Wallabies vs England, Sydney, 3rd Test, 25 June @ 8:00pm

[Slim 293]

I want to see minimal changes to the team - Palu as last man standing into no 8, and a shift in the backline to accommodate a more experienced 12 which would likely drop Kerevi or Kuridrani to the bench........

A few changes to the bench with Sio and Simmons coming back in, and Naiyaravoro could also be handy for impact...........

We simply need to adjust tactics and execute better.............

Mass changes are not necessary.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Dead right Slim. Tweak and refine but most of all come up with a better game plan for breaking through that England defence.

 

[Lindommer]

The first test when he scored his try?

Kuridrani that is. It was a bloody long time ago.

 

[USARugger]

Kuridrani that is. It was a bloody long time ago.

He went straight through the English line to score a try 11 days ago.

He also had a clean break in the last test.

'Drani isn't lighting the world on fire but he's also asked to run directly into traffic a lot (his position in the line is generally right where the English defensive umbrella "folds" in, leaving him with a defender giving him attention on both sides). He's still beating defenders, making clean breaks, scoring tries off set piece phase play, and hasn't missed a tackle in either test.

Really don't think he's much a part of the problem and there's absolutely nobody knocking down the door to replace him right now since there's really nobody that's healthy who could move into 15 and provide enough value there to make losing Izzy's bomb defusal at the back worthwhile.

A line-straightening, power center is never going to look incredibly flash when the halves/inside backs are throwing hot potato passes and generally caving under pressure on attack. He's hardly out there doing nothing, though.

Makes more consistent meters in contact than the majority of our forwards seem to be able to.

 

[Viking]

All true USARugger, but if your only going to pick one of Kerevi or Kuridrani to bring in To'omua / Lilo at 12 then you'd imagine Kerevi could and would be picked at 13 on form.

 

[Tip]

Kuridrani has never looked great playing at 13 outside Foley. He's the crash and bash centre that relies on brutality not finesse. He played pretty well in the first test minus the glory seeking no-pass. The problem is, his only crash ball on the weekend was a pop off Kerevi's shoulder.

The team beat 31 tackles, made 13 line breaks and ran 138 times for 4m a carry. The only Outside back you'd drop is Horne who was completely ineffective in attack.

Our attack lacked creativity. We just passed it from one side of the field to the other relying on Kerevi, DHP or Folau to bust a tackle. There wasn't one loop, not a play run where Kuridrani and Kerevi were both crashball options, with Folau out the back. Zero pick & go's. Foley's idea of creativity is dummy and run himself. Add to that poor passes & kicking.

Bernard Foley is the Wallabies Richard Graham. After feeble performances the Wallabies are going to give him the "appropriate support" with a whole bunch of new heads to guide him and paper over his in-deficiencies.

 

[USARugger]

All true USARugger, but if your only going to pick one of Kerevi or Kuridrani to bring in To'omua / Lilo at 12 then you'd imagine Kerevi could and would be picked at 13 on form.

I would give a lot for Lilo to actually step up at Wallaby level.

When was the last time To'omua play a full game of rugby?

 

[Slim 293]

All true USARugger, but if your only going to pick one of Kerevi or Kuridrani to bring in To'omua / Lilo at 12 then you'd imagine Kerevi could and would be picked at 13 on form.

Kuridrani was one of our better backs in the first test though........

Seems to also be relied on to do a lot of work off the ball.

 

[Slim 293]

Bernard Foley is the Wallabies Richard Graham. After feeble performances the Wallabies are going to give him the "appropriate support" with a whole bunch of new heads to guide him and paper over his in-deficiencies.

Yeah, nah...........

 

[Viking]

I would give a lot for Lilo to actually step up at Wallaby level.

When was the last time To'omua play a full game of rugby?

Yes it would. But it certainly isn't unlikely he would be picked.

Apparently To'omua has been training the last 3 weeks with the squad.

 

[Braveheart81]

You think it was just a few handling errors and failed opportunities that led to the result then you are insane. You could use that argument against every loss in history - "if only we didn't drop that ball that time we would have won the world cup".

The number of those handling errors and blown opportunities is not only a reflection of our poor execution but ALSO England's ability to predict our play and increase the pressure they put on us - a direct result from playing the same predictable strategy.

If we hadn't demonstrated the ability to control possession and territory through the first two tests then you could expect more changes through looking to do something dramatically different.

As it stands, presumably Cheika's focus will be improving our efficiency at converting that possession and territory into points rather than thinking the entire plan needs to change.

 

[Viking]

If we hadn't demonstrated the ability to control possession and territory through the first two tests then you could expect more changes through looking to do something dramatically different.

As it stands, presumably Cheika's focus will be improving our efficiency at converting that possession and territory into points rather than thinking the entire plan needs to change.

Fair call.

But please NO MCMAHON!

 

[KOB1987]

Slipper
Kepu
Moore
Skelton
Simmons
Fardy
Palu (or is that McMahon up the back? - hard to tell!)
?

I'm guessing the ? is Hooper

 

[KOB1987]

And Phipps and Horne are there too.

Too many Tahs?

 

[swingpass]

Its McMahon up the back.

poor SebV

 

[swingpass]

in the orange bibs
Sio
Carter
Frisby
?
Horwill
Mumm
? Palu
Gill

Hoopers not there because he defends in the 12 channel sometimes from a line out

 

[KOB1987]

or he's just off screen.

 

[Joe Blow]

Our main problem in this series is that we are missing quite a few established players from the RWC squad. Douglas, Genia, Giteau, Beale, Tomane, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and there are others and we are now missing Pocock.
We switch our mode of play away from the 2nd playmaker and we try and replace the other missing spots.
Suggesting that Hooper, Moore, Phipps and Foley should go and dropping Simmons is ridiculous. We will end up with a vastly less experienced side that will just get walloped to round out the series.
They all need to be there and need to front up. I hope we shelve the KK experiment for now and play either Lilo or To'omua and Palu or Houston in place of McMahon. He is a decent bench option to cover the back row.
It is very important that we get a win looking forward to the RC.
A slight change of tactics to play through the middle a little would be good too. Earn the right to go wide. Simple stuff.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The other aspect is that we are about as far away from Japan 2019 as it is possible to get.
Peaking now - if thats what England are doing - aint going to win the next one.
we are rebuilding....soon

 

[Muzza]

Phipps should be on the bench . Give frisby the start