• Welcome to the forums of Green & Gold Rugby.
    We have recently made some changes to the amount of discussions boards on the forum.
    Over the coming months we will continue to make more changes to make the forum more user friendly for all to use.
    Thanks, Admin.

Ireland v Wallabies - Sunday 1 Dec, 2:10 AEDT

molman

Jim Lenehan (48)
Not much more to say that hasn't been said. It was a real shame to end like that. It really didn't look like we were going to score another try in that second half though. Ireland controlled field position really well even with our defence being really solid. Some calls definitely didn't go our way which did have big impacts, but likewise some didn't go their way which its hard to say what impact they could have had. Our maul work on the tryline looked better but still needs work, they got a lot of pay from theirs and we were lucky to get the held up result.

If someone has the stats I'd love to know how many 22 entries we had for how long vs them. Ruck was a total dogs breakfast.

I think all in all we are looking a much better team. We're a little smarter. Continuity is starting to form. Players like Frost and Williams are really growing. Wright, McReight, Valetini, Ikitau have all shown their class on this tour. That was also one of Tupou's better games which was great to see.

I would have really loved to have won that one, but it's possibly a fair reflection of where we are which is a number of years behind some of these more established international teams who have had good continuity and standards for a long while.
 
Last edited:

PhilClinton

Mark Loane (55)
Well, the bookies had us as 14 point underdogs so the result shows we have come a long way from where people expect us to be.

Main takeaways from the game (and prob more suitable for Wobs 2025 thread) for me are:

- flyhalf is going to be the most heavily scrutinised super rugby position in 2025, it’s still definitely up for grabs. Noah was good enough in the series to get first dibs though if no one else is outstanding.
- JAS will just keep getting better and I think he will be a very complete player after SRP2025.
- For the benefit of the BIL series I’ll put my Red heart aside and if the likes of McReight, Wilson and Faessler need some rest to be fit for the Wobs, then fair enough. I think we need all three of those blokes in a team to actually win big games.
 

molman

Jim Lenehan (48)
Well, the bookies had us as 14 point underdogs so the result shows we have come a long way from where people expect us to be.

Main takeaways from the game (and prob more suitable for Wobs 2025 thread) for me are:

- flyhalf is going to be the most heavily scrutinised super rugby position in 2025, it’s still definitely up for grabs. Noah was good enough in the series to get first dibs though if no one else is outstanding.
- JAS will just keep getting better and I think he will be a very complete player after SRP2025.
- For the benefit of the BIL series I’ll put my Red heart aside and if the likes of McReight, Wilson and Faessler need some rest to be fit for the Wobs, then fair enough. I think we need all three of those blokes in a team to actually win big games.
I'd add Valetini and Ikitau to that list of players we would likely struggle to win without.
 

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
Noah's touch kicking is unacceptable. He can kick the ball a mile (see his penalty kick from near halfway easily clear the crossbar). It is his accuracy, or his ambition, that has to improve. He needs to be willing to try to put the kick another 10 -20m further down field.

I agree with the post above (BDA I think) who suggested the Super Rugby coaches might try a fullback in the 10 spot to see if there is another Larkham out there. I think the first No 10 to lose his spot would be at the Brumbies.

All in all, I consider the EOYT to be a definite step in the right direction. The Wallabies can now be said to be competitive at the top level again. Ans with players like Bell, McReight, Valetini and Ikitau all being considered at or near world class, and others like Frost, Wilson, and Tom Wright improving all the time, I think we can look forward to a much better test team representing us in the next few years.
This has been brought up before but watch this.


I know it’s only schoolboy level but take note of his skill set.
 

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
Correct me if I’m wrong, but Lolesio was in the heart of all of our best bits on ensemble attack. We just didn’t have enough of them.

None of our 10s are good enough at the moment and the criticism of his kicking is fair (although as BR says it seems to me more a case of him not kicking accurately enough as opposed to him not having a long enough kick). But I thought some of his work in attack was pretty good. I remain unconvinced Donaldson is better and I don’t mind the pick and stick strategy but completely understand why others wanted changes.

Let’s hope all these guys have excellent Super Rugby seasons next year as I agree the flyhalf spot (and to a lesser extent halfback) is holding the team back - especially given how some other players have stepped up in positions like hooker, lock, Wilson at 8 and Wright at fullback.
 

molman

Jim Lenehan (48)
Beyond his monster boot, what did he really do other than catch and pass the ball? “Very good” seems a stretch
Prenderghast is being accelerated into experiencing international level because they see future potential in him. He's a tall frame and can do some of the fundamentals well - his kicking, passing etc are good. He's been in and around the camp for awhile, but they need to see if he can bring it to games. He's not there yet (anyone can see that), but none of the other 10's have really made the Irish 10 position their own post Sexton.

You have Jack Carty who is the oldest, they know what he offers and he will be something like 35 come next RWC. Then you have Joey Carbery (moved to play at Bordeaux) and Ross Byrne (injured last year/early this) so both missed selection in 6 nations earlier this year. Again, Ireland know what they'll get from those two and both will be about 32 come next RWC. Then you have Ciarán Frawley (in the Lienster system) whos had some time and Jack Crowley (young and possible growth) who likewise has made his appearances. Crowley has probably had the best run at claiming the role, but they're still working on their depth moving forward.

I don't know if Prenderghast will get there, but I wouldn't write off his potential yet.
 

Overtime

Chris McKivat (8)
This has been brought up before but watch this.


I know it’s only schoolboy level but take note of his skill set.
Yes, it was me that originally brought a shift of moving Jorgenson to fly half at super level. I was also referring to him in my post above about the Larkham moment. Funny I got laughed at when I first mentioned this. However, I don't see any of the people we have at present including Donaldson as being world class. We have Toole and a number of other young wingers who can fill the spot Jorgenson is currently playing in the team. The Tahs won't test him out there though as they currently have three fly halves on the books.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ras

Ignoto

Peter Sullivan (51)
Biggest takeaway I've seen from Joe is, we are now no longer a team that is crippled by being the most penalised team.

For years we sat here after a loss where Rennie and Slipper/Hooper woukd shrug their shoulders when we were time and time again the most penalised team in the world.

Takeaway that second try due to the knock on and we beat the second best team in the world at home after 4 huge games.

This tour has just shown how much of a clown Jones is. What a waste of a WC.
 

TSR

Andrew Slack (58)
That’s a great video of Jorgenson and shows an exciting young talent coming. I’m somewhat lost how it shows that he would be suited to 10 though. If anything it clearly demonstrates he’s a back 3 player. It shows his speed, his footwork, ability to hit a good line, offload and some decent kicking most or all of which is on the kick return or off a pass or two wider of the breakdown.

I guess it’s just symptomatic of how much people want to find a 10 option. Maybe young Max would be great there - but I’m not sure that video mounts an argument for it at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dru

stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
Sure - but then that just means that the problem was never with the system it was with the players execution. And, given the change of coaching, the turnover of players and Fisher’s reputation that seems likely enough.
TSR, have to disagree. Our structure of the D leaves too many doors ajar. We tackled really agressively all game and that takes a lot out of the tank and the boys did plenty. Add onto the poor defensive system the poor BD attendance compared to Ireland it was a game where the number of lost attacking breakdowns had a negative impact on us. Add on all the missed kicks for touch and the ease that Ireland ran the ball out of their own zone and it was only flat-out dogged one on one tackling (the best we have done for a long time) that kept us in the game.
The analysis of this game will be very interesting during the week.
Can't remember a game where we were so comprehensively outplayed in all areas yet refused to die and could have won it.
A great effort but as they say lots of work to be done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dru

stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
It was interesting to see a number of his kicks for line on penalties sail well into the crowd. Not sure why he wasn’t trying to go for a bit more distance at least.
I think he doesn't have much confidence in his out of hand kicking and prefers a conservative gain. Compare his line kicking to Prenderghasts.
 

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
Can’t Wright take clearance kicks? They’re abysmal from Loleiso. But the rest of his game was pretty ace, his place kicking is brilliant.

How good was Tupou! Don’t begrudge the man for not passing the ball on his gallop, Ireland could’ve intercepted it, also tough pass to make.

Kellaway did at least two certain try savers, he really stepped up. His defense was great.

Sua’ali’i really needs to be careful with his off the ball shoulder charges, if you’re gonna do it commit to the tackle and wrap your arm.

Ref let things go both ways, I don’t blame him. The touchie was hilarious with his missed call on Mack.
 

stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
Beyond his monster boot, what did he really do other than catch and pass the ball? “Very good” seems a stretch
I suppose his interplay was not seen by you? The coach kept him on the field for a long time if all he did was catch and pass. Go and have another look. We would be over the moon to have a player like him at 10.
 

stillmissit

Peter Johnson (47)
That’s a great video of Jorgenson and shows an exciting young talent coming. I’m somewhat lost how it shows that he would be suited to 10 though. If anything it clearly demonstrates he’s a back 3 player. It shows his speed, his footwork, ability to hit a good line, offload and some decent kicking most or all of which is on the kick return or off a pass or two wider of the breakdown.

I guess it’s just symptomatic of how much people want to find a 10 option. Maybe young Max would be great there - but I’m not sure that video mounts an argument for it at all.
I guess the question is TSR, do we go looking or make the most of what we have? Time maybe against us but the game goes on beyond the BIL.
 
Top