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[LDiCesare]

If the Wallabies hadn't given away so many stupid penalties, Skrela wouldn't have had kicks to miss.

His field kicking was terribly bad too. And the other French kickers weren't better:
- Malzieu running on the wing with the first attack ball of the match, instead of kicking ahead or inside kicks directly out of the field.
- Heymans kicks a penalty and doesn't find the lineout.
- Baby also makes one weird kick.

The French were never really dangerous because they never managed to occupy the Wallabies' half. Instead of finding lineouts, they kicked the ball to the Australian backs, who just had to maintain pressure.

The bad thing is that Lièvremont doesn't think poor kicking is the cause of the defeat. I'm not saying just missed penalties and drop-goals. I'm saying being unable to find a lineout when you need it, leading to long times of Australian possession which result in Aussie points like their second try.

[finbar]

I completely agree. There's a worrying lack of control and finesse in the French game under Lièvremont. Having said that, the Wallabies under-performed.

[finbar]

Jeez, J****, fiddling while Rome burns.

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar

I think J**** has selection problems to sort out, and, equally importantly, coaching problems.

Yes, the coaching problems are starting to become apparent. Is magic martin the manager or the coach or both? Buggered if I know. The RFU seemed to have appointed him on the basis of his leadership abilities but have completely overlooked the fact that he has a zero track record in coaching. The Aussies had the sense to appoint a highly experienced top quality coach. The RFU have completely overlooked the need for experience. Another fine example of what not to do. So poor Martin Johnson. The RFU have no idea how to support him, his team has no self belief, there are few signs of a game plan and there are some serious skill shortfalls.

A full strength AB side named. Interesting that Cowan continues to start over Weepu. The Cartel seem to be using him in a strategy of "play it tight in the first half, storm them in the second".

[finbar]

I always assumed J****'s role was managerial, supported by coaching. Trouble is, there's no evidence there's any worthwhile forwards, backs or defence coaching happening. Further trouble is, too many of the selected players aren't up to it anyway. What I'd really like to know is who's doing the selecting.

The Cartel's methods have worked thus far.

[Havak]

You know my view - Noon's continued presence alone suggests Rob Andrew is the main selector.

My word Saturday is going to be painful.

The bottom line for me is starting 8 Wasps in the 22 when Wasps are having a terrible season. I am sure Jonno said he would pick on form? That means Bath, Irish, Gloucester and Tigers players. What it doesn't mean is Wasps players - one win and six losses does not make a form side.

Of course the problems are more fundamental than that - belief, gameplan and skills shortfalls all included - but picking players that are playing well is always a good start?

I still cannot see the reasoning why Croft was dropped for Haskell last weekend. Not for the life of me. The difference in form between the two is massive.

More silliness from the AB camp about the haka - it really is time they grew up somewhat and allowed teams to respond to it. Apparently Wales upset some NZ players by staring at them. I had no idea some ABs had such fragile mental states?

[finbar]

The haka stuff is silly pre-match hype. Made even sillier by the fact that the skipper and the full back are already on record as having enjoyed the Welsh response (which I think was as childish as Henry's and Nonu's current bleating):

Asked if it was a unique start to a test match, All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw said: "There was a fair bit of feeling to both teams. It was good. It really showed that both teams were ready to play and I think the start of the game with it's [SIC] intensity proved that."

Keven Mealamu said he saw nothing wrong with the Welsh approach.

"There was a stand-off but it was good. I thought it was quite respectful actually," said the All Blacks haka. "The ref just told us it went a bit too long. But it was just good to see the Welshmen take the challenge, it as awesome. It was a good way to start the match there was a lot of passion."

Enough said.

Form aside, Croft is simply more versatile than Haskell - terrific in the line out, quicker across the ground, quicker to the breakdown and more effective when he gets there, just as strong despite his frame, carries the ball just as well.

Regardless, J**** has to find a real #7, a scavenger, because that's one of the many things they're missing at the moment.

[flipside]

Originally posted by Havak
More silliness from the AB camp about the haka - it really is time they grew up somewhat and allowed teams to respond to it. Apparently Wales upset some NZ players by staring at them. I had no idea some ABs had such fragile mental states?

From a psyc. pov it would be interesting to see if just ignoring it would work.
You can either confront it or ignore it, not sure which is best.....but it is pyschologically obvious that you have to do something to disrupt it.
It is a big advantage.

[finbar]

It's only an adantage to the ABs if the oppo lets it become so. Which is to say, make anything out of it. Many years ago, playing in New Zealand, the Wallabies thought they'd be clever and turn their backs on the haka. The Wallabies were thrashed in the match, but that was as much to do with the fact that they were then, poor, and the ABs were rampant. Regardless, why give your oppo ammunition?

Now, the Wallabies line up, watch the haka, disperse and get on with the match.

[Andydog]

The haka is a topic that regularly serves as a useful talking point for English rugby journos so they are spared having to analyse what happens in the 80 minutes between the anthems and the final whistle. There is usually a mischievous narrative put about that NZ teams are hyper sensitive about how their haka is received. This year is no exception. The fact is, a disrespectful response will only serve to fire up the ABs on the day, and that is it. Nobody else really gives a toss. But this doesn't stop the English press from letting the facts get in the way of a good story.

The best thing about the haka is the fact that opposition teams feel the need to diffuse it. They spend half their week thinking up cunning plans for haka diffusion, instead of thinking of plans on how to score tries against the All Blacks.

[finbar]

Esattamente! As they say in this neck of the Italian woods.

[Havak]

All very true - barring some confusion between English and British that I suspect was quite deliberate.

I remain curious though - why can't other sides perform their own choice of pre-match ritual on the pitch. Like England making a cup of tea or the Wallabies singing that silly song about the dancing girl?

Its the fact NZ are so precious about the haka that will see it disappear eventually. By trying to always prescribe how the opposition should react they just keep putting backs up. Keep it up kiwis.

So a very heavy defeat beckons tomorrow - I've been resigned to that for a long while. And do you know what - I simply don't care. I'm not invested in this team - it's entirely the wrong side and I hate to say it but Jonno, Rob Andrew and Francis Barron all deserve the record thumping they are going to get for fielding it. Consistency of selection mean sweet FA if your starting XV is as badly wrong as this one.

As for a scavenger at Seven Finbar I start to wonder what Skinner from Quins has done to blot his England copybook. Rees is a good player but he seems to have gone backwards over the last 18 months.

[finbar]

I look forward to the French eating snails on the pitch in response to the haka.

For whatever reason, Rees is now more of a ball-carrier than a scavenger. And that only duplicates the roles already played by Haskell and Easter.

I have a terrible hunch that the ABs will be off their best game, England will be competent, sufficient to prolong the current England fantasy. I hope I'm wrong.

Newcastle were stiff last night. Wasps B had monumental territory and possession but zilch method in attack coupled with some terrible handling in that area. Walder didn't help either. Good goal kicker, but that's the extent of his #10 skills. It was only Walder's boot and Newcastle's poor discipline that had Wasps B on the scoreboard until their very very late try. Newcastle's two tries were splendidly taken, showing Wasps B how it should be done. First time I've seen Rory Clegg. The boy has serious talent.

[finbar]

I thought Wales could roll the Wallabies. Losing Stirling Mortlock after two minutes only increased their chances. Wales did well - Byrne is a huge talent, Shane Williams has developed into more than just a speed machine - and finally took some of the opportunities they'd been missing in earlier matches. They're far from the finished article, but the best of the NH teams. The Wallabies fought hard but their luck - vis-à-vis Italy and France - finally ran out. Poor in the scrum, outstanding in the lineouts, and Ryan Cross at #13 is Australia's Mike Tindall - attacks stop dead in their tracks when he takes the ball into contact.

Alan Lewis distinguished himself yet again with another poor display. The man seems incapable of noticing a forward pass. There were at least three in Hong Kong and even more yesterday. Does he have no spatial awareness? And his policing of the breakdown is entirely random - a player pinged for holding on, while the player trying to claim the ball (and not the tackler) is yards offside.

Missed the first ten minutes of Wasps -v- All Blacks and visitors arrived during the match. Fools. I did my best to ignore them. Looked like my hunch of yesterday was coming true - ABs off their game, Wasps almost verging on competitive without looking like threatening. Bizarre performance by the ref. Equally bizarre display of indiscipline by England. Why on earth did Haskell take to the AB at the ruck with a swinging arm? Why on earth did Flood try to tear off Cowan's head? Why on earth did Care shoulder-charge Conrad Smith after play had stopped (and get away with it?) Anyway, when the ABs finally found their game, the gulf in class was apparent. Carter's chip to Muliaina for the try was glorious.

Flood is being damned with very faint praise for his game. I thought he always looked more capable and threatening than Cipriani ever has.

Nick Kennedy made J****'s autumn selections look like what they have been - mindless.

[Havak]

Well naturally I didn't like anything I saw - but I'd single out the gulf in fitness as another very worrying aspect over and above all the problems yourself and Andydog flagged after the Bok game.

Again I think it was yourself who pointed out it is fruitless playing 'experience' if that experience is mainly of not being good enough to compete. Radical change is needed for the 6N. Time to throw in much more youth. But I really feel Rob Andrew needs to go - I get the impression he is the monkey on Martin's back.

I'd also like to see Martin become team manager and them appoint a (foreign) head coach. Andydog nailed Martin's like of coaching experience. He is an exceptional motivator - but you need coaching capability in the mix as well. Not trying for Gatland when he was free now looks like an error of huge proportions.

Kennedy came out of left field for me - I'd never noticed him at club level really and felt the other Saxons boys would be ahead of him in the order. Shows what I know.