Michael Cheika checks in at last

The one where, at least in the first half, the Queensland pigs were making the advantage line and often getting over it. We had a pretty good view from about the half way

Whilst I disagree with the argument that Cheika isn't a good coach, the number of players a club/franchise has starting in the national team, isn't the best argument as to how strong the club/franchise is. Chiefs and Highlanders would be good examples of this. They have lots of players who are in that level just below the starting team/squad. They only have 2 starting players each. (Smith x 2, Cruden(arguably) & Retallick). Yet you look at the sort of players they have in the wider squad and you see how stacked their rosters are (chiefs in particular). Chiefs players who aren't starting ABs but are very good Super Rugby players (/another nationality starting team) - H. Elliot, L. Messam, S. Cane, M. Leitch (Japan), A. Pulu, T. Kerr-Barlow, B.Webber, SBW, C. Ngatai, S. Tamanivalu (2014 ITM player of the year can't even crack the starting team), B. Heem, etc.) Highlanders players who aren't starting ABs but are very good Super Rugby players (/another nationality starting team) - M. Diaz, E. Dixon, M. Fekitoa, K. Hames, N. Manu, W. Naholo, P. Osbourne, D. Pryor, L. Sopoaga, F. Tanaka, R. Tongia, S. Treeby, J. Wheeler Once again, restating I agree that Cheika is a good coach at getting his players performing well, but, the number of players a club franchise has as starting national team members isn't always accurate as to the strength of their roster. For example, all of the Waratahs starting team have decent chances of being in the 31 man squad. (except Potgeiter, for obvious reasons)

found the highlights and watched it again. was possibly a little worse than i remembered but i tstill think the yellow was harsh. penalty yes. yellow no. he was moving at a pretty quick pace angling to get back behind the ruck. folau gets the ball, goes blindside and runs into thomson's side. definitely offside but i dont think it was cynical

Fair enough, was too late to withdraw it when I re-read it, and when I did it still didn't make a lot of sense, short sentences looking as though they were truncated. Anyway. Still looks like an over estimation of Foley at test level by even mentioning those names in the same post.. For me he's average, nothing special at international level and at times looked out of his depth. Good for the tahs, but strictly average internationally so far. Needs more time.

With all due respect Taylorman I think you have misinterpreted Bennelong's comments.

I'd just like to say that this thread is hysterical. I've never seen so many moderated posts on one Roar article.

Nah, the Reds could not even make the advantage line for most of the game, especially when they were dominating possession. They were continually cut down by the Tahs defence well before they reached the line of the ruck and actually lost more ground than they made. What game were you watching?

Thanks for the chuckle,Bennalong!!! jeznez-yeah mate-there are several that spring to mind--but 'your' right,that one is a doozie. I have long been toying with the idea of writing a piece-ostensibly rugby-related- that includes as many of them as possible. So far I have managed to 'reign' myself in! ;-)

No it adjusted well before then, and in any case Lance is no more a playmaker than anyone else. Comparing him to Beale in that respect is just not sustainable. The idea that Foley "needs Beale" is based on nothing more than the fact that he plays with him, and that in turn is so simply because it is what the Waratahs coach game plan requires. In the same way, Foley has played most of his test career at 10 with Toomua outside of him, and seen a lot of tries scored in the process. That doesn't mean Foley "needs" Toomua, it just means they are both good players.

So in one paragraph you've managed to determine that foley and Quade are better than DC, merts and Spencer, when neither has had anywhere near the distinguished record of any of them at either sxv or test level. Do you know how many superxv those three took their teams to? More than one that's for sure...each of them. So is 'foley plays like a NZer' a good thing or bad? And from one that does understand the ten position I can understand why Oz rugby is where it is if this is typical of its thinking...though I'm confident enough to say it isn't. Anyway, your opinion and you're welcome to it.

"Beating of playing against low table opposition does not need excessive praise, it dulls the senses to what’s really going on." This is the point you keep repeating, in post after post: "David Lord praises the Waratahs, therefore that will cause them to lose". And as others keep asking in response: Why do you think that any Super player reads the Roar? Now, I appreciate that your problem is actually with the author of the article, but the question still remains, what is the relevance of this point? And in any case, where is the "excessive praise" in this particular article? I would be really interested to see if you can identify any sentences that could be said to fit that description. .

He was appalling.

I like Louwrens.

Loose and lose is the one that always sticks in my craw.

Once again don't know what you're on about but we've moved on from this one. My point is average was made out to be something special, as it was last week. Beating of playing against low table opposition does not need excessive praise, it dulls the senses to what's really going on. Three teams put 40 points on the Cheetahs immediately before the tahs did and they didn't get a lot of attention, yet Folau increases his tally from 3 to 6, a mediocre amount of tries this year...Pocock, perenara and seven or so others have more, and it's worthy of a masterclass performance. In general I think oz rugby this year is in a worse state than last year because few players are putting their hand up, and no sxv side is standing out, and there should be more concern. But if you want me to paint a beautiful rosy picture for you then I can diplomat. But then I'd be lying. And I wouldn't want to do that. But that is the extent of your contribution? Do you not have an original thought yourself? You just want to pipe up and criticise someone for having an opinion?

Taylorman "mr Lord not doing them any favours praising (Cheika and Folauu)"? Sure mate, another case of those Aussie peacocks reading, understanding and believing whatever hyperbole a professional click-baiter (with respect, Mr Lord) throws up. You do know that contributors like David Lord write these articles just to set off the Kiwi Reflex, don't you? Definition 'kiwi reflex- speak positively about an Aussie team or players chances with the intention of igniting the indignation of all people of the 'humble and better at rugby' nation, to the point that a certain number of the said nation respond to say 'Aussies talking em selves up again. I best get on the blog straight away and with repetition to remind Aussies to be humble (like us) and to casually mention, in passing, "by the way, our nation is better at rugby (and also at being humble)" I doubt that Chek or Izzy read Lord's articles, Tman. Anyway, the Tahs success, or lack of it, is a product of many factors, including Daryl Gibson, and a number of NZ born players. We respect you guys, and honestly wish it was reciprocal.

Dennis is the Tahs captain not Hooper

Thanks to the moderator for cleaning up this thread. I'm only sorry I tried to read through it whilst doing solo breakfast this morning before he got to it. David, it occurs to me that blaming the players for not following the Cheika playbook may not be considering the possibility that he is to blame for their spotted form. Despite him being from Randwick I lauded him for getting us a Super title last year but I think it's then also reasonable that he takes some heat for the team losing two games to the Force this year. Can't own the success of 2014 without taking some responsibility for the patchy efforts this year. If we win again is it all Cheika?

You rank White before Phipps as a playmaker, but last in decision making with Phipps first! Crazy! Add in that Foley will be 10 Where does that put your selection? Then think what Cheika will do...............????!!!!!!!!

All good tackle counts! So?