Wallabies v France 3rd Test - 21 June Sydney

[formerflanker]

France will never win a test until they remove the singer of their anthem. Having a gorgeous young woman singing those bloodthirsty lyrics is just wrong. Replace her with a bearded, fierce-looking guy who looks as though he wants to "raise the bloody standard" and "form the battalions" to prevent the slitting of their female companions' throats.
Better than the haka!

 

[BDA]

Thoughts on the game.
-Nice dominant win for the Wallabies! 7 wins in a row is fantastic, exactly what we want heading into the Bledisloe.
- There was a lot of errors in our play, but we also some good continuity at times.
- I thought White was pretty good this week. Service was nice and quick, but his decision making left a bit to be desired.
- I thought Foley was pretty poor in the first half but better in the second half. Needs to be more accurate in the Rugby Championship
- Palu played one of his best games in gold in memory =.
- Skelton did exactly what people had hoped of him. Smashed players at the ruck, always got over the advantage line, offloads, try assist, try, tackle busts, etc. You couldn't ask for a better debut. He must surely come into Bledisloe calculations (Im undecided whether we would take the risk but having watched the England/NZ game I 'd consider him as an option. England got a lot of benefit from guys like Vunipola who could get them over the advantage line against the Blecks.
- Slipper and Kepu great again
- One of the most satisfying parts of the win for me was the performance of the bench. Sio and Weeks were very solid in the scrum, both had a few good runs.

 

[Richo]

I would like to see a replay, since row D affords little view of the action, but I agree with the White-Foley scepticism to an extent. While both deserve their opportunity based on form, the pairing of on-song Cooper and Genia is an exciting prospect at the front of this back line.

Foley, in particular, hasn't grab his opportunities as well as he might have. I suspect that when Cooper is healthy, we'll see him into the 10 and Foley drop out, as Beale provides a dynamic change of approach off the bench.

 

[hammertimethere]

Yeah Foley will have to hang in there and chip away until Quade returns really.

 

[Hawko]

Some random thoughts:

• The next time I read one of those "Palu is crap/broken/over the hill/never good enough/made of glass/only there because he's a Tah" posts I'm just going to reply "Australia vs France 3, 2014". Man those posters give me reflux!
• I thought Sio was super-impressive and put himself in front of Cowan for the 17 jersey. Ben Robbo has a lot of ground to make up if he wants a spot back.
• Skelton did what he's done all year - no more, no less. Will those on the "unfit for test matches" bandwagon please get off: its boring.
• Based on what I have seen in these games, To'omua has shown me nothing that indicates he can run an attacking backline. Those calling for his move to ten want us to play Jakeball. I cannot recall one clear case of him opening up the backline to put a player away or through a gap. He has not shown he has the ability to be a playmaker. That is why Link will play Cooper, Foley and probably even Lilo at 10 rather than To'omua. To'omua is a good 12 and provides great balance; he should remain our 12 at least till the EOYT. He does have considerable improvement left in his game; his kicking against the French has been poor on a number of occasions and he needs to run at greater speed at the line (watch Beale today in his cameo. He was lightning).
• Kuridrani had his best game of the series today I thought.
• What Beale brings from the bench is speed, vision, great back-up lines and gamebreaking passing. He is putting on huge pressure to start.
• Phipps also brings speed. This speed to clear or run is what White needs to emulate if he is to become the complete player and lock Genia out of the starting team.
• Why does Link not use the Waratah type short kick-offs? They have been super effective this year but I think I only saw one today, most kick-offs went to the 22 or further. Maybe Link is keeping them up his sleeve for the Kiwis.
• Loved the two lineouts Skelton took. Who needs to jump to win lineouts?

The RC will not be a two horse race this year.

 

[cyclopath]

Yeah Foley will have to hang in there and chip away until Quade returns really.

All hail the saviour.

 

[cyclopath]

Team is shaping up nicely though....

A lot of starting positions now locked down, and we're getting some good impact off the bench in Sio, McCalman and Beale....

Will be even stronger when the likes of Moore, Quade and Speight are available...

Let's plan for Moore (12 months) Quade (4-6 months) and Speight (3 months) to get the Wallabies going forward.
FFS can people just enjoy a dominant series?

 

[Bairdy]

Some random thoughts:

• Based on what I have seen in these games, To'omua has shown me nothing that indicates he can run an attacking backline. Those calling for his move to ten want us to play Jakeball. I cannot recall one clear case of him opening up the backline to put a player away or through a gap. He has not shown he has the ability to be a playmaker. That is why Link will play Cooper, Foley and probably even Lilo at 10 rather than To'omua. To'omua is a good 12 and provides great balance; he should remain our 12 at least till the EOYT. He does have considerable improvement left in his game; his kicking against the French has been poor on a number of occasions and he needs to run at greater speed at the line (watch Beale today in his cameo. He was lightning).

The RC will not be a two horse race this year.

Sorry must disagree. The Wallabies backline relies primarily on To'omua now. Rewatch this game, and the other two: he has a hand in many of our tries (see the Folau try on the right wing as an eg.). He plays first receiver as well as Foley has this series.

 

[cyclopath]

France will never win a test until they remove the singer of their anthem. Having a gorgeous young woman singing those bloodthirsty lyrics is just wrong. Replace her with a bearded, fierce-looking guy who looks as though he wants to "raise the bloody standard" and "form the battalions" to prevent the slitting of their female companions' throats.
Better than the haka!

I dunno, the row in front of us at the game had several slinky French gals in all their finery shouting "Vive la France" all day and we were suitably distracted. I mean, we weren't he Wallabies front line, but still.........

 

[AngrySeahorse]

France will never win a test until they remove the singer of their anthem. Having a gorgeous young woman singing those bloodthirsty lyrics is just wrong. Replace her with a bearded, fierce-looking guy who looks as though he wants to "raise the bloody standard" and "form the battalions" to prevent the slitting of their female companions' throats.
Better than the haka!

Nah. If French woman Joan of Arc was good enough to lead the French to victory over the English, in actual warfare, then I'm sure a French lady can sing the anthem before their Rugby team plays a game of footy.

 

[barbarian]

Best part of this series has been the establishment of a clear XV to take into the RC. The form of Foley at 10 isn't fantastic but he lead the backline pretty well yesterday without overplaying his hand.

In reality there is only one question for the selectors- Skelton, Carter or Horwill? You could certainly make a case for each of them. I would probably lean to Carter if his fitness is good, but Skelton's form may be hard to resist.
.

 

[Scotty]

• Based on what I have seen in these games, To'omua has shown me nothing that indicates he can run an attacking backline. Those calling for his move to ten want us to play Jakeball. I cannot recall one clear case of him opening up the backline to put a player away or through a gap. He has not shown he has the ability to be a playmaker. That is why Link will play Cooper, Foley and probably even Lilo at 10 rather than To'omua. To'omua is a good 12 and provides great balance; he should remain our 12 at least till the EOYT. He does have considerable improvement left in his game; his kicking against the French has been poor on a number of occasions and he needs to run at greater speed at the line (watch Beale today in his cameo. He was lightning).

I don't think you've been watching very well. To'omua's passing had led to more tries than Foley's this series. Particularly the first game.

 

[Dan54]

I looking forward to watching test again properly, as QRU in their wisdom had club rugby on at same time as test so didn't see it live (I still like being at park and watching rugby live), so have only seen bits and pieces as I just watched it whilst fast forwarding a lot after AB/Pom test. Do agree with Cyclo in that you just won series 3 nil so savour it!!

 

[Tomikin]

Sorry must disagree. The Wallabies backline relies primarily on To'omua now. Rewatch this game, and the other two: he has a hand in many of our tries (see the Folau try on the right wing as an eg.). He plays first receiver as well as Foley has this series.

Yeah, and one thing To'omua does better then any of the others at 10 is control an attacking defence, specially line speed, playing 12 outside Beale and Foley, they just don't bring the line speed so in essence he can't go as hard and drag the backline with him.



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[Pete King]

Best part of this series has been the establishment of a clear XV to take into the RC. The form of Foley at 10 isn't fantastic but he lead the backline pretty well yesterday without overplaying his hand.

In reality there is only one question for the selectors- Skelton, Carter or Horwill? You could certainly make a case for each of them. I would probably lean to Carter if his fitness is good, but Skelton's form may be hard to resist.
.

Carter, simmons and skelton I believe will be the second rowers preferred in the RC. Link woud have replaced Skelton at half time or at 30 min mark if we were playing the all blacks. On comes carter and nothing is lost. Conversely he could be used at the back end.

If it hadnt been 13 years since we won a bledisloe Id be favouring old combinations (even out of form) like horwill, but it has been so we have to mix it up a little.

 

[Pete King]

Yeah, and one thing To'omua does better then any of the others at 10 is control an attacking defence, specially line speed, playing 12 outside Beale and Foley, they just don't bring the line speed so in essence he can't go as hard and drag the backline with him.



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Fuck me u could hardly pick to pieces our defence in this series. To'omua stays at 12 to support or expansive style with eithier Foley or Cooper at 10 I think is a lock in more so then anything else as moving him into 10 would mean back to the drawing board. Link has been working towards how he wants this team to play from the start. Did I mention I want to boof him (link that is)

 

[Dave Beat]

From that series;
Hooper will make a great long term captain, stepping in after 2 minutes in the first tests. His leadership in the second (discipline, and taking his team through the full 80). Then the third to really finish it off with an all round display. That chase and tackle off the kick off put his stamp and expectation of commitment on the game, and the team lifted and followed.
That second game, I LOVED IT (as a once off), to know we can play that tactical battle and not leak any points against a tier one team was fantastic.

The coach, how good is it having a coach that looks to win, in the past we've had coaches that have looked at ways not to lose - the results show the difference.

 

[Tomikin]

Fuck me u could hardly pick to pieces our defence in this series. To'omua stays at 12 to support or expansive style with eithier Foley or Cooper at 10 I think is a lock in more so then anything else as moving him into 10 would mean back to the drawing board. Link has been working towards how he wants this team to play from the start. Did I mention I want to boof him (link that is)

I never said that, I'd move him in as his our best 12 but its laughable people think his not a great 10. And coupled that with a post in another thread were the Tahs fans think the quick inside ball back will catch him out because he disjoints the backline.. I thought it was predunt to meantion, he controls a defensive line speed better at 10.



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[Pete King]

I never said that, I'd move him in as his our best 12 but its laughable people think his not a great 10. And coupled that with a post in another thread were the Tahs fans think the quick inside ball back will catch him out because he disjoints the backline.. I thought it was predunt to meantion, he controls a defensive line speed better at 10.



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He is a great 10 for the Brumbs and executes that game plan perfectly

 

[Bowside]

Best part about this:
Genia, Cooper, Moore, Carter, Speight, Pocock still to come into the 23 if their form warrants it.

Hearing more and more whispers about Digby and JOC (James O'Connor) wanting in on this party as well.