Wallabies v Lions Game 2 MCG 26 July

[Tomthumb]

Developing and retaining local talent.

Just to keep losing? Ffs can’t wait for another Bledisole loss this year

 

[Pfitzy]

There is something good to come out of this: the media can focus on the dud call at the end. That'll give rugby another week in the papers.

 

[ACR]

We play like that and the All Blacks will put 40 on us

Can't agree with that mate. You guys were mullering them in the first half. They just need to stop giving up soft tries occasionally OR start infringing a bit better down in the 22. Easier said than done I guess. Thought they were unlucky.

As a 'neutral' but really going for the Wallabies, it was a great game. Guttered for them.

Sidenote: Morgan Turinui is embarrassingly awful. Bring back Phil Kearns eh?

 

[summertime123]

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.

Australia lost...accept with pride.

 

[Linerunner2023]

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.

It sounds like Rob may have been left off as there was a niggle
But agree Wilson should have been taken off and Rob and Gleeson there otherwise
Also needed LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) off the bench for more impact

 

[lpd]

To be honest, we conceded that try as much due to Stuart’s big carry forward. Criminal to let him keep going and gave up valuable territory

 

[Tomthumb]

Hopefully the lions are on the piss all
Week

Typical Aussie rugby winning a dead rubber

 

[Yoda]

Yeah as much as I love Lynagh those extra two conversions would be handy right now....

(I blame Wright for one though)

Lynagh starting and Bell not starting. Schmidt's biggest mistakes.

 

[PhilClinton]

If Schmidt is planning on a McReight sub for Tizzano with 30mins to go, I agree with some that next test it should be Wilson off for Gleeson and Robby into 8.

I think the Wilson microscoping is overdone but he definitely performs better in a tandem combo with McReight across the park.

 

[Pfitzy]

To be honest, we conceded that try as much due to Stuart’s big carry forward. Criminal to let him keep going and gave up valuable territory

It wasn't the only one leading up to the try. Inability to grass blokes and our porous midfield defence.

 

[Goosestep]

Typical Aussie rugby winning a dead rubber

Could be worse

50/50 we give up and get flogged

 

[Yoda]

Proud of the Wallabies though tonight. No one gave them a chance .... not even the ref!

 

[PhilClinton]

Lynagh starting and Bell not starting. Schmidt's biggest mistakes.

Slipper scored a try and do you really think Donaldson does better in that first half?

If anything, subbing Lynagh off with 20mins to go was the call once he started to miss a kick for touch on penalty and fall off a tackle.

 

[Linerunner2023]

Wilson is decent b it just gets picked off and stopped to easily
No impact like Rob, even Gleeson broke the like a few times where Wilson is just to easy pickings being one dimensional and direct
Would like LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and hooper in game 3 over Williams and Tizzano

 

[twister29]

Australia lost...accept with pride.

Mate… That call was wrong. Win lose or draw.

 

[Micheal]

There is one thing that Wilson does that is truly schoolboy (as in, primary schoolboy).

Often when carrying the ball into contact - particularly when he's not hitting the ball at speed - he'll stop and turn his back before contact, as if he's scared to take on the line front on.

It leads to the softest carries. Truly bizarre.

 

[Goosestep]

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

Jorgo is such a better player, he’d carve up in league too

 

[BDA]

Shouldnt be dependent on this but it probably is. Think Rugby is basically done now.

Nonsense. All my league loving mates thought it was a cracker and felt we were robbed...this is the type of game that makes people want to watch.

 

[twister29]

it’s a league thing those backwards carries

 

[dillyboy]

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

Said that to my mates I was watching it with.

Thinking the dive spoiled it.

If he was genuinely hurt we may have gotten the penalty (which is also bullshit as it's meant to be the offence not the injury that dictates the level of infringement)