Where's the rugby chat?

[Alra]

Hi all,

Good win for the Wallabies. Bit too much dropped ball though. The AB's should be thanking us for giving the Safas a solid bashing as well.

Regards,

Danial.

[bob10]

Hi all,

Good win for the Wallabies. Bit too much dropped ball though. The AB's should be thanking us for giving the Safas a solid bashing as well.

Regards,

Danial.


The wallabies didn't panic. Not a real good win, IMO. Too much lost ball at the breakdown in the first half. The scrum was pushed past 90 degrees more than once. A reasonable start, nothing to get excited about. Bob

[jerryd]

More like a miracle :D although it was a great game.

I thought the springboks had it in the bag on this special day

This year (http://www.unric.org/en/latest-un-buzz/29828-this-years-nelson-mandela-international-day-remembers-promotes-and-awards-service)

[Alra]

I thought it was a pretty good game for first test for the year. I think Giteau had a cracker. Interesting Hooper and Pocock on the field at the same time. I think we dropped less ball than usual. Phipps blew Genia away. I think some decision making could have been better. Higgers should have just run over the top of the Safa 10 in the first half instead of kicking.

Cheers,

Danial.

[Alra]

Wouldn't call it a miracle. The boys worked hard all the way to the end. The Wallabies left 9 points on the field and the Safas only left 3 out there.

[SBD4]

Very disappointed in the 1st half, very happy with the last 15 mins! Hooper is brilliant. Leave Cooper out of the team please! Jury is out on Giiteau and Genia.

Fantastic control and spirit shown by the team in the last minutes of the game.

If we were playing the ABs they would have killed us.

Favourite players, Hooper, Ashley-Cooper(Mr reliable), Falou, Kuridrani, Toomua and Moore for making the decision to go for it!

[Alra]

Cooper and Genia won't be going to England. Giteau was good tonight. The best thing about having him back in the test side is that the extra competition for the spot will bring the best out in Toomua.

[Alra]

Still no rugby chat after the Wallabies got some convincing payback over the Los Pumas in Mendoza! Cooper was rubbish once again. Nice return game from Dean Munn. Far from perfect from the Wallabies. Plenty of work at break down still to be done. Bring on the Bledisloe.

Cheers,

Danial.

[Alra]

So, it's the first Bledisloe this weekend. Anyone want to voice an opinion about how it will play out?

Cheers,

Danial.

[SBD4]

What a great game! Lots of room to improve for the Wallabies which is great - to come away with a win and know there's better to come is fantastic. All Blacks definitely off their game. I don't think they will make that many slip ups next week.

Best thing is the Wallabies have broken the hoodoo which helps massively with the head game. Just need not to get cocky and keep building on their hard work.

Onwards and upwards boys!

[Alra]

I don't think the AB's were off their game. It was a high intensity and high impact game. That will always lead to mistakes on both sides. TJ Perenara's knock on, Dan Carter's kicking and Nick Phipps being wayward in the first half are good examples of what happens under pressure. I think both teams played quite well under enormous pressure. Eden Park is going to be a big challenge.

Cheers,

Danial.

[mojo]

Halfback is a big problem for the Wobs. Phipps looked to be heading in the right direction with a very good 2nd half against the Boks and an OK game agianst the Puma's, but his performance against the AB's was woefull. White has also put in some shockers at times, and Genia is no where near the form he had 3 or 4 years ago when he was close to the best 9 in the game. You'd have to think White will get the nod this week, probably with Toomua at 10.

It's not often we get a chance to win back the Bledisloe - our recent wins over the AB's (2010, 2011) have been in dead rubbers. Great opportunity for the team, but it'll be bloody hard at Eden Park. Nearly 30 years since we won there.

Cheers
Sean

[Alra]

I think Phipps will bounce back after the weekends performance. I think him and Foley are the best halfs combo.

Cheers,

Danial.

[Alra]

Quade Cooper picked at 10 for tomorrow's game. That's got disaster written all over it!!

Cheers,

Danial.

[Alra]

Absolutely depressing! Chieka needs to be read the riot act for selecting that f@(kwit Cooper.

[Gordie]

As a Kiwi...I love it when Aus selects Quade Cooper, thankyou Aussie selectors. Glad he doesn't play for us!

[jerryd]

Nice to see Richie McCaw get a standing ovation :) It was certainly a different game to last weeks.



For anybody who missed the score ;)

[SBD4]

Absolutely depressing! Chieka needs to be read the riot act for selecting that f@(kwit Cooper.
I didn't watch the game because of that selection - I couldn't bear it. Last time he played the AB there it was a similar disaster.

Two head highs in successive games resulting in sin bin. A guaranteed loss at Eden Park right there. He may shine in some brief moments but he is too unpredictable or should I say unreliable. He is scared of the AB's and will do anything to get rid of the ball so he doesn't get tackled.

It's a shame they have to take that loss in to the world cup. Hopefully it'll put a rocket up them and, hopefully Chieka has finally learned what we already know - Cooper does not belong in the squad.

[Alra]

Well said.

[Alra]

Unconvincing win against the USA this morning. Giteau and Foley were the only backs that showed up. At least our scrum was dominant as they should have been. Beale and Cooper nowhere again. I think one of the best things that could happen to Australian rugby is if those guys sustained career ending injuries. Both of them must have some dirt on the Australian selectors because I'll be buggeredd if I know why they keep making the team. Genia made the most of the opportunity. Probably not enough to be picked over Phipps though. Mr Peyper didn't mind a bit of off side at the break down which made Phipps look silly.

Cheers

Danial.

[SBD4]

Well, that was satisfying. Smashing the poms out of the world cup should keep the arrogant buggers quiet for a while. Still plenty of room for improvement.

Clive Woodward can now take a good heaped serving of humble pie:
Australia not the brightest: Woodward (http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=9036828)

Looking forward to Wales now!

[Alra]

I heard in the media that Danny Cipriani was shooting off his mouth that no one in the Wallaby Squad is good enough to make the England Team. Suck s$/t Cipriani. You were rubbish when you played for the Rebels and didn't get any better when you went home. On side note I have to admit Beale played well. It's going to take many more performances like that before I become a fan though. Bring on Wales.

[SBD4]

Yes, I read that too. What a ******! Hope Hooper gets through the dangerous play charge - don't think he will though. That pommy no 15 seemed to be hanging around the ruck in the wrong spot - deserved some clearing out in the fashion that Hooper dished out IMHO.

PS... Surely there are other rugby fans on this forum. Maybe they are all over there watching it live.

[Alra]

Wish I was over there watching live. Hooper got the raw end of the deal. Fair enough it was a clear penalty. But no contact with Brown's head and no yellow from the match ref. The citing committee must all be poms. Silver lining is that hopefully Sean McMahon will be picked to replace. He's got some mongrel in him that lad!

[SBD4]

Yes I like Sean McMahon, he's great player and didn't disappoint!

What a great game against Wales. The Welsh forwards had it over us in the breakdown. I was very happy to forsake any tries being scored by us for that awesome defense on display while down to 13 men.

I felt the refs could have done a better job picking up on the infringements - I think we lost out a bit there.

Great article:
Australia's unbreakable band of gold keeps Wales at bay (http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/110315)