Official Rugby Thread

[Somerset]

Can't wait for social to post on this thread. There was only one side seriously cheating at the breakdown tonight - and they were pinged accordingly.

I thought it was a bit ironic that Australia managed to conceed ten penalties in 55 minutes of rugby, and then failed to add to that total for the remaining 25 minutes after being handed an general warning by the Irish referee. Thought the warning would've come much earlier, and probably would've seen the game flow better TBH.

 

[social]

Can't wait for social to post on this thread. There was only one side seriously cheating at the breakdown tonight - and they were pinged accordingly.

Australia got what they deserved and I thought that the ref had a very good match except for missing the obvious forward pass in the ABs second try

All in all, it was a crap match

 

[Francis]

Yeah really crap match...

The All Blacks looked like they didn't care in the first half and Donald had a shocker at 5/8. I got no problem saying New Zealand are no where near as strong as they are when Carter doesn't play 5/8.

I can't say Australia would have won if not for the referee, but the ref was dreadful. He lost complete control on the game at scrum-time and the panelty count was way too lobsided. I don't begrudge McCaw when he gets away with stuff because that's what loosies do - they play to the whistle. But McCaw was coming in off his feet at the breakdown many times and never got pinged. Would it have made a difference, I don't know.

I liked seeing the long arm penalties back though. Feels like they're punishing the offences with an appropriate penalty... none of this short-arm crap and giving away free metres.

Lastly the Aussies should be pretty disappointed with themselves. They blew a 10-point lead at Brisbane and let in some really soft tries. Their defence was a little better in this game, but they still conceeded soft tries - like when George Smith passed the ball into the Aussie 22 and it was kicked back on the full! That put Australia right back under pressure. Unlike previous years, they have a side that can beat New Zealand but they're not quite getting the job done.

 

[~DanVettoriFan~]

Didn't see the game as I was out, but I think it's great how we can play sub-standard and still win.

The game didn't mean anything to the Bledisloe Cup anyway seeing as we already had it locked up.

 

[Somerset]

Lastly the Aussies should be pretty disappointed with themselves. They blew a 10-point lead at Brisbane and let in some really soft tries. Their defence was a little better in this game, but they still conceeded soft tries - like when George Smith passed the ball into the Aussie 22 and it was kicked back on the full! That put Australia right back under pressure. Unlike previous years, they have a side that can beat New Zealand but they're not quite getting the job done.

I can only assume that Giteau thought that particular rule had reverted back to its old state like the long arm penalties. Was a crucial mistake to make given the All Blacks scored a minute later.

 

[social]

But McCaw was coming in off his feet at the breakdown many times and never got pinged.

.

Blasphemy!

Expect Volty's toys to be thrown out of the cot in 3 .. 2...

 

[Smudge]

Not at all. It just proves Francis knows next to ****-all about rugby. McCaw was remarkably quiet yesterday (and was poor with ball in hand). The Aussies, on the other hand, seemed to throw the offside at the ruck law out the window.

 

[ripper868]

Only saw the first 20 minutes as i had a function to attend...wobbles looked alright, seemed to 'contain' Mcaw a little bit, smashig him a few times at breakdown time...this evidently didnt continue based on postings here.

ref=dud

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

How was Giteau's pass for the first, miracle ball.

 

[Smudge]

How was Giteau's pass for the first, miracle ball.

Yeah, that oozed class - good power from Mitchell too to get over.

 

[Francis]

Forgot to add...

My main gripe with the way Australia played is they've got no decent kickers in their side. Ashley-Cooper needs to improve himself in that area and too often he hands the onus back to the opposition with poorly placed kicks.

Giteau's not too flash hot in that area either. But at least ghe gives you a moment or two in every match when he stand back in awe. That pass was fantastic.

As for McCaw, like I said I don't begrudge him getting away with stuff because that's what loosies do. I agree he had a quiet game though.

It just proves Francis knows next to ****-all about rugby.

You give an opinion that South Africa have the best rugby history and suddenly everything's sheep stations.

 

[Johnners]

ITSTL, Francis banned.

Out of interest, how did the atmosphere seem at the match?

 

[Craig]

ITSTL, Francis banned.

Out of interest, how did the atmosphere seem at the match?

Nah it is a good thing.

 

[S.P. Fleming]

has anyone read greg growdens article in the smh. The guys an idiot whingeing about the ref the whole time. I didnt think he was that bad but more like the wallabies played some stupid rugby. Stephen moore was either off his feet or lying on the ball for most of the game and the ref pinged him accordingly. I didnt think sivis pass was that forward id say it was flat and therefore a good call not to pick it up.

 

[Craig]

Can the TMO pick up on forward passes or not (like League can't)?

 

[Somerset]

Can the TMO pick up on forward passes or not (like League can't)?

Union only allows the TMO to make decisions on the actual act of scoring, so not on offside nor any forward passes in the build-up to the try. I haven't seen the try again since watching the match live but at the time I thought it was a line ball - worse has been missed.

 

[Somerset]

Out of interest, how did the atmosphere seem at the match?

Seemed to be dominated by New Zealanders and Australians to be honest! Obviously tour groups and ex-patriots made up a sizeable proportion of the crowd. General atmosphere was pretty decent but doesn't come close compared to the party atmosphere of the Sevens.

 

[Somerset]

All Blacks team to face Scotland was named last night - only Williams, Donald and Toeava maintain starting spots from the Hong Kong test. "No more rotation?" - yeah right.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Rotation's OK now 'cos we won the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe... Seriously, though, we need some new talent. Namely a tighthead, reserve tighthead, replacement lock, loose forward cover, back-up first five, second five, right wing and fullback cover. I expect us to play like silly buggers. We'll have too much athleticism for Scotland, but I doubt we'll see a quality performance. The loose forward alignment smacks of Hansen. Instead of playing guys in the right position they're trying to find that magic utility loosie. Set pieces will be interesting. It's a pretty loose pack.

Amusing that Carter and McCaw are on the bench in case it all goes pear shaped.

 

[Somerset]

If we're trying to find a replacement for McCaw at openside flanker, why are we not playing Scott Waldrom who was picked with that specific role? I'm not sure he'll get more than 10 minutes game time against anyone other than Munster to be honest, so you have to wonder why Thompson's playing at seven this week. I don't have that much of an issue dropping McCaw and So'oialo, when you consider they've both played for three or four weeks in a row now (the Hong Kong test and final rounds of the Air New Zealand Cup) but why drop Jerome Kaino, whos played one match in the last month?

I think we've got adequate cover in some of the positions you've mentioned. With Rokocoko back, right wing is covered and Kahui IMO was very impressive in that position towards the end of the Tri Nations. Toeava's best position, at least in my view, is at full back and I'd say he'll again impress tomorrow morning against the Scots from 15. Loose forward cover with Thompson, Messam and Read looks pretty good to me - I suppose we do need to try these guys but I was just a bit disappointed we're throwing the whole lot of them into a test match together. Eaton's return provides an extra locking option and Boric's done a reasonable job so far - although I still have my doubts about him. Agree that tighthead prop looks a little thin, and unless Donald can step up from Hong Kong, we'll still be worried about cover at first and second five.