Roar Rookie
Joined April 2012
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I have participated in numerous conversations and observed many debates on The Roar over the years about whether captains receiving a penalty in the…
Taylorman – was thinking exactly the same thing! Am glad to have some more technical analysis and discussion back on the menu. Thanks Greg!
Old school attacks beating modern defences at the Rugby World Cup
Allanthus – great read! Keep it up
The Wrap: All the weekend’s rugby news, as it happened
Glad to get some highlights through the roar – Qld derby looked a cracker. I’m hoping that the lower interest in NRC this year is driven by the World Cup – would hate for this comp to die after only a couple of seasons.
NRC Round 3: Results and highlights
What a tease! Love the concept but now the wait until Part 2 to see the actual picks!
I do hope you share the order of picks and even some commentary on thoughts and rationale. As a longterm NFL Fantasy Football fan, I always love draft day!
Thanks fellas.
And Harry – well written as always. You do have a poets turn of phrase.
The Roar's all-time World XV Draft: Part 1
mate – you have a way with the pen. Very enjoyable read.
JackPot goes to sensitivity school
Even though it’s been said multiple times, I’ll say it again-great article. I really like reading articles that articulate beyond the obvious into techniques and tactics that change the way I watch a game and this was one (similar to some of jeznez’s articles on scrums).
One thing that I have always thought and ties in directly with your analysis is the need in today’s game to be able to offload in contact. As much as having forwards hit a ruck quickly to gain quick ball, an offload is even faster. And with the quality of defenses these days, you need some offloading in order to make gaps in the line when they are not appearing on their own. The French did it beautifully on the weekend, as did the Chiefs in he S15 (and Crusaders last season).
This is the one of the key reasons I think hey ought to stick with Tapuai. He was great for the reds in this respect (when healthy) and had a few on the weekend for the Wallabies. Sure, Ju won’t all come off, but throwing the offload puts doubt into the mind of a defending line as to whether to commit to a possible ruck and creates chances.
Wallabies shirk collision and pay the price
Nice article Elisha. I think you make a good point about kicking being the result of a lack of trust (both for ruck support and for keeping ball in hand to break/run around the defense). This is where, like it or not, picking players from the same super team(s) and specifically players in form should help.
Wallabies accept Springboks' gracious gift
I often disagree with some of your thoughts Lordy but I rather like this one. In a similar vein to what was trialled a few years back with Giteau, having a sharp passer and running threat at 9 really changes the minds in defense. Particularly given Nic White is done for the season, I’d be tempted to try it out for O’Conner, although realistically just to prime him for a super sub role when Genia comes back (I really like JOC as a super sub vs an 80 min starter).
Switch James O'Connor to halfback
I’ll also come out in Ewen’s defense here – losing your five eighth inside 20 min will always hurt you. The move to play Genia at 10 was a big gamble (and one I didn’t agree with), but had it come off, he would have looked like a mastermind. We all know how the cards fell, but you can’t forget the hard fought five wins in a row I get to te finals (including wins against the chiefs, Brumbies at home and highlanders).
Wallabies side to play Springboks in Perth announced
Even as a reds fan, I feel like we could have used Nick Cummins’ extra height and size (think he’s a few cms and about 5kgs heavier than everyone in that back line). Also plays his heart out, which I love. Nothing against Shipperley though – reckon he deserves a shot.
Barnes and Beale have got to be close to out of chips.
Pack is about as strong as they could have gone with the current squad (would love to throw in Paddy Ryan for Alexander, but that was always a long shot).
Not sure about the bench – two centre specialists? Better hope the wingers don’t go down (sorry AAC, you’re not a winger anymore)
Wallabies side to play Springboks in Perth announced
It seemed to me less that one team wanted it more than the other – both want the Bledisloe Cup for than anything (at least until the next world cup) – but the ABs beat us in two key areas:
1) Their players took the ball on the fly, with passes out in front rather than from a standing position; and related
2) their players won the collision at the tackle, always making and extra meter or two post collision vs getting stopped in your tracks or driven backwards like the Aussies
From this, all other problems flowed. To get 1) right, we ultimately need better skills and cohesion and trust between the players which you can’t build in 1 week. But you can spark some of it by playing guys who play together and pass accurately (try some Reds and Brumbies)
For 2) I don’t know if it’s a strength thing (less likely), a desire thing (doubt it) or a technique thing (my guess) – but until you get much better confidence that you can turn your fast ball into meters and keep hold of the ball, you’re forever going to be trying to live off scraps and errors.
Wallabies second rate - changes needed
Fair call. I thought it unlucky for Steve Moore to get benched as he’s playing about as well as he has since leaving the Reds, but TPN has a good power game and the combo w Robinson and Kepu probably also puts him ahead for now.
In the scrum though the front row can only be as good as the second row drive them to be. And there have always been question marks over Sharpie and Simmons (the likely starting pair) in the scrum.
Any thoughts on whether Douglas/Timani offer enough more to warrant a start? I’m not a lock forward but it strikes me that the 120kg+ second rowers should through sheer weight and strength (hopefully!) have better attributes for powering up the scrum.
Horses for courses if Wallabies are to win the Rugby Championship
I’ll wait to see it before believing it. Still feel like Aussie forwards get pushed around at the set piece, particularly at international level. Would love for the Aussie pack to step up in physicality to give the backs some good go forward ball, but something tells me we have the wrong cattle right now (Alexander, Faingaa even Slipper) to dominate at the International level.
Wallabies learning how to absorb pressure
KoG – definitely agree the Brumbies are on fire, but let’s also keep in mind the difference between Super rugby and Test rugby. Brumbies are reminding me a lot of the Reds of last year – lots of slick attack that works great on splintered/weaker defences, but breaks down vs more structured opponents. Sort of like how Quade is a great Super Rugby player, but I think doesn’t give defences enough credit at Test level.
That said, I hope I am wrong and that guys like Lealiafano and Mogg can convert it at Test level – they are looking good!
Genia leads Reds to maiden Eden Park win
I’d disagree – I thought the Reds could take a lot out of the game and a lot of their players had great games: Gill, Robinson, Higginbotham, Lucas all played very well and many others are starting to find form (good to see Ioane and A Faingaa back on the pitch). The Reds desparately needed a confidence boosting win after losing 4 of their last 5 and before playing the always-tough Crusaders and table-topping Chiefs. Sure, the bonus point would have been great (and Big Kev should smack Dom Ships over the back of the head for kicking out), but we’ll take the win and look to build some momentum with players coming back.
Tip for McKenzie – swap in Wallace-Harrison for Simmons. And keep Faingaa on the field in place of Rocket Rod.
And tip for Rocket Rod – find some glue and stick it on your hands mate!
Genia leads Reds to maiden Eden Park win
ABs have looked far too good so far
All Blacks vs Wallabies highlights: New Zealand claim 2015 Rugby World Cup final