The Wallabies have lost their second Test of the England tour, meaning the series has been a victorious one for England. Here are five observations I made from the Test.
1. I’m amazed at how mentally fragile the Wallabies were
This was presumably as a result of the pounding their forwards took in the first Test. The game was there for the taking if they’d just kept their cool- specifically Sekope Kepu’s dull shove on Maro Itoje at the first line out (which he probably reminded him about all game), Stephen Moore’s pointless shoulder charge after the Wallabies had been awarded a penalty and most of all the continuous kicking for touch in the second half.
If you’re dominating territory and possession, losing by only six points and get a penalty in front of the posts with 20 minutes to go, the only reason for kicking to the corner to try and muscle and maul your way over is hubris.
2. England’s back row dominance
If you chose a combined back row from the first two Tests it would be all white. Who’d have thought it?
3. Craig Joubert
With a terrible pitch and high tension, I thought he did pretty well to control the game and I don’t really understand Cheika’s criticism.
I certainly think allowing play to carry on if the scrums have collapsed but are stationary with the ball at the back (especially given the pitch) is a big step forward.
4. Phil Kearns
For reasons I won’t try to justify, I had to watch the game on YouTube after I knew the result with the Australian commentary. Given his reputation, I thought it might be an amusing side show but it was just embarrassing and a little sad, especially if you’re older enough to remember watching him play against Sean Fitzpatrick and trying to decide who was better.
How do you put up with him?
5. Where next for England?
A plea to All Blacks supporters – don’t respond to click bait from the odd delusional England fan. However 2017 could be interesting.
The Lions have got no chance given their schedule, preparation time and the size of the task (arguably harder than winning a World Cup) but if England can keep improving next year’s tour could be interesting.
Peter
Guest
Please can someone step up and kick a ball over the cross bar, Foley is woeful, I cant count on my fingers and toes how many games we have lost because of his boot, REALLY!!!. Moore needs to rally his troops,needs to getup them moore(pardon the pun) It also feels like we are being punished for what happened in England WRC because of Scotland and England not being in the finals first country ever not to be in the finals that that hosted the WRC. By no way do I excuse the Wallabies bad form, but it wasn't helped,as always as apparently anyone can high tackle a Wallaby ,punch them,stomp on them& chastise and not get a yellow card. But I did think for a small moment when they got angry, they got that fire back in their belly ,that I loved and use to see many moons ago and they played better for a moment. And I love my Wallabies win or Lose.
toadflax
Roar Rookie
Really? I think we are all too focused on the here and now and not thinking about the future. Have you chaps been enjoying the photos of Chekia, Mick Byrne and Brad Thorn all having a good old natter up at Suncorp recently. The Chekia/Byrne bromance on Rugby 360 is also interesting to watch. planning for 2019 began a few weeks ago - and started with a contract extension
toadflax
Roar Rookie
Oh. OK - or you can't think. Just go and look at what he has won or is runners up in - then slap yourself three times - hard.
Bakkies
Guest
Resignation? He just a signed an extension
Timbo (L)
Guest
My beef and it was probably missed by many, The English were stalling so they could catch their breath. Slow to Scrums, Line outs, Penalties. They even got a formal warning that was forgotten by the second half. Australia's game plan relied on wearing out the English forwards. This probably says more about the plan, not he ref.
CUW
Guest
lol, we seem to have watched 2 different games. in the one i watched, owens not only says there was s shoulder from white 12 to gold 10, he also indicates that with the gesture of a drop-shoulder . then he says just have a word with him. that is when joubert goes to check it. so if owens did not see it clearly, he must have been dreaming the numbers and also the miming of a shoulder charge :) funny how people change things to suit their views.
Jerry
Guest
"owens did not tell to have a look- he said to caution farrell for a shoulder charge." Completely wrong. Owens said he's seen Foley go down and wanted to check if there was anything untoward in how he was knocked down. He explicitly said he hadn't seen it clearly.
JimmyB
Guest
The Ch 10 commentary is about as good as the Ch 9 commentary for cricket, ie not very.
JimmyB
Guest
Ffs. Farrell didn't shoulder charge Foley, that would have required him to run into Foley rather than the other way around. The fact that you're labouring this point and blaming the ref for the loss rather than the Wallabies says a great deal.
JimmyB
Guest
Look at their eyes! Farrell is looking at the ball and Foley is looking at Farrell. The fact that Foley collapsed like he'd been shot is pretty embarrassing too. Clear, unequivocal penalty to England - Joubert was spot on in that instance.
AlexG
Guest
Nothing clear about it. Whatever, its done now.
AlexG
Guest
Agreed, his two weaknesses were tackling with his head and poor throwing. Fingers crossed he's fixed both of those. What a player.
AlexG
Guest
Interesting point on one of the other articles about Leroy Houston for 8.
Jerry
Guest
"Absolutely right on all 3 points. Look up the IRB’s ruling on neck grabs – neck grabs are to be treated severely!" Please provide the link where World Rugby says a neck grab trumps all other subsequent foul play. They said neck grabs run the risk of a card - not that neck grabs are a mandatory card. Joubert decided in this case it wasn't a card but a penalty only and Moore's foul play reversed the penalty.
trummy
Guest
The penalty was reversed because the ref had blown to stop the game when the shoulder went in-so a good decision. The Foley/Farrell incident was amusing . Owen's thought Farrell was at fault but he was not in a good position to see the lines being run. The replay clearly showed Foley obstructing Farrell,s DIRECT route to the ball so correct decision. (Even more amusing if you had the Aussie commentary jokers spouting at the same time
timber
Guest
Oz don't have the forwards to play that game, Skelton is woefully unfit, Timani has poor work rate, Houston has no track record other than being a sub for the Reds years back and Holloway isn't a power carrier. It worked for one season at Super level and then other sides worked it out how to counter it, and those forwards who were physically dominating collisions at Super level will find it far more difficult to translate to test level.
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
I think Aussie fans hope not....
Not Bothered
Guest
Foley clearly ran into Farrell to stop him getting to the ball.
Not Bothered
Guest
You said England couldnt beat Aus TM.
JimmyB
Guest
What are you on about?