Bledisloe IV 2010 Hong Kong

[Enzedder]

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 agree. Too easy to do that, rather than have to look critically at some more "favourite" players. For all that, Donald was a clutz - only in Waikato do you play catch-up rugby when ahead. Oh heck, hang on .......

 

[dobduff11]

qwerty that was a pretty shocking pass by barnes only rupeni could have caught that

Check out the vids on the ARU website,
http://tv.rugby.com.au/?playListId=cd35b110-cf56-4867-b731-7fb33833e45c

 

[roo]

I love the Finger. He has no fear and seems to always arrive at the breakdown nice and early. His enthusiasm is awesome.

 

[Rothschild]

For four times on this tour I would love to see Barnes start at 12 and Gits off the bench. The attack is straighter and it actually happens.
Gits I am afraid has passed his use by date.

 

[WB3]

I love the Finger. He has no fear and seems to always arrive at the breakdown nice and early. His enthusiasm is awesome.

Perhaps, but TPN matches his enthusiasm and fearlessness and does it better. Finger will be an adequate replacement if Moore/TPN are injured, but at the moment he can't hold a light to them.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

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.

In today's game, the poor lineout throw is equivalent of tighthead, which has been removed from the game by cheating runt halfbacks.
One stuffed throw is one too many at this level.

 

[dobduff11]

Just thought I would share the love with this kurtley tribute video
[video=youtube;9unX8p_myW0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9unX8p_myW0[/video]

 

[Reddy!]

Feeling good today - and to think I have experienced the infuriating stress of watching test rugby and then having to deal with a loss the last 10 times we have played the All Blacks. How did I manage to live my life the past 2-3 years?

 

[Reddy!]

Also, for many of the younger Wallabies tonight, that would have been their first win against the All Blacks - not one to forget. So that includes:

J'OC
Beale
Genia
Cooper
McCalman
Pocock
Ben Alexander
Fainga'a
Slipper
Brown
Turner?

 

[Ruggo]

Perhaps, but TPN matches his enthusiasm and fearlessness and does it better. Finger will be an adequate replacement if Moore/TPN are injured, but at the moment he can't hold a light to them.

Size is the difference between Fainga'a and TPN. Attitude is the common denominator. I often wonder why Fainga'a did not persue a career at seven. He has the attributes.

 

[DPK]

Size is the difference between Fainga'a and TPN. Attitude is the common denominator. I often wonder why Fainga'a did not persue a career at seven. He has the attributes.

What, dreadlocks ala classic George Smith? :lmao:

In all seriousness, it would be interesting to see if Saia has been a seven would he be challenging for the Wallabies. Reminds me of something LG was saying ages ago about wishing Phil Waugh had been taken aside and converted into a hooker.

Two interesting could've beens.

 

[MrMouse]

Indeed.

Thank f*ck our selectors aren't mired in the dopey provincialism of Australian rugby fans. Half the people that post here only seem to see players from their own Super 14 team.

Super 14?!? It's like picking players because they shop in your f*cking supermarket.

Not true - at least not all the time. I'd like to see Davies in the tour games, but even Reds fans have some issues with his defence. I think regardless of fitness AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is above Horne in the OC pecking order, and fully-fit Chambers might challenge too. Sharpe is so obviously ahead of any other Aussie lock atm it's not funny. Cooper, not Barnes (or Gits), should be 5/8. Alexander is the best tighthead in the squad, and aside from Justice 4 Al probably Australia. With the exception of a fit Cliffy Palu, The entirely non-NSW back row is right.

We probably see more of the S14 games for teams we support but honestly, to claim that I or anyone else support Turner's selection simply because he plays for my provincial team is pig ignorant. Pull your head in Groucho.

 

[Spewn]

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

Brilliantly. As I said, I think he is a good player, but I think others are ahead of him. Last night, he obviously would have scored Mitchell's try, but not JOCs. Mitchell I think is more elusive when it is not a straight foot race.

 

[DPK]

Tri Nations - Sydney, 26 July 2008, 10:05 GMT, 20:05 Local
Australia (17) 34 - 19 (12) New Zealand (FT)


15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
14 Peter Hynes
13 Ryan Cross
12 Berrick Barnes
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Matt Giteau
9 Luke Burgess

1 Benn Robinson
2 Stephen Moore
3 Alastair Baxter
4 James Horwill
5 Nathan Sharpe
6 Rocky Elsom
7 George Smith (c)
8 Wycliff Palu

Replacements
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Matt Dunning
18 Dan Vickerman
19 Phil Waugh
20 Sam Cordingley
21 Timana Tahu
22 Drew Mitchell

The team from the last time we beat NZ.

 

[en_force_er]

I think yesterday's match is further proof that the Wallabies are the 2nd best side in the world.

It also proves that if the 2nd best side in the world plays the best side in the world enough times, they will eventually win.

 

[Ruggo]

Wallabies were good but unpolished. There is work to do.

I see no credit to Rocky on these pages. That was a fantastic "follow me into battle" captains knock. I also give him credit for the composer the Wallabies showed in that last five minutes. He is making the right decisions and now looks like he has control over his role as captain.

The composure we showed at the back end of this game to string those phases was fantastic and a great indication that this side is maturing mentally.

The bad parts are why did we let this get to the point where we had to pull it out of the fire after we started so well. It should never have come to that. The other is Giteau. Enough is enough, he has to be dropped. Barnes must come in. It is at the point where Giteau is not contributing. Send him to the bench and bring in Barnes.

The bench served us well and all players had impact when they came on. If Brown is not going to be used, take a punt on somebody else.

To all those who tipped the Wallabies, congratulations. :yay

 

[WB3]

Size is the difference between Fainga'a and TPN. Attitude is the common denominator. I often wonder why Fainga'a did not persue a career at seven. He has the attributes.

True enough.

But could ANYONE else do this? (1.20)
[video=youtube;1EIuZol3BRQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EIuZol3BRQ[/video]

 

[Reddy!]

Brilliantly. As I said, I think he is a good player, but I think others are ahead of him. Last night, he obviously would have scored Mitchell's try, but not JOCs. Mitchell I think is more elusive when it is not a straight foot race.

Mitchell again proved last night he is the best finisher in Australian rugby. On J'OC try, I actually think I any number of players could have scored that try, he had momentum and was really close to the line. But I guess the difference is he took the initiative to back himself instead of sending the ball wider and possibly stuffing it up.

 

[JJJ]

I can't wait for the replay just to watch those increasingly-blatant penalties the ABs were committing in the final 5 mins trying to defend their line. At last it fails to work for them! I'll enjoy it now I know the denouement, but at the time I was weighing up the remote control in one hand and the price of a new tv on the other.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

True enough.

But could ANYONE else do this? (1.20) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EIuZol3BRQ

Awesome