Wales v Australia

[qwerty51]

We can win the a World Cup with Foley at 10. He is just so much more assured than QC (Quade Cooper). QC (Quade Cooper) could be the best bench option in the game too.

Foley is the first choice 10 though through to the big dance.

Quade will come back but one big thing going for Foley is his goal kicking and especially under pressure which gets multiplied in importance for a WC.

 

[Brumby Jack]

A win's a win and another close game with the Welsh.

Cheika will have a bit to work on this week after the defensive problems in the first half and if it wasn't for the lucky intercept try and the intercept later by Foley, it could have been very different.

The work off the ruck in the first half was also an issue, with it looking for too disorganised with players receiving the ball flat footed and not going anywhere.

The use of the bench was better and Hodgson was great but probably should have come on earlier, with that ruck penalty 5 mins from the end a highlight.

 

[ChargerWA]

Thought Lilo did OK coming into first receiver a couple of times, and he made some good tackles. Would like to see him as a second kicking option as well, though. Largely had a mistake free game.

Mistake free, but not really having a large impact either way IMO.

In any other position he would be fine, but with the line between him and To'omua so close not sure it will be enough.

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

Any Wallaby of any Generation will tell you that the Sweetest Tears are ENGLISH Tears, with Kiwi Tears a close second...

The only significance of Wales at the moment, is that they are knocking on the door of reversing that result in any given match... most of our string of wins have been notable for their closeness, and today was no different.

Cheika has time to sort this team out - but we need to ensure our appalling Injury List is gone by the RWC next year...

 

[chasmac]

I thought the grubbers were necessary. Welsh defense was quick to advance.

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

And I will stick with my earlier prediction - we have played our hardest match on the tour - although I do not expect Ireland and England to be anything other than difficult.

 

[Ash]

Quade will come back but one big thing going for Foley is his goal kicking and especially under pressure which gets multiplied in importance for a WC.

I think Foley will maintain the starting 10 for the EOYT from here. Cooper will need to be in the form of last year's EOYT to even have a shot of unseating Foley next before the WC. I think it's unlikely at this stage, they will want stability going into the WC and Foley will be starting.

 

[Marcelo]

thought Genia was pretty poor when he came on. He should fall out of the 23 with that performance.

Nooo, Genia in a wheelchair is better than White TBH

 

[Ash]

I thought the grubbers were necessary. Welsh defense was quick to advance.

Both were cleaned up. One they scored off the turnover, the other we turned over because AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s knee took out Halfpenny, and then Kuridrani scored after.

I wouldn't say either was well executed or necessary.

 

[ChargerWA]

I

And I will stick with my earlier prediction - we have played our hardest match on the tour - although I do not expect Ireland and England to be anything other than difficult.

I like your optimism, but unfortunately I suspect it's not true. Ireland and England have both beaten us during our 10 game streak against Wales.

 

[chasmac]

Ash,
I don't like grubbers as a rule except they make the defense react.

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

thought Genia was pretty poor when he came on. He should fall out of the 23 with that performance.

Cheika knows that for a tournament, he needs Genia, Cooper, Foley, White and as many Front 3 as he can muster ALL fit, and paying a the top of their Games - regardless of whom he thinks is his best 15....

 

[Bobby Sands]

Hope Kyle gets a run against Scotland. That is if we are playing Scotland.

 

[ChargerWA]

Hope Kyle gets a run against Scotland. That is if we are playing Scotland.

We're not.

Ireland
England
France to come.

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

I like your optimism, but unfortunately I suspect it's not true. Ireland and England have both beaten us during our 10 game streak against Wales.

It may be optimisim, but I am basing it on November 2014... I am not saying Wales are necessarily a better team than England - only that we are fortunate to be playing them as our last match...

From Memory, I don't think we have that luxury next year... (cannot remember the order of our Pool matches - but we won't have SA, Samoa & N.Z. to kick them around for us first...) its a shame, really.

 

[qwerty51]

Grubbers are ok even if they don't come up. It'll get the defence thinking twice if they want to rush up again.

 

[Marcelo]

A win's a win and another close game with the Welsh.

Cheika will have a bit to work on this week after the defensive problems in the first half and if it wasn't for the lucky intercept try and the intercept later by Foley, it could have been very different.

The work off the ruck in the first half was also an issue, with it looking for too disorganised with players receiving the ball flat footed and not going anywhere.

The use of the bench was better and Hodgson was great but probably should have come on earlier, with that ruck penalty 5 mins from the end a highlight.

Interceptions are part of the game, how many times have we had bad luck when we deserved to win ??? So do not say that. Interceptions are merits of players who looking for the opportunity

 

[Ash]

According to ESPN, McMahon 11 tackles, Hooper 12 tackles, McCalman 14 tackles.

L'Idiot 18 tackles, Faletau 17 tackles, Warburton 13 tackles.

Wallabies with 54% of possession and 53% territory, both teams had 4 clean breaks and 16 defenders beaten.

Wales with 11 offloads to Wallabies 6.

Wallabies with 117 tackles completed, and 16 missed.

 

[FilthRugby]

An interesting game were the Wallabies won and deservingly so.

My major highlight was watching the game on Channel 10 instead of my usual Fox Sports. I much prefer the Welsh commentators compared to what we've got here in Aus. I'd have Jonathan Davies over Marto any day.

Firstly, Sean McMahon under-performed. However, we must remember that it is only his second game in Wallaby gold. And for a 20 year old to come out of the blue and start for his nation is a wonderful achievement. He did miss a tackle which resulted in Wales first try and other errors throughout the game were noticeable. However, he did make some metres when running the ball and put in a decent effort around the park. There have been plenty of Wallaby great whom have had very ordinary debuts and early games - Matt Burke comes to mind - dropping a sitter on the halfway line after running of fresh. McMahon is extremely talented and I personally think he will get better with age. I hope to see him play more games whilst on tour - which he will.

I though Saia Fiangaa was outstanding tonight. He really did put in a solid performance around the park. Alexander, Horwill and Hodgson also played well as replacements.

I look forward to the next game, but Cheika does have a lot to work on at training, namely the body height at scrum-time. Kepu was left on his lonesome and still managed to put in a warrior type effort as Skelton was pushing thin air. Anyway, I'll leave it at that.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Personally I'm very happy to have Cheika coaching the Reds forwards. They are all playing so much better.

But, in the mean time, go those bloody Wallabies.