Bledisloe 1 - Wallabies vs All Blacks, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 8:05pm

[gel]

The biggest problem is people's expectations, we have lost 3 tests against England, the 5 NZ Super 15 teams were all significantly better than any of the Australian teams, the AB's are the number one team in the world by a significant margin. They are bigger, better, faster, more skilled, more confident and the gap is bigger than its been for many years.

Most of the errors by Australia were caused by the incredible pressure, skill level and intensity of the AB's.

Changing players or coaches or strategies or anything else wont close that gap, we need to lower our expectations and understand the reasons for the gap between Australia and NZ - and that starts with the cultural differences and builds through schoolboy rugby into club rugby, provincial rugby and onwards.

I remember saying that any of the NZ Super teams would be a good chance of beating the Wallabies during the finals - any one of them would probably have scored more points tonite against the AB's - thats how big the gulf is.

I had no doubt the AB's would win, would have bet on it if the odds were worth it, i did have a lazy $100 on team A winning both halves, based on the expecatation that the AB's would very likely do so - and the odds were a very attractive 9-1. At least I will enjoy spending that on some quality booze to drown my sorrows!

Despite the pain of watching our national side in such dire straights, it is a pleasure to watch such a complete display by an amazing side. Congratulations to the AB's and commiserations to the Wobblies.

I just hope the public can manage their expectations and understand that we are simply not in the same class and likely wont be for many years if ever.

The essence of this post is truly disturbing.

 

[The torpedo]

I think in hindsight I'm very glad I went out for dinner and didn't watch this game. I doubt I'll watch the replay either. Dark times in Camp Wallaby. The thing is though, who are the alternatives? If this is the best we can put out there then I would suggest the game is in trouble in this country.

Lucky you.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Well, starting with probably Douglas and Pocock in the starting forwards, Genia, Folau and probably AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in the backs, we need some minor miracles with the rest of it. Sure we can slot in alternatives, but if the lot that started were doing the best work at training, it's hard to see a big change. But I guess it has to happen, but probably not as many changes as that might suggest at once.
Of the reserves, Phipps did well on the wing, front rowers were OK, Mumm sort of OK (at least showed some drive, I guess, but I can't see him as a starter).
So:-
Slipper / TPN / Kepu (maybe)
Douglas / Simmons
Fardy / Pocock / Hooper
Genia / Cooper / AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) / Hodge / Kerevi / DHP / Folau

I guess another lock maybe, but I'm not sure it will improve us a lot.
Back row? Some will say Timani, but is that just trying something new? Was that our biggest problem - probably not. The lineout sucked, so that has to be a priority.
The backline changes kind of speak for themselves although the new combo above doesn't really scream "world beating" either, but we will have no alternative.
Blergggghhhhh!

I thought Douglas was pretty much invisible tonight, and Simmons once again proved that he is not the messiah of lineout callers. One needs to miss out next week, and Coleman should start. It was a mistake to go in with Simmons, McCalman, Mumm and Hooper. That was a powder puff pack and they got run over like a rabbit caught in the head lights of a runaway truck.

The Pooper has run its course imo. Excellent player though he is, Hooper leaves too much of the tight work to the others in the pack, and when they are the likes of Simmons, McCalman and Mumm, there just isn't anywhere near enough fire power. It is hard to suggest the replacements needed, but until Holloway is back fit again maybe Timani needs to be given a run at 8. Pocock back to his best spot at 7 and just do the right thing and start Fardy at 6. Otherwise, it's about time to see if Ready can play at this level. Either of TPN or Moore could do with a rest - neither is playing like a test player atm.

In the backline, Genia was more than adequate and a pleasure to not have to watch the spraying passes from Phipps, who went quite well at wing where he doesn't need to pass the pill. Foley has been our best option at 10 but he is just not up the scratch. In the absence of any other 10 coming through in the Super Rugby franchises, Quade needs to be in the 10 jersey.

I see you have gone with Hodge at 12 and Kerevi at 13. I suspect there is some inclination there to not admit that Kerevi might just be our best No 12. He has some test experience there at least and while he was on against the English he was the most dangerous runner with ball in hand. He has staked a much stronger claim to the 12 spot than Hodge to this time. Quade/Kerevi could just be the line breaking combination we are desperately seeking. Folau to 13 if TK is dropped. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) the only foreigner to earn a spot and DHP at 15.

That's the way I'd go. I don't expect them to beat the ABs, who are clearly the best side in world rugby (and I think they are improving year on year), but I'd hope we might be able to build on a side like this over the next few years as Kellaway, Naivalu, Holloway, Staniforth, Robertson et al develop.

 

[Gnostic]

You have completely missed the point - as I suspect many will. Our systems are incapable of developing a team of players sufficiently skilled and able to beat a team like the AB's more than once in a blue moon.



There is nothing 'fraudulent' or unprofessional about it, most of the international teams in the world are in the same boat, if not all or them. The Boks only beat them very rarely these days, none of the 6 Nation sides look capable of beating them, the Pumas are yet to win against them.



This is what I mean about managing our expectations for the Wallabies, a new coach, different selections, these things wont change the world order of rugby and our place in it.

You've missed the point, just as the ARU missed the point year on year. The systems are shit. yes, but your attitude accepts that it is beyond fixing. If that is the case just give up. F^%$ managing expectations. Play to win or don't bother. That means accepting that you may well lose but at least seek to improve skills and application.

No use bringing up the Bok, they like France are hamstrung by their own structural issues. The Pumas likewise. England is finally getting their shit together and Wales would beat the Wallabies far more often if they had a coach that had some semblance of an idea of what to do.

Being professional has been lost to a large degree in Australia across many professions because far too many people obtain a position and a bit of paper and they have "achieved" professionalism. They then become stagnant apart from expanding their paper portfolio. No skill development from then on. Name me a Wallaby back that is better today than they were when they debuted for the Wallabies.

I do not accept that our Pro players have less potential than AB players. In fact there are some individuals like Folau and a few others that have a greater potential, achieving that potential take decent coaching and application by the players.

 

[TOCC]

It doesn't matter how smart you are if you miss 31 tackles.
We firstly need to compete physically, then we can start to think about tactics.

Couldn't disagree more..

poor tactics and a game plan not tailored to the players skill set contributed heavily to these missed tackles

 

[I like to watch]

Tell me how missing one on one tackles are due to tactics.
And charge downs are more evidence of poor tactics?
How many times did we drive them back in contact?
And how many times did they?

 

[ArmchairGeneral]

Bob Dwyer and Mark Ella were two rows from my seats - their faces said it all.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I wouldn't be putting DHP at 15 after tonight. Hodge apparently trained really well at 12 and since Kuridrani was pants, I wonder if Hodge at 12 for now and Kerevi at 13 out of necessity.
But I don't think there is a simple answer. If To'omua was / is OK then I think we'll see him at 12 and Kerevi at 13. But he looked dusty after the knock.

Matty needs to take a long holiday from rugby. Has been knocked out at least three occasions this year. Starting to look like he has a longer standing concussion issue.

Why would the training track be a good guide to game form? I'm sure that all of the 23 players used tonight have been cutting it up in training, but fell well short when the crunch came. Hodge needs time off the bench covering 15, 12 and 10 before earning his stripes in the starting side.

 

[TOCC]

I thought Douglas was pretty much invisible tonight, and Simmons once again proved that he is not the messiah of lineout callers.

no one has ever called him the messiah of lineout calling, the Wallabies lineout was always going struggle tonight, it doesn't take a genius to figure that out.. You could have had Sharpe or Matfield running the lineout and it would have struggled, 3 jumpers against 4 simply doesn't work, I thought we would have learned our lesson after the RWC GF or the England series, but apparently not

 

[The torpedo]

Being professional has been lost to a large degree in Australia across many professions because far too many people obtain a position and a bit of paper and they have "achieved" professionalism. They then become stagnant apart from expanding their paper portfolio. No skill development from then on. Name me a Wallaby back that is better today than they were when they debuted for the Wallabies.

It's also because people think 'professionalism' (in a sports context at least) is just getting paid to do something.

 

[Brumby Runner]

The only one with an ounce of passion was Matt Giteau, his effort in trying to play on whilst in obvious pain was honourable.. The rest of them should be embarrassed that they earn the same wage as the All Blacks

Just selfish, not honorable.

 

[Viking]

I do not accept that our Pro players have less potential than AB players. In fact there are some individuals like Folau and a few others that have a greater potential, achieving that potential take decent coaching and application by the players.

This is a really good point. So many skillful players have came through and just haven't reached their potential.

I wonder how players like Cooper, JOC (James O'Connor), KB (Kurtley Beale) would be like had they been in the NZ system.

Or even a player like Godwin.

 

[Twoilms]

I made the trek to Homebush, paid real life money i worked for and shit to watch that farce.

Point one - The stadium was barely three quarters full. Seriously, for a game that supposedly means a lot for the two countries we couldn't even fill a stadium for the first game in a city of 5 million people.

Two - Worst Australian performance in recent history (last 10-15 years). Not a single player had even a half decent game. Edit: Scratch that, it's our worst ever loss at home.

Three - Rugby is a product and to retain it's value it needs to remain competitive. The stadium was barely half full by the second half kick off. Even the Kiwi bloke in front of me left with 20 to go.

The game is in trouble financially and socially. Few people care about it in Australia and the ARU is broke. Games like this do more damage than good to an already bad situation.

Even from a Kiwi perspective this was a loss. Australia are supposedly one of New Zealand's closest competitors in the sport and the games are turning into a procession. When they win a third World Cup in a row at a canter were will that leave the game?

Everyone sucked so i don't really see the point in singling out any particular performances except one. Moore is absolutely stealing a living. Poor composure, no interpersonal skills and an inferior player to TPN in almost every way bar perhaps line-out throws, supposedly.

 

[Brumby Runner]

DHP was shocking in defence tonight. Blacks exposed him badly

True, but iirc this was his first outing against the ABs. Lots of players have a shocker when first confronted by the Black, but his form v England was good enough to persist for the time being.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think based on our first four games of the season that something needs to change. We either have the wrong game plan, the wrong players or maybe both. It might be time to tap a few blokes on the shoulder and put some new combinations out on the park. What worked so well last year clearly isn't now and we appear to have not moved with the times.

Perhaps Cheika should decide to clean house and rebuild.

 

[TOCC]

Just selfish, not honorable.

I know what I saw

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Bob Dwyer and Mark Ella were two rows from my seats - their faces said it all.

I'd love to know what Bob thinks can be done to fix the slide we're in.

 

[cyclopath]

I thought Douglas was pretty much invisible tonight, and Simmons once again proved that he is not the messiah of lineout callers. One needs to miss out next week, and Coleman should start. It was a mistake to go in with Simmons, McCalman, Mumm and Hooper. That was a powder puff pack and they got run over like a rabbit caught in the head lights of a runaway truck.

The Pooper has run its course imo. Excellent player though he is, Hooper leaves too much of the tight work to the others in the pack, and when they are the likes of Simmons, McCalman and Mumm, there just isn't anywhere near enough fire power. It is hard to suggest the replacements needed, but until Holloway is back fit again maybe Timani needs to be given a run at 8. Pocock back to his best spot at 7 and just do the right thing and start Fardy at 6. Otherwise, it's about time to see if Ready can play at this level. Either of TPN or Moore could do with a rest - neither is playing like a test player atm.

In the backline, Genia was more than adequate and a pleasure to not have to watch the spraying passes from Phipps, who went quite well at wing where he doesn't need to pass the pill. Foley has been our best option at 10 but he is just not up the scratch. In the absence of any other 10 coming through in the Super Rugby franchises, Quade needs to be in the 10 jersey.

I see you have gone with Hodge at 12 and Kerevi at 13. I suspect there is some inclination there to not admit that Kerevi might just be our best No 12. He has some test experience there at least and while he was on against the English he was the most dangerous runner with ball in hand. He has staked a much stronger claim to the 12 spot than Hodge to this time. Quade/Kerevi could just be the line breaking combination we are desperately seeking. Folau to 13 if TK is dropped. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) the only foreigner to earn a spot and DHP at 15.

That's the way I'd go. I don't expect them to beat the ABs, who are clearly the best side in world rugby (and I think they are improving year on year), but I'd hope we might be able to build on a side like this over the next few years as Kellaway, Naivalu, Holloway, Staniforth, Robertson et al develop.

It's no "inclination" not to admit anything, I just disagree with you. I don't think Folau should be 13, I don't think DHP should be fullback and I think the balance is better with Kerevi at 13. It's that simple. Don't bother quoting me repeatedly to tell me Kerevi should be 12, I got it already.



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[cyclopath]

Just selfish, not honorable.

What rot.


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[The torpedo]

Even from a Kiwi perspective this was a loss. Australia are supposedly one of New Zealand's closest competitors in the sport and the games are turning into a procession. When they win a third World Cup in a row at a canter were will that leave the game?

This reminds me of an article in an NZ paper in 2014 - it said how (from a NZ perspective) that the ABs losing the Bledisloe (and at Eden Park) could actually be good for the game - it isn't difficult to see why