Bledisloe II
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@jegga said in Bledisloe II:
@virgil said in Bledisloe II:
@jegga said in Bledisloe II:
@kiwiinmelb said in Bledisloe II:
I remember when these annual tournaments started ,the theory was , it was supposed to be good for the wallabies to be playing us so regularly ,
Right now , im not so convinced playing us so often is good for them ,
Its demoralising
You say that like its a bad thing.
@jegga said in Bledisloe II:
@kiwiinmelb said in Bledisloe II:
I remember when these annual tournaments started ,the theory was , it was supposed to be good for the wallabies to be playing us so regularly ,
Right now , im not so convinced playing us so often is good for them ,
Its demoralising
You say that like its a bad thing.
Yup anyone who feels the slightest pang of guilt or pity should be made to watch all games from 1998 - 2002... multiple times
A photo of John O'Neill holding the Bledisloe is all I need .
The cup would be almost as tall as he is
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@booboo said in Bledisloe II:
@gunner said in Bledisloe II:
Harris has to go, our lineout falls apart when he comes on. Time for Coltman to have a go.
Our lineout had some shakes when Taylor was still on (although according to Horan it was Coles). Seemed to be when we were throwing long. Tough throw to make
But I agree with the general sentiment. Finding the next hooker is a priority.
I've never understood why they didn't give Ash Dixon a go. He's better than Harris & Coltman. Now it's too late, because he's too old to bring into the ABs set-up.
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@stargazer No offence but does it really matter who plays in that 3rd hooker spot as they're all on about the same level anyway? We could pick Greg Pleasants Tate and it wouldn't make a difference.
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@african-monkey Harris is the 2nd hooker as long as Coles isn't back playing.
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@chester-draws said in Bledisloe II:
@wreck-diver said in Bledisloe II:
So are all the people that were bitching about Barrett last week, are you satisfied or do you still want to drop him?
When Marty Holah was playing for the ABs he was a really good openside. A top quality international who never let his side down. Yet he was dropped for a noob. That's how it works at the top.
No-one much thinks Barrett is bad. Some of us aren't so blinded by his brilliant bits that we don't see his weaknesses though.
Some people suspect Mo'unga might be better* We'll never know if we never play him on the basis that Barrett is good enough, will we?
And we'd have missed years of McCaw if we followed your logic.
[* I am not one of them. But I know that Barrett does have weaknesses. To me he is one of those brilliant players who isn't able to use his brilliance in a way that makes others better too.]
I'm sorry that last comment was nuts. Just ask the entire Canes backline.
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@chester-draws said in Bledisloe II:
@bones said in Bledisloe II:
I'm interested in how he doesn't make others better.
An unsympathetic shovel pass mostly.
Also he doesn't stand flat to the line like Carter and Cruden did, so he doesn't pose the same defensive quandaries, which makes it easier to mark the 2nd-five.
Beauden's at his best in space, attacking from the back on counter and when defenses tire. Back lines outside him seem to struggle to penetrate organised back lines, like the Lions or Crusaders. Or not tired Aussies, for that matter.
The ABs seem to be working around this by trying to ensure oppositions always tire enough. I suspect cannier teams than Australia will pace themselves better.
He scored two tries in the first half ffs. Shit, what more does the guy have to do? You reckon Carter was tearing up defences in the first 30? Taking on the line and breaching it in the opening exchanges? This is just knit picking bullshit. Btw anybody who reckons BB can't control a game should be forced to watch that game Clockwork Orange style.
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Haven't read comments, was out last night and just watched game.
For me this was a game where everyone did there job and played well. Thought Laumape had ex work rate. For me best backs BB and BFA. How fast and elusive did BFA look!
In forwards Taylor was head and shoulders best, watch again his impact and workrate, outstanding. 2nd was Squire, again workrate, use in lineout, defence. He is being used in middle of field on attack now with Retallick and impact can be seen, against France he started to be ousted there but with Brodie's ball skills it looks so much better. -
While we are urging the citing commissioner to have a look at things, maybe POcocks swinging arm on BB and I think it was H-P's 'judo hip throw' of D-Mac after he made a break...but I expect while close scrutiny is made on shit done to Saint Dave, anything he does is not looked at with more than a passing glance.
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Apropos of nothing, last night after the game I was sitting talking and beering with my bro and every so often Mrs JC, who was doing something else, said something I couldn’t catch. It turned out that every time she heard “Hansen” she was saying “Mmm Bop” to herself. Didn’t even realise she was doing it. She’s a keeper. And I’ll be referring to the coach as Mmm Bop from now on.
That is all, carry on.
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@gumboot was about half way through his career v Arg in 1996
Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Jason Leonard - Test matches
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@taniwharugby Cheers
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The Walrus’s assessment in The Times. Not much to argue with, although he thinks Folau is on suspension.
Two players at opposite ends of the scoring spectrum featured strongly in this savaging of the Wallabies by the All Blacks.
Owen Franks, the enduring prop, later received a presentation to mark his 100th cap for his country, a titanic career that has brought him not one single try. The supercharged Beauden Barrett, meanwhile, scored four in this single match, picking off Australia with his pace, skill and vision on the back of the communal ruthlessness of the team. No All Black had ever scored four in a match against Australia and perhaps it was the fourth try that summarised the whole day.
A few minutes before it came, Barrett had crossed in the far right corner for what appeared to be his try number four. However, a replay of play from way back in the same move showed a tiny knock-on by Ardie Savea, so the try was wiped off.
Almost immediately, the All Black machine burst into life again with their devastating ability to score from a counterattack, with forwards often handling like backs. Barrett came gliding up to score in exactly the same corner, almost as if by this time the All Blacks were able to do whatever they pleased. This win had elements of a complete performance and tilted world rugby on its axis. It rather devalued Ireland’s fine Test series win over Australia, it gave the lie to thoughts that the rest of the game was catching up with New Zealand.
It also offered the frightening thought that with Barrett and company so dazzling on the counter, to win possession against the All Blacks might be worse for the opposition than not winning it. The power of the home squad was illustrated vividly. Ryan Crotty withdrew and was replaced by Ngani Laumape in midfield. The young centre was immense, in style and power a dead ringer for the great Frank Bunce of old.
The whole environment does nothing for Australia. First, they refuse to recall any but a tiny handful of players who are employed overseas. They have to review that policy right away. Second, they have to play this superb New Zealand side three times in most seasons. The team is being shattered but Northern Hemisphere teams might well suffer the same fate if they had three All Black fixtures per season, sometimes two of them in New Zealand.
It was a shame because Australia have some fine new forwards emerging in Lukhan Tui in the back tow and Allan Alaalatoa at prop, who both played yesterday, and Taniela Tupou, who did not. Their powerful centres, Tevita Kuridrani and Samu Kerevi, were also injured and Israel Folau suspended.
What was left was a team who clearly did not expect to win, could not retain the ball under pressure and who were hit on the counter in barrage after barrage of attacks.
Beauden Barrett — one of three Barrett brothers to appear in the match — scored the first try, angling in on a run by Aaron Smith, and by half-time he had scored again, supporting a run by Jack Goodhue. The match was over as a contest after half-time with an electric try scored with a powerhouse finishing burst by Joe Moody. Brodie Retallick ushered Liam Squire over for another and two more from Barrett completed the rout. Australia scored a try in each half, from Will Genia and Reece Hodge. Three further New Zealand touchdowns were disallowed.
Questions concerning the reign of Michael Cheika, the Australia coach, will now be asked. His record is poor. But he does have an ability to galvanise teams going into the World Cup. His employers really must hold their nerve. Few teams can look accomplished with an opponent as devastating as New Zealand. England are in the firing line in the autumn at Twickenham, in what will be their most important home match in years
Star man: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
New Zealand: Tries: Barret 4, Moody, Squire Cons: Barrett 5
Australia: Tries: Genia, Hodge Con: Foley
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Attendance: 50,000
