Wales v Wallabies, Cardiff, Nov 30 2013

[Ruggo]

I don't know what the big issue is regarding Lilo's goal kicking. The bloke had a bad day at the office on a crap surface. It was the exception and not the rule for a bloke who has been pretty bloody accurate all year.

 

[Ruggo]

Really?
My impression of this tour was that he played the same old faces every week,and did not really look past the incumbents.

He looks to have gone for consistency and building a stable combination. It sucks for the other players on tour but I think he has done the right thing for the Wallabies given the position they are in. With a tour this length, the big shame is we haven't had any midweek games.

 

[Dai bando]

What did he think of you?

He didn't say.

 

[Lindommer]

Australia and Wales have had an interesting series of encounters since 2007, they've played 12 times with the ledger 11-1 to Australia. BUT, in seven of those matches the margin's been less than a converted try. The boyos'll be desperate to start some balancing-up this weekend; we, on the other hand, should be resolute in continuing this mental hold over Wales all the way up to RWC 2105.

The matches:

Wales v Australia since 2007
Wales one win, Australia 11 wins
May 26, 2007 (Sydney): Australia 29 Wales 23
June 2, 2007 (Brisbane): Australia 31 Wales 0
September 15, 2007 (Cardiff, World Cup pool match): Australia 32 Wales 20
November 29, 2008 (Cardiff): Wales 21 Australia 18
November 28, 2009 (Cardiff): Australia 33 Wales 12
November 6, 2010 (Cardiff): Australia 25 Wales 16
October 21, 2011 (Auckland, World Cup bronze medal): Australia 21 Wales 18
December 3, 2011 (Cardiff): Australia 24 Wales 18
June 9, 2012 (Brisbane): Australia 27 Wales 19
June 16, 2012 (Melbourne): Australia 25 Wales 23
June 23, 2012 (Sydney): Australia 20 Wales 19
December 1, 2012 (Cardiff): Australia 14 Wales 12

 

[Brumby Jack]

Wales:

Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Owen Williams, Scott Williams, George North, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate, Ian Evans, Alun Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Richard Hibbard, Gethin Jenkins. Res: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams.

 

[BDA]

Wales:

Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Owen Williams, Scott Williams, George North, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate, Ian Evans, Alun Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Richard Hibbard, Gethin Jenkins. Res: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams.

Not bad. Would have liked to have seen a few more players named Jones and Williams

 

[Brumby Jack]

No O'Driscoll either.....

 

[JSRF10]

Wales:

Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Owen Williams, Scott Williams, George North, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate, Ian Evans, Alun Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Richard Hibbard, Gethin Jenkins. Res: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams.

North and especially Cuthbert are vulnerable defensively, the Boks exposed North a few times in their encounter a few weeks ago. Not to sure on Wales' halves either, the Wallabies have an upper hand here on paper. Also Lydiate doesn't look anywhere near his best and Wales are seriously weak at tighthead. Wales are usually good defensively but I'd back the Wallabies by a score at this stage.

No O'Driscoll either...

More crucially no Sexton, Cole, Murray, Parling, O'Brien or O'Connell.

 

[RedsHappy]

He looks to have gone for consistency and building a stable combination. It sucks for the other players on tour but I think he has done the right thing for the Wallabies given the position they are in. With a tour this length, the big shame is we haven't had any midweek games.

The other point I'd add is a speculative suspicion that the ARU/Wallabies schedule model for the EOYTs that has us arriving in the EU after a 24 hr flight no more than 6-7 days before the first Test (this year England, France last year) is flawed and risky, at least for our players vs say the ABs.

I think this is just too short a recovery and re-starting time window and that, if we are dead serious about achieving outstanding records in these Tests, we need to (a) leave Aus 3-5 days earlier and (b) play a warm-up game around 6-7 days before EOYT No 1. This year and last we clearly struggled to find an intensive playing attitude and good tactical nous and rhythm in the first EOYT. That's not to say there were not other frailties in place, but I sense we'd we be much better prepared with a local warm-up game in advance.

 

[RedsHappy]

Australia and Wales have had an interesting series of encounters since 2007, they've played 12 times with the ledger 11-1 to Australia. BUT, in seven of those matches the margin's been less than a converted try. The boyos'll be desperate to start some balancing-up this weekend; we, on the other hand, should be resolute in continuing this mental hold over Wales all the way up to RWC 2105.

The matches:

Wales v Australia since 2007
Wales one win, Australia 11 wins
May 26, 2007 (Sydney): Australia 29 Wales 23
June 2, 2007 (Brisbane): Australia 31 Wales 0
September 15, 2007 (Cardiff, World Cup pool match): Australia 32 Wales 20
November 29, 2008 (Cardiff): Wales 21 Australia 18
November 28, 2009 (Cardiff): Australia 33 Wales 12
November 6, 2010 (Cardiff): Australia 25 Wales 16
October 21, 2011 (Auckland, World Cup bronze medal): Australia 21 Wales 18
December 3, 2011 (Cardiff): Australia 24 Wales 18
June 9, 2012 (Brisbane): Australia 27 Wales 19
June 16, 2012 (Melbourne): Australia 25 Wales 23
June 23, 2012 (Sydney): Australia 20 Wales 19
December 1, 2012 (Cardiff): Australia 14 Wales 12

One thing's for sure: if we keep up our reckless penalty count, the generally fragile defence of 2013, and mediocre forwards intensity and technical skill at the breakdown against good teams, with Halfpenny kicking, we can kiss this Test goodbye irrespective of how skilled our backs may be.

 

[Richo]

The other point I'd add is a speculative suspicion that the ARU/Wallabies schedule model for the EOYTs that has us arriving in the EU after a 24 hr flight no more than 6-7 days before the first Test (this year England, France last year) is flawed and risky, at least for our players vs say the ABs.

I think this is just too short a recovery and re-starting time window and that, if we are dead serious about achieving outstanding records in these Tests, we need to (a) leave Aus 3-5 days earlier and (b) play a warm-up game around 6-7 days before EOYT No 1. This year and last we clearly struggled to find an intensive playing attitude and good tactical nous and rhythm in the first EOYT. That's not to say there were not other frailties in place, but I sense we'd we be much better prepared with a local warm-up game in advance.

I don't think the timing is that onerous, to be honest. It's not awesome, but a week is easily enough recovery time -- especially if flying first class and with team doctors available to assist with various measures.

The issue is playing a top side straight off the bat while adjusting to the differences of NH style. It would have been better to play Italy or Scotland first up, rather than England.

 

[Brumbieman]

What's with the Lilo goalkicking hate? He was trying to kick out of a fucking cabbage patch, and most of them from 40m back. I don't know why we weren't just sticking it in the corner and mauling, we had a dominant lineout and it was clear that trying to kick on that surface was slightly harder than herding cats.


Team for this week is pretty clear and obvious.


Same pack (though i'd pick Alexander and leave *Edited - Rule 6, watch out*Kepu on the bench. Honestly, that penalty int he first half was just astonishingly dim)

Genia
Cooper
Tomane
Lealiifano
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Cummins
Folau

Tomane should be lined up against North, he's much more agile than Cummins, and has actually heard of using footwork. Cummins would just try and run through North and that is not going to work.

 

[Braveheart81]

Same pack (though i'd pick Alexander and leave Edited Kepu on the bench. Honestly, that penalty int he first half was just astonishingly dim)

Tomane should be lined up against North, he's much more agile than Cummins, and has actually heard of using footwork. Cummins would just try and run through North and that is not going to work.

Kepu did give away a dumb penalty but he played really well in the first half.

What about Cummins' try against the Irish? I thought he showed great footwork then.

 

[Richo]

Same pack (though i'd pick Alexander and leave Edited Kepu on the bench. Honestly, that penalty int he first half was just astonishingly dim)

I am shocked, sir, shocked.

 

[emuarse]

What's with the Lilo goalkicking hate? He was trying to kick out of a fucking cabbage patch, and most of them from 40m back. I don't know why we weren't just sticking it in the corner and mauling, we had a dominant lineout and it was clear that trying to kick on that surface was slightly harder than herding cats..

Maybe Lilo should have put a bowl of milk on the cross bar of the goal posts

 

[nugget]

Timani's last game for the Wobs, hope he goes apeshit (for once).

 

[RedsHappy]

I don't think the timing is that onerous, to be honest. It's not awesome, but a week is easily enough recovery time -- especially if flying first class and with team doctors available to assist with various measures.

The issue is playing a top side straight off the bat while adjusting to the differences of NH style. It would have been better to play Italy or Scotland first up, rather than England.

It's an interesting debate IMO. If we want championship-class results, attention to every detail of preparation and its optimisation is crucial, especially when we're not yet proven to be a consistently outstanding team.

I get that national cricket is a limited analogy for rugby, but you would never, ever see England or Australia arriving for an Ashes Test off a 24 hr flight one week before Test 1 and with zero local warm-up games pre that Test. They'd think an observer quite mad to propose such a reckless preparatory process.

I think the 'adjusting to NH styles of play' is largely bogus as an explanatory variable. How radically different was England in EOY Test 1 this year to, say, an average Boks side coached by PdV? (I use the PdV period as reference in that Meyer has significantly changed and improved the entire Boks mode of play.)

 

[Braveheart81]

It's always going to require a compromise. Is the ARU going to ditch the third Bledisloe test or are they going to play their first EOYT test with a less than ideal preparation?

I think trying to ensure that the Wallabies are in the best possible position to win every test is going to come second to economic realities.

Trying to schedule their first EOYT test against one of the weaker opponents on the tour is probably the best idea.

 

[A mutterer]

i'm surprised the aru haven't gone for a model with an additional game to squeeze a bit more juice from the eoyt

 

[Braveheart81]

i'm surprised the aru haven't gone for a model with an additional game to squeeze a bit more juice from the eoyt

They have. We are playing Wales this weekend.