Wallabies v Lions Game 2 MCG 26 July

[Derpus]

I don’t think it’s that bad.

A convincing win in Sydney would be nice. Although it is unlikely, making Maro eat his words around them still having levels would be good.

Yes it was m8

 

[twister29]

Even if that impact was against the rules on a technicality (it wasn’t it’s black and white), it was potentially a bloody dangerous hit. This is why these rules exist, to keep players safe. It’s unfair to the english players that get away scot free for careless hits up until someone gets a lasting injury then the hammer comes. Players don’t get in these positions in training, it’s only in games, so it needs to be enforced to keep players on the right track.

The exemplifying part of rugby union is the discipline, and the disciplined physicality is what makes it so beautiful. We can’t let that slip, these calls (or lack thereof) is how that happens.

 

[Super Hooper]

Kerevi is still around
For some reason doesn’t get picked

For some reason I said: "The good old days of Kerevi". Despite that I'd pick Kerevi on one leg over Paisami everyday

 

[whitefalcon]

I don’t think it’s that bad.

A convincing win in Sydney would be nice. Although it is unlikely, making Maro eat his words around them still having levels would be good.

Yep. I wish we won tonight even if we got pantsed next week (and I have tickets)

Unfortunately a dead rubber series doesn’t do us any favours in the media.

 

[Goosestep]

You can’t argue that rugby in Australia is in a much better place than it was in October 2023. The officiating sucks but that’s not an Aussie specific problem, it definitely makes it hard to win fans here though.

I agree, but sometimes you need luck to go your way ( happens to all the best sides) …. Now we go away with a lot of effort with nothing to show .. no momentum, no hype, no media or casual fan interest

 

[Goosestep]

Nah. We are gonna win the bledisloe back.

I also think we’re gonna win next week

Hopefully the lions are on the piss all
Week

 

[Tex]

Emotional bois aside, was it a reasonable call at the death? At the ground I thought Carlo hammed it up...

 

[John S]

Hopefully the lions are on the piss all
Week

The refs will probably card the Wobs for looking at their heads and making their headaches worse to even it up

 

[rugbyAU]

Can we somehow get Skelton to play most games, particularly in the rugby championship, not just throw him in for the odd EOYT game

 

[rugbyAU]

Was it a reasonable call at the death?

Obviously not

 

[twister29]

Emotional bois aside, was it a reasonable call at the death? At the ground I thought Carlo hammed it up...

The rules are black and white. Impact to head/neck, charging into the ruck, the list goes on.

 

[dru]

Emotional bois aside, was it a reasonable call at the death? At the ground I thought Carlo hammed it up...

He definitely hammed it up. And I don't think that helped. But it doesn't mean it wasn't a genuine issue.

 

[Brumby Runner]

But what do you do, BR. Skelton and Valetini given instructions to to push to 11 for the full first 40. They did. But at some point you need 23.

Dru, the right 23 would have helped. Maybe now it will be recognisded that Bell is not a strong scrummager, Robertson is out of his depth, and both McReight and Wilson are very pedestrian. Not like Fraser - I think he must be carrying an injury, but Harry has never been any better than he showed tonight. It was an error of large proportions by Schmidt to take both Slipper and Ala'alatoa off at half time because that was the plan.

In the backs, it should now be clear to all that JAS is not yet, and maybe never will be, a test standard player. His defence is atrocious.

The 6-2 bench was a mistake, not just in retrospect. Most posters here before the game were very nervous about an early injury to one of the backs, and so it came to be. Tate did an excellent job in the circumstances but would have been a whole lot more impactful at halfback where he should have been.

Unlike others, I am not putting the responsibility for the loss on the early replacement of Valetini and Skelton. Those moves certainly had some effect, but Big Will had run his race and Gleeson did an all right job subbing for Rob. The error was in taking Rob off instead of the ineffectual Wilson.

This loss was down to the Coaches and their pre-ordained replacement plan.

 

[whitefalcon]

Fuck it.
Next week move JAS to the wing
Len to 13
Dunno to 12
O’Connor to the bench.
60+ from Bobby and Skelton

JAS isn’t great defending in the centres

 

[twister29]

It’s literally a black and white call, I don’t see how it has gone anywhere except a card.

It was reckless. In the rules that’s a red.

 

[summertime123]

The Lions were getting stronger and stronger...it was a fair win.

 

[Pfitzy]

It doesn’t really matter, it’s a $100m improvement on the balance sheet. They now need to use it the right way.

Don't hold your breath.

 

[PhilClinton]

Trying to find positives.

I’ve been critical of Frost and he was pretty good in the lineout. Took most of our balls (I think, someone with stats might call my bluff). I felt pretty confident with our lineout.

 

[Pfitzy]

Developing and retaining local talent.

Aligning our shrinking pool of resources would be a good start.
Better systems to prevent the utter fuckery that is the disconnect between various areas of the game.
Recruitment for volunteers - particularly referees - and reducing the financial burden on clubs.

The usual

 

[Linerunner2023]

Everyone now catching on with Sua'ali'i defensive issues
He was terrible in league and it’s easier to defend then 13 in rugby which is the hardest to defend in the team
Honestly can’t work out where Sua'ali'i goes as he is not lighting quick either