Search results

I'd bring in Swain to the squad and Blyth on the bench. Hooper is not a lock and will ensure our scrum goes backwards at a faster rate. AAA if chosen, will get his backside handed to him again, he's been a good servant of the game but he is too small or not strong enough for the current players...

Agree TSR, like to add, slow to react to ball on the ground. The perennial poor support for the runner.

I'm hopeful we will go somewhat better in the second game if TT, Bell, Koro and Kellaway to 15 it should look better. Is BPA over the injury?

Watching that game a few things seemed obvious. AAA is not a top tier 3 and Lolesio can only play when we have a reasonable chance of holding their pack and giving him some space. Nongorr looked the goods, Frost and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) played OK, Valetini was a handful in the 2nd half. The pack fought hard...

Thanks DB, I wonder why that wasn't announced when he pulled out. Maybe I missed it.

Any gossip on why TT is missing the game?

In my job (20+ years ago), it was Autonomy without the 5-1 shock (ie trusted to closely watched), confidence until they proved it was only skin deep and psychologically no safety as fear was always driving them, myself and the whole industry. Similar to pro Rugby you are 'skating on the thin...

BH, It is mostly a problem of players, if we had a couple of young 10's competing for the position then it might have been different but the reality is that these two (plus Lynagh off the bench) are what we have. Schmidt will understand their strengths and weaknesses but as he has done since he...

Thanks for the spreadsheet it is very interesting. My point has been made here by others and that is 'Wallabies shouldn't be a training ground'. I have advocated enough youngsters who I thought had talent, but neither Lolesio or Donalson have been among them. If you are suggesting Lolesio...

DC we will have a decent idea after the first qtr. if the guys have stood up, it will be a case of whether they are fit enough to hang in there. If they are it could be very interesting.

That's all very well but neither Lolesio nor Donalson have grabbed their opportunities and they have had plenty. 10 is not a placemat, it is a key position for any rugby team. I agree with sticking IF we have a 10 who shows some improvement over some games. Both Donaldson and Lolesio have not...

Just watch Schmidt regarding selections and his reasons for 2 pilferers. His take is that give SA a turnover and they will make you pay. So he takes the breakdown seriously as does SA. He also stated that you must compete in the forwards in all areas.

Like a lot of things it will be discussed and agreed upon with refs but I am guessing it will be lifting. A short throw to the front might need a down the middle interpretation. There will be coaches working out how to use this against teams that are perennial non-jumpers in their 22m.

my understanding is that you can't tackle someone in the Maul to bring them to the ground, but you can in a ruck ie cleanout.

Winning it is the difficult bit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

True, see my last sentence to Derpus above. It has been an issue for a long time. it is a risk/ reward situation like many things on the rugby pitch.

Surprisingly, I agree with most of this. The rush D and the work at the breakdown can be complementary as we have seen several times in the last RWC. Our problem is that we don't know which breakdowns to attack, which can be countered and which to stay out of. We also have guys wasting energy...

Agree with all of these thoughts Dru and I do like to see the 9 pressured by opposition onside of course. I was hoping to see some control on the caterpillar line which seems designed to stop any competition.

The breakdown is always the key part of the game. If we don't attack their BD then you give them control of the ball for large parts of the game, usually, you lose the game. I believe in competing in all aspects of the game and trying to hide players from the D or putting in stupid rules like...

Love the way you're thinking Cap. I love to get excited with some red wine and cheeses/bisquits onboard 21-18 will do it for me!