Hi Bob, that game was the best I've seen the Reds play all season, every player look like they had given it there all, and the best game Cooper has played all year, I read an article where the Lions are happy he is not in the squad.
Cheers Jeff
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My 2 cents worth,
Quade Cooper is sensational when his pack is going forward and he is given space to move and players are in motion around him. When ever the reds or the Wallabies play an up tempo game with quick ball Quade looks sensational.
However the wallabies pack will be working very very hard against the Lions and as we saw in the 2011 RWC Quade does not have a B game. He just keeps trying to do fancy things to get out of trouble and more often than note digs the hole deeper. This is why he has not been selected.
James O'Connor can play both games, perhaps his creative game is not as good a Quade but his B Game or under pressure option games are far superior.
In test matches the little mistakes are the ones that get punished and Quade is a player who can leak points at crucial times.
The selection I think is wrong is Berrick Barnes, how he is in the side over either Christian Lealiifano or Matt Toomua is beyond me.
Even thought the Reds challenged the Lions early nothing yet has show that the Lions are no beatable by the Wallabies provided we compete up front and choice our options wisely.
Also give Link ago, Robbie has had a good run but has not been able to gel the team, McKenzie is worth the chance.
I think it will be a great test series, bring it on!!
Regards,
George
The Country side had 3 training runs before the game, for most of them Rugby is a social activity. I thought they played well. The young winger Dale Ahwang, has only played Rugby for 3 years, in the Cairns comp.. He showed enough to me to hope he gets some good coaching. He is the breadwinner for his extended family, of at least ten siblings, so Rugby is not high on his priorities, yet. The tradition was important, in the very first Lions tour, the Lions played both Qld. & NSW Country sides. Tradition is important, Bob
I agree, Bob
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<div id="story"> Reds have every right to be frustrated after Wallabies release two Waratahs, Jim Tucker writes
- One rule for red and one for blue
- By Jim Tucker
- The Courier-Mail
- June 13, 2013 8:53AM
The inconsistency of two NSW Waratahs players being released by the Wallabies to play for their state on Saturday night, just a week after six fully fit Reds were barred from any part in their own tour game against the Lions, is supremely frustrating.
- https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/06/930.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
- https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/06/931.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
Giving up 60-odd points in tour games is a dud look.
The Reds lit the fuse for the whole tour by producing a rousing contest and spectacle.
If the Australian Rugby Union got jumpy and urged the release of a few players to the Waratahs to prevent a 50-point hiding in rugby's biggest market, Sydney, this whole episode does stink.
Wallabies boss Robbie Deans is a genuine bloke, a maze of U-turns but a genuine, rugby-at-heart guy. I believe the call has come solely from him.
He would seriously want flanker Dave Dennis and centre Rob Horne to thrive in the once-in-a-lifetime chance for the Waratahs against the Lions on Saturday night.
Maybe, it is only now that Deans's Test team has become clear that those on the fringes can be released to play for their Super Rugby sides.
The good news is it means the Reds will likely have three starters - Genia, Horwill and Simmons - in the Test squad of 23 plus the three reserves Slipper, Liam Gill and Saia Faingaa.
Winger Digby Ioane would be the seventh if fully fit.
It would just be nice if the special treatment didn't always extend to the Walla-tahs.
Well in the end, those 2 released from the Wallaby squad made little difference, with a 47-17 loss. The Reds had a better go last weekend.
The Wallabies really need to be on top form next week.
Have to give them their due, the Waratahs did their best. I was very impressed with young lock Will Skelton. I think he will be a star in the future. 5/8 Foley played well, but needs a few more kilos at this level, I have watched him play 7 a side rugby, he does well. My tip is the Brumbies will beat the Lions. Bob
Agreed about Skelton. He gave his all, and was exhausted by about 60 minutes.
I think that Tuesday's game will be too close to call. The Brumbies have got six players missing to the Wallabies squad, and history has shown that the last match before the first test will be those Lions without a test starting spot.
The difference is Jake White. He has the ability to make players believe in themselves, & in matches like this, will revert to good old fashioned South African tough play, nothing fancy. Having said that, the Lions are a class act. [ A battered & bruised class act, ;)] Bob