Pumas v Wallabies, Rosario, 5th October 2013

[Sully]

It might be time for Link to simply say, "get out there play as hard as you can, show me what you can do and have fun doing it." There's some good players out there and they're committing some fairly basic errors. They've had a change of coach mid-season and to me they look more than a little confused.

I think they always play as hard as they can.

 

[Scrubber2050]

absolutely - I think every player playing for his country puts in a huge effort.

What I find hard to understand is that sometimes players are just 'off" Fuck they train for say 20 hours per week and then how can some of them not be up for 60-80 minutes at 100%

 

[Quick Hands]

I think they always play as hard as they can.

I wasn't suggesting they weren't. Please reread, I'm talking about the coaches instructions.

 

[Quick Hands]

absolutely - I think every player playing for his country puts in a huge effort.

What I find hard to understand is that sometimes players are just 'off" Fuck they train for say 20 hours per week and then how can some of them not be up for 60-80 minutes at 100%

They try their guts out, it's just not happening for them - time to simplify the instructions and let them just play.

 

[Richo]

They try their guts out, it's just not happening for them - time to simplify the instructions and let them just play what's in front of them.

Deans'd that for you.

 

[Quick Hands]

Deans'd that for you.

They didn't understand what Deans meant by that for 6 years, so I avoided that phrase.

 

[Joe Blow]

The coaching team and direction needs to come under scrutiny. Hopefully Link has taken his head out of the clouds by years end and realizes that Super and test rugby are two very different beasts.
He needs some big strong forwards with attitude and a squad willing to sacrifice all for the cause. He also needs his assistants to know what they are doing and for his side to display signs of improvement week in and out because of said assistants input.

 

[Pusser]

I think the mindless kicking was a clear game plan, you saw that the 10 never called for it and the forwards were rarely set for a pick and go. It was like they had heard "Playing for territory wins tests." and went "Right, kick it away every time, got it."

So why was the chase so poor.


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[No4918]

There was a clip of Link laughing and joking on one of the news programs tonight. First time i have seen him smile since getting the job.

I don't think his head is, or has been in the clouds at all.

 

[Sully]

I wasn't suggesting they weren't. Please reread, I'm talking about the coaches instructions.

Then why would he have to tell them to play as hard as they can if they already are?

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[I like to watch]

Going a bit heavy on the tit for tat lately chief.
I thought the mods were supposed to set an example?

 

[jamey jones]

backline should be:

GENIA
COOPER
TOMANE
CHRISTIAN
13. KUINDRANI
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
FOLAU


BENCH
CFS
CUMMINS
WHITE

 

[Quick Hands]

Then why would he have to tell them to play as hard as they can if they already are?

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Much of coaching instructions involves things like reinforcing the positives, simplifying things etc. You might say to players or teams lets make sure we do this - doesn't mean that they haven't been. I find it bizarre that you've construed from my post that I thought the players weren't trying hard.

 

[Richo]

Then why would he have to tell them to play as hard as they can if they already are?

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And now this thread will evaporate in a puff of logic!

 

[The Rant]

Forwards need a shake up for this game. The backs are not the ones losing the games for us. (though they are not winning them either..)

My 8 for the Pumas:

Fatcat
Squeak
Slipper/Kepu (I can't tell who scrums better?)
Fardy (Seems a deal stronger than simmons which will support scrum better)
Horwill
Mowen (should be playing 6/not great at the back of the scrum either)
Hooper
Mccalman (did I really just write that name??? Bloody good cameo last week)

Reserves:
Faiinga (who else?)
Kepu
Alexander
Timani
Do we have another backrower worth putting in the squad? I don't need Simmons here.

 

[Scotty]

I'm struggling to see how moving Fardy to lock and have the worlds smallest back 5 is going to help us with our number one issue - getting dominated in the collisions (particularly early in the game).

We need size to go with the mobility.

Slipper
Moore
Kepu
Horwill
Timani
Fardy
Mowen
McCalman

Robinson, Alexander, Anae, Simmons, Hooper

 

[RoffsChoice]

Someone mentioned a team, time to start posting our own!

Robinson, Moore, Slipper, Fardy, Horwill, Mowen, Hooper, McCalman, White, To'omua, CFS, Lealiifano, Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Folau
Anae, Alexander, Kepu, Timani, Simmons (Are there any other backrowers?), Genia, Cooper, Tomane (Wish there was someone else, he needs a good off-season to get better).

 

[The Rant]

I'm struggling to see how moving Fardy to lock and have the worlds smallest back 5 is going to help us with our number one issue - getting dominated in the collisions (particularly early in the game).

Do we have the words smallest? Pretty sure our pack has actually outweighed all teams this year. I keep looking at that stat when they show it at the start and wondering how the hell our technique can't be good enough with more weight.

Simmons has 5 kgs on Fardy but adds nothing to a scrum. Timani has also never improved our scrum when coming on. I rate Fardy generally for rugby technique and strength. He is also no pushover at the breakdown compared to Simmons and gets stuck in and has the ability to bend the line. Timani will make big hits but you get 3 times the work out of Fardy and when you see how much ball he protects when we are on attack that's priceless. By putting fardy in the locks you get to bring on an extra breakdown specialist and a lose forward with more chance of generating better go forward.

 

[Slim 293]

Do we have the words smallest? Pretty sure our pack has actually outweighed all teams this year. I keep looking at that stat when they show it at the start and wondering how the hell our technique can't be good enough with more weight.

Simmons has 5 kgs on Fardy but adds nothing to a scrum. Timani has also never improved our scrum when coming on. I rate Fardy generally for rugby technique and strength. He is also no pushover at the breakdown compared to Simmons and gets stuck in and has the ability to bend the line. Timani will make big hits but you get 3 times the work out of Fardy and when you see how much ball he protects when we are on attack that's priceless. By putting fardy in the locks you get to bring on an extra breakdown specialist and a lose forward with more chance of generating better go forward.

I'm fairly certain France field one of the best scrums in world rugby with one of the shortest tier 1 locking combo...........

And of course we can bring up Brad Thorn.........

Technique technique technique...........

 

[Shiggins]

backline should be:

GENIA
COOPER
TOMANE
CHRISTIAN
13. KUINDRANI
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
FOLAU


BENCH
CFS
CUMMINS
WHITE

. Tomane over cummins. Is a big call. Like I said. I would bring in someone like morahan and have Tomane sitting at home And kuindrani can go with him. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) back at outside centre. For cummins.