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

[jollyswagman]

For mine the only two players I feel played poorly enough to be dropped are Phipps & Foley. I suspect that Cheiks plan was to give QC (Quade Cooper) a run next week regardless of the result tonight so it will be very interesting to see who he goes with. One thing is for sure, Nic White "earnt" a run on next week in the truest sense of the word.

 

[Tex]

Anyone focussing on poor performances already needs to chill the fuck out and enjoy the afterglow.

Right now it's like having closed on a beautiful woman (or man, if that's your thing) and put in a good-excellent performance between the sheets. Sure, there might be some improvements to be made but you're pretty fucking chuffed with yourself.

Have a beer and relax, we can all pile on Phipps in a giant orgy of finger pointing internet rage tomorrow.

 

[TahDan]

Yeah, not sure about dropping Moore, but he needs to be replaced sooner. I'd be pulling him at 50mins. Hooper is fine to captain.

I must say, for a guy who was renowned for His running game at the start of his career, Hooper must be the best defender in world rugby now.

Yeah, that tackle in the end of the second half was epic

 

[Groucho]

Groucho, I agree with you for the most part but I think we've established that Cooper/Giteau and Foley/Giteau doesn't work so we need To'omua starting to get the attack going forward....

Otherwise, agree that we shouldnt' be too hard on some players, and for the most part the 23 is slowly being locked in.....

I didn't say no bench players should start. The alternative (in Cheika-land) is that we keep To'omua on the bench to finish. We just won a Bled. Now people are working out how to restore the status quo so we can win again next time. Hello?

 

[drewprint]

What's the Ashes? Never heard of it.

It's a series of cricket matches that have no connection to New Zealand, thus no bragging rights, whatsoever.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Said the Aussies would win. If it wasn't for that prick Barnes leaving the NZ players to lie all over the ball it would have been by more. I think
You are favourites for the RWC in my book.

 

[boyo]

No doubt there's a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth on TSF

 

[ArmchairGeneral]

Our glorious unbroken streak with Barnsie as out ref continues. Long may it reign.

 

[Groucho]

For mine the only two players I feel played poorly enough to be dropped are Phipps & Foley. I suspect that Cheiks plan was to give QC (Quade Cooper) a run next week regardless of the result tonight so it will be very interesting to see who he goes with. One thing is for sure, Nic White "earnt" a run on next week in the truest sense of the word.

White and Cooper could work well. White has a great pass.

 

[Bairdy]

IMO Moore needs to be dropped. He hasn't been playing that well, not poorly but not his usual self. He also gave away some stupid penalties. Maybe the captaincy is taking it's toll and he needs a stint off the bench for a freshen up. TPN needs some time and so does Hanson.

A bit of kneejerk reaction don't you think? What other penalty did Moore give away other than the offside Aaron Smith tackle?

 

[Marcelo]

After the performances of Hooper and ACC, I should upload this:

 

[Chris McCracken]

Meh.

The usual follow up to a poor performance in sports is another poor performance. It's called form.

I'm afraid 16 and 23 August, 2014 paint a different picture.

Nonetheless, I hope you are correct.

 

[pjm]

White and Cooper could work well. White has a great pass.

Cooper has a great crab. Am I doing it right?

 

[ACR]

NZ should try McCane.

Replacing???

Read (IRB player of the year 2013)
Kaino (Should have been IRB player of the year 2011)

Albeit, I think neither of their spots are actually safe. I just like to live past glories.

Dunno it's tricky. I think if this wasn't a world cup year, the team would be very different.

BED TIME. Thank god.

It's a series of cricket matches that have no connection to New Zealand, thus no bragging rights, whatsoever.

Haha, here's a hint. It's not England winning that we give a shit about.

 

[No4918]

White may start but To'omua and Giteau should get a shot. Really don't want Gits at 10 and prefer To'omua at 12 but he is definitely deserving of a start. Cooper to bench, Foley out of 23.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Matt To'omua is the backline manager. Clearly the best No 10 in the country, and must start there for the Wallabies. Next best No 12 is Christian Lealiifano. We really need to bed the To'omua/Lealiifano combination down now. And Nic White (again) showed tonight that he has more skills at 9 than any of the other half backs.

I was a doubter, but now convinced that Hooper and Pocock together are a formidable team. Poey's effort tonight was the best No 8 performance by a Wallaby for many a long year. Think we have found a real point of difference. Hooper in particular was very effective shutting down the 10/12 channel while Foley was on and did a lot of work supporting Giteau as well. But any time Retallick had the ball, one of Hooper or Pocock was immediately on to him, shutting him down. That was very impressive.

Front row is looking very settled and working together at world standard.

Mitchell went good, but would really like to see Henry Speight at 14 next week.

 

[qwerty51]

A bit of kneejerk reaction don't you think? What other penalty did Moore give away other than the offside Aaron Smith tackle?

He might not have got pinged but I thought he was guilty of a few more penalties off his feet at the ruck playing the ball.

Anyway I don't think it's kneejerk at all, same thoughts the last 3 matches. This ain't top form Moore at all.

 

[No4918]

I doubt Carter starts for the AB next week. The Canes back line with Smith and Smith will be more formidable.

 

[Slim 293]

Groucho, as I said I mostly agree........ we're getting great impact from our bench so there's certainly no need for any drastic changes (although Cheika might rotate some players?)........

I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Phipps did start next match despite his poor performance tonight..........

But I think the last 3 tests have shown us that we need To'omua at 10 or 12, partnered with one of the other options.

 

[ACR]

Said the Aussies would win. If it wasn't for that prick Barnes leaving the NZ players to lie all over the ball it would have been by more. I think
You are favourites for the RWC in my book.

You're deluded if you thought Barnes favoured NZ at the rucks.