Can only play whats in front of you.
So refreshing to see players not second guessing, and playing with a clear mind!
Team looked organised, confident and not overly controlled/limited by the managers style.
BVM seemed to get players to play to there natural position and strengths. Something Ange couldn’t do.
BVM said he would not impose his style. He would let the players pick the style and formation that suited them, and maximize there strengths to play to it.
He seems to have great communication and man management skills, lets hope Arnie is learning!

Both Hannigan and Robertson are playing better football than last year, (well done Darryl Gibson)
Can see why they were selected as both young, though definitely better players out there to start.
Phipps, what a poor selection!
Gordon is a far better option at international level, and has weekly experience playing and training with Foley, Beale and Folau as well, without Phipps’s brain drain and terrible kicking and passing.

Oh well hopefully, he has another stags night, and rules himself out!

Good for Australian Football.
good for the Glory and there local player youth development base.
We need quality local coaches, to be our future.
He nurtures the supporters, which is what Glory especially needs.
I am not overly confident that Arnold is a National Coach, and hope he doesnt go the same way as Ange.

Hooper was a bad Cheika choice, knowing that Pocock would be back, after knee surgery and the long term captain after Moore retired..
Pocock was the the incumbent and considered world class before his injury, where as Hooper was a replacement and took it with both hands and certainly plays well above his weight as a 7 but well below his playing level as a captain!

Genia seems to have the game smarts and player respect, which are the trade marks of a good captain.
9’s for whatever reason, in Australia make good captains, whereas in NZ back rower do, UK tight fives do, not sure why or maybe just the playing conditions. A NFJones question, would be interesting to know his views on that!

But Hooper if he plays or not should NOT be captain, or we will lose again!

A great spectacle compared to the Blues game except the NZ ALL officials were poor!
Not a ref basher, have done my share of reffing, but, appeared not to be a level playing field, especially with the contentious head high rulings and the the ruck infringement. Todd got away with hands in ruck numerous times, not to mention entry from the side, though Robertson was lucky not to get pinged a number of times for it.
Okeefe was ordinary at least, but the asst refs were poor, not helping him at all, especially on the blind side of scrums, where anything goes, and the elbow to Beale getting missed by all was hard to believe, but then so was the penalty of 2 weeks, you are kidding arent you? It was as an intentional attack to the head, Beale should have stayed down!
“Needs to be more craftier”!

Poor VAR decision, enough said.
Were Newcastle robbed? NO
Should Hoffman have scored from 4 meters out? YES!
They had there chances but couldn’t find the net, due to some great goalkeeping by Thomas and Muscat tightening up the mid field space in the 2nd half, which took Petratos out of the game, who Merrick should have reacted to and moved him in into the mid field with Rodrigus our wide.

Is Merrick happy this morning?NO
At the beginning of the season, would he have taken the Grand Final runner up place?YES
Wooden spooners to Grand Finalist says a lot about Merricks coaching skill, and man management, but the VAR poor decision certainly left him seething and did little for the game!
It certainly had a Huge influence on both the way they game was played and its outcome.

Thanks Ernie Merrick, for putting us back where we should be!

The referee was poor, especially around the tackled player, but Rebels teamwork was poorer still!
Just haven’t clicked as a team.
Genias body language off the ball, before injured, showed a lot of frustration, when wrong options taken.
Agree on Colemans leadership, also poor, but he is the future maybe.
Debricina not unlike Foley, good support player, but poor creator, but can kick!
I suspect that Wessels now realises, he made a mistake and should have taken the coaching job in Ireland.

Waratahs had no go forward, as once the forwards failed that requirement, it was left to just Rona and Fekito to cross the advantage line, and Foley and Beale were GONE!!
Gordon excepted, every Waratah was outplayed by their opposition number.
Once Staniforth was replaced with Ned H moving to lock our scrum fell apart.
The small mobile forward syndrome proved a real “no go”” issue and once TN was hit in close once or twice, he then got the droppsies and his aura was gone, Marx’s brush off a classic, I dont want to be here!
Newsome, three weeks in a row has cost tries through poor decision making, with his final pass, panicking! He is not in SR level as a finisher, yet.
I am not a fan of Gibson, but he wasnt to blame for poor carries, and some terrible miss tackles, maybe poor team selection though.
Latu needs to be on the paddock, fit or unfit, Marx was a man playing against boys! We need some mongrel.
Folau, if he had played would have resolved Newsomes shortcomings at this level
I hope the Waratahs beat a NZ team after the bye, but I am not confident without a bigger pack,

Hi Guys,
A very animated discussion.

Couple more questions, for discussion

Does anyone else see some of the Robbie Deans methods/style being reflected by Thorne? Deans certainly stirred you guys up! Remember how he played Occonner out of position continually?
Cooper, even though he is an attacking talent, he is a yellow card liability in defenceisnt he?.
In Thorns defence, three old heads in Smith, Lance, Slipper, not a bad thing, to help develop the young ones. short term, is a good idea?
Last question, McGahan is the asst coach, what does he do?
Has anyone ever seen him or Thorn talk or interact?
Is he running the backs?
Whats his history in coaching?
Hasnt achieved anything at the Rebels or Reds has he?

Interesting topic, why this is happening.
Dont think physical fitness is an issue this year, just the mental 80 minute capacity.

Suggest, too many player changes/coach changes, has affected the team cohesion in most cases, with no NZ overdrive of Barret types available, how good is this guy, though he has some quality around him too!.
Waratahs, have had little player change this year, weaker if anything in names,, and Gibson has taken on more of a definitive “head coach” role after 5 years, with no Nathan Grey influence, and also no Cheika shadow to influence him.
I suspect Thorn being at the Reds has motivated him to improve his results! ( Cant let a crusader man out perform him)!
He is now his own man, with a settled team of players, with probably the weakest/lightest tight 3 in SR, but is getting results as players have grown and Team leadership improvements in Hooper, Beale, and no yapping Phipps influencing/causing poor decision making.
Suspect Wessels will have a big clean out at end of season, to get his personnel right for next year. His Force players have definitely outplayed the Rebels players, with Genia being exceptional leader.
Thorn will get better and better and build the “crusader” SR team ethos, just give him time, like it or not, Cooper for all his skill, is divisive, and Thorn wants players who will follow the blueprint
Australain SR teams are playing a better more effective style this year, but the NZders have improved again, with so much depth now starting to show!

The point has been made, and they have learnt there lesson,
Smith especially may never come back to the standard he was.
Warner, who will be 33 yrs and will probably retire from Aussie teams and just play IPL etc, like Gale.
Bancroft hasnt really made it yet, so he may/may not be good enough by then, but it certainly SHAKE HIM UP!
They have served there ICC 1 game ban, and just need to not play for an Aussie team for 12/9 months.
Let them play cricket and have an income, just NOT for an Aussie team until suspension is over.
Mentally it will be good for them, to just get out in the middle without anymore of this hanging over them.

Maybe, if our media moguls were as hard and unforgiving on our politicians as we are on our cricketers, Australia would be a better place, without the lies and double standards, many of them display.
Has Steve Smith commented on Turnbulls errors, but Turnbull has on Smth’s errors?
Talk about overreaction to a game of cricket

Akari words of advice, are spot on, cancel the tour now.
CA should have done that after the suspensions handed down.
Its called PTSD, and tho many might laugh, yes it is, and Smith and Lehmann, have already broken down in public.
The mental side of the team is destroyed, and mental strength is a big part of elite sport.

No way do I support Smiths actions and his poor leadership, but…….
Smith was run out off the airport like a deported criminal!
Not just someone who admitted to a plan to damage the ball in a game of cricket, so they could get another ball that MIGHT do more in the air!
He is going to be mentally destroyed by this, for life!
A bit of understanding about his mental state and Bancrofts,is needed by everyone and especially CA.
Warner will continue play 20/20, and not play again for us.
Stop the tall poppy syndrome now and all the hysteria.
Clarke and Warne have said similar things, think about it, if Smith was your son, I think you would be more worried about his mental state than the sentence..

There is such a fine line between a red card and a yellow card.
If i was the Qld coach, privately i would be sending Higgers to play with Cooper for the rest of the season!
3 days later we are still saying Tui’s was worse though! Tui wa careless, but Higgers was dumb!
Certainly potentially Genia’s tackle was far more dangerous. If his head had hit the ground first instead of his shoulder, then who knows the outcome..
I suspect, if Tui’s tackle had been first, he would have got a red card and Higgers a yellow.
To say the referee was influenced by the situation of potentially of two red cards is certainly realistic.
I suspect the ref would have sent both players off, if a rule was a 20 minute red card and then a player substitution.
For the argument, of a professional foul of taking out a “superstar”, then have the option of two red cards, first, 20 minutes in bin and 2nd no substitution.
As a spectator wanting to see a competitive game, I was dissappointed, to see it ruined.

If we dont care about the paying supporters, then fine, leave as is, but if we want to build our fan support then, move with times.

Hi to all.

Sorry Will.

I am an avid Rugby Roar reader, everyday, and occasional commenter, but this was a poor article.
Maybe your intention was to generate a reaction from the different readers, but I think it was in very poor taste.
Even TWAS was balance & subdued in his comments!
I don’t know Adam Coleman, but I am sure he would agree that there is no comparison to his and other sport professionals options/situations to the unknowing plight of your family awaiting a life threatening cyclone to arrive.

Go Tahs (at least better than last year I hope)

Selection Confusion!
Cricket Test team and ODI team selection is totally different, we need to recognize that.
We keep picking both teams with the same selectors, loyalties and thought process.
This needs to change fast. Different selectors for different teams is a must. there is now no cross over, like WSC!
For all the great things Trevor Hohns has done for the test team, he is certainly using his test Team thinking to the detriment of the ODI selection process and that is WRONG!!!!
He needs to stop seeing the two Teams aligned or same/similar. They are now chalk and cheese and the sooner he realizes that, the sooner we will start winning regularly.

Spot on Bob, pick a “best 15″ and anyone can get dropped/played”
For all his past/potential strike power, Stark was overshadowed by Tye & Richardson, but he continued to get picked over them.
Not a good selection message to send to guys who put in and perform.
The old story, harder to get dropped from an Australian 11, than get picked.
Nothing has changed re selection in last 20 years, and we wonder why our tactics are outdated?
Where is Ponting, he should be the manager/selector (along with Coach and captain).
If you are continually failing?losing, then you need change from the top down and fast to change status quo!

Simple and logical issue re ODI Team

Poor selection process
Poor tactics
Poor captaincy

There is no way Warner & Smith should both be in this team, if they continue to play the way they are.
Warners trying to change his style from “lets attack” to dont get out, good TEST TACTICS, but is a one dayer, and Smith, is more concerned about run rate and tactics when batting, instead of just batting each ball bowled.
That is a clear sign, he should NOT be Capt.
In the test Smith out played mentally Root, but morgan destroyed in in one dayers!
Maybe Warner goes hard or bats at no6, with Stoinis/Paine to open.
Thats called good tactics and captaincy!, not same old same old, where we have last nearly every game the last 2 years.

Richardson, Tye, and Carey all performed, but were seen to be on the outer in the selection room, i.e. last picked, first dropped. Zampa is not the best spinner please, Lyons, Agar, Swepson, need a wicket taker spinner playing in Australia, and is not that. Sub continent yes a good choice, but on true bouncing wickets he is not.
That is poor selection ethos, especially with a WC coming, where dare to be brave is needed.

Selection and captaincy beat us.

Morgan far superior than the cranky Smith, when he failed negatively influenced the other batsmen, whereas Morgan just smiled, as if to say, “your turn to win it” to next batsmen in.

Stoinis was probably our best after Finch and Tye, yet they would not make the test team.., but who cares it is a ODI team with no bearing on the test team or players!

The Poms have got it right!
That philosophy needs to be in place for ODI’s.
Pick the best ODI team, and captain, and it certainly is not Smith, who is way too conservative compared to Morgans leadership and motivation.

How did the FFA make a good decision for once!
Well done David Gallop!

Maybe they listened at last to the players/coaches/experts!

Did Arnie have any say in this?

Looks like the ” Arnie style” team, he wants to inherit!

A strong choice, and and an adventuress one too!

Go BVM!

We support you!

Australia is being beaten by the Poms, due to poor mind set and tactics.
It is poor mind set, which is causing poor shot selection, that is caused by poor tactics and coaching!
“Play your normal test match style capt & VC, score a big hundred at a run a ball as normal, and let the stroke makers around you smash the other half of the runs, in record time!

Lehmann has a lot to answer for. Been very poor, still playing a style of 1990’s!
Bayliss has totally out thought him in both tactics and method, on how score big totals, $325 plus, and then having bowling tactics/plan to restrictive plan there batters.

It is obvious the Australians are still muddled from the Ashes tactics, whereas Finch who didnt play in them is the far and away top scorer.

There is plenty of space in the lower half of the UK championship teams, who need a quality goal scorer, like Timmy.
i.e. Burton Albion where Jackson Irvine played last season, or even Hull, where he is now..
Not a lot of money to spend with some community type clubs, and struggling to stay in the Championship.
They would love his ability, if price is right, and Timmy would get his game time and a fourth World Cup, and they would avoid relegation!
Everyone is Happy!

Best option is to let a state keeper keep in Bancroft and Paine is on the pine and marsh bats three with Usman K opening, and Bancroft at 6, and that is a real option.
Marsh is in no matter what, either batting at 3 or 6.
At least one fast bowler will be on the side lines for sure, ie sayers.
Who is last man picked? Marsh,Paine or Bird.
Will 4 bowlers be enough at the Gabba?
If so, Bird and Sayers out.
If not Bird in, Bancroft to keep and and bat at 6.

It is between,Sayers, Bird, or Paine, who plays, depending on the wicket i suspect.
If it is going to a real fast wicket, i can see only 4 bowlers being picked.

If we go with 5 batters, then, both Marsh and Sayers miss out. the other option is to let a state keeper keep in Bancroft and Paine is on the pine and marsh bats three with Usman K opening, and Bancroft at 6, and that is a real option