Thread: That time of year again, Bledisloe

Originally Posted by bob10

5 things learned from the Wallaby France tests, Bob


Five things we learned from Wallabies-France third Test

Bob,

Thanks for the links.

Unfortunately I haven't had much of a chance to watch any international rugby of late (plenty of local Reds games) but have been buoyed by the recent Wallaby success. I know you are a hard core watcher.

So are the French just playing badly or is Owen McKenzie making a difference, in your opinion?

Cheer,

Kev.

The Wallabies are lacking the tight 5 to trouble the All Blacks,and the thinking that beating a French team missing a lot of their best players is somehow a proper hitout before the Bledisloe cup is way of the mark. In the second test when the French decided to play rugby, the Wallabies had no creativity or no answer to constant pressure. Always kicking instead of backing themselves to run the ball.

Yes they got the win but by no means was it convincing and it showed how far the Wallabies need to go to beat the All blacks.In contrast the All blacks vs England series showed that the improvement by the All blacks in 3 games against a far better team is also something the Wallabies did not do against the french.

The only position the Wallabies have a slight advantage is fullback,but the set piece and breakdown is also a weak point for the Wallabies.Also they are lacking creativity in attack,IMO i can't see them beating the All blacks or making much of an impression in the four nations either.

Originally Posted by Celtoid

Bob,

Thanks for the links.

Unfortunately I haven't had much of a chance to watch any international rugby of late (plenty of local Reds games) but have been buoyed by the recent Wallaby success. I know you are a hard core watcher.

So are the French just playing badly or is Owen McKenzie making a difference, in your opinion?

Cheer,

Kev.

I believe MacKenzie has slowly been changing the culture in Wallaby rugby, Deans just didn't get it. There will be more discipline in the side, Schoolboy antics will be punished, off field , and not tolerated on. Cooper is finished. The work ethic is back. Slowly, they have been developing competition for positions. No ones place is set in stone. The future looks good. The French ? Game one was the dirt track team. Game two was the best on offer. Game three , were out muscled. Early days, but this team will play good rugby, win, lose or draw. No more schoolboy rugby, I predict. Bob

Originally Posted by bob10

I believe MacKenzie has slowly been changing the culture in Wallaby rugby, Deans just didn't get it. There will be more discipline in the side, Schoolboy antics will be punished, off field , and not tolerated on. Cooper is finished. The work ethic is back. Slowly, they have been developing competition for positions. No ones place is set in stone. The future looks good. The French ? Game one was the dirt track team. Game two was the best on offer. Game three , were out muscled. Early days, but this team will play good rugby, win, lose or draw. No more schoolboy rugby, I predict. Bob

Some very good points in their Bob yes there is some very positive signs for the future,and fully agree that cooper is gone.Deans i think tried to make the Wallabies play New Zealand style rugby which was never going to work.

What the Wallabies used to be famous for was running rugby and that is where i think they need to go.

Originally Posted by bob10

I believe MacKenzie has slowly been changing the culture in Wallaby rugby, Deans just didn't get it. There will be more discipline in the side, Schoolboy antics will be punished, off field , and not tolerated on. Cooper is finished. The work ethic is back. Slowly, they have been developing competition for positions. No ones place is set in stone. The future looks good. The French ? Game one was the dirt track team. Game two was the best on offer. Game three , were out muscled. Early days, but this team will play good rugby, win, lose or draw. No more schoolboy rugby, I predict. Bob

You don't think Cooper will ever play again?


I actually liked the Cooper story on many fronts, off and on the field ... It was a good lesson for kids today ... yeah I'm over 50, I can say that :-) ... and the people they interact with. Who knows how the tale was going to end but it did show that McKenzie's interest, support and courage was paying off....once again both on and off the field. Many kids and mentors could learn from that.


I actually though that his (Cooper's) consistency was improving ... and when the combination of support and him on fire came together ... it was a thing to witness. I believe he has always been judged too unfairly.


Cheers,


Kev.

I still can't get my head around the NZ tactics of last year ... don't want to start a war .. but outcome aside, I felt that when the Kiwis got in strife last BC, they flapped and fouled. It seamed like a tactic. As soon as they got pressured in their 50, they fouled and broke down play.


I don't think winning at any cost is a good plan to follow. It breaks the flow of the game and makes it a crap spectator sport ... unless you only want to see the score at the end.


What to me seams to be lost, is the fact that by default we are all paying their wages and we pay to see them compete, not cheat.... ;-). I'm sorry, if you're giving away a penalty, you're breaking the rules. If it's an individual mind-snap, it's understandable ... if it's a team tactic ... well that sux!


The Kiwis have no need to play that way, they are a world beating, formidable force .... I'd just like to see them expand their repertoire to cover all aspects of the game. The day they get a Ref with balls on the field, it will seriously tarnish their game and reputation.


Just play the freakin game ...


OK, rant over ... :-)

Hi all,

I think Bernard Foley had a bit of a shocker in yesterday's game. So to be able to still put a team to the sword when our primary play maker was out of sorts is great. I also think Cooper won't see international competition again unless injury forces him back into the line up. I also think the same for Genia. And I'm a Reds man, a paid up member.

Regards,

Dan.

I've always followed the Wallabies, whether they are winning or losing, it takes time to get teams to where you want them and why there are one or two teams that dominate, all the teams have had there down periods, it's always been this way, time will tell whether the Wallabies can get on top again.

I'm looking forward to the Bledisloe, it always brings the best Rugby out of both teams.

Baz.