The Wallabies

[GVGjr]

I see the Wallabies wrecked their perfect sweep of Europe with a loss to Wales last night. As much as I prefer watch Union over League they are a very frustrating team to follow.

Did anyone else watch it?

[MrMahatma]

Re: The Wallabies

I see the Wallabies wrecked their perfect sweep of Europe with a loss to Wales last night. As much as I prefer watch Union over League they are a very frustrating team to follow.

Did anyone else watch it?

Yeah, I caught the 2nd half - my brother was at the game.

I find our game plan pretty frustrating. We've got the class in the line up, but tend to not run the ball enough. I thought we broke Wales down pretty well when we threw the pill around, but let them dictate field position too much.

[westdog54]

Re: The Wallabies

I see the Wallabies wrecked their perfect sweep of Europe with a loss to Wales last night. As much as I prefer watch Union over League they are a very frustrating team to follow.

Did anyone else watch it?

They were somewhat unlucky both with injuries and officiating, but as far as I'm concerned there are no excuses. There's enough quality and depth in that squad for them to have been Wales quite comfortably.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Wallabies

Frustrating is an understatement when it comes to the Wallies. Inscrutable, more like.. the talent is everywhere but for a few years now they've played like they are in 'rebuilding' mode so there isn't that final push to win at all costs, so when they are in front they start coasting and when they are behind there's no desperation or clinical-ness (is that even a word) to finish things off. Brilliant at times, very sloppy at others. Was hoping that Dean's appointment would cure that, and there are good signs, but I guess it takes time to turn ships around.

Having said that, the Welsh are no mugs.. they are a real show for the next WC if they all stay fit.

[westdog54]

Re: The Wallabies

Frustrating is an understatement when it comes to the Wallies. Inscrutable, more like.. the talent is everywhere but for a few years now they've played like they are in 'rebuilding' mode so there isn't that final push to win at all costs, so when they are in front they start coasting and when they are behind there's no desperation or clinical-ness (is that even a word) to finish things off. Brilliant at times, very sloppy at others. Was hoping that Dean's appointment would cure that, and there are good signs, but I guess it takes time to turn ships around.

Having said that, the Welsh are no mugs.. they are a real show for the next WC if they all stay fit.

ATM I think Wales are the pick of the 6 Nations for the next World Cup.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Wallabies

ATM I think Wales are the pick of the 6 Nations for the next World Cup.

No doubt.

[westdog54]

Re: The Wallabies

No doubt.

Speaking of Wales, did you happen to see this from the NZ game?

Probably the best response to the Haka I've ever seen.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Wallabies

Speaking of Wales, did you happen to see this from the NZ game?

Probably the best response to the Haka I've ever seen.

You most likely seen it but the one from the league world cup that same night was pretty cool

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=D6hSM9Nphd0

the wallabies played well this morning, looked good, Cooper showed a lot of good stuffas a center

[westdog54]

Re: The Wallabies

You most likely seen it but the one from the league world cup that same night was pretty cool

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=D6hSM9Nphd0

Meh, its been done.

Geez I felt sorry for Jonathan Kaplan, you try telling 44 blokes with an average weight around the 100kg mark to turn around and walk away. Refs have it tough sometimes.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: The Wallabies

They were somewhat unlucky both with injuries and officiating, but as far as I'm concerned there are no excuses. There's enough quality and depth in that squad for them to have been Wales quite comfortably.

To be fair Wales aren't a bad team. I didn't watch the game because I was watching the All Blacks and England (now that was a woeful game), but Wales are easily the best of the European sides at the moment and the Wallabies are the worst of the Sthn hemisphere sides (the Argies included). No disgrace to go to Wales and lose.

On a side I went to the Wallabies v Ba Ba's game last night and given that it was the Australian "B" with some young up and coming players. The young fullback O'Connor looks class and at only 18yo he is one to watch. Luke Burgess and Quade Cooper also impressed! Looks a good batch coming through.

[westdog54]

Re: The Wallabies

To be fair Wales aren't a bad team. I didn't watch the game because I was watching the All Blacks and England (now that was a woeful game), but Wales are easily the best of the European sides at the moment and the Wallabies are the worst of the Sthn hemisphere sides (the Argies included). No disgrace to go to Wales and lose.

On a side I went to the Wallabies v Ba Ba's game last night and given that it was the Australian "B" with some young up and coming players. The young fullback O'Connor looks class and at only 18yo he is one to watch. Luke Burgess and Quade Cooper also impressed! Looks a good batch coming through.

Didn't get to see the game, love watching the Ba Bas play. Glad to see that Burgess had a good game. What he's shown so far on this tour hastn' filled me with confidence so far.

Fredi, how do you see Berrick Barnes in the future? IMO when he's playing I think they've got him and Giteau the wrong way around. Barnes was excellent at Flyhalf in the WC and I thin Giteau played better at Inside Centre, which is a scary thought given he's played very very well at number 10.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: The Wallabies

Didn't get to see the game, love watching the Ba Bas play. Glad to see that Burgess had a good game. What he's shown so far on this tour hastn' filled me with confidence so far.

Fredi, how do you see Berrick Barnes in the future? IMO when he's playing I think they've got him and Giteau the wrong way around. Barnes was excellent at Flyhalf in the WC and I thin Giteau played better at Inside Centre, which is a scary thought given he's played very very well at number 10.

Barnes.....I think he has improved and is better suited to the flyhalf/inside centre roles rather than the fullback roles they originally had him in. Giteau though is something special. Everyone raves about Dan Carter, but pound for pound Giteau is as good a player. I think we're a little spoilt around there at the moment......if we could only get some props!

[westdog54]

Re: The Wallabies

Barnes.....I think he has improved and is better suited to the flyhalf/inside centre roles rather than the fullback roles they originally had him in. Giteau though is something special. Everyone raves about Dan Carter, but pound for pound Giteau is as good a player. I think we're a little spoilt around there at the moment......if we could only get some props!

Its been ages since we had half decent props going around. The front row seems to be the only area Australia have had no real continuity in the past few years.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: The Wallabies

Its been ages since we had half decent props going around. The front row seems to be the only area Australia have had no real continuity in the past few years.

Its been an achilles heel that we just haven't seemed to be able to overcome. I think Union being our 5th sport (at best) doesn't help. Also the gap between club and Super 14's is another problem. The Kiwi's have a domestic competition, the Ranfurly Shield (or sthg like that) and the Saffa's have the Currie Cup. I think its no surprise that our guys take longer to develop because there is no national domestic competition.