Wallabies v. Springboks, 18th July 2015, Suncorp, Brisbane

[Scrubber2050]

What happened in your view? I honestly can't work out how you get such a low crowd to a Springboks match - a massive and hated rival side of Australia's, the number 2 ranked team in the world and in a critical match leading into the world cup?

I mean FSS Queenslanders turned out in force to fill Suncorp out to watch a bunch of pommy soccer players prance around in a meaningless practice match against the 'Brisbane Meows' or whatever they're called. Why couldn't they turn up for a classic and top class Rugby grudge match that actually means something?

I had no idea soccer had such a following up there.

Agree - there are plenty of "sooks" out there !!!!!

Great game great result

 

[Brumby Runner]

After thinking about this match for a day or two the phrase, "curate's egg", just won't go away. My thoughts:

1. A win's a win. Can't get much better than that, especially due to a microscopically scored try in the 83rd minute.

2. I've been watching rugby in Australia for, about, 50 years. In that time I'm continually bemused how we haven't learnt how to commit an adequate number of forwards (or others) to a breakdown to ensure we secure our ball, or put pressure on our opponents'. To watch the Bokke pigs march the pill up the paddock and note Stephen Moore standing next to said maul (to what end Christ only knows) astounds me. Did he learn this technique from Al Baxter, perhaps? The hesitation in our commitment to the breakdown cost us dearly in the first 50 minutes, something I sincerely hope TGC will rectify instantly.

On this point I've watched forwards bludging at the breakdown all the way from under 12s at schoolboy level through Colts and grade and up to Super Rugby and tests. Until we learn to enjoy commitment at the tackle/maul/ruck we won't win too many more RWCs.

3. Hooper played like a man possessed with outstanding tackling, linking and running, while Pocock was the usual beast at the coal-face when an arm-wrestle was required to secure competed ball. That result notwithstanding I WOULDN'T PLAY THEM TOGETHER AGAIN! The balance on the Bokke back-row should be a lesson in effectiveness: Louw and Berger were magnificent. They complemented each other very well (and probably attracted post-match compliments for their play...). TGC has to decide whose style of play's required for individual opponents and select accordingly. I can see benefits from either player coming on late in a match with both Hooper's speed and Pocock's physicality potential match-winners, but I'd like to see a more balanced back row run on. There again, who'd be a selector.

4. The scrum went OK, just. The age-old Aussie habit of meerkatting bit us on the arse a few times, I suspect TGC will have stern words to offenders. The few times the scrum was screwed and pinged looked like it was the LH side; is Slipper carrying an injury? I suspect he is, and should be sent to the infirmary post-haste to ensure he's fixed for the RWC.

5. A coupla players had quiet games: Kepu, Skelton and Higginbotham. Keps must have clocked up a million miles this year and should be carefully managed. Big Willie's still coming to terms with the pace of test rugby with his huge frame; he, too, should also be judiciously paced in the RC. Higgers was very disappointing, is he up to test rugby?

6. The halves were adequate, considering our ruck/maul ball wasn't as secure as it should be. Genia started with some confident play and good decision-making. Then the dreaded pre-passing steps crept in, to be followed by a coupla box kicks. I honestly felt the quality Genia was reappearing in the first half; did the wounded knee affect his battle for the ball? Cooper probably tried a bit too hard to play a wide game too early, as is his want. With Fardy, Hooper, Kuridrani and Folau following play around maybe a tighter game would work better. Play looked a lot crisper and more direct when Phipps came on with his lightning quick sprints to the breakdown and instant passing. A lesson to all young scrummies.

For just one match could we please see Phipps, Cooper and To'omua at 9/10/12? I'd love to see how well Quade'd fare with fast ball.

7. The quality of the reserves was very encouraging for the immediate future of the Wallabies. How long has it been since that could be said?

8. The wingers for the first test undoubtedly justified their selection following on from their Super season. But, I'd dearly like to see one winger with searing pace, which neither Horne nor AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) possess. Rob's a crucial part of the defence when the backs move from attack to defence phase, if anyone can be trusted to flatten Nonu or Roberts or any other big bruiser aiming to burst through the midfield it's Rob Horne (not that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s a slouch when it comes to tackling, but Horne's better). AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) must be the perfect outside back reserve. If either Tomane or Speight put on a good show when they get the opportunity I'd be delighted.

9. My last comment's directed to those supporters in gold from north of the Tweed, and I do so carefully. If that match wasn't testament to what a shithouse job RG's done with his charges the last few years, well, nothing is. With just a few sessions from TGC Genia and Horwill showed glimpses of the players they were, and still could be if they'd been motivated and inspired this year. I suspect there isn't enough time to bring them both up to speed, which is a shame. And a concluding reason to sack RG tomorrow. It is absolutely imperative for the health of Australian rugby the two biggest unions continue to develop their squads and produce competitive teams. Like many Tahs supporters I was very critical of the coaching staff during the Hickey/Foley era, just as many are now of RG and his assistants. Reds HQ, please fix this instantly if not sooner.

@Lindommer - a quality post and very well thought out and presented. My only small point of contention is that a good part of the bench on Saturday should have been in the starting side. And then I think there would be better bench options than some of those who started. Specifically, To'omua and Pocock should start while Foley, Lealiifano would be better bench options imo. Will Skelton is a mystery atm. At his best he should be there but he was certainly not up to scratch last week. Higgers and Hooper should not start together, but that was blindingly obvious to some of us as soon as the team was announced last week. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is most definitely the outside back benchie for mine, with Tomane to start until Speight comes back in.

 

[swingpass]

I have been thinking about "Higgers" work on the weekend

He may have looked worse because of the game plan not working successfully in the first half.

i agree that the plan was to have them running wide a la the AB's. the two critical differences were the inaccurate clean out in midfield by the remaining forwards and the ineffectual clean outs by Giteau and Kurindrani. Its rare that either Nonu or C Smith are inaccurate in driving over the ball.

the kick was badly executed not necessarily the worst option ( although i do also prefer the ball kept in hand). we have seen Higgers do the kick and chase for a try successfully on a number of occaisions. personally i think he should remain in the 23 but on the bench as cover for 6/8

 

[Strewthcobber]

What happened in your view? I honestly can't work out how you get such a low crowd to a Springboks match - a massive and hated rival side of Australia's, the number 2 ranked team in the world and in a critical match leading into the world cup?

I mean FSS Queenslanders turned out in force to fill Suncorp out to watch a bunch of pommy soccer players prance around in a meaningless practice match against the 'Brisbane Meows' or whatever they're called. Why couldn't they turn up for a classic and top class Rugby grudge match that actually means something?

I had no idea soccer had such a following up there.

Punters aren't stupid nor do they forget.

All I read all week was how cheika could experiment with the team because the TRC didn't matter as much before the world cup at the end if the year. Juat adds to the Saffers sending reserves last cycle.

Plus there's the little incident which caused the very popular ex-qld coach to be dumped last year. It had an impact

Edit didn't even mention how crap going to the rugby at Suncorp has been thisbyear

 

[TahDan]

Punters aren't stupid nor do they forget.

All I read all week was how cheika could experiment with the team because the TRC didn't matter as much before the world cup at the end if the year. Juat adds to the Saffers sending reserves last cycle.

Plus there's the little incident which caused the very popular ex-qld coach to be dumped last year. It had an impact

Edit didn't even mention how crap going to the rugby at Suncorp has been thisbyear

So you reckon the Link stuff has had a lasting effect on the Qld rugby community to the point where they're just not that enthused about supporting the Wallabies?

Granted the Reds had an awful year, but the Wallabies aren't the Reds...

Take your point on the team being a bit experimental, but by the same token they weren't resting anyone and even with the RC "not mattering as much" it's still more important than some BS game of tiddlywinks against a pommy soccer team that genuinely doesn't matter at all and goes to nothing.

 

[boyo]

We seemed to have Fardy & Higgers posted as wide support right and left; much wider that we usually play (sweeping generalisation but bare with me).

If your avatar is any indication, more than enough baring has occurred.

 

[fatprop]

If your avatar is any indication, more than enough baring has occurred.

Hey, don't knock the god who is George "the animal" Steele

 

[todd4]

Hey, don't knock the god who is George "the animal" Steele

I thought he was Brute Bernard!

 

[Lindommer]

Can you please cover the bastard up, fp?

 

[JJJ]

Just watched the game. First impressions:

Genia has to be, at best, a bench option from now on. Or get his running game back.

Don't really understand the Cooper praise I've been reading around the internet. I thought he had a bad game.

Wallaby scrum once more less than solid. Not very promising against a bok scrum which isn't exactly the toughest in international rugby. On that showing England will be picking their number 8 against us for soccer skills more than ball-carrying.

I wish our forwards made more of an effort to drive through the tackle (Hooper aside). I think a lot of the easy turnovers SA got were from our forwards flopping to the ground with minimal assistance from the opposition.

Someone needs to smack that Wannabe-Bakkies smile off Etzebeth's face. See if he keeps gurning after he's lost some teeth. At least he fired up Horwill for the rest of the match.

Higgers did his chances no favours. I guess the boks are a good side to test if a looser backrow combination is viable at test level. It was not. I expected a hungrier performance from him after so much time out of the international scene. That said, I haven't looked at his stats for the game. Maybe he hit a bundle of rucks I didn't notice.

I wasn't at all disappointed in Git's comeback. He looked sharp in attack and defense. There's life in the old crab yet.

It was great to see Pocock on, doing what Pocock does. Hooper was my MOTM (BdP no doubt would've been if he'd stayed on), but I'd still start Pocock. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Cheika starts Pocock and Hooper against the argies.

All in all it's hard to tell if our bench was awesome or SA's bench was terrible. I think Cheika has done well to get a win with Genia, Cooper, Hooper and Higgers starting. Now their fans can't complain that they weren't given a shot and, more importantly, can't complain if they aren't started again. And there's no way 37k people would've turned up to Suncorp if Genia and Cooper hadn't been starting.

The boks will destroy us at home.

 

[vidiot]

The boks will destroy us at home.

Unless I've missed something, they won't get the chance this year.

 

[TahDan]

Unless I've missed something, they won't get the chance this year.

They won't and you're right - We only play each side once this year.

 

[JJJ]

Unless I've missed something, they won't get the chance this year.

Really? Haven't paid much attention to the venues, obviously. That's a shame for them but good for us. I would've expected a scoreline in the vicinity of 40-5. Late unconverted consolation try for us, not-entirely-baseless moans about the ref being influenced by the crowd. Every hot woman in said crowd being picked out by the cameramen.

 

[PaarlBok]

Just watched the game. First impressions:
Someone needs to smack that Wannabe-Bakkies smile off Etzebeth's face. See if he keeps gurning after he's lost some teeth.

Think you got that one wrong. Ysterbeth is no wanna be Bakkies, he is a much better lock. No way he'll stand back to be bullied by Higgers or whatever. I'll bet someone will smack that face of him, that someone will wake up in hospital.

 

[JJJ]

Think you got that one wrong. Ysterbeth is no wanna be Bakkies, he is a much better lock. No way he'll stand back to be bullied by Higgers or whatever. I'll bet someone will smack that face of him, that someone will wake up in hospital.

I was referring more to his grinning at opposition players during/after scuffles than playing ability. You can't tell me that isn't modelled on Bakkies. I guess it depends on if he plays for your team how you feel about it. If he does then it's great to see a young guy enjoying his handbags. If he doesn't it's an insolent, affected smirk 10 years too old or 10 years too young for him.

 

[vidiot]

I was at the ground in the cheap seats, sandwiched between my kids who it turns out have no interest in rugby and a very polite set of springbok fans who were only too pleased to shoot the breeze. Still haven't watched the replay so my perception was more about the shape they played with.

I gave Quade an ongoing spray just for the fun of it but thought his game was passable considering his lack of football.

Cheika had them playing with width in the first half and Cooper played to that plan. At one point Higgers and Fardy were blind and openside wingers and the ball seemed to go across the field from one to the other. Ball carriers like Skelton were wide of the ruck and the Springboks were good enough to make tackles and isolate them.

Genia seemed to slow down as the first half wore on and I was much happier to see Phipps emerge at half time. The tempo of the wobs really kicked up and the difference it made was palpable. When Horwill came on he and the other forward runners worked closer in off faster ball and it worked. Maybe it would have helped Skelton too.

Gits.... he was ok but I like To'omua at 12, his defence is jolting and he carries, kicks and distributes so well. Gits isn't going to make many breaks against that top tier at this stage of his career and To'omua is better at everything else.

 

[PaarlBok]

I was referring more to his grinning at opposition players during/after scuffles than playing ability. You can't tell me that isn't modelled on Bakkies. I guess it depends on if he plays for your team how you feel about it. If he does then it's great to see a young guy enjoying his handbags. If he doesn't it's an insolent, affected smirk 10 years too old or 10 years too young for him.

Trust me I know where Ysterbeth comes from. His two ooms Skattie & Cliffie rules the northern and southern suburbs of Cape Town, usually Eben dont use his fists, they know everything about head butt. They'll put Bakkies to shame boet. I am worried for the day some dumb player will try to smack Eben. He'll wake up in hospital.

 

[JJJ]

Trust me I know where Ysterbeth comes from. His two ooms Skattie & Cliffie rules the northern and southern suburbs of Cape Town, usually Eben dont use his fists, they know everything about head butt. They'll put Bakkies to shame boet. I am worried for the day some dumb player will try to smack Eben. He'll wake up in hospital.

Didn't he get suspended for an attempted headbutt? Against us? Perth, iirc. Not a strong argument against a punch in the mouth.

 

[PaarlBok]

Didn't he get suspended for an attempted headbutt? Against us? Perth, iirc. Not a strong argument against a punch in the mouth.

Think so, thats why I am worried about him. The Wallabies did this a lot vs Bakkies, Eben is a trigger like Battleship. No way they'll take a smack with a smile.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

What happened in your view? I honestly can't work out how you get such a low crowd to a Springboks match - a massive and hated rival side of Australia's, the number 2 ranked team in the world and in a critical match leading into the world cup?

I mean FSS Queenslanders turned out in force to fill Suncorp out to watch a bunch of pommy soccer players prance around in a meaningless practice match against the 'Brisbane Meows' or whatever they're called. Why couldn't they turn up for a classic and top class Rugby grudge match that actually means something?

I had no idea soccer had such a following up there.

There's a number of reasons to chose from, and you can get an idea of them by browsing a few other threads and probably even the early parts of this one. I'm not going to de-rail this thread going into them, but don't underestimate the damage to the "brand" done over the last 12-18 months. That will take time to recover.

As for soccer having a large following, in Qld, you might look a bit closer to home - there were more than 80,000 people at ANZ stadium a month ago to watch the same thing (Chelsea vs Sydney). Considering that it's a rare occasion those teams will be playing here it's no surprise the crowds were big.