New Zealand Vs Australia

[Wally]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gavin @ Jul 18 2009, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wally @ Jul 18 2009, 09:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How good did Genia look when he was on the field though. He will be a much better player than Burgess for Australia in the long term. Burgess' pass mostly terrible, and he can be blamed for that charge down which lead to Australia's capitulation.[/b]

Genia looked fantastic, Burgess was awful. All this talk about Burgess being the next Gregan - LIES!! Genia looked smooth and confident when he came on. James O'Connor came on too early and in the wrong position, he should have been put on at full-back, and Barnes should have stayed on, if not then Ashley-Cooper moved to center. Donald surprised me as he played very well. Mortlock was invisible. Andrew Hore should be benched for the next match, his lineout throwing was awful. Oh and did anyway else think that the referee was an ass?
[/b][/quote]
Yes. I know Al Baxter doesn't set the world on fire when it comes to scrummaging, but those penalties against him for collapsing the scrum on the Wallabies own feed were disgraceful.

I'm not sure if Barnes was forced off the field with an injury, but if he wasn't, putting O'Connor on at such a critical time against the ALL BLACKS was a really dumb move by Deans.

 

[Nickdnz]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wally @ Jul 18 2009, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gavin @ Jul 18 2009, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wally @ Jul 18 2009, 09:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How good did Genia look when he was on the field though. He will be a much better player than Burgess for Australia in the long term. Burgess' pass mostly terrible, and he can be blamed for that charge down which lead to Australia's capitulation.[/b]

Genia looked fantastic, Burgess was awful. All this talk about Burgess being the next Gregan - LIES!! Genia looked smooth and confident when he came on. James O'Connor came on too early and in the wrong position, he should have been put on at full-back, and Barnes should have stayed on, if not then Ashley-Cooper moved to center. Donald surprised me as he played very well. Mortlock was invisible. Andrew Hore should be benched for the next match, his lineout throwing was awful. Oh and did anyway else think that the referee was an ass?
[/b][/quote]
Yes. I know Al Baxter doesn't set the world on fire when it comes to scrummaging, but those penalties against him for collapsing the scrum on the Wallabies own feed were disgraceful.

I'm not sure if Barnes was forced off the field with an injury, but if he wasn't putting O'Connor on at such a critical time against the ALL BLACKS was a really dumb move by Deans.
[/b][/quote]
Yeah it was the Refs fault! Jokes, yeah some tough calls from the ref that may have been a bit hard done by. Putting O'Connor on didn't seem like the greatest tactic, though to be fair I couldn't see Barnes pulling too many rabbits out of his hat.

 

[Gavin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nickdnz @ Jul 18 2009, 10:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wally @ Jul 18 2009, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gavin @ Jul 18 2009, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wally @ Jul 18 2009, 09:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How good did Genia look when he was on the field though. He will be a much better player than Burgess for Australia in the long term. Burgess' pass mostly terrible, and he can be blamed for that charge down which lead to Australia's capitulation.[/b]

Genia looked fantastic, Burgess was awful. All this talk about Burgess being the next Gregan - LIES!! Genia looked smooth and confident when he came on. James O'Connor came on too early and in the wrong position, he should have been put on at full-back, and Barnes should have stayed on, if not then Ashley-Cooper moved to center. Donald surprised me as he played very well. Mortlock was invisible. Andrew Hore should be benched for the next match, his lineout throwing was awful. Oh and did anyway else think that the referee was an ass?
[/b][/quote]
Yes. I know Al Baxter doesn't set the world on fire when it comes to scrummaging, but those penalties against him for collapsing the scrum on the Wallabies own feed were disgraceful.

I'm not sure if Barnes was forced off the field with an injury, but if he wasn't putting O'Connor on at such a critical time against the ALL BLACKS was a really dumb move by Deans.
[/b][/quote]
Yeah it was the Refs fault! Jokes, yeah some tough calls from the ref that may have been a bit hard done by. Putting O'Connor on didn't seem like the greatest tactic, though to be fair I couldn't see Barnes pulling too many rabbits out of his hat.
[/b][/quote]
Barnes could have pulled more out of his hat than O'Connor. Barnes has more experience, but also those two fantastic breaks in the first half. Don't get me wrong, I love James O'Connor, but he just seemed very nervous when he got on - but I must point out anyone would be nervous in that kids situation.

 

[Flux]

The All Blacks played like absolute crap in the first twenty or so minutes but slowly managed to work their way into the game. I think it has to be said that they improved as Donald improved, and aside from playing like an absolute tool for the first twenty he then went on to play a fairly decent match. He'll need to keep it up to get the critics of his back completely, but I hope that he can do it for the sake of the team.

Jerome Kaino was a beast and I think he was probably my MOTM. The All Blacks really started to dominate at the breakdown and I think that's where we won it in the end.

Thought Cory Jane had a handy game as well, and was especially effective in chasing up kicks.

 

[candybum]

What a game! agreed that the AB's forwards came through and started dominating the Wallabies pack but it took them time because the ozzies started with a hiss and a roar. Ozzies looked good in the first half but that was because they had the wind behind them and i knew AB's could take out the game because they kept the game close going into halftime. ABs played a good territory game in the 2nd.

Stephen Donald stepped up! sure he wasn't perfect but he had a solid game missed a couple kicks at goal but that was into the wind so it was all good. It was a sound throughout the ABs and especially the bench when they came on.

How does Al Baxter keep getting in the Wallabies squad? he's god awful. George Smith and Horwill were class! I'd say if Burgess had a much better passing game then Giteau would've been far more prominent.

As Flux said Kaino had a very good performance tonight! That charge down was epic! lol

 

[Steve-o]

Anybody got a link to the highlights?

 

[candybum]

http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/All-Blacks-at...ault.aspx#video

Not the best highlights but something none the less.

 

[Woldog]

James O'Connor showed none of his brilliance lolz.

 

[Steve-o]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (candybum @ Jul 18 2009, 02:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/All-Blacks-at...ault.aspx#video

Not the best highlights but something none the less.[/b]

Good enough, thanks mate!

 

[nik]

Fox sports has a small highlights package. http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/video/0,...s_11067,00.html
Not sure if viewers from outside Australia can watch it though.

Geez just wondering how the game would have played out if George Smith hadn't knocked on. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

[Gavin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Woldog @ Jul 19 2009, 12:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

James O'Connor showed none of his brilliance lolz.[/b]

That is a bit harsh At least he is playing for Australia

 

[candybum]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nik @ Jul 19 2009, 01:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Fox sports has a small highlights package. http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/video/0,...s_11067,00.html
Not sure if viewers from outside Australia can watch it though.

Geez just wondering how the game would have played out if George Smith hadn't knocked on. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.[/b]

Ahh if Burgess hadn't of gotten a hand in the way of the pass from Donald when he broke through just before half time

 

[C A Iversen]

Well my pre-match prediction of 19-12 to NZ was almost the right margin. My comment about Donald improving came into play too. I hope he improves further now his confidence is up a little.

 

[shtove]

Good match, especially first half.

ABs look solid. Great hits going in to rucks and tackles, and McCaw doing his stuff. Still not much going on in the centre, so their attacking options are limited. Too much kicking from deep, although field position with the wind is a good idea. Donald was pretty good, but they need the big man back.

Aus look the better team, but they did a Lions in not fixing the front row when the ref was against them. Some poor decision making as well, and probably twenty points not taken. Why send on a 19yr old when the match was in the balance?

 

[cyRil]

You must have someone better than Burgess.

 

[smartcooky]

If you like, I'll give you a Referees perspective on why Baxter was penalised so much last night.

Baxter was penalised for doing the same thing he has been doing for two seasons now. He binds illegally on the upper-arm of his opposing prop.

Props must bind on the the side or back of their opponents. Law 20 specifically excludes props from binding on the arms of their opponents because this makes it much easier to pull the scrum down, which is what Baxter does when he and his front row don't win the hit. That way, they get to have another go at winning the engagement.

Binding on the arm is considered dangerous. Binding on the opponents upper arm (especially when its the TH prop binding on the LH prop) makes it almost impossible for the LH prop to bind at all, because the TH props arm goes outside the LH props arm, so the LH prop cannot get his arm up and over onto the TH's back. This is the reason why, even though it appears to be just a technicality, it is sanctioned with a penalty kick not a free kick.

Last night, Craig Joubert was onto Baxter's little game. Alan Lewis was onto it as well in the Hong Kong game last year. Matt Dunning used to employ the same tactic, and got away with it for a long time. However, there are have been directives and rulings from the iRB relating to front row binding, so I expect Baxter will have to find another way to cheat.

 

[C A Iversen]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (smartcooky @ Jul 19 2009, 09:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

If you like, I'll give you a Referees perspective on why Baxter was penalised so much last night.

Baxter was penalised for doing the same thing he has been doing for two seasons now. He binds illegally on the upper-arm of his opposing prop.

Props must bind on the the side or back of their opponents. Law 20 specifically excludes props from binding on the arms of their opponents because this makes it much easier to pull the scrum down, which is what Baxter does when he and his front row don't win the hit. That way, they get to have another go at winning the engagement.

Binding on the arm is considered dangerous. Binding on the opponents upper arm (especially when its the TH prop binding on the LH prop) makes it almost impossible for the LH prop to bind at all, because the TH props arm goes outside the LH props arm, so the LH prop cannot get his arm up and over onto the TH's back. This is the reason why, even though it appears to be just a technicality, it is sanctioned with a penalty kick not a free kick.

Last night, Craig Joubert was onto Baxter's little game. Alan Lewis was onto it as well in the Hong Kong game last year. Matt Dunning used to employ the same tactic, and got away with it for a long time. However, there are have been directives and rulings from the iRB relating to front row binding, so I expect Baxter will have to find another way to cheat.[/b]

Well if anyones going to know, it'd be a referee and former prop. To be honest after reading that the reasoning for the penalties seems very sound and logical. I also liked Palu's "attempt" at a tap kick being called. If it'd been McCaw or Kaino I'd of felt the same about it. It's a dumb tactic aimed at speeding up a play that any good player could do properly.

Anyhow, great post smartcooky!

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (smartcooky @ Jul 19 2009, 09:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

If you like, I'll give you a Referees perspective on why Baxter was penalised so much last night.

Baxter was penalised for doing the same thing he has been doing for two seasons now. He binds illegally on the upper-arm of his opposing prop.[/b]

Yes, it was clear in a few scrums. He gave away five penalties/free kicks - something like that!

Surely that gets fixed after the ref has had his say a couple of times. Or is Baxter incapable of binding legally? And why?

 

[Sneaki]

Was a great game to be at live. I thought Nonu was a little disappointing but really most of the AB's were solid enough. It was good to see Donald kicking better in the second half and being kept on for the full 80 minutes.

 

[Woldog]

Genia should be the starting halfback, I feel he changed the game when he came on.
Drew Mitchell don't know what's going on there but everyone has bad days.
Al Baxter, was only at fault once.
The Ref should go back to reffing under 8's: See the line out throw where he wasn't even looking at the throw, he was running down the field to chase play, and it was the wonkiest throw I've seen in my life.
The Palu penalty, that was a bit harsh, he was 5m back from where the penalty was called so I don't see how not kicking it out of your hands was an advantage.

I enjoyed the game, edge of your seat stuff, but in the end Australia was over confident and that lead to mistakes.