Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11
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Hard to know what to make of that game, Wallabies should have won about three times, and should have lost about five times, and so on the balance of things I'll take the draw.
I was nervous about our team. For all the focus on AB selections here (and there were some definite head-scratchers) we picked a lot of new combos as well as three debutants and a few one-gamers. Normally the Wallabies take 2-3 games to get rid of the early rust, so to come out and face the ABs in Wellington first up... it had disaster written all over it.
But we played good, smart, committed rugby. I was really impressed with our kicking game, thanks to Banks, Toomua and White we genuinely used it as a weapon for the first time in what feels like decades (finally abandoning this 'Australian way' garbage). Also super impressed with Wilson and Daugunu in their first games, and JOC's control and patience at 10.
And then it came down to one kick from Hodge, which was a bees proverbial away from being one of the greatest place kicks of all time.
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@rotated said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@Nepia said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@rotated said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
The leader in the clubhouse for worst first year is Laurie Mains' and Fozzie ain't off to a good start.
Bit hard on Laurie, he had to mould together a new team against the current RWC holders after a disastrous ABs RWC campaign rife with division - and he lost 2-1 in one of the greatest and closest Bledisloe Cup series ever (I think the exact same number of points were scored by both teams and the biggest margin was 3 or 4).
It wasn't just the Bledisloe; they lost the midweek game to NSW, lost to World XV then lost to SA on reentry. They should have lost to Ireland in Dunedin that year too?
Your memory is faulty, they didn't lose to the Boks and it was actually Sydney they lost to in the midweek game, not NSW.
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@KiwiMurph said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
I remember when Wallabies used to select the likes of DHP on the wing and the ABs would select strike wingers.
Now it's the reverse - what a complete mess.
We're still not perfect. The XV on the weekend had the Rebels 10 at 12, last year's Wallaby 13 at 10, the Reds number 8 at blindside, and last year's blindside in the second row.
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@MN5 said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@Rapido said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
I attended at the stadium, had a seat almost behind the posts.
Interesting that from that angle and distance cannot observe any of the critisims of e.g. Mo'ouga and Savea etc that seem common. TBH, caketin is pretty crap.
My observations from end on. Early on in game - I thought Ioane bombed a certain 80 m try by going himself and not setting up Jordie (although doubts about Jordie's top end speed to go that distance). I was out of my seat, I was that certain the try was on.
I'd also think up and unders would be goo options in swirling wind, and we tried a couple early both from 10 and box kick. But my end-on observation - my god the modern defence is so expert at blocking and shepherding chasers that it is no longer a a good percentage option. Which is a shame as it adds variety to the sport. When that first up an under went up I got very excited but deflated when seeing how little pressure the chasers can put on.
I though the NZ back 3 kick catching of the deep kicks in the swirling wind was excellent (apart from that god damn dropout).
Interesting observation on Jordie. Does he take a bit longer than others to hit top speed.....or is he actually just not that quick ?
I think a backline always has potential issues when the quickest guy is wearing number 13....
seeing Mitch Hunt smoke him in the last round of super rugby id say he at least isn't a fast accelerator, he closed the gap but then he was also running the cutoff line so had a shorter distance...so im going to go with im sure he's faster than most...but not up there with real quick outside backs, 5 mins in
i'd like to see a straight spring between him and BB who we know is lightning
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@pakman said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
Didn't you think the Wallabies showed some steel? Sure, lineouts in particular and ruck work need some attention, but I'd have thought you'd feel in with a chance next week?
In short, yes.
As a couple of articles have pointed out: 8-3 at the half turning into 13-3 could have seen previous teams crumble in those conditions, but we stuck it out and showed a lot of character to get to within inches of a win.
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@pakman said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
Bullshit fucking penalty. We folded Karl T like a cheap deck chair at the previous scrum and ZERO
Looked to me like Oz TH bored in and hooker also shoved diagonally left. Karl T in effect was peeled off. Some refs would penalise Wallabies for that, but because of the optics was surprised ABs weren't.
Karl packed crooked to start with - as a LHP you can't be at that angle on the engage because any forward momentum from that point makes you look bad.
Unless the ref is a screaming pile of incompetence.
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@Nepia said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
Nice.
I'm glad the animosity between the actual teams seems to have gone now ... maybe due to coaching change?
Hansen is gone so there is no point dwelling on his shortcomings as a person.
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@NTA Is there a confirmation bias awareness component to that qualification?
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@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@pakman said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
Bullshit fucking penalty. We folded Karl T like a cheap deck chair at the previous scrum and ZERO
Looked to me like Oz TH bored in and hooker also shoved diagonally left. Karl T in effect was peeled off. Some refs would penalise Wallabies for that, but because of the optics was surprised ABs weren't.
Karl packed crooked to start with - as a LHP you can't be at that angle on the engage because any forward momentum from that point makes you look bad.
Can't comment on the scrums - but, if you watch Big Karl in general play, he basically just takes up space.
Unless they're concerned about Hodgman's scrummaging, I'd put Alex on the bench next week.
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@barbarian said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@KiwiMurph said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
I remember when Wallabies used to select the likes of DHP on the wing and the ABs would select strike wingers.
Now it's the reverse - what a complete mess.
We're still not perfect. The XV on the weekend had the Rebels 10 at 12, last year's Wallaby 13 at 10, the Reds number 8 at blindside, and last year's blindside in the second row.
That's a bit misleading though.
Toomua has played a heap of rugby at 12. He's 10 for Rebels because he's the best option - if they had JOC he'd be playing 12.
In the case of JOC and LSL they have both been playing 10 and lock this season respectively and both played well - this year LSL has clearly showed he is a lock not a 6 - can shift there during the game perhaps but very much in the Scott Barrett mould.
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@ARHS said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
I thought the crowd reaction at the fulltime whistle was absolutely disgraceful. Ashamed to be a kiwi from that. Both teams gave it all they had to go for a win - for 9 minutes beyond in a tight game. Fantastic effort players and officials.
Might be an unpopular thing to say here, but that kind of crowd behaviour is not unexpected from NZ these days. Anecdotally have heard it from many nationalities as I get around the club scene here in Sydney.
Don't know if it is a generational thing, but the level of boorishness in rugby crowds is generally increasing. Throw in the ABs success and it seems like some fans feel they've been given licence to think their nation owns the game.
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@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@ARHS said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
I thought the crowd reaction at the fulltime whistle was absolutely disgraceful. Ashamed to be a kiwi from that. Both teams gave it all they had to go for a win - for 9 minutes beyond in a tight game. Fantastic effort players and officials.
Might be an unpopular thing to say here, but that kind of crowd behaviour is not unexpected from NZ these days. Anecdotally have heard it from many nationalities as I get around the club scene here in Sydney.
Don't know if it is a generational thing, but the level of boorishness in rugby crowds is generally increasing. Throw in the ABs success and it seems like some fans feel they've been given licence to think their nation owns the game.
I don't disagree with any of that but must say that a fair deal of the booing right at the end would have been reactionary. The excitement and entertainment they paid for was cut off by a decision to take a draw. I would have been disappointed and let out a groan as well.
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@Crucial said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
I don't disagree with any of that but must say that a fair deal of the booing right at the end would have been reactionary. The excitement and entertainment they paid for was cut off by a decision to take a draw. I would have been disappointed and let out a groan as well.
I took it as 50% booing the officials for not giving a penalty and 50% booing the Wallabies for not rolling over and dying like good little West Islanders
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@African-Monkey said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@junior He just hates playing at test level altogether judging by his first 19 tests. Why not just let him enjoy himself by bullying the domestic scene like he always does.
He's like the Mathew Sinclair of NZ rugby.
It’s not even 2021 and we already have our broken record award winner
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@Crucial said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@ARHS said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
I thought the crowd reaction at the fulltime whistle was absolutely disgraceful. Ashamed to be a kiwi from that. Both teams gave it all they had to go for a win - for 9 minutes beyond in a tight game. Fantastic effort players and officials.
Might be an unpopular thing to say here, but that kind of crowd behaviour is not unexpected from NZ these days. Anecdotally have heard it from many nationalities as I get around the club scene here in Sydney.
Don't know if it is a generational thing, but the level of boorishness in rugby crowds is generally increasing. Throw in the ABs success and it seems like some fans feel they've been given licence to think their nation owns the game.
I don't disagree with any of that but must say that a fair deal of the booing right at the end would have been reactionary. The excitement and entertainment they paid for was cut off by a decision to take a draw. I would have been disappointed and let out a groan as well
But you’re just a grumpy old man 😉
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@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@Crucial said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@ARHS said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
I thought the crowd reaction at the fulltime whistle was absolutely disgraceful. Ashamed to be a kiwi from that. Both teams gave it all they had to go for a win - for 9 minutes beyond in a tight game. Fantastic effort players and officials.
Might be an unpopular thing to say here, but that kind of crowd behaviour is not unexpected from NZ these days. Anecdotally have heard it from many nationalities as I get around the club scene here in Sydney.
Don't know if it is a generational thing, but the level of boorishness in rugby crowds is generally increasing. Throw in the ABs success and it seems like some fans feel they've been given licence to think their nation owns the game.
I don't disagree with any of that but must say that a fair deal of the booing right at the end would have been reactionary. The excitement and entertainment they paid for was cut off by a decision to take a draw. I would have been disappointed and let out a groan as well
But you’re just a grumpy old man 😉
Correct.
Your point? -
@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@pakman said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
@NTA said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
Bullshit fucking penalty. We folded Karl T like a cheap deck chair at the previous scrum and ZERO
Looked to me like Oz TH bored in and hooker also shoved diagonally left. Karl T in effect was peeled off. Some refs would penalise Wallabies for that, but because of the optics was surprised ABs weren't.
Karl packed crooked to start with - as a LHP you can't be at that angle on the engage because any forward momentum from that point makes you look bad.
Unless the ref is a screaming pile of incompetence.
Will check out when I rewatch!
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@Billy-Tell said in Bledisloe One: Wellington, October 11:
Mounga had a really poor game I thought given the weather. I also think goodhue should be 13 or not in the team. Best memory will be Clarke’s cameo. O for awesome. You’d have to think BB to 10 and JB to 15 for the next game.
On Mo'unga's bad/quiet game, only NTA has mentioned the late hits on him. I counted three times where RM was down in back play (Wilson's late hit, being clattered in the lead up to Reiko's non-try and then twice in the second half) after late hits in addition to the big hit early (11 mins?) from Toomua.
As for centres, haven't almost all of the AB's centre choices in recent years been forced by injuries? ALB/Laumape/SBW/Crotty all had injuries at various points during 2018 and 2019 while Reiko has only begun his move to centre in 2020. Goodhue has ended up in 12/13 by being available.
