Wallabies V Boks Loftus Versfeld Pretoria 28/08/2010

[Blue]

I was heartened by Benny Robinson's form. It's taken him a while, somewhat understandably, but I saw glimpses of what he's best at on the weekend. Come the return bout v NZL in Sydney I think he'll be on top of his game.

I think that part of the reason he isn't doiminating his opponent as much as last year is the other side for the scrum. Ma'afu basically just hangs on so it's hard for Benn to get on the front foot.

 

[ACT Crusader]

DPK, I'd take Matfield... but yep, after him it'd be Juan.

Has to be Juan. The guy has everything the Wallabies are screaming out for right now. OZ LO was going fine until Sharpe went off and gave Matfield fairly easy pickings IMO.

 

[Richo]

Yep. But we can't have our line out be so dependent on one man that we go utterly to pieces when he goes off with an ankle injury.

 

[Scarfman]

Beale continues to embarrass me after I said I thought he woiuldn't make it. Lee is being remarkably restrained about all the haters. Amazed he didn't keep a "shame file" to produce at some point.

Having said that, Beale would be a reserve back for me. He is an outstanding utilty, and a game breaker, but I don't see him as a fullback like Turner, Hynes or Shepherd.

Lee, you should clip this post for later.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

What an odd match of rugby! Hello, defence? Where are you?

I don't think the Wallabies were as bad as many of you guys are making out. There's no doubt that at 14-0 or even 21-7 up, old heads needed to get the team together to put a lock down on the match, but that's much easier said than done - especially on the high veldt vs the Boks. I wa surprised the Wobs didnt' score whent hey had a few mins of sustained pressure on the Bok line (culminating I think in AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) having the ball dislodged) - that was surely a mental turning point for the Boks.

Beale looked good (haven't said that about him before at this level) & the Aussie backline looked pretty dangerous on the whole. Bit of a worry for non Aussies given the age of some of these kids - long careers ahead. Pocock did a couple of brilliant things, but I thought it was his poorest game this year for the Wobs.

Juan Smith (again!!) & Hougaard the standouts for me on the Bok side. Francois Steyn had a shocker I thought, although he regained some composure towards the end. I said of Steyn when I first saw him play in 2006 (I think) he was a future IRB World player of the year & that was definately a bad call. I still he think he's got the talent, but we're just not seeing it enough.

 

[DPK]

Beale and O'Connor on the bench would be fantastic, if Robbie used them of course. I mean they can cover all the backline spots pretty much and are both fantastic at creating gaps, which open up against tiring sides.

I guess we can only imagine...

 

[en_force_er]

I think that part of the reason he isn't doiminating his opponent as much as last year is the other side for the scrum. Ma'afu basically just hangs on so it's hard for Benn to get on the front foot.

Ma'afu probably does that because they are trying to get a wheel on. It's pretty common because you either get a penalty or they get hard-to-use ball.

 

[Richo]

DPK, I'm with you on J'OC. He'd be fantastic off the bench -- can cover 10, 12, 15 and both wings.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Yep. But we can't have our line out be so dependent on one man that we go utterly to pieces when he goes off with an ankle injury.

I don't think it all comes down to Sharpe per se, but a good LO operates when all are doing their job, Sharpe's presence helps the guys around him. Put Simmons and McCalman in there and Mumm (who is no great shakes as a leader) and the task is monumentaly easier for the opposition. Mind you they did win one without Sharpe on the field.

Beale and O'Connor on the bench would be fantastic, if Robbie used them of course. I mean they can cover all the backline spots pretty much and are both fantastic at creating gaps, which open up against tiring sides.

I guess we can only imagine...

Deans is forced to start these guys because there isn't anyone else at the minute. It's debatable that Turner would be a better option than Beale.

Plus, OZ need forwards not backs. They need Alexander, TPN, Horwill and Palu back so badly. Get those 4 into the starting lineup and things start to look alot better.

Ma'afu doesn't have consistent workrate. S Finger tries hard but is still a pup. Mumm is Super quality at best. Brown is the luckiest Wallaby around IMO. He gets his fair share around here, but he does more No.8 work than a guy like Hoiles which is the only other serious option

 

[Richo]

I don't think it all comes down to Sharpe per se, but a good LO operates when all are doing their job, Sharpe's presence helps the guys around him. Put Simmons and McCalman in there and Mumm (who is no great shakes as a leader) and the task is monumentaly easier for the opposition. Mind you they did win one without Sharpe on the field.

Of course a good lineout doesn't come down to one guy. But we don't have a good one just now, unfortunately. Should be better with Horwill back though.

 

[Scarfman]

When the players returned to the rooms, Deans addressed the team. Elsom followed and promptly told the players their performance was ''simply not good enough'', considering they had been preparing for this Test match for several weeks.

In a blunt address, Elsom said it was time for the Wallabies to toughen up and be hard on themselves. The drop in standards was unacceptable. As one team official explained: ''They certainly know they butchered that Test.''

Plus, he chewed out poor J.Biebz after the Steenkamp try.

Pity Elsom only made 3 tackles and missed 2, otherwise he might have the moral authority to do this.

 

[Blue]

Beale looks to be getting better and better every match. he has that X factor. His tackling has improved. His awareness of 15 play looks to be getting better.

I think thoughts of dropping him to the bench is just ridiculous.

 

[barbarian]

Pocock did a couple of brilliant things, but I thought it was his poorest game this year for the Wobs.

I think that had a lot to do with the way the breakdown was reffed. Rolland just let everything go, so both teams just flew off their feet and killed any contest for possession. Pocock was made pretty innefectual because of it.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I think that had a lot to do with the way the breakdown was reffed. Rolland just let everything go, so both teams just flew off their feet and killed any contest for possession. Pocock was made pretty innefectual because of it.

There was a good portion of the game where Rolland blew the whistle at almost every breakdown that players went off their feet though. He did go a bit hit and miss after the 60th minute

 

[Gnostic]

Pocock was a bit average compared to his usual performances. He still tackled everything that moved and does not fall off those tackles. But a few times he misread the play or was out foxed by the Saffers, most notably when he drifted inside too soon to open the gap for Smith to stroll through. That said he and Sharpe are holding the pack together much as Sharpe and Hodgeson did at the Force this year.

Not all his efforts at the breakdown are about turnovers won, we have to consider the ball disrupted and slowed by his contesting as well.

Does anybody feel that Elsom has got anywhere near the form he displayed before heading north? Does anybody question whether captaincy is hampering him?

 

[cyclopath]

Pocock was a bit average compared to his usual performances. He still tackled everything that moved and does not fall off those tackles. But a few times he misread the play or was out foxed by the Saffers, most notably when he drifted inside too soon to open the gap for Smith to stroll through. That said he and Sharpe are holding the pack together much as Sharpe and Hodgeson did at the Force this year.

Not all his efforts at the breakdown are about turnovers won, we have to consider the ball disrupted and slowed by his contesting as well.

Does anybody feel that Elsom has got anywhere near the form he displayed before heading north? Does anybody question whether captaincy is hampering him?

No, I completely agree about Elsom - would be much better without the captaincy.

 

[I like to watch]

No, I completely agree about Elsom - would be much better without the captaincy.

I also agree about Elsom, but when we talk about new captains, the cupboard is pretty bare...a bit like our trophy cabinet.

apart from Sharpe who else could you pick?
These days they all talk about leadership groups within the squad, who are these leaders in the wobblies?
It might explain why they continue to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in all the close games these days?

 

[DPK]

The leaders are probably:

• Sharpe
• Elsom
• Genia
• Giteau
• Pocock
• Robinson

 

[PaarlBok]

No, I completely agree about Elsom - would be much better without the captaincy.

He dont captain the Brumbies and havent got great form for them.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I was a fan of the decision to elevate Rocky to the captaincy, but it hasn't proven to be the best of choices. His form since coming back from the NH hasn't been anywhere near as good as it was before.

I think you need to limit the test captaincy to the players who do it for their S14/15 sides. What better way to serve your apprenticeship for the top job than to do it a lower level? Same goes for coaching IMHO.