By Darren Walton
November 1st 2009 @ 1:00am
View The Roar's top rugby union writers.
New podcast from RuggaMatrix, with Munster Assistant Coach Laurie Fisher as guest. Listen now.
Love new art, fashion, music? Check out Aussie site which unearths all things cool and creative.
Related coverage
All Blacks continue their domination over Wallabies
Furious Wallabies coach Robbie Deans blamed South African referee Mark Lawrence for ruining his side’s chances of making a triumphant start to their spring tour after the All Blacks powered to a seventh straight Bledisloe Cup victory in Tokyo on Saturday night.
An exasperated Deans broke from his routine of refusing to publicly criticise match officials [...]
This article is over 2000 days old and has been trimmed.
Going to the Waratahs v Brumbies blockbuster at ANZ Stadium, Saturday 24 April? If you're keen to meet up with other Roarers, register you interest and we'll keep you informed on the place to meet. Register now.
Get Australia's best Rugby opinion emailed daily.
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
(80)
Who Needs Melon said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:28am | Report comment
Yes Genia did look pretty good. Very slow service from the rucks… but I think the ABs played a part in that.
Ioane looked good too. If that was his ‘rusty’ come-back performance… watch out!
That wasn’t an unexpected result and at least we hung in there but…
If you were to pick your best 15 from the combined teams, they are the only two Wallaby players that would get a look in. We have to face it – it’s not just the forwards, it’s not just the backs, it’s not just the ‘passion’, it’s not just the tactics – we are OVERALL not in the same class as the All Blacks. We look a bit like Scotland or Argentina playing them now – you know there’s some pride that will likely prevent a total blow out and you can see that if the stars aligned and we got the right bounce of the ball EVERY time then we’d be in with a shot… but you know we’re outclassed.
Mitch O said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:58am | Report comment
Get off it Darren. The scoreline flattered the Wallabies. Apart from AAC who has been the standout Wallaby for sometime now, and the scrum which was much improved, the Wallabies were toast.
Apart from an awesome period of defence at the end of the first half when down to 14 (dubious try aside) the AB’s didn’t even get out of second gear.
In the second half when “star” Giteau needed to give the ball some width he instead began crashing it up. Odd given he’s a featherweight.
Deans whingeing about the ref is pathetic. It’s 7 games in a row now. Clearly the Wallabies problem is more fundamental than a couple of 50/50 ruck decisions.
CraigB said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Darren – The scoreline NEVER flatters any team, if the ABs deserved to win by more they would have simple. Deans is right that their are some dodgy decisons, but they didn’t determine the outcome. The amount of time McCAw plays the ball on the deck while offside in a ruck is just amazing. Fairplay for getting away with it, but it just looks ridiculous
Kevin Lodge said | November 1st 2009 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Please only comment here if you understand the rules of the game – and while we’re at it someone pls send Phil Kearns a rule book. If you’re the tackler then you can continue to play the ball until you go to ground. You cannot be offside! McCaw is the master because he understands the rules – sometimes better than the referees and clearly better than you CraigB and clearly better than the embarassing Fox commentary team.
Do we really have to listen to Keanrs telling us that the All Blacks (and only the ABs) are offside the whole game. What a fool he comes across as – surely he can use his experience to add more value and interest to the game.
OldManEmu said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:11pm | Report comment
Kevin – games of sport have laws, competitions have rules
McCaw does not understand the rules, he ignores the laws and the referees for some reason or another permit him to do so.
Dean Pantio said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
Yes that would be the most factual and legitimate reading of the situation. McCaw is only good because he is a cheat and all the refs in the world ignore this fact. Do you realise how stupid that sounds?
Brett McKay said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
on the contrary OME, I’d suggest McCaw knows EXACTLY what he should do by the letter of the law, and over time has also worked out what he can get away with…
OldManEmu said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:57pm | Report comment
Dean – I think most non NZers think McCaw is a cheat
Dont be such a sook.
Dean Pantio said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:57pm | Report comment
The sook here OldManEmu is the one petulantly calling the best player in the world in his position a cheat.
WLN said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:26am | Report comment
Heck Deans and the Wallabies are pwned by Henry and the ABs. Was amazed that the Fox Sports cheer squad all had the audacity to predict a Wallabies win (erm based on what exactly boys???), but then again they are the worst commentary team in the biz. Would previously have prefered to tune into NZ commentary before they started to include sponsored spots from their TAB. Scoreline did indeed flatter the Wallabies, why did their urgency to score tries only appear after the final whistle had blown? You always got the feeling that when the ABs strung together passes they were always going to score. You just dont get that feeling with the Wallabies, they only look dangerous when AAC has the ball. The Wallabies key playmaker and winner of the Eales medal was given a masterclass by his opposite. Horwill should be monstering guys – look at the size of him – but he’s one of those that Deans has found worryingly disappears up his own bside. Polata Naut-straight. OConnor sure is pretty but hes going to have to put down his hairbrush and make tackles. Grand slam for this lot? Don’t make me laugh. Can they get it together next year to turn up in 2011? Who’s gonna still be around to watch it?
jmt said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
On the money…
I vote for cheer leaders outfits, that way they will complete their rubbish calling of the game.
It is a blight on the game of rugby and a poor investment by Fox Sports.
ziggy said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Horwill? Was he playing? Never sighted.
reds fan said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
Horwill was equal top tackler, and 5 pick and drives. not sure that constitutes going missing . I think he was at the bottom of the ruck mostly.
Dean Pantio said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:21pm | Report comment
Quite right. Horwill was working. Chisholm on the other hand went awol.
hammer said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:54am | Report comment
This bloke was watching a different game to the one I was – the scoreline flattered Aust – no way was that a try – when it was given it smacked of trying to make a game of it for the crowd
As for deans – well blaming the ref is merely attempting to deflect away attention from yet another very poor perfomance and poor selections – and it seems to have worked with media given this bloke reckons things are on the up
joeb said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
You really have to wonder now if Deans is the man to lead Australia to 2011 … our forwards went well for 50 – 60 minutes but again the backline configuration was pretty darn ordinary – we didn’t look capable of making a clean break all game … so why did Quade Cooper warm the bench all night in Barnes’s absence? Wouldn’t he have ignited things at 5/8th with Matt Giteau outside him at 12? And how is young O’Connor selected ahead of / a better player than Cam Shepherd?
Bizarre selections costing us endlessly, so it’s hard to see Deans surviving.
TommyM said | November 1st 2009 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Cam Shepherd is recovering from surgery (again). Watch this space in 2010
JamesB said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
The result never really looked in doubt, and the AB’s looked as though they were stuck in 4th gear. Mentally they just know they have it over the Wallabies and its really hard to see where they can go from here. Deans outburst was just frustration, and who can blame him, but the referee was on the whole okay, and in my opinion most of the 50/50 calls favoured the Wallabies. Hynes was clearly short and it was quite bizzare they awarded that try. Sivivatu’s tackle was so clumsy (the player he tackled was still on the up when he tackled him) you have to ask serious questions about his grey matter. If I was Henry I would drop him for the next game or two as punishment. Against a better team or a more important game (like a RWC) this could cost the AB’s.
jmt said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Too much intensity and not enough finish by the Wallabies.
Where was captain RE, not in the refs ear that is for certain. He let RM stop for tea with Mark Lawrence.
He not only let the AB’s forwards walk all over his, but the ref too.
Not acceptable at this level.
GS has the experience and it is unfortunate he is not leading the Wallabies to Europe.
AB’s too good!
ziggy said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:23am | Report comment
Blaming the ref is the sure path to doom. The ABs were never goingto lose this one. Time for Giteau to go back into the centre. He wasted our backline. Line outs pathetic. Our pack in the set scrums were really good. In the loose we were too slow and lacking aggression. Deans has biq question mark now. Ifd he can’t get these players motivated and on the right track then he is lacking something. Find someone who can get the job done.
Hansie said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
I got so drunk last night that I couldn’t remember the result of the match this morning. It’s the best I’ve felt after a Bledisloe test for some time! But seriously, having watched the replay, Australia was seriously outgunned. Deans raising referee issues is an attempt at a smoke screen.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
Settle down boys.We need to look for the positives.
I think the result was very good…………considering.
Consider these:
How much ball did we turn over?
How many of our blokes were playing out of their best position?
How many of our blokes shouldn’t have even been selected?
How often did we kick possession away?
How often did we fail to put any pressure on the AB lineout?
How often did we ‘balls-up our throw-in?
And the list could go on & on & on.
So tell me this, with that many stuff-ups, how can we ever hope to be competitive against what is arguably the top playing nation on the planet, let alone beat them?
See? Like I said “I think the result was very good…………considering.”
TommyM said | November 1st 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
I like your positivity
stillmissit said | November 1st 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Blinky are you off to buy a new TV this morning? understandable mate or did the prozac kick in?
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | November 1st 2009 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
stillmissit – Missus is away in Sydney, so I actually got to shout a lot of abuse at the walls.
Nah the TV made it. But interestingly a mate was telling me about a huge tele he got from WOW & how good it would be for us, and I was thinking to myself ‘yeah right……..I really want to see the Wallaby’s on a giant screen’. Not likely.
wannabprop said | November 2nd 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
I think ‘considering’ is a sly euphemism on Blinky’s part for ‘(poor) coaching’…
MickeyB said | November 1st 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Dear fellow rugby tragics,
I was as disappointed as anyone by the performance of the Wallabies last night, but it wasn’t all that bad (honestly). So let’s break things down and put the Wallabies in perspective.
First up, no one on the planet should doubt Robbie Dean’s ability to coach with 5 Super titles with the Crusaders. So end the speculation.
Here’s how I’ve rated last night’s game:
1. Mental. Didn’t rate. Clearly we have yet to de-mystified the stigma of the All Black. They aren’t invincible, they’re human and they should be known hence forth as the New Zealand Rugby team (NZRT). You know, that little island at the bottom of the Pacific has a rugby team? The winning America’s Cup team tagged their opponent as the ‘red boat’, not Dennis Connor, not Liberty, but just the red boat. It’s the first step toward debunking the myth of the NZRT.
2. Set pieces. Win the set pieces and you should win the game:
a) Line out: D-. Didn’t work.
b) Scrum: B. Big improvement. We have a heavier scrum with more aggression but need to be better technical.
c) Breakdown: B -. Pocock, Palu and Rocky showed new aggression, good step up, but in key times during the game the forwards were too slow to the breakdown? We now need to make a decision, do we push the off side laws like the NZRT last night who were clearly playing in an offside position and/or illegally slowing or playing the ball on the ground? Or do we rise above it and address the issue before the game with the ref to police this area (not that we’re saints). I’m happy for him to red card opposition teams. Do you remember our Wallaby leaders of the past who threatened referees to police foul play or the team would march? Did anyone see Rocky speaking with the Ref all night? It can be seen as a good sign that the NZRT are deperate to slow us down?!? Quick play will wear their bigger players down like the test against Sth Africa in Brisbane.
3. Leadership and new blood: B. Great potential in bringing in ‘new’ players, and in strengthening the base of leadership within the team. Hopefully in developing the depth of leadership we are able to make smarter decisions, like:
- not *@#* kicking away possession when we have an attacking opportunity.
- adapting to the playing conditions. If line outs aren’t working then don’t kick for touch and opt for them.
- thinking about how to close out a game and building a lead. Like the great rugby teams know when to push for points and when to hold ground.
- instill a culture of calm decision making, not panic and bring back discipline.
4. Kicking game – B. Giteau is good, not great, but good. Simply, Carter is great. We also need a field goal exponent who can pull us out of the tight games, eg: Sydney Bledisloe Cup game.
5. Back line and execution? For another day. Unless you want to have a crack? I think we’ve got enough work to do in just securing the ball at set pieces to start with.
Overall score: B-. Don’t slit your wrists just yet as we should make a clean sweep of the Grand Slam.
katzilla said | November 1st 2009 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
‘Or do we rise above it and address the issue before the game with the ref ‘
Being a tattletail is rising above it?
‘Do you remember our Wallaby leaders of the past who threatened referees to police foul play or the team would march?’
LOL, im taking my ball and going home to cry. Inzamam Ul-haq anyone?
How about Harden the F up? how about you hit some rucks like you have a pair? People stop lying in positions they’re not meant to be if they think they’re going to get hurt.
‘The winning America’s Cup team tagged their opponent as the ‘red boat’, not Dennis Connor’
Are you referring to the Team NZ domination of the Americans or that time the Swedish technology gave you an advantage over them?
MickeyB said | November 2nd 2009 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Remove your emotion and stick to facts:
1) Simply put, influence the ref and you influence the game. All good captains do it, we didn’t last Saturday before or during the game and paid for it through repeated NZ infringements at the break down.
Facts: penalty count: 13-9, in the Wallabies favour.
NZ repeatedly infringed at the breakdown. This is a red card offence. The Wallabies either join the NZRT/ ruck them or get the ref to do his job. No point Deans complaining after the game.
2) America’s Cup reference raises sports psychology issues. Not the nationalistic rubbish you followed with.
It’s not about who is the better team, clearly that is NZRT. It’s about us getting smarter about the way we play.
Understand?
Jerry said | November 3rd 2009 @ 6:28am | Report comment
“Facts….
…NZ repeatedly infringed at the breakdown. This is a red card offence.”
No, it’s not.
pothale said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:02am | Report comment
Look, Jerry, when a guy wants to just ’stick to facts’, you’re not meant to intervene with some real ones that ruin his perfectly thought out rationale and argument.
Very unfair.
MickeyB said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Rule 10 of the Rules of Rugby.
A player penalised for repeated infringements must be cautioned
and temporarily suspended. If that player then commits a further
cautionable offence, or the same offence, the player must be sent
off.
Fact: McCaw and Thomson repeatedly infringed at the breakdown.
When does a yellow card become a red card? It is subjective the key word is ‘repeated’.
Educate yourself and read the rules.
Bite me.
Jerry said | November 3rd 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Fact: McCaw was penalised once, Thompson twice.
And by your logic, any penalisable offence is a red card offence. Fact is, there were no yellow cards issued, nor did Lawrence issue a final warning, so basically you’re talking out your arse.
Also, rugby doesn’t have rules – it has laws. Educate yourself, indeed.
MickeyB said | November 3rd 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
My point is bigger than this game.
Rugby loses its greatest selling point if it’s not free flowing, which is one key strength over
it’s more structure cousin of league. In essence, Union about contestability of the ball at
every stage – lineout, scrum, breakdown etc.
When this entitlement is removed by illegal play it ruins the spectacle and damages the game.
It’s about allowing a greater spectacle of the game to shape. Open it up and get tough on infringements, otherwise the game is where it’s at here now in Australia. Crowd numbers are dropping, viewer numbers are down and sponsorships (although rumoured) are starting to drop off.
I don’t care who’s playing, lay down the law early and police it.
NZ deserved the win and made fewer mistakes – so this isn’t about sour grapes, but every supporter would like to see a quicker flowing game.
MickeyB said | November 3rd 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Dear Jerry,
X ‘Fact: McCaw was penalised once, Thompson twice’.
Thanks for the stats – I’ll check these or accuracy. Ask yourself, did this stop the repeated infringements at the breakdown from occuring? Clearly not. This doesn’t address the ‘repeated’ infringments that occured at the breakdown by NZ.
X ‘And by your logic, any penalisable offence is a red card offence’.
Logic? It’s the rules (laws) of the game. I’ve pasted them on this blog for your education. If the offence
is ‘repeated’ without regard for laws then it should conclude.
X Fact is, there were no yellow cards issued, nor did Lawrence issue a final warning, so basically you’re talking out your arse.
When should the failing of a referees duty be a point of order? Don’t further confuse your misdirected point with
anatomical references.
X Also, rugby doesn’t have rules – it has laws. Educate yourself, indeed.
The term rules and laws is an interchanged term look at the IRB site. I am happy to use either if it helps you out.
Jerry said | November 3rd 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
So essentially you’re arguing Lawrence should have issued a team warning for the first breakdown offence by the AB’s followed by a yellow then red card for any subsequent offences?
Harry said | November 1st 2009 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
Darren your looking at things from an extremely optimistic point of view. The scoreline flattered Australia and the All Blacks toyed with us all evening, I hate to say that but its true.
Positives were Ioane’s return, Alexander and Genia gaining good experience in their crucial positions and no serious injuries. A few things most of us already knew, but I really really hope the coaching staff took on board if we are to have ANY hope in the 4 home union tests:
Forwards
Reinstate Smith to the run-on side, Pocock to the bench. Hope Tpn is fully fit., Be prepared to go the bench early. Work like hell this week on the training paddock to get the lineout working and focus on restarts, whoch were awful last night, when it counted.
Backs
Please please please – AAC to 15 and stop this stupidity of playing JOC there. I’d suggest Cooper at 10 and Gits to 12 – If the sensitive one (Gits) gests upset by this, he can keep the 10 jersey and just put 12 on Cooper’s back. Granted this will leave a big defensive weakness with cooper but it can’t be worse than the current combination. JOC to play at 12 midweek and be told thats the only position he’s been considered for. No more Ryan Cross at 13 in the test side.
kingplaymaker said | November 1st 2009 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Harry positives were Ioane and Palu: if those two continue to play like that, the Wallabies will be 2 top players better.
2 out of 15=a very big overall difference.
Daniel J said | November 1st 2009 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Completely agree with NZ being offside in almost every ruck, i watched with intrigue as every tackle NZ made, they turned the ball carrier 180 degrees, and placed their bodies as a barrier to the Wallaby forwards cleaning out, in the process they are ALLWAYS without fail lying on the man or the ball, its a brilliant tactic to slow down the opposition.
Also, without fail, every time the wallabies get close to the opposition try line, they slow their own ball down by waiting for the back line to set, this wastes valuable momentum, and of course points *sigh* hopefully some day this will get rectified.
westy said | November 1st 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Mickey B i have posted this on LAs article with further detail. I have concentrated on giteau’s general field kicking especially his defensive kicking in this Tri nations and italy series. Although being able to kick with both feet he is actually a little slow and too measured in his technique. he stabs at times . In premier test match rugby he does not have the time he has at Super 14. his technique does not stand up. when he is under pressure he does not effectively utilise alternative pass or to take the tackle with support. he has in his mind he is the kicker he is the only kicker and he will kick no matter what. i admit his centre kicking partners were poor which only compounds the problem. His resulting kicks tend to be poorly placed and sometimes to shallow with a high propensity to be charged down. his tactical kicking is rushed and at times mindless.
please do not confuse this with his goalkicking last night where he generally struck the ball very well.
As you say carter is agreat tactical kicker but the all Blacks halves know it is no sin to defensively pass to a centre in abetter position to place abetter tactical kick.
that opening charge down on giteau’s kick was not the first time this year. it is nearly every test match he plays.
Jock said | November 1st 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Improved performance last night particularly scrums, aggression at the breakdown, Giteau’s boot etc but, is it time to start asking questions about Deans capability – or at least compatability with the Wallabies?
Curious selections? Palu? Horwill? Previous persistence with Burgess?
Tactics? undercommitment by forwards at the breakdown in Wellington – against best ruckers in the biz. Repeated kicking away of the ball sometimes with 3-man overlaps (O’Connor last night) and pointless “box kicks” simply handing the ball back to best attacking sides when ball retention is key. Last night Elsom should have been schooled to be in ref’s face about predictable McCaw conduct at the breakdown – didn’t happen. Two years ago Wallabies at least had one of the best defensive records in world rugby. Now?
Better to ask questions now two years out from RWC
I know we’ve been playing the undisputed two best sides in the world, but thought I’d throw to the experts…
joeb said | November 1st 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
Mate, that’s seven losses on the trot now to the ABs, presumably all under Deans’s guidance, and the controversial Hynes try where the ball touched a blade of grass on the white line with downward pressure was our first against them in 271 minutes of rugby … so yes now is the time to ask questions of the coaching staff … the Wallabies have now also suffered “4-0 series defeat against the All Blacks for the first time since 1962,” so it’s time to ask questions or our 2011 campaign will be an embarrassing shambles.
E.g. if Connolly was still coaching, or say Link, or whoever else, imagine the headlines … so questions need to be asked, for instance why didn’t Quade Cooper get a run? And AAC’s best possie seems to be 13, Mort’s heir apparent.
It got so embarrassing last night with our backline attack that the Tahs’ Halangahu / Beale combination at 10 and 12 respectively couldn’t have played any worse than what we saw … indeed they would’ve been an improvement.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/news/wallabies-blackout-continues/2009/10/31/1256835192561.html
anyway back later.
kingplaymaker said | November 1st 2009 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
Jock I disagree on Palu, thought he had a fantastic game.
True Tah said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:01pm | Report comment
He played with steam, but he still kept losing the ball in contact.
Matt0931 said | November 1st 2009 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
Once again it was a pretty bad performance by the wallabies.
The line out was crap, Giteau played crap, Cross played crap, O.Connor played crap and Polota forgot how to hold on to the ball.
The scrum was good though!
Mungehead said | November 1st 2009 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
Rattue has become suspiciously silent.
mattamkII said | November 1st 2009 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
Agree Palu was everywhere and made some massive hits. No sure how anyone could bag him.
reds fan said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
Check out the player stats here: http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/99928.html
They really tell a story.
james said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:37pm | Report comment
I’m starting to doubt that we have the cattle. Even if we took all our chances and didn’t make any/ fewer mistakes we would only JUST be beating an average all blacks. As an aside, I will say the ABs might be turning the corner. Players like Nonu and Thomson another layer on top of Carter and McCraw. if they get a few former players like Jack and Hayman to return from the NH they will be well placed for the World Cup. That being said, on this years showing the AB have been poor. That fact they had the wood on the Wallabies at the lineout is not a good sign for the rest of the tour.
I can’t believe that Chisholm is calling the lineout. He is not a dominant lineout forward at provincial level. I think Ben Hand or Stephen Hoiles calls the lineout at the Brumbies. Horwill despite being two metres tall has no presence at the lineout. Dean Mumm is a blindside flanker. He’s an honest toiler in the second row but we need more. Specifically, height and weight. Even when you consider those locks who are injured, must of the them are rookies, except Sharpe, and a number of them are flanker-cum-locks, eg Kimlin/ Wykes, not pure breed locks.
Please lord, send us Daniel Vickerman. Hopefully, he’ll finish off the NH season and return for the Tri-Nations next year. He has the sort of forceful personality that will whip some of the wallaby locks into shape. In particular, I think Horwill would benefit greatly from partnering with Vicks. i’d then pick a young athletic lock with really lineout potentially. I like Sitiveni Mafi, whose a rookie at the Tahs, but maybe Kimlin or Wykes or Timani.
Besides the second row, I have huge concerns for the centre. I think Cross’s game suffered from having a runner, in the form of AAC, and not a distributor, like Barnes, inside. That being said, I don’t think he is going to take us through to the WC. AAC, while a good centre, obviously plays his best rugby at fullback and should stay there. Mortlock has one foot out the door, so the other immediate options are Horne, Ione and Smith. All have show potential and moments of business, however, starting any of them in a test, particularly one against the All Blacks or the Springboks would make me very nervous. The other roughies are Mark Gasnier and Will Chambers. I wonder if the ARU would let Deans pick Gasnier from the NH if he was signed to an Aussie Suoer Rugby team for the subsequent season like Rocky Elsom?
My impressionfrom last nights game was that despite improvements we can make to our game, 4 or 5 players in some key areas are just not up to standard. This needs to be addressed sooner rather then later!
wannabprop said | November 2nd 2009 @ 9:46pm | Report comment
Agree wholeheartedly with most of your comments James, particularly lock issues. Can’t agree on Gasnier tho (and I am not of the anti-league brigade). Skillful and balanced runner in League, but very poor defender – constantly rushes out of the line – he would be seriously exposed in Union. Haven’t seen footage of him in France, and last I heard he was on the wing with Stade (and not travelling that well). Who knows, maybe he’ll learn the trade over there, but I can’t see a crap defender in league ever making it in possibly the most difficult defensive position in Union. This is the mistake the ARU has consistantly made with League converts – Sailor and Rogers in particular, and Tahu to a lesser extent, were lousy defenders in League…
True Tah said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:06pm | Report comment
Was impressed by the fact the stadium was virtually a sellout, and it was a better game than last years Hong Kong venture.
My main concerns are:
1) The IRB should not tolerate astroturf pitches for 2019 World Cup.
2) The ground went to pieces pretty quickly, need something better for 2019.
TommyM said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:43pm | Report comment
Just watched the game again (on youtube if anyone wants to do the same!)
Watching a second time I realise that it was actually a LOT closer than I thought and the Wallabies were a bit unlucky. Had the wood on the ABs ion every area except the lineouts in the first half and were unlucky not to score a fewmore tries. 2nd half- all flow was KILLED by the ABs disrupting the ball at the breakdown. It was COMICAL! Genia was at times yanking at the ball for 4 or 5 seconds while a NZ hand (or more commonly foot or leg) held it in. This for me was the biggest disappointment. It was clear what was happening. It either needed Elsom to straighten out the ref, or someone (even Genia) to just ruck the mo&^er fu*^&rs’ limbs off the ball. Even if it meant a binning, the ref would at least have thought about it and hopefully policed it for the rest of the game and we might have been able to capitalise on the opportunities near the line instead ogf having them so effectively snuffed out. As someone else suggested though, maybe it’s a good thing that the ABs fel they have to employ such negative tactics against us. McCaw certainly had a lot of praise the Wallabies post-match.
I though there were actually many positives to take out of the game. As some others have mentioned: scrum was fantastic, agresssion at the ruck was at a different level from last outing (especially in first half), a few passages of great play and no capitulation.
Don’t think Deans can persist with AAC-Cross pairing for the rest of the tour. Will be interesting to see which way he goes there. AAC back to 15, O’Connor to 12 and Ioane to 13? Cooper to 10 and Gits to 12? Smith for a bolter at 13? He was great in the midfield for the Brumbies this year.
Damo said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:31pm | Report comment
Agree with the poster above that the wallabies should cease calling the New Zealand rugby team – the “all blacks”. Back in the 70’s Ray Price decided he was sick of all the hype around the NZ team and said as far as he was concerned “they were just fifteen nobodies”. Then the wallabies treated them as such. Greg “4 tries” Cornelson . The name of Cornelson still puts shivers up spines over the ditch.
All this crap about the NZ team being “better”. Well that’s one reading of it. Better at what? is a fair question. Why there was only one sin-bin in that game is beyond me. NZ have replaced SA and England as the most cynical opportunists in international rugby. Why does no Wallaby ever ruck the off-side McCaw?
BTW I love the NZ rugby team. They are great and worthy of respect for the legal rugby that they play. But that’s not all they play.
Dean Pantio said | November 1st 2009 @ 9:10pm | Report comment
Excellent. Three most used paradigms on The Roar:
Need for an Australian Provincial Championship.
ELVs and why the NH is ruining rugby.
The All Blacks are cheats.
Here’s a hint for you Damo; complaining about cynical opportunism is hypocritical when coming from a country that proffered Baxter and Young as international props. Of course, flankers like Owen Finegan, Phil Waugh and George Smith are paragons of virtue.
Cornelson; the first time since 1964 the Wallabies had beaten the All Blacks. I can only imagine how much you’d have been whining back then!
Hermin said | November 1st 2009 @ 9:26pm | Report comment
The ALL BLACKS own the Wallabies Damo it’s that simple
reds fan said | November 1st 2009 @ 9:43pm | Report comment
Yeah Damo take that…. pfft.
Dan said | November 1st 2009 @ 9:53pm | Report comment
Rugby Union is all about cheating when it comes to the rucks and scrums, so you really can’t complain. The game doesn’t have the luxury of Rugby League’s clean and meaningless scrums and non contested play the balls. In union, what happens in those areas remain largely bewildering to even experts of the game and so referees will always be tested by teams to see how much they can get away with and what that particular referee feels contravenes the games laws. The understanding and boundary pushing by Richie McCaw is thus something to be marvelled at rather than criticised, because effective “cheating” (if it can really be called that given the fact that ambiguity is built into this area of the game) is a necessary skill of any truly great team.
wannabprop said | November 2nd 2009 @ 10:02pm | Report comment
Yes. But lets call it ‘tactics’, and the Wallaby tactics have been woeful for a significant period now (probably since the above mentioned Finegan and co left the scene. The ABs are certainly the best at many ‘tactics’ (as well as much non-cynical play), and they adapt so much better to the conditions (including the ref). Wallabies have been playing dumb rugby for a long time now, and sound like school kids claiming ‘it’s not fair… boo hoo…’
Jerry said | November 2nd 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Shivers? Not really, but he did have an impressive beard.
His 4 tries are pretty much looked at as largely opportunistic – from memory most of them were pick and drives from about 2 metres out weren’t they?
ohtani's jacket said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
The Wallabies should cease playing the All Blacks.
reds fan said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:55pm | Report comment
We are not worthy!
ohtani's jacket said | November 1st 2009 @ 9:12pm | Report comment
I wouldn’t be that hard on yourselves.
reds fan said | November 1st 2009 @ 9:39pm | Report comment
I was taking the p*ss.
fred said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:38pm | Report comment
OJ ;CEASE PLAYING THE ALL BLACKS UNLESS DEANS GOES HOME AND TAKES THE COACHING ROLE;he is a great coach ,want him back?????
ohtani's jacket said | November 1st 2009 @ 11:25pm | Report comment
I reckon he should coach the Blues.
reds fan said | November 1st 2009 @ 9:38pm | Report comment
On last nights game. Until we learn to counter the AB’s ruck tactics we wont get anywhere. That was one of the big differences. If we can’t counter what they do when we have the ball, then we must give them the same grief when they have the ball. I thought this was an area that Deans would have been a great help. But alas that hasn’t eventuated.
The inconsistency of this team is staggering. What has happened to our lineout? Fallen apart. But then the scrum worked itself out for once. However the one constant is the continual decline of our defence. Genia and Cross both suffered from watching the ball instead of matching up with the opposition. Genia followed the pass and swept across to grab Black 7 leaving a massive gap into which Black 7’s inside pass was directed. Cross fell for the inside show and stepped in when there was already a team mate covering, leaving a nice gap Black 13 to waltz through.
But it is the number of turnovers we conceded which is the biggest trouble. It makes the option of kicking more attractive and you generally cant win without the ball. And the general kicking in play of Gold 10 is not worth writing home about. Nor is the kicking of Gold 15.
It is my firm belief that the players that will eventually beat the AB’s regularly are yet to play Super Rugby. We are 5-6 years away from that. I hope people reconsider the performance of Knuckles. He did better with essentially the same pool of players. It’s not all the fault of Deans, however its easier to change a coach than to find another 22 test class players. I cant see him being the coach at the RWC on current performances.
All power to the AB’s. They played well and disposed of us without too much effort.
Working Class Rugger said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:14pm | Report comment
Reds
Someone will just have to cop the 10 min break early on and ruck the stuffing out of the first guy to lay a hand on the ball in the ruck or not retreat from after the tackle. I know its bad sportsmanship and its not in the spirit of the game but I may be the only way to sort the situation out. It would bring the tactic to the ref’s awareness. On many occasions last night and throughout the Tri Nations the AB players have layed all over the ruck with no intention of moving.
Terence said | November 2nd 2009 @ 12:10am | Report comment
i agree – good call – happens anyway – just not enough of it
allblackfan said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
I think the lack of game time also showed.
The All Blacks looked far more menacing because three weeks ago, their players were taking part in the ANZ.
What were the Wallabies doing since the Wellington test? One game of Possums versus Wombats!
The ABs were far too match fit for the Wallabies (among other things).
Deans had no right to moan about the ref considering what the Wallabies got away with. How AAC could run the ball into touch yet the Wallabies receive the lineout feed is still beyond me!!
Working Class Rugger said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:16pm | Report comment
ABFan
Yeap, dead right. The AB’s have been playing top class Rugby whilst our guys have had a mickey mouse trial game. The solution has been mentioned many, many times before so I won’t but it bloody obvious.
reds fan said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:09pm | Report comment
you should be happy with us getting the throw. lol.
Hermin said | November 1st 2009 @ 10:19pm | Report comment
It’s the same old rubbish just a different day.
The ref was against us.
Richie’s a cheat the All Blacks are all cheats, they only win because every single ref turns a blind eye to their cheating blah blah blah. Don’t give them any respect Yawn really it gets so boring. If the Wallabies put as much effort into plaing the game as do their fans making excuses they would be one rather formidable team.
Frank O'Keeffe said | November 2nd 2009 @ 2:37am | Report comment
By the way, the best call of the game came from Phil Kearns when McCaw was infringing right in front of the ref and nothing happened.
“He’s stolen Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak.”
Terry Kidd said | November 2nd 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
I just want to say one thing ….. why were the Wallabies unable to clear the ball from the breakdown as quickly as the ABs? The answer is because the ball was continually slowed illegally and nothing was done about it. That is where the game was lost. Adam Thomson was penalised 3 times for it in the first half, the ref spoke to McCaw and told him to fix it …. and that was basically where it stopped. The ABs kept doing it, Elsom did not complain to the ref and Lawrence did nothing more about it.
Moving along, I thought the ABs deserved the win because they made less errors. The Wallabies seem to continually find ways to put pressure on themselves …. ACC terrible mid-field bomb from his own 22 that went about 10m forward, where he immediately retreated and therefore no Wallaby is onside …. JUST PLAIN DUMB !!!!! Cross sprinting up and in (in defence) just like the rugby league defender he is and leaving a hole wide enough for 2 Queen Marys. O’Connor kicking the ball away when he has 4 on 2 outside him ….. JUST PLAIN DUMB !!!!!
The positives …. I thought Palu had a stormer and when he was replaced I was resigned to losing. He was the only forward driving us forward. He lost the ball once in traffic and on one occasion near the line it was stripped by Nonu. Ione was quite sensational …. leave him on the wing guys don’t tamper with things by trying to make him a centre. Genia was very good, there is a lot to like about his play.
The line out …. it was so bad when Moore was throwing that all I can think of is that Moore either forgot the calls or could not hear Chisholm’s calls. Note that Chisholm got up him at one stage.
For next week ….. ACC is a 13, not a 15. If you are not happy with JOC at 15 then use Mitchell or Turner there. Cooper to wear 10 or 12, I don’t care which but he is the best bet in Barne4s absence. I would not change the pack except to have TPN start.
I predict that England will have a quite a few problems with the Wallaby scrum and that the Wallabies will be best served by concentrating on scrums and attacking from them. KO would you care to return serve on that observation?
MickeyB said | November 2nd 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Totally agree with almost every blogger here.
Get the ref to referee. George Gregan, John Eales, NFJ were always great at putting a flea into the ref’s ear re: infringements. How many warnings does a player need? How slow were several NZ players getting back onside? We should’ve given McCaw a Wallabies jersey the amount of times he was on our side of the ruck.
Clearly, the NZRT deserved the win.
I’ve seen two test this year and I don’t pay to see the ball slowed down by kiwis I pay to see running rugby. If match officials don’t better manage the game, fans won’t watch/ pay and corporates won’t sponsor. Clearly it all impacts on the quality of the game.
Enough bitching Deans, get onto the ref’s at the begining of the year and let’s see a clamp down on infringements at the ruck.
I would love to see some of the larger Kiwi forwards run for a full 80 minutes with free flowing Wallaby play. After all, look what happened to the Boks when we were able to clean, quality ball and use it.
Well done NZRT, you won again.
MR said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:06am | Report comment
Hahahahaha….oh boy……. lads would you like some cheese with that wine ?? My only question is what bollocks are you going to come up with if England (or anyone else) beat you. You were beaten by a better team, Pocock is good but still green, your locks did well in the scrum but your lineout was a shocker, Cross still plays like an effing leaguie & Smith is not an 8.
With all that whining & cheating accusation I’m sorry, it’s now time to gloat…4 Nil 4 Nil…..
MickeyB said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Ha ha. Good to see you boys peaking between World Cups!
It won’t be 4 nil then. It’ll be ‘four more years boys’.
Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten how that felt?
MR said | November 3rd 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
MickeyB……Ummm peaking ?? we got done 3 nil by the Boks & beat one of the more rubbish Wallaby teams…..peaking normally means #1 ranking & every trophy in our cabinet….we peak next year….at least we get joy 3 out of 4 years instead of 1 out of every 8 for you.
Terry Kidd said | November 3rd 2009 @ 7:12am | Report comment
Yeah MR I’m a Wallaby supporter and I agree. We were just not good enough ….. end of story.
MR said | November 3rd 2009 @ 9:48am | Report comment
& the part that cracks me up, you’re not that far off the pace. I reckon next year we’ll see a more complete performance from the Wallabies with a couple of your young guns havng another S14 under their belt. Your scrum & half have been sorted, You were underdone going into this game & you hit the most balanced AB team this season, Springboks peaked this year so next year it’ll be a bit different (probably)