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D
daz
Guest
Kearns made a very good observation during the game. During the first 2 years, you have the team you inherited. In the 3rd year you have the team you made.
Deans now has his team. So does PdV. Want to bet on which team is on the way up? Cream rises to the top, baby.
The NRIs. It's that simple.
Nusadan
Chilla Wilson (44)
Means no shenanigans for QC (Quade Cooper) at 4am then...if he needs to look bright and bushy tailed for the hearing...
Unless you enjoyed it...
Brumby Jack
Steve Williams (59)
Hooray- they found Sharpies tooth
Thin Thighs
Ted Fahey (11)
Lost: 1 tooth
A top ad for all the mouthguard manufacturers?
N
Nomad10
Guest
Unfortunately, the Boks were wobbly losing by double the predicted difference... Back to the drawing board?
Langthorne
Phil Hardcastle (33)
I don't think it is as simple as that.
For starters, many of the players available for selection for the Springboks thrived under the NRIs in the s14.
For all the complaining about Robbie Deans as a coach, at least he isn't Peter De Villiers. De Villiers' selections and tactics have been very very poor. He has some injuries, but that is a part of the game. He has failed to select the best squad, the best 22, the best 15, and the best captain. He has also made a complete hash of tactics - the box kick, and kicking in general, are one example (so last season darling!)....Smit is not playing well enough to be the first choice hooker, and his leadership does not make up for that deficiency (although he does handle himself well at a press conference). Matfield is the obvious choice for captain. The other decision that I couldn't believe is that Fran Steyn isn't even in the squad!
Anyway, to the match.
Robinson really made the difference at scrum time, and it was great to see him come through his return match fit and healthy. Pocock is really displaying the sorts of performances that have been tormenting opponents of Ritchie McCaw for years. Elsom - some good work, aggression, attitude..but why why why did you have to kick?! WHY?! We are all missing George Smith, but there is no need to bring back the 'forwards kicking like idiots' play. Giteau had a much improved performance. The Boks were not good, but the Wallabies beat what was in front of them, can't really ask much more.
The ref. Is there any way we can have this guy for all the Wallaby Tri Nations matches?! and the World Cup?! and that all the Wallaby matches can be played in Brisbane? It is very helpful when the close decisions go your way - he even ran some great interference for Genia in the first half. The touch judge can get lost though - just assist, it is not your turn to be the star of the show mate.
The game has thankfully moved to a more positive approach, keep the ball, build pressure, try to make thing happen. The Boks are still playing a negative box kick / up and under approach trying to make the opp make errors.
It is so surprising, they have big units who work so well with ball in hand coming around the corner in waves
M
Muttonbird
Guest
Nice mental image there.
I guess if there is any fairness in the world that Fourie and Cooper should get two weeks for last nights work, that seems to be the standard set this year for lifting tackles.
Strange game, we had better individual performances in attack, but were just so average as a team with ball in hand, with just too much selfishness across the board. It was either Gits & AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) not passing for most of the night (passing only when you run out of options is dumb), Elsom's inability to think & run etc etc. I don't remember Horne being passed the ball all night, he was just great in defence, but do his team-mates dislike him or something? or is it as the junior member he isn't calling for the ball enough?
There were spasmodic moments when the forwards worked together for a change and had someone driving on their hip, but then we reverted to type and had the ball chucked to a flat footed forward who went nowhere. Don't these guys see the NRL, hit the ball at pace off quick ball and there is a chance to create momentum.
Genia was inflicted with the same lack of options as Burgess has been, we revert to slow, ponderous crash ball from a standing start after waiting hour for the pigs to get organised.
Our attempts to play "All Blacks Lite" seem to last about 5 minutes at best before we "forget".
A better ref could also cane us, as we constantly go off our feet - which takes units out of play for the following phase as they lay entangled having a little rest and gives Genia less options.
Strange game, we had better individual performances in attack, but were just so average as a team with ball in hand, with just too much selfishness across the board. It was either Gits & AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) not passing for most of the night (passing only when you run out of options is dumb), Elsom's inability to think & run etc etc. I don't remember Horne being passed the ball all night, he was just great in defence, but do his team-mates dislike him or something? or is it as the junior member he isn't calling for the ball enough?
There were spasmodic moments when the forwards worked together for a change and had someone driving on their hip, but then we reverted to type and had the ball chucked to a flat footed forward who went nowhere. Don't these guys see the NRL, hit the ball at pace off quick ball and there is a chance to create momentum.
Genia was inflicted with the same lack of options as Burgess has been, we revert to slow, ponderous crash ball from a standing start after waiting hour for the pigs to get organised.
Our attempts to play "All Blacks Lite" seem to last about 5 minutes at best before we "forget".
A better ref could also cane us, as we constantly go off our feet - which takes units out of play for the following phase as they lay entangled having a little rest and gives Genia less options.
C
chief
Guest
Getting changed into their night gear man. You don't wear suits to the clubs.
DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
Very critical analysis of what I thought was an improved performance by the Wobs, at least worthy of a few kinder remarks. I thought Horne ran a lot of decoy lines, maybe not recieving the ball but drawing defence instead. Elsom looked great to me. Seagulled a bit, but he was always moving and involved; actually led by example instead of saying he needs to.
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