2. Uelese (still can’t throw but who else we got ffs)
Dru, Thanks for this. I was surprised that Eddie didn't start with Frost and Arnold and bring Skelton on to finish, due to altitude for the big guy, but it didn't seem to affect our first half lineout or Skelton's work rate. The LO was about the only OK area in our game. Tom Hooper went better than I expected in the LO and got around the paddock well, I think he is worth continuing with but via the bench.Now the line outs (there were plenty):
First Half
<Porecki hooker; 5 man lineout unless stated otherwise>
0'35" Gold throw to IV (Frost), overthrow regained by Hodge - Win Gold
1'15" Gold throw to II (Tom), Win Gold
3'50" Gold throw to front (Slipper), Win Gold
4'20" Gold throw to III (Frost), Win Gold
6'00" Gold throw to II (Tom), Win Gold
7'00" Gold throw to III (Frost), messy, lost, regained AAA. Win Gold.
18'30" Bok throw, overthrow not straight, Win Gold
20'50" Bok throw, Green win
21'26" Gold throw to II (Tom), Win Gold ,7 man line out from the 20m>
22'40" Gold throw to II (Frost), Win Gold
26'00" Gold throw to II (Frost), messy but Win Gold
29'00 Bok throw, Bok win
32'00" Gold throw to III (Frost), messy, Slipper, Win Gold
34'14" Bok throw, Bok win
35'30" Bok throw, Bok Win
37'00" Gold throw to II (Frost), Gold Win
30'10" Bok throw, Bok win
Bok 5 wins from 6 throws; Wallabies 11 wins from 12 throws
Second Half
40'20" Bok throw and win (Frost with hand to ball)
42'30" Bok throw and win
44'00" Bok throw bow win
46'30" Gold throw to II (Samu), Win Gold
48'30 Bok throw, overthrow regain Quade, Win Gold
49'50" Bok throw Bok Win
53'30" Bok throw Bok win
<Porecki off>
55'00" Bok throw, Frost win, Gold Win
55'40" Uelese on, Samu off <scrum change>
57'50" Bok throw, Frost win - Gold Win
59'40" Bok throw Bok win
62'30" Gold throw to II (Samu), Gold win
63'30" Gold throw to III (Frost) clean take but not straight, Bok win
65'12" Bok throw Bok Win
73'30" Bok throw, Bok Win (Frost disrupting)
79'--" Gold throw to II (Samu) clean take but not straight Bok Win
Bok 10 wins from 11 throws; Wallabies 2 wins from 4 throws.
Porecki with 2 not straight from 3 throws and all three were to the front end of the lineout.
I was hoping Latu might have been our saviour but the fact he ended up playing club rugby rules a line through him. Vailanu, not this year.Vailanu or Latu are better options than Uelese. Both strong scrummagers and have good hands. Latu’s tackling might be a negative but when we just got so thoroughly outplayed what else is there to lose?
Nothing apart from he'd been a good leaguey who he hoped could be a hidden gem! Too well hidden I reckon.Good work Eddie giving the captaincy to Slipper & Hooper because now the best starting side can’t happen.
What the FUCK did he see in Vunivalu.
T Hooper was good in the lineout but got found out around the paddock. Might be long term solution at 6, but not this year for mine. He needed to knock it out of the park to displace Holloway and/or Leota.Dru, Thanks for this. I was surprised that Eddie didn't start with Frost and Arnold and bring Skelton on to finish, due to altitude for the big guy, but it didn't seem to affect our first half lineout or Skelton's work rate. The LO was about the only OK area in our game. Tom Hooper went better than I expected in the LO and got around the paddock well, I think he is worth continuing with but via the bench.
I wonder what didn't or did happen to him at the Tahs?I was hoping Latu might have been our saviour but the fact he ended up playing club rugby rules a line through him. Vailanu, not this year.
No worries mate. I get it. Rather tired myself.
Thanks for your summary of the scrums.
I think the problem with your last bit is that saying the lineout wasn’t poor overall except for Uelese’s throws seems a bit like saying the steak was good except that it was tough.
Anyway - first game of a new era. Certainly disappointing but the good thing with sport is you get another crack next week. I’m very keen to see the response from Eddie and the players.
KOB, I think the whole Effing pack got found out around the paddock. Apologies to Frost...T Hooper was good in the lineout but got found out around the paddock. Might be long term solution at 6, but not this year for mine. He needed to knock it out of the park to displace Holloway and/or Leota.
Now the line outs (there were plenty):
First Half
<Porecki hooker; 5 man lineout unless stated otherwise>
0'35" Gold throw to IV (Frost), overthrow regained by Hodge - Win Gold
1'15" Gold throw to II (Tom), Win Gold
3'50" Gold throw to front (Slipper), Win Gold
4'20" Gold throw to III (Frost), Win Gold
6'00" Gold throw to II (Tom), Win Gold
7'00" Gold throw to III (Frost), messy, lost, regained AAA. Win Gold.
18'30" Bok throw, overthrow not straight, Win Gold
20'50" Bok throw, Green win
21'26" Gold throw to II (Tom), Win Gold ,7 man line out from the 20m>
22'40" Gold throw to II (Frost), Win Gold
26'00" Gold throw to II (Frost), messy but Win Gold
29'00 Bok throw, Bok win
32'00" Gold throw to III (Frost), messy, Slipper, Win Gold
34'14" Bok throw, Bok win
35'30" Bok throw, Bok Win
37'00" Gold throw to II (Frost), Gold Win
30'10" Bok throw, Bok win
Bok 5 wins from 6 throws; Wallabies 11 wins from 12 throws
Second Half
40'20" Bok throw and win (Frost with hand to ball)
42'30" Bok throw and win
44'00" Bok throw bow win
46'30" Gold throw to II (Samu), Win Gold
48'30 Bok throw, overthrow regain Quade, Win Gold
49'50" Bok throw Bok Win
53'30" Bok throw Bok win
<Porecki off>
55'00" Bok throw, Frost win, Gold Win
55'40" Uelese on, Samu off <scrum change>
57'50" Bok throw, Frost win - Gold Win
59'40" Bok throw Bok win
62'30" Gold throw to II (Samu), Gold win
63'30" Gold throw to III (Frost) clean take but not straight, Bok win
65'12" Bok throw Bok Win
73'30" Bok throw, Bok Win (Frost disrupting)
79'--" Gold throw to II (Samu) clean take but not straight Bok Win
Bok 10 wins from 11 throws; Wallabies 2 wins from 4 throws.
Porecki with 2 not straight from 3 throws and all three were to the front end of the lineout.
That is true but at least we know physicality is a strong aspect of Jed’s game.KOB, I think the whole Effing pack got found out around the paddock. Apologies to Frost...
McReight is small but at least more effective (than Hooper) at disrupting/slowing down ball. The Boks were destructive in the first few phases off set piece playing around the corner, dominating the collision and playing off lightening quick front foot ball. Yes, it all starts at the set piece but have to recognise that it's hard to stop that momentum unless players are hard at the breakdown/are dominant in the tackle.- Porecki & Hooper (and McReight) you are all too fucking small. Go away.
We have both agreed on that for a while.That is true but at least we know physicality is a strong aspect of Jed’s game.
I wish we would learn that backing off the breakdown and ignoring dominant tackling has major downsides, that oppose the idea of having more players in the D.McReight is small but at least more effective (than Hooper) at disrupting/slowing down ball. The Boks were destructive in the first few phases off set piece playing around the corner, dominating the collision and playing off lightening quick front foot ball. Yes, it all starts at the set piece but have to recognise that it's hard to stop that momentum unless players are hard at the breakdown/are dominant in the tackle.
Cheers. Correcting now.Porecki or Uelese?
The Wallabies are out of time as usual. Only 3 or 4 more game before the WC starts and still haven't got a settled team let alone one that has time to gel.Nothing apart from he'd been a good leaguey who he hoped could be a hidden gem! Too well hidden I reckon.
If this is the side that is building towards RWC there will be some serious discussions. Let's hope Eddie listens to someone other than himself.
The stats say it all.
View attachment 16803
It was comprehensive. Men v boys.
I am not as down on QC (Quade Cooper) (Quade Cooper) and Kerevi as they are making their way back. Gordon's impact was great, but let's keep giving him time off then bench. Hodge was a non-entity at 12 so let Samu play with Quade.
I was really disappointed in White. I thought he was option taking was pretty damn average. So you had both halves offering not much but both behind a pack that was monstered.
Like many suggested, selection was odd but I think most of us wanted Eddie to have his time. But none really paid off. Vunivalu definitely note, Hooper (T) not really. Skelton was good but to throw him straight into altitude was rough.
Hooper is a different player now. You sense he is very aware of contact now. He's not the same kamikaze player he once was - is the current version enough? I don't think so. I McReight deserves a shot by am open to Langi Gleeson as a 7 option, v the Boks at least.
The result was shit but with a whole new coaching team across the board, I am not throwing the baby out with the bathwater yet. Except for Vunivalu.