Bledisloe # 3 - Saturday 31st October, ANZ Stadium

[Slim 293]

Wilson is frequently the target at the Reds. Granted that WB poor line out performance has resulted in a focus on shorter versions.

If by frequently you mean 4 times in total in Super Rugby Au (2 of those in round 1), and 2 overall in Super Rugby.........

 

[Joe Blow]

Naisarani gets targeted less I would think. How does he fit in?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Well our lineout was better. How much was him, I don’t know.

Generally speaking I thought he was okay though.

But then I didn’t think they should change the team from the previous week, so what would I know.

Well, arguably the changes from the Wellington test caused or contributed to the poorer performance at Eden Park. So, I reckon you know a good bit.

 

[Braveheart81]

Well, arguably the changes from the Wellington test caused or contributed to the poorer performance at Eden Park. So, I reckon you know a good bit.

The same backline that forgot how to tackle?

 

[rodha]

Deans had the best talent to choose from, aside from the front row. Easily. We were consistently number 2 in the world around that time and could not quite clinch number 1 because the ABs were in their peak Carter McCaw era.

We have lots of promising young talent coming through now but it's been a barren few years and that's probably making the new crop look a little better than they might be.

It seemed to me that the Wallabies forwards options were slightly better during Cheika's tenure compared to Deans.

Ala'alatoa, Tupou, Sio, Fardy, Arnold, Skelton, Rodda, Coleman, Fainga'a, Kepu, Latu, Uelese, come to mind, (but particularly the front-row options) were arguably better than was available to Deans.

While the superior front-row talent certainly helped, I do think that Cheika & Ledisma did a great job with Wallabies forwards during their time. Especially in 2015, which was the first year Ledisma came on board. The Wallabies results got worse after Ledisma left the Wallabies set-up in Oct 2017. They got humiliated on the EOYT, and then had that disastrous year in 2018.

TIL Ledisma's last test with the Wallabies was the 23-18 win against the All Blacks in Brisbane.

 

[Braveheart81]

I reckon Deans had better hookers (Moore and TPN far more at their prime). Better locks (Sharpe, Vickerman, Horwill).

Cheika definitely had better props (Slipper and Kepu at the peak of their careers plus the emergence of AAA, Sio, Tupou).

Backrows are probably reasonably equal. If anything Deans had better options because he had better number 8s for more time than Cheika did.

 

[PhilClinton]

I reckon Deans had better hookers (Moore and TPN far more at their prime). Better locks (Sharpe, Vickerman, Horwill).

The difference between Moore in his prime to every other hooker since him has been one of the most noticeable disadvantages of the Wallabies and still is.

 

[TSR]

I’ll concede the statement about the ability & depth of the players Rennie has to choose from is probably premature, but I don’t think Deans consistently had far better players.

For starters, saying that he had better players, other than the props, doesn’t work because other teams ruthlessly exploited our scrum weaknesses. Plus a of various times Deans had problems in the locks, backrow, halves, centres and outside backs. Not all at the same time, but he rarely had a strong, performing 1 - 15. He had to deal with patchy form from key players and general lack of ability to execute under pressure. If you wrote down the best 23 Deans had available then sure, they were better. I’d be surprised if they took the field regularly though.

 

[Pfitzy]

The same backline that forgot how to tackle?

And kicked rather poorly at EP compared to Welly.

Errors like that shitty midfield kick to Clarke or Tupou's brain fart checkside are often forgotten because they're not recorded like Missed Tackles.

 

[TSR]

Yeah - I dunno. Both attracted condemnation pretty much across the board this week (and deservedly so).

I don’t think anyone has forgotten them or is forgetting them anytime soon unless the respective players have a blinder.

 

[KOB1987]

Sounds like JOC (James O'Connor) is still at 10. So the mystery is who is at 12.

 

[Joe Blow]

Has to be Simone with Lolesio on the pine

 

[PhilClinton]

It'll either be Simone or Paisami at 12 you would think as no one else called into the side to cover.

I think JOC (James O'Connor) plays best with a secondary playmaker so I'm hoping for Simone.

 

[Derpus]

Im keen to see what Simone can do. I thought he was the form 12 in the comp. I also hope Samu is recalled.

 

[Derpus]

Saw an add for 30 dollar tickets. Thunderstorms all Sat - could be a slim crowd.

Edit: and it's Halloween - didnt thinkof that.

 

[PhilClinton]

Usually I would say the rain playing into All Blacks favor - but our better performance this year was in the wet. Bring it on.

 

[rodha]

At the Rugby World Cup last year, when he was used mostly at outside-centre, O’Connor felt he was undervalued. “It did frustrate me because I couldn’t give my all,” he said. “I felt like I wasn’t involved as much as I would have liked. You want to go out there knowing you’ve done the job. I went back to the drawing board with one of my coaches and we sat down and chatted about how I could take my game forward. [The conversation] was [around] if the opportunity came up to step up at 10.

Just confirms what I already posted previously on here re: Cheika mismanaging O'Conner last year.

 

[Braveheart81]

Just confirms what I already posted previously on here about Cheika mismanaging O'Conner last year.

Him wanting to play 10 means the coach made a mistake by not playing him at 10?

I'm assuming Leali'ifano and Foley also wanted to play 10.

 

[RugbyReg]

I would have liked to play 10

 

[Braveheart81]

I would have liked to play 10

Damn you Michael Cheika for mismanaging RugbyReg!