Ireland v Wallabies, Saturday 15/11 (Sunday morning Aus time)

[Tomthumb]

The end of year tour has also included Japan and Italy, so it’s hardly been murderers row. They also got two home games vs Argentina and barely won 1 of them. Got one of the worst All Blacks teams in recent memory and lost both to them

 

[rugbyAU]

Yes, but bloody tough draw this year. Have a think:
1. Lions series - best of the UK/Ireland;
2. South Africa - all away games;
3. End of year tour - includes Ireland and France (and no games against the likes of Scotland and Wales, being more manageable opposition one might say...)
I can't think of a more challenging yearly draw in recent times.

sure but it wasn't a great Lions side and we play the TRC sides, France, Ireland and England pretty regularly

We also had Fiji, Japan and Italy

 

[JRugby2]

Yes, but bloody tough draw this year. Have a think:
1. Lions series - best of the UK/Ireland;
2. South Africa - all away games;
3. End of year tour - includes Ireland and France (and no games against the likes of Scotland and Wales, being more manageable opposition one might say...)
I can't think of a more challenging yearly draw in recent times.

Challenging indeed, but in years gone by we would have been expected to beat the likes of Ireland, Argentina and France, let alone Italy...

It's no doubt a sign of the emergence of NH rugby, but also a sign of us falling further and further away. There's no reason we can't expect to be a top 6 team and therefore disappointed when we aren't

 

[swingpass]

Hooper's commentary was insufferable! All he did was give his old teammates back scratches all day!

this, the whole Stan cheer squad thing, so embarassing. Matt Burke at least was a liitle more balanced and truthful.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I agree with some of the other comments here, we have had some excellent coaches, the coaching is not the issue.

If you look at History, the Wallabies have been at their best when we have been strong in super rugby and winning titles, it all comes from the lower levels. We are still making up the numbers in super rugby Pacific and have not looked like a realistic chance of winning it for years

 

[KOB1987]

sure but it wasn't a great Lions side and we play the TRC sides, France, Ireland and England pretty regularly

We also had Fiji, Japan and Italy

I'm a little confused by this assertion, it was stacked full of Irish and English players and both those sides flogged us. Add in the top Scots and the one good Welsh player, why is that not a great side?

 

[rugbyAU]

Schmidt has cancelled the Monday press conference

 

[rugbyAU]

I'm a little confused by this assertion, it was stacked full of Irish and English players and both those sides flogged us. Add in the top Scots and the one good Welsh player, why is that not a great side?

Compared to past Lions sides

They lost to Argentina, barely beat FNP and only beat Tahs and Brumbies (who were missing 8 wallabies) by 11-12 pts

 

[KOB1987]

Brumbies beat them in 2013. The Argentina game was an exhibition match, it was basically a BaaBaas team at that point. For the record though Argentina are ranked above us.

 

[rugbyAU]

and the Brumbies made the Super Rugby final in 2013

 

[Slim 293]

I'm a little confused by this assertion, it was stacked full of Irish and English players and both those sides flogged us. Add in the top Scots and the one good Welsh player, why is that not a great side?

Yep, it would be pretty odd to suggest this Lions squad was weaker to recent iterations…

I can only assume Christy said it?

 

[HarryElite]

a great read

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/11/17/schmidt-says-the-wallabies-dont-have-depth-thats-a-furphy-and-the-coachs-selections-have-been-found-out-five-things/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOHsJBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIanRhcWdvSmNDRlVWeEFqc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MghjYWxsc2l0ZQEyAAEetPaDZyJHwIwgL7Bpc4DKSQuQ0WHGSBS5rUv-uw-1q4RrklMimloiFgl1JCo_aem_gTDcu6apxGYBLTop5aHNmA

 

[Slim 293]

a great read

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/11/17/schmidt-says-the-wallabies-dont-have-depth-thats-a-furphy-and-the-coachs-selections-have-been-found-out-five-things/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOHsJBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIanRhcWdvSmNDRlVWeEFqc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MghjYWxsc2l0ZQEyAAEetPaDZyJHwIwgL7Bpc4DKSQuQ0WHGSBS5rUv-uw-1q4RrklMimloiFgl1JCo_aem_gTDcu6apxGYBLTop5aHNmA

It’s really not…

It’s his typical schtick of taking a contrarian position to drum up some clicks, but failing to compose a coherent argument to support that.

Jokeshop journalism.

 

[rugbyAU]

Really worth a watch:

 

[Where's the beef]

I did my own bit of research. I watched the third test against the Lions.

Compared to where we are now.

1. All our forwards carried and defended with far far more intent.
2. Pietch should be first man picked based on his D and work rate and hard yards.
3. Lynagh is streets ahead of all the other 10's I have seen this season. The soft close passing hands.
4. The players are in motion in receipt of the ball. There is more short passing at the gain line.
5. There is much more support of the ball carier.
6. The field position kicks by Lynagh and tom wright were spot on.

Its all there to see. The forwards today are a shadow of that game. It was brutal.

There may be theories why, but, that is what you see. And its much faster. The ball movement is quick.

 

[rugbyAU]

It’s really not…

It’s his typical schtick of taking a contrarian position to drum up some clicks, but failing to compose a coherent argument to support that.

Jokeshop journalism.

He raises some good points:
- LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Ross, and Donaldson should have gotten more opportunities and there were selection errors in the Lions first test (e.g. not starting Pollard, Hooper and Pietsch)

but a lot of those points were silly
- no way should have Korobiete, Beale, Foley, Uru, Samu, Swain etc. been in the side

 

[liquor box]

Schmidt was a great coach, but his system got stale at the back end of his Irish tenure and he hasn't adapted at all, Rennie started with a hiss and a roar at Super level but his training methods led to the Chiefs consistently having the most injures in Super Rugby, and that continued into Glasgow and the Wallabies. Deans was a good coach, but he had no idea how to coach any other way than Crusader ball

We don't need a coach to teach us their system, we need a coach that can mold a game plan to suit our players strengths. Playing a narrow, tight gameplan with our players is totally counterproductive, square peg round hole stuff

I may be speaking with red coloured glasses, but we once had a Reds coach who proved that he could develop game plans for each team we faced using the talent we had to their best abilities. He also had an ability to communicate with young players at their level.

If only Link had stayed around.

 

[liquor box]

Just a stupid thought!!!
Isn't sending our young talent overseas and then buying them back, exactly what we do with our minerals?

We need Gina to buy a club so that she can try to outspend Twiggy, this would save rugby for the Wallabies

 

[liquor box]

Surely if he wasn't following the gameplan Schmidt would have hooked him before the 70 min mark?

I think the key consideration prior to hooking someone is having a better option on the bench, maybe the alternative was not suitable?

 

[liquor box]

I think it'll be too late for O'Connor when Kiss comes in, but I wouldn't mind seeing him brought in as a specialist flyhalf coach for the world cup campaign. He's worked with Les Kiss, the current squad/system and specifically with the current crop of young 10s, so he should be well suited to it. He has some pretty clear coaching aspirations so there's a good chance it would be an effective (and cheap) transitional role into a coaching gig back in Australia.

That probably relies on him either still being seen as a somewhat viable option at 10 so he can have a player/coach role, or him retiring from playing at the end of the season (seems more likely).

If we have Gordon in line for the world cup, I would prefer Quade Cooper come in, Gordon is the closest we have to Coopers raw talent in a long time, a mature QC (Quade Cooper) mentality and refining Gordons skills could be a winner