2012 Rugby Championship Round 4 Game 2 Australia vs Argentina - 15 Sep

[disco]

Where is Lachie Turner he should come in on the wing for Shipperley he's never let the Wallabies down. Unless they start Beale on the wing in SA.

I think Beale is starting to look fit again & if he finds form hopefully he works his way into the team for Bled 3 & Spring tour.

 

[Penguin]

Totally agree Penguin.
As I've already said, made more enjoyable by fans being "fair dinkum rugby supporters", not imposters, there for a booze-up and to throw insults!
A few observations:
1. Very emotional singing of Advance Australia Fair, with the crowd sounding more like the sons and daughters of Gwalia! Mrs Doug reckons it's "the people" telling those listening that we are not happy with the "cultural changes" being forced on our country!
2. Personally, I thought Phipps went ok, and let's remember that the critics on this thread who refer to his lack of speed around the ruck, were doing likewise to Genia a few matches ago.
3. Impressed with Hooper's work-rate and speed around the paddock, where many of his fellow-forwards were slow to the break-down.
4. Hugh Jarse made a comment recently that proved right last night, namely, Los Pumas play well for around 60 minutes.
5. The 'Official Programe' (Match Souvenir) contained an article on Robbie Deans, which included the quote that RD is "A meticulous planner and an astute analyst of the game" That may be so, but I feel his problem is twofold (a) commnicating that plan to the players, and (b) ensuring that it is carried out on match day!
That assumes that his plan is the correct one for the opposition, in the first place!!

Both anthems were great. It's easier to sing along to our anthem when the chosen singer on the night sticks to the tune & doesn't try to put their own personal twist to it..... We Aussies have a hard enough time staying in time as it is! Whoever did the deed last night did a great job!
Also totally agree with points 2 & 3.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

I think the backs as a whole would play better if we had a clear cut structure. There isnt really much of a pattern happenign hence all their games suffer.

People may scoff at it but cooper is better when there is structure as it gives him options to choose from and space to create.

If you just tell him to 'play' whats in front i guess you cant be surprised when he decides to roll the dice

the worst part about the whole thing is that in a years time after having a full season of super rugby with the reds people will sing his praises yet for now while we grind it out over the line people will hate him. fact of the matter is if he got sick of the critics and turned around tommorow and told us to shove it, we would be in a world of trouble

 

[thierry dusautoir]

p.s Kane douglas for prime minister

 

[Paradox]

I'm a Quade Cooper fan but Tim Horan was making all sorts of excuses for him last night. It got a bit much. JOC (James O'Connor) needs to come back to give us another option at 10. People claim he's selfish but I call bullshit on that. He's a pretty safe player as well. Mentally strong. Pity we have so many injuries because we'll get to 2013 without knowing what is the best mix of players.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Get a grip. He was still better last night than Beale has been at any stage this tournament but Cooper is arrogant. He respects his spot enough to at least get fit as ever. lf Cooper is arrogant i'd take his arrogance over Beales any day who thinks he can walk up in the condition he is in and start.

I would have thought it obvious I wasn't supporting KB (Kurtley Beale) so I'm not sure how your race to the bottom comes to be directed at me.
Whether KB (Kurtley Beale) is or is not in the squad has no bearing on QC (Quade Cooper)'s shortcomings.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I'm a Quade Cooper fan but Tim Horan was making all sorts of excuses for him last night. It got a bit much. JOC (James O'Connor) needs to come back to give us another option at 10. People claim he's selfish but I call bullshit on that. He's a pretty safe player as well. Mentally strong. Pity we have so many injuries because we'll get to 2013 without knowing what is the best mix of players.

There must be some doubt about JOC (James O'Connor) playing this TRC?
If he does he will have had no rugby for months so it would be hard to justify starting him.

 

[Paradox]

There must be some doubt about JOC (James O'Connor) playing this TRC?
If he does he will have had no rugby for months so it would be hard to justify starting him.

I suspect you're right. I reckon he could be gone for the whole year.

 

[DPK]

Cooper should stay. He's looking better with each week: sure he was trying to push the play last night but he seemed much more active than previous games. Sure, he had more space against Argentina than NZ/SA but it's a question of progression.

 

[H...]

I personally don't understand the obsession with playing so "flat". I'd be interested in him lining up a bit deeper on occasion and give the outside backs some space.

 

[H...]

I'm a Quade Cooper fan but Tim Horan was making all sorts of excuses for him last night. It got a bit much. JOC (James O'Connor) needs to come back to give us another option at 10. People claim he's selfish but I call bullshit on that. He's a pretty safe player as well. Mentally strong. Pity we have so many injuries because we'll get to 2013 without knowing what is the best mix of players.

Has O'Connor even played 10 against a decent test opposition? Everyone's convinced he's the answer at either 10 or 12 (two significantly different positions, in my view, so I find all that amusing), but I don't recall having seen him play many or any tests in those positions.

 

[DPK]

Also, McCabe had Mortlock-esqe fire in the belly after his try: and boy did he let his team mates know. He was barking like a mad thing for about a minute after he touched down.

Sharpie's held-up attempt- I'd strangle the bloke if I could fit my hands, or even arms for that matter, around his neck. Apart from that he was solid as ever.

Still wondering who's going to replace Samo when he eventually goes. Auelua? Ita Vaea?

Maybe Timani?

 

[DPK]

Has O'Connor even played 10 against a decent test opposition? Everyone's convinced he's the answer at either 10 or 12 (two significantly different positions, in my view, so I find all that amusing), but I don't recall having seen him play many or any tests in those positions.

Depends if you consider Wales to be decent.

 

[twenty seven]

I finally get 5 to have a look and there seems to be a lot of finger pointing - mainly at QC (Quade Cooper). A lot of pats on the backs for some who deserved it and some who don't.
What I see, and as a Rugby fan it scares the crap out of me, is that the Wallabies are slowly being filled with one dimensional players who Deans and his 'gang' deem as aggressive players that will win the games.
We don't have our own game plan. If we are ever going to beat the AB's we play our game plan not trying to combat theirs.
Shit - most AB's and SA's are bloody arrogant to a degree. You have to be to get where they are. If you didn't you wouldn't be bloody elite. It's International Rugby for shits sakes.

 

[cyclopath]

I finally get 5 to have a look and there seems to be a lot of finger pointing - mainly at QC (Quade Cooper). A lot of pats on the backs for some who deserved it and some who don't.
What I see, and as a Rugby fan it scares the crap out of me, is that the Wallabies are slowly being filled with one dimensional players who Deans and his 'gang' deem as aggressive players that will win the games.
We don't have our own game plan. If we are ever going to beat the AB's we play our game plan not trying to combat theirs.
Shit - most AB's and SA's are bloody arrogant to a degree. You have to be to get where they are. If you didn't you wouldn't be bloody elite. It's International Rugby for shits sakes.

I don't get this. We did have a game plan. The forwards played pick and drive, and attacked the breakdown quite aggressively, we then tried to move it wider, but the execution of that part was variable. The play went too lateral as it went wide, not enough drawing and passing and the defence drifted us wide and snuffed the play often, but the general model was good. In the second half, runners were more direct and it worked better. Opportunities were created in the first half, but a couple came up just short.
I think we had a decent enough plan, especially for Argentina. I think aspects were not executed as accurately as they should have been. I think what Quade was often trying to do was fine, he just had an off night, especially in the first half.

 

[Scotty]

Cooper's game is not conducive to repeatable good outcomes. It will always represent hit and miss. He will be forgiven for the misses because the hits are so spectacular.
However, a reliable team game cannot be built around them. That means that the team relies more and more on the brilliant flashes and suffers more when they don't come off.
The reality is that there is no one else: he (and Beale) are the result of the cult of the league 5/8 in junior union. We should be looking for the kids who can control the game and give opportunities to the other 14 - it results in 14 times as many ways to score points - but we are always seduced by the flashy player.

A reliable team can't be built around him?

Do you forget who won the super XV last year, and who got back on track and made it to the finals as part of his involvement this year? I'll give you a clue - they don't wear blue.

 

[twenty seven]

I don't get this. We did have a game plan. The forwards played pick and drive, and attacked the breakdown quite aggressively, we then tried to move it wider, but the execution of that part was variable. The play went too lateral as it went wide, not enough drawing and passing and the defence drifted us wide and snuffed the play often, but the general model was good. In the second half, runners were more direct and it worked better. Opportunities were created in the first half, but a couple came up just short.
I think we had a decent enough plan, especially for Argentina. I think aspects were not executed as accurately as they should have been. I think what Quade was often trying to do was fine, he just had an off night, especially in the first half.

My main concern is our game plan is no where near up to beating the All Blacks. As to Argentina - I hope we play a with the same passion they did here because we are going to need it over there.

 

[Penguin]

I personally don't understand the obsession with playing so "flat". I'd be interested in him lining up a bit deeper on occasion and give the outside backs some space.

Rewatch earlier tests this year with Barnes at ten and you'll see why playing flatter is preferable.
Or watch any All Blacks test for that matter.

 

[H...]

No one has said he isn't an outstanding provincial player.

Rugby at TRC level is appreciably different to rugby at S15 level.

 

[H...]

Rewatch earlier tests this year with Barnes at ten and you'll see why playing flatter is preferable.
Or watch any All Blacks test for that matter.

So because Berrick Barnes is not capable of running a deep alignment, deep alignments never work? Okay.