Roar Guru
Joined December 2010
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There are any number of reasons why the All Blacks are too good for the Wallabies at the moment. This includes fitness, skills, the coaching at national, Super and pathway level, basic skill errors and a lack of rugby smarts.
The European Aquatics Championships have just finished. This has given us a much better idea of how Australia is placed ahead of the Rio Olympics.
The Aussies look surprisingly well placed for a strong performance in this series, starting with the first Test in Chennai.
It’s only 60 days until the start of the Olympic Track and Field program. Four meets into the Diamond League series, it’s a good time to start having a look at some of the main events as a prelude to the Games.
Without commenting specifically about what the team should be for Perth, this article looks beyond this series, up to around the next Ashes series in England in mid-2013.
I have been very concerned by reports and assumptions in the last 24 hours that, with Simon Katich out for the series, Phil Hughes will logically come in to replace him. Ricky Ponting said as much yesterday, and news reports have confirmed this.
I’ve liked the cut of his jib since his first test. Great attitude and cricket is such a mental game.
Warner's ugly but crucial Ashes innings
Bluesfan the ABs traditionally handle the wet weather better than Aussies, but maybe it wasn’t wet enough for that to be a factor I guess.
All Black to the future at Eden Park
Of course we are, but sometimes the others lift to fill the void.
Let’s hope this game is one of those times.
I’d drop Bancroft – he looks awful and even when staying in doesn’t score runs. Harris and Warner are similar – pick them both and one will get runs, that’s my tip.
We then need one of Ussie and Marnus to fire. Ussie has looked in good touch
Australia's batsmen need to find their mettle for the third Test
Exactly – he struggled against short bowling in the WC because it was harder to hit boundaries off it.
Australia's batsmen need to find their mettle for the third Test
He got it wrong. A grubber kick off that ends up going 10 is fine.
All Black to the future at Eden Park
The only bigger body at 6 I can think of is Vsletini. I’m not including LSL.
All Black to the future at Eden Park
In the ICC test rankings, Root is the only English batsman in the top 25.
Australia have 4 – Smith (2), Warner (11), Head (18) and Khawaja (20).
Bowling wise, England only have 1 fit bowler in the top 25 too, Broad at 14, Australia have 4 again – Cummins (1), Hazlewood (15), Starc (18) and Lyon (19)
England's captain is the Root of their problems
No question the jury’s still out. But he has done enough to keep his place.
Labuschagne and Head give cause for optimism
I think Head is fine against the left armers, but nos as good against those turning it away. So same as everyone else, basically.
Labuschagne has to start the next game whether or not Smith plays. I don’t care if it’s a straight swap for Wade, or he repalces Bancroft with Ussie pushing up to open and Labu 3.
I think Pattinson should come in too, but not sure if for Hazlewood or Siddle, probably Sids.
Labuschagne and Head give cause for optimism
It wasn’t a good look though, was it James. If being involved in rubbing a ball with sandpaper can rule you out of being captain forever, can king hitting someone from behind?
Can someone remind me how he got off scot free?
England's captain is the Root of their problems
Sio, AAA, Slipper, Tupou, Kepu
Latu, Fainga’a, Uelese
Arnold, Rodda, Coleman, LSL
Dempsey, Valetini, Hooper, Pocock, Naisarani
White, Genia, Powell
Leali’ifano, Foley
Kerevi, Toomua, O’Connor, Kuridrani
Banks, Koroibete, Hodge, Beale, Petaia/Speight
Maybe a back rower short, consider including Samu for possibly Foley, but you need a specialist 10 as backup, and not sure if Toomua is quite that.
VOTE: Pick your Wallabies squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
Beale is certainly NOT the best we have at 15. Hodge, Banks and DHP are all better.
Cheika's Wallabies need a revised Plan A for RWC glory
Anyone else notice that the shape of Hansen’s smile on the photo of this article looks uncannily like the Riddler?
Cheika's Wallabies need a revised Plan A for RWC glory
Miller is on the small side, but is definitely an on-ball threat.
Good luck to him. Going somewhere where he hopes he will start regularly, can’t blame him for that.
Brumbies poach Will Miller from Waratahs
Geez that’s a bit spooky…almost word for word.
The Wrap: Normal order restored in Bledisloe Cup whitewash
That’s true Geoff, but if the other side is going to constantly infringe, you need to do something about it.
The Wrap: Normal order restored in Bledisloe Cup whitewash
Yeah Brian I thought that coming in. I don’t know if we can afford to play Pattinson and Starc together. Won’t know until we try.
Warner and Khawaja face make or break Ashes Test
I realise I’m in a minority, but I didn’t think it was as bad as the scoreline suggests.
Midway through the first half the Wallabies (as you said Geoff) had weathered the early storm, and were attacking right on the ABs’ line. We got not one but two penalty advantages, then lost the ball (looked a bit dodgy). We needed to use that advantage and cross the line. Things would have been different.
The ABs were taking us out off the ball and coming int he side of rucks all over the place. They got pinged a few times (like the yellow), but Aussies were getting knocked over off the ball regularly. Hooper needed to notice and speak to the ref, and early. I just don’t think he has the match smarts to be a good captain (or knows the rules well enough). That seems to be what a lot meant by the ABs being up for it, but I didn’t really see any (legal) physical domination early. But I guess you get away with it at home, and the ref on the day is renowned for letting a lot go.
Apart from the scrum, which was a real worry, the rest was a case of wet weather at Eden park. We had buckleys of winning, and needed things to go our way. They didn’t. Look at Hodge’s drop, Reece’s toe ahead. Frankly, it was just one of those days, and we clearly aren’t good enough to deal with it.
Neutral venue and stricter ref the teams are a lot closer than that.
Anyway, the Aussies have to suck it up and improve. And learn how to play in wet weather.
The main issues were:
– the scrum – what happened there?
– it showed what a lot of us have been saying, that Beale and LSL are not starting 15/6s.
The Wrap: Normal order restored in Bledisloe Cup whitewash
Why Starc? Surely Pattinson plays. He played well first test and rested because he was a little bit sore a few days later.
Warner and Khawaja face make or break Ashes Test
I think he should. Smith, then Head, then Labu. They’d be the first 3 batsmen picked. Then Khawaja I’d say. Warner and Bancroft and Wade all struggling, despite the one good knock by Wade.
Warner and Khawaja face make or break Ashes Test
Khawaja has at least shown signs he’s seeing the ball well. Agree on all that Christo.
Warner and Khawaja face make or break Ashes Test
No I think we need Pattinson in first. Cummins, Pattinson and one other.
Warner and Khawaja face make or break Ashes Test
It depends on symptoms. Dizziness, headaches, then a recovery period after that.
Does seem unlikely though.
Warner and Khawaja face make or break Ashes Test
Like Hussey
Warner's ugly but crucial Ashes innings