Wallabies vs Wales - Docklands Stadium June 16

[Cardiffblue]

Spot on Gnostic, was like watching a diferent side than the one that won the GS,

Sorry Dai
Can't agree With calling this team dumb. They are the best team that has left Wales and last night they played to the standard of 6N champs. Difference was the Australian defence is better than any NH side.

Dont agree either that the ref had a good game. Second half was in all honesty dire to watch as he gave penalty after penalty to either side. I'm quite sure that from a technical point of view anyone can watch the replay a find a fault that justifies the final penalty to Australia. If you open the other eye you could, I am sure, find a penalty to wales in the same maul. IMO the the problem with rugby is that refs are deciding the outcome of too many games.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Oh and we missed Jamie the Jaw. Beck wasn't given the space to show what he can do. We needed a centre that could make the gain line. Felt sorry for Matthew Rees. Was on top form before RWC when he broke his wrist and has never made it back

 

[Penguin]

Was sharpe on the park? I didnt really notice..

You should watch a bit closer then.He's the bloke with the blue head gear getting through a lot of work in tight.


What was the crowd figure and how many does that stadium hold?
Looked like a very poor turn out on the tv.
I think that the ticket prices might need a bit of a review in the current financial climate. People are just not willing too spend too much at the moment.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Sharpe played a blinder. In the first half wales were forced to throw long. And second half he put in a helluva lot of work.

Very disappointed with venue choice. This game should've been in Sydney.

 

[Penguin]

OK Groucho, do you think the Wallabies played well enough to beat New Zealand? Or, for that matter, whichever team you think are the best in international rugby?

They didn't have to play well enough to beat NZ, they had to play well enough to beat Wales. If a team is only as good as it's last game when it loses it's only fair that the opposite is true.
We'll see a team with better players in the backline by the time the Ab tests come around.

 

[Slim 293]

It was just over 33,000...

I was sitting 3 rows in near halfway and there were half a dozen empty seats directly behind me.......

 

[Cardiffblue]

They didn't have to play well enough to beat NZ, they had to play well enough to beat Wales. If a team is only as good as it's last game when it loses it's only fair that the opposite is true.
We'll see a team with better players in the backline by the time the Ab tests come around.

Of course they are good enough to beat NZ. No idea why the rugby cringe exists in Australia. You beat the best team in NH and Ireland showed that NZ can be beaten

 

[Penguin]

The rugby cringe by some here is truly cringe worthy Cardiffblue.
Imo wondering if the Wallabies "played well enough last night to beat the All Blacks" is hugely disrespectful of Wales.
FFS we are in the here and now, worry about beating the AB's in 2 months time!!!!

 

[Cardiffblue]

Ireland managed to close down ABs for long periods last night. was strange to see the much vaunted AB backline crabbing across the field for space. Australia can do that too. and unlike Ireland they have the players to score more tries

 

[DPK]

Not if we continue to dither around at the breakdown and play too flat.

Our lineout was excellent last night, and Pocock is still our ace in the hole. But I think New Zealand would be looking at the way Wales shut down our attack by pushing up hard in defence and licking their lips.

 

[wamberal]

Not if we continue to dither around at the breakdown and play too flat.

Our lineout was excellent last night, and Pocock is still our ace in the hole. But I think New Zealand would be looking at the way Wales shut down our attack by pushing up hard in defence and licking their lips.

With or without Cooper, Beale, and Britney?

 

[Cardiffblue]

If backlines play deep these days they just never reach the gainline and if you really want to lose against NZ drop Barnes for Cooper and you really will have the ABs salivating

 

[Cardiffblue]

It was just over 33,000.

I was sitting 3 rows in near halfway and there were half a dozen empty seats directly behind me...

On the tele it looked half empty

 

[Bernie_Larkham]

What do you want from a 34 year old lock? He is perfoming admirably.

Lineout general - check
Make meters every time he carries the ball up - check
Safe hands and quick recycle in contact - check
Regularly destroys opposition rolling mauls - check


The man is exactly what we need at this juncture with Horwill out and the young locks not ready to make the next step. We are lucky to still have him.

Agreed, Sharpe is one of the first picked for mine. Simmons on the other hand and why is there no specialist lock on the bench?

Deans is a selection numpty

 

[DPK]

With or without Cooper, Beale, and Britney?

Well the problem doesn't originate in the backs. But to humour you:

Just Cooper? May cause more problems if he gets put under too much pressure.
Just JOC (James O'Connor) or Beale? May get some half breaks, not much of a difference.

All three? That would make a big difference.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Never thought I'd say it, but think Richie McCaw should make this his last international season. Still getting through loads of work but no where near as dominating has he was last year

 

[Bernie_Larkham]

Well said Groucho. It wasn't a vintage performance, but we got the chocolates in the end and that's more than the other blokes can say (with due credit to them of course). We can be a negative bunch at times (myself included).

What I liked:
- Berrick played out of his skin. His option taking was terrific, he took the line on constantly and passed well. Defence was very solid
- Scrum was very solid until the replacements.
- Bam and Higgers did really well at the breakdown, constantly putting pressure on the Welsh
- Our defence was generally very good. Wales didn't create a lot in general play
- Lineout was secure nearly all night (much better from TPN tonight)
- We got some good go forward around the fringes when nothing else was on
- The rolling maul at the end was gold. Aussie Gold
- Diggers running in broken play

What I didn't like:
- Fucking meerkatting from Sanchez again. Just get the bloody ball out!
- An inability to adjust to the Wales rush defence at times
- Scrum going to shit once Fat Cat went off
- AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) reminding me once again why I don't feel fullback is his natural spot. I really hope KB (Kurtley Beale) is fit for next week.
- Nothing created in the backs at all. The midfield was very static apart from that one break leading to Horne's try
- Vuna's performance. That was dumb footy and nearly cost us the game. KB (Kurtley Beale) in next week and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to the wing.

Barnes played quite well but he wasn't amazing by any stretch. The problems you point to above involves BB heavily.

Genia waits as nothing is ready, Barnes did not alter tactics due to rush defense (no second man plays at all) and no creativity. Ah that comes from your major playmaker - guess who?

Also kicked out on the full which ended with Wales scoring 7 points and some more aimless kicking also. Good but isn't the man for me...

 

[Cardiffblue]

Barnes played quite well but he wasn't amazing by any stretch. The problems you point to above involves BB heavily.

Genia waits as nothing is ready, Barnes did not alter tactics due to rush defense (no second man plays at all) and no creativity. Ah that comes from your major playmaker - guess who?

Also kicked out on the full which ended with Wales scoring 7 points and some more aimless kicking also. Good but isn't the man for me.

Maybe, but Cooper is way overrated and unless he gets the ball in broken play, his sidestep jump is going to see him get creamed every time

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Never thought I'd say it, but think Richie McCaw should make this his last international season. Still getting through loads of work but no where near as dominating has he was last year

I've said for the last couple of seasons that he won't make the next world cup, as I don't reckon his body will carry him the distance. Flanker is hugely demanding on the body and you don't see a lot of mid-30's opensides running around in international rugby.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Oh and on another issue. How can any good attacking player chasing a kick avoid hitting a defender in mid air and getting himself binned. 1/2P has learned from bitter experience vs France that you jump for everything and fall hard if hit. then teamates come in for a bit of handbag throwing and a player gets binned.