Pocock the difference against Wales
Columnist By David Lord, 24 Jun 2012 David Lord is a Roar Expert
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- David Pocock, Rugby Union, Wales, wallabies
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David Pocock led from the front against Wales (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
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The difference between the Wallabies winning their Test series with Wales 3-0 and the tourists winning 3-0 was just one standout – Wallaby skipper David Pocock.
Big call? No, deadly accurate.
Yesterday, in front of a record rugby crowd at Allianz Stadium of 43,889, the Wallabies fell over the line 20-19 to complete the clean sweep of 27-19 and 25-23. Just a total of 11 points difference in 240 minutes of rugby.
Make no mistake, the Welsh could have, and probably should have, won all three internationals.
But the inspirational 23-year-old open-side flanker stood tall, kept his cool under tremendous pressure to marshall his troops by leading from the front, and has all the makings of an Andrew Slack, Nick Farr-Jones, and John Eales to be among the best Wallaby skippers Australia has produced in the last 30 years.
No better example than during the 55th minute yesterday. With the Wallabies leading 12-9, Kurtley Beale broke clear in midfield after a brilliant flick pass from lock Sitaleki Timani. With only Welsh full-back Leigh Halfpenny to beat, Beale chip-kicked into wide open spaces 30 metres out.
At Beale’s pace it was cut and dried.
But Halfpenny deliberately set himself to late tackle Beale, and brought him down. It had to be a penalty try, or a penalty right in front at worst. “Play on,” called referee Craig Joubert to massive boos from the big crowd.
In just 22 seconds Wales went from being under the pump to a five metre scrum at the other end of the field.
Five minutes later, after hammering the Wallaby line, Wales scored to take a 16-12 lead. That disgraceful Joubert decision cost the Wallabies 14 points – the seven they were denied, to the gift seven to Wales.
Most Wallaby sides would have tossed it in at that stage. But not this Pocock-led unit.
Three minutes later centre Rob Horne crashed over for a try to regain the lead 17-16, but that was a dicey decision as well from the TMO Vinny Munro. There was no way Horne was in control of the ball that slipped from his possession as he dived for the line with Halfpenny in attendance.
A square-up decision? It sure looked like it, but justice was done in the net result.
After swapping penalties from Halfpenny (4/5), and Berrick Barnes (5/5), Joubert blew time at 20-19.
Pocock apart, who again somehow managed to squeeze 100 minutes worth of positive rugby into 80, Will Genia was a huge improvement on his second Test showing, winger Digby Ioane was always busy, so too locks Nathan Sharpe and Timani.
The Wallabies return to Super Rugby this week, and regroup in August for the first two games of the inaugural Rugby Championship, both against the All Blacks in successive weeks at ANZ, and Eden Park.
That will be the real litmus test for David Pocock’s new-look men-in-gold. By then Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell, and Joe Tomane will make backline selection very difficult.
But what a nice problem to have.
Up front, hooker Stephen Moore must replace Tatafu Polata-Nau. Moore’s lineout feeding isn’t crash hot, but Polata-Nau’s is woeful. James Slipper will figure prominently for a prop spot.
And young gun locks Cadeyrn Neville and Hugh Pyle will press for recognition for the remainder of the Super season.
Depth, that’s what wins big tournaments. And the Rugby Championship definitely qualifies for that category.
The rest is up to coach Robbie Deans. The clean sweeping of Wales should leave him very bouyant now his win percentage has at last hit 60.
The Wallabies proved yesterday they can run the ball. And long may they do just that.
Especially Berrick Barnes who has come into his own this series. And it’s improved his goal-kicking as well as his confidence has grown.
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June 24th 2012 @ 8:06am
moaman said | June 24th 2012 @ 8:06am | Report comment
“Five minutes later, after hammering the Wallaby line, Wales scored to take a 16-12 lead. That disgraceful Joubert decision cost the Wallabies 14 points – the seven they were denied, to the gift seven to Wales” <————————FIVE minutes later!!!???!!
June 24th 2012 @ 8:35am
David Lord said | June 24th 2012 @ 8:35am | Report comment
moaman, what’s the 57th minute to the 62nd when Ryan Jones scored for Wales?
June 24th 2012 @ 8:47am
moaman said | June 24th 2012 @ 8:47am | Report comment
My rudimentary maths makes that 6 minutes however what I am a little surprised about is your contention that Australia were robbed of 14 points.The logic of that eludes me.Probably I am being a bit dull this morning after an active night–who is to say what may or may not have occurred during the minutes following what you describe as a “disgraceful” decision? Either team could have conjured up a brace of scoring opportunities in that period….
June 24th 2012 @ 10:00am
El Gamba said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:00am | Report comment
He is saying 7 points lost to the Wallabies, 7 gone to the Welsh. 7+7=14.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:10am
justsaying said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Yep, and moaman’s saying that the 7 points ‘lost’ to the Wallabies didn’t necessarily have any effect on the 7 ‘gained’ by the Welsh. I would agree – at most Australia were robbed of 7 points, but even that’s a stretch.
June 24th 2012 @ 1:00pm
Rugby Diehard said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
Lucky to be a penalty IMO and still think Beale should have stepped halfpenny – 1 on 1 Beale is one of the slipperiest around and I would have backed him 8 times out of 10 and with the chip kick 2 out of 10 times.
June 24th 2012 @ 8:32am
nickoldschool said | June 24th 2012 @ 8:32am | Report comment
Agree, Pocock is currently head and shoulders above his team mates. The others were again pretty ordinary. Wallabies rugby is just not fluid compare to what we saw with the AB after. And the scrum is still an issue, of course. AB on the other hand were just fantastic. To put 60 points on the Irish! IMO, June series have only confirmed that AB are on a league of their own while 2 to 8 are all interchangeable. Cant wait to see Aaron Smith take on Genia and Hougaard in the RC! What an amazing player he is! For me he is the difference between these ABs and Weepu’s AB.
June 24th 2012 @ 8:50am
Worlds biggest said | June 24th 2012 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Pocock and Barnes the two absolute standouts of this series. Agree there didn’t seem to be a lot in that Beale / Halfpenny altercation. Have seen plenty of them waived play on. Certainly was not a penalty try. Andrew Blades inherits the shambles from Noriega and has a huge task on his hands fixing the scrum before the Championship. The error count by the Wallabies was ridiculous on a dry track and great conditions. I guess that was to be expected from the roller coaster ride that is the Wallabies. Hope the media wont bang on about the clean sweep etc….We were lucky and have a lot of work to do to get anywhere near AB’s standard.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:06am
ohtani's jacket said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Pocock and the Wallabies were exceedingly average yesterday. Can’t understand why the Welsh have such a hard time putting away such a mediocre side.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:13am
Uncle Argyle said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:13am | Report comment
They had three chances to do it.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:15am
King of the Gorgonites said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Mediocre? We are number 2 in the world. Bit of credit where it’s due.
Why did the abs struggle to put away an even more mediocre Irish side in the 2nd test?
June 24th 2012 @ 9:39am
ohtani's jacket said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:39am | Report comment
The Irish played better in the second test than Australia have in any of their four tests this year. If the Wallabies are the second best in the world then why are they so mediocre?
June 24th 2012 @ 9:49am
Uncle Argyle said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Comparing apples & oranges there OJ. Its your opinion that the Irish played better than Australia. However Australia was playing against Wales not New Zealand. Australia are currently ranked 2 in the world, fact. Wales are the six nations champions, fact. Australia has beaten them 3-0, fact. How Australia would have, could have, should have played against in New Zealand in Christchurch last weekend instead of Ireland is hypothetical, speculative, non-expert opinion that holds little to no weight as ‘real evidence’.
Its great to see Australia play so poorly but still win. Good things to come.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:55am
Damien said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:55am | Report comment
I think the ranking are based on more than one game.
Although Ireland beat Oz last match, the No.2 ranking is about right. For all the WB’s faults they still beat the 6 Nations Champs 3 – 0. SA drew with Eng who lost to Wales in the 6 Nations.
Ranking system not perfect but it’s not too bad I reckon..
June 24th 2012 @ 10:05am
El Gamba said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:05am | Report comment
“If the Wallabies are the second best in the world then why are they so mediocre?”
Clearly the ranking disagrees with you OJ. I have three questions as you’re a kiwi:
1. Were the AB’s actually that good last night? All I saw was a number of green turnstiles.
2. Why aren’t you off trolling on a kiwi website? Maybe theroar.co.nz for example.
3. How do you enjoy living in Australia?
June 24th 2012 @ 10:12am
justsaying said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Does anyone know what results would have had to occur in these series for Australia to be displaced from 2nd in the rankings?
June 24th 2012 @ 1:27pm
sheek said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
OJ,
Unfortunately international depth has a lot to do with it. Or more precisely, lack of depth.
Rugby union might crow their game is much bigger than rugby league on the international stage, but overall depth remains an issue.
The All Blacks are a true #1. They are as good a champion of rugby union as say Spain is of football. The ABs consistently play a high standard of rugby often unattainable by other nations.
The Wallabies are #2 because well, basically, international rugby lacks depth. The Boks could take our #2 ranking during the RC. And don’t be surprised if the Pumas usurp Australia in the next 5 years.
The French will always be the French. They will delight & disappoint in equal dosages.
The true villains of the piece are the home nations, the birthplace of rugby. Really, they just aren’t up to the mark. Repeatedly.
For all their resources, England are far too often inept. Wales could have & probably should have beaten the Wallabies. They might not get another opportunity for a long time. If I was a Welsh fan, I would be ropable.
Ireland’s collapse after nearly, only nearly mind you, beating the ABs last week, demonstrates palpably the lack of consistent intensity from the home unions. I don’t know if Scotland will ever be strong again. Competitive yes, but strong…..?
Outside of the All Blacks, most other rugby nations are mediocre. That’s the sad truth…..
June 24th 2012 @ 1:37pm
kingplaymaker said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
sheek I think Ireland and Australia in different ways prove your point. A team of limited playing quality can pull out a superb performance once in a while but are finished afterwards.
The All Blacks can win endless games on the go because when they’re top players have off days or are injured, they can replace them with pretty much equally good players. Indeed, when the bench comes on it can solve many of the problems a player having a bad day is having.
With Australia, even when the few good players they have to cobble together a performance are fit (not now, to their credit they still won), in the next match they might not be on form or fit and then the whole thing collapses.
Simple in a way. As to your point about how mediocre teams other than the All Blacks are, the confirming sign of this is mediocre attitude of accepting it instead of trying to expand the game and their player base. Scotland out of desperation have improved it 50% in only a few years through taking the game to secondary schools. The other countries seem happy with what they have.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:16am
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:16am | Report comment
OJ: Agree to an extent. There were times we went to sleep again and Deans was not impressed at all. This level of performance will ensure we come 3rd in the ‘whatever they call it’ cup in August. The boys will have to improve by 20% to win this.
At the moment it is the AB’s cup to lose.
BTW it is not a mediocre side, it was a mediocre game by them. They never looked like lifting and seemed content to just stay ahead.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:35am
ohtani's jacket said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Where was the speed and intensity from the Wallabies? Afternoon game, dry deck and none of them were up for it. The worrying sign is that there’s been no improvement from test to test. It was basically the first test on loop. The Wallabies will no doubt lift for the first Bledisloe match but they better or it could be over in record time.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:42am
Rugby Diehard said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:42am | Report comment
WE are sorry you didn’t enjoy the game OJ. Bye bye now.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:54am
King of the Gorgonites said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Glad for the concern. Thanks for reminding us Australia are so mediocre and not worthy of the number 2 ranking in the world. You are right, naturally.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:20am
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:20am | Report comment
OJ: I think I am the only Aussie who agrees with you. A game like yesterdays against the AB’s and we will be down by 20 points at halftime.
June 24th 2012 @ 11:12am
Justin2 said | June 24th 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Me too, we’ve got the result at home by a very thin margin playing very average football generally. Rugby league is alive and well in camp deans
June 24th 2012 @ 1:29pm
ohtani's jacket said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
I’m glad there’s a few if you who expect your team to play well.
June 24th 2012 @ 1:34pm
Mike said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
Of course. Wallabies can lose against Samoa or Scotland or anyone, but they can also take out the All Blacks or Springboks, in a series as well as individual tests. You get used to it after a while….
June 24th 2012 @ 9:55pm
Sprigs said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:55pm | Report comment
Yes, Mike. I find it helps to have a huge bottle of valium at hand.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:28pm
Jiggles said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
I think the Wallabies have been rather pathetic this series. For what ever reason the Welsh were the poorest they have been in 12 months, and we should’ve put them to the sword. We didn’t.
June 24th 2012 @ 11:16am
Pierce said | June 24th 2012 @ 11:16am | Report comment
OJ have you come on here at the request of the Roar to generate some hits in the absence of KPM? (KPM still out on the p**s with SBW apparently).
June 24th 2012 @ 11:21am
Pierce said | June 24th 2012 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Went too early. He’s back.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:58am
Justin2 said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:58am | Report comment
I know, it was like watching NZ last week.
June 24th 2012 @ 12:31pm
PeterK said | June 24th 2012 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
The wallabies as a whole were average, they blew a lot of try scoring opportunities by bad passes and losing the ball in contact.
However Pocock and Barnes had very good games. Pocock saved the match with trnovers on the line with Welsh tries beckoning.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:12am
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:12am | Report comment
A few of us here have been saying that Barnes was a better 5/8 than Cooper but was ruined by the Waratahs, we got howled down. I hope that Barnes will get treated a little better since this series. The real acid test though is against the AB’s. I hope, nay expect that Barnes will be there at 10 against them, I will feel more secure.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:14am
Uncle Argyle said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:14am | Report comment
agreed.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:43am
Rhino said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Wallabies score a total of 4 tries in 3 matches and people believe Barnes is still the answer at 10. Bring back Quade as soon as he’s fit. We need a playmaker who actually does make plays happen.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:52am
Justin2 said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Exactly, Barnes is playing as well as he can and the attack is woeful. He is not the answer at 10.
Check out Cruden in comparison to see what a playmaker actually is…
June 24th 2012 @ 10:03am
Rhino said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Thanks Justin. I should add that I realised we’ve actually scored 5 tries in the series – not 4 – but the point still stands.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:21am
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Justin: Comparing Cruden to Cooper is stupid. Cruden runs, passes, tackles and backs up. Cooper only does 2 of these.
June 24th 2012 @ 11:10am
Justin2 said | June 24th 2012 @ 11:10am | Report comment
Where did I mention cooper? I am comparing Barnes with Cruden. I’d say cooper does three of those things and passes and runs better. Cruden game management has really come on this year and he is playing with great confidence.
I hope cooper can be improved after his injury. If he plays well we can challenge anybody provided decent ball of course from the pack. Can’t say the same about anyone else.
June 24th 2012 @ 3:45pm
Kuruki said | June 24th 2012 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
Barnes is a better test fly half then Cooper because of his composure. Look at Carter and Morne Steyn they are not razzle dazzle players, they make good decisions and play within a structure. The only reason Barnes never had his backline firing and scoring tries is because the rest of his backline let him down. Barnes is the perfect 10 for the Wallabies if they can get the rest of the mix right. If they continue with the current backline, then i would have to say QC would be a better option.
June 24th 2012 @ 3:49pm
Mike said | June 24th 2012 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
Kuruki, who do you see as the strong/weak contenders for a Wallaby backline to work with Barnes?
June 24th 2012 @ 7:23pm
Kuruki said | June 24th 2012 @ 7:23pm | Report comment
IMO if you have got Beale and JOC on the paddock then QC is one chef too many. It might seem strange but you can overkill with x-factor to the point where things are too off the cuff and things just get messy. The issue i see is getting a ball player or distributor into the midfield, that is the key imo. The current crop of McCabe Horne AAC as midfielders don’t have the distributing skills to unlock the outside backs.
Barnes may not set the world on fire but when you have a couple of play makers like Beale and JOC outside him, and a dangerous halfback like Genia then Barnes really only needs to do his core tasks right and there will be a very good balance in that backline. Throw QC in there and you could win one game by 50 points when everything slots into place, but when it goes to custard like in the World cup, you need that composure and QC aint got it yet.
But when you look at the current backline and you have McCabe and Horne in the midfield then you really need to get some creativity into the 10 jumper and QC has that over Barnes. I guess i’m trying to say the rest of the backline picks who is the better option at 10.
If i had selection of a fully fit Wallaby backline.
9. Genia
10. Barnes
11. Mitchell
12. JOC
13. Ioane
14 AAC
15 Beale
That would be my team. QC off the pine.
June 24th 2012 @ 7:38pm
Kuruki said | June 24th 2012 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
As for your question about working with Barnes. Horne McCabe and AAC Ioane any combination of those 4 with Barnes at 10 would not be a good balance imo.
If JOC was at 12 you could go with any of them and it would be balanced. Same again if you had QC and Barnes 10 and 12 you could throw one of those guys into 13 and have balance. But what was on the paddock yesterday lacked that balance and it’s not surprising the expected backline flurry did not arrive.
10. Barnes/QC
12. Barnes/JOC
IMO those are the only players Deans should be looking at, because they are the only players that can compliment whoever Deans chooses outside them. People worry to much about stopping other sides big hulking 12′s. If you get that 10 12 right they will be worrying about how to contain your outside backs.
June 24th 2012 @ 7:42pm
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 7:42pm | Report comment
Kuruki: Excellent point re too many chefs. Never thought about it like that, but as soon as I read your comment it summed up what I had been feeling but had not put into words.
The bottom line with QC is that he is Australia’s Carlos Spencer . . . . .. . .
June 24th 2012 @ 8:45pm
Short-Blind said | June 24th 2012 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
Kuri, best summary of Wallaby backline puzzle I’ve heard – your balance theory is right on and deans has I out of balance right now. Wish you were our selector!
June 25th 2012 @ 11:48am
Mike said | June 25th 2012 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Thank you, that makes a lot of sense.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:03am
Damien said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Bit harsh on Barnes.
Thats an issue Deans will have to decide on. Go with a solid performer in Barnes or with a ‘rocks or diamonds’ player in Cooper.
Cooper has an off day against the AB’s and the scoreline could get ugly, OR he pulls one out and scores/sets up the winning try.
Probably easier to flip a coin..
June 24th 2012 @ 10:08am
Justin2 said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:08am | Report comment
May well be harsh but it doesn’t make it any less accurate. Barnes has never been able to create tries or play up tempo football that will be required come the 4N.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:42am
Damien said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:42am | Report comment
What I meant by harsh was the aim for the Wallabies is to beat the AB’s
Will they do that by having a solid performer at 10 or ‘a rocks or diamonds’ player.
You description is accurate but the aim is to beat the AB’s however they can.
Deans may be better off flipping a coin..
June 24th 2012 @ 12:36pm
PeterK said | June 24th 2012 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
If we want to beat the AB’s Barnes will NEVER be the player at 10 to make that happen. He had many chances during the 10 losses on a trot and never did it.
Along comes Cooper and we have a lot better record against the AB’s.
I agree with Cooper we may get smashed BUT we also have a good chance of beating them. With solid, dependable Barnes we are looking at minimising how much we lose by.
Cooper has to be at 10. Barnes should be at 12 because we must have a reliable goal kicker in the team. That also means a passing centre. If JoC’s kicking gets better then Barnes starting would not depend on his goal kicking and might find himself on the bench.
Only in this 3rd Wales test has Barnes run the ball, and put players through gaps, been a genuine playmaker.
June 24th 2012 @ 1:17pm
Damien said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Tend to agree with you there PK.
Barnes at 12 sounds good as well.
Of course there’s risks involved there as well but it seems to me the best option for the WB’s to beat the AB’s..
June 24th 2012 @ 10:48am
Uncle Argyle said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:48am | Report comment
So you want to punish a bloke for being an integral part of a 3-0 sweep of the 6 nations champions and reward a bloke who was ‘recovering’ at the Victory Hotel…..hang on I suppose to be consistent with JON and Beale-gate, Cooper has done everything required of him to be selected.
June 24th 2012 @ 11:04am
Justin2 said | June 24th 2012 @ 11:04am | Report comment
What I want is to be the best, Barnes will not provide that from 10 IMO
June 24th 2012 @ 11:25am
Rugby Diehard said | June 24th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
Right behind you Rhino.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:20am
Jack said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:20am | Report comment
How any times did Beale turn over the ball against Wales? Was it 5? One of the forwards should clip him around the ears next time he throws a Holy Mary pass. This is a bad habit and a liability a test level.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:29am
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Jack dont know what game you were watching but you could be describing Kurtley’s game and not Barnes. Several players turned over ball yesterday because apart from Pocock there was NO commitment to the breakdown. And all that BS before the game about the massive importance of the breakdown.
Rather than clip Barnes over the ear (he after all won the game for us), I would put Kurtley through the forwards with baseball bats. Chip kick instead of stepping Halfpenny, and that stupid ‘I think I am SBW’ pass cost us 2 tries. Barnes put Beale into a position to score and he blew it – seriously. Don’t get me wrong I am a Beale fan but yesterday he should have been hooked in the second half, he was that bad. One of the worst Wallaby performances by him I have seen. If Mitchell is fit then he has put his FB position in jeopardy.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:35am
Harry said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Oh gawd you blokes are harsh. Yes Beale was fractionally off his game yesterday, no surprise after over a month on the sideline. He still looked more likely to spark something special then the other 29 players on the field, and almost did twice. Proving he stays fit and can play a few full games for the Rebels, he’ll be raring to go for the SR tests.
June 24th 2012 @ 11:35am
Cody said | June 24th 2012 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Beale put in a well below average performance, rating 4-5/10. If it was anyone else (apart from OÇonnor) they would have been hooked at half time. It was a poor selection by Deans to start him after a long lay off. Deans’selections and pathetic history of using his bench properly will continue to plague Australia’s performances.
June 25th 2012 @ 2:11pm
Sage said | June 25th 2012 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
Pretty much the same synopsis Harry. Beale just looked a bit rusty but still dangerous with ball in hand. He pushed some passes he didn’t need to but lets be just a little bit patient.
June 24th 2012 @ 1:27pm
Jack said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
I said Beale, and I mean his turnover rate other other than when he caught unsupported. His passes, kicks, poor carries etc. don’t show enough respect for possession. It frustrating because he has really good penetration and leg drive in contact and doesn’t needs to try the 10%ers. Take the tackle lad and drive. Score off the next phase. Like the Kiwi backs.
June 24th 2012 @ 7:01pm
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 7:01pm | Report comment
Sorry Jack must have been the 2 bottles or red last night!!!!!
June 24th 2012 @ 10:35am
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
I do believe this was a game that should be forgotten quickly. We played slow boring rugby in the best NH mould. Great to win but who seriously thinks that, if we don’t seriously up the speed of our game and the commitment to the breakdown, we are dead meat floating in a sea of our own ineffectiveness.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:38am
Harry said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Thought it was yet another example of the Wallabies enduring habit of playing to the level of the Opposition. Given the personnel and the injuries, I thought it was a pretty good effort and to in five tests matches in a row against the best the NH has to offer is a good achievement, however forgettable the game was.
June 24th 2012 @ 12:35pm
Rugby Diehard said | June 24th 2012 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
“Thought it was yet another example of the Wallabies enduring habit of playing to the level of the Opposition”
Absolutely and positively agree. Frustrating for us as fans, but conversely allows to be constantly optimistic!
June 24th 2012 @ 10:37am
sheek said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
I’m sorry to have to harp on this.
But in a country where there are 4 football codes feverishly competing for quality players, fan support, sponsorship dollars & media exposure, you can only ignore the entertainment factor at your peril.
The crowd of nearly 43,000 at the SFS on a balmy winter Saturday afternoon (reminiscing of the old days) were dudded of quality rugby. Sure, the test was exciting because it was close. But as a spectacle, it was a dud. Constant scrum resets, & a penalty ridden first half especiually, interrupted the flow.
I know the rusted-on, diehard, zealot, true believers will howl their opposition at my remarks, but I for one want a rugby game that will attract fans beyond the already converted & brain dead. Many of us believe rugby union is a great game when played positively, so why don’t the players & coaches prove this to us?
Australian rugby can’t do anything about the laws, or how the opposition plays, but they sure can do something about their own performance. The Wallabies continue to let themselves down through poor execution of basic skills – understrength scrum, poor lineout throwing, loose ball protection at the breakdown, erratic passing, poor running options.
The All Blacks demonstrate time & time again, if you have the basic skills set right & you have the mindset right, you can play a positive, compelling game of rugby irrespective of the laws & the ref.
June 24th 2012 @ 1:25pm
Mike said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Sheek, the referees have to play their part also. They have to expect the same scrutiny as the players and coaches. Too often we don’t make them face that scrutiny and they get used to delivering a sub-standard performance.
Re your last paragraph, we are not the ABs and we are not going to be so, in the lifetime of any of us. What you are saying effectively means “Wallabies have to improve every aspect of their game”. Sure, and at the same time we have to try to lift the standard of rugby and player development in this country in order to facilitate that happening, which is not easy when you are the 3rd or 4th code. But yes, we have to work at it.
I agree 100% that the crowd were dudded of quality rugby. It was embarrassing to watch, and I agree with you that the “constant scrum resets & a penalty ridden first half” was a major contributor to this. If any two sides could have produced good running rugby it was Wales and the Wallabies, and at times in the second half they did. By that time they had adjusted somewhat to the referee. It is also possible that he himself had taken some account of the regular abuse he was getting from both sides in the crowd and started to lift his game.
June 24th 2012 @ 3:49pm
Greg said | June 24th 2012 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
You forget cricket. I know it isn’t football, but still popular.
June 24th 2012 @ 7:08pm
stillmissit said | June 24th 2012 @ 7:08pm | Report comment
Sheek agree – we really must get Tim Sheens into the Wallabies (an ex union guy) and teach these guys the basics of passing and catching. I believe he was the guy who, when he took over Wests league team, he put them through passing and catching until they bled and when they complained that they were only doing baby stuff he said “when you can do the baby stuff we will move on to the man stuff” or words to that extent..
As many of you know I am not a fan of League (I know almost nothing about the game) but I do believe we should get the best to assist these young Wallabies and I bet Tim Sheens would be up for it. I would also get an AFL guy in to improve the field kicking.
Who cares where the help comes from? We need it if we are going to overtake the AB’s (stop it OJ – I can hear you laughing from here)
June 24th 2012 @ 7:56pm
ThelmaWrites said | June 24th 2012 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
Hi SMI. Sorry for this late post. I’d like the Wallabies to learn the offload and revive the draw-pass, the long pass, and the quick hands for the 4 Nations. Cheers.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:40am
sheek said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:40am | Report comment
I’m sorry to have to harp on this.
But in a country where there are 4 football codes feversihly competing for quality players, fan support, sponsorship dollars & media exposure, you can only ignore the entertainment factor at your peril.
The crowd of nearly 43,000 at the SFS on a balmy winter Saturday afternoon (reminiscing of the old days) were dudded of quality rugby. Sure, the test was exciting because it was close. But as a spectacle, it was a dud. Constant scrum resets, & a penalty ridden first half interrupted the flow.
I know the rusted-on, diehard, zealot, true beleivers will howl their opposition at my remarks, but I for one want a rugby game that will attract fans beyond the already converted & brain dead.
Australian rugby can’t do anything about the laws, or how the opposition plays, but they sure can do something about their own performance. The Wallabies continue to let themselves down through poor execution of basic skills – understrength scrum, poor lineout throwing, loose ball protection at the breakdown, erratic passing, poor running options.
The All Blacks demonstrate time & time again, if you have the basic skills set right & you have the mindset right, you can play a positive, compelling game of rugby irrespective of the laws & the ref.
June 24th 2012 @ 10:43am
Harry said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Just a word on Pocock. Obviously awesome at the breakdown, also seeing signs of him developing his all round game to new levels … linking in attack, passing and positioning his runs. Clearly not up to McCaw or George Smith (at his best) as yet in ball skills and game awareness, but the signs are encouraging.
June 25th 2012 @ 2:15pm
Sage said | June 25th 2012 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
Again. We must have been watching the same game Harry………… Thought Dennis was starting to find his rythm too. Bit overawed early on but he’s starting to look like a keeper.