mark_s
Chilla Wilson (44)
There was a lot of talk before the RWC about how the lack of a backup 7 and the number of players returning from injury without match fitness would hurt us and so it turned out last night.
Macalman was very visible as he had a great vantage point to observe many of the rucks. Last night was the worst I can remember TPN playing for a long time, even leaving aside his throwing woes. He was just so ineffective in general play and is normally someone who can move bodies at the breakdown (both in attack and defence). Samo also had a quiet game, I'll give him some leeway as he has played a lot of rugby in the last month, but why was he kept on so long - because Palu was on the bench he he has had stuff all game time in the last 3 months.
Then I come to slipper, as per the italy game, ineffective both at the set piece and breakdown. He is a good kid with alot of potential, but is off the pace and to me again is suffering from lack of game time leading up to the RWC. Further, Alexander was probably our better scrummaging prop last night so why take him off to bring slipper on.
The wobbs were beaten comprehensively on and off the field last night. While the loss makes our draw harder, the real problem is that each and everyone one of us Wobb fans know that we will be due for another performance like last night before the end of this tournament and there are no more second chances.
Finally, flying back from Melbourne on Friday I read an article on Deans in the Deal magazine (part of the Australian). Here is a quote that made me shudder at the time:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/top-of-his-game/story-e6frgabx-1226138106967
Macalman was very visible as he had a great vantage point to observe many of the rucks. Last night was the worst I can remember TPN playing for a long time, even leaving aside his throwing woes. He was just so ineffective in general play and is normally someone who can move bodies at the breakdown (both in attack and defence). Samo also had a quiet game, I'll give him some leeway as he has played a lot of rugby in the last month, but why was he kept on so long - because Palu was on the bench he he has had stuff all game time in the last 3 months.
Then I come to slipper, as per the italy game, ineffective both at the set piece and breakdown. He is a good kid with alot of potential, but is off the pace and to me again is suffering from lack of game time leading up to the RWC. Further, Alexander was probably our better scrummaging prop last night so why take him off to bring slipper on.
The wobbs were beaten comprehensively on and off the field last night. While the loss makes our draw harder, the real problem is that each and everyone one of us Wobb fans know that we will be due for another performance like last night before the end of this tournament and there are no more second chances.
Finally, flying back from Melbourne on Friday I read an article on Deans in the Deal magazine (part of the Australian). Here is a quote that made me shudder at the time:
Does he lie awake calculating win-loss ratios? “It’s in the back of your mind. But you have to cater for the needs of the group, immediate and long-term. That’s the important stuff and from a leadership perspective, that’s what you have to do.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/top-of-his-game/story-e6frgabx-1226138106967