Australia v NZ. Bledisloe Cup Series 2024. Sep 21, Sep 28

[stillmissit]

Saw a good comment by a coach somewhere....our players are as fit as anyone in World Rugby, we just have to work harder collectively to stay in the game because we simply aren't as good, so we are more fatigued at 65min than our quality opposition is.

Unfortunately running more laps at training doesn't fix this issue

Assuming it is correct. If it is due to mistakes, why are we standing back and letting them run and not supporting the runner at our ruck (we didn't do it for half of the first half). This makes no sense to me. There were many players who looked out of gas after that early period in the first half.
I don't think they are as cardio fit as any of the top 5. I give you the last 10 mins of the first half as a good example, they knew what was coming but the missed tackles and the 2sec watchers killed it for us.

 

[molman]

Saw a good comment by a coach somewhere....our players are as fit as anyone in World Rugby, we just have to work harder collectively to stay in the game because we simply aren't as good, so we are more fatigued at 65min than our quality opposition is.

Unfortunately running more laps at training doesn't fix this issue

The better teams have had a good handle on how to manage workloads across a game for awhile now. That doesn't include just the obvious use of subsistutes, but clear approaches and actions to adjust the demands within a game.

South Africia are the masters of it, pushing it so far that we now have clocks and countdowns because they were taking so much time out of every game.

 

[KOB1987]

I had year 12 social commitments, had the game going on a phone in the background but can't really add anything of value this week aside from a screenshot of the messages my other son was sending me. On the road today, home alone tonight so will try to watch the replay then, if the lure of the bed doesn't get the better of me. Until then I will read but remain silent, its an interesting experience to read the game thread before actually watching the game.

 

[Rugrat]

For me so many WTF moments in this game by wallabies. Wright pass after line break, Tupou around the corner on very short blindside and going out really stand out. I’m sorry but this team isn’t winning many/any games regardless of who is in team unless we pick and stick with a different 10. I can’t even get enthusiastic pre game with current 9/10 combos.

 

[stillmissit]

I had year 12 social commitments, had the game going on a phone in the background but can't really add anything of value this week aside from a screenshot of the messages my other son was sending me. On the road today, home alone tonight so will try to watch the replay then, if the lure of the bed doesn't get the better of me. Until then I will read but remain silent, its an interesting experience to read the game thread before actually watching the game.

A fair bit of the first half was the best we have played in years. The second half was as average as we can be. How the hell can we be poor in the first half and good in the second last week and good (ish) in the first half and poor in the second? Our team are coach killers.

 

[Crashy]

yeah that first half gave us some glimpses of what we could become.

 

[KOB1987]

I can add one thing of value, Joseph Sua'ali'i is now available for selection.

 

[stillmissit]

I can add one thing of value, Joseph Sua'ali'i is now available for selection.

Very interesting - wonder if he will go on the EOYT?

 

[stillmissit]

For me so many WTF moments in this game by wallabies. Wright pass after line break, Tupou around the corner on very short blindside and going out really stand out. I’m sorry but this team isn’t winning many/any games regardless of who is in team unless we pick and stick with a different 10. I can’t even get enthusiastic pre game with current 9/10 combos.

Have you noticed that Wright is the same as many of our players, if we are going well they go OK if we ain't errors and penalties creep in.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

after Tamaiti and Tosi impacted on in an impactful way I'm half thinking they should choose the bench guys FIRST and then plug the other XV in afterwards

Oddjob Aumua
Tamaiti
Tosi these 3 could be a murderously impactful Bomb Squad
Pat T
Ardie ffs. let him go berko with his decorative party tricks when everyone else is knackered
Ratima
Rieko
Ruben Love

 

[KOB1987]

Very interesting - wonder if he will go on the EOYT?

For sure, they aren't going to pay someone that much money and not bring him into the system straight away. Even if he only plays in the A team they will want to invest in his ability now to have him ready for the Lions. I am tipping he will be our 12 and I don't think it will take him long to adapt. He isn't a true leaguie, he was a dual code junior superstar, its just that a few NRL clubs saw enough to put him on a pro contract while still at school. Covid stuffed up what would have been his final year of rugby in year 11.

 

[fatprop]

Have you noticed that Wright is the same as many of our players, if we are going well they go OK if we ain't errors and penalties creep in.

To me, it is the hero ball metaphor, players think they have to do something so extra special, whether that be a pass, a questionable cleanout, tackle, etc that will win the game in that phase

 

[stillmissit]

To me, it is the hero ball metaphor, players think they have to do something so extra special, whether that be a pass, a questionable cleanout, tackle, etc that will win the game in that phase

I agree fully agree with that analysis, to add to it they can't have a lot of faith in their team if they feel they have to win the game on their own. Rugby was designed to teach young men how to deal with adversity and rely on their fellow players.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Even though the first half looked good, we had 67 attacking rucks to 29 at half time if florugby stats are correct. And yet had made 171m to 237m.

We worked a lot harder for less return. This is where the fatigue and errors come from.

 

[Strewthcobber]

To me, it is the hero ball metaphor, players think they have to do something so extra special, whether that be a pass, a questionable cleanout, tackle, etc that will win the game in that phase

Tom Wright is pretty much the only strike weapon we have though. The whole team knows it.

He always plays his worst when he tries to win the game on his own, but sometimes it's also the only way we are going to win

 

[wamberal99]

Very interesting - wonder if he will go on the EOYT?

Yes.

 

[stillmissit]

Even though the first half looked good, we had 67 attacking rucks to 29 at half time if florugby stats are correct. And yet had made 171m to 237m.

We worked a lot harder for less return. This is where the fatigue and errors come from.

Just so I understand you, are you calling attacking rucks where we have the ball? This is where the opposition burn energy defending against us.
The inability to make ground is a backs/game plan problem.

 

[fatprop]

Tom Wright is pretty much the only strike weapon we have though. The whole team knows it.

He always plays his worst when he tries to win the game on his own, but sometimes it's also the only way we are going to win

Agreed, but tests are less forgiving

And I don't want just highlight his moment, it is a symptom of a team multiplying errors under pressure

 

[Strewthcobber]

Just so I understand you, are you calling attacking rucks where we have the ball? This is where the opposition burn energy defending against us.
The inability to make ground is a backs/game plan problem.

The defense don't burn energy if you don't make it over the advantage line. It's significantly more fatiguing for the team on attack to go through multiple phases going nowhere.

More player involvements as you need more.players in the ruck to secure the ball, running further etc

 

[stillmissit]

The defense don't burn energy if you don't make it over the advantage line. It's significantly more fatiguing for the team on attack to go through multiple phases going nowhere.

More player involvements as you need more.players in the ruck to secure the ball, running further etc

We are entitled to disagree on this, my observation of the game was, we picked and went forcing them to tackle and when it was stopped they built a ruck defence as well as contested if they thought they could win it. We had one man in action with some supporting and they need a tackler, potential jackler, jackle defenders plus defenders for the next move.
I thought it was accepted in rugby union that defence burnt more energy than attack. Has the world changed?