The Rugby Championship - Buildup

by Pete C (Kiwireddevil) Mon Jul 24, 2017 10:23 am

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as there's only 3 matches left in Super Rugby, time to start thinking about TRC

Fixtures:

The Australian squad are already in camp (except for their Brumbies' players), with all their Super Rugby commitments finished - Quade Cooper and Scott Higginbotham notable squad omissions, thought Quade may get a reprieve as Karmichael Hunt is out for the next 2 months

Wallabies Squad:

by **Biltong** Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:28 am

eirebilly wrote:
ebop wrote:Should have been a YC there

Scored the try anyway I guess but poor from Owens

Very little in either if I may be honest, good calls on both from the officiating team.

Agree yellow card, you don't lift your arm above your shoulder if you are only getting up

by Guest Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:33 am

YC for Hanigan spoiling a certain try in the corner. Other than that, Owens is doing well as usual.

by englishborn Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:34 am

All Blacks looking rattled at the moment, loads of errors and not looking confident in defence at all. They can still rely on their (counter) attack as always though.

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:34 am

The AB's truly are a great side to watch when they get going.

Even 10 points behind, you still have to see them as favourites to win.

by **Biltong** Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:36 am

Aussie scrum is struggling

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:38 am

That looks a try to me...

by Guest Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:39 am

No try lost it, fair enough

by englishborn Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:40 am

Looks like he lost control to me and went forward before downward pressure

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:40 am

Not in control. Correct call.

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:44 am

That's a try now though. The AB's well in control now. The Aussies will be glad for the break.

by Pete330v2 Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:45 am

Eeeron Smuuuuuuuuth

by **Biltong** Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:45 am

If you struggle with your set piece 80 minutes of dominance eventually begins to count against you

by englishborn Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:49 am

Poor Points kicking and scrum going backwards are likely to costs the wallabies this match. Shame really those 9 points from the boot would be very handy going into the 2nd half

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:54 am

I am not so sure that the AB bench is stronger than the Aussies bench. The early loss of Cane will have an impact later in the game for the AB's.

Still very much game on but I still have the AB's as favourites.

by mikey_dragon Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:58 am

eirebilly wrote:I am not so sure that the AB bench is stronger than the Aussies bench. The early loss of Cane will have an impact later in the game for the AB's.

Still very much game on but I still have the AB's as favourites.

I reckon Ardie Savea is a better player, and yeah I can see the ABs getting another 3 or 4 tries in the second half and winning the game.

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:06 am

The AB's just have that ability to take games away from oppositions in 10minute spells.

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:11 am

Think he may have been held up?

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:13 am

How can Owens award the try and then review it? He admits he cant see the grounding so how could he award the try?

by englishborn Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:14 am

Maybe he thought he did see it then doubt crept into his mind if he actually did see the ball grounded and wanted to check.

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:22 am

It was coming. Have to agree with Biltong, struggle with the set piece an entire game and you will lose.

by Guest Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:23 am

SBW dragged, he's had a shocker

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:29 am

Oh what a try from the Aussies clap

by Guest Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:32 am

Doh, SBW is back

by englishborn Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:33 am

Foley again missing his kicks again 21 - 22

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:33 am

That is 3 conversions missed by Foley that you would expect a kicker to get + 1 penalty. 6 definite points missed, that is what will be the major contributing factor here.

by englishborn Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:37 am

without a decent kicker Aussies are purely having to rely on tries, they just do not have the defence or attack to handle that with a team like the all blacks

by mikey_dragon Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:37 am

Why not just give the kicking duties to Beale?

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:40 am

Oh dear god, what a game. Surely Foley must kick this...

Beale clap

by englishborn Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:40 am

then again.....

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:41 am

Beale copped a high hit in the lead up to the try, lot of claret on his face...

by Pete330v2 Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:43 am

What a game, I'm knackered

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:43 am

Simply unbelievable game. Heartbreak for the Aussies.

Those missed points by Foley are what has cost the Aussies here tonight.

by Guest Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:43 am

Nice try ABs

What can happen in 1 minute from restart?

by eirebilly Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:46 am

Well done the AB's, that is some win for them. Excellent match. 5 tries a piece but the Aussies set piece and Foley's kicking proving the decisive factor in them leaving NZ with the loss.

by TheMildlyFranticLlama Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:46 am

That was some match, great to watch!

by englishborn Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:46 am

well turns out those points left out there will haunt the Wallabies after all. Good game by the Wallabies, rattled the All Blacks away from home, but have serious issues with kicking and the scrum along with an average defence which will hurt them against most Tier 1 sides.

All Blacks were average at best today but still got the win, they will be a worried though with their leaky defence over the last 3 halves.

by mikey_dragon Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:48 am

Unbelievable Aus. What a win that could have been....

by Pete330v2 Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:49 am

A win that the All Blacks had to fight for is exactly what they needed after last week. They'll know they were less than 100% today. What a match though, amazing, so glad I got to watch that.

by Guest Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:54 am

Good reply from Australia after last week

Should gain some respect back from home

by Guest Sat Aug 26, 2017 11:48 am

Owens had a very good game, excellent referee. He seems to nail the critical moments but allows a game to flow. Not afraid to use the TMO but is in charge. He allows tries to be scored and then checks them rather than blowing up on a hunch. He's not pedantic which can build up frustration amongst players so the players play positively. If only he could have been involved in the Lions series Wink

by **Biltong** Sat Aug 26, 2017 1:22 pm

Nice to see the Aussies putting some intensity into the march, good contest.

A big improvement from last weekend

by alfie Sat Aug 26, 2017 3:27 pm

That was a hell of a game ! Honestly didn't expect Australia to even get close after last weeks effort - and even when they went 17-0 early on I thought the ABs would storm back and smother them...
Have to admire the way they kept coming back ; a decent kicker and ...? OK , NZ clearly well off their best ; but still that was the best Australian challenge on that side of the water for many years clap

They'll be gutted losing it at the end ; but in truth their own defensive shortcomings meant a NZ team with three minutes to score was always likely to do so. Great to watch anyway thumbsup

by aucklandlaurie Sat Aug 26, 2017 5:54 pm

ABs played a mistake ridden game, but Australia after achieving that initial lead should have gone on to won.
Anyway was not to be and the Bledisloe Cup gets to live another year in Wellington.

by **Galted** Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:18 pm

It's quite an achievement to score almost 50 unanswered points over the course of two matches and lose them both.

by **Biltong** Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:40 pm

Galted wrote:It's quite an achievement to score almost 50 unanswered points over the course of two matches and lose them both.

Not when it is book ended by 89 points

by aucklandlaurie Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:46 pm

Galted wrote:It's quite an achievement to score almost 50 unanswered points over the course of two matches and lose them both.

One would have that the mere fact that they lost shows that they were answered

by **Galted** Sat Aug 26, 2017 11:47 pm

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Galted wrote:It's quite an achievement to score almost 50 unanswered points over the course of two matches and lose them both.

One would have that the mere fact that they lost shows that they were answered

If one was easily bewildered, perhaps.

by aucklandlaurie Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:26 am

South Africa 41...Argentina 23.

by mikey_dragon Sun Aug 27, 2017 10:55 am

SA actually got their bonus point this week then. Remarkable turnaround given the state that team was in last season.

by emack2 Sun Aug 27, 2017 9:33 pm

A proper Bledisloe reminiscent of AUS 1998-2000 with lots of matches going
to the wire.Wakeup call for all teams 2016.isn`t 2017 Argentina can`t divide
there side between 3 continents and expect to win regularly.
Narrow minded comments about players private lives has no place here that`s
for gossip columns.
It is plain for all to see that the vast number of Caps lost to the NZ side,has
left them vulnerable.
Mackenzie ,Jordie Barrett the future,managing players to help them reachRWC
is in place.Players now 34 like Kaino and Crockett won`t be there the mid
field is crucial.Crotty/ALB the best combination NZ are rebuilding as they
go along.
THE BOKS probably lead the table on points difference,and may fancy there
chances this year.

by Sponsored content

Day & Date	Match	Venue	Match Official	Kick Off (Local)
Week One
Saturday 19-Aug-17	Australia v New Zealand	ANZ Stadium, Sydney	Jerome Garces (FFR)	20:00
Saturday 19-Aug-17	South Africa v Argentina	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth	Romain Poite (FFR)	17.05
Week Two
Saturday 26-Aug-17	New Zealand v Australia	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin	Wayne Barnes (RFU)	19.35
Saturday 26-Aug-17	Argentina v South Africa	Estadio Padre Ernesto Marlearena, Salta	Pascal Gauzere (FFR)	16.40
Week Three
Saturday 09-Sep-17	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth	Angus Gardner (ARU)	19.35
Saturday 09-Sep-17	Australia v South Africa	NIB Stadium, Perth	Glen Jackson (NZR)	18.00
Week Four
Saturday 16-Sep-17	New Zealand v South Africa	QBE Stadium, Albany	Nigel Owens (WRU)	19.30
Saturday 16-Sep-17	Australia v Argentina	Nib Stadium, Perth	John Lacey (IRFU)	20:00
Week Five
Saturday 30-Sep-17	South Africa v Australia	Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein	Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)	17.05
Saturday 30-Sep-17	Argentina v New Zealand	Estadio Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires	Jaco Peyper (SARU)	19.30
Week Six
Saturday 07-Oct-17	South Africa v New Zealand	Newlands, Cape Town	Jerome Garces (FFR)	17.05
Saturday 07-Oct-17	Argentina v Australia	Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza	Mathieu Raynal (FFR)	19.30
Extra Bledisloe Cup
Saturday 21-Oct-17	Australia v New Zealand	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane	Wayne Barnes (RFU)	19.00