Wales v Australia, Sunday 21st 4.30 am ADST.

[Derpus]

How many high tackle cards have we conceded? I think that's something we really need to address.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

So where does that leave us after 2021? Better than at the beginning of the year I think, but still a long way off where we need to be. This really has been the tour from hell, but things can turn around quickly.

Problem is, we've got the Poms for three tests next year don't we? That could easily be 3-0 again unless something changes big time.

 

[Tex]

Honestly I'm not too downbeat by that game. We were the better team, played minus a player for most of it and copped some frustrating calls.

As against England, our job would've been easier had we not committed silly penalties again and again. Rodda infringing on the runner, and another forward being lazy when we had them pinned in their corner.

Beale's card was harsh, probably a penalty was warranted due to the tackle being completed.

The Welsh knock down try was very disappointing.

 

[Viking]

Red card- fair enough.

Yellow card - just fair enough (Kurtley knew exactly what he was doing but arguably it was in the motion of wrapping).

Allowed knock down try - maybe fair enough (technically at least) in isolation in a game with no controversy. In the context of this game, it’s very poor game management by the referee.

The whole knock down try was a complete farce. Even the scoring player was shaking his head.

Remember the purpose of the rule is to punish poor handling. All this stupid "did it slightly go backward, side-ways, forwards" shouldn't be so controversial, if its a dropped ball and close to being forward, and its poor handling, call a bloody knock-on and don't reward poor handling.

Ref's really need to use some common sense.

 

[Viking]

So - first tour without a win in 45 years. There are ifs and buts, but still. That's another low we can tick off.

Well if the tour started with Japan we got one win.

 

[Viking]

Another positive worth pointing out is how good our scrum was given the circumstances.
Rennie was also pretty brutal on the ref and TMO in post match so I think we can expect a fine

Rennie is usually so well spoken and diplomatic but even he was so clearly frustrated. That is telling in itself. Refs were diabolical.

 

[Viking]

I think something can be said of the way we speak to Ref's though.

Hooper, Slipper, White consistently back-chatting and giving hsarcastic or passive aggressive comments. I understand the frustration, but never in history has the ref changed there decision after it has been made. I think ref's just hate dealing with us due to this poor reputation of back-talk and discipline and its now leading to us losing the 50/50 calls moreso then any other team.

It's one thing to question the ref but there's also a point you just need to shutup and get on with it.

 

[Up the Guts]

I think something can be said of the way we speak to Ref's though.

Hooper, Slipper, White consistently back-chatting and giving hsarcastic or passive aggressive comments. I understand the frustration, but never in history has the ref changed there decision after it has been made. I think ref's just hate dealing with us due to this poor reputation of back-talk and discipline and its now leading to us losing the 50/50 calls moreso then any other team.

It's one thing to question the ref but there's also a point you just need to shutup and get on with it.

Probably true, although Aaron Smith and TJP do similar. Also White’s “I’m the captain now” was incredible.

 

[Viking]

Probably true, although Aaron Smith and TJP do similar. Also White’s “I’m the captain now” was incredible.

True, probably not a big deal coming from the players but when it's coming from the Captain every time you blow the whistle, a ref is eventually bound to subconsciously just disregard everything they say, or even worse, they get defensive in their decision-making which actually reinforces their decision rather then question it.

 

[Viking]

On a positive, Paisimi was a boss.

Beale stepped up, and I'm very anti-Beale, but he is just so deadly in attack in the last 20mins of games, maybe a bench spot is suited for him.

Our attack looked much improved. I can't wait to next year. The improved super rugby season with NZ teams will help too.

 

[eastman]

Ref's really need to use some common sense.

Well that was my whole point really.

If you look at it from a pure technical point of view- it probably did not go towards the opposition try-line and remember this is union not rugby league.

But when you’re refereeing one of the biggest test matches of the year and already made some controversial decisions- you surely do your best to find a knock on in that play.

 

[eastman]

On a positive, Paisimi was a boss.

Beale stepped up, and I'm very anti-Beale, but he is just so deadly in attack in the last 20mins of games, maybe a bench spot is suited for him.

Our attack looked much improved. I can't wait to next year. The improved super rugby season with NZ teams will help too.

Centres were solid and I’ve finally realised after all these years just to accept Beale for the flawed talent that he is (surely I’m not the only person who was half expecting him to trip over in part of his pre-kick run up).

I think flyhalf is still a big issue for us though (sans Quade). JOC (James O'Connor) plays like the converted centre that he is- using other players and space isn’t natural to him.

 

[Viking]

Centres were solid and I’ve finally realised after all these years just to accept Beale for the flawed talent that he is (surely I’m not the only person who was half expecting him to trip over in part of his pre-kick run up).

I think flyhalf is still a big issue for us though (sans Quade). JOC (James O'Connor) plays like the converted centre that he is- using other players and space isn’t natural to him.

I agree, flyhalf is really a key position setting us apart from being a good test team to being a great test team.

 

[Drew]

Just watched highlights. How did Foketi go when he came on? From the highlights Paisami was strong,

 

[Viking]

Just watched highlights. How did Foketi go when he came on? From the highlights Paisami was strong,

He was only on for 10mins. Made a few tackles.

 

[cyclopath]

I think something can be said of the way we speak to Ref's though.

Hooper, Slipper, White consistently back-chatting and giving hsarcastic or passive aggressive comments. I understand the frustration, but never in history has the ref changed there decision after it has been made. I think ref's just hate dealing with us due to this poor reputation of back-talk and discipline and its now leading to us losing the 50/50 calls moreso then any other team.

It's one thing to question the ref but there's also a point you just need to shutup and get on with it.

Roman says "Hold my beer"

 

[dru]

What a game for bizarre officiation. Hard to know where to start. I think RA is entitled to insist that TMO does not appear again. That was actually an OK WB game with 14 men for 68 mins and YC to boot. And the officiating.

I'm happy to see the season over at this stage. A really shite result to the EOYT. Time to focus back on the Reds.

PS: JOC (James O'Connor) is not the answer at 10. He played well and flattened like fans have asked - but it resulted in lots of darts with reduced passing. It's not the answer.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Aside from Tuquiri none of those blokes are big by any standard. I stood behind Larkham in a queue for the athletics at the 2000 Olympics, tall but very lean. I’ll admit he was a pretty imposing presence though, but I think that’s because of who he was rather than his size.

Like you KOB I stood beside him paying for petrol. He was surprisingly tall. He never had an ounce of fat on him but he was genuinely quite a bit bigger than most of the potential 10s going around in Aussie rugby today.

 

[Brumby Runner]

And back then when we played Horan, Giteau etc we had some pretty decent sized 13s outside them. Little, Mortlock, Herbert and co. It is very difficult if you have two small centres. Players like Paisami and Perese have a lot of power and play beyond their weight in attack and defence so can fill the role of the bigger centre. Petaia also has size and power and hopefully will find his way back to 13 at some point.

I reckon Paisami answered a few of his critics last night. Back to how he looked in his earlier No 12 days. Paisami and Ikitau are looking the goods as a centre pairing. Defensively good, and complementary attacking skills. Should only be broken when Kerevi is available.

 

[Derpus]

What was Wright even trying to do for that knock on try?