France v Australia

[Jagman]

Although in fairness, the French had 14 players for the last 8-9 minutes.

Which they gave away because they were under pressure. May have saved the game for them in fact.


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[Cardiffblue]

In fact, it's similar in many ways to how the French played, brick wall defence, flat attack and spread the ball quickly on turnovers. It takes a while to get the timing and combinations working though and 3 weeks isn't enough time to do so.

To be honest, France have been trying and failing with that system since the last World Cup. French public cynical enough not to care about national team. Nobody good wants to take a pay cut and become national coach. Don't think Australian public will be so patient as the ffr have been with psa or the method. It's not good for the win percentage.

 

[It is what it is]

There had better be a shit tonne more it than that, if "new system" is going to be the weekly excuse.

how long are you giving him, just out of interest?

What's the solution Lorenzo?
You seem determined to identify what's wrong, but do you have any solutions?
Who is your coach?
Name your team?
What will success look like, by when?

 

[Lorenzo]

As long as it takes. When I think it's taken too long, you'll be the first to know.

Oh I know you'll be providing the positive spin when we fail to make the quarters. It's nice to have balance.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Oh I know you'll be providing the positive spin when we fail to make the quarters. It's nice to have balance.

It's not all bad. Foley is growing in international stature by the week. Australia just need 14 others to do the same

 

[Mr Doug]

Wallabies played like a bunch of rabbits caught in the headlights of a Mack truck. Reality check, this team isn't going anywhere at the WC.

We're still recycling the same shit player wise and expecting a different result (Horwill, Simmons, Alexander, Fatcat and there are more). These guys have reached their peak and gone past there ability to improve their game. IF they aren't world beating players now its not going to magically happen by next year. Skelton is a big body but doesn't use it and has no mongrel. In fact the team is soft with no hard nuts. There is more intimidation trying to put together an Ikea flat pack entertainment unit than this team possesses.

This EOTY is where we should be blooding guys who are going to be around to take the team forward...and I'm talking about guys like Godwin. We waited and waited for Speight to qualify to play for Australia and then don't give him a run. He needs to be clocking up game time experience at international level.

And Folau..what a waste of space. Knock on, fumbles, bumbles. He is feted as a bloody star player when the going is good and then vanishes when the going is tough and needs to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck. He has been worked out, he is fooling no one. Learn another move other than a stutter step.

Finishing on a positive. We need Kuridrahni playing in every position. He is the class of the team.

Moono74, you have two 'friends for life' in Mrs D and me, with that evaluation!!
I would have substituted the word "balls", for "scruff of the neck"!

 

[Cardiffblue]

Question: how many international tries are getting scored when double team defenders collide with each other? Seems to be at least one per week

 

[Moono75]

In a thread with plenty of rubbish, this almost takes the cake.

Jesus, imagine if we won!

Again, though, we come back to things we always say on this forum- we want to 'blood' players, but then when they underperform we want to throw them on the scrapheap. Skelton is a prime example- I thought he did OK (few good things, few bad) but blokes on here want him on the plane home.

Same with McMahon- sensational one week, rubbish the next.

We need to remember this is a new coach and a new system. It took almost six months with Link, and we are expecting Cheik to get it done in two weeks?
.

Even if we won Folau was still crap. If Folau can get all the praise and the headlines when things are going well.....he also needs to cop it when he does sweet FA. If he is a Star player he needs to step up and set the example for the team to follow when we are in the Merde! You cant have it both ways. I've said it before in the S15 game threads I think he has been gifted plenty of tries getting the final pass. That's my opinion only....you are welcome to yours.

As for Skelton someone of his size should have more impact on a game. He needs to look at body height into contact and fending off players. He should be able to steam roll a lot more guys than he does. He's too slow.

As for blooding players, McMahon is in his 2nd game. Play the young guys with the support of the experienced guys around them to help cover any errors from inexperience while they learn the ropes. This is why guys like Godwin should also be getting a shot. Thats what EOYT is for.

Yes Cheika needs to be given time but he needs some new cattle as well.

 

[Quick Hands]

Oh I know you'll be providing the positive spin when we fail to make the quarters. It's nice to have balance.

I'll watch the games and be positive or negative based on the facts and the evidence.

At least you've already made up your mind, so you won't have to waste anytime trying to work things out.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

It's not all bad. Foley is growing in international stature by the week. Australia just need 14 others to do the same

Really...foley had average to poor game - look he is World Cup squad material but still question mark whether should be first choice - tempted to give cooper a run with foley on the bench

Just imagine if we had mowen and Douglas as things on second row front would not look so grim...

Don't blame Cheika as just have to many key gaps in key positions...

Concerned with lack of options on 4,5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
and backup options for 1 and 3....

 

[Quick Hands]

Which they gave away because they were under pressure. May have saved the game for them in fact.


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Well, we scored a converted try soon after the card, so one could argue that he would have been better off not infringing, perhaps conceding a try and then playing the last 9 with 15 on 15. I can't see how leaving his team with 14 players helped save the game for the French.

 

[Lorenzo]

I'll watch the games and be positive or negative based on the facts and the evidence.

Anything but the actual result.

 

[Quick Hands]

Really.foley had average to poor game - look he is World Cup squad material but still question mark whether should be first choice - tempted to give cooper a run with foley on the bench

Just imagine if we had mowen and Douglas as things on second row front would not look so grim.

Don't blame Cheika as just have to many key gaps in key positions.

Concerned with lack of options on 4,5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
and backup options for 1 and 3..

Cooper should certainly come on earlier and replace Foley when he does come on (unless injuries necessitate another course). Very hard to come on in the last 5-10 mins and take control of the plays. I assume it's because Chieka values Foley's goal kicking and he wants his 1st choice 10 on the field calling the plays for the full 80.

 

[Quick Hands]

Anything but the actual result.

The result is actually a fact.

 

[Lorenzo]

What's the solution Lorenzo?
You seem determined to identify what's wrong, but do you have any solutions?
Who is your coach?
Name your team?
What will success look like, by when?

It seems everyone - commentators and forum members alike - has just remembered that Chieka's "systems" took a while to take hold in Ireland, France and at NSW. If this is correct (i do not know as I never watched his Irish or French sides), and the adjustment period usually involves laughably bad defence and one-dimensional attack, why the fuck do we have new systems 8 tests before the RWC?

My guess is that the extent to which he has made major system-wide changes is actually fairly limited, and we are just seeing the same shit we saw under McKenzie, and that people hooked on Wallaby koolaid prefer to put it on growing pains.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Captain Hoopah coming dead last in the player ratings thingy?, didnt see the match, wft happened? (cant be arsed wading thru the last 48,000 pages.) Dead last, that's as crazy as James Slipper not being first or second!

Australian Rugby, today.

 

[It is what it is]

It seems everyone - commentators and forum members alike - has just remembered that Chieka's "systems" took a while to take hold in Ireland, France and at NSW. If this is correct (i do not know as I never watched his Irish or French sides), and the adjustment period usually involves laughably bad defence and one-dimensional attack, why the fuck do we have new systems 8 tests before the RWC?

My guess is that the extent to which he has made major system-wide changes is actually fairly limited, and we are just seeing the same shit we saw under McKenzie, and that people hooked on Wallaby koolaid prefer to put it on growing pains.

As expected you have no solutions, but thank you.

 

[Sully]

Captain Hoopah coming dead last in the player ratings thingy?, didnt see the match, wft happened? (cant be arsed wading thru the last 48,000 pages.) Dead last, that's as crazy as James Slipper not being first or second!

Australian Rugby, today.

Not a captain is guess.

 

[tragic]

Not advocating throwing the baby out with the bathwater but a few things are clearer after that game.
1. End the skelton experiment. His set piece may be able to be fixed but not in time for 2015. Fix it first and then give him a jersey. Don't rely on him fixing it whilst playing for Australia.
2. Alexander has the capacity to loose us games at the death. Need to find a scrummaging replacement for Kepu, fast.
3. Foley is solid but not the answer. The Phipps/ Cooper combination needs time to develop. Now.
4. 12 remains wide open.
5. We really lack a finisher in the back 3. See English try against the ABs and French try against us. Individual brilliance with sheer pace. Hopefully JOC (James O'Connor) comes home with a better attitude because trying to shoehorn AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) into the side at wing leaves us short a finisher with pace. He is the clear frontrunner for the bench utility spot. I would hazard a guess we have the slowest back 3 over 70m in the top tier nations atm.

 

[Lorenzo]

I have a stop-gap solution to one of the problems - pick a player in the inside back cordon that is able (and permitted) to tactically kick the ball to move the play into an attacking position when our line-boshing is going fucking nowhere.

Out of who we have available, I would pick Quade Cooper at 10 for that very reason.