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

[Drew]

Nah, he slipped down in the pecking order during the test season last year after some mixed performances, and then another rung or so with the likes of Tom Hooper having a great year...

He missed a bunch of rugby through injury this year and was originally left out to get some match fitness and show his worth, and he wasn't that great in the Reds match agains the Lions.

Much of the hype as come off the back of the FNP game, and he'll likely be deservedly selected in the squad for next week.

personally I thought he was good in the Reds match and was hoping he was involved with the Wallabies after that game. But you’re right that his FNP game was his best, which was a bit late. Didn’t realise he was coming back from injury. All those other points about pecking order make sense, someone else also brought up his streaky form.

 

[Tomthumb]

Aiden Ross plays LH side, doesn't he? That's not really where the problem with the front row lies. We need a stronger THP and the only one available seems to be Tupou, who has had a very poor year but showed signs of form in the Indigenous/Pacific Islander game during the week. At Hooker, I would personally bring Faessler back in at the expense of Porecki who has least effectiveness of the three hookers in the squad.

Angus Bell was absolutely towelled up in the scrums on the weekend

 

[KOB1987]

I’m still gutted but onwards we march.

Does that announcement about Aiden Ross joining the squad and Potter staying in Melbourne imply they were the only squad changes? If so I’d bring Tupou on the bench for Robbo, Pietsch/Kellaway to 14/23 respectively, and leave Carlo in the stands back to a 5:3 bench. Hard to change too much else after a performance like that.

 

[KOB1987]

Angus Bell was absolutely towelled up in the scrums on the weekend

My recollection was that the scrum was on skates in the first half, better in the second half sans Robbo getting incorrectly pinged on the TH side a couple of times? I could be wrong about that though. I wonder if Slips coming off at half time and Ross coming into the squad means he's carrying an injury.

 

[TSR]

In Joe’s press conference he does seem to imply that there may be some injury concerns with the starting props which is why he took them off at half time.

 

[rugbyAU]

Despite how well he's been as captain, I think Gleeson is our best #8 when Skelton isn't starting, Wilson consistently doesn't make any metres with his carries and just runs into a brick wall

 

[Tomthumb]

Despite how well he's been as captain, I think Gleeson is our best #8 when Skelton isn't starting, Wilson consistently doesn't make any metres with his carries and just runs into a brick wall

Yeah he was poor in the 2nd test after a good performance in Brisbane. Really weak on the tackle, poor handling and pretty ineffective with ball in hand. Problem is Gleeson is leaving

 

[Tomthumb]

My recollection was that the scrum was on skates in the first half, better in the second half sans Robbo getting incorrectly pinged on the TH side a couple of times? I could be wrong about that though. I wonder if Slips coming off at half time and Ross coming into the squad means he's carrying an injury.

Porter got pay from boaring in once of twice but it wasn't sustainable for them, and Slipper handled Furlong well. 2nd half Bell was getting toasted so it made life really hard for the rest of the scrum

 

[rugbyAU]

Yeah he was poor in the 2nd test after a good performance in Brisbane. Really weak on the tackle, poor handling and pretty ineffective with ball in hand. Problem is Gleeson is leaving

We need to pick our best players wherever they are if we want to win in a globalised game

 

[Tomthumb]

We need to pick our best players wherever they are if we want to win in a globalised game

Maybe, but I'd imagine there would be quite a backlash from players that took less money to stay in Aus for the purpose of playing for the Wallabies

 

[Strewthcobber]

My recollection was that the scrum was on skates in the first half, better in the second half sans Robbo getting incorrectly pinged on the TH side a couple of times? I could be wrong about that though. I wonder if Slips coming off at half time and Ross coming into the squad means he's carrying an injury.

Robbo is setting up OK, but then takes a massive step back at engage, and his feet end up way behind his hips, in an unstable position. Hes overextended at every scrum

AR will be looking for this and calling it as the first offense when the scrum goes down. Yes LH is pulling down, and yes LH is angled in, but it's after the step from Robbo

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'm being a bit selective with my screenshotting here. But first is setup, and then second is overextension after he steps back just before engage, and way too often Robbo can't get his feet under himself from that position and goes down. (Helped by the LH, no doubt! - I could put 5 screen shots of the LH elbow pointing straight down).

 

[Dctarget]

Wilso's bump off of Farrell was chef's kiss though.

 

[John S]

I'm being a bit selective with my screenshotting here. But first is setup, and then second is overextension after he steps back just before engage, and way too often Robbo can't get his feet under himself from that position and goes down. (Helped by the LH, no doubt! - I could put 5 screen shots of the LH elbow pointing straight down).

Yeah, he doesn't help himself there

 

[Upthemaroon!]

Aren't there a couple of South Africans running around in Perth that could fine tune the scrum technique of the wallabies props? I feel regardless of level in SA, they do the fundamental scrummaging right. Would also utilize some of the Pasifika body types that are not that great in League to give union a go. Anyway, topic for another thread. Let's go the Wallabies!

 

[griffins]

Yeah, he doesn't help himself there

Felt like Robertson lost every hit too, or if not that Genge was able to inch forward (rather than around and in) every time before the scrum became unstable.

 

[Yoda]

Aiden Ross plays LH side, doesn't he? That's not really where the problem with the front row lies. We need a stronger THP and the only one available seems to be Tupou, who has had a very poor year but showed signs of form in the Indigenous/Pacific Islander game during the week. At Hooker, I would personally bring Faessler back in at the expense of Porecki who has least effectiveness of the three hookers in the squad.

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) should be added to the squad and should be at least on the bench next week. But if Ross has been added and there's no mention of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), or Tupou for that matter, then it looks rather bleak for the latter two. Hooper also should be added to the XXIII for his physicality and workrate, at the expense of Tizzano, unless McReight is out with injury. The only way to make all that happen is for Wilson to drop out. Start Gleeson at 8, and add LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Hooper on the bench to cover Lock and Backrow respectively. That would be a forward pack to match and probably dominate the Lions'pack.

In the backs, Pietsch straight in for Potter as he should have been all along, and please Donaldson to start in place of Lynagh. Not sure about the centres but would much prefer to have Ikitau back at 13. Maybe Sua'ali'i out altogether or swap the two centres around.

Brumby. Can you tell me why Lynagh gets limited criticism compared to Lolesio and Donaldson? He missed two conversions that could have won us the game. He drops a ball in our 22, and from the scrum the Lions score. Misses touch from a penalty kick 15 minutes from full time which would have seen our line out and advance into Lions territory. He is and will be a great player no doubt, but it seems he is being given a much more positive spin in the media and commentary than our other two ever get. Obviously Schmidt favours him but I personally don't think he is a starter just yet and Donaldson should be given the starting role for an extended period. The backs would definitely see more ball. Lynagh was standing still when passing often, which is hardly putting the opposition into two minds in defence? Just some observations.

 

[Tomthumb]

What really needs to be focused on for the 3rd test (as well as generally) is situational skills and execution. Outside of the ref call, what really cost us the 2nd test was those 10 minutes before half time. Up 23-5 we had them dead to rights, all it required was play smart and take that lead into the break. Instead we instantly made mistakes to piggy back them into an attacking zone and provided some pretty weak defense. So instead of being up by 18 in a dominant half, we were only up 6 and had handed the Lions confidence and momentum

Same thing in the 1st test. Letting them score right before half time and right after half time doomed us

 

[Yoda]

What really needs to be focused on for the 3rd test (as well as generally) is situational skills and execution. Outside of the ref call, what really cost us the 2nd test was those 10 minutes before half time. Up 23-5 we had them dead to rights, all it required was play smart and take that lead into the break. Instead we instantly made mistakes to piggy back them into an attacking zone and provided some pretty weak defense. So instead of being up by 18 in a dominant half, we were only up 6 and had handed the Lions confidence and momentum

Same thing in the 1st test. Letting them score right before half time and right after half time doomed us

The ABs seem to nail both the 30-40 minute marks and the 40-50 minute marks as an absolute. They obviously train for it to really up the anti in those periods to pressure the opposition with points.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Brumby. Can you tell me why Lynagh gets limited criticism compared to Lolesio and Donaldson? He missed two conversions that could have won us the game. He drops a ball in our 22, and from the scrum the Lions score. Misses touch from a penalty kick 15 minutes from full time which would have seen our line out and advance into Lions territory. He is and will be a great player no doubt, but it seems he is being given a much more positive spin in the media and commentary than our other two ever get. Obviously Schmidt favours him but I personally don't think he is a starter just yet and Donaldson should be given the starting role for an extended period. The backs would definitely see more ball. Lynagh was standing still when passing often, which is hardly putting the opposition into two minds in defence? Just some observations.

Yoda, I get most of my coverage from this site, rarely reading the print media and radio/TV news coverage of rugby is minimal so I don't think I can comment on the way media might address him. But just in relation to the reactions on GandG, I put it down to parochialism. This site is dominated by Reds fans and the commentary on all things rugby is generally slanted towards all things Red being good and everything and everyone else is a bit rubbish.