RWC 2011 - Quarter final 3 : Springbokke v. Wallabies CLOSED

[BRIX]

I think Fourie is closer to McBarnes than Nonu myself, but the comparisons do McCabe injustice. The only player I know of in SH rugby with McCabes defensive abilities is Tom Carter. In fact Carter is better.

Lost you there, champ lol

 

[Groucho]

ummmm.... we lose because of BOTH.

If we have our ball stolen in the lineout it is JUST as dangerous, sometimes more, depending on field position.

If our lineout goes to shit, and the kickers dont have confidence in our own lineout then they won't kick for touch and the game takes a totally differnet shape.

Sure, it's always possible for that to happen.

But what has caused Australia's famous losses? The 2007 QF exit, for example? Any number of Bledisloe tests?

We get monstered at the breakdown by a more committed team, have no reply, and our game goes to pieces.

 

[Slim 293]

ummmm.... we lose because of BOTH.

If we have our ball stolen in the lineout it is JUST as dangerous, sometimes more, depending on field position.

If our lineout goes to shit, and the kickers dont have confidence in our own lineout then they won't kick for touch and the game takes a totally differnet shape.

Exactly.

In response to our poor forward play against the Irish people were suggesting that things would've been better if a player like Barnes had've been there to kick to the corners.

It's no use if we can't put pressure on the other team.

We had several attacking opportunties spoiled due to our poor lineout, and that just killed any momentum we tried to build and filled the Irish with more confidence every time.

Playing Vickerman/Horwill together might give us a stronger breakdown and scrum (and I say might because it hasn't done so consistently this year), but our lineout will be weaker.

The Boks will just kick and kick and kick.

Anyways, moving on... hopefully Sharpe will get plenty of game time in the second half and Vickerman does his role to soften them up in the first...

 

[Slim 293]

Sure, it's always possible for that to happen.

But what has caused Australia's famous losses? The 2007 QF exit, for example? Any number of Bledisloe tests?

We get monstered at the breakdown by a more committed team, have no reply, and our game goes to pieces.

Our lineout also fell apart against England that day despite being one of our strong points for the few years previous.

 

[FANATIC]

Sure, it's always possible for that to happen.

But what has caused Australia's famous losses? The 2007 QF exit, for example? Any number of Bledisloe tests?

We get monstered at the breakdown by a more committed team, have no reply, and our game goes to pieces.

The Breakdown in modern rugby has proved essential, hence why so many Breakaways win man of the match. However, I don't believe that a coach should risk weaken one part of a game (lineout) to strenghten another; the breakdown. They should both be treated with the utmost respect by selectors.

Please don't get me living in the past dreaming about totally different teams or I am highly likely to start to waffle on endlessly about the lack of powerful TESTED combinations like we had in the past such as Smith/waugh 6/7 or having a centre pairing that we know we can count on.

I am on the record saying we must have Pocock play 120% for 80mins - poor bastard has no choice with no specialist 7 on the bench. (yes I still fantasise we had another quality 7 )
Also that Mrs Rice NEEDS Barnes to help him. He often acts as first reciever, taking the pressure off of Mrs Rice so that she can think. With the intensity of the scrums WG and QC (Quade Cooper) seem to be caught on the backfoot and are not 'playmaking' to the best of their abilities. Under pressure, Barnes seems to 'read' and work with QC (Quade Cooper) better than most.

 

[BRIX]

We got to come out and put the hits on them à la Brissy Bled III. Forwards need to place wagers on who's going to hit the ball receiver at kick off. Intensity needs to be up for at least 30 minutes before we run the old rhinos like Steenkamp and Smit off their feet. Give it to the backs for a dance or two - BAMN, we're up by 13.

Barnes on, composure gained. Whistle blown, game won.

 

[Slim 293]

Continous pressure.

Let's not give it to them for 30mins, score a try or two and nap off.

 

[BRIX]

Slim, I had post #666 - it's a sign!

 

[Lee Grant]

It's hard to pick this one.

South African fans will point to the superior experience, including tournament experience in the Currie Cup, Super rugby and the RWC. Wallaby fans will point out to them the inconvenient truth that Australia has beaten them 5 our of the last 6 test matches, (and it should have been 6 out of 6). In recent times our kind of rugby has given their kind of rugby problems.

Both sets of fans will hope their team will prevail and if they do will say: our view was right, but right now I don't know which view will end up being the correct one.

 

[FANATIC]

Exactly.

In response to our poor forward play against the Irish people were suggesting that things would've been better if a player like Barnes had've been there to kick to the corners.

It's no use if we can't put pressure on the other team.

We had several attacking opportunties spoiled due to our poor lineout, and that just killed any momentum we tried to build and filled the Irish with more confidence every time.

Playing Vickerman/Horwill together might give us a stronger breakdown and scrum (and I say might because it hasn't done so consistently this year), but our lineout will be weaker.

The Boks will just kick and kick and kick.

Anyways, moving on... hopefully Sharpe will get plenty of game time in the second half and Vickerman does his role to soften them up in the first...

Yes, if the lineouts start to fall apart many of us will be tapping our foot waiting for Sharpe.
But while we talk of use of the Bench, the physicallity of this game will no doubt see Dingo have IRB substitute rule (3.12(a)) in the front of his mind.

 

[waratahjesus]

Exactly.

In response to our poor forward play against the Irish people were suggesting that things would've been better if a player like Barnes had've been there to kick to the corners.

It's no use if we can't put pressure on the other team.

The Boks will just kick and kick and kick.

..

Do you not see how your last statement kills your first.
The books will kick cos playing territory in a world cup is important.

As a forward, especially when things arent going well, having someone with. A cool head to organize things and give you some territory will pu wind in your sales.

Fighting for scraps like the forwards where against ireland only to have the backs turn over a ton of possession gets your head down. After getting punted at scrums, to hav your flyhalf throw a stupid flick pass to cause another scrum neve lifts moral.

 

[Mr Doug]

Deans on his selections ..........

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/d...o-e6frf4pu-1226161182416?subcat=1111112039937

Having just watched this video, I have to wonder at the plethora of emotions going through Robbie Deans' head. He's a former AB, the ABs are between us and winning "Bill", he's in his homeland, amongst his family and friends, and he's coaching the "enemy" (in all NZ rugby fans' minds)!! In the video, he appears to be enjoying the company of 'the group'........ I don't think I could coach or manage a team to beat our beloved Wallabies!

 

[Slim 293]

Do you not see how your last statement kills your first.
The books will kick cos playing territory in a world cup is important.

As a forward, especially when things arent going well, having someone with. A cool head to organize things and give you some territory will pu wind in your sales.

Fighting for scraps like the forwards where against ireland only to have the backs turn over a ton of possession gets your head down. After getting punted at scrums, to hav your flyhalf throw a stupid flick pass to cause another scrum neve lifts moral.

It doesn't actually.

If you read what I wrote I was commenting on the fact that kicking it back to the Irish would've been futile as we didn't have the forwards to put pressure on them, and essentially would've gifted them back the ball as we couldn't compete with the Irish at the breakdown, scrum AND lineout...

The Boks however do have the fowards and an excellent lineout in which to put pressure on us.

 

[Athilnaur]

Having just watched this video, I have to wonder at the plethora of emotions going through Robbie Deans' head. He's a former AB, the ABs are between us and winning "Bill", he's in his homeland, amongst his family and friends, and he's coaching the "enemy" (in all NZ rugby fans' minds)!! In the video, he appears to be enjoying the company of 'the group'........ I don't think I could coach or manage a team to beat our beloved Wallabies!

Daresay Gatland and Henry have all been there, Les Kiss too. Applies at comp level too. Nucifora, Mckenzie (reds, tahs), White, etc etc. Reality of the pro game, but common sense too, when you're a team player, your team comes first.

I have complete confidence Robbie's first and only loyalty is the team he built. As it will be for his next team. Kinda hoping it won't be the ABs myself, but I'd hazard it will be him or Gatland after a caretaker period by Hansen.

 

[RedsHappy]

Sure, it's always possible for that to happen.

But what has caused Australia's famous losses? The 2007 QF exit, for example? Any number of Bledisloe tests?

We get monstered at the breakdown by a more committed team, have no reply, and our game goes to pieces.

Yes, Groucho, yes. Couldn't help but pick up this revealing quote from Toby Flood in his latest column for the London Daily Telegraph, as quoted (and prefaced upon) in the SMH:

The man everyone is talking about (Flood) is an entertaining writer...and believes that, against France, his side must not fall into the same trap that snared the Wallabies in 2007.
“…what I have found is that when players want to play for something…it is a powerful emotion,” he wrote.
“We had it at the 2007 World Cup when we were written off by everyone. I remember that we sat down as a group and asked ourselves what we were going to do about our predicament – our response was to fly out of the blocks against Australia.
“I can remember seeing the shock in the eyes of the Australians. We must not fall into the trap that Australia did.”

Connolly quoted too a week or so ago as reflecting that in that QF v England 2007 many of the younger Wallabies didn't or couldn't handle the pressure and expectations well. In context, he wasn't making excuses, we was just reflecting on the whole experience years later.

 

[liquor box]

Exactly.

In response to our poor forward play against the Irish people were suggesting that things would've been better if a player like Barnes had've been there to kick to the corners.

It's no use if we can't put pressure on the other team.

We had several attacking opportunties spoiled due to our poor lineout, and that just killed any momentum we tried to build and filled the Irish with more confidence every time.

Playing Vickerman/Horwill together might give us a stronger breakdown and scrum (and I say might because it hasn't done so consistently this year), but our lineout will be weaker.

The Boks will just kick and kick and kick.

Anyways, moving on... hopefully Sharpe will get plenty of game time in the second half and Vickerman does his role to soften them up in the first...

Well we should just do what the Reds did to the bulls 2 years ago. Run Run and then run, dont allow any lineouts and just quickly pass the ball and negate the Bok line out. With QC (Quade Cooper), JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale we should be able to return the ball with good effect.

We should back out fitness and run them ragged

 

[Slim 293]

That's all well and good if there are going to be dry conditions...

 

[jollyswagman]

"There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball. In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it." Dick Jeeps (1976)

Amen

 

[Athilnaur]

At the risk of being contrary in recent times a number of notable teams have been quite good at winning by giving the ball to the other team and saying 'go on, have a crack'...

Is that good balls or bad balls?

 

[jollyswagman]

At the risk of being contrary in recent times a number of notable teams have been quite good at winning by giving the ball to the other team and saying 'go on, have a crack'...

Is that good balls or bad balls?

Maybe that could be simply described as BIG BALLS.