Match impressions from the MCG
Hard to get a full sense at the ground.
Some thoughts
Good crowd and good pyrotechnics but the sound tends to go up. I thought the atmosphere was better under the roof at the Marvel last year but the better game probably contributed to that. To get 84k at a Bledisloe given how the Wallabies are going is a good effort. The G is an excellent venue to get in and out of though.
Jordan is something else. We are usually blessed with good wingers but he is on another level.
I think we really need DMac in the 23 in the big games come RWC. That first 30 mins or so Wallabies defence was good and at times we needed more variety. Other teams will have that same strong defence for 80 minutes and we will need to mix it up.
Jordie gets through an absolute mountain of work and has so many good involvements. Easily our best 12 since Nonu.
Roigard is our bench 9. Was watching him very closely and he was superb - his service was excellent and he made a huge difference. So much better than Christie it isnt funny.
Wallabies need to take some things off of Gordon's plate. He's had to do everything - goal kick, restart, kick for touch, run everything at 10.
Best I've seen Clarke look for ABs for a long time. Might have been last chance saloon if he didn't (Telea far better left wing option though). All the bench was good.
@mariner4life If it's true that NZ rugby is in any way reliant on Australian rugby going forward you guys are fucked.
@antipodean it sums up tonight it has a shit pass and a missed tackle
But it is a sexy try
@mariner4life said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:
@antipodean it sums up tonight it has a shit pass and a missed tackle
But it is a sexy try
Wtf is wrong with you tonight, take some damn happy pills man!!!
The BC is wrapped up for another year, let’s deal with the expected failures when they actually happen.
@canefan said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:
Proud moment for Cam and the Roigaid clan
Cam looked every bit as good at this level as at super rugby level. I hope he starts next week. Clearly the no2 HB now
All Blacks hurdle France in World Rugby rankings
The All Blacks' victory over the Wallabies in Melbourne has propelled them to second place in the latest World Rugby Men's Rankings.
@KiwiMurph CC looked like he wasn't rushing, just let the play come to him. Not often I can say that about him
@KiwiMurph I think that loose carry in the test against the Boks towards the end has been costly to Christie's place in the squad, Cam really stood up tonight.
@Tim said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:
Great hit
Where is the offside line at a lineout please?
Scooter had already crossed the centre line before the ball was passed to McDermott
@MiketheSnow Look where Retallick is positioned. At a 5m lineout he's already in the gap
@Winger said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:
@canefan said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:
Proud moment for Cam and the Roigaid clan
Cam looked every bit as good at this level as at super rugby level. I hope he starts next week. Clearly the no2 HB now
Aaron Smith’s final ever match at Forsyth Barr. I reckon Cam’s on the bench again.
As you would expect from a side that is desperate to win after 2 losses.
It’s great they put us under pressure and I was pleased we absorbed that pressure, which in turn put pressure on Australia and we were clinical with our chances.
It was pleasing to keep them to only 7 points, while we scored 6 tries.
I haven't read the match thread yet but we still don't get much from our props as ball-carriers. de Groot has mastered the art of running 1 m and then getting stopped in his tracks. Ofa disappointed me again. The final selection of the props will be interesting, with Moody and Newell yet to be sighted.
Another very good performance by AB’s. They always seemed in control even when the Wallabies were on top. Absorb pressure, exit and put points on. The ruck speed was fast so suited our game. Even in the first 20mins when it was tight, the speed of the ruck, the crisp passing and the AB’s willingness to play their game it just seemed like only a matter of time before they broke the Wallabies down.
You could see the Wallabies trying to exert their game plan. Hooper was on everything and won one turnover, Skelton was physically imposing.
I don’t think I’ve ever been as optimistic of the AB’s under Foster.
Well have to say I enjoyed that test. Got up this morning feeling quite good about things, there is an awful lot to like about the balance of the team and how they are playing. I will say with all respect to Papalii, perhaps the only change I would like at this stage is Cane back at 7, he a bit more suited to the combative nature of test rugby. Haven't seen any player's ratings but if Scott Barrett was anywhere under 12 out of 10 he is being marked harshly
, and I am prepared to repeat what I said earlier in season, he is best rugby player in the country this year.
But all in all pretty happy where we are at!
@Dan54 Agree about Cane. You really see the value he adds when he’s not there. Will be interesting to see the loose forward combination for Bledisloe II in Dunedin - perhaps an all-Chiefs back row of Finau, Cane and Jacobsen?
From what I saw Cane was missed.
Interested in @Tim thoughts here, his biggest critic.
@TheMojoman said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:
You could see the Wallabies trying to exert their game plan. Hooper was on everything and won one turnover, Skelton was physically imposing.
I thought Hooper was good value.
I don’t think I’ve ever been as optimistic of the AB’s under Foster.
Ha! That's a low bar for many ?
Competition Stats
This table is quite good reading (for us). Comprehensive! We're also top in every team stat category listed, except rucks won.
TAB now has us equal favourites with France to win the RWC.
South Africa third - ahead of Ireland.
Australia still viewed as much more likely than Argentina.
Lots of positives from that one and lots of work ons. Our inability to exit from our half after halftime was a concern. Missing touch from a penalty hurt, quite a few ruck penalties hurt us also for holding on. We also did not get a lot of return for the defensive bomb which seems to be a staple of the gameplan.
However, the maul defense and overall D was very nice, our set piece was rock solid and a few scrum penalties was nice. The forwards as a unit are improving all the time. Taylor is finding some nice form which is great, and scooter is a man possessed.
Frizzel and Paps not quite as much impact offensively put played tight and did well on D.
Thought Barnes was fine, communicated well.
Australia just need to sort out their discipline, how many cards have they had this rugby championship? Some good stuff but also plenty of bad. Eddie might need to eat lots of those Cadbury chocolates to make him happy as 0-3 is not a great start.
I see the stat this morning Australia have won just 5 of their last 20 games whereas NZ are on a 10 game winning streak. Bring on next week.
@Derpus said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:
The maul sack to Papali'i was surely a collapse, no? I hate mauls and think he should be well within his rights to tackle the player in possession. Notwithstanding, my understanding is that he can't take it down even if he came through legally no?
From what I could see live, I thought Papal’i got to the ball carrier given the supporting maul players for the Wallabies had splintered.
As a tactic I don’t hate mauls, what I can’t stand is (1) the leeway many mauls get when they are stagnant or just moving sideways and not forwards (2) attacking players joining the maul in front of the ball carrier