Thoughts on the Wallabies 2010 Tri Nations performance.

[disco]

Ok so we went 1 better than last year, we finished 2nd overall & we at least won back the Mandela plate

There was definitely a lot of positives to take out of the 2010 series.

Kurtley Beale was outstanding & has been our best back by some margin, McCalman has certainly given Deans another option at 6 & 8.

That 1st 35 minutes in Perthfontain was some of the best Rugby I have seen in a long long time by a Wallaby side.

David Pocock has arrived & I believe is the best openside in world rugby already.

Robbie Deans & Rocky Elsom are getting better as captain & coach the win in SA & the narrow loss in Sydney really confirmed that for me.
I don't think anyone could point the finger at Deans or Elsom if we had lost the 2nd match in SA & neither could have done anymore in Sydney.

Overall better that 2009 still lots of improvement in this team & I have a feeling that this will be a very good EOYT.

 

[chequebalance]

Agree totally. Some very exciting football played and the promise of what's to come has me hanging out for HK and the EOYT.
Let's hope it is a very good EOYT (won't start talking undefeated yet... oh wait just did) and that it kickstarts a winning 2011 so we have some cups to add to the plate we won this year! Just no more spoons please.

 

[Hawko]

Ok so we went 1 better than last year, we finished 2nd overall & we at least won back the Mandela plate

There was definitely a lot of positives to take out of the 2010 series.

Kurtley Beale was outstanding & has been our best back by some margin, McCalman has certainly given Deans another option at 6 & 8.

That 1st 35 minutes in Perthfontain was some of the best Rugby I have seen in a long long time by a Wallaby side.

David Pocock has arrived & I believe is the best openside in world rugby already.

Robbie Deans & Rocky Elsom are getting better as captain & coach the win in SA & the narrow loss in Sydney really confirmed that for me.
I don't think anyone could point the finger at Deans or Elsom if we had lost the 2nd match in SA & neither could have done anymore in Sydney.

Overall better that 2009 still lots of improvement in this team & I have a feeling that this will be a very good EOYT.

Small dose of reality required here:

1. Pocock is nowhere near the number one 7. If anyone needs proof, watch the Sydney test again. It was a McCaw masterclass and without him the AB's would have lost by heaps.
2. Perthfontein was vs England. Did you mean Bloemfontain? If you did mean Perth then I think the quality of the defence was much poorer and I would rate Brisbane, Bloemfontain and Sydney much higher because of the quality of the opposition, especially in the backline.
3. Rocky's play is improving but I do not think his captaincy has. He gets too wound up in the emotion of the game to effectively manipulate the referee. (See point 1.)
4. Deans still has no proper plan to use the bench effectively. Basically if we can't win with 16 or 17 then we lose, because the others will not get more than a few minutes. I am almost (I said almost) nostalgic for the days when Eddie was in charge and the bench usage was completely scheduled three days before the test.
5. Few people but Bruce Ross will even talk about the elephant in the room - we are totally incapable of playing well against top tier nations after 50-60 minutes.
6. Last year we lost to the Blacks in the Sydney test by one point. We did the same this year. I think there has been some improvement in some aspects but we have gone backwards in others. The amount of improvement we still have to make is more than we have made this year. The opposition on this year's tour after the Blacks and France will not be strong. To get a very good EOYT we need to beat those two and thrash the rest. We shall see.

 

[Sudaca]

don't worry, the AB will choke again next year and it will be a great final between SA and the wallabies, let them enjoy the moment.
It took them almost 2 years to replace Hayman, they still cannot find a decent 1st five eight if Carter is injured, if Mc Caw gets hurt they are a very beatable team.
I am starting to think that is not Deans or Henry the great coaches people think they are, is just having Mc Caw and Carter what makes them different.

 

[#1 Tah]

don't worry, the AB will choke again next year and it will be a great final between SA and the wallabies, let them enjoy the moment.
It took them almost 2 years to replace Hayman, they still cannot find a decent 1st five eight if Carter is injured, if Mc Caw gets hurt they are a very beatable team.
I am starting to think that is not Deans or Henry the great coaches people think they are, is just having Mc Caw and Carter what makes them different.

in 5 years, McCaw and Carter will be Pockock and Cooper.

 

[mattyj]

Is Deans not using the bench actually a longer term tactic?

My speculation is that with so many first choice forwards (TPN, Palu etc) out through injury, he's effectively giving the first choice benchies as much experience before the world cup as possible. That way, when the first choice guys come back, their understudies/bench warmers have a bit big-game of experience behind them.

 

[Hawko]

Is Deans not using the bench actually a longer term tactic?

My speculation is that with so many first choice forwards (TPN, Palu etc) out through injury, he's effectively giving the first choice benchies as much experience before the world cup as possible. That way, when the first choice guys come back, their understudies/bench warmers have a bit big-game of experience behind them.

I suppose its a theory........

 

[disco]

1. Pocock is nowhere near the number one 7. If anyone needs proof, watch the Sydney test again. It was a McCaw masterclass and without him the AB's would have lost by heaps.

Saw the game live & watched the replay, Pocock pissed on everyone for the 1st 65 minutes then ran out of gas after going 12 rounds back to back on the highveldt & then had to play the AB's & Mark Lawrence.

2. Perthfontein was vs England. Did you mean Bloemfontain?

Yeah game 2 in SA. England aren't in the Tri Nations. Saffas call Perth "Bloemfontain by the sea" & a few call Bloemfontain Perthfontain.

5. Few people but Bruce Ross will even talk about the elephant in the room - we are totally incapable of playing well against top tier nations after 50-60 minutes.

No Arguments here

6. Last year we lost to the Blacks in the Sydney test by one point. We did the same this year. I think there has been some improvement in some aspects but we have gone backwards in others.

Tough draw this year coming back from 2 tough games in the Republic. 2007 MCG the All Blacks had just come back from one tough game in SA & in the 1st half the led 15-6 & it should have been more.

In the 2nd half they never really got out of thier own half & were out scored 14 - 0 & this was from a team that had sat out half a super rugby season & were supposed to be the fittest team ever. That 3rd match on the trot was a big ask for those young Wallabies.

Well another plus is depth we have certainly built some more of that.

 

[Tangawizi]

When you strip away all the theories/if's/what's/couldabeens and look at the cold hard results, we are 3 from 12 in the last 2 Tri-Nations series.

A 25% win percentage is nothing to get very excited about. Many would argue it's unacceptably low and the coaching staff should be held accountable.
If you add in the 2 extra Bledisloe's played it becomes an even more depressing 3 from 14 against our Tri-nations counterparts or close to 1 win for every four losses.

I think any other Wallabies coach in the professional era would've been sacked by now with results like that. O'Neill would've sacked Connolly even if we'd just won the World Cup!

If Robbie Deans is truly the Messiah, it's time for him to put away the hammer and start performing some on-field miracles!

 

[Richo]

I suppose its a theory........

A very tenuous one...

 

[Groucho]

I think we did reasonably well.

It would be wonderful to be winning more games but the fact is that we're not as good as the ABs - yet. That isn't due as much to our failings but to them being a very good team.

Clearly we have problems closing out games. But at least we're in a position to win them.

The only match that sat really badly with me was losing to England. Now those pale whales think they're better than us - grr. At least we get the chance to set the record straight soon.

These young Wallabies have great potential and will soon be the best in the world.

 

[JJJ]

Re injuries. We had Horwill, Palu, TPN, Alexander, Smith and Hynes last year and still came last, even with NZ in a slump. We had arguably the best scrum in the world and still came last. We even managed to lose to Scotland and draw with Ireland. The only thing we have now that we didn't have then (as far as positives go) is QC (Quade Cooper) and possibly Beales. So my optimism is wearing thin. If SA had any of FDP, Brussow, a fit and unsuspended Bakkies or even Bismarck DP playing I reckon we probably would've come last this year as well. Fortunately I've come to rugby fairly recently so I'm not used to expecting the Wallabies to win.

 

[Gagger]

I don't get it JJJ.

We've done better this year missing some of our best players - surely that's improvement?

Even if you say their missing players cancelled out ours, we've still done better = improvement.

 

[JJJ]

I don't get it JJJ.

We've done better this year missing some of our best players - surely that's improvement?

Even if you say their missing players cancelled out ours, we've still done better = improvement.

I guess I've come to believe that our ability to lose adapts to both the level of our opponents and the talent of our squad. Sometimes we need to play brilliantly to just lose. Sometimes we need to play absolutely crap to just lose. Either way we manage more often than not. This trinations was more a case of SA disintegrating more rapidly under the new interpretations than we were able to adapt to. Don't forget it wasn't that long ago that we lost to England in Australia.

 

[Langthorne]

All in all, I'd say this season has to go down as an improvement on last season for the Wallabies. The main reason being the improved standing in the Tri Nations. I don't accept the what if this or what if that crap, as the injuries to various players from various teams cancel eachother out over time, and the only real undiputable measure is games won.

I certainly expected an improved performance from the Wallabies as the Australian s14 teams as a group had improved a lot this season.

Over the course of the tournament, Robbie Deans has also improved in some areas too. For the last match someone told him about a bloke called Turner - plays for the Waratahs apparently. Turns out the guy is a lightning fast winger who can tackle (I hear he scored a few tries in the s14 too). Someone also must have mentioned that you are allowed to use your run on reserves even if you aren't replacing a injured player. Sadly these and other improvements are yet to bear fruit against the All Blacks.

A couple of players who have been consistently outstanding: Sharpe, Pocock

Players who have often been outstanding: Genia, Cooper, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Beale, Burgess

Sometimes: Moore, Elsom, McCalman, Giteau, Mitchell, JO'C

 

[farva]

I think the tri nations could have gone a lot worse. We are certainly improving. We have pretty much discovered players to cover all of the retired stars of the last 10 years - Larkham, Latham, Mortlock, Gregan - and this team is learning to play with each other.
Complaining that we have a bad winning percentage against the ABs and the Boks is very misleading. These are the best teams in the world. NZ look like they might go through the season undefeated. They are a very good side. SA, while on the downward slope I feel, still have world class players throughout their ranks. We are now a better team than SA, and are closing in on NZ. I am confident that next year, we will be pushing for the 3N title, and getting the Bled back.
We lost to the Boks after having a big lead in Pretoria, and the ABs after having a big lead in Sydney. Imagine if we had won those two, as they were both ours for the taking. That would be 4 from 6, and a very successful 3N tournament. Of course, we didnt, and we squandered our lead. Thats an issue, but one that may sort itself out s the team matures more. Remember that this team is very young.

Elsom's captaincy is an issue. He doesnt seem to have the ability to play the refs that players like McCaw does. Deans use of the bench is also an issue. He brings them on at the wrong time and it either kills momentum, or players are well burned out by the time he benches them.

And all this talk about "when our top players get back we will be even better" is a little premature. FIrst of all, players like Horwill and Vickerman have not played much rugby in the last 2 or 3 years. Are they going to be able to get back to their best? Also, it is very unlikely that we will go through the 3N or world cup next year (both of which I want to win) without having a few more players out through injury. Especially after an extended super rugby season.

 

[cyclopath]

Re injuries. We had Horwill, Palu, TPN, Alexander, Smith and Hynes last year and still came last, even with NZ in a slump. We had arguably the best scrum in the world and still came last. We even managed to lose to Scotland and draw with Ireland. The only thing we have now that we didn't have then (as far as positives go) is QC (Quade Cooper) and possibly Beales. So my optimism is wearing thin. If SA had any of FDP, Brussow, a fit and unsuspended Bakkies or even Bismarck DP playing I reckon we probably would've come last this year as well. Fortunately I've come to rugby fairly recently so I'm not used to expecting the Wallabies to win.

You are right.
But last year, the forwards were doing better in set piece, less well in general play. The backs were awful, especially against Scotland. Personnel might be similar, but they are playing in different positions in some cases, and playing a whole lot better in quite a few cases. I think we are improving - the ABs are much better than last year, and we competed pretty well with them this year.
Of course I want better, but I do feel we are getting somewhere finally.
On a side note, what would be an "acceptable" win % in the 3N? Given that we are playing the top 2 teams in the world (until recently) should we realistically expect 60%, 50% or less? Or more?

 

[Scotty]

What I don't understand about Robbie's use of the bench for the Wallabies is that he used to use the bench quite well and effectively for the Saders. I'm just hoping there is more to it than we realise.

 

[Scotty]

You are right.
But last year, the forwards were doing better in set piece, less well in general play. The backs were awful, especially against Scotland. Personnel might be similar, but they are playing in different positions in some cases, and playing a whole lot better in quite a few cases. I think we are improving - the ABs are much better than last year, and we competed pretty well with them this year.
Of course I want better, but I do feel we are getting somewhere finally.
On a side note, what would be an "acceptable" win % in the 3N? Given that we are playing the top 2 teams in the world (until recently) should we realistically expect 60%, 50% or less? Or more?

50% is a pass mark

66% is a distinction

>70% is a high distinction

 

[Ruggo]

This year has been a big improvement. We talked alot about now having depth at the end of the Super 14 before the test season but now we have sorted the men from the boys and have a much better perspective of what our depth is. For me, this season was a case of what ifs. Our biggest success was our change in tactics and to use the ball in hand more. What if we had some our first choice forwards in the engine room and combined our backline flair it would have had a huge positive effect. What dissipointed me early was the utter shit personal basic skills some of our players showed earlier in the year.

The ywear overall was positive though frustrating at times. If I had to grade them, I would give a B or a D in academic grading.