DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
Shorts are a bit tight, I think.
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Shorts are a bit tight, I think.
Blue
Andrew Slack (58)
From 6.
There is a big difference between Super 14 no 6 and Test 8.
The guy needs time off the bench before anyone can say he's ready.
topo
Cyril Towers (30)
Cyclo, as a medico you should know that you don't order a test when you don't want to know the answer!
DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
Maybe he's the Rugby equivalant of Caster Semenya?
Scott Allen
Trevor Allan (34)
I watched Higgers play yesterday in club rugby. Nucifora was there too, specifically to watch him. If I was a selector I'd spend my time watching elsewhere - did not offer much at all and was outplayed by one of his own teammates. The only hard stuff he came up with was a cheap, late shot on the opposing half back.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
That was better by the Wallabies, but it had to be, didn't it? The big step ups were in grunt work and scrambling defence. Pocock's effort in nailing Habana about 5 minutes before oranges was at a point where the match could have been tipped because a few minutes later the juggler juggled a try.
The Wallabies played a high tempo game that everybody had predicted for them, and earlier for the All Blacks for that matter; and as for the All Blacks, it worked.
Players returning from injury: Fat Cat, Genia, and even Moore for 25 charging minutes, made a difference. Others had their best game this year. Giteau attacked as in his days of pomp and was just as impressive with some just in time tackles; Mitchell did his reprieve justice, Mumm was tip-top, Elsom Rocked, Richard was like a brown dog, Pocock bam-bammed and Ma'afu looked like a real Wallaby.
Hardly anybody had a poor game though a forensic examination of gaps around the ruck may change that opinion. Breakdown work was good and sometimes superb; even the counter-rucking was better than that from the Boks.
A pity about the ball work and attacking decisions in the 2nd half especially. Even though All Blacks' winning margin was about the same over two tests it doesn't signify because there were too many fumbling moves by the Wallabies. Players were not seeing the same things in front of them after oranges otherwise those 49 points 4 years ago could have been totted up again. Should have been.
Attackers left too many points on the park and sterling defenders saved them blushes.
They will have to be more clinical against the All Blacks; all chances have to be transformed into points.
The Wallabies played a high tempo game that everybody had predicted for them, and earlier for the All Blacks for that matter; and as for the All Blacks, it worked.
Players returning from injury: Fat Cat, Genia, and even Moore for 25 charging minutes, made a difference. Others had their best game this year. Giteau attacked as in his days of pomp and was just as impressive with some just in time tackles; Mitchell did his reprieve justice, Mumm was tip-top, Elsom Rocked, Richard was like a brown dog, Pocock bam-bammed and Ma'afu looked like a real Wallaby.
Hardly anybody had a poor game though a forensic examination of gaps around the ruck may change that opinion. Breakdown work was good and sometimes superb; even the counter-rucking was better than that from the Boks.
A pity about the ball work and attacking decisions in the 2nd half especially. Even though All Blacks' winning margin was about the same over two tests it doesn't signify because there were too many fumbling moves by the Wallabies. Players were not seeing the same things in front of them after oranges otherwise those 49 points 4 years ago could have been totted up again. Should have been.
Attackers left too many points on the park and sterling defenders saved them blushes.
They will have to be more clinical against the All Blacks; all chances have to be transformed into points.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
The Boks
Let's not get too carried away with the victory; let's remember how well we compete in the RSA. Would the Boks be 0 for 3 had they opened the 3N campaign at home instead of away? No, I don't think so either. They'll be waiting for the ANZACS.
But despite some of the Bok players looking good in the Super14, we can all see some cracks appearing in the test team that DiV inherited. Most Boks had some good moments in Brisbane but they are not 80 minute players with the guys they start with these days; not in the 2010 environment now that some critical laws are being refereed as the law makers intended.
And it was not rocket science that Oz and NZ did not kick the ball out much: Eddie Jones did the same thing at the Brumbies 10 years ago when Giffin was absent once, injured. Because the Boks lineout is such an attacking weapon, they lost a platform.
As predicted: they lost another plank at the rucks with no fetcher selected. Kankowski played well enough but for a moment of madness when he stepped inside with Aplon begging for the ball and a try, but he was a bad trade for Louw because Burger had to play on the openside. Pogieter would have made a difference as fetcher and until Brüssow is fit again we should see him starting.
They have several strong powerful forwards in the RSA but they need a few with more aerobic capacity.
When he gets home Div and his staff have some thinking to do about how to reinvent his team for the 2010 game and which players to use for it.
I'm picking that the iconic Smit may be retired after 3N if BdP is on deck. The skipper is back at hooker now and his throw straight to Elsom before oranges launched the attack for the juggle try. Matfield can get around the park but is he better these days than Becker when he is fit?
Some serious thought has to be given to selections at 10 and 12 also. When the kick/chase and territory game was working a treat last year Morne Steyn was a wonder. Now folks wonder what value he is when that way of playing isn't valid. They brought Butch James on with 25 minutes to go in Brisbane hoping he would help to get a bonus point, at least; so what price for Butch to start next time?
12 Olivier has barely been noticed in 3 tests and should be replaced by de Jongh, at least until JdV is available.
Zirkner? If Euro players can be used, why not Frans Steyn?
PS – anybody else notice a sneaky Burger hand around Pocock's eyes?
.
Let's not get too carried away with the victory; let's remember how well we compete in the RSA. Would the Boks be 0 for 3 had they opened the 3N campaign at home instead of away? No, I don't think so either. They'll be waiting for the ANZACS.
But despite some of the Bok players looking good in the Super14, we can all see some cracks appearing in the test team that DiV inherited. Most Boks had some good moments in Brisbane but they are not 80 minute players with the guys they start with these days; not in the 2010 environment now that some critical laws are being refereed as the law makers intended.
And it was not rocket science that Oz and NZ did not kick the ball out much: Eddie Jones did the same thing at the Brumbies 10 years ago when Giffin was absent once, injured. Because the Boks lineout is such an attacking weapon, they lost a platform.
As predicted: they lost another plank at the rucks with no fetcher selected. Kankowski played well enough but for a moment of madness when he stepped inside with Aplon begging for the ball and a try, but he was a bad trade for Louw because Burger had to play on the openside. Pogieter would have made a difference as fetcher and until Brüssow is fit again we should see him starting.
They have several strong powerful forwards in the RSA but they need a few with more aerobic capacity.
When he gets home Div and his staff have some thinking to do about how to reinvent his team for the 2010 game and which players to use for it.
I'm picking that the iconic Smit may be retired after 3N if BdP is on deck. The skipper is back at hooker now and his throw straight to Elsom before oranges launched the attack for the juggle try. Matfield can get around the park but is he better these days than Becker when he is fit?
Some serious thought has to be given to selections at 10 and 12 also. When the kick/chase and territory game was working a treat last year Morne Steyn was a wonder. Now folks wonder what value he is when that way of playing isn't valid. They brought Butch James on with 25 minutes to go in Brisbane hoping he would help to get a bonus point, at least; so what price for Butch to start next time?
12 Olivier has barely been noticed in 3 tests and should be replaced by de Jongh, at least until JdV is available.
Zirkner? If Euro players can be used, why not Frans Steyn?
PS – anybody else notice a sneaky Burger hand around Pocock's eyes?
.
RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
I support fp, he made some great, tough-thinking points unhindered by the typical cloying Aus rugby patriotism that takes every little glimmer of goodness and recycles into premature praise before it's really deserved. Why should we be 'kinder'? Do we feel we are operating here at GAGR a motivational unit for the Wallaby mind? (DPK - NB: not saying at all you are guilty of the above, but IMO many are.)
I contest that over-generous, forgiving and indulgent analysis of the Wallabies by much of the mainstream commentariat is a significant part of why we have had years of failure and under-performance.
These Wallabies (and coaches) are highly paid professionals, carrying the flag of what was once a very successful tradition of achievement. Unless the better end of the blogosphere shows leadership in tough analysis and asking the hard questions and demanding results consistent with cost and immense fan loyalty, we will be admitting that 'performing OK' and second-best has gradually become acceptable and we have thus endorsed a kind of 'we'll never be great again' mindset.
liquor box
Peter Sullivan (51)
Yes it was there, but I think it was not poking his eye, it just slid over it. With the amount of niggle between these 2 on the night I am pretty sure if he gouged it would have been on for young and old
mate, I thought his lineout work was excellent. I think he lacked a little intensity with the ball. But I remember the same thing happening in his first couple of appearances for the Reds this year, and he improved hugely as he realised he is a big lad with a bit of grunt about him. I think he'll be in the starting side come the end of the tri-nations.
Blue
Andrew Slack (58)
There's something there. Definitely.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I thought the bloke did fine once he came on. We certainly didn't lose anything there. I thought he was good for the Reds this year also.
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