Wallabies v England November 1

[Shiggins]

I'm not sure why I'm bothering here because nothing I say will change your mind, but the laws say nothing about standing up

One of the guys posted this. What if this try was to win the game ? I gaurentee if that was the wallabies it would have been a penalty no try. Like in the past in the same situation

13.1Players, who go to ground to gather the ball or who go to ground with the ball, must immediately:

a. Get up with the ball; or
Sanction penalty.

b. Play (but not kick) the ball; or
Sanction penalty.

c. Release the ball.
Sanction penalty.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Yeah, it's not who. It's HOW. And our how for now plays everything from 9. Do you think any European opposition has missed it?

No, but truthfully playing off the No9 is not working.

 

[PhilClinton]

- All of our issues are fixable

Biggest takeaway is lack of depth and consistency across the squad.

Whilst yes that is fixable with injured or unavailable players being brought back into the team, the likelihood of having a 100% fit first choice side for every important game is slim.

Joe was supposed to be the answer to fix this team up and he’s built them to a point but then suddenly we’ve been badly exposed as really needing 3-4 additional key blokes available in order to beat top teams.

 

[dru]

No, but truthfully playing off the No9 is not working.

I seem to be doing something wrong. When I ask if Europe has missed the fact that we play from #9, and your answer is as above. I just feel there is tautology playing here. So to be mind-blowingly clear:...

The WBs are completely missing any elements of a game plan intended to bring in the outside backs. Hmm, no that's not it, the WBs are completely missing any element of a game plan intended to bring in ANY back.

And then I ask, " have the Europeans missed this". Well hell no.

Look, Schmidt has taken the WBs a long way since the moron EJ (Eddie Jones). And I completely agree with the relief of holding onto Schmidt for this tour.

I'm also saying that where we are is a long way from a balanced rugby team. And I'm saying that European teams will be looking forward to fronting up.

 

[TSR]

A couple of things worry me out of this -
- we aren’t changing our defence structure until we change our defence coach and that won’t be on this tour
- every time we seem to have developed some cohesion something happens and we lose a bunch of players and go back to the ‘building depth’ stage of the cycle. Unfortunately we never seem to reach a stage where we have a settled, experience team
- over the last 20 years there has always been a position or 3 where we have lacked international level performers. At various stages it’s been props, hookers, locks, backrowers, centres, wingers and fullbacks. In all of those positions our fortunes at least seem to fluctuate. But at 9 & 10 we’ve pretty consistently had an issue for a long time. League is consistently winning the battle for these playmakers and the ones we are keeping aren’t developing to the level we need

 

[dru]

A couple of things worry me out of this -
- we aren’t changing our defence structure until we change our defence coach and that won’t be on this tour
- every time we seem to have developed some cohesion something happens and we lose a bunch of players and go back to the ‘building depth’ stage of the cycle. Unfortunately we never seem to reach a stage where we have a settled, experience team
- over the last 20 years there has always been a position or 3 where we have lacked international level performers. At various stages it’s been props, hookers, locks, backrowers, centres, wingers and fullbacks. In all of those positions our fortunes at least seem to fluctuate. But at 9 & 10 we’ve pretty consistently had an issue for a long time. League is consistently winning the battle for these playmakers and the ones we are keeping aren’t developing to the level we need

Depending on what "a long time" means. At the same time, it seems to me that our current gameplan is to presume there is NO playmaker and the half will drive the game.

For me that is a limitation in coaching imagination, not (simply) a limitation in the quality of available halves.

 

[Yoda]

The Potter game was interesting. That Earl tackle was phenomenal. The intercept a massive play. There were a few runs he had the defence stretched. But… gees he mixes it in with some poor options. Throwing loose passes that just aren’t on. Poor defensive reads.

stats say he made a lot of runs and some line breaks plus heaps of metres (length of the field try will help that).

but they also show three turnovers and a couple of missed tackles and a couple of penalties.

I still prefer Pietsch.

Tough marker from of one our best on ground. Only try we looked like scoring ...he scored. Pietsch is good too and Schmidt seems to prefer them both with the other one sewn up by our fastest and best attacking winger. Pity our game never got him the ball! Joke.

 

[Yoda]

I think the Edmed hate relies a little too heavily on a slightly unrealistic view of the alternatives. The fact is Australia hasn't had a reliably good flyhalf since Larkham.

Beale, Foley and Cooper only ever produced rocks and diamonds in varying proportions. At this stage, Edmed is a bit more rocks and lab-grown sapphires, but I don't think it's realistic to think that Donaldson or Debreczeni would be a noticeable improvement.

Donno runs rings around Edmed. Joes biggest call. Ask Jorgo what he thinks of Edmed?

 

[Major Tom]

My concern pre-game is that we're missing too many key players, and it really showed...

In the forwards Skelton and Hooper both add a lot more starch to the pack, and Gleeson is usually pretty impactful off the bench...

Valetini is still returning to his best, and an off season can't come soon enough.

Although I thought our starting backrowers were three of our better players on the field... McReight especially.

And without McDermott, Ikitau and Wright we're missing three of the best creative backline players in the squad...

And on top of that our two first choice flyhalves have been injured, and there's a drop down in quality there.

Missing those players and approaching the back end of a big year is making things tricky. Injuries and reg 9 have us chopping and changing nearly every week. We’ve had some players play pretty consistently ie Wilson, frost, McReight, JAS but there’s also been consistent change to hooker, halfback, fly half and fullback and it’s got us a bit lost tbh. Last night, I thought we were well in it (showed enormous defensive scramble and resolve) but we couldn’t nail the moments we had.
On to Italy. Would love a controlled win for once.

 

[rugbyAU]

Missing those players and approaching the back end of a big year is making things tricky. Injuries and reg 9 have us chopping and changing nearly every week. We’ve had some players play pretty consistently ie Wilson, frost, McReight, JAS but there’s also been consistent change to hooker, halfback, fly half and fullback and it’s got us a bit lost tbh. Last night, I thought we were well in it (showed enormous defensive scramble and resolve) but we couldn’t nail the moments we had.
On to Italy. Would love a controlled win for once.

not really at hooker, Pollard has started eight of the last nine tests

 

[Major Tom]

One of the guys posted this. What if this try was to win the game ? I gaurentee if that was the wallabies it would have been a penalty no try. Like in the past in the same situation

13.1Players, who go to ground to gather the ball or who go to ground with the ball, must immediately:

a. Get up with the ball; or
Sanction penalty.

b. Play (but not kick) the ball; or
Sanction penalty.

c. Release the ball.
Sanction penalty.

It would have been cleared. This was a fair try. He wasn’t crawling he was actually in the motion of getting up which you’re allowed to do. This is a non issue.

 

[Major Tom]

not really at hooker, Pollard has started eight of the last nine tests

Yeah but remember when we had to bring BPA in on short notice. I’m pretty sure Pollard was going to get dropped before the moment. Hooker doesn’t seem to be a massive issue. Been relatively happy with Pollard’s development. The others are good support acts. The halves concern me.

 

[Major Tom]

Paisami played pretty well and did his role, besides the late penalty for crawling it was a good game from him IMO.

Ikitau obviously a class above, but Paisami was getting over the gain line regularly and taking pressure off Edmed when defence was rushing, he isn’t the reason the outside backs weren’t getting clean ball. Look closer at the halves for that one.

Hunter had a rubbish aimless kick at one point. Game was probably dead anyways.