Wallabies - where to from here?

The pain and disappointment of Saturday is finally dissipating, and it has left me considering where to now.  I don't have a background in rugby, but sport is sport, so I have been thinking about the more general (or non-technical I guess) actions and attitudes I hope the camp are taking.  

1.  The first thing is that I hope they haven't dropped their bundle and decided they need to become a narrower side.  This side simply isn't going to be effective at that, will be beaten by every other contender if they try, and we don't have a kicker to carry it off, so I hope they stick to what they have been developing.

2.  Accept and embrace the changed challenges ahead.  There are also positives in playing teams you know well.

3.  Get Barnes onto the field to get some practice and rhythm, but back Cooper to the hilt.  He is the best playmaker we have for bringing Beale, JOC, Ioane, and AAC into the game.  With any other playmaker, the opposition get a narrower field to defend, and that suits them more than us.  He takes a lot of flak, but people don't only obsess about him because he stole a laptop and can't tackle.  He also brings a little bit of fear.  And besides, he's one of ours now and everyone else can ...

4.  My last sentence leads me here. Id like to see them go all siege for the remainder of their time in the tourney.  I wont care if i dont hear another thing out of their mouths, if they can use the anger. While not everything, emotion is valuable and has certainly worked against us this year.   So go old school and make sure they know people from all over no longer rate them.  The hosts are showing their hate of us and our team, so tap into it and use it to advantage.

5.  Do whatever it takes to get Palu, Taf,and Mitchell up to speed.  They are players that will bend the line and we are going to need them even if only backup. Also play Horne for the next two at 13.  Where Phipps and Sai'a are there as the next best available, there really is no point in Horne unless they consider him as offering some thing to the main team.

What are you blokes thinking?  I'd be interested especially in the technical stuff that we have a chance of fixing.

Boomeranga, can't believe I actually have some inside info and good news for you on Australia`s rugby team. Braam van Straaten is on his way to NZ for the rest of the tournament to come coach your kickers. He was interviewed lst night and told us.He also said that he has built a great relationship with the boys and in specific said Quade is getting there, it is merely his approach to the ball that needs work. Toks v d Linde the host of the show jokingly suggested to Braam he must make sure you guys kick poorly and Braam said no can do, this is the professional era, so he seems genuinely happy to be coaching your boys.

Personally I think this lesson will stand you guys in good stead, although not the ideal scenario you are still in contention and Deans now had fair warning what to improve on.

Hopefully injuries won`t further dilute your players

Thanks Biltong. That is some good news as he seems to be very highly regarded by the boys.

For me. The first is stop having injuries.
This was always going to be the archilles heel. Injuries to pocock beale ioane cooper joc or genia.
Secondly. I dont think there is a secondly.
For me this team is near unbeatable with those players.

Without them. They cant win a match.

Since hong kong every match has required these players to break the game open.
Few tries have been scored where they were not the key component or scorer.

The hate thing has been self induced boomer.
Rugby is still a sport and sport is about people. And respect for other people. Oz and largely cooper chose to ignore that both through the media and on the field.
Cooper has rightly chosen to shoulder it but already its affecting his game.
It may be that our fans and media are fickle, insecure maybe, but our team isnt and our team didnt cause this nor did oz fans. The wallabies can thank themselves for this negative energy.

If you look at the side Deans has picked for the USA, I have lost a lot of interest.

He has Horne at 12, A Faingaa at 13. Horne is a specialist 13 and Faingaa plays 12 for the Reds. I can't be sure but I don't think Horne has ever played at 12; yet there he is with Barnes, a specialist 12 sitting on the bench. This was the chance to give Barnes a game beside Cooper at 12 - it beggars belief, but we do know Horne is one of Robbie's personal favourites.

S Faingaa out sick; Higginbotham out with a back injury; O"Connor out with a hamstring problem; Pocock still out with a back injury; Ioane out still. McCalman still at No. 7 even though he is not a 7 and IMO was a key reason W lost against Irelend because he was invisible. With Samo on the bench, we have 3 specialist No 8's playing and there is NO flanker cover at all.

This week will tell us nothing. Sorry it is negative, but Deans continues with his brain explosions at the selection table.

Taylorman wrote:For me. The first is stop having injuries.
This was always going to be the archilles heel. Injuries to pocock beale ioane cooper joc or genia.
Secondly. I dont think there is a secondly.
For me this team is near unbeatable with those players.

Without them. They cant win a match.

Since hong kong every match has required these players to break the game open.
Few tries have been scored where they were not the key component or scorer.

The hate thing has been self induced boomer.
Rugby is still a sport and sport is about people. And respect for other people. Oz and largely cooper chose to ignore that both through the media and on the field.
Cooper has rightly chosen to shoulder it but already its affecting his game.
It may be that our fans and media are fickle, insecure maybe, but our team isnt and our team didnt cause this nor did oz fans. The wallabies can thank themselves for this negative energy.

Taylorman, you blokes look pretty ordinary without your handful of stars too, so nothing new there.

As to the hate, we all get it, Richie copped a knee in the head and arguably that was not in the spirit of the game - though SANZAR found no case to answer looking at the video at a formal hearing. For McCaw, a player who regularly bases his game flouting the rules, I have to have a chuckle a bit to be honest - live by the sword??
Vilification all round - yes Cooper and all of the OZ got the message. But it is time New Zealand as a country got over it really and for the New Zealand Herald to find something else to write about assuming they have any other ideas. Does Bakkies Botha cop the same with his flying head butts? I think not.

The continuation of it is simply an embarrassment to New Zealand. You are hosting a World Cup where the spotlight from all over the world is on you, but are more intent on it being remembered as a platform to attack one player who got on the wrong side of your captain umpteem weeks ago. The vitriole is now unnecessary and immature. Some people just need to grow up and move on.

Taylorman wrote:For me. The first is stop having injuries.
This was always going to be the archilles heel. Injuries to pocock beale ioane cooper joc or genia.
Secondly. I dont think there is a secondly.
For me this team is near unbeatable with those players.

Without them. They cant win a match.

Since hong kong every match has required these players to break the game open.
Few tries have been scored where they were not the key component or scorer.

The hate thing has been self induced boomer.
Rugby is still a sport and sport is about people. And respect for other people. Oz and largely cooper chose to ignore that both through the media and on the field.
Cooper has rightly chosen to shoulder it but already its affecting his game.
It may be that our fans and media are fickle, insecure maybe, but our team isnt and our team didnt cause this nor did oz fans. The wallabies can thank themselves for this negative energy.

How many of those players need to be playing for them to be "unbeatable" ? Cause i really dont see that Pocock and Ioane are the difference between being unbeatable and being pretty poor.

Rob B wrote:Does Bakkies Botha cop the same with his flying head butts? I think not.

I think you will find if Bakkies did the knee to McCaw, the repercussion would have been much longer lasting and he would have been banned.

In my opinion the reason why quade gets it from the New Zealanders is becuase he hasn't been punished, and the view of the judiciary committee is not necessarily the view of the public.

Oz have won the s15 and the 3N.
Historically this has proven a bad omen for the world cup.
Deans has carried the team to some brilliant moments and oz are not out yet.
They came back after eden park to beat nz when it mattered and still have a chance.
Theyre down again but have been before.
The fat lady hasnt started singing and knockouts are one offs.
Its worked so far this year so if i were an oz fan id just put my faith in the team and coach in everything they do.
The team cant ask any more of that from its fans.
The teams carried you this far.
How about you help bring them home.
Hopefully thats a more positive message than my last.
And good luck oz. Its been a brilliant year meeting you on the field. Lets hope we have one more.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Taylorman wrote:For me. The first is stop having injuries.
This was always going to be the archilles heel. Injuries to pocock beale ioane cooper joc or genia.
Secondly. I dont think there is a secondly.
For me this team is near unbeatable with those players.

Without them. They cant win a match.

Since hong kong every match has required these players to break the game open.
Few tries have been scored where they were not the key component or scorer.

The hate thing has been self induced boomer.
Rugby is still a sport and sport is about people. And respect for other people. Oz and largely cooper chose to ignore that both through the media and on the field.
Cooper has rightly chosen to shoulder it but already its affecting his game.
It may be that our fans and media are fickle, insecure maybe, but our team isnt and our team didnt cause this nor did oz fans. The wallabies can thank themselves for this negative energy.

How many of those players need to be playing for them to be "unbeatable" ? Cause i really dont see that Pocock and Ioane are the difference between being unbeatable and being pretty poor.

well yes those two made a huge difference.
So in your eyes oz lost because they were pretty poor?
Ok then. I saw it a bit differently. I thought ireland were actually pretty good.
But if you say so.

And if oz were pretty poor. And 2 key players were out. And the difference was 9.
Doesnt say a lot for irelands effort does it?

How many of those players need to be playing for them to be "unbeatable" ? Cause i really dont see that Pocock and Ioane are the difference between being unbeatable and being pretty poor.[/quote]

While all the Irish forwards played well, the crucial difference was Pockock IMO being out, and just as crucially, his replacement had never played 7 before. Deans gambled and lost - it is the only the game where Pocock's presence was critical and he wasn't. It is a critical position as these games are won and lost at the breakdown where the fight for possession occurs. There were other factors too, but that was the factor which was the tipping point- and I thought would be the case before the kick off. Ireland's MoM was their No7 - that's no coincidence.

I think you are both really over rating Australia here. A team that cannot afford to lose one openside flanker is not and never will be unbeatable. In saying that I have predicted that they will beat SA in the quarters assuming thats how the group pans out.

To be honest Taylorman you could pick pretty much any top tier team and say they are unbeatable with their best 7 players on the pitch, but then thats why depth is so important. Irelands first choice 7 - David Wallace was also out of the Australia game but it didnt matter cause the cover there is so good.

If you are saying what I think you are saying above which is that if any of Cooper, Genia, O'Connor, Ioane, Pocock or Beale are out that Australia are beatable, doesnt that really mean they are always going to be beatable and arent unbeatable in the slightest?

I suspect your comments about them being unbeatable stem from Australia recently beating New Zealand and winning the tri-nations.

Absolutely agree rob. For oz in particular pocock is a must. Ioane also wasnt able to fill coopers pocket and that threw coopers game completely. Cooper has missing strings to his bow as we know.
Mind you. Cant take away irelands effort. It was spectacular i thought.
Weve actually never lost to them but based on that effort i dont think that will last long.
Oz have just got to keep being oz.
Being at eden park is the factor that wont help thats all.

Dodger i think you are underestimating them.
The unique thing about oz is they have no depth. None.
Since hong kong every match has been won largely through the actions of those 5.
The rest have provided support and parity but those 5 together at some point have blown the match open. Its almost surreal how theyve down that.
And pocock is acknowledged as the only equal to mccaw if not now superior. Hes that good.
And this is from an ab fan who has also watched irelands matches against us.
None in the irish side match any of those 5 in my opinion.

Its actually 6 since ioane joined the exclusive club

"Wallabies - where to from here?"

Wellington I think...!

"The unique thing about oz is they have no depth. None."

You think Im underestimating them, maybe so, but teams with no depth dont tend to win World Cups.

I think Australia are summed up by Cooper at 10 - Australia and Cooper are both very fragile.

I said before the match that I didnt rate Cooper, you say we have nobody that can match him when frankly the only thing I seen Cooper do against us was throw an intercept pass and get knocked about in the tackle area.

You say Ireland has nobody to match the 5 you mentioned, turn that on its head, who do Australia have that can match Healy, Ross, O'Connell, Ferris and O'Brien - that'll be nobody.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Taylorman wrote:For me. The first is stop having injuries.
This was always going to be the archilles heel. Injuries to pocock beale ioane cooper joc or genia.
Secondly. I dont think there is a secondly.
For me this team is near unbeatable with those players.

Without them. They cant win a match.

Since hong kong every match has required these players to break the game open.
Few tries have been scored where they were not the key component or scorer.

The hate thing has been self induced boomer.
Rugby is still a sport and sport is about people. And respect for other people. Oz and largely cooper chose to ignore that both through the media and on the field.
Cooper has rightly chosen to shoulder it but already its affecting his game.
It may be that our fans and media are fickle, insecure maybe, but our team isnt and our team didnt cause this nor did oz fans. The wallabies can thank themselves for this negative energy.

How many of those players need to be playing for them to be "unbeatable" ? Cause i really dont see that Pocock and Ioane are the difference between being unbeatable and being pretty poor.

I for one think we are very beatable Artful Dodger. I hope my article underlines that.

Taylorman - however it is justified, my point of raising it here is that it can be useful so we should take advantage of it. England 2003 took a faced the abuse fromus and used it brilliantly. Samoa and NZ this year have used it. It's a way of motivating yourself to a higher level.

maestegmafia wrote:"Wallabies - where to from here?"

Wellington I think...!

Thanks MM. Very insightful.

Rob B wrote:If you look at the side Deans has picked for the USA, I have lost a lot of interest.

He has Horne at 12, A Faingaa at 13. Horne is a specialist 13 and Faingaa plays 12 for the Reds. I can't be sure but I don't think Horne has ever played at 12; yet there he is with Barnes, a specialist 12 sitting on the bench. This was the chance to give Barnes a game beside Cooper at 12 - it beggars belief, but we do know Horne is one of Robbie's personal favourites.

S Faingaa out sick; Higginbotham out with a back injury; O"Connor out with a hamstring problem; Pocock still out with a back injury; Ioane out still. McCalman still at No. 7 even though he is not a 7 and IMO was a key reason W lost against Irelend because he was invisible. With Samo on the bench, we have 3 specialist No 8's playing and there is NO flanker cover at all.

This week will tell us nothing. Sorry it is negative, but Deans continues with his brain explosions at the selection table.

No need to apologize Rob. I haven't seen the team, but that sounds poor. Horne has been talked about at the Waratahs as a possible 12, but I don't think he has actually lined up there. Maybe he has under 16 experience, or something.

Well after yesterday's discussion of lack of leadership in the Wallabies, today we hear Genia's skipper for the USA game.

Not sure that's the way to go, but with such a young squad I guess it's best to start them young.

And Deans have to continue with brain explosions cause we just haven't got the backup! Fragile I don't think the Wallabies are, but defo lack of depth in positions, except maybe wing and full back.

But I am still excitied about the Ws, no reason why this lot shouldn't go all the way in this compo.

Artful_Dodger wrote:"The unique thing about oz is they have no depth. None."

You think Im underestimating them, maybe so, but teams with no depth dont tend to win World Cups.

I think Australia are summed up by Cooper at 10 - Australia and Cooper are both very fragile.

I said before the match that I didnt rate Cooper, you say we have nobody that can match him when frankly the only thing I seen Cooper do against us was throw an intercept pass and get knocked about in the tackle area.

You say Ireland has nobody to match the 5 you mentioned, turn that on its head, who do Australia have that can match Healy, Ross, O'Connell, Ferris and O'Brien - that'll be nobody.

Agree the World Cup is a different animal and you do need depth to see you through the whole thing. However, assuming no injuries at all and with front foot ball, it is difficult to see which side in the world can match the game breakers OZ have. Haven't shown fully yet in the early stages of the Cup but there was a taste of it against Italy when they put on 4 tries in 21 minutes. Genia, O'Connor, Beale, Ioane, Pocock would make it into a world 15. On an individual basis, Ireland do not have the same talent as these guys - but they make up for it with passion and having a very solid offering across the park. But if the forwards are nullified and beaten at the breakdown, the backs too are completely nullified especially as Cooper is not good going backwards (which No 10 is?). Going forward though, when the forwards did go well against both ABs and SA, Cooper can ignite anything and has done so in the past especially in 3N. Cooper's problem is that when under pressure he tries the dig them out of trouble on his own and he fails at that a fair bit. He's a flawed genius, but he has also won games single handedly too.

Rob B wrote:Ireland's MoM was their No7 - that's no coincidence.

Actually the MOTM was Irelands loosehead prop and it speaks volumes that you don't know our no7's name but still blame Pococks absence as the main problem. Ireland actually played without a recognized 7, instead fielding two no6's and relying on the mobility of our tight 5 to compensate at the breakdown for the lack of a poacher. One of the reasons we aim to keep the ball off the deck in defence is that we don't have a Pocock or McCaw type player.

I'm not sure why there is such concern in the Australian camp. They are the Tri nations champions and capable of beating both SA and NZ en route to the final, they jsut need to keep playing the way they have been. OK they had a bad day in the forwards but there is no reason to doubt their ability to win the tournament and they are still 2nd/3rd favourites.

Can you imagine Cooper and Campo in the same squad!! They could be throwing passes to each other and attempting to side step everyone behind our try line all day long!!!

roddersm wrote:

Rob B wrote:Ireland's MoM was their No7 - that's no coincidence.

Actually the MOTM was Irelands loosehead prop and it speaks volumes that you don't know our no7's name but still blame Pococks absence as the main problem. Ireland actually played without a recognized 7, instead fielding two no6's and relying on the mobility of our tight 5 to compensate at the breakdown for the lack of a poacher. One of the reasons we aim to keep the ball off the deck in defence is that we don't have a Pocock or McCaw type player.

I'm not sure why there is such concern in the Australian camp. They are the Tri nations champions and capable of beating both SA and NZ en route to the final, they jsut need to keep playing the way they have been. OK they had a bad day in the forwards but there is no reason to doubt their ability to win the tournament and they are still 2nd/3rd favourites.

rodders, at this point in time I think the favourites tag doesn't really amount to much anymore.

If you look at the bookies who had NZ as 1st favourites then Oz and then SA, they are all in the same side of the draw by the looks of things and between those three nations anything can happen, although NZ only has to play one of them a week after SA and Oz will have rattled each others cages.

True Biltong but I don't think there's any need for Australia to go back to the drawing board because of one defeat. They just need to stick with the tactics which made them Tri-Nations champions.

They have players to come back who will strengthen them and they are very much still one of the favourites to win this tournament. If anything they could be more dangerous now.

Yeah, i agree, they should only learn from the Ireland loss what is necessary, beef up your forward pack, and let them be more foused on the job at hand and ultimately adapt to the refree, that is all that is necessary.

roddersm wrote:

Rob B wrote:Ireland's MoM was their No7 - that's no coincidence.

Actually the MOTM was Irelands loosehead prop and it speaks volumes that you don't know our no7's name but still blame Pococks absence as the main problem. Ireland actually played without a recognized 7, instead fielding two no6's and relying on the mobility of our tight 5 to compensate at the breakdown for the lack of a poacher. One of the reasons we aim to keep the ball off the deck in defence is that we don't have a Pocock or McCaw type player.

I'm not sure why there is such concern in the Australian camp. They are the Tri nations champions and capable of beating both SA and NZ en route to the final, they jsut need to keep playing the way they have been. OK they had a bad day in the forwards but there is no reason to doubt their ability to win the tournament and they are still 2nd/3rd favourites.

Well, IMHO, the MoM was Mr. Number Seven (or is it some O'Brien bloke?) - as he was everywhere where McCalman was not - he had a blinder. And if he is actually a regular 6, then bully for him but I don't see the relevance. If they keep playing they have been - ergo like Saturday night, they will be smashed off the park in a massive loss by SA - ABs will be an irrelevancy. They need there players back - but Pocock is the main one they need back.

Don't knwo why our loose forwards don't just pack down and help the front 5. It is well known that the pack is not much cop unless everyone binds and push together, when they stick their heads up it usually just ends in us being pushed back and more often than not giving away penality.

So forget the spectacular big hots and just shove till we get the ball!!

My 2c worth as a forwards coach, and I did play both flanker and hooker in my time. But strangely, never had that call from anyone to coach them, not even from Lower Backtinian's lower fifths!!!

biltongbek wrote:Yeah, i agree, they should only learn from the Ireland loss what is necessary, beef up your forward pack, and let them be more foused on the job at hand and ultimately adapt to the refree, that is all that is necessary.

Biltong I think that is one area were we have maybe stolen a march on some of the other sides. We were absolutely pinged of the park in the 6N because we couldn't get to grips with the new interpretations at the breakdown, despite it being area were we traditionally did well.

It forced us to go back to the drawing board in terms of how we compete at the breakdown and in defence. One of the results is the use of the gangtackle to force the maul.

Like I say we don't have a specialist 7 but we do have a lot of players who are very intelligent, agressive and effective at the breakdown like O'Connell, Healy, O'Callaghan, Best, Heaslip etc. Our breakdown work is very much a team effort rather than relying on one specialist poacher like Pocock or McCaw. That also allows us to play two physical, ball carrying flankers who aren't great on the deck. It's just about playing to your strengths and certainly there are other areas were we are not so strong but we are good at the breakdown I think.

well rodders, whatever kidney has done, you guys are now in the pound seats if you win against Italy which you should do.

I checked your recent 10 matches vs england and Wales and your in my opinion are favourites to win those matches, just hope england take france out for you and Ireland has a very realistic chance of meeting a tri Nations team in the final.

That will be a grand day for the Irish and will usurp a new era for Irish rugby.

You have done the business in the european club scene for some years now, may still want to achieve more in the six Nations, but gettng to the final of the RWC could see more bums on seats, more eager players, more money in Irish rugby and ultimately a consistent effort at the top.

Just hope your players do not realise how important it is that they have given themselves a responsibility that can ultimately change the course of Irish rugby.


HMMMMmmmm. Perhaps I should drop them an email.

However, assuming no injuries at all and with front foot ball, it is difficult to see which side in the world can match the game breakers OZ have

Is that not the problem (my bold) rugby's a tough old game and it's not a 100% certainty to get your creme de la creme on the park every game. The team available is the team you have got.

Possibly Oz are more fragile than most as they don't have the option of playing a forward orientated game if the backs go jubblies up. Christ - look at England, we managed to stumble along for years without a back line and win the odd game here and there. Not a regular occurence I must admit, and never very pretty, but those that live without a plan B, die without a plan B.



'jubblies' - I didn't write that! strewth!

Anyway, good luck to Oz, hope you can patch up the walking wounded quickly - somebodies got to beat those Kiwis (and it sure as hell won't be us) so we can have another go at the cup!

Going into motavational therapy there then biltong????

Hey Mate, I am one complex human being.

biltongbek wrote:
I checked your recent 10 matches vs england and Wales and your in my opinion are favourites to win those matches, just hope england take france out for you and Ireland has a very realistic chance of meeting a tri Nations team in the final.

Shhhhhshh keep your voice down Biltong..we don't like being favourites

Why, i was thinking of buying a megaphone and blasting it from the hilltops.

I see Ireland are favourites - and deservedly so. They've put away Oz, they regularly paste their 6N comrades in arms, they've got to be!

Anything less than an appearance in the final will be a failure!

You read it here first!



So no pressure eh?

TrailApe wrote:
Anything less than an appearance in the final will be a failure!

You read it here first!



So no pressure eh?

I think we need to throw the game against Italy so we can come in under the radar for the 6N .....

Australia v USA

Kurtley Beale,
Adam Ashley-Cooper,
Anthony Faingaa,
Rob Horne,
Drew Mitchell,
Quade Cooper,
Will Genia (capt),
Wycliff Palu,
Ben McCalman,
Rocky Elsom,
Nathan Sharpe,
Rob Simmons,
Ben Alexander,
Tatafu Polota-Nau,
James Slipper.

Reserves:
Stephen Moore,
Sekope Kepu,
Dan Vickerman,
Radike Samo,
Luke Burgess,
Berrick Barnes,
Pat McCabe.

Resting: Horwill,
Injured: Saia, Higginbotham, Pocock, Ioane, JOC
Yet to be played: Ma'afu, Phipps,

I think we need to throw the game against Italy so we can come in under the radar for the 6N

That'll not run, nope no sir.

Good try though!

I think the important thing for Australia is that they haven´t been knocked out. They´ve definitely given themselves a tougher draw but when has Australia ever given up or thrown in the towel. Just when you think you´ve found the right tactics to beat them, they nullify their weaknesses or minimise them and find other ways from their strengths to beat you. I think Australia is the best team in world rugby for covering up the cracks. Full credit to Ireland who exposed those cracks and not allowing Australia to get into the match.

But I agree Boomeranga that there is no need for panic. I heard Genia say as captain that the team needs to curb its attacking instincts. Well I agree with you mate that that´s exactly what they shouldn´t do. Do what has been working for you and what won you the 3N. When things go wrong, everyone thinks you´ve got to come up with something different. But that´s madness. You just have to be smarter and find ways to turn the game in your favour. If Ireland are trying to hold your players up, then get more players into those maul situtations and protect the ball or use dummy runners more. Get a bit of ammo coming in from behind and blast players off the ball.

So no need for panic at all. Play how you´ve been playing. It´s pretty damn effective. Pray for no more injuries and keep the heads up. If I had to play you guys in the quarter finals I´d be cacking myself. If it comes to NZ vs Oz in the semis then I´ll still be cacking myself. Australia never gives up.

"Where to from here ?"

The next game! Australia lost to a very good performance from Ireland. Re-group, work on the basics, play the way you have been, allow the coaches to correct the mistakes against Ireland and get on with it. No reason why Australia can't bounce back if they get their heads right.

Watch for drew mitchell to stake a claim.

A lot more strength on the wings for sure, but is that what we really need?

not panic is the main thing i would say. we ruffled your feathers on Saturday and personally think you lacked the experience to get over the line. Moore and Pocock were obviously massive losses for their experience as well as their obvious ability.

some serious scrummaging sessions needed before the inevitable meeting with the Springboks in quarters.

Faingaa and Mc Cabe were not good enough, Ashley Cooper to midfield and Mitchell/Ioane to the wing.

Still have ability in abundance and if you get a half decent platform would fancy you to pip the Saffers

What do you aussies think is your best backline? Assuming all players are fit and on form. Because in my opinion you really do have potentially the best backline if you field the right combination.

If I have to read one more team card with that limp-dicked McCalman in the line up I think I'll go stick a knife in the toaster. Has anyone ever seen him do anything?.... anything at all? I know our stocks are low but for Deans to keep persisting with him I think we can safely assume that we've scraped a hole in the barrel and are digging into concrete.

The team that's been named this week offers me nothing. I think Barnes needs a bit of time at 10 in case we need to swap him for Cooper if he's having a meltdown. I don't mind him being covered for in defence if he's doing something in attack but if his whole game is shot we need someone more stable in there.

After a dummy-spit of epic proportions I'm only just starting to get over the Ireland game. The most disappointing thing for me was the complete lack of heart they showed (or rather, didn't). No apparent hunger or even desire to compete. The whole forward pack might as well have been wearing tutus. I thought that maybe we'd turned a corner after seeing some intensity from the pack against NZ in the trinations and Deans had accidentally mumbled the magic words that finally got them all fired up but alas it was fleeting.

People are saying that Australia doesn't need to change much but I think they do. While the loosies aren't pushing at scrum time, the hooker's not throwing the ball in straight, the personnel aren't committed and aggressive at the breakdown, and the kicks are being missed we'll continue to get the same kind of sporadic results. These aren't difficult things to remedy either.

From a lot of the posts a lot of people are starting to get that stress bug again and thats understandable. End of next week 12 teams will be out but it looks like most of our posters will see their countries in.
The good thing i think about oz is the complacency factor they brought into the tournament has well and truly gone and they need to fight for survival.
In rugby oz dont seem to make good favourites. I think thats where a lot of their inconsistency comes from.
They talk themselves up and worse believe the hype so they could relearn from their suncorp approach which was more low key.
Other than that theyll be fine and will have to fight it out like the rest of us.

not sure why matt giteau wasnt picked for the squad......

Full Credit wrote:While the loosies aren't pushing at scrum time, the hooker's not throwing the ball in straight, the personnel aren't committed and aggressive at the breakdown, and the kicks are being missed we'll continue to get the same kind of sporadic results.

Ha. That sounds exactly like what us Irish posters were saying about our team just a week ago.

There's one thing that hasn't been mentioned much. It was actually the oldest team in the tournament against the youngest. That's what the Irish commentator said anyway. The Irish had bucket loads of experience and plenty of domestic silverware to draw on. The young Aussie's have bucket loads of talent but limited experience. The Irish were smarter and more composed as well as more passionate and physical.

No doubt, when the Lions go on tour in two years they'll find they've timed it just right to be facing the best team in the world. Again!