There were some strange twists and turns in this match, and it’s hard to imagine that this could have been the All Blacks highest score against the Wallabies had Daniel Carter kicked the final conversion.
Going into this game there were genuine hopes that the home side might be able to end the visitors seven game winning streak against them, but all that came to a screaming halt at about the same time the Wallabies failed to find touch from a penalty that was a result of Owen Franks being yellow carded.
The Wallabies inability to capitalise or take advantage of certain situations is severely lacking. It was only one kick but it needed to find touch. The fact that it didn’t, let the All Blacks off the hook, and was perhaps a turning point in the match.
Another example was when Drew Mitchell scored off a charge down only to have the same thing happen at the other end moments later. The few times that they were in a position to capitalise an unforced error would release the pressure.
Poor old Rocky Elsom, he couldn’t take a trick. First he complains to the referee that the All Blacks were slowing the ball down only to have it backfire when Drew Mitchell was red carded for doing exactly that. He inadvertently got his own man sent off!
There were also some puzzling decisions throughout the match. Had the officials managed to get Sam Whitelock’s number he would have been yellow carded for a highly effective and perfectly legal tackle. Seriously, the referees are just getting a bit to eager to hand out yellow cards.
Another questionable decision was when the All Blacks were penalised for collapsing the scrum five metres out from their own line when it was clear the ground gave way underneath them. How was it their fault?
Although neither coach complained, the surface wasn’t really good enough although plenty of points were scored.
The other questionable decision was to play Matt Giteau at ten considering how well he has played all year at 12. What was Robbie thinking?
James O’Connor looks lost on the wing and is much better suited to fullback. They could do worse than give Kurtley Beale a start next week and perhaps give someone like Lachie Turner a run on the wing.
johnny-boy
Guest
Amen fos
formeropenside
Guest
If you dont contest lineouts, you cede possession right there. I understand why you dont - to defend against a maul - but IT IS NOT WORKING. Contest lineouts, and you change the game. Also, if you are kicking long against the ABs (or, say, a penalty for the line) then PUT THE BALL OUT. Fix those simple errors, then work on restarts.
sheek
Guest
Nathan, Some thoughts on personnel (very quickly cobbled together) ... 1. This is the best starting front row we have??? Yes, for Robinson & perhaps Moore, but not Ma'afi. Until we get a dominant front-row we can't expect to impose ourselves on other teams. It all starts in the front row... 2. Continuing the tight 5 problems, we've short of dominant locks. Sharpe is barely passable, Mumm off the pace. Would like to see Horwill return next year, while we have some good young charges coming through. 3. Pocock is sensational, & Higginbotham must come in. Elsom to eightman, although it seems to me he has lost pace. Might end up at lock. 4. Genia & Cooper are fine at 9 & 10, but we have to be realistic they mightn't always be available (injuries). So it's important to have a good backup. 5. We need a new centre combo. Horne is out for the year & I remain to be convinced. Faainga also shows promise. Would love to see Chambers in Wallaby jumper next year. Some argue 13 is AAC's best position. I'm inclined to agree... 6. Wing is perhaps O'Connor's ONLY position! Once he goes beyond 'youth & potential', it will be interesting to see if can still hold a place in the 22. Otherwise, plenty of other useful options on the wing. 7. I would prefer Shepherd to Beale at the back, providing Shep's body holds together. 8. Elsom as captain is the best of an ordinary pool of candidates. Gania & Pocock aren't ready for national captaincy, while Horwill needs to regain his place first. So it's Elsom for the time being... But our basics are so poor - kick-offs & restarts, controlling the breakdown, reading the game, taking options, defence.....
Nathan
Roar Pro
It's always fixable but their minds weren't on the job. They are just too inconsistent from minute to minute, let alone from week to week. You just can't afford to do that against the All blacks and expect to get away with it. Missed tackles, ill discipline, basic errors and missed opportunities are going to cost you. Constant positional changes, left and right side goal kickers, dubious choice of captain, questionable selections etc has left an unbalanced side that is just too inconsistent. They desperately need someone to steady the ship.
el gamba
Guest
Nathan, some good points. I agree that our inability to take opportunities hurt us and the AB's certainly took their chances. The reciprocal chargedown was a good example of this, so too were the next two AB try's which, arguably, put the game beyond reach early. Isolated on the right touch line (ACC I think) turned the ball over (not the one were it popped out but where JOC, all 70kg's dripping wet bless his cotton socks, was blown off the clean-out.) Shortly after, Corey Jane put the sweet chip kick over. Lesson? Don't get isolated against the AB's - they will punish you. The next started when the AB's stole our lineout on the halfway line, Carter isolated AAC with a well chased kick. Nonu and Smith didn't bother thinking about considering to attempt to contemplate rolling away as tacklers and the ball popped out for Richie to finish. Lesson? Win your own lineouts. The try's the AB's scored in the second half were due to reasonably simple side to side rugby against a tiring 14 man side. This was the strange thing watching, a few basic errors were punished by the AB's, outside of this I thought we looked pretty good around the park. Overall it shows that the AB's are a great team that will take their opportunities to punish you. So.... don't give them anything..
Richierich
Guest
Australia were good in patches they know that but what concerns me is can they fix the problems