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I think run meter stats should be taken in context. If Tupou picks and goes into 3 men and gets 3 meters near the goal line that's an outstanding outcome and much different than if, say, Hanigan, picked it up and went -1 meter. But statistically they are virtually identical. Someone can also...

My self assessment was that I was shite and unathletic. Hanigan isn't shite, but I just don't think he is athletic enough to be a test rugby 6 or lock.

I was basically the Ned Hanigan of my team. I tried the hardest, knew the gameplan inside out, followed the coaches instructions to a T, was a good team mate, could play many positions equally poorly, did not take too many dumb penalties. And the coaches always picked me. And I always wondered...

Agreed, though it is not so much a knock on Savea as it is a reflection of how good he is that they feel the need to play two 7s at once. Same issue that the Wallabies had with Hooper/Pocock. You have two absolutely world class players at the same position and it is a position where you don't...

People perhaps had too harsh a judgement on Hodge prior to this match. He's still a pro rugby player and coaches love him, which means that he knows what he is doing and works his butt off. So he can just go out there and play anywhere. He's still not a great option at any position and people...

Banks made few errors, good aerial work and kicking. He wouldn't be a terrible fullback in a game with non-stop kicking, but that is not the ABs and he didn't show much on the ground, so not hard to understand that he is out. DHP can sometimes make things happen with the ball, by contrast, and...

Not a fan of Hanigan. He had a few moments, but he still gets bossed around too much. I can't understand how a poster thought Nic White did poorly, but liked Gordon? The ball was coming out like paste once Gordon came on and the attack melted. Banks has been great at the aerial game and...

I was a #1 Hanigan hater, mostly because he was too weak and nearly any collision he's going backwards. If he's improved his size/strength and with the Wallabies having more big hitters at the tackle, he could fill a lineout/rucking niche. I think his strength at rucks is getting there early...

I haven't been able to watch any super rugby this year as in Canada, but I was thoroughly impressed with the Wallabies, both the coaching, the older players I knew well, but especially some of the younger guys. Unlike the later stages of the Cheika era they seemed to be playing a modern style...

As others have noted Australia's tactics were antiquated and don't equate to winning rugby in 2019. You can't endlessly push the ball wide against rush defenses filled with extremely fit players, or run out of your own 22. Even the French played more intelligently today. They ran the ball...

The backline is still a puzzle. Beale can't play 15, that seems clear. Can Petaia play wing now? Can DHP or O'Connor play 15 and not have a mental explosion? Is Hodge really an international winger? What is AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) there for exactly? If Hodge, O'Connor and Kurindrani can all play in the centre, with...

Man, I missed last week's game, the first Aus game in eons, only to get up early for this pile of garbage. To me the back 3 were the main downfall. The ABs targetted Beale and Hodge in particular, who were horrid, Beale in particular. Aside from Quade Cooper Beale is the most mercurial rugby...

Personally I think the players are trying hard, but you can tell from the body language that they're discouraged and morale is low. Even Pocock and Hooper.

Just came to say that the Wallabies kicking game is bizarre. They kick like it is 1995. No contested box kicks, few kicks along the touch line, just sitting in the pocket and punting it down the middle of the field.

Watched the game without commentary. Have to say, it is much better this way! Overall I thought the game went about as expected. Aussie look so much better when they aren't shoveling the ball sideways. So many times they kill their own momentum by going wide when it isn't on. They have enough...

Basically the same team went toe to toe with Ireland and has been competitive with most others. That's all you need to make a RWC final. The overall trajectory is down, but they are obviously capable of winning some big games if healthy and playing their best. I always say every team that's...

What a bizarro game, I don't know what to make of it. All I can really say is that the Aussies did a lot better when they just boshed it up a couples times instead of just immediately going to decoys and pushing the ball wide. That and kicking the ball with some level of effectiveness. The...

Player error for sure, although the Wallabies have generally been terrible at exiting their own half with kicks. It is a coaching error as Beale should never be playing 10.

I don't think Beale's improved play showed a) the ability to manage a game b) tactical kicking c) ability to straighten and distribute. If anything he was still a bit helter skelter, it was just more controlled, but still very instinctive and everything was being done at full pace. You can't...

All I can say is that Cheika has royally screwed up his backline. He benches Foley after two games against the ABs, then replaces him with Beale, who was and always has been a dreadful 10. Now both of them are low on confidence, To'omua hasn't built any chemistry, they has two poor showings. Just...