Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November
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The penalty against Jordie for the ‘no arms charge down’ is an absolute joke.
God that’s a shocking call!
They’ve gotta play these ‘foul play’ replays at full speed, you could find an offence in every contact if you slow it down enough.
Gardner = fluffybunny
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
@Victor-Meldrew said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
That looked like a team that was poorly coached and poorly prepared.
It's the mental attitude and senior player leadership which seems the problem for me and that's been going downhill for several years.
And I'm not sure if Foster is the one to sort that out.
Maybe, but there is also no structure or cohesion. The backline is a joke. Wtf was that move with JB?
Can understand a lack of structure and cohesion at times if there's a new game plan being developed.
I just don't see a game plan being developed...
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@Gunner said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
The penalty against Jordie for the ‘no arms charge down’ is an absolute joke.
God that’s a shocking call!
They’ve gotta play these ‘foul play’ replays at full speed, you could find an offence in every contact if you slow it down enough.
Gardner = fluffybunny
That was very poor, but they did miss the clear tackle in the air BB made and we got away with it. I think we would have lost with any referee today.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
@Victor-Meldrew said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
That looked like a team that was poorly coached and poorly prepared.
It's the mental attitude and senior player leadership which seems the problem for me and that's been going downhill for several years.
And I'm not sure if Foster is the one to sort that out.
Maybe, but there is also no structure or cohesion. The backline is a joke. Wtf was that move with JB?
Can understand a lack of structure and cohesion at times if there's a new game plan being developed.
I just don't see a game plan being developed...
JB aimless kicks down the middle really confuse me, surely that is not a tactic.
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@chimoaus said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
@Gunner said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
The penalty against Jordie for the ‘no arms charge down’ is an absolute joke.
God that’s a shocking call!
They’ve gotta play these ‘foul play’ replays at full speed, you could find an offence in every contact if you slow it down enough.
Gardner = fluffybunny
That was very poor, but they did miss the clear tackle in the air BB made and we got away with it. I think we would have lost with any referee today.
Missed that, or is it still to come? (I’m only just watching)
But to be fair I’m spending 95% of my time looking at my phone rather than watching us lose.
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The problem here without doubt is leadership. We are talking players and coaching staff.
The team has enough talent Whitelock, Sotutu, Smith, Mounga, Barrett, ALB, Ioane, Clarke ... Its fine.You see it in all teams, all companies. Great leaders can nearly polish a turd. Great leaders make people want to be there.
At the top being nice isnt enough you need leadership.Our best bet is probably break dancing. Thought this months back. Could be a painful 18 months.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel the move was ok the execution was poor - basic 2nd man play with JB coming from the blind. Was the pass too fast? Was Jordie off with his timing? Did Mounga throw it to the wrong spot? Just too many mistakes. If you bench Scott Barrett las week then you should bench Dane Coles (discipline) Codie Taylor, Richie Mounga, Jordie Barrett, Reiko Ioane, Shannon Frizell for shit execution.
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How to beat the All Blacks.
Turn the ball over only 3 times, miss only 7 tackles, allow 1 clean break, concede only 8 penalties, always kick the ball out and not into open field. Restrict NZ to 126 run metres.*In comparison the Wallabies turned it over 19 times in Sydney.
On reflection Argentina had the perfect game plan and executed it perfectly, full credit to them.
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All of the concerns about selections and game plan really came to a head in this match. Argentina just watched the RWC semi and replicated what England did in the hope we hadn't learnt anything from that, which was evident in the way we've played this year.
We had no answers and once again just relied on individual brilliance to try and get us out of a hole. That doesn't work against an organised defense these days, you have to actually do some hard work to create a bit of space for the likes of Clarke and Beauden.
I still can't get my head around Foster getting the top job when we have blokes like Rennie and Robertson in the mix. You just cannot tell me Robertson wouldn't get more out of this group of players than Foster. Honestly the mind boggles.
Anyway some further random thoughts:
- the loose trio mix is just so obviously wrong it hurts. Akira, Cane, Sotutu. End of story. Idiot selections.
- as above we actually need to pick players that can match up physically in the early exchanges. And then implement a game plan around that; we are simply not going to win the game in the first 40, we should be setting the foundation with good aggressive forward play to generate space for our backs later in the game. This is just rugby 101 surely.
- Cane is a bloke you would follow into the trenches, but his decision making has left a lot to be desired so far. The quick tap Weber took was a stupid play, but he was getting no direction from the captain. I still think he's the right man for the job but he has a bit to learn.
- Mo'unga again struggled and made errors when under pressure. It's a recurring theme with him unfortunately. A rock star on the front foot or in broken play, but against a well organised and aggressive defense he becomes a possum in the headlights.
There's not actually much more to be said about this game that hasn't been said in the previous weeks. The All Blacks had gone stale under Hansen and we decided to go for continuity with Foster. It's going to be a rough couple of years to say the least.
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I'm not buying the notion that we can't field a team to win regularly. The rugby talent bit isn't a problem, surely. I've got no issues with the personnel in the playing squad. Good lads.
Now I can't decide if we are arrogant or dumb with the same old tactics we've dished up over about 3 and a bit years.
I've been convincing myself of the "powder dry" theory since 2017 and I've gone mad waiting for it.
There's nothing fucking there!?
Flat backline fucked over numerous times by rush defence.
After 3 back and fro's, put in a chip kick that 50% of the time results in a try saving tackle down the other fucking end!
Tons of one offs and 2 offs that barely reach the advantage- thanks hagrid.
Kicking so much goddamn ball away and not even having a Habana like chasing.
Never going one off from a ruck, (except chasing today when it worked!)
Never any audacious moves like that tana, Cully, jonah, pod , lineout extravaganza that time against yellow.
A single focussed reliance on a Dagg or a Reiko, or a Caleb to break a line and then support play makes it a winning strategy. Gets fucked over if old mate is determined to make his tackle - nevermind, "we'll shovel it along the other way and give Beaudy a chance against a set defence."
A visible lack of any ability to change a tactic and work a specific strategy for 10 minutes at least. Just when you know we must hang onto the ball, someone will " express themselves" and kick it. We'll get ball from a set piece and in two run of the mill phases we'll be back to shovel ball and relying on a missed tackle.
It's fucken turgid, and I'm sick of it.
I'm resigned to speaking like a cock - it's like those fluffybunnies, collectively, have little respect for the game. Trot out the same old shit and hope for the inevitable individual brilliance or, better yet, Laura to make the opposition try too hard.
I hate saying this but we play like we know everything about the game. Like we don't fully respect the game and all it's diversity. The Hanson/Foster way is outdated, too limited, but mostly, doesn't have Richie FUCKING McCaw in it!!!
The players are more than adequate.
We got done by a new coach making his own decisions and reinvigorating his team with a fresh enthusiasm. Our old coach is rehashing a failed strategy and the players are looking completely unenthused by all of it. Fuck we've looked bad over the last 2 weeks.
And the discipline?
Fuck me that must be a sign of a lack of focus and task clarity. That an organisation like the All Blacks can't work out face slaps and ruck supermans leaves me wondering what kind of a slack shit show is going on in these pampered facilities.
Totally schooled by the Argentinians on how to conduct yourself on a test rugby field!
The fucken shame in that!
The real question is how long do we have to pretend before we usher in Scott as a breathe of fresh air and a new direction - with a fond departure to the 2015 win and the first test against the Lions in 2017.
I like you fozzie, and I greatly admired your play for Waikato, but mate somehow, you've used 5 games to fully show me your hand, and mate, you're bust!
Fuck this I'm getting drunk...where were you when the All Blacks looked like Southland...?
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@No-Quarter 100%, only silver lining is that we are losing straight away under Foster and not getting lucky. At least we have time to fix it, hopefully.
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@chimoaus said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:
@NTA As a neutral are we overreacting or were we really that shit?
I can't speak for all of you as a collective
but some of you may be egging it a bit too much in terms of this game being a disaster beyond all disasters. The fact is, this has happened before (RWC2019 SF) and will happen again.EDIT: I mean in terms of this being rugby. You have to accept losses. Just makes it hard for you bastards you only lose occasionally.
Argentina won the way you always beat the All Blacks: minimise your errors, make your tackles, and don't take any shit at set piece.
I've said it a few times the last month, but I think as fans you guys occasionally get carried away with the freakish skills some of your guys possess, and think that is the difference i.e. that they're just better as a group than everyone. Really, its just that the fifteen individuals you put on the park at one time (fourteen is S Barrett is playing ;)) are probably better players than the other blokes, but what is that saying about Champion Team versus Champion Individuals? Doesn't always work.
@mariner4life - in the same period - has pointed out a few times that when under the pump, the ABs haven't really looked that special. Nothing more than good even in Sydney - it was either dinky kicks breaking things open for you + counterattack (26-0 at halftime), or getting whacked (first part of the second half).
I count one set piece try in the period - and that was a 5 metre scrum where our flanker didn't get off in time at ANZ, leaving the wing stranded.
That has been the AB game plan since Henry / McCaw left: defend, counterattack, and (occasionally) pull off your skills and fitness, complemented occasionally by the odd piece of streaky bullshit. And I'm not saying those skills and fitness aren't great, because the winning record over the last decade speaks for itself.
BUT these skills and fitness aren't really built around any structure besides "You're the Fucking All Blacks, go out and win".
Looking at the last few weeks, maybe the depth isn't as good as everyone thinks. I'll talk about the tight five, because that's my jam.
Big concern for the Wallabies was second row in particular, but we generally stood up physically with Philip, LSL, and even Simmons. On the flipside, guys like Tuipolotou have not shown up with consistency. Whitelock is still a stalwart but looked a helluva lot better with BBBR (as would any of us!)
Your props are fine around the park but getting a bit of a lesson at scrum time, as a collective - that also comes back to your second row being a little frail. The combination there is important, and what stands out is you're not learning on the run. A couple of times the Wallabies put the ABs under pressure and you didn't adjust.
Must say that Coles is a fuckwit who throws his toys when he's not allowed to just swan around on the wing while everyone else does the hard yards (like Codie Taylor).
The backs are going through the motions, and look it isn't park footy and you can't always have a highly structured plan, but "play what's in front of you" has dangers of its own, especially when half the backline changes in the space of 2 weeks from A to B and back again.
Maybe making 9+ changes two weeks in a row wasn't the right decision. Maybe the selections and combinations are just wrong.
Regardless, you haven't really moved the needle in close to a decade, tactically speaking. It makes the ABs an easy target for coaches to plan for: front up physically, don't miss your tackles, and don't give away cheap ball. Of course, that relies on players executing and the Wallabies continue to be plagued by inconsistency.
Contrast Brisbane and Wellington versus ANZ and Auckland from a Wallabies point of view. Chalk and cheese in terms of execution.
The most burning example of this was Caleb Clarke: breaks 8 tackles on his way to setting up a try in Auckland, but was well looked after tonight. Simple game, really.
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