Bledisloe #2 - AUS v NZL, Eden Park, Auckland, August 15th
- Thread starter Hugh Jarse
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We can kick. All our kickers have the ability to make decent kicks downfield.
Where we are costing ourselves is through aimless decision making and risky kicks (such as dinky chip kicks when we are already down a man).
Clearly we're not going to adopt a game plan based on extensive tactical kicking (mostly contestable kicks) because it's not our strong suit. We have to kick in general play though and we need to do it better than we currently are. It's more decision related than skill related.
You can't tell me that both of To'omua's shocking kicks were because he lacks the requisite skill.
I'm pretty sure he can.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Accuracy and distance are both significantly lower from Australian kickers than from those of the other leading test nations. Whenever an Australian back has a pressure kick to make the heart is always in the mouth and great execution of a kick a mater of relief instead of the situation where someone like Carter has a shocker and its a gasp moment that he has done so.
I see it as both decision making and a matter of skill execution and my points previously have been how that is a known factor with our rivals and they will/are target it.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
My old eyes must be deceiving me. We cannot kick, simple as that, from the top to the bottom we just kick poorly.
Frankly, given that our set pieces have been struggling for years and years, the importance of converting all our kicking chances, off the ground, and out of hand, would seem to be pretty obvious.
Apparently not, we are just bloody lazy, or stupid, or talentless.
Frankly, given that our set pieces have been struggling for years and years, the importance of converting all our kicking chances, off the ground, and out of hand, would seem to be pretty obvious.
Apparently not, we are just bloody lazy, or stupid, or talentless.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
Cooper is probably the best kicker we have in the wallaby set-up. (Mogg the best in Aus - but no way we want him near a wallaby jersey). His chip kick early on was a good tactic and kept the defence guessing.
I watch all the Brumbies games and I don't rate To'omua as a kicker. Decent clearance kick and has put in some real nice grubbers behind the man but other then that pretty average.
I don't think any player in Aus can put up an accurate bomb?
I watch all the Brumbies games and I don't rate To'omua as a kicker. Decent clearance kick and has put in some real nice grubbers behind the man but other then that pretty average.
I don't think any player in Aus can put up an accurate bomb?
Look at our worst kicks from the game though and they weren't kicks where we were going for distance nor were they under pressure.
They were pure and simply poor decisions which put us under immense pressure and yielded tries to the All Blacks.
I completely accept your oft-mentioned point about our kicking skills being substandard but there is no point using it as a catch all as to why we're giving up tries in specific situations.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
I agree that many of the kicks put up by the Wallabies are simply not contestable, but over a number of recent matches I have seen some that are just about spot on for height and distance but wgere the chaser(s) slow down to effect an immediate tackle rather than contesting for possession in the air. I'd like to know if that is part of the game plan with the intention of winning territory rather than possession.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
And will!
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
^^^ & no overhead spider cam!
^^^ & no overhead spider cam!
By decree of NZRFU
ACT Crusader
Jim Lenehan (48)
^^^ & no overhead spider cam!
Due to the extremely low level cloud cover that hangs over Eden Park and the whole of Aotearoa
Maybe less chance of Spidercam dropping on someone's head though?
These drones and spider cams are bloody annoying at both the cricket and the rugby. And I must say when the telecast switches from a side-on view to an overhead one it looks weird, and confusing. But, if a few overhead shots of our scrum convince NH refs of the integrity of our scrummaging they'll be well worth it.
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