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Or for injuries. Or exhaustion. The wallaby 'shape' fell apart when so many subs were made at once and particularly when Phipps came on for Genia. Phipps didn't control the game the same way and Cooper went completely over the top with ..... unusual options. Not an easy environment if you've...

He got ridiculously loose in the second half, crossed the threshold (brilliant --> loopy) as the wobs put those tries on early in the first half. He needed a slap but of course Genia, Elsom and Pocock were subbed. I say Genia first because he often takes matters into his own hands and plays it...

I expected Simmons to not quite make the grade but he and Horwill went pretty well. Simmons seems to call himself in the lineout infrequently but it works, esp with the options available. Be interesting to see them up against a stronger pairing than the Saffers put out last night.

The problem with Rocky was the complete lack of stats. Unless you mean minutes unplayed, and maybe coaches undermined. He did have a great game across the park last night. Weird game though - we'll learn more in two weeks.

3. Genia 2. Moore 1. McCabe

Robbie Deans is giving the prematch briefing. Thou shalt not covet the width of the field. Thou shalt not play at thine end. Thou shalt not get charged down.

Looking forward to the frantic scrambling of front row deck chairs when the all blacks give our scrum an enema, If Alexander doesn't play his way out of the side tonight. Anyway, it seems like the front row reversal is all part of a Baldrick inspired cunning plan:

Crikey, man - think about it! An attack of the sniffles now could kill off our RWC campaign!

I can imagine Cooper getting a hand on him in that try he scored down the sideline. But the end result would have been much the same.

I think Carter is a step to far for Deans, and that he won't see the green and gold during his tenure. That probably applies to pundits here too. Carter is the antithesis of the "2nd 5" - strong in contact and marvellous in defense but not a distributor/stepper. Out-Fainga'aing Fainga'a may...

Saffer style. I like it, Cooper would always some one to dish the ball to in traffic, and to make his tackles for him.

To be fair, there is almost too much there. Odd ball selections. No apparent cogent game plan. No answer when pushed. Blank responses in the interview afterwards.

He's figuring out how to blame the kiwis, or the kiwi ref, or something.

Uh-huh Affirmative Slipper is still broken, as is Daley. But you know what - I agree. Run Daley and yesterday and the scrum would have been more sucky but we would have gained in a couple of areas we sucked most. In this game. It's not controversial to say that Daley is a good carrier...

I would tell you that Cat in the Hat would have been a better choice for today, but that is unfair on the Samoans. They were very good - committed, physical, game plan to their strengths.

Higgers did not seagull as badly as people are making out, or perhaps as badly as we have seen before. I've just watched the last 20 again to document what he does. Could he have done more? Sure. But the pack was pretty disjointed/disorganized and he at least bobs up well as a runner for Genia...

Many of their players are tied up in Europe and Japan. The RWC and the run up is the best time to see these teams at their best.

Agreed, but..... Being solid and playing with a lot of heart gets you a lot of second places when you're running the game at 10.

Thought Vickerman tried manfully to hit rucks when he came on, and that was where the problem was, so +1 from me. Hodgson was surprisingly ineffective, Robinson was marginally better. I think Beau is better starting than subbing both in terms of his fit for the team but also in terms of him...

We are certainly making progress. The direction, however, is concerning.