Wallabies v Lions - 3rd Test, Accor Stadium, Saturday 2 August

[stillmissit]

Hooper's workrate last night was phenomenal and very impactful. Moreso than Wilson. Imagine that workrate combined with Rob Valetini's physicality. That would make most test sides in world rugby very nervous.

Agree, and makes me wonder about our ability to judge if a player can step up or not. Losing him is a big loss, as he won't be eligible for OS inclusion in RWC.

 

[stillmissit]

Does he have good feet. Basically every carry he seems to t bone defenders. He does run into holes off other forwards well though.

Agree he has excellent skills.

Yes he has good skills but that ain't enough for a Wallaby 8. His breakdown work is average; can't remember him getting a turnover or instigating a counter ruck. His biggest problem is he makes no impact on the opposition D, gets flattened every time.

 

[stillmissit]

Stephen Creighton

I thought he was a league player?

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Disagree, running that style of D, which allowed them to run, was a recipe for disaster.

You disagree that if we’d had a fully fit Valetini, Skelton and AAA in test 2 we’d have won?
Or more warm up games we’d have been sharper in test 1?

 

[Heavyd]

My RA spy informs me last night was potentially the largest gate take (outside Sydney Olympics) in Australian sporting history. Even bigger than last weeks MCG epic with 90k. Unofficially the number being bandied around is $26.5m. Given the cheapest ticket was something like $250 it probably stacks up.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Stephen Creighton
The hammer
Kotoa

Katoa is the one player I would throw Sualii levels of money at. Young, experience in both league and union in the halves, good temperament, and unbelievable levels of potential. Only issue is that he'd probably be more keen to play for the all blacks if he switched to Union, as he declared for Tonga only to remain State of Origin eligible.

Interestingly enough, I think their families are close so hopefully Joseph gets in his ear about switching codes.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

Plus all the $25 dollar game booklets and jerseys..

 

[stillmissit]

You disagree that if we’d had a fully fit Valetini, Skelton and AAA in test 2 we’d have won?
Or more warm up games we’d have been sharper in test 1?

Agree. Also, it was already obvious, prior to test #1, that we needed some form of a rush D to control them.

 

[KOB1987]

Just went to have a browse at all the putrid NH muppets on social media. Calling anyone who mentions the lynagh shoulder charge to the head a whinger.

Even now that Sheehan has been cited they're saying things like 'who cares, series is over, Wananabes whingeing again'.

 

[Dctarget]

The beer stands would've got a nice added bonus with the 40 minute rain delay too!

Another reminder of how quick our game is, last night's entertainment, with all the delays, ran for a typical AFL match length.

 

[Dctarget]

Even now that Sheehan has been cited they're saying things like 'who cares, series is over, Wananabes whingeing again'.

Don't worry KOB, the real losers are the fans who have to get on planes now and return to the UK.

 

[notdeadyet]

Pretty standard Wilson run there… wondered who he reminded me of and it’s Aaron Woods.

one run there with space ahead he picked up speed just to decelerate one step BEFORE the collision; what's the point, apart from quickly covering ground in front ?

 

[noscrumnolife]

The matchday experience was top last night, even with the weather. The bars/various fanzones around olympic park were heaving, pre-match routine was great, lots more wallabies fans than in melbourne. Talking to Lions fans touring they have loved their time over here, the test match experiences have been fantastic, with the money being made talk of not coming back is rubbish from that blowhard Benazzi.

Watching some of the fairer weather lions fans fuck off with 10 minutes to go and hearing some young kids who sounded under the age of 10 start some wallabies chants in my section was the personal highlight. Good memory made for plenty.

 

[PhilClinton]

No we have been here before, buying league players who took 2 seasons to get the basics of union. Better to find or build our own and hold them, not easy but essential. By find I mean young athletes before the NRL comes sniffing. Example: I used to live in the Hawkesbury in Blue Mountains, I spoke with a young guy who was big and nearly 7ft tall at 16, and playing rugby, he said nobody had ever spoken to him about a pathway into pro rugby. I guess he went to league or just dropped out.

Let’s not paint all the league converts with the same brush, in the past 20 years I reckon majority of leaguies have earned their pay cheque.

Sailor, Lote, Rogers, Walker & Folau were all regular starters for the Wallabies. And we had a fair bit of depth particularly during that 2000s period. And JAS seems to be a good pickup as well.

 

[notdeadyet]

The beer stands would've got a nice added bonus with the 40 minute rain delay too!

Another reminder of how quick our game is, last night's entertainment, with all the delays, ran for a typical AFL match length.

haven't been to a rugby match for 50 odd years; do they have coffee outlets ?
yours, teetotaller since '73

 

[BDA]

The

Yes he has good skills but that ain't enough for a Wallaby 8. His breakdown work is average; can't remember him getting a turnover or instigating a counter ruck. His biggest problem is he makes no impact on the opposition D, gets flattened every time.

Bit of selective memory for mine...he made plenty of metres and got through a tonne of work...a real iron man for this team... he clearly isnt the dominant ball runner the likes of Valetini or gleeson but to say he makes no impact would be wrong

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I agree we will have some money to spend.
Overall, I think our talent ID is fine just need to throw a bit of coin at some special players. For instance, Heinz Lemoto (probably going to France now) he would be a special talent to go after. Should do the Jorgenson style deal.
The young props in France would be the ones to look at. Bring them back once we have more money and they might be bit homesick.
Viseo Kite probably the most Skelton like.
Apologies for chucking all these thoughts in the wrong thread.

Expanding the JNRC and come up with a proper plan to get more kids playing the game via schools Rugby. Look at the Steve Merrick Cup in the Hunter and what is happening in the city's northwest. Split the cities into regions and look to emulate them.

I really liked the idea of the Junior Gold Cup but it may have beeb too ambitious at the time. I'd like to see a JNRC U16s and 19s Div 2.

 

[notdeadyet]

Let’s not paint all the league converts with the same brush, in the past 20 years I reckon majority of leaguies have earned their pay cheque.

Sailor, Lote, Rogers, Walker & Folau were all regular starters for the Wallabies. And we had a fair bit of depth particularly during that 2000s period. And JAS seems to be a good pickup as well.

all backs; i can not recall a league forward successfully adapting to union whereas Price and Thornett did from union to league (dick i think) both did (from the mighty Parramatta for who my dad played for 1sts for in '52 against the clive churchill Souths with 10 internationals )

 

[rugbyAU]

Shows why Schmidt is reluctant to lock Wilson in as captain, he's clearly not in our best backrow. Another wholehearted effort last night but just doesn't make an impact.

Yeah - gives his all and good on defence but always runs into a brick wall

 

[rugbyAU]

Did Gleeson get on last night?

For a few minutes