2025 Bledisloe Cup Series

[Red Runner]

Bloody Paul Williams has tried to say that Aussie fans (and the Wallabies) shouldn't blame the ref for the loss, but their own performance. Which I agree with but when he tries to back that up by saying -

"Maligned whistleblower Andrea Piardi’s lack of action against Jordie Barrett for a tip tackle was problematic, but frankly, at least one-third of the Wallabies’ penalties were obvious and avoidable — offside at the ruck, no-arms tackles, and playing the man at the lineout, to name but three."

He is then saying that two thirds of the penalties were not obvious nor avoidable. That's not acceptable at this level - from an officiating perspective.

 

[Willin1]

TAB has Wallabies at $2.60 for Perth win. At home with Valetini and Skelton back it looks like a good punt to me.

 

[Red Runner]

Not from what I saw. Had two try assists and scored one himself. Reds forwards won the game.

 

[Spamnoodle]

Time to give HMP a shot at the top job!





Tongue, firmly in cheek....

 

[Braveheart81]

I think it's reasonable to say that our discipline was bad but we also got hosed by the referee.

There were several penalties we gave away purely from sloppy play/poor execution.

 

[TSR]

That Maul penalty wasn't even a 50/50, it was plainly a wrong call by the touchie. Same with Hooper's penalty and the Barrett tackle on James.

They weren't 50/50's.

The Ardie crawling on his knees leading to the first try and also his pilfer aftee our big line break where the clean out got him the second he had hands on the balls were 50/50's.

I actually thought the Ardie Savea one was one of the most obvious. His knee clearly hit the ground while he was tackled. At very least the TMO should have got it.

I did think the ref got the Potter call right though. I didn’t at the time. I was cranky as. But on replay his hand is clearly on the ground. And given the circumstances a yellow card was fair too, I thought.

 

[Pfitzy]

True. To me it means juniors predominantly but also includes everything up to and including Shute Shield.

And I think you're right about juniors. I disagree on Premier Clubs unless serious structural reform is undertaken; they can't aspire to be part of a national club competition and call themselves "grassroots". It's a bit murky.

I’ve a NW Sydney bias and the number of junior clubs disappearing is heartbreaking. Even bigger north shore clubs like Wahroongah and Linfield are beginning to merge teams.

As am I - Renegades Rugby are based at Kellyville so we get a close-up look at the way an NRL club runs, and the resources they have at their disposal. It doesn't just stop at their First Grade competition either, and it is no stretch to say their alignment is far superior to ours, because of the way we section up our Unions and Schools competitions.

The model we have in Sydney of having multiple senior and junior organisations is no longer fit for purpose. If I had a wish list for Phil Waugh, that would be where I'd start: unification of Unions and Associations to bring everything into line in Sydney. Streamlining that would make alignment a lot easier.

Instead we're relying on volunteers (like me) to have the time to build the bridges, and make everything single-point sensitive and prone to failure once specific personalities move out of the area.

Using Shute Shield as the example (and yes there are a lot of underlying factors) but NSW rugby should have Penrith and Parramatta (Souths?) as power houses, not either defunct or struggling.

I agree BUT you'd have to make everyone with 5 Grades + 5 Colts squads understand that their success doesn't reflect the wider game.

Sorry went a great 50th on the weekend and got fired up, will get off my soap box now.

Same soap box I use, don't mind me

 

[Pfitzy]

I actually thought the Ardie Savea one was one of the most obvious. His knee clearly hit the ground while he was tackled. At very least the TMO should have got it.

Marius Joker?

 

[Pfitzy]

On the major decisions:

Got no issue with Potter's YC - hand on the deck first, Wilson had been warned, and it was red zone.

Vaa'i got a penalty at a ruck at one point for what I felt wasn't really lifting or a strong position, but OK if that's the standard...
- Within a couple of minutes, Hooper in a similar situation but better position was penalised - points to lack of consistency

Tizzano's try should have been a penalty try and YC to Black 5 for collapsing, not officials farting around looking for the ball on the line; easiest PT decision Piardi will ever be given and he fluffed it.

TMO should be for foul play only. Interjecting for a knock on shouldn't happen - or if it does, do all of them, you coward.

Piardi didn't have a great game, but neither did he miss 36 tackles.

 

[Pfitzy]

easiest PT decision Piardi will ever be given and he fluffed it.

Not as hard as he fluffed the ABs at a few points

IYKYK

 

[Tomthumb]

TAB has Wallabies at $2.60 for Perth win. At home with Valetini and Skelton back it looks like a good punt to me.

We do love getting up for a dead rubber

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think Hooper takes Tizzano's bench spot.

This will not be popular, but Tizzano is outplaying Fraser atm. He should start and Fraser needs a rest, out altogether. For the record, I think Fraser is our best No 7 but he's sorely out of form right now.

I also believe that whenever we have three or more other Locks available, eg, Frost, Skelton, Williams and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Hooper is a backrower only. But he and Valetini are essential in the 23, so no more playing two No 7s please. Tom H is as adept at turnovers or winning penalties at the breakdown as either McReight or Tizzano but much more effective in the heavy stuff. If the No 7 goes down in a game, Hooper is well credentialed to fill in off the bench.

 

[Tomthumb]

In saying that, I just listened to Tim from the Egg Chaser's summary of the game and he went hard at the Stan coverage for bleating about bias. Then went onto say that heaps of 50/50s went NZ's way and that's not bias that's just the Eden Park effect. He somehow tried to straddle the line that we shouldn't blame the loss on the ref but the Jonker and Piardi had a shocker and they were tough on Aus... difficult to swing that Tim.

What does he even mean by this? Guy is an utter plum at the best of times, not surprising to hear he has yet another moronic take

 

[John S]

What does he even mean by this? Guy is an utter plum at the best of times, not surprising to hear he has yet another moronic take

Guy has been death riding Australia and our "ref bashing" for years now. Its somehow ok for other teams to comment on bad ref decisions but as soon as we do it's "same old Aussie, keep on whinging, the ref didn't miss X tackles etc"

 

[Yoda]

HMP kicked all his goals, tries were scored out wide. Of course if the forwards are winning their battles the backs should clean it up....
Donno missed most of his kicks for goal.
If we're going to pick on one 10 for missing kicks we have to be consistent.

Fwiw. I hope Donno gets a good crack at it on the spring tour and nails his spot.

You're right, HMP kicked all his goals and looked good behind a dominant pack. I just like Donno's uncanny speed and big boot. He is frustrating with a few errors in his game and I guess that is what Joe sees, although what 10 doesn't? Reds definitely showed some young talent and deserved their win. Force forwards were outclassed.

 

[whitefalcon]

I actually thought the Ardie Savea one was one of the most obvious. His knee clearly hit the ground while he was tackled. At very least the TMO should have got it.

I did think the ref got the Potter call right though. I didn’t at the time. I was cranky as. But on replay his hand is clearly on the ground. And given the circumstances a yellow card was fair too, I thought.

I agree on both points

I also thought the potter one was rough at the time, but its clearly a penalty (and card because of the warning)

 

[Linerunner2023]

Moving away from the CEO and Donaldson fan club...

Skelton and Valetini back for the next game which creates a pretty good selection conundrum.

I'm not sure what Skelton's preparation is going to be like going into the week...

Normally I'd assume he starts and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) drops out, but will he need to come off the bench and if so does Hooper go back to lock with Valetini at 6?

Would be tough on LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and hooper as there were out best forwards and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) finally getting a shot but I think they will move out of the starting 8
I think they should get the 19 and 20 spots over Williams and Tizzano but who knows

certainly some good forward depth now
Just need the backline to figure itself out and get some continuity
Need to find a way to get Sua'ali'i and Toole more involved
ATM it’s all ikatau or nothing in that backline

 

[Spamnoodle]

We do love getting up for a dead rubber

A test match is a test match. Each one is as important alone as well as a part of a series.
IE: There is no such thing as a dead rubber in test match rugby.

 

[Spamnoodle]

You're right, HMP kicked all his goals and looked good behind a dominant pack. I just like Donno's uncanny speed and big boot. He is frustrating with a few errors in his game and I guess that is what Joe sees, although what 10 doesn't? Reds definitely showed some young talent and deserved their win. Force forwards were outclassed.

Hopefully Harry can take some confidence from this into next season. He's a talented player, would be great if he can get some consistency into his game.

 

[Tomthumb]

A test match is a test match. Each one is as important alone as well as a part of a series.
IE: There is no such thing as a dead rubber in test match rugby.

Is the Bledisole up for grabs this weekend?