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Nah he was definitely shit. Which is what I think No4918 is saying. I have a theory that Higginbotham is still working out how to play 6, he has nowhere near worked out what to do at 8. Or in contact, body-height wise. That and that he needs a haircut. I think it would help his handling.

I don't believe Beale dropped that pass from Genia (for example) because of his basic skills. I believe he dropped it because he wasn't focussed on catching it, because he is not as fit as he could be, unless you mean piss-fit, and because of the pressure of the situation and that the ABs put...

I wish I hadn't! Nah, Option 1 - as in Barnes had an ok RWC without being 10 in the crunch games ie semi vs all blacks.

I didn't see them both at 10 against the all blacks. I don't think quite that easy to judge one vs the other.

So you agree?

3 Sharpe 2 Ioane 1 Genia Genia and Ioane were actually very good. Sharpe made a massive contribution though.

And this makes the packs job impossible, when it comes to getting to the tackle contest from the right side and supporting the ball carrier. Esp those coming from the previous ruck and the dummy runners that fool no defender as the ball loops behind them.

The structure fragments: there were 15, all about man-sized. The rudimentary plan. Last night it was: Barnes is going to cleverly try a chip kick to exploit the rush defence (check - failed) and, when the going gets hot, shovel the ball in Beale's general direction for him to do stuff (Check...

The player they miss in that regard is Horwill. He carries that pack forward, gives them a presence at the breakdown and gets them rolling forward with short passes in tight, esp with Moore.

But how do Scotland and Samoa fit into that paradigm? Ireland in the game that shaped the RWC for Oz? The All Blacks are better, man for man, but the wallabies appear to have fragments of a structure and the most rudimentary plan no matter who they play, and we saw it again last night.

Charging forward is less an option when your scrum is compacted around you at 8 and you're trying to fish the ball out while the opposition flankers are all over you, which is how the Australian scrum works.

1) One baby step closer to a change in coach. 2) Backline played some expansive rugby, albeit behind their own try line, with terrible passes. 3) Massive learnings had by all, hopefully including by those in charge of appointing coaches 4) Any self-satisfaction from the Wales series is hopefully...

that depth is a real issue for the wallabies. gives them go-backwards.

Our most expansive backline movements were performed behind our own try line. Impressive.

We did look good during the anthem. And at least we have pretty much sorted our defence. Apart from the bits on the sides.

Learnings. I believe that is the Deans term.

Harsh call for Ant Fainga'a. Marto stated he was OUTSTANDING postmatch. And that guy is an authority. o_O It was a tough day at the office at 12/13, but it wasn't a surprising performance. For the most part, they tackled Nonu and SBW, which is pretty much why they were picked. Neither made a...

Actually passing it to Ioane was the only thing that did work.

I understand that Quade Cooper had a remarkable improvement in his fitness through the evening.

One thing Graham Henry is not is unbiased on this issue. It's not like he even pretends to be - and I don't blame him, he deserves the right not to be. Getting hot and bothered about it being pointed out that his opinion is a questionable interpretation of the refs' questionable...