Australia Vs Argentina, September 13, Gold Coast

[Shiggins]

We'll have to agree to disagree on that. He's the worst ref in international rugby. We were the beneficiaries last night and I'll take the win, but we could be on the receiving end of his incompetence. Reds supporters would no doubt remember his work in a Super match in 2013.

Yep. Defiantly have to disagree on last nights performance

 

[cyclopath]

Yep. Defiantly have to disagree on last nights performance

Is there any other way to disagree?

 

[Shiggins]

Is there any other way to disagree?

I agree

 

[ChargerWA]

In regards to the quick taps, no doubt it was a pre planned tactic, but it concerns me that they don't have the smarts in greasy conditions straight in front of the posts to stop and realise that isn't the appropriate time.

I don't mind quick taps, but even if they are a tactic we are going to use we need to be smart enough to know when not to use them as well.

 

[USARugger]

Someone put a fucking rocket up Kepu's ass before this match. He had me out of my chair with the way he was throwing his weight around at some of the breakdowns.

 

[Marcelo]

TPN gone for at least another six weeks...

 

[Scrubber2050]

That is a big blow to Wallabies

 

[Beefcake]

Strange that Eales, Horan and Gregan all thought him MOTM. Bunch of know-nothing hacks, though.

Not at all.. More a reflection of a broader picture that the wobs havent had a decent one for yonks..everyone knows it, but excuses fly aplenty in defense of it... Yes a win is a win, but of all games, there was an opportunity for Foley to stamp his credentials as no.1 10 in the fold - because the Argies are historically the weakest in the TRC. But branching out here, the piggies looked disorganised and somewhat out of ideas and the backs looked fragmented - opportunities were lost and real lack of adjustment... Of the few opportunities that could be credited to him, he didnt put them away... and thats bread and butter stuff... Even QC (Quade Cooper) for his theatrics 'doesnt baulk at putting someone else thru'.. Argies last try sums it up, because it was simple. Yes Foley, has many sound traits like playing to structure and especially behind a dominant pack and I suspect when he solely calls the shots - and has a creative sidekick (ie Beale) but this aint soup rugby. Foley may benefit from a mentor like a Larkham or MElla to take his 'headspace' game to the next level, cause its well short of whats required.

 

[BDA]

The pluses for me were the scrum and the halves. That starting front row of Slipper/TPN/Kepu is a strong unit, probably our best combination in terms of the scrum. they put a lot of pressure on the argies and arguably did better against them than the All Blacks or the Boks. Fingers crossed TPN will be fit for the EOYT.

I thought Phipps and Foley were good again. although Phipp's quick tap right in front was stupid. That is the type of things that shows the wallabies inexperience and lack of test match temperament. If you get a guaranteed 3 points in front of the post, you take it. Have some respect for the opposition. The wallabies didn't respect the Argies enough at times and went to sleep in the second half and it almost cost them.

To be honest I think the loss of Slipper and TPN killed our momentum.

I was at the game. I thought it was quite entertaining and the end was tense. Definitely not an 80 minute performance from the wallabies (rocks and diamonds) but a better result than last year and I expect they'll beat the argies in their away fixture.

 

[boyo]

I'll echo the mood here and say that it's not often that I feel a bit deflated after we win, but I do tonight. How we can have the game by the throat and let it slip is beyond me. We were up by 16 and should have really hit the afterburners at that point, but we got lazy and lost all our momentum. We're going to need to be better than that in the next couple of games.

It really rankles that the Wallabies seem to often have the inability to close out matches.

 

[cyclopath]

Not at all.. More a reflection of a broader picture that the wobs havent had a decent one for yonks..everyone knows it, but excuses fly aplenty in defense of it. Yes a win is a win, but of all games, there was an opportunity for Foley to stamp his credentials as no.1 10 in the fold - because the Argies are historically the weakest in the TRC. But branching out here, the piggies looked disorganised and somewhat out of ideas and the backs looked fragmented - opportunities were lost and real lack of adjustment. Of the few opportunities that could be credited to him, he didnt put them away. and thats bread and butter stuff. Even QC (Quade Cooper) for his theatrics 'doesnt baulk at putting someone else thru'.. Argies last try sums it up, because it was simple. Yes Foley, has many sound traits like playing to structure and especially behind a dominant pack and I suspect when he solely calls the shots - and has a creative sidekick (ie Beale) but this aint soup rugby. Foley may benefit from a mentor like a Larkham or MElla to take his 'headspace' game to the next level, cause its well short of whats required.

Good reply. I don't entirely agree, but I see where you're coming from. Obviously, the mentoring is an excellent idea. In terms of attack, Foley / To'omua is not gelling as Foley/ Beale did at Super rugby level. But as you say, this is Test rugby. Thankfully, Foley and Cooper are young and can both get better, which will ultimately give good options for the Wallabies.

 

[tragic]

Did anybody else also notice that Hooper cost us a try in the same fashion that Simmons did last week?

Makes me think that is something we are working on pushing the boundaries with much like the All Blacks due.

Not sure why it's a clean out when in general play and obstruction/penalty when it's on the try line. Rules don't distinguish based on the location of the ruck.
Having said that I was surprised at the criticism Simmons got last week as if he didn't take out the defender at the ruck the gap wasn't there to score. This week hoopers clean out and inability to roll away definitely cost a try.

 

[tragic]

I wouldn't make any changes except those forced by injury. We're creating opportunities, scoring tries and winning which is a massive improvement on recent years.
The trajectory is upwards. Just need time for the combinations to click. Reactive chopping and changing each week is for forum experts not national coaches.

 

[BarneySF]

Seriously is syndesmosis the kale of rugby injuries?!

(As in everyone's gotta get it)

 

[Dctarget]

Not to worry everyone! Brisbane city has scored three tries off dominant scrums so their starting 2, Andrew Ready, is ready for his call up

 

[KOB1987]

I wouldn't make any changes except those forced by injury. We're creating opportunities, scoring tries and winning which is a massive improvement on recent years.
The trajectory is upwards. Just need time for the combinations to click. Reactive chopping and changing each week is for forum experts not national coaches.

nah, fine tuning required until we get it spot on..the backs are nearly right given the current cattle but some adjustment is necessary in the pigs..pardon the analogy but they are only firing on 7 cylinders, being 6 whole and 2 halves..need to get all 8 working..

 

[tragic]

I would agree if we had some shiny new cylinders on the shelf but the spares we've got are worn and not much better than the ones were using.
Lock/6/8 are a problem but when the alternatives are no better I think it's best to back your selections and make the most of what you've got rather than replacing like with like in the name of change.
Maybe if they're not evolving by EOYT..

 

[Lorenzo]

I wouldn't make any changes except those forced by injury. We're creating opportunities, scoring tries and winning which is a massive improvement on recent years.
The trajectory is upwards. Just need time for the combinations to click. Reactive chopping and changing each week is for forum experts not national coaches.

This gets said every season for the last 10 seasons. And every season we cop at least one thumping, eek out close wins against teams multiple spots below us in the rankings and struggle to even be in the running for the desirable silverware towards the end of the competitions.

The front row isn't getting utterly humiliated at every scrum, so that's a positive. Pretty much everyone else on the paddock could readily be replaced by either players returning from injury or up-and-comers and I doubt we would see much of a drop in quality if any at all.

 

[KOB1987]

overall I agree with you but I think we found out last night that we do have a better alternative in the back row in McCalman, and similarly we should and will (I feel) try a different locking combination..I'm not sure what the best back row combo is though, whether it be 6. McCalman 7. Hooper 8. Palu with Higgers off the bench or 6. Higgers 7. Hooper 8. McCalman with Palu off the bench..but nearly there either way

 

[Train Without a Station]

nah, fine tuning required until we get it spot on..the backs are nearly right given the current cattle but some adjustment is necessary in the pigs..pardon the analogy but they are only firing on 7 cylinders, being 6 whole and 2 halves..need to get all 8 working..

What fucking game were you watching? We dominated possession and territory and bombed multiple tries. Clearly the forwards were adequate and the backs need to take their chances.