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

[KAOPointman]

Harsh on DHP. Can't judge for one bad Test. His other 3 verse England he was solid on attack. He does get caught out in defence often but I put that down to being played out of position on the wing, he has maybe 3 games experience on the wing.

He would be a solid option at fullback. Although won't have Folau's level in the air or counter-attacking but a solid option. He is the Aus form fullback after all.

Totally agree. You could see DHP was only slightly off his game on the wing. But at FB vs England he looked like he'd been there for years. He made some very good plays, tackles and try saves showing his class at "FB"

 

[Lorenzo]

Harsh on DHP. Can't judge for one bad Test. His other 3 verse England he was solid on attack. He does get caught out in defence often but I put that down to being played out of position on the wing, he has maybe 3 games experience on the wing.

He would be a solid option at fullback. Although won't have Folau's level in the air or counter-attacking but a solid option. He is the Aus form fullback after all.

Yep.

There were guys playing last night that have 100 caps and have never been able to impress against the ABs. They've had more success than a guy like DHP because they've played more June tests, Argentina before they were good and Italy etc. Let's not throw out promising young players because they sucked when literally everyone sucked.

Guys like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Gits, and Mitchell need to go, though. We know their ceiling - they hit it a the large part of a decade ago and even then it wasn't good enough.

 

[KOB1987]

If To'omua is unavailable as well. Then 12 will be Kerevi or Hodge. I put my money on Kerevi since he already has experience there.

I'd rather start Kerevi at 13 too until he develops but when you got an injury crisis then you play the next best man, and if he's also a potential long term 12 option then he's clearly the best man for the job.

That's all fair enough. And now that I saw Kuridrani made 17/17 tackles then maybe he will have a chance at redemption, but only because we are short on options. I think it's a certainty that Mitchell will come in to the starting XV so it's just a question of who for. DHP will either go to fullback or to the bench, and that in turn will probably depend entirely on what Cheika wants to do with Folau - either leave him where he is or ditch Kuridrani and give him a run at 13.

 

[Quick Hands]

I think that bringing superannuated older players from Europe is very shortsighted. A case can be mounted for such measures for one off events such as RWC or if there has been a significant run of injuries to players who are playing super rugby.

I'm making no judgement on their ability, but I fail to see how it's in the long term interests of Australian rugby. The only message it seems to send to younger players is to pack their bags and go to because there's no incentive to stay.

 

[reddog64]

Here is the problem with Australian Rugby....

YOU!

You the Australian Rugby Fan. You are the problem.Not the ARU, Not Pulver, Not the States, Not the players. You.

Why? Because you consistently put up with the completely rotten culture of Australian Rugby, from top to bottom. You keep supporting it. You keep buying tickets, turning up, accepting it.
As an Australian I deplore it. I have zero pride when the Wallabies run out and play a test. Why? Because I know they are the face of a completely and utterly rotten culture and system. Don't like what I'm saying? Let's play a game.

Monday Aug 22nd, 2016 9am I'm the new CEO of the ARU and here's what I do.

1. I donate 100% of my ARU income to struggling grass roots Rugby clubs around Australian states (all of them)
2. I sack, on the spot, 70% of any underperforming ARU office and coaching staff. They walk. There is one person to run the ARU office plus the key manual workers required. There is one coach (MC for the moment) and a few training/support staff (runners). The rest go including M. Byrne.The FAT is removed in 1 hour. I cop on the chin any future fines/penalties.
3. I cancel any commercial sponsorship contracts with Qantas, BMW and others with the Wallabies brand and remove all naming/advertising rights from Monday onwards. I cop any fines/penalties on the chin.
4. I cancel all current Wallaby ARU contracts from Monday 10am onwards.
5. I announce any Australian Rugby player who is lucky enough to be selected to represent Australia, via the Wallabies, gets paid $30K a win and $1 a loss. There are no contracts with them. They play, they win, they get paid $30K. They lose they get $1
6. I instruct Cheika to sack 3/4's of the team that played last Saturday against NZ and to replace them with Australian Rugby players, under 24 years of age, who have never played for Australia at Wallaby level. I instruct him to select from all states and must have a minimum of 3 bolters from the bush. I instruct him not to select anyone from the past. I instruct him to make 100% sure of one thing for the coming test in NZ...make sure every single player selected to represent Australia..leaves it all on the park next Saturday and not to die wondering. If they do that, and it's obvious then MC gets another week as do the players.
7. I see out the RC series with this team of players and I stick with them.
8. Post RC I announce an Australian Rugby Future meeting and invite Mark Ella, Bob Dwyer, Rod McQueen, Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga and Wally Lewis (yes you read that correctly). At the meeting we decide on the future of Australian Rugby and it's this:

- We cancel all Australian wide private school Rugby competitions (GPS, CAS, IAS etc...) and have 1 Australian wide schools competition, open to all schools, with state based play offs that lead into a national schools carnival week for the top 8 sides to play off till a winner is found. We arrange this schools carnival week to be televised on FTA each year, including the state finals proceeding them. We cancel all state school teams including the Australian Schoolboys.

- We cancel all state based Rugby organisations like NSW/QLD/ACT etc...and have one...the ARU which is fully authoritative across all states.

- From 2017 onwards we drop out of the Super Rugby competition. We cancel the Shute shield and whatever the club competition is in Qld, ACT, VIC and WA.

- We meet with the heads of the NRL/ARL ask work out a long term plan to partner with key domestic Rugby clubs with their clubs to share skills, systems, resources, facilities, coaches and most importantly up and coming players. Similar to the model that exists with some clubs in the UK. The main purpose of this is to learn from them and secure access to many young players who end up playing league. The agreement must be a win-win and I would do anything, and I mean anything, to make it happen. Tradition, history etc...out the window. New dawn, new way, new partnerships, new life.

- We copy whatever has been put in place with the Qld Origin side and apply it to the Wallabies.

- Inside 3 years we will have 10 very good players vying for each Wallaby position and the benefit of a partnership with the NRL and all the skills, resources, systems and coaching they could bring.

Now, at this point I know most of you reading this are having your 2nd or 3rd heart attack. Here's the thing....nothing changes unless YOU change it. Have the guts to make the change and see what happens. Can it be any worse than what you currently have?

PS: I'm a Queensland League man but a proud Australian and it hurts me to see the drivel served up by the Wallabies and the ARU organisation. It's un-Australian and no longer acceptable. On top of that I'm sick of reading your moaning and crap ever week about the state of Rugby in Australia.

I've given you the plan and as luck has it...I'm looking for a new job.
I'm available to start tomorrow at 9am.

Time for big moves, dangerous moves, exciting moves, scary moves.

The problem is YOU Mr/Mrs Australian Rugby fan. You accept this tripe served up and then complain about it and do nothing. Now is your chance to take ownership and do something about it. Get off your couch and do something about it.
At 9am tomorrow morning stick your head out the nearest window and say really really loudly
"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore"

First you got to get MAD!!!!

Reddog (Crazy and ready to unleash it)

 

[KAOPointman]

Quade has put in a few games like that....

RUBBISH.
If Quade is such a garbage player like so many would have us believe......why would Toulon chase him so hard for such big money, as a replacement for That world class Pom we all know :/.
It's a team sport and team mates should be prepared to play to the strengths and weaknesses of their mates. If that means being prepared for a pass at ANY time, standing wide and dead flat or chasing kicks at any time then so be it. I've NEVER heard ANY grumbling from QUades teammates about the way he plays...ever.
The current Reds squad when asked...we're very keen to have him back.

Too many people get sucked into media tripe like sheep. It's time they got over it so we can get back to a solid Wallaby team moving forward.
Quade led the REds to a title 5 years ago.....and yet most will agree he's a safer, better defender and even a better kicker then back then.

 

[KOB1987]

Poey is out of position, but this doesnt impact his play. No, DHP was targeted and rightly so, found out for frail defence which leaked three. Missed tackles is not a poor nite, its poor skills esp as an FB. His only saving grace is that he is a newby.
Hooper had a poor nite, because he is often renown for his consistency and all round skills but was relatively skinned last nite.

And if you mean safe play and playing percentage footy by Foley, who does this all too well, this has not been good for the Wobs.

Pocock is only out of position at scrum time, and that's like by 2 feet. The rest of the time he is exactly where he is meant to be which is all over the place.

DHP was targeted defensively last night because he was out of position.

What's Foley got to do with anything? I said those back three are safe, meaning under the high ball and they will know what they are doing defensively, plus DHP is a good tactical kicker when he is utilised as one.

 

[Beefcake]

Harsh on DHP. Can't judge for one bad Test. His other 3 verse England he was solid on attack. He does get caught out in defence often but I put that down to being played out of position on the wing, he has maybe 3 games experience on the wing.

He would be a solid option at fullback. Although won't have Folau's level in the air or counter-attacking but a solid option. He is the Aus form fullback after all.

Yes, he deserves his spot on the back of the June series, but to assuage his poor showing due to positional inexperience, especially given wings and FB are equally given free reign to roam.hmmmm Yeh spose he has some work-ons and now has experience against the darkness.

 

[KAOPointman]

Here is the problem with Australian Rugby..

YOU!

You the Australian Rugby Fan. You are the problem.Not the ARU, Not Pulver, Not the States, Not the players. You.

Why? Because you consistently put up with the completely rotten culture of Australian Rugby, from top to bottom. You keep supporting it. You keep buying tickets, turning up, accepting it.
As an Australian I deplore it. I have zero pride when the Wallabies run out and play a test. Why? Because I know they are the face of a completely and utterly rotten culture and system. Don't like what I'm saying? Let's play a game.

Monday Aug 22nd, 2016 9am I'm the new CEO of the ARU and here's what I do.

1. I donate 100% of my ARU income to struggling grass roots Rugby clubs around Australian states (all of them)
2. I sack, on the spot, 70% of any underperforming ARU office and coaching staff. They walk. There is one person to run the ARU office plus the key manual workers required. There is one coach (MC for the moment) and a few training/support staff (runners). The rest go including M. Byrne.The FAT is removed in 1 hour. I cop on the chin any future fines/penalties.
3. I cancel any commercial sponsorship contracts with Qantas, BMW and others with the Wallabies brand and remove all naming/advertising rights from Monday onwards. I cop any fines/penalties on the chin.
4. I cancel all current Wallaby ARU contracts from Monday 10am onwards.
5. I announce any Australian Rugby player who is lucky enough to be selected to represent Australia, via the Wallabies, gets paid $30K a win and $1 a loss. There are no contracts with them. They play, they win, they get paid $30K. They lose they get $1
6. I instruct Cheika to sack 3/4's of the team that played last Saturday against NZ and to replace them with Australian Rugby players, under 24 years of age, who have never played for Australia at Wallaby level. I instruct him to select from all states and must have a minimum of 3 bolters from the bush. I instruct him not to select anyone from the past. I instruct him to make 100% sure of one thing for the coming test in NZ.make sure every single player selected to represent Australia..leaves it all on the park next Saturday and not to die wondering. If they do that, and it's obvious then MC gets another week as do the players.
7. I see out the RC series with this team of players and I stick with them.
8. Post RC I announce an Australian Rugby Future meeting and invite Mark Ella, Bob Dwyer, Rod McQueen, Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga and Wally Lewis (yes you read that correctly). At the meeting we decide on the future of Australian Rugby and it's this:

- We cancel all Australian wide private school Rugby competitions (GPS, CAS, IAS etc.) and have 1 Australian wide schools competition, open to all schools, with state based play offs that lead into a national schools carnival week for the top 8 sides to play off till a winner is found. We arrange this schools carnival week to be televised on FTA each year, including the state finals proceeding them. We cancel all state school teams including the Australian Schoolboys.

- We cancel all state based Rugby organisations like NSW/QLD/ACT etc.and have one.the ARU which is fully authoritative across all states.

- From 2017 onwards we drop out of the Super Rugby competition. We cancel the Shute shield and whatever the club competition is in Qld, ACT, VIC and WA.

- We meet with the heads of the NRL/ARL ask work out a long term plan to partner with key domestic Rugby clubs with their clubs to share skills, systems, resources, facilities, coaches and most importantly up and coming players. Similar to the model that exists with some clubs in the UK. The main purpose of this is to learn from them and secure access to many young players who end up playing league. The agreement must be a win-win and I would do anything, and I mean anything, to make it happen. Tradition, history etc.out the window. New dawn, new way, new partnerships, new life.

- We copy whatever has been put in place with the Qld Origin side and apply it to the Wallabies.

- Inside 3 years we will have 10 very good players vying for each Wallaby position and the benefit of a partnership with the NRL and all the skills, resources, systems and coaching they could bring.

Now, at this point I know most of you reading this are having your 2nd or 3rd heart attack. Here's the thing..nothing changes unless YOU change it. Have the guts to make the change and see what happens. Can it be any worse than what you currently have?

PS: I'm a Queensland League man but a proud Australian and it hurts me to see the drivel served up by the Wallabies and the ARU organisation. It's un-Australian and no longer acceptable. On top of that I'm sick of reading your moaning and crap ever week about the state of Rugby in Australia.

I've given you the plan and as luck has it.I'm looking for a new job.
I'm available to start tomorrow at 9am.

Time for big moves, dangerous moves, exciting moves, scary moves.

The problem is YOU Mr/Mrs Australian Rugby fan. You accept this tripe served up and then complain about it and do nothing. Now is your chance to take ownership and do something about it. Get off your couch and do something about it.
At 9am tomorrow morning stick your head out the nearest window and say really really loudly
"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore"

First you got to get MAD!!!!

Reddog (Crazy and ready to unleash it)

Says a guy very harshly to the often number 2 team in the world......ouch. We really only ever struggle vs the kiwis......and in a way I'm ok with that as rugby is huge over there. They have a massive draw of players to use. Aus......well we fight with a billion sports for our elite players.
So yeah......we ain't doing that bad.

Still......a flogging is depressing.

 

[Slim 293]

Monday Aug 22nd, 2016 9am I'm the new CEO of the ARU and here's what I do.

In summary........ you become poor and destroy Australian rugby forever?

 

[Highlander35]

Here is the problem with Australian Rugby..

YOU!

You the Australian Rugby Fan. You are the problem.Not the ARU, Not Pulver, Not the States, Not the players. You.

Why? Because you consistently put up with the completely rotten culture of Australian Rugby, from top to bottom. You keep supporting it. You keep buying tickets, turning up, accepting it.
As an Australian I deplore it. I have zero pride when the Wallabies run out and play a test. Why? Because I know they are the face of a completely and utterly rotten culture and system. Don't like what I'm saying? Let's play a game.

Monday Aug 22nd, 2016 9am I'm the new CEO of the ARU and here's what I do

Kill the game.

 

[Slim 293]

why would Toulon chase him so hard for such big money, as a replacement for That world class Pom we all know :/

Ummmmmm..........

 

[HoldingOn]

The only way to beat the AB is to beat them at their own game- not that rubbish territory game we tried to play last night. Hence we need genuine playmakers like QC (Quade Cooper) and DHP not Matt Giteau. What does he bring in attack?

 

[Lorenzo]

The ABs play a territory game. The only time they muck around with the pill in their own 40 is when they have a lot of open space in from of them.

We tried to join that club last night but didn't have the players on he pitch needed to do it.

 

[HoldingOn]

The ABs play a territory game. The only they muck around with the pill in their own 40 is when they have a lot of open space in from of them.

Try telling that to their back three- you don't put 40 points on by playing a traditional territory game

 

[KAOPointman]

Yep.

There were guys playing last night that have 100 caps and have never been able to impress against the ABs. They've had more success than a guy like DHP because they've played more June tests, Argentina before they were good and Italy etc. Let's not throw out promising young players because they sucked when literally everyone sucked.

Guys like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Gits, and Mitchell need to go, though. We know their ceiling - they hit it a the large part of a decade ago and even then it wasn't good enough.

Agreed......but certainly not about Mitchell. He's been amazing in France for Toulon. He was good at the WC too. And seeing as we're short on even up an coming wingers.....he's got to be the experienced winger choice......and then add the extra guy......

 

[Lorenzo]

Try telling that to their back three- you don't put 40 points on by playing a traditional territory game

Most of their points came from movements that started in our half.

They don't risk the ball in their own half when the match is tight. They might do it a bit more when up by 15 or more but even then they are keen to play in the oppo half.

In any event, we've not nearly got the skillset to put together length-of-field plays. Our lot will knock on or whatever after 3 passes or two phases.

 

[KAOPointman]

The only way to beat the AB is to beat them at their own game- not that rubbish territory game we tried to play last night. Hence we need genuine playmakers like QC (Quade Cooper) and DHP not Matt Giteau. What does he bring in attack?

I honestly think them bringing Giteau back was a great move.......but he should have been used off the bench as a finisher or the experience at the back end of a game. His older legs are far better late in a game vs tired defences!
I think Cheiks was star struck a little lol

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Agreed..but certainly not about Mitchell. He's been amazing in France for Toulon. He was good at the WC too. And seeing as we're short on even up an coming wingers...he's got to be the experienced winger choice..and then add the extra guy..

The European players have not been the problem as they were not the worse performers last night- Genia was one of the best last night of a poor crop. Giteau has had his moments and been brilliant at Toulon on tapes I have seen of Top 14 games. I for one was disappointed not to see what he would have been like for the full 80mins ok granted his first 10 mins prior to injury were not brilliant. And AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was not the worse last night and with lack of wing options at present seems silly to throw him out at this point. Same goes for Mitchell. Besides this is likely to be Giteau and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s last hurrah in any case.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I honestly think them bringing Giteau back was a great move...but he should have been used off the bench as a finisher or the experience at the back end of a game. His older legs are far better late in a game vs tired defences!
I think Cheiks was star struck a little lol

Agree if we had Beale then that would have been an easier decision to make as Giteau would be good impact player of the bench and offers versatility in positions can cover