2013 Rugby Championship

Swiwi.

.ak wrote: »

Just started watching at 35 min. How's B. Smith been looking at 13? How's Cooper been?

That was a 14 point try. B.Smith no chances on attack, but no missed tackles on defence. Cooper has been very good for Aussie, him & Folau can be a handful. Game on here, I guess.

ScissorPaperRock

.ak wrote: »

Just started watching at 35 min. How's B. Smith been looking at 13? How's Cooper been?

I started watching at about the same time tbh, but Cooper seems to be having a decent game. Haven't been too focused on Ben Smith to be honest.

Swiwi.

Aussie have got to slow the ruck ball down somehow. NZ are unbeatable with quick ruck ball. Ireland will need SOB etc to make a right nuisance of themselves...without giving away penalties. Time for Beauden Barrett please.

ScissorPaperRock

That was a good example of taking advantage of the opportunities for inside breaks due to the All Black's narrow defence running across to widen up, as was discussed in the GAGR video that was posted a few days ago.

Swiwi.

CJ is giving some weird calls tonight, against both sides. Betham throws the ball into touch...Aussie lineout?? Aussie rolling the ball forward...stationary maul??

sydthebeat

Swiwi. wrote: »

CJ is giving some weird calls tonight, against both sides. Betham throws the ball into touch...Aussie lineout?? Aussie rolling the ball forward...stationary maul??

Looked like the ball came off ab hand for that line out, and he has called use it when the mall was stationary. I'm not sure but I don't think using it counts of the mall starts moving again

ScissorPaperRock

Should have been an Aussie try there

ScissorPaperRock

Poor offload from AAC there.

Swiwi.

Aussie are going to do OK on the northern tour: Genia & Cooper starting to get back to their best, Folau is really something, and Kuridrani is dangerous in midfield. Dare I say CL wasn't missed? Of course, their front 5 will always be suspect, and it's such a pity for them that Pocock & Higginbothan are injured, but Ireland should not take the game lightly.

P_1

Slightyl annoyed at BNZ for letting in that last try seeing as I had them on the -14

Judgement Day

Great game and little comfort for the NH sides that will be meeting a much improved Aussie side. Great to see the ABs go hell for leather throughout despite there being nothing to play for except the jersey. Roll on Twickenham and sweet revenge.

.ak

Nice bit of touch rugby at the end there.

danthefan

Swiwi. wrote: »

Morning DTF. Morning SPR. Aussie are actually playing not too bad, but NZ has been pretty ruthless. QC looks full of confidence, and Israel Folau is reading the game better & better, and is turning into some player. However, so far Israel Dagg has been on fire, and happy with Sam Cane in the forwards.

A belated good morning, had to step out for the entire 2nd half, worth watching back? I know the final score anyway. Thought NZ would really go to town at 30-12, fair play to Aus for keeping it respectable.

The Jman

I haven't seen much of Australia since the Lions tour but have to say they were pretty impressive there. Folau was unreal and Cooper was a kicking machine. First time ever seeing that Kuridrani dude playing too and my God he looks dangerous. Great game of rugby to start the day off with

Swiwi.

danthefan wrote: »

A belated good morning, had to step out for the entire 2nd half, worth watching back? I know the final score anyway. Thought NZ would really go to town at 30-12, fair play to Aus for keeping it respectable.

Wouldn't radically alter your plans for the day, but if you have a moment it's worth a watch. I don't really think NZ was ever in any danger of losing, but Australia in the last 2 games has looked much more organised, and I think won't necessarily be the easybeats we might have expected even only a month ago.

Both sides like a fast game, I think the NH sides shouldn't try and match this style of play, because they just haven't got the players for it, but rather try and go for more of a forward battle of attrition, and try and nick a try here or there. That's what I'm expecting from England anyway.

danthefan

Swiwi. wrote: »

Wouldn't radically alter your plans for the day, but if you have a moment it's worth a watch. I don't really think NZ was ever in any danger of losing, but Australia in the last 2 games has looked much more organised, and I think won't necessarily be the easybeats we might have expected even only a month ago.

Both sides like a fast game, I think the NH sides shouldn't try and match this style of play, because they just haven't got the players for it, but rather try and go for more of a forward battle of attrition, and try and nick a try here or there. That's what I'm expecting from England anyway.

What I think is a significant concern for Ireland is that NZ seemed to beat Aus up front, but Aus still managed 33 points.

Grimebox

**** forget this was on

Swiwi.

danthefan wrote: »

What I think is a significant concern for Ireland is that NZ seemed to beat Aus up front, but Aus still managed 33 points.

There wasn't that much of a physical contest, as the game was high tempo, and CJ ruined the scrums to an extent, but for all his faults, when Cooper is on form he can really put people into space. Ireland will have to shut down Genia, Cooper & Folau - maybe by starving them of ball, and the loose forwards just have to harangue Genia all day.

danthefan

Swiwi. wrote: »

There wasn't that much of a physical contest, as the game was high tempo, and CJ ruined the scrums to an extent, but for all his faults, when Cooper is on form he can really put people into space. Ireland will have to shut down Genia, Cooper & Folau - maybe by starving them of ball, and the loose forwards just have to harangue Genia all day.

Well specifically what I was talking about is that in the first half Aus just got blown away at a couple of their own rucks, NZ drove over and won possession. Must have happened three or four times that I can remember.

Skimmed through the game there, At one point Aus were making progress with a maul (admittedly slow enough progress, but they were moving) and Joubert blew it up and gave NZ a scrum. Aus were approaching the NZ line at the time. How are you supposed to win the game with calls like that?

Swiwi.

danthefan wrote: »

Well specifically what I was talking about is that in the first half Aus just got blown away at a couple of their own rucks, NZ drove over and won possession. Must have happened three or four times that I can remember.

Skimmed through the game there, At one point Aus were making progress with a maul (admittedly slow enough progress, but they were moving) and Joubert blew it up and gave NZ a scrum. Aus were approaching the NZ line at the time. How are you supposed to win the game with calls like that?

I thought CJ made some dubious calls both ways, but I agree Aust were hard doneby there. Anyway Owens is reffing NZ v Ire, so that's good.

Morf

Swiwi. wrote: »

I thought CJ made some dubious calls both ways, but I agree Aust were hard doneby there. Anyway Owens is reffing NZ v Ire, so that's good.

Depends what hat he has on that day. Wasn't impressed with him for the Saracens v Toulouse at all.

I was just thinking "I hope the praise for the SA v NZ game doesn't go to his head" . . . .

ScissorPaperRock

Morf wrote: »

Depends what hat he has on that day. Wasn't impressed with him for the Saracens v Toulouse at all.

I was just thinking "I hope the praise for the SA v NZ game doesn't go to his head" . . . .

Wasn't that Nigel Owens?

Morf

ScissorPaperRock wrote: »

Wasn't that Nigel Owens?

Yes I was referring to Ire v NZ with Owens reffing.

ScissorPaperRock

Morf wrote: »

Yes I was referring to Ire v NZ with Owens reffing.

Oh sorry, clearly didn't read that properly at all!

I think Nigel Owens is probably my favourite ref. He's very clear about what he wants and favours a positive approach to the game.

Morf

ScissorPaperRock wrote: »

Oh sorry, clearly didn't read that properly at all!

I think Nigel Owens is probably my favourite ref. He's very clear about what he wants and favours a positive approach to the game.

He varies. A few games a season he decides to give 2 or 3 penalties for going again when held in the tackle. This usually involves at least one where the place is in no way held.

He has good games and stinkers. I generally like Rolland but then he doesn't ref Leinster or Ireland so I'm generally more neutral.

Depends on the ref on the day and what their assessors/higher-ups have told them to focus on before/during each series of test matches more than reffing style I find.

Journeyman_1

I said after the Argentina game that Australia were much better and that we weren't gonna have an easy game or anything close to it and Australia totally confirmed that today. That was a very good display. To score 3 tries against the best defensive team in world rugby is very impressive.

Jacovs

Not rugby championship, but some more Bismarck controversy.
During the Currie cup semi final, and has today been cleared to play saturday's final, as it was ruled his actions was accidental.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xWueNBKOWc

Aotearoa

Jacovs wrote: »

Not rugby championship, but some more Bismarck controversy.
During the Currie cup semi final, and has today been cleared to play saturday's final, as it was ruled his actions was accidental.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xWueNBKOWc

another blot on the copybook in my opinion. hotheaded.

Aotearoa

JOC on his way to london irish according to reports