VOTE: Wallabies DIY Rugby World Cup player ratings vs Uruguay

I would say that D.Pocock is having a lesser effect as pilferer simply because of what the referees are allowing at the rucks. The gate doesn't exist and the law requiring you can only touch the ball BEFORE an opponent arrives to form a ruck has blunted Pocock's efficiency. He isn't quick enough to get to the tackled player before the troops arrive. Also for the last couple of years the referees has allowed big ruck protectors to fall all over the tackled player and seal off the ball. In most cases the blokes who are getting pilfers are those fast enough (legs AND brain), to be first over the tackled player. Pilfers in the middle usually are because the tackled player lands within a metre or close to a strong ruck monkey or the tackler is fast enough to let go, get up and grab the ball. This is where S.Cane and A.Savea, patrolling both sides of the muddy middle, really come into play. Please note I am not picking on the AB in this example as England, France and SA all do the same. I watched parts of the NZ slaughter of Namibia yesterday. In one case a Namibia player makes a good run and is brought down about 5m from the AB line. S.Whitelock strolls up and joins the ruck at an angle of around 120° and wins the ball. Referee pays the pilfer, WTF???? Even worse in the WB vs Uruguay match, the TMO (B.Skeens) had to explain to the French referee what offside in a ruck is (Uruguay had a try disallowed because of the offside). The French referee had absolutely NO idea. Back to the AB match; in another section of play just before Ta'avao's try, for near 4 minutes the AB take the ball into 14 tackles (I actually counted them during play), 1 breakdown was an uncontested ruck and the ball quickly passed, 1 had the support players correctly on their feet and the other 12 rucks all had arriving players instantly going on their knees as they fall over the ruck, legs spread allowing the ball to come through to the ½back. Now admittedly only in 2 of those cases was a Namibia player down early to contest for the ball and was swatted away by cleanouts, but 12/14 of those breakdowns were illegal and allowed by the ref. Now how the f*^%#$%k can an opposing player compete for, ruck over or even hope to get at the ball. WR now sees it has a problem. Teams just fan out their defence and wait because unless a rare chance arrives, it is practically impossible to win ball against a well organised pack. The dunderheads at WR instead now want to make Rugby similar to NRL-lite by bringing in 50-22 kicks to force players out of the defence line. A decent field kicker like O.Farrell, J.Sexton or H.Pollard will think all their Xmases have come at once. This would turn a match into a lineout maul-a-thon or a penalty shootout. Will Carling was dead right when he said the IRB/WR is just a gang of useless gin-swilling old farts.

What do you think of Beale and CLL?

I just haven't seen him play that well much, though I did watch only 4 Brumbies games this year. and I wonder if we're over valuing him a little cause he's not Foley. But maybe I am wrong on him, I see he's better running with he ball than Foley... But I wouldn't have Beale in the 23. I think he is only a good playmaker/finisher inside the attacking 22 but just runs and kicks all over the place otherwise - good at beating the man in front of him, but not working within the structure. I prefer AAC

Good team but id swap Slipper for Kepu.He is better at everthing.

Great looking team. The only change I’d make is JOC and Kerevi. JOC has been a good distributor and solid in defence. Kerevi feels one dimensional and won’t bring in TK...

White continues to receive good reviews, I disagree, Wallabies look sharper with Genia. We now have two real wingers on board, good news. JP is the best thing since sliced bread, Journo’s and commentators going ballistic, Kafer tells us he’s the best ball handler we will ever see, high praise indeed, nice to see the young mans demeaner, well balanced, calm.

Kerevi has been underwhelming at this campaign unfortunately... I wonder if JOC at 12 against Georgia might be worth a crack...

White Toomua10 JOC12 TK13 MK11 JP 14 Genia Kerevi Beale Looks fair, although a tough call on CLL. And this selection puts OConnor or Beale as back up 10.

You wouldn't play Korobeti ahead of Beale, and use Petaia as the utility off the bench? To me neither Beale or Kepu are up to it anymore against good opponents

Pocock coming off the bench against England would make sense, to impact the breakdown later when they’re a little tireder, but I don’t quite see the form of the other backrowers as good enough to keep him there, though another good game by Dempsey might do it. I think against England, Kuridrani starting makes a lot of sense. You have to respect Tuilagi so much that you can’t not play him, and he ran terrific straight lines today, need more of that. I’d also move Toomua to 10 and J.O.C to 12. Might be missing something, but I don’t think Christian LL is quite up to it. Kerevi off the bench too. Again, like Pocock to try to impact late when their backs are tireder.

Nice team, that.

Hoges, everyone offers some skills, depends on what the coach wants for the team. LSL has played about 10 matches at blindside, great for the lineout and adds muscles in the middle but lazy getting to breakdowns and too slow for the wider channels. I guess the other upshot is he can fill in at lock in an emergency. Jack Dempsey pretty much has always played blindside for the Tahs and until his severe injury in 2017 was in the top flankers in Oz rugby. Not as tall, large or hard as LSL but much faster around the field and offers more at breakdowns. But I do NOT see J.Dempsey as a #8, nor as an emergency lock, he is too small. D.Pocock offers great defence and rugby nous about the field, is a right pest at breakdowns and has saved WB bacon in securing ball on attack a few times. But you lose one good jumper in the lineout. And it's not the Pocock of old, he has lost speed and new rugby laws of late make it more difficult to be a poacher if you don't have that speed to the tackle. Also like Dempsey he is still coming back to match fitness. I'm happy with M.Hooper (speedy tackling machine) and I.Naisarani (hard running #8) so the only contest is at #6 and reserve backrower between Pocock, LSL and Dempsey. I see it as horses for courses and who else is in the backrow. Pick LSL and breakdown suffers. Pick JD and hard man and lineout suffers (just a bit but it does). Pick Pocock and you protect your rucks but lose a ball runner. Perhaps all 3 should be given a run against Georgia and told "you're playing for a place in the team".

This talking down of players who went well because “it was just Uruguay” is silly. Why didn’t other players stand out? Why didn’t Pocock for example have any impact at all? Afterall, it was only Uruguay! Dempsey, after an early fumble played well. I think LSL, Pocock and Dempsey for Georgia. But I don’t think I’d select Pocock for England unless he has an absolute blinder.

To be fair any kid from the local under 12’s would offer more than LSL does.

Well, despite an aweful 1st half from the wallabies, the only upside is that it has made it a lot clearer who’s the 23 for the rest of the WC should be. CLL didn't make a mark on this game and I feel should be overlooked for the remaining games (bench spot against georgia). Petaia was outstanding with every touch... give him the left flank. Here is my view for the rest of the RWC. 1. SIO (solid up front) 2. Latu (accurate and strong over ball) 3. Alaalatoa (good field play) 4. Rodda (mongrel up front) 5. Arnold (solid world cup so far) 6. LSL (need big ball runners in tight) 7. Hooper (never stops) 8. Naisarani (solid and a big unit) 9. White (although hasn’t been great) 10. Tomoua (plays straight and kicks well) 11. Petaia (5 touches, all world class) 12. Kerevi (Just needs to look for offload) 13. Kurandrani (JOC better as utility) 14. Koroibete (solid and getting better) 15. DHP (safest at the back) 16. Fainga’a (next best) 17. Kepu (experience) 18. Toupo (has X factor late in game) 19. Coleman (impact off the bench) 20. Pocock (can cover 6, 7 and 8) 21. Genia (can be world class still) 22. JOC (can play 10 if required) 23. Beale (covers 11, 14, 15) Tough call between LSL and Pocock to start at 6, however beleive a bigger ball runner will be key against Engalnd and if we get through that the ABs in the SF. A fast finishing, Pocock led forward pack, will prove to be very valuable I feel. Others; AAC, great servant, however it’s Petaia’s time Foley, well nothing to say there. Simmonds, time has past and others have come to the fore at lock.

A.Alaalatoa and M.Toomua both got an 8 from me. The MotM T.Kuridrani got a 7, he ran good lines and was strong in defence. A shame J.Petaia got another hammy twinge as he was heading for a 9-10 score. Not a complete performance, Fox Tah fan commentators now sprouting up J.Dempsey for a start over D.Pocock and LSL. As W.Horman did not say "One run against a lightweight Uruguay pack Doth not Maketh a Powerful International Backrower Man" :)