Bledisloe IV 2010 Hong Kong

[cyclopath]

Thanks for the words, Bon, but we can only guess why Barnes does not start, and Giteau always does, despite a string of average performances.
It occurred to me that maybe Henry gave Donald 20 minutes for a reason - he has been given him, maybe not entirely happy to have him in the squad, and wanted to make a point about what he can / cannot do? I doubt he expected him to perform so poorly, but I suspect he thought it was a possibility. I also think they are cotton-woolling Carter for obvious reasons, and why wouldn't you. Without him, the ABs are a significantly weaker team.
Some of your countrymen are wailing and gnashing a bit, but in all seriousness, the ABs basically had a match won stone cold, which they had no right to. Shows what a quality outfit they are. No big disaster, I agree.

 

[dobduff11]

I don't know why the AB's would use cruden as a back up all year long and then drop him for someone who had a poor Super 14 and has been injured for ages.

Sure he didn't have a great bled III but he is not going to start for another couple of years, they should have taken him on the EOYT for experience atleast. He wont be starting at 10 come RWC11 but im sure he if he could impact a game slightly in favour of the ab's they may as well have him on the bench.


Barnes played well today and deserves a start, wonder if it would make any difference to quades defence if berrick was next to him

 

[Spewn]

Every time I looked at McCalman he missed a tackle. I stopped looking

I agree. He seems to go too high. It may work against the Emus but not the ABs.

Re all those pushing for Turner - of course he is a good player. But he is essentially a finisher. Cannot beat a player one on one with any regularity. Hands up the non-NSW supporters who say he should be in there instead of JOC (James O'Connor), Mitchell, Digby, Davies?

 

[Langthorne]

I would have Turner on the wing ahead of JO'C (but I'd love to see him at 12) and Davies (once he has played for the dirt trackers or even come on from the bench and done well, we'll see). For the two tests a year that Ioane isn't injured, I'd bring him in for Turner.

 

[cyclopath]

I agree. He seems to go too high. It may work against the Emus but not the ABs.

Re all those pushing for Turner - of course he is a good player. But he is essentially a finisher. Cannot beat a player one on one with any regularity. Hands up the non-NSW supporters who say he should be in there instead of JOC (James O'Connor), Mitchell, Digby, Davies?

Well, the fact that JOC (James O'Connor) is playing well does not mean he should be on the wing. A few have suggested he might be better served at 12, so then a vacancy comes up.
Forget the Digby man-love, he is injured, so talk about where he sits in the pecking order is meaningless. Davies has done far less than Turner at Super level, who played brilliantly last chance with the Wallabies, so yes I think if JOC (James O'Connor) moved in, Turner would be it. Why do only non-NSW people get a vote? Why do people insist on making it a provincial thing?

 

[Gagger]

All this Donald blame. Did he play the first 20 when they let in a bunch including a try that ran straight through The sainted DC?

 

[qwerty51]

I agree. He seems to go too high. It may work against the Emus but not the ABs.

Re all those pushing for Turner - of course he is a good player. But he is essentially a finisher. Cannot beat a player one on one with any regularity. Hands up the non-NSW supporters who say he should be in there instead of JOC (James O'Connor), Mitchell, Digby, Davies?

He beats players with his pace.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I think Dingo emptied the bench last night. Can anyone confirm?

Barnes for Gits seemed to be a bit of a turning point backline wise.

Donald for Carter was probably more critical in an overall game perspective.

Finger on for Moore. Was that punishment for Moore missing Nonu tackle? Finger proved his inexperience lineout wise in the short time on. Moore and TPN = Awesome.

 

[Spewn]

I must claim a small part of the victory. I was wearing the same Rivers red undies I wore to the NRL Grand Final as a good luck charm and it worked for the Dragons. I was in the study and unlike at Homebush I wasn't wearing any pants just to increase the charm of luck of the underpants.

Good God, Lee. Not the Dragons. I thought you were knowledgeable.

 

[Spewn]

Well, the fact that JOC (James O'Connor) is playing well does not mean he should be on the wing. A few have suggested he might be better served at 12, so then a vacancy comes up.
Forget the Digby man-love, he is injured, so talk about where he sits in the pecking order is meaningless. Davies has done far less than Turner at Super level, who played brilliantly last chance with the Wallabies, so yes I think if JOC (James O'Connor) moved in, Turner would be it. Why do only non-NSW people get a vote? Why do people insist on making it a provincial thing?

That's the point Cyclo. Turner only gets pushed by NSWelshmen. (and Newington old boys). I want to know how many outside the province share the same views.

 

[Langthorne]

All this Donald blame. Did he play the first 20 when they let in a bunch including a try that ran straight through The sainted DC?

I think he played his part for us Gagger - I'm not saying it is the whole picture, but it is a part of it.

 

[dobduff11]

Richard brown didn't come on Hugh

Gagger the wallabies played awesome in the first 30 but donald made alot of mistakes during his time on the pitch and he could have ended the match either by slotting the penalty or punting the ball out.

Also with regards to Turner - you see his strengths, high ball, kicking, pace finishing in the next vids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVKo6HI6nxM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG6_Xak6r1I&feature=related

 

[Langthorne]

Spewn - how do you think Turner played against the All Blacks in Sydney?

 

[Elfster]

A good win, but a few observations.

a) The AB's made lots of breaks through the Wallaby centres but didn't punish as they can and perhaps should have.
b) Not sure of the final penalty count, but do the AB's have a defensive pattern based on giving away penalties?
c) The Wallabies looked like a happy team - they seemed to enjoy playing the game and with each other.
d)The Wallabies reserves seemed to make a more positive impact than the AB's reserves.
e) I was surprised at AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s speed...
f) Will the Waratah's training staff re-bulk up Kurtley?
g) Kurtley's moustache..enough said.
h) Corey Jane is very useful winger..a proper old school style winger.
i) You can say lots about his style of play, but Richie was always near the ball. The AB's will hope he doesn't get injured.
j) Quade Cooper is still a work in progress: he does some stupid things sometimes, I think he over played his hand last night in attack. Defensively a worry.
k) Matt Giteau no longer the "money or goto man". Was emphasized in a big way last night.
l) One of the better line out displays from the wallabies this year.
m) The English, Italian and French scrums will be salivating at playing the wallabies scrum

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

The only guy I could see pushing Cooper out of 5/8 is To'omua. Looks to be the most promising of the 5/8s and is good in defence. The other options negatives outweigh Cooper's poor d.

I cant fucking believe what I am reading here. Cooper is the creative spark that gets our atack, already noted as being superior to amy other teams, going. We play well and just lose tests in Sydney and in NZ. Last night we play below those performances but win. Cooper throws a great pass to free up Beale which leads to Mitchells try, scores the first try himself by taking on the defence AND WE WANTTO DROP HIM. There are names for people such as this and others on this thread that can only see the glass half full and won't be happy even if we win Bill because they believe,,,,,,,,I don't know what (idiot simpleton whinger are just a few words that come to mind)

 

[dobduff11]

I dont think Kurtley bulked up at the waratahs Elfster he definetly chubbed up
http://www.blogspotrugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Kurtley-Beale.jpg

 

[qwerty51]

A good win, but a few observations.
c) The Wallabies looked like a happy team - they seemed to enjoy playing the game and with each other.
f) Will the Waratah's training staff re-bulk up Kurtley?

c)
f) They picked him as a fullback

 

[disco]

Thought McCalman was poor whenever I noticed him.

I thought McCalman had a good game ball in hand & also did a lot of good cover defence for Quade along with Pocock.

I'm all for Lachie Turner i think he's definitely more consistent than JOC (James O'Connor) & Mitchell.

Anyway we won & that's great Kurtley Beale & David Pocock are freaks when we sought out 12 & 4 we'll be even better.

 

[qwerty51]

I reckon Turner would've caught that ball Barnes threw to O'Connor

 

[vidiot]

Finger proved his inexperience lineout wise in the short time on.

To be fair, he missed with one throw, spot on with another, and threw himself at the rucks. That enthusiasm (from a lot of players) was what kept us alive in the last few minutes.