Bledisloe #1 - AUS v NZL, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, August 8th

[TOCC]

I still think he is a backrower playing lock, like Dennis

His stats definitely supported this as we,ll I was hoping to see him trialled ahead of Fardy at blindside.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fatprop]

His stats definitely supported this as we,ll I was hoping to see him trialled ahead of Fardy at blindside.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I saw him fighting with Dennis et al for that bench 5/6 role, but Cheika's chosen to go down another path picking the dynamic duo instead

 

[Elfster]

One concern I have is the lack of outright speed in the Wallabies side. A potential for a few long range AB tries.

 

[Elfster]

One good thing about watching the game at my local pub tomorrow night: they probably won't be switching it over to the cricket.

 

[RedsHappy]

I have often posted on GAGR re the depth and relative sophistication of AB skills coaching, and the multiple support coaches they have to provide this and that such specialist coaching resources (a) far exceed those understood as required or invested in by the ARU and (b) go a long way to explaining the sustained dominance of the AB machine and how it has pulled far ahead of the Wallaby equivalent over the last decade or so.

For those interested, this is a good article re the talents and background of Mick 'The Kick' Byrne (an ex-AFL Aussie) as long-standing AB kicking and related skills coach. Just reading the article displays the attention to detail and professionalism in-depth of the whole AB machine. And this is exactly what is required to be at and remain at the pinnacle of a competitive global sport.

Meanwhile, our ARU blazers just scratch their heads, look on in wonder and unthinkingly ascribe the AB's dominance as solely down to 'gifted players and a national obsession with rugby'.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...australian-rugby/story-fnp0m104-1227472829523

 

[TahDan]

I have often posted on GAGR re the depth and relative sophistication of AB skills coaching, and the multiple support coaches they have to provide this and that such specialist coaching resources (a) far exceed those understood as required or invested in by the ARU and (b) go a long way to explaining the sustained dominance of the AB machine and how it has pulled far ahead of the Wallaby equivalent over the last decade or so.

For those interested, this is a good article re the talents and background of Mick 'The Kick' Byrne (an ex-AFL Aussie) as long-standing AB kicking and related skills coach. Just reading the article displays the attention to detail and professionalism in-depth of the whole AB machine. And this is exactly what is required to be at and remain at the pinnacle of a competitive global sport.

Meanwhile, our ARU blazers just scratch their heads, look on in wonder and unthinkingly ascribe the AB's dominance as solely down to 'gifted players and a national obsession with rugby'.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...australian-rugby/story-fnp0m104-1227472829523

Fascinating read mate. That sort of outside the box thinking is seriously what we need here


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[blindsider]

Just attended a Bledisloe Cup luncheon with Bladesy, Hoiles and Andrew Kelleway as 'guest speakers'. They all spoke very well & candidly.
I'll be taking Aussies with the 6.5+ start.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[daveypnz]

Just attended a Bledisloe Cup luncheon with Bladesy, Hoiles and Andrew Kelleway as 'guest speakers'. They all spoke very well & candidly.
I'll be taking Aussies with the 6.5+ start.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You able to elaborate? I'm leaning +6.5 too but it's a hell of a tough match to call. Would love to hear your insight!

 

[Groucho]

The side looks serviceable, but it doesn't look full strength either. I like Giteau, but having two relatively small guys in the 10-12 channel against a massive All Black midfield is a bit of a worry. I don't doubt Git's commitment, I just worry about how his body will hold up.

Horwill-Mumm is also an interesting one. Horwill was great against the boks and Mumm was great against the Argies, but they were both facing tired legs, so it's hard to read too much into them.

Having Pocock and Hooper will be facinating though - our ruck work was awful in the first couple games, so fingers crossed they'll clean that up.

Not expecting us to win, but I hope the boys put on a good show all the same.

People say it's a massive AB midfield, but in reality it's only a massive 12: Money Bill. Giteau has been tackling players that size all his career, since those are the men that other teams tend to run at a smallish 12.

The problem, of course, is that Giteau's a low tackler and Williams is an offloader. Therefore it's not Williams' size in contact that's the issue, since he won't usually be going into contact low and hard, crashball style, but shutting down those passes.

Nonu would be a much harder customer for Gits to actually tackle.

 

[jollyswagman]

I agree with Groucho regarding Gits v SBW and would like to add that there will most likely on be a handful of occasions throughout the 80 minutes where the two will actually match-up. The only time we would see them go head to head would be at the set piece. If we have a defensive lineout then chances are Foley is going to standing in at hooker and we will see Hooper defending in the 10 / 12 channel and will be able to support Gits in defense. On an AB scrum feed we would also have the opportunity to tweak the match-ups if need be. Yes, he is a threat but nothing that I think we will struggle with simply because we have Gits playing 12. If SBW is one of his moods then it won't really matter who he is running at.

Personally I find the idea of NMS cutting loose bloody horrifying. He was carving up teams during S15 so I am praying that he is one of the ones "that can't make the step up to test rugby." Only the the skypilot will be able to help us if he is let to run amok out wide.

 

[Groucho]

The reverse side of Kneehigh is his inexperience with the AB defensive systems. We may not have scorching pace but we have plenty of smarts out wide to try to exploit that.

 

[Viking]

I can't wait to see Hooper do one of those low hard driving tackles on SBW, Read, McCaw, Retallick - or any bloody one. They are great to watch!

Hopefully Poey will be second man in and get some turnovers from them.

 

[Groucho]

I can't wait to see Hooper do one of those low hard driving tackles on SBW, Read, McCaw, Retallick - or any bloody one. They are great to watch!

Hopefully Poey will be second man in and get some turnovers from them.

Hooper Pooper followed by the Pooper Scooper.

 

[qwerty51]

I can't wait to see Hooper do one of those low hard driving tackles on SBW, Read, McCaw, Retallick - or any bloody one. They are great to watch!

Hopefully Poey will be second man in and get some turnovers from them.

I'm looking forward to Horwill & Mumm playing like himself and Vickerman did at Suncorp 2011 and injuring 2-3 All Black forwards from ferocious cleanouts. Hooper to score a Samo-like try.

 

[KOB1987]

I'm looking forward to Horwill & Mumm playing like himself and Vickerman did at Suncorp 2011 and injuring 2-3 All Black forwards from ferocious cleanouts. Hooper to score a Samo-like try.

physicality has obviously been a focal point of their training regime, let's hope we see it out on the pitch..I'm tipping we will.

I reckon Fardy scoring the Samo-like try would be a better sight.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I'm looking forward to Horwill & Mumm playing like himself and Vickerman did at Suncorp 2011 and injuring 2-3 All Black forwards from ferocious cleanouts. Hooper to score a Samo-like try.

Thankfully the ABs don't have any lightweight flankers playing this time round....

 

[Marcelo]

According ANZ fb account, the crowd is on track for 70k:

 

[Joe Blow]

Big build up for this one. Cheika has no doubt instilled a underlying strength in self belief of the Wallabies ability.
We may go down in this one but it will be with a lot of fight. That's all you can ask for. If we do go well then it bodes well for the RWC as this is not our best side. If we are in touch at the half it will be a huge second half.
Can't wait!

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

that shit's not allowed here. Off you go.

 

[Marcelo]

Moala is probably as good as Tomane and Speight and if he continues to improve, will be a far better winger at Test level than either Horne or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

Are u mad?? Dave Rennie tried to convince Henry to return to NZ, saying him that easily get a spot on the starting ABs:

http://www.3news.co.nz/sport/chiefs-tried-to-bring-henry-speight-back-to-the-waikato-2014072014

Speight is better than Moala by far. Moala is just a big guy, he s far from top class winger like Savea or Naholo. Tomane is better than him.