Wales v Australia, Monday 18 November 3:10am AEDT

[Tomikin]

Fuck rugby is dumb sometimes...

Not today, though, we gave Wales a pasting, even playing with the shittest Half Back the world has ever seen, a centre that is lucky to be Japan 2nd grade standard. Also played 20 mins with 14 men...

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

 

[cyclopath]

Few random thoughts.
Not buying into the Kerevi head-contact sub-thread. Except to say i thought he was going pretty well prior to the card. Not exceptional but I can definitely see why Schmidt wants him around.
Skelton was a point of difference. Plenty of carries, which may not be bulk metres but he always ties up at least 2 defenders. Maul work really good both in attack and defence - I don't think it was a coincidence our maul was better with him there.
Kellaway really impressed - good defensive shift, covered a lot of ground, good in the air and generally made smart decisions. Jorgensen was good as well, but not at Kellaway's level. They both have pretty good rugby brains, I think.
Lolesio - really glad to see him growing more and more into the role. After snap-hooking 2 kicks for goal he settled in well in all aspects of his play I thought. Consolidates his grip on that jersey.
Wright - makes rugby look easy sometimes, and far fewer occasions when he makes it look awful (in the past). Great game.
Faessler - great game.
Valetini - usual.
McReight - very solid.

 

[LeCheese]

McReight - very solid.

Not getting enough kudos imo - a 'quiet' game by his standards (i.e., limited superstar moments like big pilfers, line breaks, supporting runs, etc.), but has reaffirmed he can play the game of the toiler. Head down, make your tackles, hit your rucks, and be a constant presence.

 

[Tomikin]

He missed 5 tackles from 21 attempted. Not good enough. Jac Morgan made 30 tackles! Kellaway made 11/11 tackles which was Australia's 3rd highest and better than all of the forwards bar 2. His fitness is outstanding.
- Willy Skelton led the match with two turnovers.
- Bell led Aus with 17 carries, in Kerevi's 40 minutes he carried 15 times for 2nd.

I know its cause he had a few run away tries, but LOL

 

[Tomikin]

Few random thoughts.
Not buying into the Kerevi head-contact sub-thread. Except to say i thought he was going pretty well prior to the card. Not exceptional but I can definitely see why Schmidt wants him around.
Skelton was a point of difference. Plenty of carries, which may not be bulk metres but he always ties up at least 2 defenders. Maul work really good both in attack and defence - I don't think it was a coincidence our maul was better with him there.
Kellaway really impressed - good defensive shift, covered a lot of ground, good in the air and generally made smart decisions. Jorgensen was good as well, but not at Kellaway's level. They both have pretty good rugby brains, I think.
Lolesio - really glad to see him growing more and more into the role. After snap-hooking 2 kicks for goal he settled in well in all aspects of his play I thought. Consolidates his grip on that jersey.
Wright - makes rugby look easy sometimes, and far fewer occasions when he makes it look awful (in the past). Great game.
Faessler - great game.
Valetini - usual.
McReight - very solid.

I still think the fact he chased a kick through, then busted his arse to connect with Kellaway and Wright that effectively allowed them to get a turn over was amazing.. dude just has no quit. Hopefully he can knock out a Scot and an Irishmen for his own personal grand slam..

 

[stillmissit]

Nah - neither is correct.

The logic is based on how the game is refereed at all levels across the world now, and countless examples of the high tackle framework being applied.

There is no massive or sudden change of direction, nor even a huge drop in body height beyond a player bracing for contact. If you're seeing that differently we must be looking at different incidents.

I'll be surprised if the decision isn't upheld at the judiciary. Clear as day Red based on all factors.

We will know soon enough. I note Schimdt has protested the decision, which is not something he does often. But I suppose you know more about this than he or I do. If your a ref you may be one of those overly pedantic ones.

 

[stillmissit]

I'm not arguing that - and it's why the first step in head contact framework asks the question "was their foul play?".

In Serevi's case there was, as there was more he could have done in the moments proceeding to avoid the hit (slow down to point he was in control of his own body, go lower, etc).

1. Then he gets stepped easily 2. if he goes lower, it's easy to palm him off as he drops.

 

[stillmissit]

I still think the fact he chased a kick through, then busted his arse to connect with Kellaway and Wright that effectively allowed them to get a turn over was amazing.. dude just has no quit. Hopefully he can knock out a Scot and an Irishmen for his own personal grand slam..

Valetini has put in two top games for the Wallabies on this tour.

 

[BDA]

Faessler is really having a breakout year. Hooker has definitely been an area of concerns over the last several years so his emergence couldn't have come at a better time. Not the biggest guy but has a real motor and complements our pack nicely. He seems to have that 2 jersey sewn up for now

 

[Wilson]

We will know soon enough. I note Schimdt has protested the decision, which is not something he does often. But I suppose you know more about this than he or I do. If your a ref you may be one of those overly pedantic ones.

What are you basing that on?

 

[Strewthcobber]

I don't really get the issue with Kerevi. It's been clear for years now you can smash someone low and on occasion you can even clash heads with someone and you won't necessarily get a red card (soak tackle?).

But if you go out there to smash someone, and you clash head to head, then chances are you are getting red. You are the one with the responsibility for getting your head out of the way

Kerevi started high, and didn't adjust at all for whatever dip there was. I'd be very surprised if it was anything other than a tour ending suspension.

 

[JRugby2]

1. Then he gets stepped easily 2. if he goes lower, it's easy to palm him off as he drops.

Not the outcome of several other tackles off set piece in that game.

 

[JRugby2]

We will know soon enough. I note Schimdt has protested the decision, which is not something he does often. But I suppose you know more about this than he or I do. If your a ref you may be one of those overly pedantic ones.

Mate, my history or rugby playing/ coaching/ refereeing experience or lack thereof is pretty irrelevant - and I'd appreciate this not getting into personal territory in your lack of a better argument. JS can challenge it all he likes - they've got nothing to lose considering it's a minimum 3-4 week break based on similar incidents.

You're welcome to be pissed off at the way the game has consistently been officiated for over a decade now, but that's definitely a you problem.

 

[Linerunner2023]

What is rugby coming too
Slight accidental head clash where he only just clipped him and cops a red
Should have only been yellow
Thoughts
- Kerevi looked good in his first hit out let alone test match for how long? Draws multiple defenders and gets over the gain line with ease - can we just never play Paisami ever again please
- Wright looks the goods finally as a test player
- Forward pack lifted and once tupou is back along with Skelton it’s a nice big pack
- valetini is killing it and glad they have found a combo with Wilson and mcreight (once Wilson is back)
- Sua’ali’i still had plenty to learn - a few issues from nrl days still around
- it was only wales but to put 50 points on them that got to give some confidence for Scotland test match
- win next week and get back to about 6th in the rankings?

 

[Linerunner2023]

We really do have some world class players just need to build the rest of the 23 around them
In particular a world class 9 and 10 eventually
- Bell is a beast of a prop, plays like a backrower, and if tupou can get fitness back he won’t loose a scrum and will be a weapon
- faesler starting to show something at hooker
- Skelton shear size is immense for set piece
- glad they found a backrow that could fit Wilson and valetini in - valetini is world class now and Mcreight is crucial to the side
- a fit Kerevi is up there with the best 12s in the world and ikatau works well off him
- wright / kellaway and jorgo all looking strong along with some size with Joe and maybe petaia coming back to the fold next year

 

[Derpus]

I'm not arguing that - and it's why the first step in head contact framework asks the question "was their foul play?".

In Serevi's case there was, as there was more he could have done in the moments proceeding to avoid the hit (slow down to point he was in control of his own body, go lower, etc).

But there wasn't foul play except because there was head contact. If Kerevi didn't bonk his head then it was just a tackle which happens hundreds of times a game. The outcome determines whether there is foul play or not - just not when cleaning out apparently.

How is it any different to a player flying into a ruck out of control and headbutting Kerevi? There is no substantive difference - we just police the two actions differently. We are willing to accept that accidental head clashes can occur when cleaning out but not when tackling.

Anyway... doesn't matter. I reckon Schmidt will be keeping Kerevi around based on that half of football. He took 2-3 tacklers every carry and no other centre we have can do that.

 

[HogansHeros]

This will probably get lost in Kerevi-gate, and I dont have much to add that others havent.

However was different to see Lolesio and Kellaway taking some big runs into the line in tighter, was more than I had noticed before, esspecially in the first half, and bending the line nicely.

Just saw the news on 7 and the game got a big wrap in the sports section. Been a long time since Ive seen the Wallabies feature.

 

[cyclopath]

I still think the fact he chased a kick through, then busted his arse to connect with Kellaway and Wright that effectively allowed them to get a turn over was amazing.. dude just has no quit. Hopefully he can knock out a Scot and an Irishmen for his own personal grand slam..

"Valetini - usual" means he was bloody good, as he is pretty much all the time.

 

[cyclopath]

Not getting enough kudos imo - a 'quiet' game by his standards (i.e., limited superstar moments like big pilfers, line breaks, supporting runs, etc.), but has reaffirmed he can play the game of the toiler. Head down, make your tackles, hit your rucks, and be a constant presence.

Completely agree. No flashy highlights, just a lot of good work.

 

[cyclopath]

Forgot a special mention for Frost for that try - looked like a racing camel that had thrown its jockey - looked like he was running in slow motion but no-one was taking a metre off him!