Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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Rob Simmons is frankly rather shit. I've never seen why people rate him.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="607758" data-time="1471758566">
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<p>Is that it for Giteau and the Wallabies then? Surely their EOYT will be used to develop new guys and he will be another year past it next year.</p>
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<p>I think the Giteau rule has run its race. Really, it had after RWC2015 when we needed it due to emergency Link-sacking.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="607759" data-time="1471758611">
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<p>Rob Simmons is frankly rather shit. I've never seen why people rate him.</p>
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<p>Yeah I didn't either until I had a couple of decent scrum cases to judge him on. He's actually not a bad TH lock. He's soft as a pensioner's turd around the park, though.</p>
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<p>Its just that our scrum needed him at the time.</p>
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<p>With the comments about him being critical to our lineout, and having just been fisted at the lineout.... well...</p> -
One problem as you highlighted Nick is leadership and I don't think that Moore is providing much.<br>
And he really has an issue managing the refs who so often seem to get sick of his "style".<br>
But who replaces him with the C?<br>
I honestly look at the current Wallaby squad and don't really see a better replacement.<br>
What are your thoughts on this? -
<p>Slipper was mentioned elsewhere. He would be OK because at least he isn't confrontational.</p>
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Pocock was brought up, and it has the "cloak of invisibility" attribute that might come in handy.</p>
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<p>But I'd go with Slipper, because props rule the world. </p> -
<p>Moore was a much better player when he wasnt moaning at the ref every 5 minutes! </p>
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<p>i agree, moore isn't playing as well as he was before becoming captain, he relates badly to the refs, and they always sub him off which is not ideal.</p>
<p>please god though don't give it to bono, the less interviews with him the better.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>probably an appropriate time to reiterate how shit kuridrani has been for a long time now; surely adam 2 dads to centre.</p>
<p>you can't afford to carry a guy like simmons. he's shit in the lineouts, and you can't pick a lock just because he scrums reasonably well and doesn't do anything else. sio, kepu, slipper, moore are all good enough, likewise hooper and pocock - but the pooper will only work if you have size and mongrel in the rest of your pack.</p>
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<p>for us it's all been said really, bloody good performance. crotty was excellent before injury, should be a few people on here reconsidering opinions i think.</p> -
<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> -
A massive shame about Crotty's injury. He had his best international to date yesterday before going off.
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<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>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>“I don’t think it’s about changing everything, it’s about getting the focus clearly on what’s important,†Cheika said.</p>
<p> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<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> -
<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>
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<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. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="607794" data-time="1471769022"><p>
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.</p></blockquote>
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This -
Watched the first half again , thought I read earlier in the thread negative comments re Fekitoa ,I thought he played well .
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<p>one positive for australia is that they are the first team in a while now to have out scored the ABs in the final 20 mins</p>
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<p>I wouldn't blame the captain but the forwards esp Moore and Foley. Foley, were you playing? Certainly not playmaking. I thought Foley was going to be a decent international 10 for the Wallabies last year, now not so convinced.</p>
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<p>If anyone knows of a feed of the whole match please let me know. Was working all day yesterday and studiously managed to avoid everything about the game. `sat down at 11 last night to watch the recording I had set but despite the recording showing I was watching the TRC it was of some fucken tennis instead. Virgin have just pushed through a software update and I think that may have screwed it!</p>
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Yesterday's win doesn't put the England 3-0 series win in perspective. New Zealand are the number one team in the world for practically the last decade and rarely lose games.<br><br>
If Argentina spank Australia home and away, then it might put the England series in perspective. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="607772" data-time="1471763079"><p>i agree, moore isn't playing as well as he was before becoming captain, he relates badly to the refs, and they always sub him off which is not ideal.<br>
please god though don't give it to bono, the less interviews with him the better.<br><br>
probably an appropriate time to reiterate how shit kuridrani has been for a long time now; surely adam 2 dads to centre.<br>
you can't afford to carry a guy like simmons. he's shit in the lineouts, and you can't pick a lock just because he scrums reasonably well and doesn't do anything else. sio, kepu, slipper, moore are all good enough, likewise Hoopah and pocock - but the pooper will only work if you have size and mongrel in the rest of your pack.<br><br>
for us it's all been said really, bloody good performance. crotty was excellent before injury, should be a few people on here reconsidering opinions i think.</p></blockquote>
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I actually think Simmons is a good lineout lock. There were two problems I saw from my armchair, poor throwing by Moore and lack of options. <br><br>
The Pocock and Hooper duo will get found out at set piece when the opposition has 4 excellent lineout exponents like Whitelock, Rettalick, Read and Kaino. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="607838" data-time="1471793527">
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<p>Yesterday's win doesn't put the England 3-0 series win in perspective. New Zealand are the number one team in the world for practically the last decade and rarely lose games.<br><br>
If Argentina spank Australia home and away, then it might put the England series in perspective.</p>
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<p>I think you can draw some reference. When England won 3 zip it was accredited more to England being good than Oz being shite. Now Oz, in a match they target every year with their best prep window and have recently been quite tough in, have shown themselves to be pants (even if it was against the best side in the world).</p>
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<p>I would back England to beat Argentina any day so your analogy is a bit off.</p>
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<p>I'm not saying that England didn't deserve the wins or that Oz handed it to them just that I think this result does show an indication of the state Oz rugby is currently in.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="607840" data-time="1471799371"><p>
I think you can draw some reference. When England won 3 zip it was accredited more to England being good than Oz being shite. Now Oz, in a match they target every year with their best prep window and have recently been quite tough in, have shown themselves to be pants (even if it was against the best side in the world).<br><br>
I would back England to beat Argentina any day so your analogy is a bit off.<br><br>
I'm not saying that England didn't deserve the wins or that Oz handed it to them just that I think this result does show an indication of the state Oz rugby is currently in.</p></blockquote>
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No I don't accept that line of argument. NZ are expected to win a match against Australia - home or away. And they win them regularly. The margin of victory is substantial undoubtedly but the victory is not surprising. <br><br>
Nonetheless, it's when a lower ranked team achieves a similar outcome against Australia that England's series victory might be more comparatively assessed. <br><br>
And you make my point when you say that you'd back England over Argentina any day. So if Argentina were to do a double over the Wallabies, it would put England's series win in perspective. <br><br>
Hope that makes sense. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="607836" data-time="1471788114">
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<p>If anyone knows of a feed of the whole match please let me know. Was working all day yesterday and studiously managed to avoid everything about the game. `sat down at 11 last night to watch the recording I had set but despite the recording showing I was watching the TRC it was of some fucken tennis instead. Virgin have just pushed through a software update and I think that may have screwed it!</p>
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<p>Close your eyes and just imagine it was any of the following recent games between the teams:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Auckland, 2015</p>
<p>Auckland, 2014</p>
<p>Sydney, 2013</p>
<p>Auckland, 2011 (both times).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then simply change a few ABs around and add in some extra shitness from Straya. Bingo.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's pretty much the same shit.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="607858" data-time="1471810218">
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<p>No I don't accept that line of argument. NZ are expected to win a match against Australia - home or away. And they win them regularly. The margin of victory is substantial undoubtedly but the victory is not surprising.<br><br>
Nonetheless, it's when a lower ranked team achieves a similar outcome against Australia that England's series victory might be more comparatively assessed.<br><br>
And you make my point when you say that you'd back England over Argentina any day. So if Argentina were to do a double over the Wallabies, it would put England's series win in perspective.<br><br>
Hope that makes sense.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>It was a record defeat at home for the Wallabies.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That is significant.</p> -
<p>Australia being so weak is not good for rugby.</p>
<p>I hope they will come back strongly very soon. The problem is : with which players ?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="607869" data-time="1471814983"><p>
Australia being so weak is not good for rugby.<br>
I hope they will come back strongly very soon. The problem is : with which players ?</p></blockquote>
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"Which systems?" is the bigger question.
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