Rugby - The beautiful game

[MrWhereItsAt]

Is it just me, or did the ABs just look a little slow in trying to get the ball wide? No tremendous speed /power of note except perhaps for Umaga, and not much quick thinking but for McCaw's try.

Something I have certainly enjoyed about the ABs' Tri-Nations to date is the way that suddenly they will accelerate to trememdous speeds and punch through the opposing line. Not so last night.

It was rather frightening seeing the Gold continually smashing 5-10m through us in phase after phase.

[finbar]

Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt
Is it just me, or did the ABs just look a little slow in trying to get the ball wide? No tremendous speed /power of note except perhaps for Umaga, and not much quick thinking but for McCaw's try.

That's what I commented on earlier. The ABs controlled a lot of the play in the second half, but seemed content to kick the ball, turning the Wallabies around. I think, in a way, it actually took the pressure off the Wallabies - they just had to make sure they didn't fumble the retrieval. After that, they got to do what they do best - attack. If they hadn't coughed up the ball 19 times they would have scored more tries. Matt Rogers spilled an easy ball with an open tryline in front of him.

OTOH, whenever the ABs spread the ball, they looked really dangerous. I have to say - I'm very glad they kept kicking the ball away. It was a tactic that worked for them in Christchurch, but it worked because of the appalling weather and ground conditions that night. Last night, the wind aside, the conditions were 1000% better.

It was rather frightening seeing the Gold continually smashing 5-10m through us in phase after phase.

I think the Wallaby forwards more than held their own, which is a good sign. They've tended to struggle in the recent past. And, again, the Wallabies had the opportunities to smash through because they were bringing the ball back so often.

[Tamerlin]

Who's the AB player who has commited this professional mistake at the end of the game ? He owes me 23 gold.

Tremenduous game from Umaga and the whole Australian Defence. The Australian forwards have recovered many balls and deprived the AB of many attack opportunities. As it has been said before, the AB kicked too many balls only to give it back to the Aussie backs.

In my own opinion the main weakness of the AB, especially when they are compared with Gregan/Larkham, is their half-scrum/fly-half pair which has not been very creative.

Good game, although not in NH standards , with a very lax referee (do the SH hookers still have to throw the ball straight in the lineouts ?)

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Who's the AB player who has commited this professional mistake at the end of the game ? He owes me 23 gold.

It was their #22, one of the reserves. Send him the bill.

(do the SH hookers still have to throw the ball straight in the lineouts ?)

I thought Andre Watson's reffing was pretty ordinary all round. There was some terrible throwing into the lineout. Still, at least he picked up the AB hooker for throwing into the lineout from inside the touchline.

[Havak]

And he also pikced up those naughty Wallabies lifting Chris Jack in the maul - tch tch!
And Patricio Noriega playing the ball on the ground (as normal?).

And then he disallows a perfectly good try to the Aussies as well.

I haven't read the thread (will catch up at work tomorrow - just throwing my dimes worth in) but I thoroughly enjoyed this game that I actually watched in it's entirity for once.

[MrWhereItsAt]

Sitting here in NZ, listening to the morning news on the radio, there are (as expected) complaints against the ref! And from such ppl as Mehrtens too!

A rugby team berating the ref? Ridiculous. I think from their performances, both teams deserved to win, but Oz made less mistakes.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Who's the AB player who has commited this professional mistake at the end of the game ? He owes me 23 gold.

Further to my earlier post, Tamerlin, it was Leon McDonald who played the ball on the ground and gave away the penalty. He'd replaced Christian Cullen. I'm getting his address for you. Start preparing la note.

[finbar]

Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt
Sitting here in NZ, listening to the morning news on the radio, there are (as expected) complaints against the ref! And from such ppl as Mehrtens too!

Yeah, it's being reported here too. Mehrtens is saying the ref should be more ashamed of his performance than the ABs should be. Not a good sign. Although, to his great credit, John Mitchell hasn't blamed the ref.

The fact is, when the ABs keep losing to the Wallabies in situations like that, it's more than just bad luck. Once - even twice - could be called bad luck. But there's a real pattern. The bottom line, it seems to me, is that the Wallabies are mentally very strong. They keep their cool in those tight, pressured final game moments. That they put together 15 phases leading up to the Matt Rogers try - knowing they were behind, knowing time was rapidly running out - is a classic example.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
IIRC Durban (where NZ is playing) is at a high altitude, whereas Johannesburg (where Oz is playing) is closer to sea level.

Cal - it turns out to be the other way round. You've got them at Durban at (basically) sea level, we've got them at altitude at Jo'burg.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
And he also pikced up those naughty Wallabies lifting Chris Jack in the maul - tch tch!

Still, I reckon at least we handled their rolling mauls better than before. Got them going sideways.

And Patricio Noriega playing the ball on the ground (as normal?).

Patricio wouldn't know what to do with the ball if he found it in his hand.

I actually watched in it's entirity for once.

In that case, Havak, I shall return the compliment next time England pops up live on FoxSports at 3am.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar

"Good as gold!".

It could be said - not by me, I hasten to add, but by someone who was being less than charitable, which couldn't - by definition - be me - that, in fact, under this thread's Disciplinary Rules, Kiwis are probably pretty safe from red cards.

So, while indicating that you are not, in fact, stating any such thing, you both state the same and imply that it requires an act of charity on your part to refrain.
Thats like following up a slap to the face with an uppercut! Double ouch.
I'm thinking the non-Aussie posters here are going to have to adopt the hyena pack vs lion defense. Now where's that Sneak when you need him ... ?

But you can back both teams if you like.

Blah. Sorry I didn't get back to you. That was just what I intended to do actually but I just didn't have time to reply. Too bad. How sad. Nevermind.
Not a bad game though all told. Just a pity the AB's couldn't keep the pedal on the floor during those last 15 minutes. I'm sure you'd agree.

I'm rich!

The words "Every", "dog", "has", "its" and "day", in more or less that order, spring to mind. I can't imagine where from. Out of the electron ether perhaps?

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
So, while indicating that you are not, in fact, stating any such thing, you both state the same and imply that it requires an act of charity on your part to refrain.

To use tennis parlance - Good get!

Thats like following up a slap to the face with an uppercut! Double ouch.

Why have a glass of fine Pinot Grigio when you can have a bottle?

I'm thinking the non-Aussie posters here are going to have to adopt the hyena pack vs lion defense. Now where's that Sneak when you need him ... ?

Smearing cheese on something, sans doute.

Blah. Sorry I didn't get back to you. That was just what I intended to do actually but I just didn't have time to reply. Too bad. How sad. Nevermind.

*finbar blithely counts his millions, celebrating ravagon's sh*thouse time management skills*

Not a bad game though all told. Just a pity the AB's couldn't keep the pedal on the floor during those last 15 minutes. I'm sure you'd agree.

As I've said before, poor choice of tactics by the ABs, methinks. Andrew Mehrtens would be better off contemplating that possibility than blaming the ref.

The words "Every", "dog", "has", "its" and "day", in more or less that order, spring to mind. I can't imagine where from. Out of the electron ether perhaps?

'Sokay. Feel free to borrow. I won't even require a credit.

[NeoStar]

Originally posted by finbar

They keep their cool in those tight, pressured final game moments. That they put together 15 phases leading up to the Matt Rogers try - knowing they were behind, knowing time was rapidly running out - is a classic example.

Exactly - forget the conspiracy theories, no other team can keep as calm and coordinated. They also have alot of faith in each other. That's why the Wallabies dominate rugby so entirely.

Apparantly Rogers still wont be on the starting line up against the Boks. Geez, I know they want Latham's kicking game in the high altitudes but that decision's just I'd like to see him play a full game with his ball running skills.

Originally posted by MrWhereItsAt

A rugby team berating the ref? Ridiculous.

Yeah, what is this - Soccer? (Just kidding Havak)

I've also heard there's some criticism directed at Mitchell for not including Lomu. That's stupid. Lomu wouldn't have done anything to change the inevitable

We saw that good old Gregan confidence again when he went for the try ahead of the kick. Didn't pay off that time but I like it.

[finbar]

Originally posted by NeoStar
Exactly - forget the conspiracy theories, no other team can keep as calm and coordinated. They also have alot of faith in each other. That's why the Wallabies dominate rugby so entirely.

Careful, NS, the bigger the statement, the bigger the fall. I'd just settle for Saturday night's result - a good, working example of their calm under pressure and faith in each other.

Apparantly Rogers still wont be on the starting line up against the Boks. Geez, I know they want Latham's kicking game in the high altitudes but that decision's just I'd like to see him play a full game with his ball running skills.

I doubt the team for SA is finalised yet. There was speculation that Rogers would replace Latham. There seemed to be a thought that while Latham lacks nothing in his attacking skills, his positional play can leave some holes. Anyway, Larkham can punt the ball just as far as Latham if the need arises.

Yeah, what is this - Soccer? (Just kidding Havak)

You won't get a bite from him on that one. Havak is far from a fan of soccer.

I've also heard there's some criticism directed at Mitchell for not including Lomu. That's stupid. Lomu wouldn't have done anything to change the inevitable

There's a Lomu fan club over there. There's also - as there is in every country - an army of second-guessers. It was clearly demonstrated that Mitchell had opted for a fairly defensive approach - all that kicking over the Wallabies' heads - so, on that basis, there was no place for Lomu. Umaga was their only concession to attacking rugby.

We saw that good old Gregan confidence again when he went for the try ahead of the kick. Didn't pay off that time but I like it.

With the way Burke was kicking, there was no real choice. Besides, we needed more than 3 points at the time.

[Havak]

I was a back even though my size is more suited for a forward position

Well there is a healthy tradition of huge Kiwi backs after all.

Once again the wallabies pull a houdini...

I still cannot rationalise how the ABs lost this – they should have wrapped it up with their dominance in the first 30 of the second half. But they seemed to freeze. Picking on one player –the number 8 (Robertson?) – awesome last time out but last Saturday he looked like a schoolboy well out his depth?

What is this hoodoo the Aussies have over Kiwis just now?

but there way too many simple handling errors.

Well you have to finger the conditions – because for a game between the nominal one and two in the world - NZ and Aus in that order for Neostars benefit – it was terrible handling.

Still, I reckon at least we handled their rolling mauls better than before. Got them going sideways.

Well this is just between us right but I don’t think the ABs got their rolling mauls working right at any point – though the Wallabies countered them well as you say. It bodes well for November for you at least - but they will struggle against us unless Mitchell can find a match for Jack so they have two hard charging locks in the meat grinders.

For Caligastia's benefit since he first put me on to Jack I have been very impressed with him - even in defeat Saturday. I could hjave handled him being born English.

Patricio wouldn't know what to do with the ball if he found it in his hand.

But he does deliver a classic “who, me sir?”, I’ll give him that.

In that case, Havak, I shall return the compliment next time England pops up live on FoxSports at 3am.

Good grief – above and beyond the call that. The game Saturday was a 10am kick off which I can just about cope with, but 3am? Just in case though our next game is 9th November against NZ who have finally stopped avoiding us. Then I’m sure you will be up on the 16th to see us take you on?

no other team can keep as calm and coordinated. They also have alot of faith in each other. That's why the Wallabies dominate rugby so entirely.

Wrong, right and utterly wrong. Listen to Finbar’s advice.

I’m glad you used a smilie, but allow me to defend the Kiwis here and point out the major failing of some Aussie fans– short memory and a skewed perspective. The Kiwis are very much in a rebuilding phase. Historically they enjoy far the better record between you, and given the cyclical nature of rugby, they will return to dominance again (next year being my bet). Even now they are more likely to win the tri-nations as their record against RSA in RSA is better than yours.

Now calm and co-ordinated? Yes it’s strength but it isn’t a strength you consistently travel with (do you recall how you panicked against the Boks away last year?). Gregans troops also looked very out of sort last time out in both England and France when the forwards couldn’t get their hands on the ball. In my experience the Wallabies are awesomely calm and confident in front of home crowds – they don’t give me the same impression away I have to say – anywhere other than NZ anyway.

And “dominate rugby”. Don’t make me laugh please. One extremely narrow ground out win against the worlds number one does not let you take their place.

You haven’t beaten a top five team in Europe that I can recall since France failed to turn up for the last WC final in 99 – you don’t dominate a sport unless you turn over the other top teams every time, and it’s what, three weeks since the ABs beat you?

I hope Finbar noted I kept England out of that.

You won't get a bite from him on that one. Havak is far from a fan of soccer.

As far as you can get in fact. Sadly he found my Achilles heal earlier in the post - the Aussie phenomena of ‘one swallow making a summer’