Bledisloe #2 - AUS v NZL, Eden Park, Auckland, August 15th

[TOCC]

In others news: Australia A is winning in Japan 19-7. Taqele Naiyaravoro made a try

Are you watching this, and how?


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[Inside Shoulder]

Michael Chieka is starting to look like Dingo Deans with his selections that create a Wallaby poor performance.

No one will be able to accuse you of jumping on a bandwagon: you are the bandwagon

 

[Slim 293]

It was a gamble to make so many changes, but it was also the last chance to test some players before the World Cup squad is announced............

It's obviously backfired, but at least there was some purpose to it, and I figure Cheika had faith in some of these guys to perform.

 

[drewprint]

I trust GAGR members stood and clapped McCaw off the field.

Is that want he wanted? I thought he was asking the crowd to boo?

 

[MrTabua]

As for Quade.....

He hasn't been as poor as Foley, but he was still poor.... can't blame him for the loss though.

I like Quade. He actually played as well as Foley last week, except for the harsh but fair yellow.

However, to pick QC (Quade Cooper) as 10 for any crunch RWC match is inconceivable.

Furthermore, he has no utility as a reserve.

He will be picked in the RWC squad but I don't see the point.

 

[Moono75]

Another Bledisloe Fuck up. Where was the attitude from last week. Some poor selections particularly at 9 with no change up. Cooper is more trouble than he's worth.....Fuck him off.

 

[scott]

I don't believe this experimenting for WC BS, you pick your best team to go out and win the game at hand, and that was the starting team from last week!

 

[Pfitzy]

Nah, at least White's passes were aimed at another player....

Straight AT the player and nowhere near "in front of the player" - this happened in last year's Bledisloe and when you want to run on it from depth, it doesn't work.
Biggest shit-me aspect of the game? The fucking dinky in-behind kicks. What the fuck was that shit show meant to achieve?

 

[TOCC]

I like Quade. He actually played as well as Foley last week, except for the harsh but fair yellow.

However, to pick QC (Quade Cooper) as 10 for any crunch RWC match is inconceivable.

Furthermore, he has no utility as a reserve.

He will be picked in the RWC squad but I don't see the point.

I'm of the same sentiment... Quade has the potential to lead Australia to a RWC win, but I don't think he is in the right frame of mind or has enough playing time in the past 18 months. He shouldn't be In the squad but he will be.

I think Foley should be the 5/8 for the RWC, but I don't think he will win is a RWC, but there aren't really any other options.


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[teach]

I was quite impressed with Beale coming off the bench. He read some plays quite well.

 

[Pfitzy]

I don't believe this experimenting for WC BS, you pick your best team to go out and win the game at hand, and that was the starting team from last week!

And then, when one of those XV goes down in a crucial match, and your reserve player has had a total of 30 minutes against a second-tier team, what then?

Genius.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I don't know what's more pathetic that performance or everyone on here fighting over which player was the worst. The whole team was awful.

I don't for a second believe that we ever really wanted to win that game. That was Cheika last experiment before the World Cup. You don't change your winning 8-9-10-12-14 if your truly going for it. So everyone settle.

What did we learn:

- Cooper is awful in tight situations. He's a great super flyhalf but never cut it at international level.

- Nic White, Will Skeleton and Matt To'omua are better coming off the bench then starting

- Until we find a hard working massive number 8 we may as well start with two no 7s. No Australian 8 is up to it.

- Our lineouts need a lot of work

Good post louie.

There definitely was some strange selections from my perspective.

I'll await qwerty's response who so boldly said Cheika picked a side to "win the test".

Why change a winning team I say. Pooper was looking the goods. Mumm and Horwill brought some decent heat last week. And I also agree when you have good performers off the bench that help you win the test, don't just throw them into the starting lineup expecting them to do exactly the same.

 

[Pfitzy]

I think Foley should be the 5/8 for the RWC, but I don't think he will win is a RWC, but there aren't really any other options.

Foley, Quade, To'omua - none of them will win us jack shit if we don't use our strengths, which is team work and quick ball.

 

[Slim 293]

Straight AT the player and nowhere near "in front of the player" - this happened in last year's Bledisloe and when you want to run on it from depth, it doesn't work.
Biggest shit-me aspect of the game? The fucking dinky in-behind kicks. What the fuck was that shit show meant to achieve?

But a far cry on what Phipps served up last week............

 

[Pfitzy]

As for #8s - I don't think Ben McCalman has been given a fair crack at the role.

 

[BamBamRMH7]

I don't believe this experimenting for WC BS, you pick your best team to go out and win the game at hand, and that was the starting team from last week!

How do you pick your best team when you don't know it?

 

[TahDan]

I was quite impressed with Beale coming off the bench. He read some plays quite well.

Beale was actually bloody good wasn't he? Made some great defensive reads and was pretty solid in the few chances he had with the ball


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[Slim 293]

Having said that, Phipps really should've been on the bench this week to change it up in the second half..........

 

[Slim 293]

As for #8s - I don't think Ben McCalman has been given a fair crack at the role.

I'd have him ahead of Palu, but on the bench to cover the Pooper............

 

[Slim 293]

Beale was actually bloody good wasn't he? Made some great defensive reads and was pretty solid in the few chances he had with the ball


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I think he'll be a staple of "the finishers".............