Thanks for link – am now listening to his album ‘comeon”. Doubt I’ll buy though.

Dead right – how could I get it so wrong even if writing at 3.30am and not long back from 7 weeks in Europe. Perhaps my 8 day tour of Ireland [great country to visit] has me reverting to the O’ prefix subconsciously. Even so quite an oversight as I try to proof read before posting.
Des O’Connor was, of course, a likeable singer on Don Lane TV show for many years while Des Connor [from my playing era in the 1960's] was one of the really great half backs with a strong accurate pass off either foot and one eminently qualified to give advice on the subject. Apologies to all ‘maligned’ by my oversight.

Barnes the ref went ok. Yes, he allowed some dodgey entry into the rucks but it seemed to go both ways. Ok, he missed a PT for Genia but hey I didn’t pick it up at the time either so I’ll forgive that.

I don’t think the Boks were down for this match I thought they had their energy sapped, especially the packs energy so they couldn’t counter ruck as vigorously as in previous games. The Wallabies gained very quick ball and service from the breakdown which did not give the Bok forwards time to settle and rest. They were continually on the move and got committed as individuals when they arrived at the breakdown rather than as a flood of two or three. This was not as noticeable in the first half but certainly was in the last 30 minutes.

Second point is that the Wallaby defence was very good but improved in intensity as the match wore on. The Boks started to doubt themselves and got a little tired which made the defensive task a little easier.

Third point Wallaby kick chase was not good. Have a look mat the replay and see how often the commentary said that only Elsom has chased. Elsom was outstanding here but the rest were lazy.

The Wallaby scrum mostly dominated the Boks. Smit had a very rough night of it and he isn’t a tight head. PDV should play him at hooker and bring in a specialist tight head. I say the Wallaby scrum mostly dominated, because the Boks again showed that wheeling a scrum at the right time also opens up a great attacking opportunity. They wheeled an attacking scrum about 20m out in the first half and very nearly scored from it …. a tactic the Wallaby pack should look at when playing the ABs.

Overall I thought the Wallabies started off with a committed attitude in defence but the confidence in attack was shaky, hence a few dropped balls and passes missing the mark. I thought the Boks started off confident and composed but a few rib ticklers from TPN and good all round defence, plus quick play started to sap their energy and their confidence ebbed with their energy. The Wallaby confidence grew with the fact that their set piece was performing and they were getting ball, that their defence didn’t leak and that they started to make in roads into the Boks …. crossing the line 3 times (without getting tries) certainly helped.

For next week the Boks should only change the front row …. they need some stability there. For the Wallabies, I need to see the same assurance and confidence continue to grow when they play the ABs before I’ll start believing for 2011.

http://www.des-oconnor.com/

I used to make this mistake without realising it. It’s ‘Connor’, not “O’Connor”. I think it’s the Irishman in me made me put the ‘O’ on the end. I once wrote Ofahengaue as “O’Fahengaue”.

Here’s what Bob Dwyer said about Burgess:

“Take Luke Burgess. He came into the squad, a breath of fresh air. Enthusiastic, enterprising, athletic, an eye for the break. “the next Nick Farr-Jones”. What was also present but needed refinement were the following defects. Inconsistent in his speed of chase of the ball, too high in his approach to the back of the breakdown contest, too narrow a base during the critical stage of ball delivery, follow through inconsistent in accuracy and length. These necessary but missing competences are not difficult to correct but require knowledgeable, critical, determined coaching application.”

Dwyer’s of the view that the coaching staff are the blame because these are some basic things.

“What gratifies me about the Aussie win is that the players are using the full width of the field in their attack, and changing their point of attack. It reminded me of France v Wales in this year’s 6 Nations.

Next item in the To Do List: OFF-LOAD in the tackle. I’ve just watched the first stanzas of last NH autumn’s Australia v Wales, and the early Wales try began with such an offload.”

Excuse me, I’m an Aussie supporter but I try my best to be impartial! LOL. Bias merely clouds judgment.

What gratifies me about the Aussie win is that the players are using the full width of the field in their attack, and changing their point of attack. It reminded me of France v Wales in this year’s 6 Nations.

Next item in the To Do List: OFF-LOAD in the tackle. I’ve just watched the first stanzas of last NH autumn’s Australia v Wales, and the early Wales try began with such an offload.

Completely agree. A lot of mistakes have conveniently been glossed over in victory, but nonetheless for an English observer there was something ‘invigorating’ (good choice of word) about the game. I enjoyed it and it’s interesting to see the absence of any “THE GAME IS DEAD!” articles that flooded The Roar after the previous result.

Some points to consider:

1. The Wallabies team last night had an average age of 23. Surely it must be one of the youngest test teams ever? Anyone care to inform of the NZ teams average age. Not sure of how many test caps in the Australian team last night, however without Smith in the team it would be pretty low. Certainly much lower than NZ.

2. “….or does this mean OZ have fixed their problems (no).” This is essentially a new Wallabies team, therefore no track record to compare with.

3. Robinson, TPN, and Alexander were the 2005 Australian U21 front row. Pek Cowan was on the bench. Who won the 2005 world cup in 2005 (U19 + U21) Junior World Cup (I dont think it had been consolidated at that time).

Generally I think it was refreshing to see young guys show a huge amount of energy and confidence.

I’m not saying the Tri-Nations is anything special this year but Australia were in a different class last night and had that team who turned up at Suncorp last night come up against the Lions I think they would easily have put them away. The Wallabies forwards were on another level than any team has put up so far in the Tri-Nations. The way Genia and Barnes were directing their lads around the park was delightful to watch, I don’t say this lightly being a Kiwi. South Africa didn’t know what to do under pressure they imploded they were off because Australia were so dominant there wasn’t anything they could do to counter it. On the otherhand I have said it many times already I believe the ineptness of the Wallabies and All Blacks and the many schoolyard mistakes they made, have in turn made the Boks to look alot better than what the really are.
I’m looking forward to Hamilton.

P.s I’ll believe the North are back on top when the individual nations actually occupy all top three spots in the IRB rankings.
Actually in saying that has their ever been a time when the NH teams have occupied positions 1 through 3?
How do we go about finding out?

The South Africans won’t say it publicly, but I suspect that privately they think the Lions series was a class above this Tri Nations in terms of intensity, pace and quality. This intra-south competition is a step down from what they faced earlier in the summer. It was also interesting to read the New Zealand forwards claiming that their games against France were more physically intense and demanding than their first game against the Wallabies.

All the signs are that the north is on the way back – and not before time.

Having watched the replay, its not surprising some have suggested they had quiet nights. But when you have hookers being popped (that is not a euphemism!), Genia showing how to play 9, and TPN taking out knee caps, its kind of hard for two big lumps doing the hard graft in close to stand out.

But what they did, was catch, tackle, get the lineout working and drive in close for 80 mins. What they didnt do was hang around in the backline, fall over at the first hint of a tackle or generally stuff up. And for me that is what I want from my locks.

Chisholm has really stepped up and its great to see. Horwill is getting back to his best. They can be a good combo. They wont ever be great pair for lineout artistry, but they are solid.

Yes the Boks were not at there best however the Wallabies wanted this one a lot more. I liked John Smit’s comments after the game ” excuses are for losers “. Great mentality although as a player he might be on the way out at this level.

Now the big challenge for the Wallabies is performing well in Wellington in 2 weeks.