Wallabies v Baabaas

[RugbyReg]

Scotty, just watched the game again and saw all those. He is bloody slow. But he is so damn tough and inspiring as a skipper. There are big doubts about whether he can hang on for another couple of years. But he makes the big plays. The tackles on SBW were significant far beyond than just being tackles and I don't think any other back could have done them last night.

That run in the first half showed his greatest strength. Angle running. He just knows the right ones to run. A brilliant leader.

 

[cyclopath]

SBW may get better but who would you leave out of the AB's for him? They already have Kahui, Smuth & now with McAlistair coming back they may shift Nonu to 13 also.

Of course none would be left out now, or even soon.
BUT, Kahui is broken for 6 months, and shoulders can be hard to get right, Smith is as slow as Mortlock (but has a great brain for footy). At the moment they don't need him, but he could be a huge back-up in a year or two if he's still in Rugby. Maybe they could remodel him into a Spies-like back rower?

 

[Biffo]

Wallabies' performance was a little better than their season openers of the last then years. Say no more.

I wouldn't change my opinion (gone) of Mortlock on that effort. To take two famous cases, Gregan and Larkham in their last four years still played outstanding games now and then, punctuated by intervals of real kakness. Every tme they played well time their defenders attacked their attackers with the standard "how could you drop him after a game like that?" As time went on the intervals between good games and kak lengthened, reaching 6-7 games at the end. What has been the average interval between Mortlock's good games this year? 5-6 games? ... and he wasn't all that flash last night.

I thought Sonny Bill did well. His "body language" (what an awful expression) suggested two things to me: (1) a man enjoying himself (2) a young man soaking up all the knowledge on the field. I think the bloke will be a big star. How many more promising 23 year old outside centres are there in Australia and New Zealand?

 

[cyclopath]

His "body language" (what an awful expression) suggested two things to me: (1) a man enjoying himself (2) a young man soaking up all the knowledge on the field.

I didn't realise you were fluent in tattoo, Biff. Is it like hieroglyphics?

 

[Biffo]

His "body language" (what an awful expression) suggested two things to me: (1) a man enjoying himself (2) a young man soaking up all the knowledge on the field.

I didn't realise you were fluent in tattoo, Biff. Is it like hieroglyphics?

Thanks. Now, at last, I understand what body language is: hieroglyphics - totally unintelligible to all.

 

[Biffo]

From today's Courier Mail on Sonny Bill:

The examination from the Wallaby skipper's left shoulder prompted the former Bulldog to quip to a group of fans at fulltime: "Have any of you guys got any spare ribs? I need some."

Nice line.

 

[disco]

How many more promising 23 year old outside centres are there in Australia and New Zealand?

We've got 2 Horne & Ioane, not sure on AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) age but he couldn't be much older.

 

[the gambler]

Maybe it was the fact that I was in the cheap seats, or maybe it was all the beers before the game but I thought there was a distinct lack of atmosphere at the game. Obviously it was never going to have a test match intensity, and with the score blowing out it wasnt a great spectacle but it just seemed a little flat for me. Would have been a disaster had it been out at Homebush.

Agree with most of Lee's points but here is my two bobs worth.

Forwards

Too drunk to pay attention to scrums but Robbo showed once again he is the 2nd best scrum half in Australia.
Moore and TPN offer a good package duo.
Kev definately stepped up from his S14 form. Also thought Sharpe wasnt as noticable a seagull as normal but would still rather see Mumm take his spot.
Backrow were pretty dominant. Smith outplayed Waugh and I thought Brown went really well. I love his attitude and it will be very interesting to see what Robbie does when Palu and Elsom are both available. Doubt Pocock will be able to hang onto his bench spot when that happens unless they go a 5-2 split.

Backs
Burgo had an excellent first half and offers something no other Australain halfbacks can. Lets hope his injury wasnt serious and he can continue to fine tune his combo with Gits and Barnes before the Tri Nations.

Others have summed up Gits and Barnes importance already.

I'm convinced Morty wont be our fearless leader at 2011 but at the same time am happy enough with him at the moment and wouldnt go making any changes just yet.

Back three went all right. I would personally go for Lote over Turner but Turner is starting to grow on me. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) looked dangerous with his hit and spin move and he also has a longer kick than I thought so happy to keep him at 15 unless JOC (James O'Connor) dominates in his start at 15 that I'm sure he will get in one of the tests against the Italians.

Generally a good game and a good night out.

 

[Pfitzy]

Turner burned SBW twice in not much space - something Tuqiri couldn't do. I was happy with Mitchell generally last night, but the funniest moment came with his first try - he hit his head on the ground and the guys in front of me laughed and said "my face! My beautiful face!" :lmao:

Tell you what - if it wasn't for Chris Whitaker the Baabaas wouldn't have even got on the board. He was the only spark coming from their backline until Blair came on, and Meg looked like a petulant little bitch with no pass or fitness when he replaced Anthems.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Did anyone else notice how oftem Mortlock was out on the wing. Even my missus made note of it before I mentioned it. The more I looked the more he was seagulling.(can a 13 seagull at 11 or 14)

 

[Pfitzy]

Well, they're all backs, so technically (besides the scrum half) they're ALL bloody seagulls out there.

 

[cyclopath]

Turner burned SBW twice in not much space - something Tuqiri couldn't do. I was happy with Mitchell generally last night, but the funniest moment came with his first try - he hit his head on the ground and the guys in front of me laughed and said "my face! My beautiful face!" :lmao:

Tell you what - if it wasn't for Chris Whitaker the Baabaas wouldn't have even got on the board. He was the only spark coming from their backline until Blair came on, and Meg looked like a petulant little bitch with no pass or fitness when he replaced Anthems.

Tuqiri could - evidently he still is quick enough based on training stats (so I've heard). But he doesn't, and therein lies the problem. Smaller quick guys will go the outside, bigger guys will probably back themselves to muscle it through. I liked it.
Mitchell - I couldn't believe it when he carried on after scoring as though he hadn't; my first reaction is act like you did, and they'll go upstairs. Technically Dickinson shouldn't have gone to Ayoub since he had already called it knocked on. Would have been a massive stink in a close game, I'll bet.
Whits was always one of my favourites - good no-frills, no bullshit guy, a team man. Made Marshall look, well just like Nick said.

 

[the gambler]

Yeah I was wondering that but then realised it was more pain causing him to act that way.

One good point out of that game is that the Kiwis havent solved their 10 issue. Lukey boy did very little that impressed.

Also, the Barbarian Jersey makers obviously believed the stats in the media guide. All of their jerseys were way too big and hanging out of the players shorts.

 

[cyclopath]

One good point out of that game is that the Kiwis havent solved their 10 issue. Lukey boy did very little that impressed.

Funny, plenty of Kiwis elsewhere on t'interweb seem to think otherwise. He's more a 12 though I reckon. Blair impressed me more, but mainly with his toe. Looks quick, like Brent Russell did.

 

[the gambler]

One good point out of that game is that the Kiwis havent solved their 10 issue. Lukey boy did very little that impressed.

Funny, plenty of Kiwis elsewhere on t'interweb seem to think otherwise. He's more a 12 though I reckon. Blair impressed me more, but mainly with his toe. Looks quick, like Brent Russell did.

Really. Mabye I was too drunk but I really didnt think he did much. Maybe he underplayed his hand more than usual and thats what they wanted to see. Cant recall any chip kicks which is unlike him.

 

[disco]

Funny, plenty of Kiwis elsewhere on t'interweb seem to think otherwise. He's more a 12 though I reckon. Blair impressed me more, but mainly with his toe. Looks quick, like Brent Russell did.

A few Kiwis were shit canning him on PR.

 

[cyclopath]

Funny, plenty of Kiwis elsewhere on t'interweb seem to think otherwise. He's more a 12 though I reckon. Blair impressed me more, but mainly with his toe. Looks quick, like Brent Russell did.

A few Kiwis were shit canning him on PR.

Um, sorry, I don't go there!
A lot are getting into him because he turned his back on NZ for the bucks, which rankles with many (not surprisingly). I thought he was serviceable, but unspectacular. He's not DC.

 

[disco]

Um, sorry, I don't go there!

Well I tried to give it up but every now & then I sneak a peak at the one off rugby thread.

 

[Pfitzy]

I think if the Baabaas had started with Jackson they would have been more competitive. Lucky Luke has been out of rugby for a while I believe and wasn't really serving his outside backs too well IMHO. Good player but as cyclo says: more a second five than a first five. Skilled player tho.

 

[Pfitzy]

Mitchell: Not the hair! Not the hair!