Bah.
Rugby 2018 Discussion
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Any hope of a Wallaby comeback has been snuffed out now. Hopefully the TMO had different angle to what we saw because it was hard to see where Naholo was in relation to the kick.
Kieran Read sacking that maul looked dubious as feck. Australia have lost this game because their set piece fell apart and they gave NZ way too much unopposed ball - but there have been some very poor decisions made in both halves which have helped the All Blacks no end.
Very hard to see, but given. It was an exquisite kick.
The fact that there was no replay shown of it makes me think it was probably ok. The players were very unhappy though.
Well done to Naholo for scoring a hat trick.
NZ still the clear world number one then. Devastating.
They are and always were, but it's still not as huge a gap as this match suggests and it's not as huge as it was a couple of years ago.
A complete and utter set piece meltdown in the second half has made that scoreline look very ugly. Sort your set piece, keep hold of the ball instead of flinging hail mary passes away and get the rub of the green from a referee and this NZ side can be got at.
All Blacks too good. Sam Whitelock a winner in his 100th test - 1st player to achieve that milestone with a 90%+ winning record. The try on half time might have deflated Australia but it seemed to give New Zealand a huge boost.
Australia's set piece needs much improvement between now and next Saturday. A lack of composure proved costly too. One positive with next week in mind is that New Zealand thumped Australia in Sydney last year but a week later the Wallabies played better and will forever feel they should have won in Dunedin. Playing well at Eden Park has alluded the Wallabies for a long time though.
Australia's set piece needs much improvement between now and next Saturday. A lack of composure proved costly too. One positive with next week in mind is that New Zealand thumped Australia in Sydney last year but a week later the Wallabies played better and will forever feel they should have won in Dunedin. Playing well at Eden Park has alluded the Wallabies for a long time though.
Apologies to all for Peyper's performance today.
So for the 4th time in 6 years the Wallabies cop a hiding in Sydney. If the Wallabies lose to the AB's in Brisbane, it's by no more than 7 points. Unfortunately, in non World Cup years, Rugby Australia is contractually obligated to play the 1st Bledisloe in Australia in Sydney.
The tweet i posted a page or so back probably warranted a yellow. Not sure about some of the scrum penalties but the margin was too great for the Wallabies and Cheika to be bleating about the refs. Wayne Barnes has the whistle next week. He's probably the Wallabies favourite ref so i have to clutch at some straws for next week.
By the way i hope for the sake of the tournament you guys give two thumpings to Argentina in your first two games. We can't have another rugby championship done and dusted before the last weekend.
Hey Australia please send TPN and Matt Toomua back unbroken, much appreciated
My sentiments exactly.
For those interested, South Africa vs Argentina is on 5pm South African time.
Just send the trophy to NZ already.
Israel Folau has been ruled out of the return Bledisloe in Auckland on Saturday. A back line reshuffle of sorts will be required. I'd move Beale to full back and put Toomua at 12.
Boks were OK against Argentina. Too many errors and the poor goalkicking of Handre Pollard will leave Rassie Erasmus concerned. Their 2nd half was better than their 1st half.
The Boks now head into the period of the competition that leaves them disadvantaged - they're the only team with 3 away games in a row. They've got Argentina in Mendoza, AUS in Brisbane and NZ in Wellington
If they come out of their 3 away games positively, by that they need to win 2 /3 outside RSA, they'll have two home games to finish the tournament which will work in their favour if they get positive results on the road.
Boks were OK against Argentina. Too many errors and the poor goalkicking of Handre Pollard will leave Rassie Erasmus concerned. Their 2nd half was better than their 1st half.
The Boks now head into the period of the competition that leaves them disadvantaged - they're the only team with 3 away games in a row. They've got Argentina in Mendoza, AUS in Brisbane and NZ in Wellington
If they come out of their 3 away games positively, by that they need to win 2 /3 outside RSA, they'll have two home games to finish the tournament which will work in their favour if they get positive results on the road.
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The teams for Bledisloe 2 at Eden Park have been named.
Sio and Alaalatoa replace Robertson and Kepu respectively. Haylett Petty moves from wing to full back to replace Folau, Maddocks moves from the bench to #14, Tom Banks replaces Maddocks on the bench for his test debut.
Ryan Crotty out due to concussion, Ngani Laumape comes into the starting line up. Ben Smith moves to the wing so Jordie Barrett will play fullback. Owen Franks is yet to score a test try despite the fact he'll play in his 100th test this weekend.
Sio and Alaalatoa replace Robertson and Kepu respectively. Haylett Petty moves from wing to full back to replace Folau, Maddocks moves from the bench to #14, Tom Banks replaces Maddocks on the bench for his test debut.
Ryan Crotty out due to concussion, Ngani Laumape comes into the starting line up. Ben Smith moves to the wing so Jordie Barrett will play fullback. Owen Franks is yet to score a test try despite the fact he'll play in his 100th test this weekend.
Owen Franks strikes me as the sort of bloke who would take great pride in playing a hundred caps without scoring a try. A bit like John Hayes or Graham Rowntree, he'll leave try scoring alongside tanning beds and wearing eyeliner for the girls out the backs!
Whatever happens at Eden Park on Saturday, i do not want to see Michael Hooper jumping in a line out a la last Saturday. Will Genia jumping in a line out would top off last week's stupidity though.
Cheika is done.
Congrats to New Zealand, they've been far too good once again. A bit of a mirror image of last week; the Wallabies hang in there until the last few minutes of the 1st half, concede a try and the floodgates open.
In two weeks, the Wallabies play the Springboks in what will be the biggest game of Michael Cheika's coaching career since the 2015 World Cup Final. Lose that and he's going to be under some big pressure to keep his job. The Wallabies tend to play well in Brisbane, the Springboks have a dreadful record in Brisbane so there are two goo omens for the Wallabies. Omens won't win the game though, playing well for 80 minutes against an improving team will win the game.
In two weeks, the Wallabies play the Springboks in what will be the biggest game of Michael Cheika's coaching career since the 2015 World Cup Final. Lose that and he's going to be under some big pressure to keep his job. The Wallabies tend to play well in Brisbane, the Springboks have a dreadful record in Brisbane so there are two goo omens for the Wallabies. Omens won't win the game though, playing well for 80 minutes against an improving team will win the game.
Rugby Australia may not have the money to sack Cheika. The lack of a viable alternative from Australia is is going to help him too as RA won't be keen to appoint another foreigner.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/...k/news-story/50d4be049969a9d3f5bcf3e6b150aa07
Not the 1st time Pocock has been on the end of this rubbish against New Zealand teams. He was on the end of neck rolls against the Highlanders and the Brumbies during super rugby too.
In the build up to Bledisloe 3, i hope the Wallabies make a big deal of this to Romain Poite, his assistants and the TMO. If refs aren't going to do their job and penalise this dangerous play ( which i think is intentional now when it comes to Pocock) the Wallabies should fight fire with fire.
Not the 1st time Pocock has been on the end of this rubbish against New Zealand teams. He was on the end of neck rolls against the Highlanders and the Brumbies during super rugby too.
In the build up to Bledisloe 3, i hope the Wallabies make a big deal of this to Romain Poite, his assistants and the TMO. If refs aren't going to do their job and penalise this dangerous play ( which i think is intentional now when it comes to Pocock) the Wallabies should fight fire with fire.
Way too busy today and forgot all about this. Seems like I didn't miss much. Very disappointing to hear about dangerous play not punished though, neck rolls should not be tolerated.
NZ vs AUS yesterday was basically an action replay of the game in Sydney. I'd love to talk up the Rugby Championship. However, after Argentina beat South Africa overnight, it feels like we've reached the 'give the trophy to New Zealand already' stage.
I was thinking that this morning when I saw the table. It's a shame.
It was interesting to see that when McKenzie came in, the Blacks were playing with two flyhalf when in possession and two fullbacks when in defense with three players in the backfield.
Early this week, Michael Cheika was given the ''full support of the board''. That's usually ominous. Lucky for him, the money isn't there to pay him out. Nor is there a viable Australian alternative as i doubt a foreigner will coach the Wallabies for a long time to come.
Full support of the board or not, he and his coaching staff must find a way to fix the Wallabies attack. This year, the Wallabies have scored an average of 16 points per test. They've also failed to score more than 21 points in a test this year.
If those stats don't improve, they'll lose to South Africa on September 8 in beautiful Brisbane, which would be a shame for them because the Boks are very much beatable.
Full support of the board or not, he and his coaching staff must find a way to fix the Wallabies attack. This year, the Wallabies have scored an average of 16 points per test. They've also failed to score more than 21 points in a test this year.
If those stats don't improve, they'll lose to South Africa on September 8 in beautiful Brisbane, which would be a shame for them because the Boks are very much beatable.
Feckin hell @JPRouve , Brunel really likes sacking people. I had no idea this was going on
Warning: this guy's videos can be excellent, but you really have to play them at half speed
Warning: this guy's videos can be excellent, but you really have to play them at half speed
Feckin hell @JPRouve , Brunel really likes sacking people. I had no idea this was going on
Warning: this guy's videos can be excellent, but you really have to play them at half speed
That's not really the case, this guy probably missed it but the assistant coaches are supposed to rotate until 2019 because TOP 14 coaches refused to leave their clubs.
Ahhhh ok!! Cheers!
Leicester Tigers have sacked their head coach Matt O'Connor.
Geordan Murphy will be their interim coach.
Geordan Murphy will be their interim coach.
Not too surprising, keep making the same pathetic game plan mistakes since he came back
I can never think of Geordan Murphy without thinking of the broken leg he got against Scotland just before the world cup. Horrific injury and horrific bad luck.
The teams for Australia vs South Africa, the next installment of rugby's most underrated rivalry.
I'm happy with changes both sides have made at #10 - Foley hasn't played well enough all year and Jantjies is shit on the big stage.
I'm happy with changes both sides have made at #10 - Foley hasn't played well enough all year and Jantjies is shit on the big stage.
David Pocock has been ruled out due to neck soreness suffered on the back of the unpunished and intentional neck rolls he received from the All Blacks in Auckland two weeks ago.
That must be infuriating. I see they sent World Rugby clips of the neck rolls and we're told they didn't meet the threshold for a red card offence.
Australia 23 South Africa 18. The Wallabies break a 4 game losing streak and retain the Mandela Plate by being less shit than their opponent. The All Blacks will pummel SA next week and Argentina won't be shitting themselves at the prospect of playing the Wallabies next Saturday.