The Wallabies played wonderfully well the other night against England, recording a 27-17 win. The Deans era continues its ascent from the Jones/Connolly doldrums to a youthful, vibrant, but most of all, courageous team of breathtaking ball playing skill.
Scrumtime was more a matter of a scrummaging session similar to the U16A’s going up against the 2nd XV pack.
It confirmed several things: missing Alexander, Robinson, Polata Nau, Horwill, Vickerman and Moore leaves a hole – a big hole.
The youngsters that came in, need to get better – a lot better.
The second and backrows need to drive through and stay bound longer to support the front row. The incumbents possess great courage and passion. This group will improve and this will put pressure on the first tier as they return from injury.
But while our youngsters were at scrum practice, the backs were simply scintillating.
Burgess was the best player on the field and repaid the faith that Deans had shown in him when most had given up. Coaching can be very rewarding!
The Cooper train keeps rolling on.
Let’s all hope that the Queensland Judge presiding over Cooper’s impeding case is a rugby fan. Barnes kicked well and Horne, despite few opportunities, was using his exceptional strength and speed at the breakdown and in defence.
Mitchell was involved and showed what a good player he can be if he gets serious and plays with consistency. Ioane was surprisingly error prone but, as always, ran straight and hard.
O’Connor was dangerous every time he got the ball.
But I was most impressed with the final ingredient of the Australian performance – the defence.
Every tackle counted and was offensive. On numerous occasions, the Australian tackler slewed their target sideways with the force of the tackle.
England were England. They stuck with their decades old game plan. Select old guys, play a forward dominated game, ignore the backs.
Sure, they were dominant up front at scrum time. But Australia won every other aspect of the game, at least partially because the England team did not play. I assess, or should I say guess, that their performance was made up of the wrong tactics and mindset and the Wallabies just not letting them get into the game.
This was a wonderful game by the Wallabies and one that brings in the crowds, not just because of the win, but because of the passion and skill on display.
England disappointed and were schooled by Australia in almost every department of the game, other than the scrum.
amband
Guest
given the trouble he found hinself in he's luck to be in it at all
Sheldon
Roar Rookie
Nice piece lefty. Lets see how well the "Cooper train" goes after he has played our Springboks and roughed up a little. I am still not convinced he has the temperament for internaional rugby.
amband
Roar Rookie
quote " Jones/Connolly doldrums ": Give me Jones as the coach any day. Deans is second rate. The side he coached in NZ was awell balanced great side. Easy for a coach I am at a loss why we can't find chaps who can dominate the front row. It is something our kids missout on in the diet, or is it the private school syndrome? Who knows why Argentinians are well known as physically strong and we are not. Why is this?
Hugo
Guest
KINGPLAYMAKER - I'm not Tindall's agent. I don't even know his brother-in-law. But I do know that, after Wilko, Tindall will be the first back selected for Sydney simply because England have had umpteen centre combos and he's the only current midfield player the England management see as a go-to guy. Despise him all you want, the fact remains he's in the team because he performed better against the Ws last Saturday than any other back. It's not about potential. It's about tiny scraps of hope Jonno and his coaches can snatch at. Glimmers of light in a dark scenario. We straight on that? Good. LAS - because of geography I saw the game eating a bowl of Fruit Loops washed down with a noble Sunkist. How were the softshall crabs cooked? With lemon grass or garlic? I spent 15 years in the UK, and a few in the Haute Savoire. You want to talk restaurants? You start. High time this forum had some gastronomic input.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Good point but who wants to expose those armpits to our noses! If we had kept the ball instead of all the knock-ons we would have earned the extra 23 points - just a skills gap at the moment.
Tom
Guest
On your last sentence, I think the latter part is more accurate. England were absolutely abysmal, but managed to stay in contention on the back of their scrum. If you switched front rows, Australia win by 50+.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
A Work In Progress - I am looking forward to the coming year, the pieces are there. I just wish they were self-assembling and did not require so much coaching to bring it out. And yes to both of you, successful Rugby teams are a controlled explosion (preferably well acted) that tolerates nothing on the field. Its called presence.
James D
Guest
The backs were very good but i dont think scintillating yet. Once they develop the combinations they will become scintillating and a tri nations threat.
James D
Guest
We had plenty of mongrel at the breakdown just not at the scrum.
Lee
Guest
Forwards win games, backs decide by how much. No one should be doubting the attacking prowess of the Wallabies backs, I would be a bit more worried about the Wallabies lack of mongrel in the pack though.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Precisely, defense wins games, attack decides by how much. If Dingo decides to use England matches as a training games then they are training games. Until his contract is up he will try to build from what the other less than exciting Super 14 coaches have missed. Point: should all S14 coaches automatically become assistant coaches to the natonal teams? Keep them in the loop!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
we have heard lots about the importance of a dominant scrum, and the importance of props. (Sun Herald yesterday for Adam Freier's rabbiting on!!!! LOL) but, England, even with the dominant scrum didnt get a sniff. Is this because the importance of a dominant scrum is overstated or because England were so appalling everywhere else???????
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Leftarm it's amazing Tindall is still playing international rugby. Only Johnson could come up with that one. Horne should realise though that you can't run straight through him easily. That kind of defense is the only thing he still does well. You have to run around him, which is prettily easily done.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Leftarm I think the problem is not whether Johnson is experienced or not but simply that he ahs not talent as a manager/coach. He's been in the job two years now and far from showing any improvement actually seems to have got worse if that is possible. If you look carefully the nature of the decisions and tactics displays such a profound lack of talent that it's obvious he cannot succeed at this job. The choice of atrocious players like Goode, Banahan, Erinle is something no professional manager/coach should be capable of, to choose just one of many examples.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Lets get the Roar going!!!!! Manu a Manu, code against code............... To all those soccer fans, and I use that term on the basis that the World cup is being played in a ground named Soccer City!!!!!! The Socceroos and their fans have been bundled out of the World Cup in one easy lesson. Germany lost their senior player and captain, Ballack. they concluded that this would release the younger players that had been blooded in the previous 4 years................. and adopted a much more offence based style of play!!!! So to have the Wallabies gone for youth and a more expansive playing style. The Socceroos rode the train of proven but ageing players. that train derailed this morning at their first real test. a generation has been lost............
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Here I am taking about a player that I apparently watched but DID NOT NOTICE last Saturday night!!!!! lost his pace, oh dear. He is in real trouble!!!! against the Aussies................If they have one thing, it is pace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Hugo, that is the role of the 5/8. You make it sound like it is something new??? R U a pom, or just someone possessing very low expectations of the England rugby team and in particular their backs!!!!!!!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Sheek, great minds think alike. While Deans has been losing games while blooding youngsters and changing the culture and playing style, Pim has stuck with the pensioners, Kewell etc. They got through the qualifying rounds easily but are now paying the price, t'would appear. just lucky I didnt stay up or get up to watch it!!!!!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Hugo, i had been out for a lovely thai meal featuring soft shell crabs and a couple of vinos!!!! by my observation, it was exhilarating, as far as back play goes. The unpredictable attack of Burgess, Cooper, O'Connor and the predictable but difficult to defend against attack of Ioane and Mitchell, and despite Horne not getting any attacking ball, there is firepower to burn!!!!!! (if that is possible!!!! LOL) Worst case scenario is that the Wallabies will have to make sure that they dont let England into the 22 and quick strikes by the hooker and quick removal by the 8. Tindall, know the name and that is it. I am none the wiser after saturday night......... and therein lies the problem............. Dont select Genia in the run on. Make Burgess repeat the performance and Genia earn it!!! Gits for Barnes is a no brainer, but I would like AAC at 13, Horne at 12. (not my original idea, read it on the Roar) the second row and back row have quite a bit of responsibility for the scrum woes............ they didnt stay fully bound and pushing!!!!!
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
I realise that. I was lucky enough to spend 13 years in the UK watchin' many international matches at Twickers, Paris, Dublin, Cardiff and Edinburgh. coaches need to develop. Just look at Link. His tahs were boring. a few seasons later, and His reds are also breathtaking!! He has adapted, learnt from his mistakes and is a far better coach as a result. As regards the weak defence of England, I can only agree. the 2nd Cooper try was down to a simple over lap from a set piece. Not a misread. The Aussies just presented more players than England. Unheard of at international level. And, yes, it is a very important reality check to remember the real challenges to come will be from NZ and SA. If nothing else, it will be wrapped in a much more broadly based, higher skill level and try scoring style of rugby.