Wallabies v Los Pumas.

[Alra]

Hi All,

Two days out from the Gold Coast test and I'm surprised there is no chatter regarding the rugby at all. Not even trash talk about the Wallaby scrum v the Argentine scrum. Must admit I'm disappointed. Just to try and kick things off, I think there was a fair bit of skulldaggery on behalf of the Argentinians when it came to scrum time against the Boks. Plus I think the Wallabies are on their way to dropping the mantle as a soft scrummaging nation. Hope I haven't jinxed our boys.

Regards,

Danial.

[bob10]

G'day, mate. If the Wallabies could keep the same scrum on the paddock for more than one match, I'd be happy. From what I've seen of the Pumas, they have a great scrum, as they normally do, but their pack is not that mobile. Here is the ABC's report. [ I see even the Argies are not allowed to touch Ritchie] Bob
From the ABC;

Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade has switched his wingers and replaced suspended lock Tomas Lavanini with Matias Alemanno for the Pumas' Rugby Championship match against Australia on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Juan Imhoff has been promoted to right wing from the bench to replace Horacio Agulla, with Manuel Montero coming in for Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino on the left flank in the starting XV named on Wednesday.
Alemanno, named on the bench for Argentina's 28-9 loss to New Zealand in Napier last week, will start against the Wallabies in Robina after Lavanini was banned for a week for charging into a ruck and making contact with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
Hourcade has shaken up his bench, bringing front rower Bruno Postiglioni, back rower Benjamin Macome and centre Jeronimo De la Fuente into the matchday 23, as Argentina bids to break its winless record in the third season of the Rugby Championship.
Argentina squad: Joaquin Tuculet, Juan Imhoff, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martin Hernandez, Manuel Montero, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo, Leonardo Senatore, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Matias Alemanno, Mariano Galarza, Ramiro Herrera, Agustin Creevy (captain), Marcos Ayerza
Reserves: Matias Cortese, Bruno Postiglioni, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Benjamin Macome, Rodrigo Baez, Tomas Cubelli, Jeronimo De la Fuente, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino

[Alra]

No doubt the Pumas have a tough scrum but I think they get up to a fair bit of mischief with their binding and the front row driving up. Just have to wait and see. The Wallabies did well last year in Rosario to keep the Argentinians out when they were camped on our 5m line. I think it was Rosario. Should have done the research first. Let's hope the Safas give the Kiwis a touch up to at least make it a two horse race. Even better if they beat them twice.

Cheers,

Danial.

[bob10]

No doubt the Pumas have a tough scrum but I think they get up to a fair bit of mischief with their binding and the front row driving up. Just have to wait and see. The Wallabies did well last year in Rosario to keep the Argentinians out when they were camped on our 5m line. I think it was Rosario. Should have done the research first. Let's hope the Safas give the Kiwis a touch up to at least make it a two horse race. Even better if they beat them twice.

Cheers,

Danial.


The Pumas are masters of the dark art of front row play. And good on them. The Wallabies have always put forward the image of running rugby, so much so, forward play has suffered. Until we marry the two arts, we will always struggle, at the top level. Bob

[Alra]

I guess all the Kiwis on here will come along with their insightful thoughts after the game? No Safas or Argentines floating around?

Cheers,

Danial.

[windsock]

Here is the ABC's report. [ I see even the Argies are not allowed to touch Ritchie] Bob


No, not in the manner they touched him, no, simply a filthy bit of play with no place in the game.


Video:Lavanini cited for McCaw hit | Sport | 3 News (http://www.3news.co.nz/sport/videolavanini-cited-for-mccaw-hit-2014090717)


One can only hope no 'Argie' 'touches' a Wallaby like that this weekend.

[windsock]

I guess all the Kiwis on here will come along with their insightful thoughts after the game?



Maybe, maybe not...


Insightful enough for a pre-game thought?

[Alra]

Maybe, maybe not...


Insightful enough for a pre-game thought?

Oohh, tetchy? Just trying to have a conversation. How is Manawatu going in the ITM Cup?

Regards,

Danial.

[windsock]

Oohh, tetchy? Just trying to have a conversation. How is Manawatu going in the ITM Cup?


Nah, just smiled at your presumption we'd only come along after the game. Maybe.

Manawatu are doing OK for Manawatu. I hail from the Bay of Plenty so have a split affiliation between the BoP Steamers and the Manawatu Turbos.

At the moment, Manawatu are leading the ITM Championship (different from the Premiership comp) but we are doing OK. Whereas the BoP Steamers are steaming near the bottom of the pit in the Championship... easy to support the adopted province at the mo....


http://www.itmcup.co.nz/

[bob10]

No, not in the manner they touched him, no, simply a filthy bit of play with no place in the game.


Video:Lavanini cited for McCaw hit | Sport | 3 News (http://www.3news.co.nz/sport/videolavanini-cited-for-mccaw-hit-2014090717)


A bit like when Pine tree courageously took the worlds best halfback out of rugby, do you think? Bob

[bob10]

Oohh, tetchy? Just trying to have a conversation. How is Manawatu going in the ITM Cup?

Regards,

Danial.


The pressure is building. Ask the Kiwis about Taniela Tupou, Bob;)

[windsock]

The pressure is building. Ask the Kiwis about Taniela Tupou, Bob;)
No worries Bob. I wish him well. Seems a good-fortune story. Island boy makes good with childhood dream etc.
He is a big fella with loads of get-up-and-go. Will be interesting to see how he is developed and develops and how long before the league boys start offering him coin. If he makes it to top level, he will be one to watch. :)

[windsock]

A bit like when Pine tree courageously took the worlds best halfback out of rugby, do you think? Bob

There are parallels there Bob, but still no place for it (foul play) in the game, past or present. What do you think?

[bob10]

There are parallels there Bob, but still no place for it (foul play) in the game, past or present. What do you think?


I agree entirely. No place for that in the game they play in Heaven. I just wish some one would tell the French. Bob
:)

[bob10]

No worries Bob. I wish him well. Seems a good-fortune story. Island boy makes good with childhood dream etc.
He is a big fella with loads of get-up-and-go. Will be interesting to see how he is developed and develops and how long before the league boys start offering him coin. If he makes it to top level, he will be one to watch. :)


Exciting prospect, as long as they bring him along slowly. He'll be looked after, the Faainga twins are from Tonga, and are two of the most liked & respected players at the Reds, a credit to their Island home, & family. They are very active in the community, and no doubt the young fellow will have any number of Mums fussing over him, & keeping him on the straight & narrow. Good story. Brisbane has a large Tongan/ Samoan community, and the elders keep a close eye on the young, as a general rule. He'll be ok, Bob

[bob10]

The Pumas are using tonight's test to push for Super Rugby contracts in Australia, another exciting twist to the competition, Bob


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[bob10]

A bit of trivia. Tevita Kuridrani, the 102kg centre for the Wallabies , hoping to smash his way thru the Pumas, comes from the same Fijian village of Namatakula [ say it fast, just rolls off the tongue :)] that has produced three other relatives in Lote Tuquiri, Noa Nandruka and Nemani Nadolo . Must be something in the water! Begs the question of why Fiji aren't the World force in the 15 a side game you'd think they could be, Bob

[Alra]

Well, well. Didn't we miss TPN after he went off. Toomua was very in effective and fudged at least 10 points in my opinion. AAC was missed. We still played attacking rugby which is always nice.

Regards,

Danial.

[disco man]

I missed the game as it clashed with the cowboys game.I have only seen the highlights,in your guys words how did it go? and why do you think the crowd stayed away?

[Alra]

I missed the game as it clashed with the cowboys game.I have only seen the highlights,in your guys words how did it go? and why do you think the crowd stayed away?

I think the rubbish the weather kept the crowd away. The NRL/AFL finals on the box would have played a part as well.

The wheels fell off the scrum when TPN was subed due to injury. If AAC wasn't injured I really think we would have broken the Argentinian spirit in the first half and run away with it. Toomua squandered tries and and wasn't real good in defence. Stupid penalty by the skipper when we were dominating wasn't real flash either.

However we played attacking rugby which is always good. Probably tried to go to wide to early though, in my opinion.

Regards,

Danial.

[bob10]

I missed the game as it clashed with the cowboys game.I have only seen the highlights,in your guys words how did it go? and why do you think the crowd stayed away?


I admit I watched the Cowboys as well. Taped the test. We just seem to be missing maturity, and concentration. It seems the Wallabies can play very well for a short period, but lack the concentration to sustain the pressure on opposing sides. A generational thing? No mongrel? Hard to say. Rugby is not a spectator sport, but the Wallabies seem to have a lot of spectators at critical moments. That's one reason I say, knowing some of the players coming on next year, wait 'till next year, it will be better. Bob


fox news take on it


No Cookies | Fox Sports News, Live Sport, Sports | Fox Sports (http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/the-rugby-championship/michael-hooper-scores-two-tries-as-wallabies-escape-with-3225-win-over-argentina/story-e6frf4qc-1227057629443)

[bob10]

One more thing that sticks in my craw. When we were kids, our coaches drummed into us, you must look like a footballer to play like one. That is, jumpers tucked in, socks up. If you look at the Wallaby v Pumas, at just after the 5 minute mark, Wallaby winger , Rob Horne, was given a great pass to put him around his opposite number. He had about 20 to 30 metres of clear space to set up a support player. We were on a roll, looking good. What happened? A puma grabbed his loose jumper , and the attacking play broke down, because Horne didn't tuck his jumper in. Professional rugby players? No. It is the one per cent that wins the big games. Bob

[bob10]

Just finished watching the tape. Towards the end of the game, Folau gets a bad ball, about 10 metres out from his line. Isolated, he looks around. No forwards run back, they are walking. Beale is to his right, marked by a puma. The only option for folau, by now on his knees, is to pass to Beale. Beale does not aggressively contest possession. loses the ball. What sticks in my mind is Beale, walking behind Folau, shouts, " thanks, Mate!' Folau drops his head. This would not happen in the All Blacks team. There needs to be a culling of these white ants before next year. Bob