Didn't get to watch it live but managed to watch a replay this morning, pretty happy with that overall, can't really ask for more than a BP win for the opening game.
First 15 minutes was superb, lots of the big names like Wilson, McReight and McDermott hitting the ground running is a great sign. The period of ill-discipline is far from ideal, but I think it was down to two things - they've been really building this game up as a chance to atone for last year's loss and they may have over egged it just a bit, and they're clearly going very hard at the ruck which makes sense the way it has been referreed this season. Even with the penalties I think they got plenty of play from that pressure so I don't mind them overstepping a bit to find where the line is.
Really impressed with the defence, a 30 minute block played down a man and held really strong throughout. In that first half Moana had to spend something like a minute in the 22 per point scored. It definitely wore us out, but the strength of the bench and the quality on the park meant they could regather and blast them off the park.
The impact of the off season program is pretty clear, Daugunu looks like he never left, Canham has slotted straight in, and lots of guys look to have improved but the big winner from it has to be Asiata - he has come on in leaps and bounds and Nasser is going to struggle to unseat him. De Lutiis was also great as a 21 year old prop on debut, did not look out of place at all. The excellent support play the had on the UK tour was in full evidence too, there are options everywhere on the line breaks and most of the long range tries could've been finished by 3 or 4 different players.
8/8 conversions is a very good sign too, I don't think Lynagh (7/7 tonight) has missed a kick yet this year.
Lots of work still to do around exits, precision and detail, but that's a very good base to lay at the start of the season.
