Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<p>Crotty has always looked good in black. Option taking is his biggest strength and when you surround him with capable fellas he really is effective.</p>
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What a spanking!<br><br>
Personally I've loved seeing the ABs really take it to the Aussies.I'm old enough to remember the pain and embarrassment of the era of Campese, Farr-Jones, Horan and Eales when the Wallabies used to win the Bledisloe and a couple of World Cups so I don't feel sorry for them at all.<br><br>
Four thoughts:<br><br>- Australia were very bad. Weak leadership from Moore. He should encouraged more resistance from his side and he got totally outplayed by an injured Dane Coles. I've long argued that David Pocock is not the Rugby God that the Aussie hype machine would have us believe. He never got the better of the GOAT in a test match that mattered. I'm not sure now he's even good enough to be an international Rugby play any more, so slow and makes poor decisions. I'd drop him. Read was the better Number 8 on the park by a loooong way. I can't remember seeing an Aussie backline with so little threat and purpose in the last 35 years. The guys back from France looked physically not ready for a test and if there was an attacking game plan from Australia I missed it. Australia should go back a policy of only picking guys willing to commit to their Super Rugby franchises, A number of tries were down Two Dads' wing who looked surprisingly clueless in his defensive positioning for 100+ test veteran<br><br>
- The All Black pack is superb. Great lineout work, strong scrums, lots of great work around the park from them all. The ABs have multi-skilled forwards but compromise nothing with their set piece work. As long as that continues they are going to be a tough side to beat.<br><br>
- The All Black backline is a work in progress. BB is looking increasingly confident at first five, Crotty took big steps forwards as well and is showing a pleasing hunger to learn and improve. A mixed bag from Fekitoa and Dagg to be honest. I'm delighted that King Julian was on the score sheet again. 40 test tries is no small achievement. It is a shame the injuries will prevent the AB backline on working on it cohesion and continuity.<br><br>
- Steve Hansen is a much, much better coach than Michael Cheika. A ruthless, disciplined and focused first half performance from Hansen's men and an energetic if scrappy second half. I am so impressed with how he motivates his men and out-thinks his opponents. That said, World Rugby have probably already ear-marked their coaching award for 2016 for Eddie Jones.<br><br>
Looking forward to next week and a chance to secure the Bledisloe Cup for yet another year. Great to be so dominant over Australia, the result of a lot of hard work by AB squad and their coaching staff. Don't take these happy times for granted.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Samurai Jack" data-cid="607777" data-time="1471765818">
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<p>Crotty has always looked good in black. Option taking is his biggest strength and when you surround him with capable fellas he really is effective.</p>
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<p>Option taking when there are very few wrong options is awesome. You know if you run it, they'll be there to clean out. You know if you pass it, they'll be on the spot to take the ball. You know if you kick it... well you'll probably only kick it for the right reasons.</p> -
<p>At risk of turning this completely into an Oz focussed thread, I do think that having five Super teams is doing more harm than good. It would be much better for Oz to field three strong teams, and the best players would get a lot more out of playing alongside each other.</p>
<p>That horse having bolted, it did seem that after the first ten minutes the fight went out of Wallabies. Know Blacks were excellent, but didn't get much sense of Oz playing for each other. Could it be that Pomwash has broken the resolve of some of them? IMO Oz should have won at least the first test, so one would think there is a spark which can be resurrected.</p>
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<p>Agree with Nick that Pooper needs a rest. Think Poms and Blacks have shown that robust clean out beats twin fetchers. And lack of size catches up elsewhere.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="chimoaus" data-cid="607613" data-time="1471721637"><p>Some interesting comments from Cheika post game.<br>
" Cheika was most disappointed with his side’s poor defence, which missed 31 tackles - a reflection of the lack of mental toughness in the team last night."<br>
“I don’t think it’s about changing everything, it’s about getting the focus clearly on what’s important,†Cheika said.<br>
“I take responsibility for that, the mental preparation, that’s my domain and I’ve got to make sure the players are switched on to what is in focus"<br>
“And that’s why you would see me being very down, because I feel like I’ve let them down because I haven’t put them into a space where they’re going to do whatever it takes, especially around defence."<br>
And what space did you put them in? Any side playing the AB will focus on D. <br>
Does Cheika really believe it's just mental? He had a month to focus on what's important. Defence and perhaps a functioning lineout.<br>
Perhaps a rugby coach is needed not a psychiatrist.</p></blockquote>
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Who is responsible for preparing the Wallabies' mental focus a test Vs New Zealand?<br><br>
That would be their coach Michaek Cheika. Speaks volumes if he blames his players when he had over a month to work out his best side and prepare them for taking on the mighty All Blacks. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="chimoaus" data-cid="607491" data-time="1471693710"><p>
Kearns claims ABs offside all night. Kafer shuts him down saying I don't think so.</p></blockquote><br>
Did Kieran Read remember to thank the Wallabies in his post match interviews? Wouldn't want to be offside all night and be bad winners too. -
<p>Has been lots of talk here about 12-13 combo. But I think 10-12 doesn't get enough attention.</p>
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<p>SBW for me has always been best outside Cruden. Nonu was much more effective outside DC than Crudes. But he always looks best inside a big unit. Of current squad that would be Moala.</p>
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<p>It may be that Crotty works much better outside BB and that feeds on to Fekitoa. Feks certainly looked more composed yesterday, and whilst he did overegg the pudding a couple of times did more than enough good things to be well in credit.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="607783" data-time="1471767392">
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<p>Who is responsible for preparing the Wallabies' mental focus a test Vs New Zealand?<br><br>
That would be their coach Michaek Cheika. Speaks volumes if he blames his players when he had over a month to work out his best side and prepare them for taking on the mighty All Blacks.</p>
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<p>in the piece you quoted Cheika says "<span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(247,247,247);">“<strong>I take responsibility for that</strong>, the mental preparation, that’s my domain and I’ve got to make sure the players are switched on to what is in focus. </span><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(247,247,247);">And that’s why you would see me being very down, </span><strong>because I feel like I’ve let them down</strong><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(247,247,247);"> because I haven’t put them into a space where they’re going to do whatever it takes, especially around defence."</span></p>
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<p>That doesnt seem to be blaming the players?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="607783" data-time="1471767392">
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<p>Who is responsible for preparing the Wallabies' mental focus a test Vs New Zealand?<br><br>
That would be their coach Michaek Cheika. Speaks volumes if he blames his players when he had over a month to work out his best side and prepare them for taking on the mighty All Blacks.</p>
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<p>Did he blame his players? Here are the quotes from <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/bledisloe-cup-wallabies-coach-michael-cheika-says-he-got-mental-preparation-wrong/news-story/291cf2cd8a66618dcbeb6d801fe4c735'>http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/bledisloe-cup-wallabies-coach-michael-cheika-says-he-got-mental-preparation-wrong/news-story/291cf2cd8a66618dcbeb6d801fe4c735</a></p>
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<p>“I don’t think it’s about changing everything, it’s about getting the focus clearly on what’s important,†Cheika said.</p>
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<p><strong>“I take responsibility for that, the mental preparation, that’s my domain and I’ve got to make sure the players are switched on to what is in focus.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>“And that’s why you would see me being very down, because I feel like I’ve let them down </strong>because I haven’t put them into a space where they’re going to do whatever it takes, especially around defence.</p>
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<p>“It’s all connected, so <strong>I will have a good look at how I’ve prepared that over the last few weeks </strong>and try to add or refine and put some focus on what I need to make sure that the point is very clear for next weekend.â€</p>
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<p>“You’ll have a chance to build on that in seven days, that’s what they’ll have a chance to do, there’ll be no bigger Test for mental fortitude than that,†Cheika said.</p>
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<p><strong>“Defence is attitude. There’s no rustiness. Let’s get that one out of the way, right.</strong></p>
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<p>“When players run at you, you’ve got to tackle and that’s the nature of the game.</p>
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<p>“So when other things don’t work out, that will look after you.â€</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="607789" data-time="1471768217"><p>
Looks like I picked the wrong game to be stuck sitting in an airport on the islands for. Maybe I should miss the whole tournament if the ABs are gonna keep playing like that.</p></blockquote>Please do. Ta. -
I don't buy the crap from Cheika about him not getting the players up mentally. <br>
They're professional rugby players who have been picked to represent their country against the best team in the world. If they can't get themselves up for that, they shouldn't fucking be there and he should be blaming himself for selecting the wrong players.<br><br>
Good on him for trying to take the heat off his players, but it's utter bullshit. -
If Cheika really is struggling to motivate and focus his players ahead of home test against the double World Champions then he should be considering his position. Coaches should make their players feel a thousand feet tall as they go out on the park. If Cheika can't do that he shouldn't be an international coach. Giving Cheika coach of the year award is increasing a joke. Scotland would have beaten them in the RWC Quarter Final if the ref hadn't messed up big time. If it is another big win for the ABs next week then surely it should be the end of road for Cheika as Wallabies boss.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="607784" data-time="1471767593"><p>
Did Kieran Read remember to thank the Wallabies in his post match interviews? Wouldn't want to be offside all night and be bad winners too.</p></blockquote>
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What the hell did he have to thank them for? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="607799" data-time="1471770901"><p>
What the hell did he have to thank them for?</p></blockquote>
Nowt. <br><br>
But in Phil Kearns' crazy world, you should always thank your opponents after spanking them 😉 -
Cheika didn't mean what he said but he's secure in himself not to tell the truth which was that his players didn't turn up. You give that message in private.<br>
Not the first time he's publically assumed resposibility to save his boys. Classy<br><br><br>
That overhead camera angle of scrums, to my one eye just showed yellow number 1 boring in on an angle yet refs never seeem to see it. Can't the tmo give a heads up?<br><br>
Was Crockett doing it too? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="607803" data-time="1471771569"><p>
Nowt. <br><br>
But in Phil Kearns' crazy world, you should always thank your opponents after spanking them 😉</p></blockquote>
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I wonder if sits there waiting for " thanks dad for buying a Porsche but being to cheap to option a reversing camera" ? -
23 man rugby pretty much rules out front rowers from captaincy these days..<br><br>
So no loss at all re-jigging it away from Moore. He's on the sideline for 40% of every game anyway. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="607783" data-time="1471767392"><p>
Who is responsible for preparing the Wallabies' mental focus a test Vs New Zealand?<br><br>
That would be their coach Michaek Cheika. Speaks volumes if he blames his players when he had over a month to work out his best side and prepare them for taking on the mighty All Blacks.</p></blockquote>
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Actually he's taken the blame for that. But I disagree. A coach can't make you think a certain way. Players need to take responsibility for being motivated.
