Australia v England: Match III, SCG, Sat 16th July 7.55pm AEST

[Viking]

Lolesio and Hodge have been given a pretty easy ride by most on this forum but I thought both were pretty anonymous during the game.

Lolesio has basically had three successive games in the ten jersey and I don’t think he’s shown any improvement over that time. Our attack has been clunky and Lolesio has shown zero running threat and little creativity ball in hand. We can’t win a Bledisoe or Word Cup with him steering the ship.

You all know how I feel about Hodge but yet again he demonstrated his lack of rugby instinct and fundamental skill. That pass that went over Wrights head early in the game in a rare attacking opportunity was peak Hodge.

I agree. I think Lolesio being so clinical with his goal kicking gives a false sentiment on his performance around the park. Take away the goal kicking and it's a pretty average outing. Not that he played terribly, but certainly don't see him setting up many trys or line-breaks which you want from your playmaker.

Hodge I tend to disgree with. He defended well and his boot was pretty handy. Besides that terrible pass he was pretty solid all round game I thought. Certainly not setting the world alight but solid.

 

[Adam84]

I agree. I think Lolesio being so clinical with his goal kicking gives a false sentiment on his performance around the park. Take away the goal kicking and it's a pretty average outing. Not that he played terribly, but certainly don't see him setting up many trys or line-breaks which you want from your playmaker.

Hodge I tend to disgree with. He defended well and his boot was pretty handy. Besides that terrible pass he was pretty solid all round game I thought. Certainly not setting the world alight but solid.

From memory their were 3 up and under kicks sent to Hodge, he lost the aerial battle for 2 with English coming down with them and he knocked a 3rd on.

 

[KOB1987]

From memory their were 3 up and under kicks sent to Hodge, he lost the aerial battle for 2 with English coming down with them and he knocked a 3rd on.

In fairness he took a ripper on the fly at about 56:45

 

[John S]

I think given where we were with injuries Hodge was the best we had. He's a dependable player but maybe not the best one.

That comes with being a utility player - jack of all trades, master of none.

I agree with Viking except for the obvious blunders it wasn't a terrible game for Hodge

 

[fatprop]

Lolesio has basically had three successive games in the ten jersey and I don’t think he’s shown any improvement over that time. Our attack has been clunky and Lolesio has shown zero running threat and little creativity ball in hand. We can’t win a Bledisoe or Word Cup with him steering the ship.

Lolesio is a facilitator at 10, he is more like Foley in that as he grows with a team, the amount of changes around did not help, being thrown in at the last minute didn't help

 

[Rebel man]

Is that Hill holding a Wallaby in the ruck offside? What a grub

Off his feet as well. It’s a clear penalty, yes they were playing under penalty advantage but you can’t play on from that.

 

[Wallaby Man]

I feel Hodge secured his place in the squad but not the team. JOC (James O'Connor) might be the unlucky loser to this.

Quade is clearly the preferred older statesman, Lolesio after playing 3 games in a row is at least top 2 choices and just don’t think having a senior player as a 3rd option is doing any favors for anyone.

 

[Joe Blow]

Lolesio is a facilitator at 10, he is more like Foley in that as he grows with a team, the amount of changes around did not help, being thrown in at the last minute didn't help

Thats a little unfair on Foley. He used to make a lot of line breaks and pop up in support often, finishing tries. The rest of his game was not the best. Lolesio is the opposite and doesn’t have the keys to the players outside him.

 

[molman]

Focusing in on some of the less mentioned players, what did people think of Paisami's performance? I thought some of his option taking was a little poor (ie. that kick through early on) and some of his passing wasn't up to scratch (a right to left pass to Korobeti was a bit of a stinker). I know Ikitau can seem a little anonomous at times, but if you really watch him, hes so consistent.

 

[Rebel man]

From an Australian Rugby perspective we have an Australia Coach of England in Eddie Jones. The Irish Rugby Director of High Performance for almost decade has been David Nucifora and has delivered a stunning climb up the world rankings.

In the English side they had Guy Porter who never played a Super Rugby and the Irish Mack Hansen who was a fringe Super Rugby Player. The English have also had Nic Dolly in their squad for 6N.

We are not like New Zealand or South Africa who can afford to loose their talent to Foreign nations.

We have talent here and need to hold onto it. And by talent I mean rugby talent not league talent. Go over to the Schoolboy forum and they bitch and moan about such and such kid will go to league or we lost this kid to league. They are kids and early developers for their age in a lot of cases.

We need to cast the net wider and for longer than 18 years old being the cut off to find the best talent.

Rugby administration fails again and again in this country.

This is why we need a domestic comp, we need more than 5 sides so we have more professional opportunities for our players to keep them here.

 

[Joe Blow]

Focusing in on some of the less mentioned players, what did people think of Paisami's performance? I thought some of his option taking was a little poor (ie. that kick through early on) and some of his passing wasn't up to scratch (a right to left pass to Korobeti was a bit of a stinker). I know Ikitau can seem a little anonomous at times, but if you really watch him, hes so consistent.

Yes. Ikitau is key at 13. I think we will need them both in Argentina as Kerevi will not be there.

 

[Rebel man]

If we are going to grubber kick. As someone who played up also playing Aussie rules and kicks a lot put the ball across your body. Either off the inside or outside of the boot, it makes the ball so much harder to gather.

Nathan Cleary did this well in origin but the chaser was off side and knocked on

 

[Shiggins]

Aussie Rules is so entertaining for that reason is so popular around the world in countries like Adelaide, Geelong, Darwin and somewhere else

That has nothing to doenity the fact it's way more popular than union.

 

[Shiggins]

Let's give some praise to England..

Freddie Steward's some player and weapon 6'5 fullback that can, catch and kick and is quick. The contestable kicks made me nervous.

He was England's only attacking threat. He looked great. Massive bloke under the high ball

 

[Shiggins]

To be possitive then. Wallabies definately didn't get the rub of the green. In games this close it is the difference sometimes.
Tommy wright looks great on the wing and shouldn't lose his job.
White is ok but I think we need to give Tate a go. Someone who attacks well around the ruck is just what we needed.
Noah just isn't international level at 10. He goes missing way to much bit we don't have any other options so it's probably worth staying with him this year and hopfully it pays off for the world cup. Mk is just Mk
Hodge is only in the side due to bulk injuries.
Kerevi was like kerevi at 50 percent this series. Last year he was a wrecking ball. He busted so many tackles and made line breaks. So far this year he has been shit down. It is because Quade put him into better lines? Not sure.

I think Tim Anstee could shine at test level. He is a very good player. Looked ok in Aus A but I just have a feeling he might step up for it. I would like to see him get a chance on the eoy tour.

We have so many injuries in the pack it makes it hard to say anything.

I just realised it wasn't that positive. At least I didn't mention the man with the whistle.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I have mixed feelings about this series. On the one hand I'm gutted that we lost, because I really wanted to get one over EJ (Eddie Jones) and the English in general. They can now continue to say we're soft and not up to it, regardless of whether it's true.

That said, this series has confirmed to me that these boys play their hearts out, they play for each other and they play for their coach. From the outside it seems like there is a good vibe in the squad and we're getting nothing less than maximum effort. Other teams with that injury toll would have folded, but the Wallabies didn't. They were right in all three tests and won one of them under some pretty adverse circumstances.

But... they remind me of my other team, the Force. Heaps of ticker, but not always a lot of rugby smarts. We need to be a bit more streetwise in the future. Better option taking and clear thinking under pressure is what we need from these guys and the wins will come.

The team IMHO has clearly grown under Rennie and are a better side than when he took over, but they need to take a major step forward this year. Get some of the inured back and things will improve.

This series was a fail if you were to grade it, but I think the trajectory is right. Whether that turns out to be true we'll find out at the end of the EOYT.

 

[RugbyReg]

This is why we need a domestic comp, we need more than 5 sides so we have more professional opportunities for our players to keep them here.

Isn’t that the opposite of what Ireland did?

 

[Viking]

Focusing in on some of the less mentioned players, what did people think of Paisami's performance? I thought some of his option taking was a little poor (ie. that kick through early on) and some of his passing wasn't up to scratch (a right to left pass to Korobeti was a bit of a stinker). I know Ikitau can seem a little anonomous at times, but if you really watch him, hes so consistent.

A typical Paisami game, some solid straight running but also some poor passes and decision making. I much prefer Ikitau at 13. I think Petaia would be the next best 13 which doesn't seem to be an option for Petaia which is talked about too often these days (although I feel his best games for the walalbies were at 13).

 

[Viking]

I think out lack of options at 10, a key position, is a worrying. Pretty happy with depth at most other position given the injuries and debutants.

 

[Adam84]

hopefully end of an era, no more rugby at SCG