Springboks v Wallabies, Newlands, September 28 2013

[Richo]

Lost in the shuffle: South Africa are really good right now and will give NZ a serious challenge of the next couple of years. I'd forgotten how good FdP is and they have some quality young pigs too.

 

[hughbert]

i honestly don't think the game was that bad. I just watched it again and honestly there where section of the wallabies play in the second half which was very impressive.

Besides that awful 5 minute period we were in the game for most of it. But in the second half genia came on and took control.

My main observation is that i was impressed with Quade, he has really lifted his physicality and was sprinting in to a few rucks and hitting them without hesitation. Some of his defence was off the chain as well.

My other thought was that the scum has improved a lot but still not where we want.

I honestly don't think the team is that bad there are some teething issues but i think that overtime they will iron themselves out. The things that are killing us most isn't the fact that other teams are better players but simply operating set piece and the such more clinically. Once the teams confidence grows we won't look so worried a times and add few of our injured players in and things look ay okay.

My only question is would it be worthwhile to play without a bonafide 7 against the springboks and just play another 6? I think Hooper looked good at the end when things opened up but at the beginning when teams are ironing each other out he struggled at times i thought but i still think he is of starting calibre.

end of essay

Much of this stuff is shuffling deckchairs on the titanic until we fix our disgraceful defence. The fact that your pigs are getting dominated is no excuse to leak soft tries. Our goal line defence is fucking appalling (the first try was basically walked in last night) and the outside backs are no better (the second and third tries).

At the very least all of Tomane, CFS and O'Connor have been exposed this year on the flanks of the game, making schoolboy errors that lead to tries.

In 1998 we gave up 13 points a match. This year we're at 29 (though the NH tour should bring that back a bit). We'll never win with anything like consistency whilst we ship these sides 20+ points a match, it just won't happen.

 

[Ruggo]

Lilo has to start, he is our only goalkicker. I hope beyond hope that JOC (James O'Connor) will have worked his way back into favour by the time of the northern tour.

I would be happy for the Wallabies to try this.

Folau back onto the wing and Tomane dropped.
Lilo to shift back to 15 and To'omua to shift into 12.

 

[hughbert]

To expand on that a bit (and forgive me for lazy statisitics work)...

John Muggleton's linkedin suggests he was the defence coach from Sep 97 to April 07.

From 1998 to 2007 (I excluded the end of 1997 as he was dealing with someone else's mess and gave him the credit for all of 2007 using the same logic), the wallabies gave up 17 points a match. The All Blacks, who I consider the benchmark, gave up 16.

From 2008 to 2013, the wallabies have given up 21 points a match. The ABs 15.

Now 4 points may not seem like a lot, but I actually think a 23.5% long term increase in points conceded is rather a lot.

Who is the current defence coach?

 

[Quick Hands]

Are we that much better talent spotters and developers than full time prefessionals?

Not only is it their job to watch and analyse the games and player performances in them but they have typically have two sessions per day hands on with the cattle that us humble keyboard selectors don't have. They also have a full bevy of full time professional assistants and analysts to provide advice and bounce ideas off before deciding who plays where to suit their game plan, and assessment of opposition strengths and weaknesses.

Meanwhile we have foxtel IQ, you tube, and a keyboard to help us make our selections. We can also hide behind the anonomity of our avatar when some of our more "inspired" selections do not come off.


Who would want to be a selector (or National Coach)?

But no-one makes them do it. McKenzie has coveted that national coaching postion for at least 3 years (probably more). He's also quite well paid.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I assume HJs point is that there are no or very few options.
If so I agree.
This pain will not go away unless and until the ARU address the grass roots: it doesn't matter how good folau is, he's a single player who's salary would buy a lot of development of multiple players.

 

[Shiggins]

Get the defibrilator out for next week against Los Pumas at Rosario then Shiggins. It is going to be a tough gig.

Yeh I am believing more and more that it will be the pumas first win in the RC. They won't get a better chance for years to come.

 

[Shiggins]

Building nicely for RWC 15. Problems at #9 if they can't rely on FdP otherwise pretty sound across the field, with some good young bulls coming through from the U20 programme.

Fickle pommie weather may stop their charge in 15 but little else.

They have a great chance to take the RC. They would almost have to go in favourites at home.

Some great young talent coming through and just pure beasts in the pack.

 

[hughbert]

Yeh I am believing more and more that it will be the pumas first win in the RC. They won't get a better chance for years to come.

They play the wallabies twice next year, they wont need to wait too long.

 

[hughbert]

They have a great chance to take the RC. They would almost have to go in favourites at home.

Some great young talent coming through and just pure beasts in the pack.

I don't think they're favourites to score 4 tries and win by >7, but that may not be what you meant.

 

[Quick Hands]

I assume HJs point is that there are no or very few options.
If so I agree.
This pain will not go away unless and until the ARU address the grass roots: it doesn't matter how good folau is, he's a single player who's salary would buy a lot of development of multiple players.

It's an indictment of the ARU that there aren't many options. Almost every super rugby player in Australia has been in ARU elite programmes since they were 15 or 16 and yet there are so many glaring fundamental deficiencies apparent. Scrummaging, kicking from hand, passing both ways etc.

As we know, as long as they outsource elite player development to the schools much of this won't change. Schools will pick and develop tight forwards who are good around the park, because that's what's needed at 1st XV level, but doesn't cut it at test or super level. I watch plenty of French Top 14 and a bit of ITM and Currie Cups and the only people I've heard complaining about the new scrum laws are in Australia. It seems to have exposed our deficiencies in front row development.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Here's the aftermath of the Hooper yellow card tackle on Etzebeth. Jannie du Plessis has a grab at Stephen Moore's eyes.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Has he been cited?

 

[ChargerWA]

He fucking better be.

 

[CatchnPass]

A lot of criticism directed at Hooper (who didn't have a memorable match) suggests short memories - wasn't he voted by Gaggerlanders as Wobs best player in at least 3 recent tests? Would love him to be 15kg heavier, but I think a bit premature to be putting him on the QF home.

Link needs to pull Folau in for a fireside chat. There is no urgency in anything he does. Yes his kicking is disappointing for an AFL alumni, but for chrissakes put the bloody afterburners on when chasing either pill or opposition in the loose.

 

[cyclopath]

Filthy prick.

 

[nugget]

while we're at it...

 

[CatchnPass]

The Bokke need to lose the street fighting thuggery and focus on playing the hard rugby they are so capable of. The Darkness will continue to have the Boks measure as their aggression is so much more disciplined.

 

[I like to watch]

3. As good a player as Michael Hooper can be he is far too small to make the impact required of a 7 in present day international rugby - he's barely bigger than some of the 9's playing at international level.

Great post and I agree with all of it apart from the bit I quoted.
Say Hooper didn't play well,or needs to do x or y.
But in the last two years in almost every match,almost every judge was giving Hooper points in the 3,2,1.
He has had plenty of impact in all of these games.

 

[JJJ]

Really hard to take any positives out of that game after watching it. Once again we were beaten in every facet. Once again we gave ground readily in defense and struggled to even get over the advantage line in attack. Once again we waited until the game was well and truly lost before scoring a try. Once again we take consolation in slight improvements offered by the bench. Same shit, different game.

I'll be very, very surprised if we don't end up with this year's TRC wooden spoon in the trophy cabinet.