stillmissit
Jim Lenehan (48)
Also, have a look at the number of games under Schmidt we lost with small margins. It points to a head problem rather than a skills problem.
2025 Bledisloe Cup Series
- Thread starter Dismal Pillock
- Start date
Tomikin
Michael Lynagh (62)
And if they lose which they have against ever other team. We can win the trophy.
Tomthumb
Jim Lenehan (48)
True, but they are 110-40 in aggregate over the last 2 games. I think they may just have figured it out
rugbyAU
Ken Catchpole (46)
yeah realistically SA will win the comp
Tomikin
Michael Lynagh (62)
Well, you could have said that at the start of the comp. We need to spank the All Blacks. If a chance to win the RC isn't enough to be interested in the game, then I dont see what would be.
Likely no, but we can only control ourselfs and thats winning in Perth.
Dismal Pillock
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Mark Panga
Frank Nicholson (4)
Really need to go back as much as possible to the strategy used and as much of the side that played the last game against the Lions and won and played well in South Africa. We had a young, super fit, energetic bench that brought up the tempo and in all three games the Wallabies came back from many points down at half time. By all means Slips, Pollard, AAA (combo of Slips and AAA tried and true) Frost and Skelton starting, back row of Valetini, McReight and Wilson. Then also Loneghan and Lynagh/Edmed to start - and or the rest of starting backs - bring the fitness, energy and smarts - consider starting an Ikitau/Flook pairing for superb skills and rugby IQ, putting JAS and Daugunu on Wing with Jorgo as 15. Then the bench of BPA, Bell, Nonggorr, Hooper, Lukhan/Williams, Kalani Thomas (instead of injured Tate,) JOC (James O'Connor) (older but great finisher), and Toole. The energy that the bench brought for the previous games was just not there last week. Hooper is playing brilliantly - but he absolutely smashes the opposition as a finisher and I think it was a key factor in the wins. With the combo of Bell, BPK and Nonggorr, scrums were strong against the Boks. Nonggorr's constant work in breakdown and his tackle rate allows the others like Bell and Hooper to carry hard and fast. Kalani has that Tate zippiness and intense competitiveness. Williams always finished with an energy effort that included lineout steals and winning turnovers. That would have to be weighed against Luhkan's physicality and presence to smash the opposition when they are tired. JOC (James O'Connor)'s maturity stabilised the ship and he seems to be great at those finishing minutes. Toole's pace coming on a the end would burn any wing opposition.
Yoda
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
"He backed Noah at every opportunity as he's the safest pair of hands. He has then gone with Lynagh, JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) and Edmed who would all be rated as safer than Donaldson regardless of other attributes."... Well I think that may have been what Joe was thinking but it is pretty clear that Lynagh didn't really shoot the lights out.. Noah has been average and persevered with for way too long... Edmed.. has nothing really to offer except there's no one else... James will be back in England after the next Test. Donno definitely needs to be given some starting Tests to see how he goes imo. No one else has nailed the starting position.
rugbyAU
Ken Catchpole (46)
not saying the game dosent matter with no silverwear on the line
It's Slipper's last test, and world rankings always up for grab and if we lose we're at a 40% win rate heading to the EOYT with an all time high losing streak against an average AB team - what would that say about us, that we're inconsistent and far from being back
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LeCheese
Geoff Shaw (53)
It's all speculation of course, but I also don't think we're pulling off some of those victories behind Noah either.
Red Runner
Watty Friend (18)
Christy Doran’s scatter gun approach to journalism (focus on being first, accuracy comes later) continues. JOC (James O'Connor) clearly in Perth with the team.
Tomthumb
Jim Lenehan (48)
Based on what exactly
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
None of the other candidates have yet shown to be a definitive improvement…
JOC (James O'Connor) has been the best option, but even his form has swung between being very good, and very bad.
Tomthumb
Jim Lenehan (48)
I don't think any of the other candidates have shown to be a definitive step down either
Wilson
Tim Horan (67)
Very delayed report from the game after recovering from my Waiheke Island recovery day.
It was a cracking match to be at, things were pretty dire when we down in the first half but the fight back into the game and throughout was excellent, and Eden Park at sunset is a special spot to watch rugby.
Performance-wise (without subjecting myself to a broadcast re-watch) our defence and discipline just weren't good enough, but the pack has built a hard edge we haven't seen for years and some of the back play is starting to look really slick. Feels like we've got an actual style and identity as a team again after years of confused players not exactly sure where they should be or what we're trying to do.
Not sure there's much more to say on Piardi's performance, but it was telling how many kiwi fans were sheepishly apologizing for the referring. Not so much to the point of saying that the Wallabies were robbed, but more so for the fact that it hurt the spectacle, particularly for the few traveling fans like us. Everyone in the stadium was pretty confused by the calls throughout, particularly the tip tackle where the All Blacks fans around us were amazed to get away without even a penalty conceded there. Lots of work needed on that side of the product at Eden Park too - there was minimal announcement of the reasons for the calls, and in some cases the calls themselves weren't even announced. It's not always an issue, but for a game like that you really need the ref mic broadcast over the PA, at least for the key decisions.
Disappointment of the loss aside, I'm pretty bullish about our performance and chances this week in Perth, our biggest issues should be within our power to fix and we've probably got more back from injury then we lost. On the returning players, with Hooper going so well I'd be tempted bring Valetini back from the bench (Tizzano drops out), the ongoing calf issues a real worry and maybe they need to ease him back in on restricted minutes. It's hard on Salakaia-Loto after a great performance that was notcibly without a penalty conceeded, but Skelton likely comes straight back into start. Williams vs Salakaia-Loto for the bench is probably more horses for courses, so it'll depend on what Joe wants there, but Williams seems more likely based on the year so far and probably offers better balance if Valetini is the bench back row. 6-2 would be nice with the influx of forwards, but I'm not sure it's workable with Tate ruled out.
It was a cracking match to be at, things were pretty dire when we down in the first half but the fight back into the game and throughout was excellent, and Eden Park at sunset is a special spot to watch rugby.
Performance-wise (without subjecting myself to a broadcast re-watch) our defence and discipline just weren't good enough, but the pack has built a hard edge we haven't seen for years and some of the back play is starting to look really slick. Feels like we've got an actual style and identity as a team again after years of confused players not exactly sure where they should be or what we're trying to do.
Not sure there's much more to say on Piardi's performance, but it was telling how many kiwi fans were sheepishly apologizing for the referring. Not so much to the point of saying that the Wallabies were robbed, but more so for the fact that it hurt the spectacle, particularly for the few traveling fans like us. Everyone in the stadium was pretty confused by the calls throughout, particularly the tip tackle where the All Blacks fans around us were amazed to get away without even a penalty conceded there. Lots of work needed on that side of the product at Eden Park too - there was minimal announcement of the reasons for the calls, and in some cases the calls themselves weren't even announced. It's not always an issue, but for a game like that you really need the ref mic broadcast over the PA, at least for the key decisions.
Disappointment of the loss aside, I'm pretty bullish about our performance and chances this week in Perth, our biggest issues should be within our power to fix and we've probably got more back from injury then we lost. On the returning players, with Hooper going so well I'd be tempted bring Valetini back from the bench (Tizzano drops out), the ongoing calf issues a real worry and maybe they need to ease him back in on restricted minutes. It's hard on Salakaia-Loto after a great performance that was notcibly without a penalty conceeded, but Skelton likely comes straight back into start. Williams vs Salakaia-Loto for the bench is probably more horses for courses, so it'll depend on what Joe wants there, but Williams seems more likely based on the year so far and probably offers better balance if Valetini is the bench back row. 6-2 would be nice with the influx of forwards, but I'm not sure it's workable with Tate ruled out.