or 10 so they can shift and mark our 12,13 heavily. There isn’t even a threat at the back with Wright out.

 

[Yoda]

Shame for Toole kills it still in super rugby but was allways going to have issues converting to the international stage
Certainly has not been helped by no gameplan and no ball from the players inside him

Exactly.

 

[Yoda]

A couple of observations from me -
- Schmidt must regret tying himself to Fisher’s ‘connected line speed’ defence. It’s been our biggest issue and continues to be
- although our ability in the air is a close second
- early in the season our discipline was very good. Now we seem to have fallen back into old habits. We are constantly giving easy metres/points to the opposition team
- on top of that 4 kicks out on the full . Basic forward passes off set plays. Basically we were just kicking our selves in the nuts
- early in the year our bench was providing a step up for us. The likes of McDermott & Tizzano off the bench were a point of difference. Williams off the bench was a very different player to Williams starting. We no longer have Bell coming off the bench either. We aren’t getting that lift anymore.
- I don’t think Frost & Williams works as a starting pair.
- our best two halves this year have been White & McDermott. Gordon is a step down. If Schmidt doesn’t trust Lonergan than maybe give Thomas a go. At least he might bring some spark. But I wouldnt mind seeing Lonergan get a start
- without Ikiatau, Wright & Jorgenson the backline has lost a lot of bite. But it still doesn’t explain why we’ve reverted to such a narrow game plan
- I thought C Gordon did pretty well. Hope his quad is okay. But don’t like the idea of using Kellaway as goal kicker

Positives - McReight & Hooper both did very well. Tupou is playing his best footy for some time.

Hard balance for the next test. As much as change is needed large scale changes aren’t going to get a better result. Ikitau and Skelton to come back in - or if Skelton isn’t available play Salakai-Loto. Bring Jorgenson back. I dunno who else.

JOC (James O'Connor)

 

[Major Tom]

A couple of observations from me -
- Schmidt must regret tying himself to Fisher’s ‘connected line speed’ defence. It’s been our biggest issue and continues to be
- although our ability in the air is a close second
- early in the season our discipline was very good. Now we seem to have fallen back into old habits. We are constantly giving easy metres/points to the opposition team
- on top of that 4 kicks out on the full . Basic forward passes off set plays. Basically we were just kicking our selves in the nuts
- early in the year our bench was providing a step up for us. The likes of McDermott & Tizzano off the bench were a point of difference. Williams off the bench was a very different player to Williams starting. We no longer have Bell coming off the bench either. We aren’t getting that lift anymore.
- I don’t think Frost & Williams works as a starting pair.
- our best two halves this year have been White & McDermott. Gordon is a step down. If Schmidt doesn’t trust Lonergan than maybe give Thomas a go. At least he might bring some spark. But I wouldnt mind seeing Lonergan get a start
- without Ikiatau, Wright & Jorgenson the backline has lost a lot of bite. But it still doesn’t explain why we’ve reverted to such a narrow game plan
- I thought C Gordon did pretty well. Hope his quad is okay. But don’t like the idea of using Kellaway as goal kicker

Positives - McReight & Hooper both did very well. Tupou is playing his best footy for some time.

Hard balance for the next test. As much as change is needed large scale changes aren’t going to get a better result. Ikitau and Skelton to come back in - or if Skelton isn’t available play Salakai-Loto. Bring Jorgenson back. I dunno who else.

Bang on

 

[Linerunner2023]

I get the point but he’s not in the team to pass the ball.

He’s there to get it and run and the Wallabies aren’t doing enough to create opportunities to do this. If he was being fed the ball and passed and kicked it we’d all be screaming for him to run it.

We’ve seen him break lines in Super Rugby and at times International games. He’s great in space and is physically much bigger than most players he’ll line up against.

Teams aren’t threatened in attack by the backrow, 9 or 10 so they can shift and mark our 12,13 heavily. There isn’t even a threat at the back with Wright out.

I agree he isn’t there for that reason
But a good centre should still have a passing game otherwise why bother with wingers? You still have a duty to get the ball wider then yourself
Eg Nonu
Comes back to the old under 14s just let a big centre run it and don’t worry about the back 3
We badly miss wright, I would love it if petaia still has it and could come back on a wing as well

 

[Shiggins]

I thought I heard the ref say that Tupou asserted too much pressure on the Italy LHP forcing him to go to ground. If I heard that correctly, then it would have to be the most ridiculous explanation of a penalty probably in the history of the game.

The first 15 there were some terrible calls. Doesn't change anything. We suck

 

[Tomthumb]

I also think we downplay how much we miss our best players. I think any test team will struggle without their genuine best 5 players not playing. Lenny, skelton, wright, JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor), jorganson for example. They are not just slightly better than paisami, toole, Kellaway, Williams, Tane. They are miles ahead. The difference in quality is massive in these players.

I still think any of the top 6 teams can beat Italy without 5 or 6 of their best players because their next best players are not that far behind in quality.

All those players outside of Wright we eligible to play…

 

[Giulia]

The only alternative is that Kiss has been directing this from behind the scenes and said to Schmidt he’s using the tour to put red lines through blokes who aren’t good enough (Edmed, Kellaway are first on the list imho).

Doubtful. Schmidt won't want another person's losses on his record.

 

[Brumby Runner]

There isn't a coach in world rugby who would play like this. The cost of getting it wrong at halfway is way to massive.

Contested possession 25m out is fine, and the game plan of everyone. Our execution with Toole congestion is the issue

So, one man failing to secure possession from a box kick 75m from our goal line is the sole reason the Italians were able to run the ball those 75m and score a try which I think broke the deadlock.

Funny that many of our recent opponents, including Italy, don't have a problem with retaining possession and running from their own 22 m line. Time for our coaches to take a fresh look at how the game should be played and to implement a game plan to actually try to winm a game.

 

[Heavyd]

I’m glad there are some people seeing what I’m seeing with Jake Gordon. He surely cannot start next week. If Schmidt can’t make the hard calls then it’s time to fast track Les.

 

[rugbyAU]

I’m glad there are some people seeing what I’m seeing with Jake Gordon. He surely cannot start next week. If Schmidt can’t make the hard calls then it’s time to fast track Les.

Schmidt should be fired after this game

 

[rugbyAU]

Skelton in doubt for Ireland with ankle injury

 

[Tomikin]

Toole is just fast. I don’t think he brings anything to the side other than that.

He earnt an opportunity, got it but it isn’t sustainable to keep him. With some of the young guys and a guy like Marky coming back to Rugby we shouldn’t see him again.

I wont argue too much, as I think his just off the pace, but his in the squad and I think deserves to be. Others will get their change over the next few week.

I'll add to this @The Ghost of Raelene , we aren't doing him any favours with our game plan, or putting him in postions to do his best work..

 

[TSR]

Isn’t Schmidt gone after the next two games? I mean, I get people are frustrated but there isn’t someone else coming in now before the end of his tenure.

 

[rugbyAU]

Isn’t Schmidt gone after the next two games? I mean, I get people are frustrated but there isn’t someone else coming in now before the end of his tenure.

he has Ireland, France and Italy in July

 

[wamberal99]

Skelton in doubt for Ireland with ankle injury

I don't blame him.

 

[TSR]

Okay. That timing does seem odd. Anyway - not relevant to this game so I’ll leave it.

 

[Tomikin]

he has Ireland, France and Italy in July

Even so, his leaving after a few more games, then we get a much less experienced coach with a worse track record.. We really need our best team playing consistently and well.. In the forwards, Bobby V's down on form, Hooper I think was awesome.. rest where so so in carrying the ball.

Dont know what to do with that, Start Skelton, ... LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) off the bench, Hooper/Valetine at 6 and Wilson/Valetine at 8 the left out one on the bench. We really need to get Valetini running full plet at the defence from a run not a standing start and then in... if his not up for it I dont know what to do..

I'd probably give Swain a go in front of Frost and Willaims atm as well. Him and Skelton could coarse a mess.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Unless max j is at fullback, then the drop from wright to the next can be huge if kellaway has a stinker especially.
You put max at 15 and you lose a lot on the wing - tho I think piestch is pretty handy so would bring him back in.
Lose ikitau and paisami is a big step down. I’d try Filipo or be looking at who else below that’s a big body who can get some good game time next year.
Lose white and mcd and scrum half is challenged. Lose lolesio and carter and we’re way off at 10.

there’s perhaps a bit more depth in the forwards but it feels like Skelton and frost pretty key partnership.
Valetini must still be coming back to not be starting.

again we just lack depth. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) back will help for sure re high balls but we need centre and half depth in the backline.
Carter looked like glad he’s back and having Noah back as imperfect as I think he is will be positive for depth too