Wallabies second rate – changes needed
Columnist By David Lord, 19 Aug 2012 David Lord is a Roar Expert
254 Have your say
2,932 readsQuade Cooper and Drew Mitchell must be in the starting lineup at Eden Park next Saturday after last night’s dismal 27-19 loss to the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium.
The scoreline flattered the Wallabies who made one elementary mistake after another.
The exasperated look on coach Robbie Deans’ face virtually said “What the ….”, as did the majority of the Australian fans in the 76,866 crowd.
Pathetic.
Next week the backline should read Will Genia (9), Cooper (10), Mitchell (11), Berrick Barnes (12), Adam Ashley-Cooper (13), Digby Ioane (14), and Kurtley Beale (15).
That means moving Barnes out one, and dropping the centre combination of Anthony Fainga’a and Rob Horne, who didn’t do anything productive all night.
To magnify Deans’ problems, the big four he relies on so much to show the way didn’t fire either – captain David Pocock, vice-captain Will Genia, full-back Kurtley Beale, and no 8 Scott Higginbotham.
Pocock gave away two vital penalties for not releasing, both of which Dan Carter converted – Genia, apart from one brilliant bust was pedestrian, and looked like the last four unproductive years of George Gregan – Beale missed two tackles for two tries, and spilled a regulation pass that set up the second – while Higginbotham’s hands weren’t too flash either bombing a try with the line wide open, nor his defence.
Between the four of them they gift-wrapped 18 of the All Blacks’ 27 points.
Yet the match stats demanded the Wallabies won.
* Possession – 59%.
* Territory – 51%.
* Time in opposition 22 – 3 minutes 28, to the All Blacks 3 minutes 8.
* Won the rucks and mauls – 71 to 47.
* And Barnes landed all his attempts at goal with a conversion, and four penalties, to give the Wallabies a sniff.
All that good work was then nullified by:
* Handling errors – Wallabies 10-7.
* Missed tackles – Wallabies 18-15.
* And turnovers – Wallabies 18-13.
Despite their many chances, the Wallabies were simply not good enough and in the process recorded their 13th loss in 16 confrontations with the men-in-black on the Deans watch.
The prospects for next Saturday look even worse, not having won at Eden Park since 1986 when Alan Jones was coach and Andy Slack captain.
The 22-9 victory regained the Bledisloe Cup with a 2-1 series success.
The only way the Wallabies can win next week to break the drought, the hoodoo, or whatever you want to call it, is to have a crack, a really good crack, at running the big All Black forwards off their feet by scoring tries across the park.
But the Wallabies aren’t good at that against the All Blacks. They have scored only 26 tries to 42 in those 16 games since Deans took over.
Deans and the Wallabies must realise playing defensive percentage rugby instead of expansive running rugby doesn’t work against a great side like the world champions.
Give the latter a run, you’ll enjoy the game more.
And so will we.
- Explore:
August 19th 2012 @ 8:59am
Chris B said | August 19th 2012 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Why have all the australian pundits focussed on the backs and Pocock? Sure they had a bad night but until Australian forwards other than Pocock, learn how to sustain 80 minutes of intensity the Wallabies will only occasionally beat the AB’s.
August 19th 2012 @ 1:31pm
Harry said | August 19th 2012 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
The wallaby forwards aren’t fit enough. Simple as that. All through SuperRugby Tahs forwards would fade after 60 minutes, and there were 5 Tah forwards on the field last night, including 4 of the tight 5. We were told by plenty that test rugby is different to Super Rugby but it was the same old – too slow, not working as a pack, getting isolated, no intensity.
August 19th 2012 @ 6:10pm
IronAwe said | August 19th 2012 @ 6:10pm | Report comment
So true. The baffling thing is that how come The Roarers can see it, but the people in a position to do something about it can’t?
August 19th 2012 @ 10:20pm
Richard said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:20pm | Report comment
Simple,Deans is a plant just like Cooper they are playing for NZ. Either that or he just stinks as a coach
August 20th 2012 @ 12:11am
Ra said | August 20th 2012 @ 12:11am | Report comment
good stuff richard, spoken like a tru blonde !!!!
August 19th 2012 @ 8:07pm
Aware said | August 19th 2012 @ 8:07pm | Report comment
Australian pundits assume that they are watching rugby league. They have no idea what role tight forwards play in rugby and so regard them as just out there to re-start the play. Teams like the Springboks, Pumas, All Blacks and some European teams use their tight forwards as key weapons and that is something the Australian pundits cannot comprehend. Until Australian rugby develops a more forward-focused game we will struggle against teams that do.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:27pm
Ra said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:27pm | Report comment
I said in an earlier write-up that the best thing aussie can do for its rugby is to send its tight and loose forwards to play and learn to play hard uncompromising rugby in otago-southland and taranaki maybe break into ITM competition teams; on another note; there are kiwi teams playing in ozi club competitions; i wonder how a team from say Randwick and Brothers might fit in the ITM competition
August 19th 2012 @ 10:53pm
allblackfan said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:53pm | Report comment
Ra, clubs won’t cut it in the ITM.
The ITM is a provincial-based competition.
August 20th 2012 @ 12:10am
Ra said | August 20th 2012 @ 12:10am | Report comment
well sighted fan, and Randwick is an exemplar of what it could be; just like the warriors playing in the NRL, the Breakers in the NBL; and the Wellington team in national soccer; Randwick in the ITM would have a mighty pulling power on rugby talent in Australia. Infact, i wonder what a Sydney based team would do to our ITM competition, and i also wonder about kiwi based hockey and cricket teams, male and female in the ozi national competitions, and im not making one-nation statements either, but its about strengthen our game and theirs. What do you recon fan?
August 20th 2012 @ 5:51am
mania said | August 20th 2012 @ 5:51am | Report comment
aware – very true. i dont think aussies in general actually realise the vital part that the tight5 actually provide. i see evidence in this with the front rows and how few of them there are. they’re seen as the position that fat slow kids play who cant make any other position. in NZ any kid that shows an affinity for front row work is guarded as gold, nurtured and encouraged.
i often hear people on roar going on about how important the loosies are or how 7 is more important now than any other position. they dont realise the bread and butter work that the tight5 do but never get any praise for. aussies are too distracted by the dynamic players scoring tries and not realising all the hard work that goes on before the try scorer even gets the ball.
quality tight5 is gold for any team, and the front row more so.
August 20th 2012 @ 2:00pm
Denby said | August 20th 2012 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
mania, I think most informed Aussies know the importance of the lock, but they seem to only focus their lineout abilities. The hard grinding work is often forgotten.
August 19th 2012 @ 9:01am
Tissot Time said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:01am | Report comment
David, if the forwards do not wn the breakdown and gainline it doesnt really matter what backline combination you have.
August 19th 2012 @ 9:46am
sheek said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Tissot – true enough.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:03am
Frisky said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
In the (very) old days they sometimes won with brilliant running rugby while living off scraps of possession. I have seen the AB thrash the Boks with 40% possession. Easier to do with dominant forwards, but if they do not exist, you have to play a different game to compensate. Is the Wallaby game being ruined by not accepting this deficiency and compensating for it?
August 19th 2012 @ 10:28am
FredFunk said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:28am | Report comment
The forwards were not beaten up as badly as some suggest. Pathetic is a little harsh. I think there were a few questionable penalties at key moments at the breakdown with the serial pests in evidence time and time again – not rolling away, disrupting what was already slow ball and never punished. Fair play to them – it’s only cheating when you get caught and they (once again) ran a master class of how to stretch the interpretation of what is kosher at the tackle areas. Still believe the sequence must be: tackle, tackler release / (attempt to) roll away, tackled player present the ball. Sometimes I wondered if that was right. However…
Everything else considered, we had set pieces inside our 22 and couldn’t do anything with them. The blackness had their go and we all know how that panned out. Their centres were at best a red herring, the main game is their speed out wide and we were shown up again and again. Simple defensive play in the backs was missing, poor execution and we were very lucky that a few line breaks did not get all the way to the stripe. Simple things like catching the ball, catch and pass they just don’t happen in a gold shirt with Deans in charge. Take away two instances of defensive frailty from a young fullback who has not played a lot of rugby and looked out of sorts last night and you have a favourable result.
In summary, the result was a fair reflection of the two teams last night. if not a little flattering to Australia.
August 19th 2012 @ 1:31pm
bennalong said | August 19th 2012 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
A good summary Fred.
I thought our forewards were slow in attack in the first half as if fearful of offside
Their aggression in the second half was much better and we actually had a game going!
The AllBlacks, on the otherhand, were so unafraid of being offside that in defence they formed a curved line where outer defenrders were sometimes 2 metres in front of the hindmost feet!
Getting over the advantage line in attack is much more difficult in these circumstances!
Your ‘masterclass’ observation was again correct IMO, and we only do well against NZ when the breakdown is policed firmly.
I was at the game and couldn’t figure out what Roland was penalising us for and even on Fox afterward there were few close shots. But my impression was that tackled players are no longer allowed to play the ball, and Black players arriving when support Wallabies were already in place were adjudged as having rights to the ball when it had to be a ruck
Having said all this the backline defense in the first half was exposed and 2 tries scored too easily. The AllBlacks were then out in front and comfortable.
Don’t blame Deans for simple things being off. The AllBlacks have the wood on us and we need a good start……….it’s critical
I wish we could have Craig Joubert next week.
August 20th 2012 @ 3:10am
DuffyV said | August 20th 2012 @ 3:10am | Report comment
Actually think Australia played out of their skins and denied a far superior team its just reward.
And that is what is such a comedic performance by Australia on their most lucrative home ground.
Game Over, Game Over, Game Over x 1 trillion times………
August 19th 2012 @ 11:24am
Elisha Pearce said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:24am | Report comment
I actually thought this was one of the times where, over the 80min, the Wallabies forwards were almost as good as the ABs ones.
August 19th 2012 @ 2:08pm
Frisky said | August 19th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
I agree with Elisha. In the second half, they had dominance for long periods. The AB then played like the Wallabies of old – turning defense into long range attack
August 20th 2012 @ 3:38am
DuffyV said | August 20th 2012 @ 3:38am | Report comment
Yeah UN team dominated all right about when the REF gave them 2 or 3 penalties strung together and likewise the AB’s actually scored tries when in reverse!!!!!!
Just what game were you watching for your clinical review??????
Richie according to Australians has been successfully cheating for over a decade, cant wait till some ownership of a less desirable reality smacks ya straight in the head!!!!!
Only good things to come out of test for AB’s is Beale, Genia and Pocock Worlds best!!!!!!! Ha ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha…………………..
PoCock now Worlds Biggest Cheat and Worlds Worst Captain plus almost most ineffective player….. and lets all enjoy Australia turning on him because they have so many better options, Ha ha Ha ha Ha Ha ha haha.
I am confident no one will even be talking about PoCheat v.1Dimension in even 4 years let alone TEN!!!!!!!!
This was an exceptionally bad AB performance!!!!!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha HAAAA
August 20th 2012 @ 5:23am
Tacksharp said | August 20th 2012 @ 5:23am | Report comment
A very confusing post, DuffyV.
August 20th 2012 @ 10:07pm
liam said | August 20th 2012 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
duffy, going a little crazy there. take it easy mate.
no need to gloat, if thats what you were doing?
August 19th 2012 @ 8:35pm
Johnny Pickles said | August 19th 2012 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
Agreed. Although one thing I noticed (other than the scrum battle) was that the AB’s in general had better body position when hitting the ball up.
August 20th 2012 @ 10:08pm
liam said | August 20th 2012 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
doing a bit of an ireland job holding the ball up at times, higgenbotham and a couple others got punished that way.
funny, as you’d think it having such a disastrous effect on the wallabies in the WC, they would have had some kind of focus on removing that vulnerability?
August 19th 2012 @ 9:07am
Roy said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Totally agree David…Just no X factor out there…the Wallabies never looked like taking it up to the ABs…and to be honest the ABs can play much better than they did…The centre pairing of SBW and Nonu just did not fire, and we did nothing to exploit that…the whole Wallaby team looked intimidated to me. Let’s hope they can turn it around.
August 19th 2012 @ 9:34am
Jeff said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
It is very apparent that at the moment we do not have the talent to challenge this All Black team.Can anyone point out one Wallaby from last nights performance who would make the ABs run on team.
Or any available Australian player who would be selected by the ABs selectors.
Some of the backs might be close but as for the forwards no way.
And for all the hype about Pocock it is increasingly obvious that he is not in McCaw’s class yet.
And it is so embarrassing to read Blade’s pre match comments about our scrum in the light of what we saw last night.
August 19th 2012 @ 5:39pm
Denby said | August 19th 2012 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
I think Ioane would e the AB’s squad. He was the one shining light in otherwise below average performance
August 19th 2012 @ 6:23pm
Ben W said | August 19th 2012 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
Not one.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:55pm
allblackfan said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:55pm | Report comment
Pocock would.
He’s played non-stop since February and needs a break. He’s doing too much on his own is all
August 19th 2012 @ 10:57pm
Jerry said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:57pm | Report comment
He’s just had a month off!
August 19th 2012 @ 11:11pm
allblackfan said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:11pm | Report comment
To elaborate: he should have been stood down from all rugby for about two weeks straight then returned via club rugby.
There is not one All Black fan who wouldn’t nominate Pocock as the first Aust player they’s want to see in an Anzac team. Imagine Pocock competing at the breakdown while being supported by his fellow loose forwards.
August 20th 2012 @ 6:10am
mania said | August 20th 2012 @ 6:10am | Report comment
agree ABF – mccaw would have to move to 6 to accomodate pocock. mccaw would still be captain tho
August 20th 2012 @ 3:55am
murph73 said | August 20th 2012 @ 3:55am | Report comment
We do have the talent but they don’t get picked
August 19th 2012 @ 9:07am
JB said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Beale has to be dropped after that performance surely.
Put AAC at fullback and give the Reds and Brumbies centres a go, they can’t be any worse
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August 19th 2012 @ 10:16am
Jack said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Beale is the new Giteau. One or two flashy moves a season and the press fall all over him. Beale turns over the ball at a much too high a rate to be a test player. The Wallabies lost precision under pressure – just like the Warratahs have all season. The Waratah backs were ineffective all season and cracked under pressure. They did the same last night. Barne’s passes were high or behind. Deans and the coahing staff have the arrogance to believe they can make AB beaters with the core of players from a team who finished near the bottom of the S14 table. Eight Waratahs started last night!!! The Wallabies should be mostly Reds and Brumbies. They eared it.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:43am
stillmissit said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Jack you are always going to lose turnover ball when the forwards are standing back scratching their balls.
August 19th 2012 @ 4:06pm
soapit said | August 19th 2012 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
if only he held onto it long enough for the forwards to help him you might have a point.
forwards cant stop him dropping the ball and throwing speculator passes as a panicked plan b
August 19th 2012 @ 11:08am
Glenn Condell said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Beale will have to play like that for two more years to become the new Giteau. It is not long since Beale was one of the best players in the game and you sense that with confidence and a few games under his belt that he will find his way back to form.. It is true however that Deans does not drop players enough and the long decline of Giteau is the prime example. ‘Showing loyalty’ yada yada, bugger that. It’s broke so fix it. This retention problem is even worse in the forwards though there are even less alternatives there.
And yes, the Waratahs are way over-represented. Cooper for Barnes is a given; he should have played last night. I cannot believe Tapuai would not have made more metres in attack than the two centres selected. In the forwards again I cannot believe we would not get more value out of a Fardy or a Neville or a Pyle than Timani, still too raw and unable or unwilling to impose himself at all. Greg Holmes is one Aussie front rower who seems able to scrum at the top level, ditto Dan Palmer. Why do they not get a look-in? Sure not that much around the park but what did we get from the all-Tah front row? They were unsighted.
The Blacks are too physically dominant for us to play static footy, we need to work on faster ball delivery and attacking realignment ready to take advantage of it. Watching that last foray close to the bell was demoralising, like seeing brave flies smashing into a windscreen. If we don’t have the leg drive and mongrel in the forwards to go thru the windscreen we must try to go around it. Only Cooper is capable of managing that as conductor, but he needs a few changes to the orchestra as well. Even then no guarantee we would see off this world champion team but we would be better placed to do so.
August 19th 2012 @ 4:27pm
katzilla said | August 19th 2012 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
Poor old Burtley.
I think he’ll play a blinder soon. With better ball and more threats around him to create space he’ll go ok.
August 19th 2012 @ 5:20pm
mick-e said | August 19th 2012 @ 5:20pm | Report comment
You’d have to have rocks in your head to believe loose canon Cooper is the answer to the Wallabies problems. We had one Flash Harry who couldnt deliver and defend under test match pressure in Beale-two and the ABs will put 30 on us on home soil. Barnes threw one pass which went astray mainly because Beale was too far forward and out of alignment, but otherwise had a very sound game. Its not his fault that the guys outside him cannot sidestep a tortise, that the forwards look like a bunch of mungos trying their hand at union for the first time, and cannot control the ball in the breakdown or work as a unit and get over the gain line and that basic schoolboy catching and passing is missing amongst the Wallabies.
Get rid of Faainga, Dave Dennis, who does a good impersonation of Dean Mumm, Slipper, who scrums like Guy Shepherdson, Samo who is past it, and bring in guys like The Brumby no 8 as the impact player, Neville, Shipperly (who I believe given time could answer our need for an attacking centre) and use your substitutes Deans. Hooper should have been brought in for Dennis in the second half as Pocock was clearly the lone ranger at the breakdown and couldnt cope. Temani had a great game but should have been subbed early in the second half as he was clearly injured and the young Queensland lock who is very fast and a good impact player used.
August 20th 2012 @ 12:17am
Ra said | August 20th 2012 @ 12:17am | Report comment
put timani in at 6
August 20th 2012 @ 6:14am
mania said | August 20th 2012 @ 6:14am | Report comment
easy on JB. u dont dump class just because of one bad game. the guys coming back from injury.
he’s proven class and is a big game player.
aus played better than expected. no way was this the one sided affair that most roarers are making out.
aus were in this race right up until the final whistle. AB’s kicked the final goal at full time to deny them a loser (within 7) bonus point as a sign of respect to keep aus out of the race.
as bad as aus played as individuals they could’ve easily taken this game in the last 10 minutes with a little bit of luck.
1st game gitters are out of the way. 2nd game at eden park will be telling and i expect the wallabies to be better for this test
August 20th 2012 @ 6:55am
Jimmy D said | August 20th 2012 @ 6:55am | Report comment
Good call JB i was at the game and thought Beale should have been dragged and Drew Mitchell brought on to the wing and AAC dropped back to fullback especially after second try to ABs. I made the comment at the time that I’ve never seen him get stood up like that so badly and he didn’t look right physically and especially mentally…
August 19th 2012 @ 9:10am
Chelsea M said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:10am | Report comment
I am disgusted by many things … Top of my list is the carry on at the end of the game. Back slapping, hugging, laughing … Standing around like they were at a BBQ together …. Sorry … But 76k of people paid an average of $100 to watch this muck … A polite handshake to show sportsmanship … Then into the sheds … The carry on last night was a p&$$-take and showed zero accountability or shame for what was a lack lustre and ordinary performance. I saw better at club rugby yesterday afternoon. What happened to doing anything for that gold jersey … And our opponents being the enemy on the field. They are missing the raw fury and emotion that Big Kev brings … he would have had them back in the sheds and been kicking their a$&es within 5 mins of the final whistle …. Fire up boys …. This is your job. I have nothing to say about Deans …. His choice of so many warratahs is baffling … A club in crisis with a losing culture … What could possibly go wrong with that …
August 19th 2012 @ 5:48pm
Ted said | August 19th 2012 @ 5:48pm | Report comment
ChelseaM – best comment – Wallabies lining up for SBW’s photo & autograph!
No passion for jersey just good for photo ops & working on their “brand”.
August 19th 2012 @ 6:14pm
joeb said | August 19th 2012 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
“No passion for jersey just good for photo ops & working on their “brand”.”
There was passion, but we lack an enforcer or two in the forwards – someone to pick Richie up and throw him back on side, for the umpteenth time.
August 20th 2012 @ 3:41am
TJ said | August 20th 2012 @ 3:41am | Report comment
Spot on joeb….give two forwards the task of hitting the ruck and picking up any thing black on the Wallaby side including McCaw and throwing it back where it belongs….Pocock can then tell the Ref…if you won’t do it we will. If it means a penalty then so be it. At least establish your ground ….I’m sure that will at least give the backs a chance to reach the Advantage line. Genia can point to the obstruction and send the enforcers in.I could just imagine what Mark Loane’s Wallaby side would have done to AB bodies, legs and arms that are constantly slowing down the ball at the break down. The Ab’s use to use the lazy runner without Ref interference until our savvy half backs began directing passes at the lazy AB runner……it stopped over night !!!!
August 20th 2012 @ 10:24pm
joeb said | August 20th 2012 @ 10:24pm | Report comment
TJ, “The Ab’s use to use the lazy runner without Ref interference until our savvy half backs began directing passes at the lazy AB runner……it stopped over night !!!!”
Remember it well, and we did sort it out.
“I could just imagine what Mark Loane’s Wallaby side would have done to AB bodies, legs and arms that are constantly slowing down the ball at the break down.”
Yes, do recall that too. If our forwards turn up on Saturday, we’re in with a show. Here’s hoping Deans can get them firing, otherwise sayonara Deans.
August 20th 2012 @ 10:15pm
liam said | August 20th 2012 @ 10:15pm | Report comment
timani was in there to do this and he did hit a couple of big tackles. higgenbotham was also obviously trying to do this… he specifically hit mccaw at rucks about a dozen times, cleared him out specifically by the neck and dropped him on his head. but every time mccaw just untangled himself, got up and got back to work. it was a waste of time, higgenbotham would have been more use supporting the ruck than trying to unsettle a guy who will always just shrug it off. pointless.
August 19th 2012 @ 11:44pm
Objective said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:44pm | Report comment
Great to see someone else commenting on this. Kurtley, you missed two tackles leading to 2 tries, spilt a catch a 4th xv schoolboy player would be castigated for, turned over possession at least twice, yet there you were having a good old laugh with SBW not 5 minutes after full time. No, you weren’t alone, but it was the most obvious example of why this team will not compete against NZ. Compare that attitude to Kearns’ try, Scott-Young’s provocative disdain, and you might get the drift. Unfortunately these guys are in awe of NZ and do not possess the required mental attitude. Try watching the Irish in the 2nd Test and you might learn something.
Oh, and a potential match winner or 2 in the side may help, plus some pace and precision recycling the ball, rather than a committee meeting whilst deciding which flat footed forward gets smashed behind the advantage line. Seven days to get it right? You’ve had seven months. Stop treating us like mugs.
August 20th 2012 @ 10:10am
Bob Templeton said | August 20th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
The Waratah players played just as they had done all season. The forwards did not try too hard. The backline was pathetic with Beale playing just as he did against Wales. We had speed out wide but it was not used. In contrast just remember the two All Black tries.
My wife called the ball that Beale dropped “Something an Under 14 would be blasted for.”
We simply need forwards who care and backs with the will to run. There must be some major changes. Do the coaches have the courage to do so?
August 20th 2012 @ 10:27pm
joeb said | August 20th 2012 @ 10:27pm | Report comment
“We simply need forwards who care and backs with the will to run. There must be some major changes. Do the coaches have the courage to do so?”
Not the current coach. And they want him around till 2015, for another pathetic debacle.
August 19th 2012 @ 7:44pm
charlie mackay said | August 19th 2012 @ 7:44pm | Report comment
+1 …. You lost, so go fix it whilst the pain of the loss still hurts… (Although the horrortahs players would be well used to that feeling now, I’d imagine)
August 19th 2012 @ 9:14am
Aaron said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:14am | Report comment
Australia are rated second in the world to what is probably the greatest all-black team of all time. To top that off the aussies made a few too many unforced errors in the handling department…it happens.
The real issue last night was that we got beaten at the breakdown. Very little quick ball results in very little go forward. At the end of the day it was a close game but the better team won. Rolling out “better” backs would not of changed the result, because that is not where the game was lost.
This article is drivel and like most of this website all the arm chair critics who bang on about how rubbish Australia is when we get beat by NZ or how fantastic we are when we thrash Fiji will come out with the usual trash…. It’s depressing how unwilling we are to recognise the brilliance of the all blacks and blame it on coaches, refs or individuals in the team.
August 19th 2012 @ 9:59am
cm said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:59am | Report comment
I basically agree, Frisky.
But I would also change the backline as David suggests and put Foley on the bench (sorry, Tahs haters).
August 19th 2012 @ 11:01am
Frisky said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:01am | Report comment
I agree, cm. Foley is a youngster with ability and spark. The present lot is solid but also stolid.
p.s. i am a Waratahs hater because they constantly buy players that have been developed by the Brumbies. The consolation is that they buy established players on the way down rather than the up and coming ones. Hence their tired predictable season, despite all the wallabies in their side.
August 19th 2012 @ 7:36pm
El Gamba said | August 19th 2012 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
Are the Brumbies going to further develop David Pocock then are they?
August 19th 2012 @ 8:25pm
Bakkies said | August 19th 2012 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
The Brumbies only signed Pocock because the Tahs recruited Hooper.
August 19th 2012 @ 11:08am
guinness14 said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:08am | Report comment
What a breath of fresh air. Good on you mate. The Wallabies did get beat by a better side. The boys in green and gold looked flustered. There were mistakes made by both sides. The boys in black had quicker clean out ball. I just hope the Wallabies improve their game this week. Looking forward to running rugby. AB Crusader and Western Force supporter.
August 19th 2012 @ 11:18am
JJ said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:18am | Report comment
load of complete crap. were you entertained … ? that is why we watch sport and i’m afraid that, in general, rugby is not entertaining.
August 19th 2012 @ 9:15am
Roy said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:15am | Report comment
I would give Bernard Foley a crack at full back
August 19th 2012 @ 12:49pm
formeropenside said | August 19th 2012 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Yeah, more Tahs MUST be the answer.
I dont know what Mitchell has possibly done to deserve a call up. What about the guy who was all over him a few weeks back, Shipperley?
August 19th 2012 @ 1:09pm
Post said | August 19th 2012 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Shipperley? Scores too many tries, why would we want him playing for the Wallabies?
August 19th 2012 @ 9:23am
moaman said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:23am | Report comment
You point out the glaring shortcomings of Messers Genia,Beale,Pocock and co–then proscribe retaing them and dropping others! On top of that you want to bring back Mitchell–formerly a top line wing but coming back from injury and totally unproven of late—and worse! ;Reintroduce Cooper,who must be down on confidence-at Eden Park of all places–an arena he must have recurring in every nightmare!
Fainga’a and Horne did the job they were selected to do-ie shut down Williams and Nonu.They get a ‘pass’ mark for that.
Genia continues to delay and slow any ball they get…well,he did provide sharper service in the final,frenetic,few minutes but his play seems one-dimensional.He is either orchestrating painstakingly slow forward rushes or shovelling the ball on…interspersed with the odd sniping run.
Beale was abysmal.
Pocock seemed to have lost the plot-showing no regard atall for the Ref’s warnings and gave away silly penalties.Not yet Captaincy material.
If you are going to drop players-don’t create scapegoats….
NZ were poor in this game and ripe for the plucking.The fact that they weren’t ….plucked,away from home,would concern me most
as an Australian fan.
Other than that-I agree with the general theme of your article that the Wallabies need to attack more if they expect to win next week.
August 19th 2012 @ 9:51am
sheek said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Hi Moaman,
I have to disagree that Fainga’a & Horne shut down Williams & Nonu.
They really weren’t extended in their defence, because the ABs cleverly let the Wallas think they were going to use their 12 & 13, but instead used their 11, 14 & 15 to stunning effect. The ABs can afford to do this, since they have so much firepower across the park.
I thought it was an odd game. Strangely lacking intensity despite the willingness of the play at times.
Both sides kinda appeared disintreested despite the importance of the occasion. I guess this happens when players appear against each other so often EVERY year in either tests or super rugby.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:14am
moaman said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Sheek-I cannot disagree;My nod to the aussie centres was more to do with their perceived tasks for the match; surely they went out there first and foremost determined that come what may,Williams and Nonu were NOT going to breach their line?
The fact that they were out-manouvred tactically was not their individual fault.Let’s face it-the entire AB backline is comprised of threats and none can be ignored.
I loved the Dagg try-created from set-piece as it was; Carter’s subtle dummies to the inside runners/decoys (SBW,Gear,) and Dagg’s superb use of the tiny space on the outside of a hapless Beale. Superb! That piece of play,so lightly conjured up,served merely to highlight the dreadful quality of the rest of the game.
I said elsewhere that though many will blame the usually excellent Rolland-I believe both sides brought negativity and niggle to the pot and gave the Ref every reason to be grumpy and pedantic.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:55am
sheek said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Accepted.
Scoring two tries off set piece scrums is the sign of a truly great side. The need for speed, correct lines & passing precision in outflanking a set defence is diifficult but breathtaking when it succeeds. And crushing for the opposition.
This was something Ella & the backline of the early to mid-80s could conjur up at their peak. And they didn’t always have a strong pack in front of them like the ABs of today.
August 19th 2012 @ 8:50pm
Blue Boy said | August 19th 2012 @ 8:50pm | Report comment
Hi Sheek
The name of the Ella brothers back in daa dayz was always a freightning thought when coming up against the All Blacks the were magic, they caused pain an headachs for us kiwi’s back then.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:21am
moaman said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Hey Sheek—I’m off for a game of footy soon so might not get back to you but was wondering about the Roar Getogether.Are we going to hear anything about it? (I would have loved to have been there)
August 19th 2012 @ 10:50am
sheek said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:50am | Report comment
Moaman,
Yeah, I’m sure the Zac & Tristan will be putting something out during the week. There’s even a video!
I personally made the acquaintance of Spiro, Brett, Ryan, Zac, Tristan, Geoff (did a good MC job), Sluggy, Rabbitz, Leftarmspinner & Coxinator & remade the acquaintance of Topo, Lordy, Bayman & Kersi.
I would have liked to meet others who were there, but time got away.
Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. But I still can’t decide if I prefer the red label 34 Arvo or the black label 51 Arvo. Might have to drink some more of each sometime…..
August 19th 2012 @ 11:08am
moaman said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Sheek—-Check this out and have a great day-I’m off!
August 19th 2012 @ 6:38pm
sheek said | August 19th 2012 @ 6:38pm | Report comment
Moaman,
Thanks for the video. Ralfy is obviously a whiskey genius.
I wonder if he can supply the same in-depth analysis to the Wallabies…..???
August 19th 2012 @ 11:10am
Jeznez said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:10am | Report comment
I went the 34, Sheek! Although the voting saw 51 in front with a slim 53% majority.
August 19th 2012 @ 1:08pm
sheek said | August 19th 2012 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Hi Jeznez & Stillmissit,
Sorry I didn’t get to meet either of you yesterday. From past experience I have learnt to enjoy the time you have with each person you meet, rather than try to get to everyone at the same session.
Yes, I saw the stats reading 53-47 in no.51′s favour. In the name of fairness I tried to even it up by hitting 34 as often as I could! I still don’t know which one I really prefer…..
August 19th 2012 @ 1:09pm
Rabbitz said | August 19th 2012 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Went for 34 as well.
It was great to meet a few of the names…
Oh and Spiro, Zac, David, Brett, Trisyan etc etc etc
August 19th 2012 @ 11:21am
stillmissit said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Hi Sheek – totally agree it seemed almost eerie in some ways when it struck me the Wallabies were trying to remain composed but all that seemed to happen was total indifference. The sooner we get rid of this idea of composure and patience and return to power and control the better off our guys will be. All this idea did was give Genia the opportunity to play on the Gregan stage of mummery.
Don’t agree with your last sentence as it is your country and a few million hanging on to your coat tails for a result or, at least a strong, ‘I’m going down fighting’ effort. We only saw that level of exertion in the last 10 mins – ROBINSON MUST GO – and the rest of the pack need a big rocket (although Sharpe,TPN, Dennis and Pocock (although quiet) tried hard).
The replacements seemed to go OK, although Stephen Moore and TPN are both great players – pity one of them isn’t a prop.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:47pm
ThelmaWrites said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:47pm | Report comment
Hi SMI! Sorry my post is late again. I mull its substance over and over, and there are 191 comments by now. I’m also two hours behind you.
I agree with you and other posters that Deans should weed out the inept and the half-hearted, and start all over again with newbies.
So onya, Robbie, weed out the inept and the half-hearted, even if your win/loss record gets worse. There is no other choice, if the Wallabies want better fortunes. It’s time for drastic measures.
August 19th 2012 @ 1:42pm
bennalong said | August 19th 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I agree Sheek, with all your observations, ……. emotionally. It WAS an odd game!
But I was there and there WAS intensity from both sides.
I do believe Roland’s reffing, not policing the offside line and not enforcing rolling away and allowing the ball to be played, contributed to a stop start affair
August 19th 2012 @ 9:23am
JB said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Aaron,
Can’t agree with you, the handling errors were basic and would not have been tolerated by a reserve grade team let alone the wallabies.
The breakdown might have been an issue but Beale missing his man twice, losing the ball in the tackle and
dropping an uncontested pass was what caused the pressure which turned into points
–
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August 19th 2012 @ 9:24am
The Bush said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
This morning must be one of the few occassions where I actually feel sorry for Robbie Deans. In a matter of moments, a pair of handling errors that would make a school boy blush (Higgers and Beale), take the Aussies from a potential try (getting them squarely back in the game), to conceeding a try. Those sort of mistakes aren’t a coaches fault.
Still, Robbie Deans has to take the blame for some of the ridiculous selections;
1. How is Ben Robinson the form LHP in Australia ahead of Holmes?
2. Why pick a 5/2 bench, which includes a backup OSF, if you’re not going to use them all in an attempt to dominate the breakdown late in the game? Perhaps Deans thinks we won’t pick on him after the RWC if he keeps selecting a backup OSF? It’s stupid beyond belief – Pocock is captain and an eighty (80) minute player, a backup OSF is not needed in the twenty-two (22).
3. Whilst the game was lost in a lot of other areas, you cannot tell me that he wouldn’t have brought Cooper on late in the second half if he had been on the bench (at least).
4. Deans is the worst strategist, tactician, whatever, in International Rugby. Genia was clearly out of sorts, use your spare half-back, geez, it couldn’t have been worse. Secondly, Beale was obviously off his game, pull him, move AAC to fullback and bring Mitchell on at wing. Try something, anything, at least we wouldn’t sit here debating what could have been.
5. If Higgers is going to be given the freedom to seagull, he has to learn to catch. A poor game by his recent standards.
August 19th 2012 @ 9:44am
shaddy said | August 19th 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Get Deans to talk to Macqueen about how to select and then use a bench..All players should know how to tackle at this level,although Cooper and Beale have never bothered to learn
August 19th 2012 @ 10:00am
The Other Steve - and All Black fan said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:00am | Report comment
Re 4. The back-up to Genia was Phipps – who struggles even at S15 level rugby.
August 19th 2012 @ 10:08am
DingoBob said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:08am | Report comment
I believe Nick White is injured unfortunately
August 19th 2012 @ 10:17am
The Bush said | August 19th 2012 @ 10:17am | Report comment
That doesn’t excuse Deans’ decision, that just compounds it. How Nic White isn’t the backup scrum-half to Genia after his season is mind boggling. In any event, doing something is better than nothing (Deans’ usual “tactic”).
August 19th 2012 @ 11:19am
JJ said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:19am | Report comment
agree 100%. Deans … you ain’t aussie and don’t understand how we think and play sport. go home dude.
August 19th 2012 @ 3:12pm
Jeremy said | August 19th 2012 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
Weak excuse that he’s not an Aussie therefore doesn’t understand Australian sportspeople.
a – half the Wallabies aren’t Australian
b – half the senior coaches of national rep teams aren’t Australian
c – NZ and Australia are culturally so similar that the list of sporting and ideological similarities dwarfs that of the differences
He’s a crap coach, a good player developer and an alright bloke, but his nationality does not fundamentally make him more or less suited to coaching this team.
August 19th 2012 @ 7:22pm
Colin said | August 19th 2012 @ 7:22pm | Report comment
Not being Australian doesn’t seemed to have stopped Jake White getting it right.
August 19th 2012 @ 11:24am
Mantis said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Why Nic White is not the backup I dont know.
And why does Timani keep getting selected? hes big yes, but hes also very very average. I’d give Carter or Fardy a run, at least off the bench, and start Simmons. They were consistently good for the Brumbies this year.
August 19th 2012 @ 12:52pm
formeropenside said | August 19th 2012 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
Yeah, the commentators just shouting “Timani!” whenever he had the ball did not mean he actually had any impact.
Really, if he’s playing Test rugby it should be for Tonga – poor form to select him on the basis of three good games for Samoa last year, pre-RWC.
August 19th 2012 @ 11:23am
Who Needs Melon said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:23am | Report comment
My thoughts exactly Bush. 10/10 for showing faith in your starting 15. -20 or more for use of the bench. I think Hooper might have added some much needed urgency to the breakdown too. Traditional ‘fetching’ doesn’t really work against the All Blacks – they’re too awake to it and combat it so well – but as always we need more guys hitting the breakdown quicker. It’s ridiculous that Sharpe (who should have been retired by now) was probably close to our best player out there.
August 19th 2012 @ 11:25am
stillmissit said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
WNM – Sharpe as WB’s best forward was laughable only 2 years ago. Says a lot about the rest of them doesn’t it?
August 19th 2012 @ 11:24am
stillmissit said | August 19th 2012 @ 11:24am | Report comment
The Bush – your point 4 is totally on the money… Deans great weakness is his game day control.
August 19th 2012 @ 6:18pm
Cattledog said | August 19th 2012 @ 6:18pm | Report comment
G’day Bush. I’m hitting this very late as I’ve had a hectic day. BUT, I have been on everybody’s back for nearly 12 months now re Deans selections and use of the bench. This bloke I’m afraid has no clue and as we are about to once again lose the Bledesloe, hopefully those posturing idiots at the ARU will get rid of him. I don’t care if they bring in McKenzie or not. Quite frankly, the Nerang Bulls under 13s coach would do a better job.
He left Cooper out (due to game time) and put Mitchell in, who’s had less…and not up to scratch. Shipperly was all over him yet Deans sees the Waratahs as the saviours. The guys delusional and should be sacked before he embarrasses Australia any more.
Sorry, I was a great supporter when he was appointed, however, I also recognise non-performance and he should have gone long ago. Don’t anybody tell me the 3 nil whitewash of Wales was some sort of masterstroke. One of the Brisbane Premier teams could have given Wales a drubbing so it was no masterstroke. Actually, in the analysis it was more good luck than good management.
Granted there was a lot of dropped ball which I admit isn’t the coaches fault. But I would have been pretty nervous as well if it was Barnes at fly with QC not even in the lineup. It’s a pity he has to return at Eden Park. Better to leave it until Suncorp when we can at least salvage one win from 3.
Sorry Mr Deans, but you’re the weakest link…goodbye.