Official Rugby Thread

[Hurricane]

Agreed

No leaguie is going to switch to a game in order to play in the tight 5 as it would be totally foreign to them and boring as **** anyway

Brad Thorn did. Must be others like him.

I don't think it is that hard to learn some forward positions. Specifically number 6 or a lock who doesn't jump much (like Thorn didn't jump).

 

[social]

II thought Australia failed to establish dominance up front and then suffered from there.
Where does Australia go from here:

1) Australia can arguably put out the best backline in the world if they make the right selections (Beale at 12) Play to that strength. Become the best running rugby team in the world.
2) Hoopah if he is going to play simply needs to step it up at the breakdown, I don't care what he offers in the open or on defence, he needs to do his core job better. At this point I might be tempted to bring back Pocock even though Hoopah is captain.
3) Go to the Rugby League ranks and get some players who can bolster your forwards. You need some bulk up there and preferrably a world class athlete.

Look it isn't doom and gloom for Australia or time to push the panic button either. If you are going to get that many yellow cards you are going to lose to just about anyone who is half way decent. Argentina have drawn games against SA and were always going to win a game sooner or later. Steve Hansen - "They are going to win soon just hope it isn't against us"

Hooper is fine, its the team balance that sucks

He needs to be supported by a break-down specialist (e.g. Pocock) and a no. 8 that provides an option in the lineouts

ATM, we have neither

 

[Hurricane]

Nah, I've been hearing the world's best backline thing forever

Trouble is that the Wallabies have no structure or discipline

What's more, we rarely create a solid platform from which the backs can launch an attack (e.g. scrum has been serviceable at best for a decade or more and ****e for a lot of that time) and the vast majority of players lack a mastery of the basics

We are flat out ordinary and a couple of extra backs wont change that

Maybe set your sights lower. Just go for parity up front and win it in the backs. When I watch Aussie play lesser ranked teams such as the recent series against France - Australia always wins it up front and then lets the backs put the icing on the cake. That is an exaggeration - Australia play 15 man rugby as much as anyone in the world does - but they still try to dominate their opponent up front. Maybe just holding their own should be the goal and would lead to different tactics up front and different players being selected. Ie you would pick players and a front row in particular who is better in the set piece rather than worrying about mobility around the paddock and competing for 2nd phase ball. OR maybe it wouldn't who knows maybe those really are Australia's best forwards in all facets of play.

 

[Hurricane]

Hooper is fine, its the team balance that sucks

He needs to be supported by a break-down specialist (e.g. Pocock) and a no. 8 that provides an option in the lineouts

ATM, we have neither

Wait - what are you saying Pocock plays number 6 and gets Fardy's spot - unless you truly do get jumping number 8 then you will be in trouble come line out time.

If it wasn't for Fardy's jumping I would agree with that tactic as although he, Fardy, gets through a large number of tackles and carries - so would Pocock. And Fardy has no intimidation factor so you wouldn't miss anything there.

 

[social]

Wait - what are you saying Pocock plays number 6 and gets Fardy's spot - unless you truly do get jumping number 8 then you will be in trouble come line out time.

If it wasn't for Fardy's jumping I would agree with that tactic as although he, Fardy, gets through a large number of tackles and carries - so would Pocock. And Fardy has no intimidation factor so you wouldn't miss anything there.

No, play Pocock at 7 (although I seriously doubt that he will be as effective after his 2 knee reconstructions) and Hooper at 6

Hooper brings some amazing things to the table but effectiveness at the breakdown is not one of them so there's no point in sacrificing the good stuff for something he may never be any good at

Given that they are both short-arses, we would then need a jumping option at 8

 

[social]

Maybe set your sights lower. Just go for parity up front and win it in the backs. When I watch Aussie play lesser ranked teams such as the recent series against France - Australia always wins it up front and then lets the backs put the icing on the cake. That is an exaggeration - Australia play 15 man rugby as much as anyone in the world does - but they still try to dominate their opponent up front. Maybe just holding their own should be the goal and would lead to different tactics up front and different players being selected. Ie you would pick players and a front row in particular who is better in the set piece rather than worrying about mobility around the paddock and competing for 2nd phase ball. OR maybe it wouldn't who knows maybe those really are Australia's best forwards in all facets of play.

This is where I am coming from

We need at least parity (rather than absolute domination) for the backs to function

Without that and a measure of discipline, it's irrelevant who is in the backline against the top guys

 

[Hurricane]

This is where I am coming from

We need at least parity (rather than absolute domination) for the backs to function

Without that and a measure of discipline, it's irrelevant who is in the backline against the top guys

We are on the same page then. You can't score tries when you are scrambling and going backwards.

by the way - the AB fans and the ABs are already setting their sites on Australia two weeks from now to restore pride and our winning ways. We do not want Australia saying they had home field edge over us this year. Look for the ABs to be switched on in that game.

Again message to the Australian coach - do not press the panic button before the game.

 

[ripper868]

Well Australian Rugby is the laughing stock of international sport at the moment. Not because we lost to Argentina, fair credit to them for the win (**** the **** with the laser), but because of our inability to discipline the spoilt little **** that is Kurtley Beale. I hope he gets punted from the Wallabies, Waratahs and Rugby Union and plays the rest of his career with his travel highlights being a bus from Central to Penrith.

While we know how dimwitted KB can be from previous years, Michael Hooper is the man who needs the biggest boot up his arse. Seriously, KB has basically ***ually harassed a senior staff member and attempted to undermine her from the inside. This isn't a thing where you come out with "I support KB, I want him to stay, good egg etc" while giving nothing to the woman who has been harassed. This isn't a team mate support thing - the support thing would be to give KB a slap around the chops with a wet tuna covered in chilli oil. Lewd photos and suggestions about a female staff member are not acceptable. Anywhere. This isn't high school and it isn't funny.

The staff member has as a result had the media drag her name through the dirt, they can get ****ed too. I know her, have worked with her in the past and can confirm she is an A grade operator.
The other suggestions about an intimate relationship between Ewen and the (former) staff member are ludicrous as well.Link has taken several staff with him to the Wallabies post, most notably the assistant coach, media guy and sports trainer from his time at the Reds.

Oh and the Ewen driving her to the airport in Argentina thing, I'd like to think that any boss anywhere would drive a distressed staff member the airport to catch a plane home, I know i would (and did just the other week, **** whatever other work commitments are on, people come first)

Long story short, **** off Kurtley Beale, **** you to the players 'backing' him, and **** the media for this uncalled for witch hunt.

Kudos to Lealiafano and Quade Cooper for coming out today and offering the former staff member some support, **** knows she needs it right now.

 

[ripper868]

PS - All Blacks by 70 on Saturday.

 

[Burgey]

I feel sorry for the staff member too, but the ARU made Beale the spoilt brat he is now. They spoon fed him from 15 and anointed him the Golden Child.

Ten years later they wonder why he thinks his **** doesn't stink and decide to discipline him after mollycoddling him for a decade.

Chickens home to roost and all that.

 

[Hurricane]

Australia can't win the world cup without him at twelve, but same goes for us with needing jesse to open in odis. Neither is going to happen. And neither should.

 

[dermo]

Patson surely has to come under some criticism though, the majority of the squad seems to really dislike her and it wouldn't be for no reason

 

[social]

ARU and Wallabies are a debacle and remind me of Oz cricket 18 months ago without the revenue stream

Lots of heads need to roll

 

[vic_orthdox]

I couldn't believe that Hooper game him such unequivocal support.

I feel sorry for the staff member too, but the ARU made Beale the spoilt brat he is now. They spoon fed him from 15 and anointed him the Golden Child.

Ten years later they wonder why he thinks his **** doesn't stink and decide to discipline him after mollycoddling him for a decade.

Chickens home to roost and all that.

Him and O'Connor; Buddy doing a little better than his old mates when they were at the Rebels.

 

[ripper868]

Patson surely has to come under some criticism though, the majority of the squad seems to really dislike her and it wouldn't be for no reason

The reason is she's a not a "one of the boys" type, and that isn't what her role was to be, her roles is to manage business side of things in the wallabies, which has saved approximately Israel Folaus annual salary in the time she has held the post.

Ewen must cop some flack for not appointing a dedicated team manager. Bob Egerton is a stalwart of the post and hard to replace.

I do not hold Patston accountable for Beale sending harassing texts/images, or for Beale then having a tantrum for being asked to change his shirt. Patton tried her darnedest to protect him by not escalating it back in June.

Agree with Burgeys sentiment he has been handed everything on a platter since his schoolboy days. Sadly not much will change as he'll just turn to league or be off to France.

I do not see how Beale comes out of any of this without having his contract torn up and a tilt at the World Cup taken from him. O'Connor was sacked for being drunk at an airport. If Beale isn't sacked for what could be deemed as ***ually harassing a senior member of staff, it scares me what his next **** up could be.

 

[hendrix]

What exactly is Patston supposed to be criticised for?

 

[ripper868]

What exactly is Patston supposed to be criticised for?

I have no idea.

Far as I can see Patston has done her job, and done it well.

I'd like to know why the media has seen fit to drag up old court cases (from 12 years ago!) and these "intimate relations with the coach" stories is beyond. The (at least in the early part of this "saga") push to discredit her in the media, while almost excusing the actions of Beale was/is disgusting.

Thankfully some saner heads are popping up and calling it for what it is - Beale being a dickhead and Patston being the unfortunate one to cop the dickhead's attention - See Peter Fitzsimons article for a pretty good idea of what most sane people are thinking of the whole situation.

Anyway, it hits closer to home for me as I used to work with Di, and from my experience, she is professional, humble, hard working and full of integrity.

Ripper out.

 

[dermo]

I have no idea.

Far as I can see Patston has done her job, and done it well.

I'd like to know why the media has seen fit to drag up old court cases (from 12 years ago!) and these "intimate relations with the coach" stories is beyond. The (at least in the early part of this "saga") push to discredit her in the media, while almost excusing the actions of Beale was/is disgusting.

Thankfully some saner heads are popping up and calling it for what it is - Beale being a dickhead and Patston being the unfortunate one to cop the dickhead's attention - See Peter Fitzsimons article for a pretty good idea of what most sane people are thinking of the whole situation.

Anyway, it hits closer to home for me as I used to work with Di, and from my experience, she is professional, humble, hard working and full of integrity.

Ripper out.

ripper i respect that you've got more knowledge on the skills of patson but surely if your in any managerial type position and the majority of those your managing come to dislike you immensely, that is some what of a failure on your part?

 

[Spikey]

haha you suck australia

 

[Spikey]

imo it was a bad idea to kick the ball 10 meters and into touch