Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne)
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That’ll do nicely.
Roll on week 3.
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This Irish team's ability to retain possession is second to none. We have more X factor players than them but they are way more patient than we are, compete better at the breakdown and in Murray and Sexton, they have halves that control the game better than Smith and Beaudie. The match in Dublin is going to be one hell of a game.
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That tighthead for Ireland (Furlong) is a beast, isn't he? Miles ahead of any tighthead in the game at the moment in my opinion.
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@akan004 said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
This Irish team's ability to retain possession is second to none. We have more X factor players than them but they are way more patient than we are, compete better at the breakdown and in Murray and Sexton, they have halves that control the game better than Smith and Beaudie. The match in Dublin is going to be one hell of a game.
It's only the Wallabies....
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@act-crusader said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
@akan004 said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
This Irish team's ability to retain possession is second to none. We have more X factor players than them but they are way more patient than we are, compete better at the breakdown and in Murray and Sexton, they have halves that control the game better than Smith and Beaudie. The match in Dublin is going to be one hell of a game.
It's only the Wallabies....
Only problem is whether the backrow stocks can survive the attrition rate of this approach.
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@samurai-jack said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
That tighthead for Ireland (Furlong) is a beast, isn't he? Miles ahead of any tighthead in the game at the moment in my opinion.
I haven't watched the second test in full. But have read that Furlong was immense.
But in general, I think Furlong is maybe the most over-rated player in world rugby.
That's not to say he isn't good. And more importantly that he isn't extremely promising as he is still very young. He is fantactic in the loose (was great in Chicago) and I have every expectation that his scrummaging will eventually get to the world class state.
I watched the Lions scrum last year with much interest and was extremely unimpressed with all 3 tightheads in the scrummaging, and my opinion is still influenced by that. They weren't just unimpressive in the tests they were unimpressive against all the SR teams starting front rows (except Hurricanes IIRC). Furlong and Irish scrum was also poor last week v Aussie scrum when he came on as a sub.
To digress. Australian scrummaging is right up there now.
Taniela Tupou is I think going to be worryingly fucking good. I really thought that guy had chosen the wrong sport when he left school (would be a phenomenon in League). But his scrummaging seems to be getting up to speed scarily rapidly. He is still a beast in the loose even v grown men.
I think NH scrummaging is a bit of a current myth, including the French, it may have been true 5 to 10 years ago. But - Owen Franks who I would have rated the best tighthead in the world after last year, got completely owned on the weekend. So ..... take from this post what you will ... a brain dump rather than a hard theory.
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P.S. My opinions on NH rugby (including their scrummaging prowess) is only formed by watching them in June and November inter-hemisphere games.
I don't watch European club rugby or the 6 Nations. Not out of any arrogant disdain, i just need my off-seasons as a fan and switch off for a few months and watch the cricket.
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@rapido said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
To digress. Australian scrummaging is right up there now
picking about 10 immensely powerful Tongans in teh front row, and sticking a couple of huge unit locks behind them is working out marvelously. Those Tongans and big lumpy locks are also quite good around the track. Worrying (especially after watching our de-powered 2003-esque whiteboy forward pack get bitch slapped on the weekend).
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@mariner4life said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
@rapido said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
To digress. Australian scrummaging is right up there now
picking about 10 immensely powerful Tongans in teh front row, and sticking a couple of huge unit locks behind them is working out marvelously. Those Tongans and big lumpy locks are also quite good around the track. Worrying (especially after watching our de-powered 2003-esque whiteboy forward pack get bitch slapped on the weekend).
Kepu and Sio have been good for a while, I think they slightly dipped their own growing reputation when Sio returned too soon from injury to get back in time for RWC 2015, and he was mediocre.
Problem has been they haven't had depth in their front row, and to listen to NTA not always choosing good scrummaging locks.
Tupou as a sub changes the picture big time for them. Arnold and Coleman etc are man mountains in the second row.
In saying all this I was really surprised last year when NZ's second front row (Laulala and Hames) bettered the Aussies in the RC and Bledisloe.
From an NZ perspective; Laulala and Tuinukiafe fill me with confidence at that level below Franks and Moody.
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@rapido said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
@samurai-jack said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
That tighthead for Ireland (Furlong) is a beast, isn't he? Miles ahead of any tighthead in the game at the moment in my opinion.
I haven't watched the second test in full. But have read that Furlong was immense.
But in general, I think Furlong is maybe the most over-rated player in world rugby.
That's not to say he isn't good. And more importantly that he isn't extremely promising as he is still very young. He is fantactic in the loose (was great in Chicago) and I have every expectation that his scrummaging will eventually get to the world class state.
I watched the Lions scrum last year with much interest and was extremely unimpressed with all 3 tightheads in the scrummaging, and my opinion is still influenced by that. They weren't just unimpressive in the tests they were unimpressive against all the SR teams starting front rows (except Hurricanes IIRC). Furlong and Irish scrum was also poor last week v Aussie scrum when he came on as a sub.
To digress. Australian scrummaging is right up there now.
Taniela Tupou is I think going to be worryingly fucking good. I really thought that guy had chosen the wrong sport when he left school (would be a phenomenon in League). But his scrummaging seems to be getting up to speed scarily rapidly. He is still a beast in the loose even v grown men.
I think NH scrummaging is a bit of a current myth, including the French, it may have been true 5 to 10 years ago. But - Owen Franks who I would have rated the best tighthead in the world after last year, got completely owned on the weekend. So ..... take from this post what you will ... a brain dump rather than a hard theory.
The Wales B pack smashed the Argie scrum on several occasions on Saturday night.
Will be interesting to see how the Argies go against the SH teams in The Championship.
I fear any chance of an upset win against Australia has vanished
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@mikethesnow said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
@rapido said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
@samurai-jack said in Wallabies v Ireland - Test #2 (Melbourne):
That tighthead for Ireland (Furlong) is a beast, isn't he? Miles ahead of any tighthead in the game at the moment in my opinion.
I haven't watched the second test in full. But have read that Furlong was immense.
But in general, I think Furlong is maybe the most over-rated player in world rugby.
That's not to say he isn't good. And more importantly that he isn't extremely promising as he is still very young. He is fantactic in the loose (was great in Chicago) and I have every expectation that his scrummaging will eventually get to the world class state.
I watched the Lions scrum last year with much interest and was extremely unimpressed with all 3 tightheads in the scrummaging, and my opinion is still influenced by that. They weren't just unimpressive in the tests they were unimpressive against all the SR teams starting front rows (except Hurricanes IIRC). Furlong and Irish scrum was also poor last week v Aussie scrum when he came on as a sub.
To digress. Australian scrummaging is right up there now.
Taniela Tupou is I think going to be worryingly fucking good. I really thought that guy had chosen the wrong sport when he left school (would be a phenomenon in League). But his scrummaging seems to be getting up to speed scarily rapidly. He is still a beast in the loose even v grown men.
I think NH scrummaging is a bit of a current myth, including the French, it may have been true 5 to 10 years ago. But - Owen Franks who I would have rated the best tighthead in the world after last year, got completely owned on the weekend. So ..... take from this post what you will ... a brain dump rather than a hard theory.
The Wales B pack smashed the Argie scrum on several occasions on Saturday night.
Will be interesting to see how the Argies go against the SH teams in The Championship.
I fear any chance of an upset win against Australia has vanished
The Argie scrum has generally been mediocre.
They have the reputation from the 1980s, the bajada, but the modern scrum is in fact the bajada.
But, big but, I assume Argentinian scrummaging prowess between world cup years is majorly impacted by who isn't playing (Top 14 and Premiership contracted players, Figallo etc)
P.S On further reflection on my posts above re: Furlong. I reckon I'm being too harsh saying over-rated. I'd be very happy having a young prop as promising as Furlong playing for my country. Absolutely awesome in the loose and in the breakdown, competent in the scrum with the expectation that his scrummaging will continue to improve.
Maybe not the complete package yet is the better phrase than over-rated.
