posted Aug 3, 2010

Well Australia will need to find a front row before the next game in Christchurch or it will probably be a repeat of Saturday's drubbing. All Blacks were scintillating but they have done that before and fallen in the later stages of the World Cup, strange for a side that can put anyone to the sword but who seem to get distracted in the prolonged carnage of a World Cup. Rest of the World need to learn how to beat the All Blacks at the breakdown or be just as efficient at borderline legality

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posted Aug 3, 2010

Most people thought the scrum was fine last weekend. It was the total lack of intelligence that was the main problem with the Wallabies...

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posted Aug 3, 2010

ScepticalScotty

I am an aussie but i have to agree with you.
Mind you i wouldent call it lack of intelligence ;D.

Australia did not show great signs of thinking on their feet. For example continueing to kick long of the restarts when it obviously was not working. The scrum was reasonably good but could use improvement. I sincerly hope that Robbie Deans will look at these issues because agaist a team like the ABs which are frankly the best you need to be on top form...

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posted Aug 3, 2010

The ABs were good, and they are adapting to the yet increasing amount of rule tinkering - one of the reasons the Springboks are now falling behind - although their big name players are off their game as well.

I would like to see the All Blacks reffed by a northern hemisphere bod - I think if we continue to see such different reffing in each hemisphere - New Zealand may come unstuck at the World Cup - On this form, it could be the only thing that stops them.

That a lack of a quality No.9 or back up second row.

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posted Aug 3, 2010

Tinoflyer,

The AB's have had two NH ref's and one SH ref and it made no difference. As for second rowers, Sam Whitelock looks the goods as backup and Ali Williams still to return.

All looks well for the AB's unless there is a massive loss of form or other teams catch up at a stellar rate.

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posted Aug 3, 2010

go on the all blacks

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posted Aug 4, 2010

Drew Mitchell should not have been sin-binned for his tackle on Richie McCaw, says IRB ref's boss Paddy O'Brien.

Thats official...Its why the line official was axed.

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posted Aug 4, 2010

History as GWB would say, is in the past.

Australia should move on from this.

PoB comes out with some odd things from time to time. I recall him attempting to justify Wayne Barnes performance a few years back, before his own organisation's official review slated the performance of the incompetent English whistler.

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posted Aug 4, 2010

"Australia should move on from this."

greyghost, you whinge on about Wayne Barnes in every other post. Take a bit of your own advice, chum.

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posted Aug 5, 2010

Well I dont Cyril and I agree Oz should move on from this, and learn from how they were beaten.

So should SA had after Eden Park. They could have moved swiftly into analysing the way the AB's have applied the new rule interpretations.

Instead they focussed on reffing, McCaw, yellow cards etc and simply tried to muscle up the next game with nothing new, thinking it was a one off.

Anti NZ posters here have spent 90% of their comments on wasted efforts about one off incidents and McCaw where theyve largely failed to attribute sufficient dialogue to the bigger picture- which is the way the AB's have won their matches and the style that needs to be played, or at least, negated.

The only sensible comments I have heard is by the French coach who has managed to see through the smokescreen and look at the obvious common theme through all this.

Biltongs post on how to contain the AB's is worth considering though I still see that as somewhat on the negative side for the long term, but certainly negating and contesting the key posession points is a start.

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