Rugby Union

[aussie1st]

Another loss That was the cloest we've come to beating the ABs in awhile. My heart was finally racing at the end, sadly our backline let us down again. Two chances to score but neither went to hand with the overlap looming.

Scrum slightly better, but still getting smashed but our lineouts came good.

 

[IloveGilly]

Argh! It will take me a long time to get over what had just happened after a lot of domination during the half!

I can't believe....THEY LOST IT! They panicked right at the end and sadly gave them the win and quite surely the Cup. Was a thrilling match though.

 

[aussie1st]

They have given them the Bledisloe Cup already, Tri Nations is more than likely going their way too.

 

[James219]

Yeah, NZ have to lose against Australia AND SA to open up the tri-nations, don't they?
Anyway, what a cracking match! That's the best contest I've seen in quite a while; the AB's played a very exciting brand of rugby, throwing the ball around in attack, but also being VERY solid in defence. Their lineout was the only really poor aspect of their game (actually, it was worse than really poor), whilst Aus stayed in the game with a valiant effort- never totally fulfilling their ability, though. A few crucial Wallabies passing and judgement errors allowed NZ's lead to stay in tact, and that last ten minutes was pulsating stuff with Aus being on top for the better part. A quality, free-flowing game with not too much sloppiness, yet with a bitter scoreline reality. Good luck livin' this one down over in Auckland, Syl

 

[aussie1st]

Well NZ haven't lost a game whereas the other two sides have lost 2 so it would be extremely hard coming back. The Wallabies would have to win all their games and hope the Boks can win at home.

Our backline just didn't click for whatever reason. Mortlock has done nothing, Giteau well he could have been a ghost, and the rest didn't do too much. I thought having Johnson as back coach was going to fix our backline problems but it hasn't.

 

[James219]

Well, Mortlock did far more than Mr. Giteau....as you said, he barely touched the ball, or even looked to get involved, which was strange. On an entirely different note, McCaw had an awesome game, covering all stretches of the field. I was surprised about the decision not to include the throat slitting action in the haka, too.

 

[aussie1st]

Mortlock definitely tried but no where near his Super 14 form where he was the stand out center.
McCaw well hes just miles ahead of anyone in the 7, George Smith seems to have lost his touch. We use to hear great things about him now we hardly hear anything compared to McCaw.

I think the haka with the throat slitting action was due to Ch 7 handbag ad. I don't think they would have done it if they didn't play that ad.

 

[James219]

McCaw well hes just miles ahead of anyone in the 7, George Smith seems to have lost his touch. We use to hear great things about him now we hardly hear anything compared to McCaw.

Yeah, Smith was even named in the all-time Wallabies XV last year, if I recall correctly, and now he's just sort of faded. Anyway, that advert was a load of crap; you'd think Seven'd have marketing campaigners with half a brain, eh? It obviously got under the kiwis' skin, though!

 

[aussie1st]

I'm guessing that was more 2003 WC and before cause his form after that hasn't been anywhere near what I remember of the great Smith. Might be time to look ahead to the Force openside who has massive wraps from what I read on other forums.

Kiwis definitely weren't happy with the ad as they were saying it was disrespecting the Maori.

 

[obelisk]

What an awesome game! I love lots of tackling
Blake did not improve the scrums that much, and he did nothing around the field to warrent his place. You guys should of had more faith in Baxter (i know he's injured ATM)
As for us; lineouts were shocking as usual. Our lineouts haven't been good since '02 or something.

 

[aussie1st]

Baxter would have been destroyed. Never again for him, Ben Robinson would be a better pick.

 

[obelisk]

That's true but for a weaker scrum that is not too flash at the moment anyway, I would go for Baxter because of his workrate in the park. I think its too late to fix the scrums so i would pick Holmes and Baxter as they have the best workrate in tackling and hitting the rucks, and hope they don't concede any pushovers
now that would be embarrasing...

 

[aussie1st]

Blake has good work rate around the field and if we can use him more effectively his big frame will come in handy. It was his first game back from injury and first time against the best scrum in the world. Not much else the young guy could have done, in a few years he maybe rated the best scrumager in the world.

 

[aussie1st]

Another beast has been unleashed by Connelly, this time Palu gets a go at 8. Should be interesting seeing how he goes, he has the size to be the perfect number 8. Hard to stop with ball in hand and another lineout option.

 

[aussie1st]

Heart stopping win by the Wallabies although very scrapy and lucky to come away with the points. On the positive we finally won a close game in the dieing stages just like we use to back in the John Eales days.
Too much kicking for my liking, seemed to kill our flow of attack. Palu was a success at 8, Mortlock brilliant on defence while Larkham had a shocker.