Scotland v Australia, Murrayfield, 5am 24 Nov 2013

[Scrubber2050]

hasn't recent DNA results shown a link of indigenous MZ'ers to not only Taiwan but also PNG so Willie G is therefore linked to NZ

 

[I like to watch]

You missed the point. Anyone who watched JOC (James O'Connor) in terms of him being a 10 leading up the Lions and thought, "I can make that a Lions-beating 10" was either making a very stupid decision or an incredibly arrogant one. He was visibly not even a passable 10 at Super Rugby level at the time.

I never mentioned Link in any of my above posts. I was specifically talking about the decision to make JOC (James O'Connor) the 10 for the Lions series.

I'm not suggesting JOC (James O'Connor) would have been my choice as starting 10,but no way was it very stupid.
They had 2 penalty kicks to win the first Test,after losing their first choice kicker in the first minute,then lost both BB & McCabe,and were forced to play a flanker in the centres.
If KB (Kurtley Beale) doesn't slip,and kicks the goal, they win the game.
Only horrendous luck beat the Wobblies in that first Test,so one should accept that Deans had the correct tactics on the night.
That's not very stupid or incredibly arrogant IMO.

 

[USARugger]

I'm not suggesting JOC (James O'Connor) would have been my choice as starting 10,but no way was it very stupid.
They had 2 penalty kicks to win the first Test,after losing their first choice kicker in the first minute,then lost both BB & McCabe,and were forced to play a flanker in the centres.
If KB (Kurtley Beale) doesn't slip,and kicks the goal, they win the game.
Only horrendous luck beat the Wobblies in that first Test,so one should accept that Deans had the correct tactics on the night.
That's not very stupid or incredibly arrogant IMO.

Actually, it was very stupid. All it took some of the punters here was watching how lost JOC (James O'Connor) looked playing 10 for the Rebels in the lead up to the Lions.

In fact, I was there in person for the Rebels v. Reds game. He was fucking awful.

Worst of all he was awful when it came to core skills for a 10, such as realigning and giving any fucking form of direction at all to the rest of your team standing behind you. You know, those things that literally define the position of flyhalf. He was constantly a mile out of position and in a very literal way looked like he was playing winger for most of the match. It wasn't even a skills (pass catch tackle) issues, it looked like he had never played 10 before.

It was like you had thrown a 16 year old club rugby flyhalf into a Super Rugby game. There is a reason he was getting pushed back into the 15 jersey or onto the bench for a relative unknown in the form of Hegarty.

How is nearly winning a test (to a Lions team playing woefully) in spite of the fact that JOC (James O'Connor) barely touched the ball in 80 minutes, much less lead a test team around the park, in any way justification for what was a stupid selection?

 

[Scotty]

I'm not suggesting JOC (James O'Connor) would have been my choice as starting 10,but no way was it very stupid.
They had 2 penalty kicks to win the first Test,after losing their first choice kicker in the first minute,then lost both BB & McCabe,and were forced to play a flanker in the centres.
If KB (Kurtley Beale) doesn't slip,and kicks the goal, they win the game.
Only horrendous luck beat the Wobblies in that first Test,so one should accept that Deans had the correct tactics on the night.
That's not very stupid or incredibly arrogant IMO.

They went close to beating the Lions despite JOC (James O'Connor) at 10 not because of it.

Who knows if they had different tactics and different 10 that they might have not needed a last minute kick to beat them. Don't forget we also relied on individual brilliance from Genia and Folau to get our tries.

 

[Quick Hands]

Could we please start a separate JOC (James O'Connor) thread on which to fulminate?

 

[Mr Doug]

I'm with you Quick Hands, given that at the start of this thread (or was it the Irish match thread), I asked if the rest of the EOYT could be deemed a "JOC (James O'Connor)-free zone", but was told that would not be possible, as some members just can't excise him from their thoughts! Sad isn't it?!

 

[Pete King]

how about a "Im stuck on Robbie and it hurts my eyes to see a Wallaby team score some tries and discipline players"

 

[nugget]

Where was willy g born ?


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yeah half-back png, full-back minto, rest of the backs NZ (not that there's anything wrong with that, unless you're a coach ; ) .

 

[Quick Hands]

yeah half-back png, full-back minto, rest of the backs NZ (not that there's anything wrong with that, unless you're a coach ; ) .

Or unless you're running community rugby in Australia in which case it is an illustration of almost complete failure on your part.

 

[oztimmay]

I don't know about anyone else but I'm getting jack of these 4:30am starts. But, I could get use to the idea of a Beer breakfast after another Aussie win. It will be an interesting match with a patch-up back line, but I think we'll get the chocolates this time.

Wobs by 15.

 

[BDA]

this game has banana peel written all over it. Despite the disruptions I'm hoping the wobs continue their upward trend and score some tries.

 

[Bairdy]

Just watched a replay of the Scotland vs South Africa match, and can tell this match will be close.

Scotland's attack was/is hopeless, but not sure if all of it was down to Saffer pressure.

As always, their forward pack is strong, so Wallabies pack will need to go up a level from the Irish test, to meet what will be a spirited and determined encounter.

Hopefully the forwards do the dirty in the setpiece and in open play, to enable the pretty boys to score some points.

 

[Mr Doug]

Has anyone heard an update on pitch and weather conditions for this match?

 

[oztimmay]

Has anyone heard an update on pitch and weather conditions for this match?

It will be bloody and bloody wet. It's Scotland after all...

 

[USARugger]

Has anyone heard an update on pitch and weather conditions for this match?

Weather reports have no rain and no chance of rain, between 3-5C and 8-10km/h winds.

 

[Groucho]

After watching JOC (James O'Connor) play at 10 in the rounds of Super Rugby leading up to the Lions Tour and thinking he could convert that into a test 10 capable of taking on the British and Irish Lions in 2-3 weeks time was a very, very stupid decision.

It's the nature of the Internet that every punter with a couch and a TV has an opinion. Long may it continue.

 

[Dan54]

Ok lets be honest, it's only Scotland, and isn't the idiot Scott Johnson looking after them??
Christ it has to be Wallabies by 40

 

[Lindommer]

Dunno if I'd call Scott Johnson an idiot on a rugby forum; he's one of the more astute and innovative coaches running around.

 

[Mr Doug]

Thanks for that weather update USARugger. A perfect night for rugby, with our boys not requiring the large fans or ice vests at oranges!!

 

[USARugger]

Thanks for that weather update USARugger. A perfect night for rugby, with our boys not requiring the large fans or ice vests at oranges!!

May need some blankets though, it's gonna be a cold one