RWC 2011: The Southern Semi

[Teach]

Sorry, my mistake. It was just an impression I got from your last comment.

Glad you're on our side   

[Geeves]

Glad you're on our side   

Only when you are not playing the wallabies

[jules]

My suggestion is like most kiwi rugby supporters you might be clenched a bit tight until the final whistle.

 

Perceptive as usual Geeves, I'm sure Teach will concede that too, and very gracious in defeat in your earlier email.

I was lucky enough to go to the game and I was sitting next to a very loyal Aussie, who in the end conceded the better team won, and said he would be right behind the blackness in the final. He did say his dad was a kiwi though, so he has a rational reason I guess, but I'm sure all the other reasons that Teach suggested for backing the Blacks would have made sense to him too.

I am now back home so will put together a more detailed report of my experience at the game in the next day or two.

Go the Blacks!

[JJ]

First the congratulations. Well done NZ!!

From this side of the ditch its been an embarrassing experience.The Wobblies simply weren't able to make a contest of it. In fact they really haven't played a decent game since the last Trinations game at Lang Park. The game against the Boks was an outstanding defensive effort, but again no sign of our signature flowing attack.  I'm completely at a lost to understand why. One of the lessons Oz teams learn early is that you don't continually kick away possession without some plan to gain an advantage. Those of us who are keen supporters feel very disappointed in the the teams inability to perform in the RWC at a level that reflected their current status as a top ranked team. Frankly more often than not they've looked somewhere around the #10 mark or below.

Good luck against the French - not that I think you'll need it. Again the French are a side that haven't played to their potential that nevertheless due to good fortune have progressed further than they deserved. Still who knows with the french!!
                                                     jj
                                                                             

[Geeves]

From this side of the ditch its been an embarrassing experience.The Wobblies simply weren't able to make a contest of it. In fact they really haven't played a decent game since the last Trinations game at Lang Park. The game against the Boks was an outstanding defensive effort, but again no sign of our signature flowing attack.  I'm completely at a lost to understand why. One of the lessons Oz teams learn early is that you don't continually kick away possession without some plan to gain an advantage. Those of us who are keen supporters feel very disappointed in the the teams inability to perform in the RWC at a level that reflected their current status as a top ranked team. Frankly more often than not they've looked somewhere around the #10 mark or below.
                                                                             

I can't understand it especially after QLD won the Super 15 primarily playing with the ball in hand  Their ability to provide quick ball from the breakdown primarily had them on the front foot where Cooper and Genia shone.  Hell they played and beat the Crusaders twice who play a hell of a lot like the ABs.  So questions have to be asked.  The calls for McKenzie to join up with the wallabies are getting louder.

[Teach]

It's not that surprising is it? Crusaders were never at home, always travelling... a tough way to play a season.

Also you could line up the improvements you get when going from QLD to WB

CRU to ABs has the following gains:

Jane
Smith
Nonu
Kahui
Weepu
Kaino
Woodcock
Mealamu

All of these guys have stepped up and looked great during the RWC, meaning the ABs are a considerably different beast than the Crusaders.

Kaino is enough to make a huge difference on his own. For example - see the Tri Nations finale (no Kaino) and then look at Wallabies near try on the weekend. A seemingly unstoppable Ioane was inches from the line (I had chalked up 7 points in my mind), then Kaino arrives, scrags him, and the ensuing ruck is about 5 metres from the line.

[JJ]

Yep it was all a little hard to understand. Geeves an interesting article in yesterdays "Australian" that right wing Murdoch rag. Anyway Wayne Smith's article "Running Rugby Stopped in its Tracks" went a bit of the way in summing up mine & colleagues feelings. It is critical of Deans but makes a few good points
1. Its time a plan & some serious effort was put into developing a competitive scrum
2. No point in kicking unless it has an intent - Reds probably best running attack however no team in Sup 15 kicked more.
3. Genia's isn't the best box kicker skills are in quick clearance & breaks at the edge
4.Cooper can kick ok but its his 3rd best skill after running & passing - why play him beside the 2 best defensive but least able attacking centers - starving 2 talented wingers of ball. Why not play Barnes to provide additional pivot for attack. Cooper asked to play a brand of football that is counter intuitive to him & resulted in a guy struggling with even the most simple tasks.
Anyway its worth a read makes some good points.
Teach I'm not bitching about the loss - its the pathetic performance of the gold team I'm teed off about. When I say I'm pleased the ABs won I mean it. The best team around should win the big prize more than once every 25 years. Besides I think trans tasman relations are going to improve considerably now the monkeys gone.
                                  jj

[BallBoy]

now the monkeys gone.
                               

well here's to hoping that they will relinguish the title to another contender during next 25 years now that the monkey's gone

[Teach]

... I think trans tasman relations are going to improve considerably now the monkeys gone.

 JON's leaving?