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2025 Bledisloe Cup Series

2025 Bledisloe Cup Series

  • NZ in disarray, the time is now.

    Votes: 19 31.1%
  • Aus to win the Bled

    Votes: 15 24.6%
  • Split series, NZ retain Bled

    Votes: 21 34.4%
  • Aus lose both tests

    Votes: 8 13.1%
  • NZ win both tests

    Votes: 4 6.6%
  • Joe Schmidt to switch booths at halftime

    Votes: 5 8.2%
  • "Dear Wallabies, please take Razor"

    Votes: 6 9.8%
  • the long suffering Wobs deserve this

    Votes: 11 18.0%
  • pole long and hard

    Votes: 8 13.1%
  • pole just long

    Votes: 6 9.8%

  • Total voters
    61

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
This is an absolutely wild stat

There is definitely a fear or a severe lack of confidence because they don’t crumble like this against anyone else. The Springboks are clearly better than the AB’s right now but we had no problem beating them
There is no doubt an element of that, we did play pretty poorly in the first test but despite that and the Piardi-Jonker effect we kept it pretty close. The difference last night was a lucky falcon and a few poor lineout throws. It’s disappointing, but all I’m saying is we aren’t far off being a very good team.
 

Tomthumb

Jim Lenehan (48)
There is no doubt an element of that, we did play pretty poorly in the first test but despite that and the Piardi-Jonker effect we kept it pretty close. The difference last night was a lucky falcon and a few poor lineout throws. It’s disappointing, but all I’m saying is we aren’t far off being a very good team.
I think the closeness has more to do with NZ being pretty bang average to be honest

I’m sick of being “not far off”. That’s all we heard during Rennies reign, and Cheika’s. We talk about dark times but that was 1 year, what about the other 22? At a certain point the players need to get their skills up to an acceptable standard and actually win some games. If Argentina can beat NZ then there is no excuse why we can’t
 

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
I think the closeness has more to do with NZ being pretty bang average to be honest

I’m sick of being “not far off”. That’s all we heard during Rennies reign, and Cheika’s. We talk about dark times but that was 1 year, what about the other 22? At a certain point the players need to get their skills up to an acceptable standard and actually win some games. If Argentina can beat NZ then there is no excuse why we can’t
Don’t forget what happened to us in Argentina last year. As I mention above, I think a lot of it has to do with fatigue after a tough Lions series, a trip to South Africa, and then a fired up Argentina. Anyway, I’m more frustrated than anything because I can see the potential. I’m going to take a breather now and then start to look forward to destroying Eddie on the way north. FWIW, I think we will finish the year #5 on the rankings and that will be seen as a big step forward.
 

stillmissit

Jim Lenehan (48)
Havinf Dan Carter out there would not have stopped the stupid penalties, the poor line outs, the missed tackles and bad kicks by other backs.

Tane had some poor plays but the dropped ball by frost leading to Alans penalty was 7 points. Hooper's poor clean out was a reversal of 7 points and Pollards under throw was another 7 points.

That's a 21 point swing by controlable actions.
It just rolls on the same issues every game with a couple of exceptions. We were beaten in the breakdown badly, we must support the ball player better, if the AB's and most teams above us can do it, then we need to be at that level to step up.
Gordon always worries me when he starts pointing and shouting at guys.
Bottom line, we were beaten in the forwards, and at times our backs looked chaotic. The tackling was very poor, JAS being often among the poorest.
Can't blame the ref for this one.
 

stillmissit

Jim Lenehan (48)
Don’t forget what happened to us in Argentina last year. As I mention above, I think a lot of it has to do with fatigue after a tough Lions series, a trip to South Africa, and then a fired up Argentina. Anyway, I’m more frustrated than anything because I can see the potential. I’m going to take a breather now and then start to look forward to destroying Eddie on the way north. FWIW, I think we will finish the year #5 on the rankings and that will be seen as a big step forward.
Kob, these guys are professional, they train continuously, there is no excuse for lack of fitness. As an example, look at the shape of Marky M (Nawaqanitawase) after one year in league? looks much bigger and is still fast.
 

Dismal Pillock

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Good handling in the wet but strategy-wise that felt like a match played between teams ranked 7th and 8th.

-both lineouts a shitshow (Pollard and Taylor)
-DMac, in for his 90% kicking, goes 3 from 7
-Aus couldn't seem to engineer a way out of their own half
-Jordie puts himself in some brave spots but ffs on attack EVERY time the ball gets to him I think ".....well, that's the end of that then....." and so it was. The attack dies with him at 2nd 5.
 

Yoda

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
For those saying the ref was great. First penalty of the game. Reversing the penalty for skelton doing nothing. Please. It's not 3 points. Dreaming. It's a stupid call

The yellow card to hooper is a proper joke. You could argue in the side clean out penalty but it's not dangerous play. Happens often. No neck roll. It's not a penalty or a card. Absolute joke of a call. We have had players miss 6 months of rugby due to injury from things like that and its not even a penalty. Joke
The fact it remains a yellow card as it didn't dangerous gives this away.

No penalty advantage at 15 min. Gives us one ruck.

29 min clear knock on from dmac pass and called back

34 min. Clear forward pass by NZ and then an offside call that completely wrong. This was right in front of me at the stadium and watching at home after proved it. NZ score.

No such thing as a home ground ref for australia. Second half was much better by the ref. We kicked away too much ball
Tane was average and so was Gordan.
Tane was good for the first 30 minutes...as per usual, a 10 makes some mistakes and he's the worst in the world, yet the rest of the team make mistakes and noone says anything. Gordon played well first game back. Still think Donaldson should start all 5 Tests on Spring tour and see how he goes, and backline with some continuity... Tane or Lynagh off the bench.
 

Yoda

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Good handling in the wet but strategy-wise that felt like a match played between teams ranked 7th and 8th.

-both lineouts a shitshow (Pollard and Taylor)
-DMac, in for his 90% kicking, goes 3 from 7
-Aus couldn't seem to engineer a way out of their own half
-Jordie puts himself in some brave spots but ffs on attack EVERY time the ball gets to him I think ".....well, that's the end of that then....." and so it was. The attack dies with him at 2nd 5.
Dmac is normally better with his goal kicking? Score could have been worse for Australia if he was on target.
 

stillmissit

Jim Lenehan (48)
In a fairly frustrating evening the thing that pissed me off the most was the massive promo for the NRL GF at half time. Ultimate cuck behavior from rugby
Agree Alex, but that is on Ch 9 and good on the league, they knew there would be a lot of winnable eyeballs for today's game. After that game, maybe more than they expected.
 

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
Kob, these guys are professional, they train continuously, there is no excuse for lack of fitness. As an example, look at the shape of Marky M (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) after one year in league? looks much bigger and is still fast.
I didn’t say they weren’t fit, it was the end of a rigorous campaign and there were plenty of battered bodies out there, not to mention a few important ones that weren’t. Marky has a different brief in jail rugby but those physical attributes will be welcomed when he returns, we will see if he has slowed down then also when he lines up against greyhounds.

Anyway, I tend to take a glass half full approach but I’m still disappointed and frustrated. The guys can have a bit of breathing space now and then hopefully will go and conquer the north.
 

rugbyAU

Ken Catchpole (46)
I think the closeness has more to do with NZ being pretty bang average to be honest

I’m sick of being “not far off”. That’s all we heard during Rennies reign, and Cheika’s. We talk about dark times but that was 1 year, what about the other 22? At a certain point the players need to get their skills up to an acceptable standard and actually win some games. If Argentina can beat NZ then there is no excuse why we can’t
Yeah the objective of professional sport is to win, not just compete
 

drewprint

Desmond Connor (43)
Objectively I thought it was a pretty poor game that just couldn’t get out of third gear. NZ were average, we were poor. Such a shame as a sell out crowd in Perth, and a final Test for Slipper, deserved more. It was nice having Carley out there though - he is leaps and bounds ahead of that nitwit Piadri.
 

Shiggins

Michael Lynagh (62)
I wasn't real sure it was a YC either, but could see a penalty for the fact as he went through he grabbed neck of Barret's jersey and dragged him back over, Though lol I can understand why it was if that sounds confusing.
Anyway Ikatau's could easily of been a RC , as he made absolutely no attempt to lower himself at tackle, so on balance probably fair enough.
I agree on Lenny's. Go back to the lions test. Everyone said they couldn't clean out tizzqno any other way and what is he supposed to do. No penalty. Hoopers the same In a way. He can't neck roll and barrets in a good position so he comes in a bit from the side grabs the back of the jersy at the shoulder blades and rolls him straight back. He rolls him straight back because he can't go sideways due to it being a neck roll. It's the softest yellow I've seen in a while.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

John Eales (66)
Aus can’t beat the kiwis in rugby.
NZ can’t beat the Aussies in cricket. Weird sort of sport balance.
One kind of shows Aus as a collective and Rugby is a niche in Sydney and Brisbane.

The Wallabies are playing about as much as they can with the talent they have. They aren’t a smart, disciplined or overly physical side compared to others and I think this NZ are below average in comparison to others of the last 25 years.
 

Shiggins

Michael Lynagh (62)
Tane was good for the first 30 minutes...as per usual, a 10 makes some mistakes and he's the worst in the world, yet the rest of the team make mistakes and noone says anything. Gordon played well first game back. Still think Donaldson should start all 5 Tests on Spring tour and see how he goes, and backline with some continuity... Tane or Lynagh off the bench.
I don't know how we expect to win when we are playing imo our 4th or 5th choice 10. Losing carter in 2023 has had a massive impact. Noah, lynagh, carter, Donaldson, JOC (James O'Connor) are all better than Tane. Tane doesn't have the minutes in him this year to be starting against the all blacks. I think Joe got this wrong. Donaldson or JOC (James O'Connor) would have been better starting options. Jocs kicking is very poor and I think that's why Joe went with Tane. But Donaldson is the better option with JOC (James O'Connor) on the bench. Same can be said at halfback. Jake hasn't had a lot of minutes this year.

I was pretty sauced up last night so I appolagies if I was ranting about the ref in the first half. Wallabies were not up to it last night. Was good to see jorgenson get more ball than normal. The all blacks delt with him well.
 
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Hogan

Ward Prentice (10)
With the game still on the line with 25min to go, I just can’t understand why JOC (James O'Connor) wasn’t injected into the game at 10. We needed some spark and creativity in attack which Tane wasn’t providing and JOC (James O'Connor) has proven numerous times this year that he can get the job done. Missed opportunity by Schmidt imo. Seems a stubborn decision by Joe to justify his selection of Edmed which may have cost the game.
 
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