Roar Guru
Joined August 2012
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2014 is a pivotal year for Stuart Lancaster and England. Lancaster has now had two years in the job, and a surprisingly large amount…
English involvement in the Autumn internationals has concluded and, as follows in sport, now is the time for appraisal and evaluation. So how did…
The New Zealand rout aside, England were worryingly ordinary during the 2012 November internationals. It was a very young and inexperienced side, and the…
The back row is always perceived as the most competitive area of selection for the Lions, but aside from Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate…
The 2009 Lions pack saw a number of Gatland’s favourites selected, and the repercussions were immediate and devastating. The composition of the pack for…
Loosehead prop is possibly an area of concern for the English rugby side in the absence of Alex Corbsiero. Joe Marler is yet to…
This is definitely satire. I’m not falling for it this time.
Poetry in motion: Only the All Blacks can beat the Boks
Hendricks can’t kick, can’t pass and is defensively weak. He’s a Sevens player. George North is a world class rugby player. Honestly, the mind boggles sometimes.
Poetry in motion: Only the All Blacks can beat the Boks
You could look at it that way, or you could wonder why you’re scraping past Wales t home and why you’re scraping past a side ranked 12th in the world. Play like that against a firing NZ and they will put 100 past you.
Springboks sneak past Pumas in Argentina
Mick referred to 2012 and 2013. Hansen took over a side with a hugely experienced core, and the spine of that WC side has been maintained.
Hansen: All Blacks are just too powerful
Fardy impressed me last season, but he’s a defensive sort of forward. A tight flanker, if you follow? As Palu has got older he’s become less of a threat when carrying, and so I think Fardy-Palu is a little too defensive as a combination, especially with Carter and Simmons offering very little around the park.
Higginbotham is good in the air, is aggressive, and carries well. Just the sort of player you need against the Springboks.
McKenzie set to make widespread changes to Wallabies
Kaino can change the direction of games – Messam can’t. Beating a stereotypically powderpuff Wallaby pack up at Eden Park doesn’t change that.
More Test rugby records for McCaw
‘Hendricks and Bryan Habana offer as much pace, guile and finishing polish as any set of wings in the world’
Satire again, Harry?
Poetry in motion: Only the All Blacks can beat the Boks
Wales was close on the scoreboard. Australia roasted them.
McKenzie set to make widespread changes to Wallabies
Ah, swapping a 6’5 lock/blindside flanker with a winger…
McKenzie set to make widespread changes to Wallabies
Douglas is a fair point, but if the players come back having really developed then I’d see that as a positive – a necessary evil. It seems to me that Australian locks don’t adapt to Test rugby particularly quickly.
I think Carter is very average. Hitting rucks is the bare minimum. Compare him to other tighthead locks like Rettalick, Etzebeth, Launchbury etc. I’d have a look at Leon Power.
I also think I’d like to see Palu go to 6 and Higginbotham at 8.
McKenzie set to make widespread changes to Wallabies
I’ll say I undersold Rettalick, but his skill set is pretty status quo for modern Test tighthead locks.
SPIRO: The Wallabies All Blacked-out at Eden Park
I appreciate your point, jez, but it’s a rarity when Australian props head to England. And for all we know Longbottom may have purposefully headed to Saracens to develop his game. If I was a young Australian prop I’d certainly head to Europe.
Ma’afu was OK/good, but his efforts in the loose are terrible. His current level of fitness means he is just not cut out for Test rugby.
At least McKenzie seems to have realised that he just can’t persevere with Alexander.
On a different note, I think the locks pose a bigger problem than the props.
McKenzie set to make widespread changes to Wallabies
‘The All Blacks have also introduced the concept of a scrumming second rower and jumping second rower..’
This a gag?
SPIRO: The Wallabies All Blacked-out at Eden Park
That’s true. He’s vital to the NZ cause, but Kaino is a beast. He transforms the pack IMO.
More Test rugby records for McCaw
He played very well, but it’s one game. I’d still rate Kaino and Read ahead of him.
More Test rugby records for McCaw
SBW is currently playing in the NRL, and Ben Smith is a fullback who played a handful of underwhelming games at 13 last season. Ryan Crotty, last time I checked, played 12.
Crotty out for a month due to facial fracture
“Selection is a one-game contract.” I really like this quote. Changes are definitely due. But not sure in what order? In the backline I’d give serious consideration to Phipps-Foley-Beale-AAC, but that’s probably harsh on Toomua. Toomua does make defensive errors, but he’s one of the few Wallabies who are genuinely confrontational, so I suppose the other option is Beale/Foley-Toomua-Kuridrani with AAC shifted to the wing. Horne and McCabe on the wings aren’t scaring anybody.
Up front Skelton should be given a shot for 40-60 minutes alongside Horwill or possibly Fardy. Carter and Simmons are absolute non-entities. I’m a fan of Sliipper but Kepu doesn’t compare to the better 3s in Test rugby. And Alexander is Alexander. The Wallabies were in absolute dissaray when McKenzie took over, but until a quality 3 is unearthed the side will never reach its potential.
I’d bring Higginbotham into the backrow too. Palu plays a tight game, so with Fardy at 6 the Wallaby back row has been a bit one-dimensional.
SA are looking pretty poor too, so the rest of the RC will be huge for both sides – not to discount Argentina. And the challenge for NZ is to back that performance up.
McKenzie set to make widespread changes to Wallabies
I’d be inclined to move Fardy into the 2nd row with Horwill or start Skelton and Horwill – Carter and Simmons are not it. I definitely think Higginbotham should start.
The pack really needs to work on defending mauls too.
All Blacks dismantle Wallabies at Eden Park
Not really. I just don’t think Vermeulen is that special. He’s undoubtedly a good player, and he’s a good fit for the Bok back row, but I don’t think there’s anything that sets him apart from other 8s.
Duane Vermeulen can hold his own with the best
Still want to talk after the game, Harry? 🙂
Underboks: Projected to lose in Salta, South Africa to win at a canter
Beast is a gimmick. Always has been. Super Rugby is basically irrelevant. The Tahs always had strong when Al Baxter was their 3.
Underboks: Projected to lose in Salta, South Africa to win at a canter
What is this 100% chat? That’s just an empty stat. Nobody has rated the Bok scrum in years. You just don’t produce technically good props.
Springboks sneak past Pumas in Argentina