Wallabies v Pumas - Saturday 17 September, nib Stadium Perth

[ACT Crusader]

I'll take that a step further and say that it's often the #7. The traditional brief for the 7 is to be at every (within reason) breakdown and hence they are the most involved. Similarly, as you point out, the fly half touches a high percentage of the attacking ball, but they actually have to do good things with it to get the votes.

How 'traditional' are we talking KOB? Because from my experience that hasn't been the case for the number 7 for many (at least 30) years. Yes they are there competing at the collisions for a good portion of the game, but the expectation for them to "always be there" is far less as they are fanning out more and more. They are more involved in ball running, tackle rate, support play and other aspects that all take their toll.

 

[Micheal]

The scrum. Last bastion of true male manliness. As a bloke, you just havent lived unless you've packed down in a few scrums. What it is to be a bloke.

And then we see that crap "defensive" LO, not me sir, I have no balls, no I have intention of engaging those brutes, please help my poor useless self with your whistle.

Laughing stock, no forward deserved MOTM consideration who was in those LOs. I was almost barracking for Etzechest to thump one or two of them. It's not rugby. Imvho.

Even with the obvious advantage that the pigs get to pack, my MOTM was the smallest bloke on the field. Weird.

I hope this is some sort of sick joke.

If we can get ascendancy or a favourable outcome through wit and intelligence we should forego it and instead contest a rolling maul (of which we are the weaker party), because it'd be the "manly" thing to do?

Fuck deceptive backline plays as well then. Dummy runners? Nup. Multiple attacking options to divide the defence? Nup. Tell the opposition whose going to receive the ball before the play starts and then try to run the fuck over them. That'd be the manly thing to do. The person who comes off best in the contact, defender or attacker, will obviously have the bigger willy. Any other strategy is just plain embarrassing.

Let me guess, you don't like electrical tools because they're less "manly" than their manual counterparts?

Theres a reason society moved from barbarity to the culture we see today. Its because it works and because you'd be stupid not to. Those who don't adapt and learn get left in the dust. "Luddites" should have no place in our national team.

 

[Highlander35]

I hope this is some sort of sick joke.

If we can get ascendancy or a favourable outcome through wit and intelligence we should forego it and instead contest a rolling maul (of which we are the weaker party), because it'd be the "manly" thing to do?

Fuck deceptive backline plays as well then. Dummy runners? Nup. Multiple attacking options to divide the defence? Nup. Tell the opposition whose going to receive the ball before the play starts and then try to run the fuck over them. That'd be the manly thing to do. The person who comes off best in the contact, defender or attacker, will obviously have the bigger willy. Any other strategy is just plain embarrassing.

Let me guess, you don't like electrical tools because they're less "manly" than their manual counterparts?

Theres a reason society moved from barbarity to the culture we see today. Its because it works and because you'd be stupid not to. Those who don't adapt and learn get left in the dust. "Luddites" should have no place in our national team.

1- Front Row Master Race. All others are inferior.

2- really? Either you're sarcasm detector is turned off, or are making a really bad attempt at counter sarcasm.

 

[Micheal]

1- Front Row Master Race. All others are inferior.

2- really? Either you're sarcasm detector is turned off, or are making a really bad attempt at counter sarcasm.

Few drinks, missed sarcasm, feel foolish, will apologise.

Sorry Dru.

Apologised.

 

[Pfitzy]

and the Fiji, USA and Uruguay games helped.

Here's the breakdown per opponent.

View attachment 8477

No doubt those RWC games helped. But then we've never lost to Italy so what weight do you put on those games?

Its much of a muchness for me.


Fuck what happened against the Boks when Link was in charge?

 

[Quick Hands]

Player's pick is probably more realistic.

And I think tht you will find that Michael Hooper wins this on a regular basis.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Cheika's comments today about wanting to create depth at lock are very welcome.

I don't expect the coach to pander to the fans but, to be honest, whole swathes of fans are completely baffled by his seemingly 'spin the bottle' selection processes.

There's a lot to be gained by a little explanation as to why he's doing this or that.

So, today's insight gets a thumbs-up and I hope it continues.

I'd like to be able to take him at his word. But the Simmons' case doesn't seem to support it.

As I recall, Simmons was dropped (not injured) from the second England test and if memory serves me, he didn't play otherwise to prove he had regained form but nevertheless was reinstated for the third test.

He was then dropped (again not injured) after the Bledisloe tests and despite a couple of below par performances in the NRC is now again reinstated. Can't see how that sort of treatment is helpful at all to either Simmons or to any other lock trying to force his way into the Wallabies.

 

[BarneySF]

Interesting re Douglas. IIRC, Cheiks played him as much as he could leading up to the RWC because he was short of a run after injury? Don't know his stats from last few games but given he's a fan of his style of play, I would have thought he'd continue to work him into some fighting shape come the tail end of the season? Unless he was seeing something crap at training?

 

[BarneySF]

Excited to see some T Money in the second half!

There was an article today (or maybe last night) which suggested an area where they need to get him the ball is quick second phase play coming around the corner from the breakdown where he can attack that pillar defender and really get us on the front foot.

As long as he can stay on his feet and get over the line - and not go to ground within nano seconds of being touched like his brother before him.

 

[KOB1987]

I'd like to be able to take him at his word. But the Simmons' case doesn't seem to support it.

As I recall, Simmons was dropped (not injured) from the second England test and if memory serves me, he didn't play otherwise to prove he had regained form but nevertheless was reinstated for the third test.

He was then dropped (again not injured) after the Bledisloe tests and despite a couple of below par performances in the NRC is now again reinstated. Can't see how that sort of treatment is helpful at all to either Simmons or to any other lock trying to force his way into the Wallabies.

Well look at it this way. We need at least 3 locks in the 23, sometimes we might want 4. Coleman and Arnold are the future so let's say that from now, as long as they are fit and worthy of selection, they are always going to take up 2 spots. Who's the 3rd pick? Is it Simmons or is it Douglas? (I know you bang on about Tom staniforth but let's forget about him for now, he's not in the squad). And then there's the risk of injury. So it pays to keep them both in the loop, and I think they are being rotated. Which is kind of one of the reasons for having a 30 man squad, it's helping create depth.

It might look like he's playing spin the bottle from our perspective, but we aren't privy to the conversations and explanations being given to the players.

 

[KOB1987]

How 'traditional' are we talking KOB? Because from my experience that hasn't been the case for the number 7 for many (at least 30) years. Yes they are there competing at the collisions for a good portion of the game, but the expectation for them to "always be there" is far less as they are fanning out more and more. They are more involved in ball running, tackle rate, support play and other aspects that all take their toll.

Yeah I'm not putting a timeframe on it and I nearly deleted my post for stating the obvious, but your description of the modern 7 only supports the point, they might have a more structured role these days but they still have pretty much a freelance brief to inject themselves into the play where they are of most benefit. Also, you are describing an international 7 which is fair enough as it's the root of the discussion, but each time you drop down a level the role of the 7 reverts more to that of the traditional fetcher.

 

[shanky]

Brumby Runner

I agree that Cheika isn't perhaps managing the process that well but I feel a little better knowing that he at least has some purpose in mind.

Organised chopping-and-changing being a little more comforting than the totally random variety!

 

[Scrubber2050]

This talk of Chek's comments about creating depth at lock blah blah is funny to me.

Purely classic Chek spin to deflect mounting criticism (in this case surrounding merry-go-round lock selection)

I am more cynical than most punters out there who believe anything and everything they read or hear in an interview.

 

[KOB1987]

Why? It seems perfectly reasonable to me. Maybe not in a World Cup year, but in the rebuild year that follows, certainly.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Why? It seems perfectly reasonable to me. Maybe not in a World Cup year, but in the rebuild year that follows, certainly.

Good spin always appears reasonable

 

[Joe Blow]

Of course Cheika is just switching the locks around and having a giggle at us the punters. There is no rhyme or reason but he sure is getting a kick out of it. Yeah we have lost a couple along the way, but hey, its fucking hilarious.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Of course Cheika is just switching the locks around and having a giggle at us the punters. There is no rhyme or reason but he sure is getting a kick out of it. Yeah we have lost a couple along the way, but hey, its fucking hilarious.

Another one !

You believers are coming out of the cracks bigtime

 

[KOB1987]

Well considering he's talking specifically about the locks which have been the area of consistent disparity with our opposition for years you could be excused for believing it. Seriously, some of you blokes won't put a rational explanation ahead of a conspiracy theory or incompetence ever.

 

[Pfitzy]

I am more cynical than most punters out there who believe anything and everything they read or hear in an interview.

Unless Link says it.

 

[pissedoffihavetoregister]

Could it be to do with the new skills coach and his coaching. They seem to be jumping differently now from what they did a few weeks ago (with so far much better success). Maybe Cheik wants them all trained and tested in the new ways.