England v Australia - Twickenham, 14 Nov, 4:30am AEDT
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Brumby Jack
Steve Williams (59)
Discipline an issue, no real attacking platform and the score could have been a lot worse.
Hooper going off saw any chance we had of winning evaporate.
The bench wasn't able to add any impact at all - Not sure what Skelton is up to, he was on for 17 mins with 0 runs, 0 tackles.
Kellaway for FB next week.
Hooper going off saw any chance we had of winning evaporate.
The bench wasn't able to add any impact at all - Not sure what Skelton is up to, he was on for 17 mins with 0 runs, 0 tackles.
Kellaway for FB next week.
Generally, very disappointing and agree that it was our worst performance of the year. I'm really not sure about James O'Connor at 10, he really made some bad reads and didn't do much else. Someone has to tell Len Ikitau to hold on to the bloody ball!!. I thought Rob Valetini and Rob Leota did well and played over the top of Lawes and Curry. Definite keepers. Strange that Rodda was poor as I thought he did really well last week against Scotland.
Finally - Stuart Berry - an absolute imbecile. I remember watched a Super Rugby game he "refereed" a few years ago. Appalling lack of knowledge, empathy and ability. So he gets rewarded by being moved upstairs. Samu's seatbelt was innocuous and White's obstruction was pathetic. Berry clearly needs to find an alternative career!!
Finally - Stuart Berry - an absolute imbecile. I remember watched a Super Rugby game he "refereed" a few years ago. Appalling lack of knowledge, empathy and ability. So he gets rewarded by being moved upstairs. Samu's seatbelt was innocuous and White's obstruction was pathetic. Berry clearly needs to find an alternative career!!
BDA
Jim Lenehan (48)
Just watched the game. Wallabies attack was just horrendous. Unfortunately we really seem to now be a team that just doesnt know how to plqy well on the road. The only positive is that i did see enough to believe the wallabies should win the england series at home next year. Also the selection of the european based players really did more harm than good. Beale looked a step below our other backs, skelton and latu offered fuck all other than turn our line out to poo.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
The fuck??? What happened? Meteor strike?
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
From the comments, it appears that Euro Syndrome has struck again.
That thing where players go overseas and are apparently better than they ever were, but in fact are just playing in weaker competitions.
Elsom being a prime example. Now Beale, Skelton, Arnold, etc.
In the last 20 I saw us win a scrum penalty that was utterly the wrong call, and us get bitched at the set piece. Arnold and Skelton ain't it.
That thing where players go overseas and are apparently better than they ever were, but in fact are just playing in weaker competitions.
Elsom being a prime example. Now Beale, Skelton, Arnold, etc.
In the last 20 I saw us win a scrum penalty that was utterly the wrong call, and us get bitched at the set piece. Arnold and Skelton ain't it.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Id be getting rid of Wright before Beale. Beale was targeted and I don’t think dropped a high ball - the ‘numerous‘ knock ons that someone referred to before I think was one above his head and one strip, and he also gained one strip. id certainly not be persisting with Kurtley beyond this tour, I’m not making a case for that, but he is there to cover an issue at fullback and did his job. Wright’s trying to secure a place for the future - the future he is not, he’s a proper liability.
As for fly half - JOC (James O'Connor) is not the answer. I think Pasitoa was the Brumbies third string option, but he’s moved to the force so that probably makes him ineligible for selection. Is Kuenzle still at the Brumbies?
Arnold and Skelton can go back to club rugby, Philip and Swain are far better options. Latu was Ok i think in the 30 seconds that Mackellar gave him, he certainly deserves another shot ahead of the Vikings reserve hooker.
I don’t think Perese got on. Hopefully he can get a run in the centres next week, but he’d be a monumental flop if he couldn’t do better than Wright on the wing.
And Nick Berry can fuck right off.
As for fly half - JOC (James O'Connor) is not the answer. I think Pasitoa was the Brumbies third string option, but he’s moved to the force so that probably makes him ineligible for selection. Is Kuenzle still at the Brumbies?
Arnold and Skelton can go back to club rugby, Philip and Swain are far better options. Latu was Ok i think in the 30 seconds that Mackellar gave him, he certainly deserves another shot ahead of the Vikings reserve hooker.
I don’t think Perese got on. Hopefully he can get a run in the centres next week, but he’d be a monumental flop if he couldn’t do better than Wright on the wing.
And Nick Berry can fuck right off.
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Some real negativity here, which I guess it’s par for the course.
I thought the defensive effort was very good other than a few isolated moments. I reckon Ikitau got found out a bit but conversely Paisami did a great job on Tuilagi. Maul defence was great too.
Our attack was poor but when you take out QC (Quade Cooper), Kerevi and Koroibete who have been the key 3 for us there, plus Tupou as well - then of course it’s not going to be at its best.
but we were let down by basic handling and skills. Ikitau again taking poor options. Perhaps his heads not in it after a massive, and largely excellent, year. Wright again showing he’s not up to it. The tackle was had enough but when JOC (James O'Connor) beautifully put him into space he dropped it cold. With the space in front of him that was killer.
clearly territory was our game and White and JOC (James O'Connor) did that damn well. Loved the work of Valetini and Leota, but ironically it was one of Hooper’s lessor games.
Paisami was great but those two wonky left to right clearances put us under pressure. Beale should have caught his though.
Which brings us to the European 4 - they’ve brought nothing. I wouldn’t use any of them next week if we can avoid it.
I thought the defensive effort was very good other than a few isolated moments. I reckon Ikitau got found out a bit but conversely Paisami did a great job on Tuilagi. Maul defence was great too.
Our attack was poor but when you take out QC (Quade Cooper), Kerevi and Koroibete who have been the key 3 for us there, plus Tupou as well - then of course it’s not going to be at its best.
but we were let down by basic handling and skills. Ikitau again taking poor options. Perhaps his heads not in it after a massive, and largely excellent, year. Wright again showing he’s not up to it. The tackle was had enough but when JOC (James O'Connor) beautifully put him into space he dropped it cold. With the space in front of him that was killer.
clearly territory was our game and White and JOC (James O'Connor) did that damn well. Loved the work of Valetini and Leota, but ironically it was one of Hooper’s lessor games.
Paisami was great but those two wonky left to right clearances put us under pressure. Beale should have caught his though.
Which brings us to the European 4 - they’ve brought nothing. I wouldn’t use any of them next week if we can avoid it.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Defence was good when scrambling, but attack was pretty horrible.
Forwards never really set an attacking platform for the backs to work off, too many penalties conceded and set-piece from their own territory didn‘t offer up much of an attacking platform.
I dont have much of an issue with Beale, it was a hard game for a fullback and i thought he did ok with what he had. JOC (James O'Connor) didnt offer much and made a couple of bad choices, i think he starts next week but he isn’t the longer term solution.
Ikitau turned the ball over half a dozen times, including twice in the space of about 30seconds when Australia was on attack in the 2nd half, maybe trying too hard but certainly struggled.
Forwards never really set an attacking platform for the backs to work off, too many penalties conceded and set-piece from their own territory didn‘t offer up much of an attacking platform.
I dont have much of an issue with Beale, it was a hard game for a fullback and i thought he did ok with what he had. JOC (James O'Connor) didnt offer much and made a couple of bad choices, i think he starts next week but he isn’t the longer term solution.
Ikitau turned the ball over half a dozen times, including twice in the space of about 30seconds when Australia was on attack in the 2nd half, maybe trying too hard but certainly struggled.
rugboy
Jim Clark (26)
What a poor game. I'm not sure what Rennie's plan was but don't think it included anything creative. I can't recall once seeing any of our back three in midfield, like in previous games. O'Connor's depth takes away many of these opportunities. Kellaway's 2 carries for 6m a point in case. Perese to 13 for Ikitau for Wales game. The whole backline was atrocious although Ikiatu keeps finding a way to hand back possession when we get into good positions. The game opened up late but we still found plenty of ways to hand it back.
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Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Agree on the negativity, it was frustrating more than dire. Wright’s drop ball a case in point.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Very surprised to see the criticism of O'Connor, I thought he was very assured and a key reason we stuck in that game for so long. Yes, attack as a whole was poor, but our ruck was ponderously slow and we never got the speed we needed to attack with. Into the second half he started find a spark and the attack faltered elsewhere - e.g. Wright being unprepared to counter attack.
Sir Arthur Higgins
Dick Tooth (41)
I was also concerned that the Skelton hype was just hype and he’d been made to look good in a slower league. I’ve seen positives from Arnold but Skelton has looked moderately better than when he left - which still isn’t very good.
phillip and swain better. I’d bring Kane Douglas in over Skelton.
I always thought Beatles biggest issues were mental and decision making in certain key moments. I don’t see that he’s fixed that at all?
With Quade at what 32 - it’s a little scary that he’s the flyhalf for 2023 right now…and there is big space between him and number 2. I would be scouring New Zealand and England and anywhere else for a good fly half who qualifies!
phillip and swain better. I’d bring Kane Douglas in over Skelton.
I always thought Beatles biggest issues were mental and decision making in certain key moments. I don’t see that he’s fixed that at all?
With Quade at what 32 - it’s a little scary that he’s the flyhalf for 2023 right now…and there is big space between him and number 2. I would be scouring New Zealand and England and anywhere else for a good fly half who qualifies!
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I thought it was Yoko Ono, personally. But their time together was probably over regardless...
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
I only had enough emotional energy to watch the first 30 minutes or so. We were already well beaten when Wright got his YC.
In evaluating our performance, we should remember that we went into the game without our two best THPs. That would upset the planning applecart in spades.
I could not fault their endeavour during that period.
In evaluating our performance, we should remember that we went into the game without our two best THPs. That would upset the planning applecart in spades.
I could not fault their endeavour during that period.
Beale should not play next , his 2 games for the wallabies have been disastrous, the European contingent should be released back to club rugby .Nick white was schooled by Ben youngs kicking and O’Connor past 2 games have been average his kicking was Aimless and achieved no advantage to the Wallabies
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