Wallabies v Fiji, Sunday, 6 July, 1:30pm @ McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

[Pfitzy]

Failing to end the half like a normal team in possession of at least one working brain

Fify

 

[Wilson]

Tell you what, after seeing that I'm bloody glad we had a warm up to knock the rust out before the Lions.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

The Lions scraped past the worst Aus Super Rugby team and we scraped past the best Northern Pacific team. I’d say we’re even going into the first test.

Nah they hammered the Force. Someone finally gave them a game.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Nick Frost with the game high 23 tackles (and awarded 0 misses) plus 9 carries, most by an Aussie forward

 

[Heavyd]

I thought Frost was huge today. I haven’t really rated him so was a little shocked but he was tireless in the defensive stuff & with his carries.

 

[Happy]

Nick Frost with the game high 23 tackles (and awarded 0 misses) plus 9 carries, most by an Aussie forward

Getting creamed on here but I thought he was very good. Dominated in the lineout, got to backup and defend where other forwards were too slow to get to, and lots of second efforts.

 

[Wilson]

Nick Frost with the game high 23 tackles (and awarded 0 misses) plus 9 carries, most by an Aussie forward

Rugbypass have him with 21/23 (2 missed)

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Nick Frost with the game high 23 tackles (and awarded 0 misses) plus 9 carries, most by an Aussie forward

Stats can miss as much as they tell. He also ended up on his as when the FB stepped him before any contact. If you never even get to attempt does it count on the stats?

 

[swingpass]

On the positve, Potter and Jorgerson were generally really good. Potter in particular I was really impressed with. ..... Gleeson I thought had a really solid game, with really good work rate. Wilson was likewise excellent. McRieght and Ikatu their usual solid selves. I actually thought White was good when he came on. Settled things. Even little plays like his kick over to pin Fiji down in their 22 just showed some rugby smarts.

this , Potter was excellent. Wilsons captaincy still a bit to do - poor not to shut down at 1/2 time and not taking the 3 at 14 -5 (when the f'd the subsequent lineout) were bad decisions. always take the points when in front.

 

[Brumby Runner]

This is puss. End it.

Unless Gleeson is a lock why take off our only effective forward when he didn’t look gassed. (Williams has been decent)

All our spine players have been awful.

Agree about Gleeson but Williams spent the first 60 minutes of the game 30cm or thereabouts in front of the ruck offside line. While he wasn't penalised this game it will bite him and the team if he continues.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Rugbypass have him with 21/23 (2 missed)

I definitely saw at least one!

 

[Brumby Runner]

Either way. Old mate was on him way too early.

The tackler (No 7) knocked the ball forward with his elbow after Noah had rolled on his back. Probably should have been penalised with a yellow card for not rolling away and for playing the ball when off his feet.

 

[Marbig]

Who's the best 10 ? We will get to see as I see Noah missing a fair bit of games... Who will you blame then?

Lynagh is our best option at 10.

 

[rugbyAU]

It seems unclear who starts at hooker should it be Faessler with Pollard off the bench?

 

[Derpus]

Nick Frost with the game high 23 tackles (and awarded 0 misses) plus 9 carries, most by an Aussie forward

He doesnt get close enough to register a miss

 

[Brumby Runner]

He’s not the best 10, he’s just the 10 that was selected

Donno's no better unfortunately. Somebody count the tackles he missed in the few minutes he was on.

 

[Micheal]

It seemed that a fair few of the lads were playing not to get injured ahead of the rest of the tour - some of the defensive commitment was appalling, as were the little contests (eg diving on loose ball).

 

[Brumby Runner]

I definitely saw at least one!

Now that's a forensic analysis if ever I saw one.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Lynagh is our best option at 10.

And if some are worried about HIAs and carrying certain guys….

 

[Brumby Runner]

OK, quite a poor effort overall, but the team will be better for the run. Newcastle has become the elephants' grave yard for Wallaby sides.

While he was on, Noah was having one of his better games, two incidents aside; not finding touch with a penalty and the poorly executed kick on half time. He was not parked in the pocket which is exactly what we can expect most of the time from Donaldson. His line kicking has generally improved, and he consistently finds touch in the 5 - 10m distance from the goal line these days. None of the other 10s are any better and we'll see many examples of play that we deplore from them as they get more time against test sides.

Neither of Tom Wright's passes were forward from the hands even though they were both adjudicated that way. Physics will tell you that the ball has the same forward momentum as the player when he lets it go. On the first pass, Tom actually continued running after passing and was some metres still in front of where the catch was made. Perfect evidence that the ball traveled significantly slower through the air than the player and that could really only happen over such a short distance if it had been propelled backwards. The second incident, Wright was stopped by a tackler but the camera angle from the touchline side clearly showed his hands were facing backwards at the point of release. Potter caught the ball in front of the point of release but only because the forward momentum it captured carried it forward. That is not a forward pass, and I don't really understand the vitriol being leveled at Wright over these incidents. The officiating took potentially two tries from the Wallabies with incorrect decisions.

Potter had a reasonable game otherwise but I would really like to see him not kick the ball so much when being confronted by the last line of defence. Must have done it on four or five occasions this game and all to no effect. I have more confidence that Pietsch would simply step or run over the top of some of those defenders in similar circumstances. I reckon Harry has to make way for Dylan to come in for the Lions.

Wiiliams gave away some soft penalties and should have been more for offside. Hope he cleans up his act before the first test as he is alongside Nick Frost part of a very efficient lineout combination. For most of this game we were picking off the Fiji lineout at will.