Wallabies v Lions, 19 July Suncorp

[dru]

Team changes - not many.

Valetini to #6, CdC can argue with McReight for #7. Possibly doesn't get there.
Kellaway is a waste at #23 when we have #22 Donaldson. I'd look for a #12/#13 on the bench instead.
Skelton to #5. I haven't thought through the lineout though.

Otherwise I think the line up had strengths.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

And Gordon isn't a test performer with ball in hands. If the argument is his defend, then pick Tizzano at 9

He is there because he has the best box kick. Which is what you need for the first 50 before teams get tired.
Plus earned us a try.

 

[The Red Baron]

Ok a bit of a rant here, apologies in advance.

I hate losing to these complete flogs, they're nothing but home nations flogs. They live offside and should have been carded multiple times. O'Keeffe is a shocker and needs to be emailed a fresh copy of the 2025 version of the IRB Laws of the Game.

Now, having gotten that out of my system, we clearly weren't ready for the intensity of the game. The team has literally played one game this year, and it showed. Lynagh was targeted, but he put in a decent shift when the whole team was on the back foot. Donaldson opened the game up a bit at the end, which is exactly what his role was supposed to be, so don't @ me with the Lynagh/Donaldson stuff.

Forwards collectively need more starch. The defensive system is too passive and it's putting us on the back foot. The pods looked a little disorganised too, and that comes with a) not having played together for a while, and b) having to re-adjust when your primary ball carriers are missing. We will be better in the next game, particularly if one or two of our primary ball carriers return.

The flogs will be annoyed that they didn't win by more. They aren't mobile and will get shredded if the Wallabies can work their attack out. We did well to claw back, when the game looked like it was going to open up. The replacements did the job there, and did it well.

Onwards and upwards to game 2. We're still in this.

 

[Derpus]

Played like lightweight league players in the first half and then got O'Keeffed in the arsehole in the second. There is nothing but a whitewash in our future if Schmidt starts such a lightweight pack again.

Honestly cannot fathom how guys like LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Bell aren't first names onto the starting team sheet.

 

[molman]

There is so (so) much we can improve on and we finish up 19-27 with some real opportunities we left out there (JAS no try, Champion De Crespigny's maul, a cruel bounce for Potter..etc). Overall I think that result wasn't a bad outcome for the Wallabies.

Lynagh settled into the game, but I still liked the look of Donaldson more. I thought AAA had an excellent game. The scrum in general was great. McReight whilst not always accurate did a fine job disrupting things and providing that link. Wilson just tries his heart out. The lineout however was concerning. Lost many an opportunity to build/consolodate pressure.

I'd like to see us not be as static. The 9 needs more options in play than just the pod that the Lions are easily rushing up on. JAS positionally looks to be struggling both in defence and attack. Wallabies need to work on bringing their ruck speed up so they can start to test the rush defence better. I'd like to see the wingers inject themselves more. We don't see enough of players like Jorgensen.

 

[whitefalcon]

I really wanted 12 Ikitau 13 JAS but I now put it down as needing work.
I also would have wanted more from teh loosies in finding space with passing just off the tight ruck.
Williams did not match up as a #5 for me.

Really chuffed that against a much bigger team, we matched in the scrum and probably should have taken them on more in the maul.

The finishers looking to push opportunities was good.

We really were not as far behind these guys as I expected. Bring back Valetini. Depending on game plan also Skelton.

Agree that our 12/13 isnt working.

I think we need to bring another 12 in (call my crazy but JOC (James O'Connor)), Len to 13 and move JAS to the Wing for Potter which would be tough on Potter.

We need a bigger team

Next week

1. Bell
2. Pollard
3. Allan
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. JAS
12. JOC (James O'Connor)
13. Ikitau
14. Jorgo
15. Wright
16. Fassler
17. Slipper
18. Robertson (assuming Tupou is still out of form)
19. Williams
20. Hooper
21. Tate
22. Lynagh
23. Potter/Kellaway

 

[Derpus]

Also the Lions defensive line is offside 100% of the time. Why dont we just copy it? No, instead we wwill voluntarily concede 10m a carry. Braindead thinking.

 

[whitefalcon]

Ok a bit of a rant here, apologies in advance.

I hate losing to these complete flogs, they're nothing but home nations flogs. They live offside and should have been carded multiple times. O'Keeffe is a shocker and needs to be emailed a fresh copy of the 2025 version of the IRB Laws of the Game.

Now, having gotten that out of my system, we clearly weren't ready for the intensity of the game. The team has literally played one game this year, and it showed. Lynagh was targeted, but he put in a decent shift when the whole team was on the back foot. Donaldson opened the game up a bit at the end, which is exactly what his role was supposed to be, so don't @ me with the Lynagh / Donaldson stuff.

Forwards collectively need more starch. The defensive system is too passive and it's putting us on the back foot. The pods looked a little disorganised too, and that comes with a) not having played together for a while, and b) having to re-adjust when your primary ball carriers are missing. We will be better in the next game, particularly if one or two of our primary ball carriers return.

The flogs will be annoyed that they didn't win by more. They aren't mobile and will get shredded if the Wallabies can work their attack out. We did well to claw back, when the game looked like it was going to open up. The replacements did the job there, and did it well.

Onwards and upwards to game 2. We're still in this.

Agree with this take.

 

[dru]

Agree that our 12/13 isnt working.

I think we need to bring another 12 in (call my crazy but JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)), Len to 13 and move JAS to the Wing for Potter which would be tough on Potter.

We need a bigger team

Next week

1. Bell
2. Pollard
3. Alan
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. JAS
12. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)
13. Ikitau
14. Jorgo
15. Wright
16. Fassler
17. Slipper
18. Robertson (assuming Tupou is still out of form)
19. Williams
20. Hooper
21. Tate
22. Lynagh
23. Potter/Kellaway

DOn't mind it, but I'd keep the 10s as they were, then JOC (James O'Connor) to 23. I'd also keep the #2s as they were.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Played like lightweight League players in the first half and then got OKeefed in the arsehole in the second. There is nothing but a whitewash in our future if Schmidt starts such a lightweight pack again.

Honestly cannot fathom how guys like LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Bell arent first names onto the starting team sheet.

I think starting with Slipper and Ala'alatoa makes some sense but Pollard should have been with them for the combo and Slipper needed to be subbed at half time at the very latest. Starting a player for 35 mins can make sense as Bok have shown.

 

[Uh huh]

Agree that our 12/13 isnt working.

I think we need to bring another 12 in (call my crazy but JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)), Len to 13 and move JAS to the Wing for Potter which would be tough on Potter.

We need a bigger team

Next week

1. Bell
2. Pollard
3. Alan
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. JAS
12. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)
13. Ikitau
14. Jorgo
15. Wright
16. Fassler
17. Slipper
18. Robertson (assuming Tupou is still out of form)
19. Williams
20. Hooper
21. Tate
22. Lynagh
23. Potter/Kellaway

I'm not sure we make the team bigger by replacing Potter with O'Connor though.

Not offering a solution, mind. I'm more of a problems kind of guy.

 

[Derpus]

I think starting with Slipper and Ala'alatoa makes some sense but Pollard should have been with them for the combo and Slipper needed to be subbed at half time at the very latest. Starting a player for 35 mins can make sense as Bok have shown.

I don't see how Slips starts over Bell when guys like Skelton and Valetini arent available. I thought the props did well but I still would have had Tupou in there. We got blown tthe fuck off the park purely in size and defensive strategy.

 

[Major Tom]

I think he tried to wrap in the tackleView attachment 22762
Think there is an attempt to wrap there. It doesn't work, but there is some kind of attempt

Clutching at straws if that’s wrapping the arms.
I thought his knee hit the ground first which I thought made it’s illegal?
Whole sequence looked dodgy af. Jas was never actually afforded the opportunity to place the ball.

 

[dru]

Clutching at straws if that’s wrapping the arms.
I thought his knee hit the ground first which I thought made it’s illegal?
Whole sequence looked dodgy af. Jas was never actually afforded the opportunity to place the ball.

"I f'd up! with a hari kuri at the blokes legs, hands in the air in submission ". OK fair tackle.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

Why don’t we just pick our biggest toughest pack and just beat them into submission?

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Skelton, Bell, AAA, Gleeson, Pollard, Valetini, Mcreight(I know not big, but so good).

I obviously rate Wilson and Frost and Williams- but just consider a forward pack purely designed to belt them for the first 50.

 

[The Red Baron]

I think starting with Slipper and Ala'alatoa makes some sense but Pollard should have been with them for the combo and Slipper needed to be subbed at half time at the very latest. Starting a player for 35 mins can make sense as Bok have shown.

Pollard was excellent when he came on, so I'd probably agree with this. He's a stronger scrummager too. Fez needed a bit of game time and maybe Joe was worried about scrummaging at the end of the game, which is why he went with Fez first? Be interesting to see how he adjusts for the 2nd test.

 

[Super Hooper]

Australia doesn't have a Bundee Aki. RA should invest all the money on Samu Kerevi to keep him in the country and do everything possible to get him back to his best level. Considering that you have options in other positions but a powerful inside centre like him is unique in all Australian rugby. Ikitau is an improvisation because Paisami isn't up to scratch, and below them, you have nobody

 

[Beattie]

Agree that our 12/13 isnt working.

I think we need to bring another 12 in (call my crazy but JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)), Len to 13 and move JAS to the Wing for Potter which would be tough on Potter.

We need a bigger team

Next week

1. Bell
2. Pollard
3. Alan
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. JAS
12. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)
13. Ikitau
14. Jorgo
15. Wright
16. Fassler
17. Slipper
18. Robertson (assuming Tupou is still out of form)
19. Williams
20. Hooper
21. Tate
22. Lynagh
23. Potter/Kellaway

That is a better team. Champion de Crespigny needs to be in the there. Sua’ali’i not fitting the 13 jersey. Tate good off the bench but we might have needed his energy in the first half. Lynagh is not the test player we were chasing. Donaldson needs to start.

 

[griffins]

The ref abuse is off the mark, the 50 50s were fairly even across the game and all the big calls were defensible. Reality is Wallabies conceded 10 soft points across the first minutes of each half. Bitch all you want about the defensive system but it was good enough to win the remaining 78 minutes of the game by 2 points.

While this is overly simplistic/the lions had the cue in the rack for the last 10, if we cut out some simple errors and get Valetini back in to get us some front foot ball we can definitely win next week. Both teams will improve but we have more improvement in us.

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

The ref abuse is off the mark, the 50 50s were fairly even across the game and all the big calls were defensible. Reality is Wallabies conceded 10 soft points across the first minutes of each half. Bitch all you want about the defensive system but it was good enough to win the remaining 78 minutes of the game by 2 points.

While this is overly simplistic/the lions had the cue in the rack for the last 10, if we cut out some simple errors and get Valetini back in to get us some front foot ball we can definitely win next week. Both teams will improve but we have more improvement in us.

Even Schmidt just had a go at the ref..