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Roar Guru
Joined May 2010
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Excellent work from NZ – well done. The 4th try was thoroughly deserved as Lewis’s poor reffing might have cost NZ some points. Some phenomenal work from Mealamau and Donnelly… everyone in the pack really. Shame that Botha, Louw and James resorted to the usual lost match tactics, kind of puts a downer on the event. I jumped up at 07.55 hours and cycled a mile to watch that match. The bike tires were flat, London is under a heat wave and one of the pedals came off as I was going up a hill. But it was still worth it. Already looking forward to next week.
Boks and All Blacks ready for epic showdown
Brendan, the result shouldn’t have rested on either of those kicks – surely that’s more significant than two missed kicks? I recall two seasons ago when Giteau’s kicking won a pretty uninspired Australian side the match at Twickenham, and I also recall that Giteau’s second try versus England in the 2nd Test match came from an obvious Australian knock on, so karma perhaps?
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
Interesting stats here, Brendan. During the last two 3N tournaments this has been Giteau’s try to conversion ratio: 0/2, 4/4, 1/1, 3/3, 1/1, 3/3, 1/1, 2/2, 2/3, 1/2.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
‘Mr saunders…..SInce the 2003 world cup the english, especially their backline has been sub standard.’
That’s certainly true, Ben, but you initially said that England has gone for the big back theory since 2003, and that isn’t the case.
Btw, Horan was around 6 foot and close to 15 stone, so he wasn’t small by playing standards during his day. Little was also 6+ and probably close to 15 stone.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
Ben, in 1999 Matt Burke and Ben Tune were both 6 foot and roughly 15 stone, and Roff may have played soft, but he was a very big man. It’s not accurate to say that the 1999 backline was small. Consider the size of Burke’s counterparts in the 1999 WC, for example: Garbajosa, Wilson, Perry, Howarth, Montgomery et al.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
‘Please remember that the game of kicking has moved on a bit this season, with the new law interpretation of holding on to the ball.’
I understand that, Dexter, but in broad terms the more kickers in your team the better, especially if the forward pack is likely to be under duress.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
The way I see it is this – in broad terms Deans is changing his philosophical stance (if, of course, Faingaa is selected at 12). Why now? This is the most pressure he has been under and so he is utilising a player who plays the game in a basic manner. Why now? It just seems very knee-jerk. Personally I am not a fan of Saingaa, and having seen what happend to his brother and Daley during the recent tests it seems like an unecessary risk. Really, what Deans would be saying with Faingaa at 12 is that he can’t get anything out of Barnes or Giteau. I just don’t see his potential selection as positive in any way, Hoy. We shall just have to wait a few weeks until SA land in Australia.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
‘At the Reds Genia and Cooper are the two playmakers. The Bok have played this way too, with Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn.’
You are making a comparison between two totally different units. What should one infer from the above statement?
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
‘2007 WC had flourie at OC that was it for size…percy montgomery?’
The Springboks also had Frans Steyn and Butch James in their XV.
‘England went for the big back theory and they get constantly run around.’
Like whom, and when, Ben?
‘Horan and little are not big’
Little was quite big, but the 1999 WC backline also contained Burke, Herbert, Tune, Roff and Larkham. I always thought of that as quite a large backline.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
Genia is a totally different player to Du Preez, reds fan, and he plays in a totally different system at the Bulls compared to Genia at the Reds.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
I think Barnes offers calm, an acurate boot, an accurate passing game and time on the ball. He is a classy player and an intelligent organiser, and I’d wager he’d be far more appreciated in NZ, SA or Europe than he is in Australia.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
Australia has played well when the direct runner has a reasonably broad range of talents, Hoy. There is no real comparison between Grey and Horan, for example. Australia played well with Flatley at 12, and Giteau has also had his moments of genius, so let’s not delve too deeply into stereotype. In any case, if the answer is so simple then surely you must be asking yourself why Deans hasn’t taken this option earlier?
Deans is a coach who has always played a second playmaker at 12, and he has done for two seasons with Australia, so for a coach to revert to an untried midfielder, and a player who clashes with a long held coaching philosophy, simply to ‘straighten the line’ when he is most under pressure from the media and fans alike does not smack of a long-term progressive plan, IMO. We’ve seen what happens with AAC at 12, so I can’t imagine what a less physical, less athletic and more inexperienced player could achieve in a pivotal position when so much is at stake?
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
But the point is that such a move has come two seasons into Deans’s reign, which indicates that he has either had a philosophical change of heart regarding the role of the 12, or he is admitting that the past two seasons of backplay have been a failure, or he is admitting that his coaching of the backs has been a failure. You’re also presuming that Beale will start, Mals (I don’t believe he will). To me, the inclusion of Faingaa (and he may not even start) indicates regression unless he can play the midfield bulwark role as well as other men like Nonu, Jauzion, Roberts and Tindall do, and that’s a big ask. Deans has coached Australia to kick, and starting Faingaa at 12 would remove a kicking option which, in turn, will alter the roles of the players around Faingaa. Personally I don’t think he;s good enough, big enough or clever enough to galvanise the Australian backline from 12 – Barnes for me all day of the week.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
Interesting thoughts, Spiro.
‘The implication here is that Matt Giteau’s days are numbered as the Wallabies inside centre. Although he is relatively young for a senior player, Giteau has played 81 Tests.’
I think the more significant point is that Deans is basically rejecting his long held policy of fielding second playmakers at 12. IMO Faingaa represents a return to simplicity (if selected), which in itself is perhaps an admittance that the Australian backs/the coaching are unable to develop anything particularly progressive. The ironic thing is that most other sides, England, Ireland, SA and NZ are broadening their attacking horizons whilst Deans is (potentially) narrowing his.
‘The backs, though, as they showed against England at Perth, are capable of ripping strong defensive sides to shreds, if they are on their game.’
Realistically one can’t hold this up as an example of Australian backline excellence when a very callow England side missed over 30 tackles and had a pretty turgid day at the office. Really, if you think back during the tenure of Deans the only other games where the backline showed any real verve was against Wales during the Autumn Tests, and New Zealand two seasons ago. Beyond that the backs have lacked any cohesiveness, and as Brett McKay pointed out elsewhere, the way the back three played as a unit (or not) these pre-3N tests has been pretty informative, which is perhaps why Deans is going for a bosher at 12.
Deans' last shuffle of his Wallabies cards
I have the same reservations as you, Rusty. IMO Du Plessis, Olivier, and Kirchner are still weak links at Test level (unless they prove otherwise this season), and the back three seems totally unbalanced – this team seems a bit unwieldy. Personally I would have started BJ Botha and picked Potgieter on the bench as Rossouw isn’t exaclty an impact sub. Prior to this selection I was a bit bamboozled as to what the result would be, but now I’m leaning toward NZ.
All Blacks need to beat the Boks, badly!
I can’t believe people are seriously making calls for McCalman at lock. He’s 1.92m!
Is Nick Cummins injured? I was impressed with him during the S14.
Deans swings the axe for his Tri-Nations squad
There’s some good players in that squad, or at the very least some very, very reliable players. I’d expect the Rebels to finish ahead of the Force.
Rebels foreign player quota is a blessing
It’s a bit site, Brett , so no worries. For future reference I might just change to Ben, like I said. My dad doesn’t even get called Mr Saunders.
***
Depends on the subject, RK, but an away win in Australia will certainly chill a brother out 🙂
Gasnier returns, but with unanswered questions
Tp be fair to Rooney he’s probably only being loyal to his employers. I have no doubts that he honestly wants to be a Wallaby, it’s just unfortunate what was said publicly. C’est la vie and all that.
It is I, Brett. I said so on the Roar quite a few times. I was Wavell Wakefield too. Just fancied a change really. I’m thinking of changing again, as it happens. Given that my real surname is Saunders I might just add the ol’ first name in. Mr Saunders sounds a bit pretentious.
Gasnier returns, but with unanswered questions
Yes, that is a smart move. I really liked what I saw of him in the Top 14. He’s tall and has a commanding presence under the high ball, is a good athlete and rarely makes errors, plus he has that long stride when returning the ball. I think he’ll go well given time.
Gasnier returns, but with unanswered questions
That’s true, but the first thing Henry did when he arrived was fix the NZ pack. Since 2004 the NZ pack has given McCaw and excellent platform.
Henry the most, and least, successful All Black coach
Good for you, sounds like a good’un. I can’t wait. Good luck with the QF, btw.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
I’ve never understood the ‘run them off their feet’ theory. The SA side/pack is not that big in contrast to other sides, and if they can cope in Super rugby then their fitness should not be noticeably worse than any other nation. You beat SA by winning the collisions (or at least gaining parity), which is what NZ did.
Boks and All Blacks ready for epic showdown