I was too depressed to write about the Bledisloe last week – it reminded one of the test at the Cake Tin two years ago – beaten by better, stronger and tougher players who also played team rugby better and were coached better. I should write something before this match in case we have another shocker and I am a bad sport again.
I thought the Wallaby forwards had a go last week in a fly against the window pane way but it was not a great contest against swarm of killer bees. I'd like to see the Wobs show some team work at the rucks against the Boks, some swarming, on those occasions when ball has to be protected or when there is a chance to counter-ruck. Swarming.
It would also be good to see a bit of teamwork in the reception of restarts and some variety in kicking re-starts to the Boks. And talking about variety – a bit more pick and go, much too briefly on display last week, has to be done to keep the bastards honest.
As we know, the Bok team is close to its best team, though rusty, and the game is not at altitude. We should have a decent chance to have another win over there if we show up to play with reasonable ball and have inside runners offering themselves to Cooper to stop the drift.
Brüssow will be a big improvement if he is match fit. Burger is a loss but the 2nd rowers will be a big difference over the likes of Hargreaves they had on tour. It will be interesting to see how Alexander goes against Beast, if the Bok is forced to scrummage straight, and Kepu against JdP, who was poor against Crockett in Super Rugby.
As a rugby lover it will be good to see FdP back. In his pomp he was even better than Genia is now IMO. He was a better kicker, including box kicker and was also a better linker with his big forwards running off him systematically, than Will, more of a sniper who trusts he has someone to offload to. Now though?
James will be a big difference from M.Steyn. He had a good season for Bath before and after his long injury though his goal kicking was hot and cold. He won't miss Cooper on defence and will need an early penalty against him to stop those just too late tackles. He'll take it to the line to stop drifting and sneak the odd grubber through gaps between Wallaby legs.
I haven't been impressed with JdV since he went to Munster a couple of years ago now, and even there he was dropped for big games. He hasn't been the attacking force he was but he will probably have a blinder because I wrote that.
The 5/2 split is nearly always used against the Boks but the Oz bench is odd looking. It's great to see Higgers get a start and though his great impact from the bench will be lost, it can be subbed by Samo. I'm not sure why Timani is there instead of a fellow who can play 7 and I'm still uncomfortable about having an inside centre as the 2nd back in a 5/2 split, though I suppose Ant can take McCabe's spot if there is an injury to anybody who is a 10 or above.
It's great to see Sharpie back. The last time Deans dropped him he had a blinder but Deans said it was always part of his cunning plan to play him in this test match and not in NZ. A pity he didn't inform us, the great unwashed, on the matter, as we wasted time with a thread on it.
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