Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
1 Slipper - probably had the best of Bemba but didn't show enough consistent accuracy
2 BPA - got a meat pie but fluffed a lineout throw in another critical position (22m) right on halftime
3 AAA - did the meat and potatoes, got a couple of runs in
4 Philip - part of a dominant set piece but wasn't carrying like last year
5 LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) - didn't do anything stupid which was a start, and yeah set piece, but looked after by the defence
6 Valetini - I thought he was a bit quiet compared to his form in SRTT. Still finding feet with the back row combination
7 Hooper - a couple of good decisions at the ruck and maul, and a smart try, but I thought we could have taken 3 earlier than the 30th minute and asked the ref to hand out the cheese
8 Wilson - solid shift without being spectacular - a bit like Valetini, really. Has good instincts but our forwards in general were a bit ponderous. That early scrum where he lost control was a bit of a black mark - he or Gordon should have picked up as it was unstable.
9 Gordon - steppy-steppy-passy is not as good as just pass-from-base. Combinations again
10 Lolesio - nailed a couple of important kicks but hardly driving the team around. Got some slow ball but also gave some slow ball
11 Koroibete - beast. Thought some of his runs were too lateral but he hit blokes hard and loves a pick n go
12 To'omua - bit of a handbrake on that backline. His confidence looks shot and his decision timing is too early or too late
13 Paisami - rocks and diamonds - great kick through when half our backs joined a stationary maul
but the crossfield and late kicks? Yeesh... Handling in contact wasn't the best.
14 Wright - always thinks it's "on", even when it is decidedly "not". He could be world class with all that talent, if it wasn't anchored to a questionable decision-making cortex. Fluffed a pretty basic try on the kick through, and threw a bullet switch pass to Paisami's head.
15 Banks - superb under the high ball. Too greedy with an early touch finder and fluffed a fairly simple midfield bomb into touch on the full. Dangerous on the kick return even if our ruck work didn't back him up. I'm not sure whether he's the fullback we need, or the bench player for back 3.
16 Lonergan - he looks tiny out there, but gives it everything. Fluffed an early throw but recovered to help get us possession in position
17 Bell - came on and did the work. A good tackle
18 Tupou - Three scrum penalties out of 5 scrums and gave away a short arm for early engage. Beast run at the end.
19 Swain - great presence at lineout time. Not quite ready to start I don't think, but our scrum certainly didn't suffer with him out there
20 Naisarani - provided a threat with ball in hand over the gain line but was looked after well by France's D line.
21 Tate - critical plays at the end but still not convinced about his passing as a starter. Lolesio's second dropgoal attempt showed what I mean.
22 Ikitau - did he get on?
23 Kellaway - he's a smarter footballer after his stint overseas, and could probably come into the starting lineup. Could have had a meat pie on debut if that kick was even 5% better.
Good bits: composure, goal kicking, set piece, bench impact.
Work-ons: ruck time, midfield passing, attack narrow early, defend wider early.
As I said above: wouldn't change anything for game 2, but would be tempted to make changes earlier if things don't markedly improve next Tuesday. Off the top of my head, pulling To'omua earlier and bringing Paisami to 12 with Ikitau would be a good move to change the dynamics of the backline.
France did us hard at the ruck generally speaking, and that was in part because our wide-early plan was hampered by slow ball going to channel 2 or 3 and a rush defence with pace. If we muscle up early in close then we take that away from them and piggy back up the field on penalties.
Similarly, our defense was way too narrow in the first 15 minutes allowing France's faster backline to create holes.
After we woke up, things were OK except for the basic errors that have plagued Australian Rugby the last decade. Some very loose carries.
2 BPA - got a meat pie but fluffed a lineout throw in another critical position (22m) right on halftime
3 AAA - did the meat and potatoes, got a couple of runs in
4 Philip - part of a dominant set piece but wasn't carrying like last year
5 LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) - didn't do anything stupid which was a start, and yeah set piece, but looked after by the defence
6 Valetini - I thought he was a bit quiet compared to his form in SRTT. Still finding feet with the back row combination
7 Hooper - a couple of good decisions at the ruck and maul, and a smart try, but I thought we could have taken 3 earlier than the 30th minute and asked the ref to hand out the cheese
8 Wilson - solid shift without being spectacular - a bit like Valetini, really. Has good instincts but our forwards in general were a bit ponderous. That early scrum where he lost control was a bit of a black mark - he or Gordon should have picked up as it was unstable.
9 Gordon - steppy-steppy-passy is not as good as just pass-from-base. Combinations again
10 Lolesio - nailed a couple of important kicks but hardly driving the team around. Got some slow ball but also gave some slow ball
11 Koroibete - beast. Thought some of his runs were too lateral but he hit blokes hard and loves a pick n go
12 To'omua - bit of a handbrake on that backline. His confidence looks shot and his decision timing is too early or too late
13 Paisami - rocks and diamonds - great kick through when half our backs joined a stationary maul
but the crossfield and late kicks? Yeesh... Handling in contact wasn't the best.14 Wright - always thinks it's "on", even when it is decidedly "not". He could be world class with all that talent, if it wasn't anchored to a questionable decision-making cortex. Fluffed a pretty basic try on the kick through, and threw a bullet switch pass to Paisami's head.
15 Banks - superb under the high ball. Too greedy with an early touch finder and fluffed a fairly simple midfield bomb into touch on the full. Dangerous on the kick return even if our ruck work didn't back him up. I'm not sure whether he's the fullback we need, or the bench player for back 3.
16 Lonergan - he looks tiny out there, but gives it everything. Fluffed an early throw but recovered to help get us possession in position
17 Bell - came on and did the work. A good tackle
18 Tupou - Three scrum penalties out of 5 scrums and gave away a short arm for early engage. Beast run at the end.
19 Swain - great presence at lineout time. Not quite ready to start I don't think, but our scrum certainly didn't suffer with him out there
20 Naisarani - provided a threat with ball in hand over the gain line but was looked after well by France's D line.
21 Tate - critical plays at the end but still not convinced about his passing as a starter. Lolesio's second dropgoal attempt showed what I mean.
22 Ikitau - did he get on?
23 Kellaway - he's a smarter footballer after his stint overseas, and could probably come into the starting lineup. Could have had a meat pie on debut if that kick was even 5% better.
Good bits: composure, goal kicking, set piece, bench impact.
Work-ons: ruck time, midfield passing, attack narrow early, defend wider early.
As I said above: wouldn't change anything for game 2, but would be tempted to make changes earlier if things don't markedly improve next Tuesday. Off the top of my head, pulling To'omua earlier and bringing Paisami to 12 with Ikitau would be a good move to change the dynamics of the backline.
France did us hard at the ruck generally speaking, and that was in part because our wide-early plan was hampered by slow ball going to channel 2 or 3 and a rush defence with pace. If we muscle up early in close then we take that away from them and piggy back up the field on penalties.
Similarly, our defense was way too narrow in the first 15 minutes allowing France's faster backline to create holes.
After we woke up, things were OK except for the basic errors that have plagued Australian Rugby the last decade. Some very loose carries.
