Australia vs British and Irish Lions - 1st Test (Brisbane)

[southsider]

Interesting thing about the US coverage is we get a raw live feed which includes all the "behind the scenes" banter by the commentators during the usual ad break time. The comment made by Nick McArdle to the production team just now was..."Do we have any highlights ready for O'Connor?" To which production replied, "Just one in the 43 minute."

should hear the sth African commentators, lets just say if their wives ever heard them theyd be in big trouble!!

 

[flat_eric]

What is this obsession with JOC (James O'Connor) on the wing? There are many better wingers in Australian rugby than him. Just because he is not good enough to be the the Wallabies 10 doesn't mean he should automatically be given a spot elsewhere in the backline. For mine he is a capable utility player on the bench and nothing more.

 

[Zander]

Ben Mowen vs Wycliff Palu (stats from thescore.com.au)

Mowen 80 mins
6 runs (28m)
8 tackles
6 rucks
1 turnover
4 missed tackles

Palu 80 mins
7 runs (29m)
8 tackles
7 rucks
0 turnovers
3 missed tackles

Won't change warped perspectives.

 

[the plastic paddy]

This was the first game of the series where they've really been penalised for bridging onto their forearms when trying to pilfer the ball in the ruck.

This has been penalised in Super Rugby all year but hasn't really happened in the Lions tour games so far until tonight. I thought that was the biggest difference but I also think it's a good and correct interpretation of the law and should be the way it is refereed.

I definitely think the Wallabies were very fortunate not to be penalised a couple of times when we fielded a kick and took it into contact and seemingly took an age before we cleaned out players who had rights to the ball. I can definitely understand Lions fans being upset about a couple of those occasions.

Think the two penalties against Drico were for failing to get to his feet before he went into jackal the ball. Thought the interpretation was quite super rugby but it was the same for both sides and surely with the millions of coaches and hangers on they would have found someone to analyse the referee. Do wish Pollock could have signalled his decisions though, so frustrating when you are watching in the pub and can't hear the ref mike!!!

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Palu was working non stop for that 80 mins with a knee that probably wasn't close to 100%. And every single run I noticed him make made it over the advantage line. A great performance.

As for the game. Was good to watch, shame Kurtley slipped at the end I thought he would nail that.

Looking forward to next week, there's undoubtedly going to be some changes given we had 2 concussions, more injuries and guys who weren't 100% playing a full 80 mins.

 

[USARugger]

What is this obsession with JOC (James O'Connor) on the wing? There are many better wingers in Australian rugby than him. Just because he is not good enough to be the the Wallabies 10 doesn't mean he should automatically be given a spot elsewhere in the backline. For mine he is a capable utility player on the bench and nothing more.

This has been done to death on the forums before but JOC (James O'Connor) is a fucking phenomenal wing.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Was McCabe a concussion, or was it a neck injury?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Hooper did well in difficult circumstances when forced to move. Dumb call from Dean's as the logical thing to do would have been to push AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) inside, Digby to 13 and Slot Phipps on the wing. A more radical approach was only required when AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) went off.

And Hoopers unfamiliarity with the position was a reason they scored through that channel. I need to see it again to say it was the reason.
It's pretty hard to fathom the thinking involved in that decision.


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[The Rant]

What is this obsession with JOC (James O'Connor) on the wing? There are many better wingers in Australian rugby than him. Just because he is not good enough to be the the Wallabies 10 doesn't mean he should automatically be given a spot elsewhere in the backline. For mine he is a capable utility player on the bench and nothing more.

agree, i have him down as a super-sub. for every position you can probably name 2 better.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Doubt a new 10 will be thrown in next week. Would like to see Ioane dropped and JOC (James O'Connor) make way for Lilo but with the injuries i expect as few changes as possible.

I have to say I agree with this - Diggers was the most anonymous player on the park. Beiber to the wing and bring in To'omua (or any other fly half)

I think Diggers would have come off had the position not been so dire and, if that's right, he must not be a certainty to be available this week.
Diggers best days are behind him.

 

[badabing59]

Stephen Jones tweeting "It was the worst refereed game in recent history, appalling," and "He was totally inconsistent and lack of penalty try and yellow cards criminal."

Didn't think he was that bad was he? I may even spend a quid on the Times tomorrow to follow the vitriol-he really is a sad wee man.

 

[Brumbieman]

I thought Pollock was excellent

Negatives:

Beiber at 10. Wasn't going to work, and didn't. Either pay him at 12, outside Lealiifano, or bring To'omua/Cooper in and push him to the wing.

Barnes: Unlucky injury, but he wasn't playing well before that. It was his shocker that landed in North's breadbasket under less pressure than something under no pressure at all, and he was then embarassed in defence by North.

Goal kicking: meh, shit happens. Lose your 1st choice kicker, and the backup who is under a lot of pressure missed a couple. They didn't miss by much, no real blame there. Or Beale. 1st miss was a bit grim, but 2nd fine.


Positives:

Scrum, 1st event excepted, was fine. Absolutely no ground given, and even won a crucial penalty at the death.


Lineout: superb. Barely a ball thrown to a man under pressure, the sign of excellent calling. Put their lineout under pressure.

Breakdown: Excellent again. The whole forward pack was good, and if we hadn't played this game on Dog Green and the backs not had trouble getting their hair to stay flat, we'd have won.


Changes:

To'omua/Cooper into 10, ASAP. Horne onto the bench for McCabe. If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is out, Fainga'a into 13. Diggers benched, Beiber onto the wing.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

all of the AB's backs wear longer sprigs/studs than Beale was wearing last night. he was wearing moulded soles.
Cant make up my mind if this was a factor in the slip.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Ch 7 reporting that Horwill has been cited for stomping

 

[matty_k]

It was probably a combination of moulded boots and loose turf.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[USARugger]

Inside Shoulder

Confirmed, have the footage right here.

 

[Sully]

I can tell you Pollock won praise from the other officials all night and I saw little wrong with it myself.

 

[ACT Crusader]

This is exactly what I said to a few friends at the ground. Beale will be the focus of the media and idiotic supporters that don't understand who is behind the decisions.

Deans made JOC (James O'Connor) the 10 - he clearly isn't yet up for it and Beale outshone him in the playmaker role when he came on.

Deans made JOC (James O'Connor) the kicker - he was clearly average at this.

Deans chose Beale in the team (worked out well), but also instructed him to take over kicking when he came on (extreme lack of judgement knowing Beale's recent history)

Deans chose to play several players that were risky in regards to fitness - in regards to Barnes and MCCabe it bit us strongly.

Hasn't it been confirmed that Deans made Lilo the kicker and then JOC (James O'Connor) was number 2 option.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Inside Shoulder

Confirmed, have the footage right here.

Youre terrible Muriel

 

[USARugger]

Oh hey a reference from an Australian movie that came out when I was 4