Yes, spot on Sofa Coach. Totally agree.

So true Jacko. Ref blaming, apart from absolute howlers where there’s universal agreement, fails to objectively critique a sides performance, and the areas where they were at fault either defensively or with attack, that cost them the game.

England had a massive chance to put the game out of reach with the attacking 15m scrum they had at 70 minutes. The difference in the game was that the Bokke scrum finishers were superior to the Poms, because the Pom scrum faultered 3 times in the final 10 minutes. They lost all momentum and let Pollard get maximum territory to get attacking field position for points.

The game was going to be won or lost in the last 10 minutes. Same as the 2003 final when Wilkinson kicked the winning field goal. In the final few minutes, the Wallabies didn’t control what they were doing enough, gifting territory and field position to invite Wilkinson to win it right on full time.

I thought Pollards kicks for touch were really good. He got optimum field position from each of his kicks, both defensively and in attack. To land the winning points with a few minutes to spare from 48m out was simply the difference between winning and losing. I also agree there were a few other candidates from both sides, but his kicks were very influential in this hamewhen his side needed it the most; especially when it mattered to get them the win and a place in the final. That is what set him apart for the MoM award imo.

The question then becomes, how much does Australian rugby want to learn from the rest of the world?

True Brett, but to my mind, the toughest question is how do we get rid of the perpetual line-up of con men and spin-doctors from being in positions of authority who keep running rugby further into the ground? (at senior levels!)

Many of us here have been seeing it, and despairing at what we see, for many, many years now. Yet senior rugby administrators and Boards, who are getting paid the big bucks to manage the sport, have let rugby continually slide into the abyss.

They essentially are con men and imposters. These types don’t learn lessons – they only learn new ways to BS and line their own pockets at others expense and demise.

Isn’t that exactly what we’ve seen with the Wallabies this RWC? Just perpetual spin, denial coupled with mutual back-slapping, BS laid on thick and fast and a roller-coaster of backflips that an Olympic gymnast would be proud of?

The main protagonists with RA and the Wallabies RWC23 are full of hot air and no substance. I have no hope or belief that any of these jokers will learn anything. They have NFI. I think the last few months have proved that beyond any doubt.

What is RA doing?

Be an idiot, sprout being an idiot, then defend being an idiot in public, after contradicting themselves being an idiot. Yep, I get it.

Rugby has been completely and corporately out-manouvered by the NRL, the AFL and even soccer since 2000. Look at Sydney as a case study as well as the historic Fox firewall. Western Sydney has very successfully been tapped into by the other codes, but rugby has withered, despite the perfect demographic. Rugby has been strangled out of free-to-air coverage. That horse has now bolted and I can’t see the other codes budging 1mm for rugby to get any oxygen.

But does Hamish McLennan and Phil Waugh really get it? Have they been out among the withering diehards having meaningful and constructive conversations? Is there evidence that they actually engage and listen to faithful who do the voluntary rolling up their sleeves for their juniors so they can play? In Sydney, do they know where Parramatta, Penrith and Campbelltown are?

Or was business class flights to RWC in Paris and 5 star accommodation for 6 weeks for the RA executives really necessary? Hmmm, therein lies the answer.

… and did you note how he gave brief, one-sentence answers.

Did he answer the question? Yes he did.

Did the answer get a full and relevant response? No

Why? Because this joker is full of smoke n mirrors.

Trust factor? Nil.

Belief in the RA Chairman and RA Board and preparedness to blindly follow? Nil.

Result? A continuation of the slide into the abyss and rugby’s Oz obliteration.

Ahh, is that the “you can keep your hat on” moment?

Got over 1,000 Test caps there have you TLN?

Damn

“brassiere salesperson. To put it simply, there is almost zero demand”

Got any digital evidence to back up your anecdotal observations that there must be “almost zero demand” for brassiere’s Geoff?

I’d agree with that Loosey. If Kerevi is not 100%, then putting him on against Fiji is crazy. This game could easily end the tournaments of a few players picking up new injuries or making worse existing ones, and I’m thinking of Jordy in the new category and Kerevi in the existing category. Tough calls I know, but I think the Wallabies need both on the park after the pool games, presuming we can achieve that.

I think the Fijians will be the ones doing the 80 minutes of smash n grab this week. A loss for the Fijians almost certainly rules out going beyond the pool games, so a very physical game coming up, and a potentially very damaging game for the Wallabies for injuries due to the desperation the Fijians will bring. I’d be selecting with this in mind. Eg Perese in at 13 instead of Jordy, as Jordy is injury prone and Semi Radrada will be lining him up and running over the top of him all game. I know Kerevi needs game time, but I’d be inclined to start with Foketi at 12 with Kerevi coming on for 20-30 minutes. In general, I’d be doing some rotation and using the wider squad to have plenty of fresh legs for this game.

Agree. France and SA both look a very clear cut above the rest of the top teams so far, with both playing with similar characteristics. They have tall, big, highly athletic squads, play smart and disciplined footie, are well-drilled with their structures, can absorb a lot of defensive pressure without conceding too much, play field position then take their chances to get the points on offer. They both have exceptional fire-power; I doubt other teams can overcome the physical attrition that they bludgeon you with. My prediction, and I know it’s early days, but it looks unlikely that any other teams will be bothering them too much before the Final.

.. and I’m not sure what we’re smashin’, and I’m not sure what we’re grabbin’, but lets smash n grab anyway…..

Agree Ken, and I think he will be a huge success; plus I think he will carry this team to surprising heights this RWC.

Agree, and your personal experience is spot on AtW in relation to QC. He was totally played by Eddie.

Once QC knew he was not in the RWC squad, it would have been clear to him that Eddie had done another 100% backflip in relation to all his 1:1 previous conversations. Additionally, QC knew his Japanese club did not have to release him, and knew this from the last time his Japanese club got pressured to release him; and they stood firm.

I suspect from QC’s point of view he had one shot in the locker, and that was the main squad. Once EJ blew that one up, it was walk away time, as he knew the Aus A scenario was already going to be knocked back by his Japanese club. In the unlikely event EJ comes knocking for QC as injury cover during the RWC, it gives his club a huge stick to clobber RA for massive compensation to release him. Maybe QC might have the last laugh?

Also, as others have noted here, how many times do you keep turning up to get stabbed in the back by your boss? On a personal note, once I lose respect for my boss, or anyone for that matter, it’s all over. Gonski. Btw, I’ve already lost respect for EJ with all his backflips, and there’s 4 1/2 years to go with him in the chair.

Well we are in a new rugby economy.

Ken, the whole country just got behind the Matilda’s. With very few exceptions the Matilda’s squad all play overseas in various competitions and clubs. The coach picked the best Australian players from around the world. I’d be confident in guessing that they were very good players before they went, and have subsequently become even better, to now be world-class – all because they play with the top clubs in the toughest competitions.

Why should Australian rugby be any different?

Surely the current thinking of using protectionism for the domestic game is self-defeating and delusions of self-grandeur by the Adminstrator’s of the game?

From this Womens soccer World Cup, I wonder what the result is going to be from the Matilda’s and all their overseas players on girls and womens soccer in this country? How’s the grass-roots going to cope?

Hmmm, the relevance of the Gitaeu Law? Will Skelton had it right all those years ago by going overseas to become a truly world-class player. His critics had it all wrong, and still do.

It’s only taken a few months in his tenure, but I’m angry at Eddie Jones for the constant BS he has spewed and the backflips he’s done in every direction on every topic with the Wallabies for the RC’s in 2023, the RWC and now its about RWC27. Eddie courted QC back from serious injury into the 2023 Wallaby camps, was happy for him to mentor CG and play most of the RC games, only to be dumped and to then see a squad incredibly light-on for genuine 10’s. It’s easy to join the dots that QC has been massively played by Eddie, and if I was QC, I’d be pretty dirty.

Agree about Eddie TWAS. He’s emphatically stated many things so far this year, and then gone and completely contradicted himself about players, playing styles and methods, as well as all the ‘bright ideas’ he’s spruiked. The little joy coming out of the losses this year have been outweighed with more head scratching than anything else. Certainly nothing makes sense in terms of solid RWC preparation and the squad just picked. If he was going to get the big broom out, why didn’t he say so and do it right from his first game in charge? Why get the broom out when Eddie’s handing out his RWC boarding passes?

When you line all this mayhem up in a row, it all looks like random thought-bubbles to me. (I wish I was paid the big bucks for random hare-brained leadership and management.)

For the Wallabies, there will be a bull loose in the china shop this RWC. The bull’s name is Will Skelton. Watch the team lift and get behind him. Watch out opponents! Suddenly I have a glimmer of hope for more inspiring and credible Wallaby performances. I’m not saying they will win the RWC, but I think the youth policy will offer plenty of surprises.

That’s a shocker JD 😊

Well I’m very underwhelmed with everything EJ has done so far. He reminds me a lot of Cheika as a coach whom I could never fathom his selections or gameplan; or both. Nothing ever made sense on-field or off it while the losses accumulated and the slide down the rankings continued. Then there was the issue of his mouth in the media. This made him look more like a nutter than a coach.
At least with Rennie you could reasonably follow his thinking with selections and gameplan. The problem was the players could never deliver the basics on the field, so I came to the view it was the cattle and their scarred mental aptitude for their Test rugby malaise.

Under EJ, despite having some overseas players in the squad, I’m not seeing anything too much different in 2023 than in the last 10-20 years. A few good patches of footie in 20-30 minute blocks here and there, but defeats are still predominantly the outcome.

I think Wallaby fans are delusional if they believe EJ can get the Wallabies to win RWC23. If we can get a solid, winning 80 minute performance against a higher ranked side, that will be a major step forward. Can the Wallabies put 2 quality winning games together against top opposition? Well, not for a long time; let alone the 3 needed to win the trophy after the pool games; presuming we can do that, and I’m only 50:50 on that one, as the Wallabies capacity to self-implode has grown, not diminished over time.

EJ is all BS, bluster and bulldog. I’ve already switched off every time he opens his mouth.

True HiKa, nothing makes the coffers fatter than bucket loads of BS.

long = ridiculous KP