Official Rugby Thread

[Hurricane]

Reds are first Oz team to sweep NZ counterparts in 17 years of super rugby and arent even best team in Australia

Things might be looking up

Indeed they have played well - although I think Genia has been the edge in some games and is in great form.

While the NZ teams especially the Crusaders who are traditionally our best have not found their mojo. The Chiefs never were going to be as good without SBW. The Highlanders have been dissapointing. And the Canes average.

I can't explain what is going on with the Crusaders.

I am a big fan of the Brumbies this year btw.

 

[Hurricane]

In terms of Aussies' prognosis overall. I think they will lose 2-1 to the Lions presuming it is a 3 test series.

I think Robbie is holding you back and the smartest thing NZ ever did is not appoint him head coach of the ABs.

For example for whatever reason - Cooper is starting to play percentage rugby (judging this off the last game) I saw him under pressure take the ball into contact and recycle the ball rather than throw a miracle ball out the back door to his next player which he would have done last year. Deans may have been better to have picked him in this form if he has indeed turned a new leaf and has turned into a proper rugger.

 

[social]

In terms of Aussies' prognosis overall. I think they will lose 2-1 to the Lions presuming it is a 3 test series.

I think Robbie is holding you back and the smartest thing NZ ever did is not appoint him head coach of the ABs.

For example for whatever reason - Cooper is starting to play percentage rugby (judging this off the last game) I saw him under pressure take the ball into contact and recycle the ball rather than throw a miracle ball out the back door to his next player which he would have done last year. Deans may have been better to have picked him in this form if he has indeed turned a new leaf and has turned into a proper rugger.

During the Reds vs Brumbies clash last week, Greg Martin (a Qlder naturally) had a dig at Deans regarding Cooper and the differences between his play at provincial and test level

Whilst the coach cannot take all the blame, RD has been a big disappointment with the Wobblies and has been very lucky to last this long

 

[Hurricane]

During the Reds vs Brumbies clash last week, Greg Martin (a Qlder naturally) had a dig at Deans regarding Cooper and the differences between his play at provincial and test level

Whilst the coach cannot take all the blame, RD has been a big disappointment with the Wobblies and has been very lucky to last this long

Can you remember some of his points social - would love to hear them.

 

[social]

Can you remember some of his points social - would love to hear them.

After Cooper had done a couple of good things in defence in the one passage of play, one of the other commentators said something like "Cooper does that a lot for Queensland but not for Australia."

Martin countered with something like "that's because the Queensland coach has confidence in his ability and allows him to play to his strengths whereas Robbie Deans obviously doesnt, structures the game differently and Cooper ends up confused and not doing anything particularly well at times"

It was only a 5 second exchange but the inference was that Cooper's game suffers at test level because he feels that Deans doesnt have any confidence in him

Anyway, as I said earlier, whilst you cant blame him for everything, IMO Deans is lucky to have a job after 2 Scotland losses, a defeat by Tonga, the RWC debacle against Ireland and the lack of development of a number of players

 

[BoyBrumby]

To be fair tho, the Wobblies did defeat the reigning champs at the WC in what was one of the great rearguard/smash'n'grab victories of recent times and made the semis, so at least played to their seeding.

 

[social]

To be fair tho, the Wobblies did defeat the reigning champs at the WC in what was one of the great rearguard/smash'n'grab victories of recent times and made the semis, so at least played to their seeding.

No issue with losing in the semis to the ABs

Big issue was in the way we lost to Ireland and forfeited a "relatively" easy path to the final in the process

That game was typical of us under Deans - no plan B, no response to forward pressure

Nullify Pocock (and thereby deny our backs quick ball), make it a scrappy arm wrestle and we are screwed 9/10 under Deans

Players have to assume plenty of responsibility as well but if they arent responding to Deans after 5 years or so, well ....

 

[Spark]

Reds are first Oz team to sweep NZ counterparts in 17 years of super rugby and arent even best team in Australia

Things might be looking up

Eh, that's only because we've gotten a lot better in the last year or two. The Waratahs, Force and Rebels all seem much of a muchness right now and given how the Force went yesterday down here...

I mean, we do have a swathe of potentially gun players coming through for us, but if there's been any sudden "revitalisation" of Australian rugby, that's literally it.

 

[Hurricane]

To be fair tho, the Wobblies did defeat the reigning champs at the WC in what was one of the great rearguard/smash'n'grab victories of recent times and made the semis, so at least played to their seeding.

And fair dues to them for doing so. I am with Social though that they have underwhelmed even though they did win the tri nations one year as well.

I think the foundation of my discontent with Deans is how he constructs his back line.
Some of the players he has had in the 12 jersey in particular have been one dimensional defensive/crash ball specialists.

 

[social]

And fair dues to them for doing so. I am with Social though that they have underwhelmed even though they did win the tri nations one year as well.

I think the foundation of my discontent with Deans is how he constructs his back line.
Some of the players he has had in the 12 jersey in particular have been one dimensional defensive/crash ball specialists.

Hasnt done us a lot of good having Nathan Sharpe as outside centre for 100 tests either

 

[BoyBrumby]

And fair dues to them for doing so. I am with Social though that they have underwhelmed even though they did win the tri nations one year as well.

I think the foundation of my discontent with Deans is how he constructs his back line.
Some of the players he has had in the 12 jersey in particular have been one dimensional defensive/crash ball specialists.

Fair dos.

However you have to remember I'm from a country where Mike Tindall and Jamie Noon was considered an acceptable centre pairing and where Brad Barritt is the incumbent 2nd 5/8.

 

[Hurricane]

Carling was my fav English centre.

Who is the starting 15 for the Lions likely to be?

 

[Jarquis]

Halfpenny

 

[Hurricane]

Halfpenny

cheers for that, meant the whole starting line up. I am also waiting for the squad announcement due shortly...

 

[Jarquis]

No Wilko, Warburton captain.

 

[social]

Lions will always put out a strong team but there are some strange selections (e.g. Stevens, Jenkins, Heaslip, Warburton, Farrell)

Think it's fair to say that the test xv has already been picked and game plan already set

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd say Stevens the only really odd one there. Can see why he's been picked too; props who cover loosehead and tighthead effectively are like hen's teeth.

No Wilko is mildly odd given Gethin Jenkins plays for Toulon too and he's made it.

Might be the least British party ever too: Stevens, Vunipola, Hartley, Faletau, Tuilagi & Maitland all hailing from outside the Isles.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Where's Best? Quite like the guy in a non-partisan sense. Sheridan stiff to get stiffed as well.

And if you've made it clear to all and sundry that you're going to play ten man rugby, why not pick Jonny? ***ton not much more than Diet Wilko IMO.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Where's Best? Quite like the guy in a non-partisan sense. Sheridan stiff to get stiffed as well.

And if you've made it clear to all and sundry that you're going to play ten man rugby, why not pick Jonny? ***ton not much more than Diet Wilko IMO.

Best is, on current form, not as good as the three guys picked ahead of him, tbf.

Wilko blew us out too; Gatland asked, he demurred on the grounds his body is falling apart.

Don't be surprised if we get an injury and he comes over tho. We're desperately short of ball players in the squad, not that that's Jonny's strongest suit either, tbh.

Notwithstanding, picking only two tens and three out of four centres who play outside (& Dr Roberts isn't exactly a 2nd 5/8 kinda inside either) is mildly ****ish, IMHO. Flood, who covers 10 & 12, should've gone.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

J

Best is, on current form, not as good as the three guys picked ahead of him, tbf.

Wilko blew us out too; Gatland asked, he demurred on the grounds his body is falling apart.

Don't be surprised if we get an injury and he comes over tho. We're desperately short of ball players in the squad, not that that's Jonny's strongest suit either, tbh.

Notwithstanding, picking only two tens and three out of four centres who play outside (& Dr Roberts isn't exactly a 2nd 5/8 kinda inside either) is mildly ****ish, IMHO. Flood, who covers 10 & 12, should've gone.

Fair enough on Wilkinson, looks like he's going under the knife. Not your typical Harbhajan sick note. Haven't followed NH player form but Best's rep precedes him.

But not taking Robshaw? Defies belief that he's not among the best back row in Britain. No doubt in my mind he would be a better player - and captain - than Warburton. Egregious favouritism from Gatland, though I'm not going to try to change his mind.