Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
1. Robinson 6.5 - Holding up the LHP and starting to get his dominance back. Both Du Plesis and Vander Linde were angling in to negate him effectively.
2. Moore 7 - Throwing was excellent, front row work well done except for the one missed strike which looked like a particularly good Bok scrum plus a miscommunication on the feed by Burgess.
3. Ma'afu 3 - Game over, surely this has to be the last we see of him. The scrum is more stable with Slipper on and he offers much more around the park.
4. Chisholm 5 - Did the basics well and matched Roussow. Regardless of Matfield's chip and regather (the best skilled lock since Eales) Chisholm shuld have kept ball in hand and was lucky his kick didn't go out on the full.
5. Sharpe 8 - Where are his detractors hiding? His games this year, even for the Force have shown his work in the tight. His carries are all around the ruck and first two channels. His counter Maul work as I have said all year is probably the best in the world.
6. Elsom 6.5 - His best game by far for two years.
7. Pocock 9 - McCalman gave much better support than Brown (as we saw in the S14) and Pocock shone.
8. McCalman 8 - almost perfect run on test by McCalman. Proves the point of those who have said all along that there are options to some of the players who haven't performed.
9. Genia 5 - He still doesn't look fit. The sniping runs and the power just aren't there. His passing is top shelf.
10. Cooper 6 - I know he is there for his pure attack but somebody is going to have to show him how to tackle, especially close to the line.
12. Giteau 6 - His best game for a long long time. Defensively back to what I remember of him at 12. He must stay at 12 no matter what, let him regain that form that made him IMO the best 12 in the world.
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 6 - Showed that last week was an abberation was the Mr Reliable. He will get better at 13 and despite other who say that 15 is his spot I feel that 13 is a better fit long term.
11. Mitchell 7 - Perfect 1st half and the dropped ball 5 mins into the second showed the drop in intensity from the whole team and they tired. Has done a lot of work on his defence.
14. JOC (James O'Connor) 6 - Good footwork for his first try which IMO shows why most rate him as a centre and not a wing, he will find the gap in heavy traffic.
15. Beale 7 - Loses a few marks that could have elevated him to runner up for the MOTM award for some shocking lapses. He will need to work on his work for the high ball (he seem to take his eye off the ball at the last moment and hence it bounces off his shoulder or forearm etc. The pass over the in goal touch line was just very poor execution of a skill which he is usually good at. Good Bok pressure I suppose and not something I will worry over in the future. The 2nd half Falson was just bad luck to slip as the ball was passed. Excellent work to get back and make the tackle though, showed some real commitment.
16. S. Fainga'a 0 - under pressure for his spot to start with the spear tackle firmly puts him out of the contention even without suspension. Fully deserved the yellow and should get at least 2 weeks (don't know his record, if he has one could be longer)
17. Slipper 6.5 - Scrum solid, work around the park top class and showed why he should start in front of Ma'afu.
18. Mumm 6 - Again showed what I have put as his biggest positive all year - counter maul. Sack the ball carrier at the lineout or when the maul is successfully formed he somehow pushes through and tackles the ball carrier at the back (works hand in hand with Sharpe to get this result). IMO the bench Lock position is probably best for him and gives additional backrow coverage for the team.
19. Brown 5 - as usual when he came on he worked his gutts out. He just does not have the support play for Pocock or the impact/drive of McCalman. Will not/should not start again.
20. Burgess 6.5 - e is the best defensive half back in Oz, bar none his tackle on Aplon who thought he was away was superb. His pass is no-where near as good as Genia and hence he will not supplant Genia as starting halfback. Coming on he made a huge difference as the Boks had to adjust (and had trouble doing so) to Burgess sniping and the strength he showed in the tackle.
21. Barnes 6.5 - Again defensively he is better than Giteau and covers for Coopers lapses better as well. The inside ball for Mitchell to cross for the last try shows why "sook face" is so highly rated by many.
22. A. Fainga'a 5 - I have to give him a "average" mark as he didn't get much time and handled the ball once and he did that well.
Team result - This is by far the best game the Wallabies have played under Deans bar none. The backs showed structure and played some intelligent rugby. Even under pressure in the second half they did not return to the one out runners, they kept their structure. Does this mean the "play what in front of you" rubbish is over? They surely cannot claim that this is what was aimed at as there was definite structure and set moves in the play last night and players defended in position.
Thank you for finally proving my predictions wrong. Well done. :yay :yay :yay
2. Moore 7 - Throwing was excellent, front row work well done except for the one missed strike which looked like a particularly good Bok scrum plus a miscommunication on the feed by Burgess.
3. Ma'afu 3 - Game over, surely this has to be the last we see of him. The scrum is more stable with Slipper on and he offers much more around the park.
4. Chisholm 5 - Did the basics well and matched Roussow. Regardless of Matfield's chip and regather (the best skilled lock since Eales) Chisholm shuld have kept ball in hand and was lucky his kick didn't go out on the full.
5. Sharpe 8 - Where are his detractors hiding? His games this year, even for the Force have shown his work in the tight. His carries are all around the ruck and first two channels. His counter Maul work as I have said all year is probably the best in the world.
6. Elsom 6.5 - His best game by far for two years.
7. Pocock 9 - McCalman gave much better support than Brown (as we saw in the S14) and Pocock shone.
8. McCalman 8 - almost perfect run on test by McCalman. Proves the point of those who have said all along that there are options to some of the players who haven't performed.
9. Genia 5 - He still doesn't look fit. The sniping runs and the power just aren't there. His passing is top shelf.
10. Cooper 6 - I know he is there for his pure attack but somebody is going to have to show him how to tackle, especially close to the line.
12. Giteau 6 - His best game for a long long time. Defensively back to what I remember of him at 12. He must stay at 12 no matter what, let him regain that form that made him IMO the best 12 in the world.
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 6 - Showed that last week was an abberation was the Mr Reliable. He will get better at 13 and despite other who say that 15 is his spot I feel that 13 is a better fit long term.
11. Mitchell 7 - Perfect 1st half and the dropped ball 5 mins into the second showed the drop in intensity from the whole team and they tired. Has done a lot of work on his defence.
14. JOC (James O'Connor) 6 - Good footwork for his first try which IMO shows why most rate him as a centre and not a wing, he will find the gap in heavy traffic.
15. Beale 7 - Loses a few marks that could have elevated him to runner up for the MOTM award for some shocking lapses. He will need to work on his work for the high ball (he seem to take his eye off the ball at the last moment and hence it bounces off his shoulder or forearm etc. The pass over the in goal touch line was just very poor execution of a skill which he is usually good at. Good Bok pressure I suppose and not something I will worry over in the future. The 2nd half Falson was just bad luck to slip as the ball was passed. Excellent work to get back and make the tackle though, showed some real commitment.
16. S. Fainga'a 0 - under pressure for his spot to start with the spear tackle firmly puts him out of the contention even without suspension. Fully deserved the yellow and should get at least 2 weeks (don't know his record, if he has one could be longer)
17. Slipper 6.5 - Scrum solid, work around the park top class and showed why he should start in front of Ma'afu.
18. Mumm 6 - Again showed what I have put as his biggest positive all year - counter maul. Sack the ball carrier at the lineout or when the maul is successfully formed he somehow pushes through and tackles the ball carrier at the back (works hand in hand with Sharpe to get this result). IMO the bench Lock position is probably best for him and gives additional backrow coverage for the team.
19. Brown 5 - as usual when he came on he worked his gutts out. He just does not have the support play for Pocock or the impact/drive of McCalman. Will not/should not start again.
20. Burgess 6.5 - e is the best defensive half back in Oz, bar none his tackle on Aplon who thought he was away was superb. His pass is no-where near as good as Genia and hence he will not supplant Genia as starting halfback. Coming on he made a huge difference as the Boks had to adjust (and had trouble doing so) to Burgess sniping and the strength he showed in the tackle.
21. Barnes 6.5 - Again defensively he is better than Giteau and covers for Coopers lapses better as well. The inside ball for Mitchell to cross for the last try shows why "sook face" is so highly rated by many.
22. A. Fainga'a 5 - I have to give him a "average" mark as he didn't get much time and handled the ball once and he did that well.
Team result - This is by far the best game the Wallabies have played under Deans bar none. The backs showed structure and played some intelligent rugby. Even under pressure in the second half they did not return to the one out runners, they kept their structure. Does this mean the "play what in front of you" rubbish is over? They surely cannot claim that this is what was aimed at as there was definite structure and set moves in the play last night and players defended in position.
Thank you for finally proving my predictions wrong. Well done. :yay :yay :yay