Blue, your ignorance is noted upfront but really – fine the Force have under performed as have the Reds and Tahs. The blame lies solely with the head coach who is out of his depth and runs the team like a banana republic dictator from what I hear. Cross him once and you are on the outer regardless of skill level, talent or need. He would rather have a weakened side on the park than anyone who disagrees with him. He has lost some talent to other teams and overseas purely out of spite and as such needs to be shown the door sooner rather than later. Take Zack Holmes as an example… young talent coming up and working hard. A disagreement re contract renewal (why the heck the head coach should be leading this is anyone’s guess) and he is dumped. Oh yes … he is now doing very well in the Top 14 and has been replaced by a geriatric South African….

Foley is a scam artist, bully and so far out of his depth as a head coach that he now makes RG look good….. what a debacle.

Chivas – whilst I love the rustic humor you bring to this discussion and, I hate to say, points I agree with, the vitriol leveled at the Force is somewhat OTT. They had a good season the in 2014 and went nowhere in 2015. The cattle they have are solid but it is Foley that IMHO deserves the blame for such a disastrous and horrendously uninspiring season. His predictability, inability to use his bench, bollocks pre and post game press conferences and ego have stymied a promising group.

As seen during the world cup, impact form the bench is critical if plan A is not working. Last season, bench players averaged 7.75 minutes across the board. Please tell me how anyone, no matter how good/bad or indifferent can make an impact with so little time on the field. His inability to listen, take new ideas on board, admit that players loose form and the starting 15 needs a shake up is fundamental to players like Goodwin suffering. He also has a proclivity to treat locally developed players as mere fill ins, believing that they will stay with this team no matter what. The loss of Zack Holmes to France, Jake Ball to Wales etc comes from the fact that they asked to be paid a fair deal and dared stand up to Foley. Ego overide kick in and they were summarily booted for daring to do a workhouse Oliver impression “More.. More game time, etc “.

Whilst technically Foley has some great insights into the pack, his inability to deal with people, back up behind the scenes promises to players, change a one dimensional game plan and admit when things are wrong just destroys any potential this team of solid players may have. I have little on no faith that this will change this season and whilst he may be the last one standing die to his current contract, watch out at the end of the season when more local and interstate players abandon ship. Such a shame after such a promising 2014.

Waratahs
N. Phipps 3/10
T. Naiyaravoro 8/10
I. Folau 8/10

Obviously another cut and paste….. one run, no matter how good does not a great player make….

Ahh – I was waiting for some numpty to bring up the run meters… running it back 30m form a kick only to get stopped by the first tackle does no constitute a dazzling display IMHO. But of course, if you a died in the wool Tahs fan then Izzie is a God (not sure he beat a tackle on the weekend, Skelton is the answer to all rugby’s prayers (turned the ball over a heap and made a whopping 3m over the gain line all game) and Hooper…. well enough said about him after a spanking on the weekend.

The Force played well and for once missed less than 20 tackles all game, down form 36 the week before. If thats all it takes to beat the Tahs then bye bye RWC

Sad that an article like this appears on the Roar – Indonesia, whilst not as morally upright and clean as our beloved Australia…. ?? makes it very clear that if you run drugs, the penalty is death.. big signs, warnings as you arrive, more warnings…..

Its simple – you are in their country, know the risks. Its by no means perfect.. it is corrupt, it is a boys club where money talks but dont run drugs and you wont see the consequences..

Wykes has hands like two feet – what is so difficult? week in week out he cant hold the ball in contact or not.. arrgh

but far better off.

The 84% comes from the SARU development office which focuses on development in the black communities – it really means that 84% of he kids they have worked with and have touched a ball for the first time are Black. The reference to U18, I assume, relates to all juniors.

BB – you are right about Craven week – If there was a 20% representation by “real Black players” I will eat my own liver with a little Chianti.

Could not agree more – to rave about this chap this early after one dead average game and one where he finished twice with no one in front of him is a bit much. Big Strong but very little idea about the rest of the game.

what does it matter – the use of recreational pharmaceuticals must be a breach of contract full stop…. I know people will harp on about the timing (prior to a Reds contract) but really – caught in a police sting, bringing the game into disrepute etc etc… when is the ARU going to clean this up?

I must admit I had t re read this three times to see if there was an element of sarcasm, humor or a typical Aussie jape going on but… no. You are serious.. serious in the mindset that loosing 3 out of 4 is okay and the poor coach did not have time…. welcome to the world of international rugby. These players are were part of a group ranked 3rd in the world and its the coaches fault that he has not had time to implement new tactics an plays. In reality, no one will save the Wallabies in time for the RWC at this rate.

Your comments re Cooper are laughable – he is a liability as are the bench front row used and Israel the Messiah. Checkout had an opportunity to try Godwin and English but would prefer to run the same old same old. Hooper is not a captain and whilst playing 7 like a center looks good, not sure how many turnovers he made this tour (keen to find out if anyone has the stats) which should be his bread and butter.

Of those on the field AAC has a cracker though some decision making at the death coule be improved, Tamoua was solid and Horne had a good game. Barring that… it was quite poor.

I have never thought that we would accept mediocrity and be happy with a valiant defeat and Cam, if you do then you will be in for one great RWC next year

Whilst I am as PC as the next Bloke, this whole equal pay scenario in sport is a joke. In Business a woman usually is doing a job that is integrated into a company where sex should not have any impact on her doing that job. In sport, until women can compete along side the men and are competitive (see failures in golf etc) then equality has been achieved.

Could a woman compete along side a man in any classic race?….. on the track, could any woman compete along side the men?

You are the guru, you tell me. If they can, then they should do it and all will be parity. Until this happens, women sport will never be on an equal footing.

Sorry but thems the facts

can we get this on online radio? stuck in the UK and hanging out to hear

I seem to have jumped the gun and it does look like the Spirit are going to role out some of the big guns for the clash with the Rebels. watch this space but I hear that Pek Cowan, Sam Wykes and a number of others will be on the plane to Melbourne.

From what I hear, Perth will be playing their “away team” V the Rebels for the semi and not bringing in SF players regardless. Not sure I agree but from what I saw on the weekend at Dubbo, if they can start as they mean to finish, they will give their opposition a good shake. The bench players, coming on late in the first half made a significant difference, especially in the pack. It is not over and no lady of ample size has started warbling as yet.

An amateurish dig at the ref who, whilst being the most hated species on the planet, can only ref what is in front of him. Get over it. The Wallabies did not deserve the win and if you want to ignore the laws of the game, gob off constantly and pout like a prima donna when sanctioned then Soccer is the game for you.

Sad article really – D-, try harder next time

“But I’ve left the worst selection until last – ignoring giant lock Will Skelton.
Interestingly, Cheika took McKenzie to task last week, saying there was no problem with Skelton’s work-rate when he was wearing a blue jersey. That was a none-too-subtle reprimand from Cheika, who has been a master at making the right selections for two seasons”

I must admit that it has taken me a while to stop laughing at the above comment. All I can say is if you want to see why Skelton is not the Messiah, watch the reply of the Spirit Stars game yesterday. The lad is a lump but if he cannot dominate or frankly make any sort of impact at NRC level he is either a lazy show pony (of the Shire horse variety) or really is out of his depth, unfit, and possessing zero agility which has no place in the modern game. He sat in midfield all day and at second receiver, taking easy ball’s without really doing any damage . He never did any donkey work at the breakdown and made zero yardage with three of this “amazing offloads in the tackle” (tackles made by local club players) going to ground or the opposition.

In summary – he’s not the messiah, he’s just a very big boy

Brett – The notable message from the Spirit V Stars game was the Spirit pack and how them demolished their much promoted opposition. The Stars had Paddy Ryan, Laurie Weeks, Will Skelton and Jeremy Tilse (off the bench) and were soundly beaten at the set piece. Ryan (a Tah and Wallaby) was comprehensively beaten by the Perth front row and even when the reserve bench of Chris Heiberg (0 caps for the Force) and Oliver Hoskins (0 starts for the Force) came on with 25 to go, the Stars lost more tightheads (5 overall?)

Will Skelton was doing what he does best, going through the motions and if there was anyone calling for his reinstatement to the Wallabies, I would ask them to look at the video footage of this match to see why Link is right to put him aside until he gets his act together. At this level, he should be standing out, even against a side loaded with Super Rugby players.

Overall a very good game of running rugby, backed up by a solid set piece, right up until the final whistle.

Useful??? we are talking Wallabies not grade rugby. The kid is a unit but is no where near test level and a bench player for the SR at best. 15 mins is and he is puffing… yes he could get fitter they all cry… then just do it. He hits rucks.. wow.. he also give away penalties as he does not move from the rucks after moving them.

Link has done the right thing. No international player is worried by him not should they be .. Yet. next thing you will be saying is that Tongan Thor should be getting a run…

I have to say that I am disappointed with the squad that the Spirit are utilising for away matches. yes its great to expose the PG players to another level, especially if there is a shot at a SR EPS or contract but this is simply not the case. The Force have pretty much shored up their squad for next year and 90% of the PG players running in the Spirit have no chance of a look in. Yes touring is good fun and players getting a taste of he next level is a positive but in reality, if you are not in it to win it why are they spending the money.

Some of the bench SR guys are getting some minutes under their belts but Leyds is leaving for SA next season and the remaining guys are heading into the post season and a month off after this. Ultimately I wish they were having a proper crack at this as opposed to a bonding experience.