Wallabies v France, 7.00am AEDT Sunday Morning

[KOB1987]

Entertaining game. 81 pts.

Faesslers lineout rogery was not flash.

Sualii getting the hook at 56th min was a curious one. FFS just move him to the wing or something. Him and Jorgensen are the difference makers

France and their C-team disdainery can absolutely suck it. World Cups: 0

Joe doesn’t generally hook players for playing shit, and in any case he wasn’t playing shit enough to be hooked. There must have been another reason. As you say it’s a curious one.

 

[LeCheese]

Joe doesn’t generally hook players for playing shit, and in any case he wasn’t playing shit enough to be hooked. There must have been another reason. As you say it’s a curious one.

Given the number of substitutions to key players that occurred between the 50th and 65th minutes, I suspect the plan was to get the bench on and back them to close it out with fresher legs

 

[KOB1987]

That's been a penalty for years now. Recently they have been relaxing on it. Jas needs to jump a bit earlier. When you jump into a player (coming in under them and jumping) who is already in the air on the ball it's not going to go your way. I hate it but it's a penalty in most game

The fuck? You time your jump for when you think you have the best opportunity to compete the ball, not when WR (World Rugby) regulations determine it. Whether that timing is right or not is another matter. The official reason given to JAS when he rightly queried it was that he wasn’t as high as the French player. It was a match turning decision that should not have even raised a query, he jumped for the ball and lost the compete…..end of.

 

[Swandive]

I think Joe is just as frustrated as everyone here on this site. I don't think blaming the coach helps. We just don't have the cattle. Having said that, I think who he chose was close to the best available at the time. We just aren't good enough at the moment. None of our wingers are anywhere near Biarrey. People keep saying that LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) should have been chosen. While he does run hard with ball in hand the coaching staff obviously see something missing...possibly work rate. I also don't understand the heavy condemnation of Jake Gordon. While he box-kicks too much it obviously must be part of the plan or he would be benched. I thought he played quite well today....as did Edmed. Is Edmed a world beater...no way. Is O'Connor better...not so sure. O'Connor made quite a few basic mistakes last game. Not sold on Lolesio and though I like Donaldson, don't think he would be much better, and hasn't been, in games where he has had a chance.
Bit disappointed in the bench today. I think Ala'alatoa got penalised in the first minute of his spell, Tizzano made two big mistakes - the penalty for taking out the player off the ruck, and missing the attacker on Biarrey's third try, Valetini missing the try on the line (though the pass wasn't the best) and Nonggor needs to get into beast mode...he's too passive.
JAS missed Biarrey on his break for the first (?} try and then tackled nobody on a later try as he didn't trust his inside defender and was stuck in no man's land. There's no question the man is a supreme athlete and he's been switched around position-wise - FB at Waratahs, OC at Wallabies, and we forget that it is his first year in a pro-rugby Union environment. I think he's developing nicely, but like Joe, I'm not sure what his best position is. With Wright a lock in at fullback I think they are hoping he comes good at OC and I fully understand that.
Looking forward, I hope blokes like Massimo, and Dre Pakeho make leaps and bounds next year and I'd like to see Miles Amatosero pushed along. I feel Miles is capable of being the big bopper that we crave but has been a bit off the pace (I think he's only 22).
Going into the World Cup year it's looking like Gordon, Lynagh and Edmed will be our standoffs. With another year of exposure and experience I'm not too unhappy about that. Young Finn McKay (Qld) looks very talented but he's only 18 so 2027 looks a bit too soon for him.

One last thing, on that last French try, wasn't that truck and trailer or has that rule gone by the wayside? I saw two blockers break away and the ball carrier behind them and no Aussie in sight. No one questioned it so I guess I'm wrong but I'm sure that used to get pinged for truck and trailer (obstruction).

 

[Swandive]

The fuck? You time your jump for when you think you have the best opportunity to compete the ball, not when WR (World Rugby) (World Rugby) regulations determine it. Whether that timing is right or not is another matter. The official reason given to JAS when he rightly queried it was that he wasn’t as high as the French player. It was a match turning decision that should not have even raised a query, he jumped for the ball and lost the compete…..end of.

Yeah, last weekend Mack Hansen just jumped for the ball waving his hand about on a few occasions with no intention of going for the ball, ala Bryan Habana. There's this feeling of too many interpretation differences and if you're lucky on the day then lucky you.

 

[Heavyd]

Watch every game this weekend and players are running from depth with decoys. Every team bar one. That is why RA needs to fast track Les to coach. The fact there is even debate about JAS ability is on Schmidt’s game plan. Or lack thereof.
This tour was supposed to build depth. Lonergan got sweet FA time and Thomas 10 mins. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) sat in the stands watching our gain line get smashed & out Lineout crumble

Frost & LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) have to be the starting row next year. Williams whilst all heart is too small.

Hopefully Bobby V comes back to form in 2026.

Potter is Schmidt’s other weakness. His rock and diamonds play will lose us more games than he wins.

Mac Grealy has to be given an opportunity & Donno deserves more respect.

 

[rugbyAU]

Everyone says Rocks and Diamonds for potter, but the only diamonds I've seen was the try saver & intercept v England, and try v Scotland last year, Wright in 2021-2023 as rocks and diamonds but he had much more and much better diamonds

 

[molman]

I thought Tane was magificent today. The frustrating thing is the forwards showed up today and allowed us to play more. Again, we were in it after 65, but the penalties showed they got ontop. Just wish that the effort showed there was present in the other games up front.

Jake and len played very well. Jorgo did some good things, Pietch is needed for his physical presence. Take was great.

From that France deserved the result.

I think you have a different definition (and spelling) of magnificent than me. I'm happy for you to provide the game times for where I can see these magnificent moments your seeing that I'm not. And, don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go at Tane, I like his attitude and he's a likable lad, but the truth is he's just not where we need him to be. He doesn't see the space or have the same level of skill (or experience) that some of the other nations 10's have (ie Ford, Barrett, Russell, Ntamack or even Prendergast).

He doesn't command a game and you could see at times he was moving into the same space as some of the other players like Ikitau or even JAS, even to the point of bumping into them. I can't recall a moment were he really put a player into space, nor can I recall him genuinely taking it to the line with him sitting out the back and just pushing it on most of the time. If you watch him he often doesn't set himself square to fix the defense but often shifts his body to signal is intent (he turns/looks into his pass), so even when he holds the pass he's not really creating opportunity. His passing game isn't where it needs to be. I can't recall anything but short passes along the line for much of this game. Also, some of his defensive efforts were off. At around the 30min mark he was in a very solid position to tackle Bielle-Biarrey. His kick to touch at the 40min mark was senseless.

I actually though his out of the hand kicking game was better this game. A few of his early up and unders in the first quarter I felt had nice height and distance which created genunine opportunities for our chasing players. I don't know why we stopped utilising them as the game went on.

I do think he's improved over this tour and he's making less errors, but he just doesn't create much and as such I'm not sure he helps unlock some of the athletes we have.

Larkham will give him a good shot at being a 10 in the RWC squad. I'm not as down on him as many here, I see some OK parts of his play and he is not short of guts. Let's see what next year brings.

I think he could grow into a Sexton style 10 who plays within a system, but I don't see the natural feel for the game to play whats in front of him like some of the better 10's out there. Time will tell. I think the move to the Brumbies is a positive for him and his growth.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Everyone says Rocks and Diamonds for potter, but the only diamonds I've seen was the try saver & intercept v England, and try v Scotland last year, Wright in 2021-2023 as rocks and diamonds but he had much more and much better diamonds

I think he’s just in the category of good pro not a good Test player. Plenty of guys like that it’s just with the current lack of depth these guys become established Test players so they get held to Test standards and expectations.

Seems pretty likely if you are a Super Rugby player you make a Wallabies squad at some point now.

 

[Wilson]

Bit disappointed in the bench today. I think Ala'alatoa got penalised in the first minute of his spell, Tizzano made two big mistakes - the penalty for taking out the player off the ruck, and missing the attacker on Biarrey's third try, Valetini missing the try on the line (though the pass wasn't the best) and Nonggor needs to get into beast mode...he's too passive.

In Nonggorr's defence it's hard to look anything but passive when you're not named in the 23...

 

[rugbyAU]

AA has been dissapointing, great in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific), came in to the test season as one of our most important players but hasn't done much

 

[stillmissit]

In Nonggorr's defence it's hard to look anything but passive when you're not named in the 23...

Disagree W, if you are brought into the 23, you need to stand out to stay in the 23.

 

[Strewthcobber]

AA has been dissapointing, great in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) (Super Rugby Pacific), came in to the test season as one of our most important players but hasn't done much

Has been struggling through helping the team - was meant to have surgery after the shoulder injury in test 2 of Lions and didnt

 

[Tomthumb]

Has been struggling through helping the team - was meant to have surgery after the shoulder injury in test 2 of Lions and didnt

While that’s admirable of him, I’m not sure him playing through injury actually helped the team. He hasn’t been playing well, we haven’t been winning and we could have used those test to continue to get experience into Nonggorr etc.

 

[Shiggins]

The fuck? You time your jump for when you think you have the best opportunity to compete the ball, not when WR (World Rugby) (World Rugby) regulations determine it. Whether that timing is right or not is another matter. The official reason given to JAS when he rightly queried it was that he wasn’t as high as the French player. It was a match turning decision that should not have even raised a query, he jumped for the ball and lost the compete…..end of.

Argue all you want but we see that penalised a lot. Don't pretend we don't. The refs explanation was worse when he tried to justify it. I remember when Izzy used to get smashed in the air all the time and once he finished up the laws around it tightened up.

French bloke was in the air first. It's Jas responsibilty to make sure he doesn't get hurt in the contest. That's the way they ref it. If they both jump at the same time and get hands to the ball it's play on. That's how they ref it. I hate it. But it is what it is

 

[Swandive]

In Nonggorr's defence it's hard to look anything but passive when you're not named in the 23...

Yeah, sorry. Don't know where I got that from regards this game. It still stands though, I'd like to see some more mongrel from him. Tupou tends to be a bit soft for such a big fella too (says me sitting on my couch).