Wallabies v Pumas - Saturday 17 September, nib Stadium Perth

[The_Brown_Hornet]

It was a great occasion last night at Nib. Good venue, plenty of people there, fantastic September weather and some pretty good footy in patches. I also had a great boozy lunch at Must Wine Bar beforehand, which lifted my spirits considerably

That first 15 minutes was excellent from our boys and we were ruthless, which was the most pleasing part. The try off the lineout and QC (Quade Cooper)'s great short pass was one for the ages. We all just looked at each other and nodded in approval of the kind of 15 man rugby that a move like that represents. The defence was quite excellent and Argentina didn't really look like scoring in that first half when they had 75% of the pill and field position. The only thing keeping them in the game was Wayne Barnes, who nearly whistled us off the park. The good thing was that we stuck to our game and didn't lose our shape or our heads, which was especially pleasing.

The attack that we've been missing is gradually getting there and I really feel like if we had QC (Quade Cooper) or KB (Kurtley Beale) available against England it might have been different in at least one of those games. Coulda, woulda, shoulda though.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

McMahon seems to be clicking at Test Level now. He's played an OK game (England 2) and 3 good (England 3, South Africa and Argentina) games now, after having at best OK performances when playing non Tier 1/2 opposition.

My Kingdom for another 2 inches!

For McMahon.

In height.

You dirty bastards.

I really like what I saw from Sean when he came on. He's got so much mongrel, I just hope that he can somehow develop some more bulk so he can smash some blokes in years to come.

 

[Viking]

Yep. Because while he's an awesome athlete, no-one is above being put on notice. I don't give a shit how many Fox Sports appearances he makes, or Fox Sports columns he gets ghost-written for him writes.

I'm honestly shocked that anyone would NOT support him being dropped given his recent form, given how some people here shoot a big, cheesy load over the prospect of Quade getting booted for a missed tackle or three, or Foley for missing a goal, or Phipps for not delivering 148% of his passes to tryscoring players every fucking phase.

People only want accountability for players they actively dislike. That isn't how you coach.

9 Genia
10 Cooper
11 Hodge
12 Kerevi
13 TK
14 Mitchell
15 DHP

Folau has still looked threatening at times. And was probably the only back who did so against the All blacks. That's more then that Kuridrani has shown all year yet he's in your squad.

Folau hasn't missed his 1v1's that have led to tries, yet you got DHP in your team. DHP's form has been much worse imo (apart from last game).

Folau has mostly (apart from last game) continued to dominate under the high ball.

So I'm just confused with your consistency.

 

[Viking]

Seb V, you didn't notice Foley? The only explanation for that I can come up with is every time the Pumas charged through on a loose ball behind our line you covered your eyes, because I counted three occasions where Foley cleaned that up for us, the first making a decisive run which resulted in Kerevi's try.
He also kicked 4 from 5, following 5 from 5 last week, which I thought were the kind of results everyone here was demanding.
I am not a Foley apologist, I have been advocating for him to be on the bench for some weeks now, but I am happy to recognise performance regardless of my opinions.

Far out you Foley lovers need to settle down. All i said was 'I didn't notice him apart from kicking goals'. One sentence which is hardly even a criticism. I never even said he was poor yet you jump at his defence like he's a golden child.

He certainly wasn't prominent on attack which is what he's in the team for. He ain't selected in his team for his defence thats for sure.

So I'm looking for his running ability to shine but it never did! I'm looking for him to link with Cooper but it never happened. One run is what i can recall.

Sure he made a few cover tackles but that is not a point of difference to keep him in the team. If your picking a player for defence then he's way down the pecking order.

He's obviously in the team to be a second-playmaker (otherwise Cheika would just go with Kerevi or Hodge at 12) - but I didn't notice any playmaking.

Again, not that he had a poor game, but I didn't notice him filling the role that he's suppose to have in the team.

 

[TOCC]

Yep...

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. DHP
12. Hodge
13. Kerevi
14. Folau
15. Foley

 

[Pfitzy]

Folau has still looked threatening at times. And was probably the only back who did so against the All blacks.

His strength right now is as a dummy runner to attract a couple of defenders. That simply isn't the man in form we expect.

Folau hasn't missed his 1v1's that have led to tries, yet you got DHP in your team. DHP's form has been much worse imo (apart from last game).

Better boot despite a couple of wobbly ones Friday night. The Boks aren't going to threaten the cover defence much with their current 10-12 combination. Fact.

DHP is a good covering fullback, who improved measurably the last two games. He can play fullback. He should play fullback, because in the even Baby Jebus deserts Folau and he picks up an injury, DHP is the next in line.

Big boot at altitude in Bokkeland. That's what we're after.

Folau has mostly (apart from last game) continued to dominate under the high ball.

Mostly. Apart from. Recent form. Clearly on a downward slope. Might either need a break or a run in the NRC. Either works for me to prove he's a humble man and so he can get his head right.

 

[barbarian]

It was a funny sort of game. Our defence has improved out of sight in the last few weeks, admittedly off a very low base, and that's what won us the game.

It was almost like the reverse of the England series. Argentina played all of the rugby, but we coverted every single one of our chances with ruthless efficiency. Not to mention we played 20 minutes with 14.

I'd like more out of our front row. We really struggled to secure our own ruck ball, and that requires heavy shoulders from the big boys. Unfortunately we didn't get enough of that last night.

The game also laid bare the Cooper-Foley debate. Quade did a few really good things, the inside balls to DHP and Hooper were excellent. But he still shows that reluctance to take the ball into contact, and gives away a very stupid yellow card.

Foley, on the other hand, was his usual steady self. Didn't make any errors, but really didn't excel either.

People will fall on whatever side of the debate, but at this stage I don't think there is a player who is clearly superior.
.

 

[gel]

^^^^

Hahaha

 

[tragic]

The game also laid bare the Cooper-Foley debate...... but at this stage I don't think there is a player who is clearly superior.
.

 

[KOB1987]

QLD 2 - NSW 0

 

[Twoilms]

Sean McMahonshould really start at 8 now right. I mean what's the correct role for a 'proper' number 8? To bend the line, suck in defenders and open up some space for the backs. McMahon does that, despite his size. Much better carry than McCalman.

 

[KOB1987]

Sean McMahonshould really start at 8 now right. I mean what's the correct role for a 'proper' number 8? To bend the line, suck in defenders and open up some space for the backs. McMahon does that, despite his size. Much better carry than McCalman.

Yep, you'd think that's what will be happening. McCalman's making some good carries and doing some good offloads in this NRC game that's on right now though, I'd say he'll get reinstated in the squad in Pocock's spot. Give him another hitout v the Eagles in Orange next Saturday though, I'm going to that one!

 

[KAOPointman]

It was a funny sort of game. Our defence has improved out of sight in the last few weeks, admittedly off a very low base, and that's what won us the game.

It was almost like the reverse of the England series. Argentina played all of the rugby, but we coverted every single one of our chances with ruthless efficiency. Not to mention we played 20 minutes with 14.

I'd like more out of our front row. We really struggled to secure our own ruck ball, and that requires heavy shoulders from the big boys. Unfortunately we didn't get enough of that last night.

The game also laid bare the Cooper-Foley debate. Quade did a few really good things, the inside balls to DHP and Hooper were excellent. But he still shows that reluctance to take the ball into contact, and gives away a very stupid yellow card.

Foley, on the other hand, was his usual steady self. Didn't make any errors, but really didn't excel either.

People will fall on whatever side of the debate, but at this stage I don't think there is a player who is clearly superior.
.

Mate I couldn't believe that yellow card. Quade had one arm wrapped around him and the other touched the guy the same time as his body and shoulder. And it was by NO means a TACKLE. They bumped into each other. He can't disappear. The reffs were clearly heard saying there were no arms used......which instantly took all credibility away from their decision.
At best a penalty for allowing another player to take himself out of play by MILKING it like a pansy....then having the Gaul to complain about having his head checked haha.
And I'll tell you this....as a "playmaker"......Foley would be goooone if his kicking wasn't pretty good atm!

 

[Quick Hands]

On the topic, from my personal point of view, too much time is given to the "better hands at the back of the scrum".

Forwards now should be sufficiently skilful to pick the ball up at the back of a scrum, lineout, ruck, or any situation. I bet the ABs would have no issue moving any of their back row (or hooker) to 8 and playing at the same pace.

You clearly didn't watch the Aust 20s in action this year?

 

[Pfitzy]

You clearly didn't watch the Aust 20s in action this year?

No point watching a bunch of flat track bullies get dished up by opposition who play under proper senior rules years before them.

Its no wonder our age-grade rugby is so poor.

 

[Froggy]

I wasactually talking about Foley cleaning up loose balls, but, yeah I'm a Foley lover if I disagree with you if that makes happy

 

[Brumby Runner]

The game also laid bare the Cooper-Foley debate. Quade did a few really good things, the inside balls to DHP and Hooper were excellent. But he still shows that reluctance to take the ball into contact, and gives away a very stupid yellow card.

Foley, on the other hand, was his usual steady self. Didn't make any errors, but really didn't excel either.

People will fall on whatever side of the debate, but at this stage I don't think there is a player who is clearly superior.
.

Barbar - with Quade at 10 the Wallabies have had two reasonably convincing wins in TRC and have shown an attacking capacity that hasn't been obvious in any of the games that BF has played 10. Do you think that the improvement is all down to Bernie Larkham and that it would have happened if Bernard Foley had played 10 the last two games?

 

[Brumby Runner]

After four rounds of the NRC, I'd really like to see Jonno Lance get a chance with the Wallabies as backup 10 or starting 12 if Cheika wants to persist with the two play makers. He manages the Spirit backline better than any I've seen Foley control lately, he runs the ball just as effectively, distributes better, has a longer kick and is a way better defender/tackler. Also kicks goals just as good.

 

[Froggy]

I agree completely BB with the difference Quade makes to the attack, which to me means he's the right guy at 10.
The trade-off, unfortunately, is his disinclination to take the ball into contact under pressure and instead do some incredibly low percentage play, and his upright tackling style which sees him a) miss too many and b) get yellow carded in four of his last eight tests for an illegal tackle.

 

[Sully]

I agree completely BB with the difference Quade makes to the attack, which to me means he's the right guy at 10.
The trade-off, unfortunately, is his disinclination to take the ball into contact under pressure and instead do some incredibly low percentage play, and his upright tackling style which sees him a) miss too many and b) get yellow carded in four of his last eight tests for an illegal tackle.

I agree while also stating two of those YC's were the most pussy cards I have ever seen.