Springboks v Wallabies, Loftus Versfeld, Sun 9th Jul 1.05am AEST

[Bullrush]

Look - it’s a non issue in the scheme of things. You can - it cost the Wallabies a try against Wales a couple of years ago. The rule is you can’t deliberately knock the ball on, not down.

I’m quibbling with you on this because the game was horrid and I have nothing else.

A player has to try and catch the ball. The can't just hit it. It was clear that Vuni was not making any attempt to catch it and this has been a yellow card for a while.

But yeah...it was a pretty bad game

 

[Tomthumb]

A long season maybe. He was playing grand finals against Leinster and Toulouse few weeks ago meanwhile all Super Rugby players were on holidays

His last game was the same weekend the Brumbies played the chiefs

And the European cup finished in May

 

[Micheal]

Interestingly enough, I’ve just looked the law re deliberate knock ons up in the World Rugby rule book. The relevant law is such:

3. A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm. Sanction: Penalty.

Therefore, as I remembered, the rule only pertains to knock ons, not knock downs in general. I recall being confused at the correct application of the law a few years ago.

Referees just completely getting laws wrong. Lmao. It’d be sad if I hadn’t grown to expect and accept it.

 

[eastman]

Not many positives in this game to be honest but once SA got momentum it was always going to be hard to stop. Some other points:
- Apart from our starting front row (and potentially Frost) our forward back was completely outclassed with an uncharacteristic poor game from Valetini.
- Skelton still hasn’t delivered in the Wallaby jersey and wasn’t even overly strong in contact.
- Nic White fell into his old bad habits of box kicking good ball away too frequently.
- Poor game by Ikitau but he’s been consistently good over 2 years and should be safe.
- Has Hodge ever kicked a goal? This myth about him being a safe pair of hands a clutch long range kicker has got to end.
- Dave Rennie‘s team looked better coached.

 

[Tomthumb]

A player has to try and catch the ball. The can't just hit it. It was clear that Vuni was not making any attempt to catch it and this has been a yellow card for a while.

But yeah...it was a pretty bad game

There is no rule against knocking a ball backward

 

[Overtime]

Congrats to Will Skelton for winning a club comp. How that excuses his poor performance I’m not sure

Tom, the whole team was poor and it was full of Brumbies.

 

[qwerty51]

That really fucking sucked.

 

[PaarlBok]

Libbok show what difference he can make. Glad all the debutante had a good start. Kleyn was superb.

 

[Bullrush]

There is no rule against knocking a ball backward

The laws actually state that

“Players must endeavour to catch the ball. Referees are asked to show good judgement when deciding if the player has a reasonable expectation of catching and gaining possession, and then in determining a sanction.”

 

[Shiggins]

Not many positives in this game to be honest but once SA got momentum it was always going to be hard to stop. Some other points:
- Apart from our starting front row (and potentially Frost) our forward back was completely outclassed with an uncharacteristic poor game from Valetini.
- Skelton still hasn’t delivered in the Wallaby jersey and wasn’t even overly strong in contact.
- Nic White fell into his old bad habits of box kicking good ball away too frequently.
- Poor game by Ikitau but he’s been consistently good over 2 years and should be safe.
- Has Hodge ever kicked a goal? This myth about him being a safe pair of hands a clutch long range kicker has got to end.
- Dave Rennie‘s team looked better coached.

I don't think that's whites fault. It's the game plan Eddy gave them

 

[Shiggins]

The laws actually state that

“Players must endeavour to catch the ball. Referees are asked to show good judgement when deciding if the player has a reasonable expectation of catching and gaining possession, and then in determining a sanction.”

Players knock the ball back all the time. Happend multiple times in this game. Vunis one was touch and go 50/50. His palm was facing towards him and he tried to knock in towards himself. It went straight down maybe backwards a tad. 50/50

 

[whitefalcon]

I couldn't understand the T. Hooper hate so i went back and watched until he was subbed at 30 mins.

He missed/slipped off two tackles (one after another) after being caught out of position seemingly because we committed to a ruck instead of covering the blind and then missed one other after doing his shoulder.

Not sure he deserves the hate he's been getting.

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Eddie will need a big turnaround the next two weeks
Suli surely was in last chance saloon?
Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) back to the wing. Kellaway when ready to fullback.
Hodge is at best a utility back. Agree. He never makes kicks. Think early on he made a few bombs but dry since then
Bring on carter to kerevi

 

[Marce]

He missed/slipped off two tackles (one after another) after being caught out of position seemingly because we committed to a ruck instead of covering the blind and then missed one other after doing his shoulder.

2 missed tackles in 30 minutes being a forward who plays in tight is a big handicap

 

[RugbyReg]

Not sure which was poorer. The Wallabies or some of the takes on this thread.

 

[PhilClinton]

Quade will get another chance but maybe Father Time has finally caught the bloke. When you reach 30+ and coming back from major injury, things can just drop off a cliff.

For as comfortable as I thought Gordon looked, this Wallabies pack isn’t great. Throwing Gordon into the deep end and starting him behind this pack could be career suicide.

Overall just shows this team wasn’t going to be a miracle turnaround. Prior to Eddie arriving i don’t think many of us thought 2023 would be overly successful for the Wobs. And this kinda confirm it.

 

[eastman]

Quade was honestly fine. I think we are finally in a position where we have two quality fly halves in Gordon and QC (Quade Cooper)- let’s use that luxury to ease Gordon into it with a couple of 20/ 30 minute cameos.

 

[rugbyAU]

Eddie got the selections wrong for this game, Kerevi arguably the world's best inside centre should have started you don't have a specialist 12 on the bench, Vunivalau and Uelese were poor selections and it showed last night (Faesslar and Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) would have been better options), Arnold and Holloway should have been picked in the starting side for their prowress at the line out and physicality.

 

[Purce]

There is some real 1st class absolute dribble on this thread. Mainly people with agendas.

Quade was fine. Clearly playing to a (poor) game plan. It was obvious because everyone else was doing it as well. He defended fine. Fell off a couple as any 10 would bar the absolute exceptions. His passing was crisp. Behind a beaten pack with a tonne of heat on him. No big issues with his performance.

Skelton was also fine. Probably should have been subbed around 50 min mark. He was pretty immense for the first 25/30. Carrying hard into the fray, hitting rucks, making tackles.

I thought Frost was pretty good. He isn't a massive physical force but gets through a tonne of work and is skillful.

Valetini and Samu both has positive impacts. Carried well, hit hard and worked hard.

M Hooper tireless and made some good plays. He seems to tackle a bit higher than he used to which seems to be why he gets bumped sometimes. Wonder if it's something connected to his head knocks.

I think it might be a year too early for T Hopper. Works hard but just doesn't seem to be there yet. Great job in the lineout though.

Vuni doesn't understand the game yet. He has really suffered from missing all those games with the Reds. Marika was similar when he first came across. Based on tonight's performance Petaia, Kellaway and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) are all ahead of him. I do think Vuni is trying hard but just doesn't have the experience in Union.

Hodge needs to go. Foketi is twice the player he is. Seems like a good guy but offers nothing over other options besides his perceived versatility.

Whilst most of the players didn't perform the blame lays at Eddie's feet. 1 game plan and 1 game plan only. Which he has also publicly stated. Felt Chieka-esk.

Also our defense was terrible. It was way too easy for the Boks. Particularly down the short side. It was schoolboy shit at times.

What is this defensive coaches credentials? Besides being ragdolled by the raging bull

 

[Purce]

I can't help but wonder how the end of year tour would have gone last year under Rennie if he had access to Quade, Marika, Kerevi, Skelton, Arnold and the leniency Jones has been offered.