Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
1. Robinson 5 - Where is his form, has he lost strength in that broken arm?
2. Moore 7 - Lineout work very good. Scrum under pressure but more from the props.
3. Alexander 5 - As I feared he was under done and was soundly beaten in the few scrums that did actually get packed. His usual self in the open but the scrum is his bread and butter.
4. Sharpe 7 - Lineout work excellent. Safe as usual in his carries.
5. Chisholm 4 - Lineout very good. Saw him standing unbound at the back of at least 4 rucks in the first half.
6. Elsom 6 - Above average game from Elsom, but still not near his 2007-8 form.
7. Pocock 9 - Pocock tackles for both himself and Cooper. Steals 3 McCaw nil. Penalties nil McCaw 2.
8. McCalman 8 - defensively all over the place. Needs to tighten up his play at the base, the turn over to Cowan was good play by the later but he shouldn't have got the chance.
9. Genia 6.5 - passing good, arrived at the breakdown the quickest we have seen from him this year. Drifted in defence and left holes for Nonu.
10. Cooper 6.5 - Mercurial. he good and the bad all in one game. His defence is woeful and not getting better. As time goes on he will get targetted more and more for it unless somebody takes him aside and at least attempts to fix it.
12. Giteau 1 - He sang beautifully. He should go to the doctor about his crabs and look into the strength of the Euro. He did not lead the backs forward in defence and was destroyed by Nonu and Smith. Again kicked woefully.
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 7 - Starting to find his feet at 13. Hopefully the Brumbies will play him there next year. His angle for the second try was perfect.
11. Mitchell 6 - finishing was excellent for his try but his kicking from hand was wayward. Defence was static and he was easily beaten a few times. Partial excuse from him on this point that the defensive line was toally was static.
14. O'Connor 7 - his ability in heavy traffic is simply top class. Note that his big break was made from the 12 position. The final try was also a classic through heavy traffic. If he has to be in the side let it be at 12.
15. Beale 7 - His pace is amazing from two years ago. He tried everything and should be 15 for a long time. Positioning was good and scrambling defence also good but against the ABs that is always difficult.
16. Fainga'a 3 - Lineout throwing is very poor. Good defence and activity around the field but still a long way behind Moore and TPN
17. Slipper 6 - held his own in the scrum and defended well. Amazing that he didn't replace Alexander especially as Alexander himself said he hasn't been right for 5 weeks.
18. Mumm 5 - Not really enough time but seemed to strengthen the forward pack
19. Brown - Not used
20. Burgess 7 - the pace he brought and the extra defensive strength one off the ruck made a huge difference to this outcome.
21. Barnes 8.5 - in the time he had he showed why he should be the starting IC (if not JOC (James O'Connor)). He led the defensive line forward and for the first time in the game the ABs did not make easy breaks through the centres. It came down to the advancing defence and tackling around the legs.
22. Turner - Not Used.
Deans - they were very very lucky not to leave another game on the field simply through playing Giteau as kicker again. two consecutive games at 25% and 20% success rates is just not a S14 grade kicker. The fact that this is not isolated is just poor selection.
Again the defensive issues are there to be seen, but they can be fixed with appropriate selection. Bye Bye Giteau.
The reserves especially Barnes were delayed 10-15 minutes to long but the enormous impact and the change they made to the game are what got the Wallabies over the line.
2. Moore 7 - Lineout work very good. Scrum under pressure but more from the props.
3. Alexander 5 - As I feared he was under done and was soundly beaten in the few scrums that did actually get packed. His usual self in the open but the scrum is his bread and butter.
4. Sharpe 7 - Lineout work excellent. Safe as usual in his carries.
5. Chisholm 4 - Lineout very good. Saw him standing unbound at the back of at least 4 rucks in the first half.
6. Elsom 6 - Above average game from Elsom, but still not near his 2007-8 form.
7. Pocock 9 - Pocock tackles for both himself and Cooper. Steals 3 McCaw nil. Penalties nil McCaw 2.
8. McCalman 8 - defensively all over the place. Needs to tighten up his play at the base, the turn over to Cowan was good play by the later but he shouldn't have got the chance.
9. Genia 6.5 - passing good, arrived at the breakdown the quickest we have seen from him this year. Drifted in defence and left holes for Nonu.
10. Cooper 6.5 - Mercurial. he good and the bad all in one game. His defence is woeful and not getting better. As time goes on he will get targetted more and more for it unless somebody takes him aside and at least attempts to fix it.
12. Giteau 1 - He sang beautifully. He should go to the doctor about his crabs and look into the strength of the Euro. He did not lead the backs forward in defence and was destroyed by Nonu and Smith. Again kicked woefully.
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 7 - Starting to find his feet at 13. Hopefully the Brumbies will play him there next year. His angle for the second try was perfect.
11. Mitchell 6 - finishing was excellent for his try but his kicking from hand was wayward. Defence was static and he was easily beaten a few times. Partial excuse from him on this point that the defensive line was toally was static.
14. O'Connor 7 - his ability in heavy traffic is simply top class. Note that his big break was made from the 12 position. The final try was also a classic through heavy traffic. If he has to be in the side let it be at 12.
15. Beale 7 - His pace is amazing from two years ago. He tried everything and should be 15 for a long time. Positioning was good and scrambling defence also good but against the ABs that is always difficult.
16. Fainga'a 3 - Lineout throwing is very poor. Good defence and activity around the field but still a long way behind Moore and TPN
17. Slipper 6 - held his own in the scrum and defended well. Amazing that he didn't replace Alexander especially as Alexander himself said he hasn't been right for 5 weeks.
18. Mumm 5 - Not really enough time but seemed to strengthen the forward pack
19. Brown - Not used
20. Burgess 7 - the pace he brought and the extra defensive strength one off the ruck made a huge difference to this outcome.
21. Barnes 8.5 - in the time he had he showed why he should be the starting IC (if not JOC (James O'Connor)). He led the defensive line forward and for the first time in the game the ABs did not make easy breaks through the centres. It came down to the advancing defence and tackling around the legs.
22. Turner - Not Used.
Deans - they were very very lucky not to leave another game on the field simply through playing Giteau as kicker again. two consecutive games at 25% and 20% success rates is just not a S14 grade kicker. The fact that this is not isolated is just poor selection.
Again the defensive issues are there to be seen, but they can be fixed with appropriate selection. Bye Bye Giteau.
The reserves especially Barnes were delayed 10-15 minutes to long but the enormous impact and the change they made to the game are what got the Wallabies over the line.
