France v Australia

[Inside Shoulder]

Phibbs - Foley axis too one dimensional, backrow unbalanced with the newby and need 2nd row with sting - thought Simmons, McCalman & played well - benchwarmers on too late - Dont know how Foley's up and under could work given lack of chasers, reluctance to use the potential backline fire power with ball in hand or adjusting tactics to defences - kicked well though - wins sum games perhaps Chieka systems still need ironing out.

Has TGC flown Phibbs over as well - FFS.
Simmons butchered a kickoff exit with abysmal body height, even by Skelton's standards, and damn near butchered the next one on the same basis.
Cheika attack system has now been revealed in its full Tahs glory: last minute offloads. No plan to reliably get to the gain line, just a plan that if you do happen to cross the gain line flick it up and hope for the best.
Works in S 15 but not in tests.
The transfer of pressure by merely passing to the outside man when behind the gain is the #1 problem.
KB (Kurtley Beale)'s preferred lateral running will not change that when TGC rings him in this week.
Winning would have been a travesty and would have delayed the soul searching that is necessary.

 

[cyclopath]

Is there a rule that Aussie half backs must wait 2 seconds before they are allowed to pass? Just made it so easy for the defence to realign every time.

The French were messing up clean ball very well - Phipps was in Owens' ear about it a few times. Genia just hops and skips anyway, but was getting messy ball too.

 

[the sabanator]

I'd love to see Cooper start next week, but I doubt it happens. Foley looked very ordinary tonight and the Wallaby attack only started to fire with Quade making things happen.

Phipps was above good, but not great.
Folau very ordinary. I don't know what Speight has to do to get a start, but he couldn't have been worse than Tomane.

Off the bench, I think Skelton will make way for Carter. Skelton had 0 positive impact, but a whole lot of negative. I can't believe there aren't better reserve prop options than Alexander and Robinson.

I doubt there'll be any changes except for the rushed reinclusion of Beale.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Hodgson played very well when come on for sub last 2 games.hence

Hodgson for McMahon with McMahon/ as bench option

To'omua or Godwin for Lilo - yep fair call - pity cooper can't tackle as otherwise would put him at 12 on attack..I like cooper what he showed when came on in terms of touches (and been a critic) but foley still first choice for me.

Second row options with douglas gone fairly tough to find..hence why would be keen to see how Jones goes there - as not many decent options..wykes maybe option to look at or even neville..

Horwill, Skelton very dissappointing..I thought simmons played ok on what I saw...

If we go to RWC with that starting 15 we won't get out of the pool of death.

Other then the try ( even then he fell over the line and made life a hell of a lot harder for Foley) Simmons was useless lineout was difunctional dropped balls passive in defence shit he got palmed of by a prop.......

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Hard to know. Foley worse than normal with the ball, kicked well; Quade looked very good in his cameo, but we don't know how / if he'll kick goals.
If nothing else, it was good to see Cooper on the field getting the ball in his hands and having an impact.
The 10/12 combination remains uncertain to me - I think the players to choose from are OK, but the gel isn't there. Leali'ifano not great tonight, but has been good at other times. Foley poor with ball in hand tonight.
Starting front row and McCalman good, rest of the pack not great.
Hmmmm.

Yes was same quandry was facing myself - folys kicking versus coopers attacking spark......shows we still have not got the perfect 10 option......

I actually have been very impressed with Hodgson.....we need to get him starting the game....

 

[nathan]

We seem to be lacking some fundamentals across key positions.

I like what Foley brings to a game (flat in attack, good place kicking) but he really lacks an accurate long passing game and has poor decision making in picking his runners. On top of that I'm sick of his pop-gun kicks for touch. We only seem to get 15-20 metres at most, regardless of where he's kicking from.

Skelton is a myth - he can't jump, can't scrum and he's proved aside from one test match he doesn't offer much else.

McMahon is underdone - he has the ability to offer a lot, but we're really missing Fardy. Just lacks experience and it reflects in his decision making.

Alexander is finished - blooding up an comers should be the focus. He's just not up to scratch anymore in the scrum and pretty poor in the loose.

I see viable options for next week in restoring what worked well for us on the last EOYT.

1. Slipper
2. Faainga
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Hodgson
7. Hooper
8. McCalman
9. Phipps
10. Cooper
11. Tomane
12. To'omua
13. Kurindrani
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
15. Folau

16. Hanson/Bongo
17. Robinson
18. Faulkner
19. Carter
20. Jones
21. White
22. Foley
23. Speight

 

[cyclopath]

I'd love to see Cooper start next week, but I doubt it happens. Foley looked very ordinary tonight and the Wallaby attack only started to fire with Quade making things happen.

Phipps was above good, but not great.
Folau very ordinary. I don't know what Speight has to do to get a start, but he couldn't have been worse than Tomane.

Off the bench, I think Skelton will make way for Carter. Skelton had 0 positive impact, but a whole lot of negative. I can't believe there aren't better reserve prop options than Alexander and Robinson.

I doubt there'll be any changes except for the rushed reinclusion of Beale.

Robinson's side was OK, Alexander's was going to shit, and Robinson had a few good carries. I'd keep him on the bench until Sio is back and firing next year, but we need to get someone besides Alexander at THP reserve. God knows who?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Has TGC flown Phibbs over as well - FFS.
<snip>

Pat Phibbs is already in Europe. No need to fly him. Tell him to get a Eurostar ticket. London to Paris in no time at all.

 

[Wilson]

Good to hear. I didn't see it. It might be worth starting him then - Cheika has to bite the bullet and use the last 2 games to tinker a bit I think. I'd like to see To'omua at 12 if Cooper starts.

Yeah, I really think we need to change up the 10 12, we look pedestrian in attack way to often. I'm also warming to the idea of moving Foley to fullback and folau to the wing. Izzy is still getting caught out in defence and we could really use a fullback that makes those covering tackles, which I think Foley does a better job of, though it may not be enough if a gain to be worthwhile.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I'd love to see Cooper start next week, but I doubt it happens. Foley looked very ordinary tonight and the Wallaby attack only started to fire with Quade making things happen.

Phipps was above good, but not great.
Folau very ordinary. I don't know what Speight has to do to get a start, but he couldn't have been worse than Tomane.

Off the bench, I think Skelton will make way for Carter. Skelton had 0 positive impact, but a whole lot of negative. I can't believe there aren't better reserve prop options than Alexander and Robinson.

I doubt there'll be any changes except for the rushed reinclusion of Beale.

Skelton is just not test standard....he needs to go....

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Yeah, I really think we need to change up the 10 12, we look pedestrian in attack way to often. I'm also warming to the idea of moving Foley to fullback and folau to the wing. Izzy is still getting caught out in defence and we could really use a fullback that makes those covering tackles, which I think Foley does a better job of, though it may not be enough if a gain to be worthwhile.

I think you may be on something Wilson....cooper at 10 - foley at fullback - izzy on wing instead of tommane.....

12 still a problem....and could not see Beale there if have cooper at 10 as otherwise teams would run 10-12 channel all day as neither cooper nor beale great defensively.....lilo at least good defensively but attack wise - gees never really notice much here - which saids it all....

 

[Marcelo]

Pretty sure he didn't do it in his own. Don't blame a guy that played 10-15 minutes for the teams shit play for the other 60-70 minutes. McMahons dumbass penalty - if you lift a guy, you know there's a good chance you're gonna get into trouble. Skeltons loose carry. Poor handling all around.

For that reason, perhaps McMahon was tired. When you're tired you can't think clearly, Alexander only played 10 minutes, he wasn't tired, so he's more guilty.

Well, you are a Brumbies supporter and you are going to defend your player, but you must recognize that Alexander is the face of defeat. He's the prime example of the decline suffered by the Australian rugby.

 

[the sabanator]

The big shock and awe game of Skelton might have be effective in Super Rugby, but not on the Test stage. His scrumming has been an enormous liability the past two tests and he made some bonehead decisions tonight.

He's not one for the scrapheap, but he needs a few years to get fitter and learn the ins and outs of the professional game, as well as to fix up his set piece. He should get ample opportunities to do that with Cheika at the Tahs.

 

[cyclopath]

1. Slipper
2. Faainga
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Hodgson
7. Hooper
8. McCalman
9. Phipps
10. Cooper
11. Tomane
12. To'omua
13. Kurindrani
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
15. Folau

16. Hanson/Bongo
17. Robinson
18. Faulkner
19. Carter
20. Jones
21. White
22. Foley
23. Speight

Agree, although lock is just not working well for us currently, although Simmons seems to go OK in the scrum, usually solid in lineout too of course.
But I'd start Speight if he is fit, bench Tomane or keep Horne on the bench instead of him - Horne is providing pretty solid sub value which is more than useful.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I think you may be on something Wilson..cooper at 10 - foley at fullback - izzy on wing instead of tommane...

12 still a problem..and could not see Beale there if have cooper at 10 as otherwise teams would run 10-12 channel all day as neither cooper nor beale great defensively...lilo at least good defensively but attack wise - gees never really notice much here - which saids it all..

Yep - Foley has shown us just how good he is when exposed under a high ball

 

[the sabanator]

The Wallabies just looked awful under the high ball tonight in general

 

[KOB1987]

I'd be more than happy to start hodgo if we had to but I think all those raving about his performance need to take a deep breath..he makes an impact off the bench because he his brought on for that reason when everyone else is nuffed....that's his role!

Locks remain a sore point, the only bright side is there has to exist some upside somewhere..

Phipps had a great first half but he did a lot of work and should have been subbed earlier than the 65th minute.

Like most I'm not convinced with the current 10/12 combo..cooper/To'omua worked great this time last year and at that time was seen as the way forward..they are both fit now

Not one of izzy's best games but we all have a bad day at the office sometimes


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Marcelo]

Some G&G user weighs more than 120 kgs and has played rugby? If this is your case, you should go to Dublin and replace Ben Alexander, any rookie can do better than him

 

[Lorenzo]

What sort of test fullback can't execute his own clearing kick when catching the ball on the line under the goalposts? Folau needs to go to the wing.

 

[Lindommer]

After all the wailing here I suggest we look at the positives: atrocious handling, finishing backline resembling a mad dog's breakfast, scrums cum Skelton usual crap, Genia contributing fuck all, AND WE NEARLY BEAT FRANCE IN PARIS!

My thoughts on the match:

• I remarked early on the EoYT one of Cheika's main challenges was to build depth with the decline of Robinson, Alexander, Horwill and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). Horwill's pulled his finger out and put in a couple of passable performances in the absence of any meaningful competition, but the other three are on the slippery slide to non-selection. To which I'm going to add Genia after the last two tests, Will's leadership at the death has been sadly missing. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) let in two tries on his wing through poor defence reads/timing, Alexander seems to be getting worse (WTF hasn't a scrum coach fixed his setup?, and that's from a back!) and Robinson doesn't make the open field contributions he once used to. There seems to be an adequate supply of reserve LHPs, finding a backup THP will probably define our campaign at RWC2015. Good luck, Michael.
• WTF is it with the Wallabies poor handling? You're professional rugby players who do shitloads of training, CATCH THE BLOODY PILL!
• After his efforts the last two tests it's becoming painfully obvious Skelton's not up to test level. The one thing he simply must do is get his body into shape, the fact he's carrying too much weight and isn't nearly fit enough undoubtedly causes him to tire, and then lose concentration. That's why he takes shortcuts like not setting up properly in scrums, etc. Tahs, buy the boy a bike and get him cycling with cyclo and Gagger, the weight'll pour off him.
• I don't think I've seen so many poor playing surfaces as there've been the last few years, what's happening to rugby grounds around the world?
• Cheika's got huge challenges sorting out the second row, midfield and wingers. And the bench. Let's hope Moore, TPN, Sio et al come back fit and well.
• French one-on-one tackling was excellent, getting over the gain line was difficult all match.