It was the best of games, it was the worst of games, it was a game of nous, it was a game of baffling drudgery.
It wasn’t a dark and stormy night. I’m in Thailand and it was a balmy 32 degrees.
I do have Setanta on cable though which is, quite luckily, 24/7 rugby. Both the England v All Blacks game and the Wallabies last tour match against Wales were being shown, oh, the joy!
One small gripe, the England game was live and the Wallabies replayed directly after, but, better than nothing and I had supplies enough to last the night.
Fridge fully stocked with of Thailand’s finest ales I settled in for an enjoyable night of rugby. What I was served up with was dour, bland, boring mush. Dinner over, and the cook thoroughly chastised for a poor attempt at lasagne, I sat myself down in front of the telly and prepared for the night’s entertainment.
On the back of two close losses to the number two and three ranked teams the young English side did not disappoint. They gave an early scare by fronting up for the anthem in Barney jackets, but mercifully shed them to reveal their proper kit.
They pushed hard, they ran hard, running angles and hitting gaps in a weakened All Black line. Apart from an exciting 10 minutes after half time the All Blacks, showing age, the strain of a long season, and a nasty stomach bug, had no answer to this outright aggression and gave up a record losing margin in an enthralling game.
Now for the Main Event. The Wallabies farewelling Nathan Sharpe against a weakened Wales struggling to find players to fill positions. Surely this would be the game that would send the message that fast, inventive, running rugby is not dead in Camp Wallaby.
What better way to see out a retiring trooper than with a dragon slaying try-fest. After all, we had beaten a stronger Welsh side in our last three meetings.
A few early kicking duels to no good effect, A missed penalty that a more aggressive team may have opted to send into touch. At the 10 minute mark I took stock. Despite having nearly all the possession we had done nothing.
Nada, zip zilch. Kurtley at 10 is serviceable, but he has no plan. More importantly the rest of the back line has little idea of what he is going to do. We dominated the line outs and the breakdown but could not find it in us to attack.
Wales saw this and the next 60 minutes were a rerun of dinner, boring, dour and bland kick happy rugby that Wales was definitely getting the better of. Despite injuries forcing a very odd team indeed with four opensides on at one point, the Welsh were not only holding us out, it was they who were breaking lines and threatening.
The only scoring plays were 50m penalties. We did not once look like threatening the Welsh line.
I briefly tried to liven myself up with a impromptu drinking game, the rules were simple: every time we kicked away possession I would finish my drink. It was soon clear that not even a prodigious thirst brought on by being in tropical paradise with not much to do could keep up with that and I soon fell by the wayside.
Our centres won’t offload or pass. Neither do our wingers on the rare occasion they get the ball with space. Where are the patterns? Where are the set piece attacks that they must surely train and drill endlessly until the movements are instinctive?
And Phipps, yes he gives fast service, but with the five second rule everyone is giving fast service now. The service he gives is like a fast food chain, not much waiting but what your end up with is crap. Big loopy slow passes that the runners have to both break step and take high, ensuring they have the wrong body position and no momentum into contact.
Contrast this with the snappy, waist high gain line passes that were a hallmark of England’s earlier effort. Beale and Barnes both kicked the leather off the ball for usually little effect. Too few kicks found touch and too many formed the basis of a Welsh counter.
Yes we won the game, with a final lucky break and a dodgy pass in the dying seconds that would not have been called in other circumstances.
Is this what a million dollars a year of senior coach delivers? Schoolboy errors and a totally ineffective style of play? What exactly are we getting for our money? For that much money, couldn’t find time to teach them how to pass, how to take a high ball, run a few drills perhaps? Expert soldiers train simple tasks incessantly, ensuring that when needed, the skill will come into play.
Sharp took and missed the conversion, a move fitting but no doubt infuriating punters everywhere, closing a hard fought career with a highlight reel where the last year is all rubbish.
As I waited for the conversion a single thought clattered up through the pile of empty Thailand’s finest that surrounded me: ”Time Gentlemen, time.”
To assist him on his departure,I have taken the liberty of writing his farewell speech.
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
You’re welcome Robbie.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
So are mine and it said most tries were scored off the line out Cheers
Neuen
Roar Rookie
1) You are right there the referee was wrong on that occasion. http://www.sareferees.com/laws/view/2829901/ bit so where England http://www.sareferees.com/laws/view/2829900/ 2) Because he caught NZ scrumming illegally England not 3)Because of illegal scrumming which is deem to be dangerous? Again time and specific incidents. NZ were penalized 3 times and England once in the scrum 4) You have to give a better example here. Like time in the game and specific incidents. If you can see the ball do not mean the ball is there to be played. There might be something holding it up or it might be out and NZ not reacting to it. Could be a lot of things.
deanB
Guest
It is a compliment to the status of the All Blacks and the challenge they present, that a win over them is so cherished. There are plenty of mountains in the world to climb, but only one Everest.
mark
Guest
ah no. my stast are iRB stats. i'm sure a lot of tries can be traced back from lineout wins, yes, but they still mainly come from the 2nd or 3rd phase.
TheGreyGhost
Guest
Clancy "evened things up" late in the second spell where he suddenly could see English men off their feet and committing cynical offences (cue yellow card). In the last two minutes NZ came within a whisker of scoring twice. First Vito dropped the ball cold with the try line beckoning, and secondly, what was more than likely a try was not even referred to the TMO. How many times have you seen that? not often. I'd make four further points. 1) What on earth was Read penalised for when he competed for the restart? And why was a "team warning" issued for "jumping in the air too early"? I've scoured the law book but can't find a transgression related to that. 2) Why was the NZ scrum penalised so quickly? and yet the English scrum reset so many times? 3) The English scrum was twisted beyond recognition on four occassions, every single time it was the ABs who were penalised. Why? 4) Why was the England 9 given so much time at the back of the ruck? There were significant delays there, well beyond the 5 seconds. As far as I can tell, the entire game, with the exception of the last two minutes were called under laws and interpretations more akin to 2003 than 2012.
Expat in Mongolia
Guest
Enough lads. We can't win every game and England deserved to win this one. One win does not make a champion. It only identifies potential. History tells a different version and long term the Land of the Long White Could will prevail (aka... It's human nature to celebrate the first win in 10 years). Harden up boys.... Bring on 2013.
s.t.rine
Guest
Article is absolutely spot-on, & reiterates what Campo has been preaching.. The last game of an 'iffy' four-test series & Ws more clueless than ever. At this rate I hope Lions visit is NOT broadcast in US S T
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Sorry you are so wrong. NZ scored most of their tries from line outs in the RWC. In fact most of the tries in the 2011 RWC came from the line outs.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Penalties conceded England - 11(Ruck/maul=5; Scrum=1; Offside=3; Other=2) NZ - 13(Ruck/maul=5; Scrum=3; Offside=4; Other=1) Lost possessions/ Turnovers conceded Eng - 19 (Ruck/Mauls=3; Penalties=2; Free Kicks=2; Lineouts=1; Handling errors=6; Forced into touch=3; Other=2) NZ - 17 (Ruck/Mauls=4; Penalties=3; Lineouts=2; Handling errors=5; Forced into touch=2; Other=1) "Other"=Things like stripping of the ball. If a penalty or free kick happens at a set piece (e.g., lineout scrum) it is counted in penalties and free kick because the set piece, used to restart play, has not been completed Free kicks conceded Eng - 3(Scrum=1; Lineout=1; Other=1) NZ - none Who did he favor? Seems consistent to me. I agree with the rucks and mauls and te flooding of the breakdown as I mentioned that in another article. But another factor was Englands tactical kicking and the chase made a big difference. Contestable time in opposition's 22 ENG - 1st half=1:58; 2nd half=2:39; Total game=4:37 NZ - 1st half=0:14; 2nd half=3:9; Total game=3:22 The old rule of play the game in your opponents half was very well applied by England. Dagg was caught out a few times You want a complete break down and comparison between international referees have a look at this PDF http://www.ruckingoodstats.com/context/file?id=3402
Jiggles
Roar Guru
BBB I stayed up to watch rugby on Saturday night, but it was the All Blacks v England game I decided to watch, not Australia. I don't regret it either.
mark
Guest
no they played as 15 professional test match players against another 15 professional test match players. the fact that we no longer run riot against european sides is something we now need to get used to. it's almost as if they practice in order to be able to tackle us nowadays. hmmmm
AdamS
Roar Guru
Set pieces, practiced patterns, trained running support. All missing. The Wallabies play like 15 strangers, some seemingly from the AFL and a few pulled from the crowd who are told to go out and wing it. In a good side,even broken play has some structure, in the sense that if I have the ball and am doing "this", I know that players x and y will be doing "that" behind me.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Not taking anything away from the English, they played hard and fast and deserved the win. The AB's though did look flat the whole game, apart from the 10 min after the half where,perhaps with a little help from the team doctor, they had some zip. Maybe the virus, maybe the long season,they just didn't look up for the match.
mark
Guest
'Where are the set piece attacks that they must surely train and drill endlessly until the movements are instinctive?' mate its not 1992. set piece attacks rarely result in anything in the modern game because these days defenses actually know how to tackle and teams in attack know how to recycle ball with regularity. get with the times. most tries are scored from 2nd or 3rd phase. thats why we generally go into contact from set piece, eg with Palu from a lineout, and try to recycle the next two phases quickly. if that fails, you simply have to kick because statistically from the 4th phase onward your chances of scoring depreciate rapidly with every phase to the point there is no point maintaining possession. it's 2012 not 1992!
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Jack - Bang on with this question "how many fans who in times past sat up to watch the spring tour games now do not. " There must be alarm bells going off at ARU HQ about the health of the game and the fact that even the most ardent Wallaby supporter has a breaking point that has now been reached. Surely those in charge of making decisions must know this! Even I am spotting less and less comments coming in on The Roar from respected guys & gals. Facts are that customers who aren't happy will only complain so much before walking away. :( In Oz change is happening all over the place at provincial level as fans expressed their disappointment or simply failed to show-up. But we seriously need to get a move on at Wallaby level as I sense that the good ship Wallaby is leaking more water than we are managing to pump out. And the result of that will be that more & more fans (customers) will simply opt to spend their hard earned folding stuff on another product that will make them and their family happy.
PJ
Guest
settle down everybody they hve won 3/4 games after a long year with half their full strength team misisng - they can only improve when the other half of the team come back in
carvin
Guest
I am an absolute rugby tragic and passionate wallabies supporter, but I can only spend so much more of my life watching such crap. The only reason WBs won was that Wales went into their shell with a 3 point lead and stopped throwing the ball around, which they did so well in the first half. Certainly had me wondering in the first half how and why they could find space everytime they got the ball out the backs with simple but well executed decoy running and draw and passing, and how after having almost all the possession for the first 30 odd minutes, WBs managed one line break through nothing other than crap defence. Their is something seriously wrong with the management/direction of this team, and Australia has a real problem at number 10. Your comments on Beale as a 5/8 are bang on the money. Hopeless, and always has been. Exceptional running full back though when he's on.
TheGreyGhost
Roar Rookie
I think he's referring to the Noro Virus when he says "weakened". I don't believe that personally. The game was won and lost at the breakdown. I believe NZ suffered here on two fronts. First, they've been susceptible in the tight all season and suffered when the opposition floods the area and then probes around the fringe relentlessly. Secondly, England were allowed to compete for the ball at the ruck in un-supported body positions. Check the difference between Clancy's rulings on ENG v NZ and Barnes' calling of Wales v Aus. Barnes was pinging players as soon as a knee touched the turf. Clancy was allowing full bridging and the "ruck monkey". NZ didn't like it and Aaron Smith spent his 65 minutes with hands raised appealing to Clancy to penalise. But Clancy was not forthcoming...in fact he didn't whistle for an Englishman off his feet at ruck time until 78 minutes had elapsed. Then he could suddenly see ALL of them, and 30 seconds later a yellow card was issued. Suddenly, quick ball flowed and NZ looked themselves for a brief spell. It's all about the breakdown. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining, NZ were naive to not adapt, as they had seen similar adjudication during the first half of the final NZ v SA RC match, but had apparently not learned. Add to that the restart where Clancy bizarrely pinged Read for competing and then watch the subsequent restarts as NZ are too frightened to compete for the ball and risk a yellow from the tetchy, and apparently anti-All Black referee.
Tony
Guest
I thought it wasn't a bad game, close with too much kicking in most of the 2nd half. Both the Wallaby's and Welsh could have scored a few tries if breaks were finished, both with multiple 50m plus breaks. Cover defense was very good. I also watched a bit of the French Top 14 and saw the halfback we should have playing, Luke Burgess, who was best on ground it that game for Toulouse. But at the time he left, lots of people were very critical of Burgess and he was soon always 2nd choice behind Genia. In terms of Deans, he consistently beat Ewan McKenzie while coaching Super rugby, including 2 finals, where McKenzie coached the Tahs to play a lot like the Wallabies are now ironically enough. Quade Cooper enabled McKenzie to coach a different style and for the Wallabies, this sometimes worked (and was great to watch when it did) and obviously at the Worl Cup, it didn't. So the Campo like Quade made both coaches look good at times and as tests are funnily enough the sterner 'test', he more frequently struggled for Deans - unlike Carter, who over time has become consistently, rather than sometimes 'world class'. Poor Quade, he has fallen for the spin from Nasser, a classic agent parasite who would prefer to keep his players alienated from others to create and us and them dynamic and so ensure they keep providing him with a paycheck, even while they alienate their prospective fan bases. Mundine, Sonny Bill, Quade, a pattern? ANyway he is an awesome attacking rugby player who needed someone to tell him some home truths - you need to be able to tackle well, you need to stop drinking in any public area, your worth as a person depends on your moral character, not how you have played your last game and yes, like most players, you have had some bad games, but rather than bag the team, the coach, the environment etc., you need to buckle up, eat some humble pie and learn from it.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Barnes, W owed us a forward pass didnt he? Nathan should have backed himself, he was accurate! Agree on Beale, He's a winger, not a 10 or 15. Harris or Lealifano should battle it out next year. Dingo does not have the players to do much better so agree to diagree. Centres that don't/can't/won't pass is one massive flaw. The Welsh were not the force they once were. Can't wait for the conspiracy theories re: the ABs.