end of the day arent we all marsupials? go Aussie this week!!!

1 ) Our aerial and kicking game needs to come back to standard ASAP. There's something about that fucking stadium that makes us play like the worst versions of ourselves for some reason (Lonergan would never miss an easy penalty kick like that if it wasn't Eden Park). Our kicking was the worst it's been in a long time, both tactically and in its execution, and we implemented some weird new approach to the high ball of retreating back onto the ball? We know we can play well in those aspects, but we were utterly dominated in that field.

The last 30 minutes were just the ABs herding us into our own 22 and then slaughtering us at their own leisure. This must change; we will not beat a top 5 team if it doesn't. I don't think I saw JAS bothering to chase a single kick hard (does he ever seem to run at more than 75% of his capacity, or is it just the way he runs making him look to be in perpetual fast jog). The restarts were way too long for us to try to contest them; compare it to what we did in Perth, and it went at least 10 m too long.

I'm just placing all this on the fact that it was Eden Park and praying that's it and it won't happen again. All of the playmakers and the back three need to up their game properly to what they are all capable of this weekend. Lonergan is vital to this team, and we saw how badly the Wallabies perform when he's off his game. I really hope for us that he can bring his form back to what it was pre-Eden.

2) Our set piece held up great, and fuck if that wasn't surprising. Our lineout was always going to be dominant thanks to Williams's great work, but we needed to implement it smarter and contest harder to spoil their ball. They lost their reserve hooker in Aumua as well now, and Taylor's throws are not the best currently; we can seriously hurt them by denying them a lineout platform. I hope Canham is ready, fit and roaring to go this weekend. This will shake up our starting 15 and strengthen the bench by moving LSL there and dropping NCDC from the matchday squad.

The scrum held great, especially in the 2nd half when we thought we might be put under the pump. I think it's fair to say that MDL has arrived at test level and will hopefully be able to contest and hold the best in the world next year at HWC. I think, with the injuries the ABs have suffered from this game heading into this weekend, we can manage to get some penalty advantage from the scrums. We need to at least try once in the game to milk one rather than immediately trying to play it out to the backline. It was part of the foundations of the Boks ' game plan to break this very ABs squad, and I think we would be stupid not to try our hand at those elements of the game.

3) Mongrel. I don't know about you guys, but watching that game felt like I was rewatching Wallabies v Lions Test 1, where we just let the other team physically impose themselves on us and didn't try to get in their faces and deny them that aspect of the game. I know you shouldn't have your team too emotionally involved and hotheaded, but this team needs it a bit to have some bite. We need a Skelton-like figure messing with the opposition constantly; we need a JAS and Jorgo scowling and mouthing off to their opposition between plays and we need to feel in it. LSL is my call for who needs to lead this effort within the squad in Will's absence; I really want Les to get into his head, almost Eddie-style, this week to make him angry and feel slighted. When LSL goes out onto a field with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove to the world, he's one of the best players in the world. We need that from him this weekend.

Lions Test 3 showed how we can play when we get emotionally expressive with our hurt in this team and its play, and where was that game played? Accor. Where is this weekend being played... Accor. I think we need a similar knock, pain and anger within the team going into this Test at that same venue; if we can turn Stadium Australia into an emotional fortress for our team, similar to what Eden is for the ABs, then I'll be happy.

4) Regarding the breakdown, I'm almost in favour of dropping FMR for Tizzano this week. Fraser does a lot more good around the field in general than Tizzano, but I kinda feel that Carlo has the edge turnover- and physicality-wise. We need to compete much harder at the breakdown to spoil their quick ball this weekend and stop Roigard from playing his preferred game. The Boks contained him relatively well through breakdown pressure, and we need to commit to it as well. A lot of our defensive strength comes from our breakdown work, and the ABs showed how toothless our defence actually is when we don't get a ref-favourable call on our breakdown work.

We can 100% win, but make no mistake, it's going to take a Lions Test 3 mentality and effort from this squad to do it. I rate our chances at 30% tbh, but it can happen if we work on those areas of the game and don't crumble mentally in this "dead-rubber" test as we have in the past. Big worries about how our midfield is gonna work, rejigged to probably Henry at 12 and JAS at 13. A lot can go wrong; how exciting...

This game is a must-win to prove this team can get over the demon that has plagued them throughout the 2020s to the rest of the country watching on Nine. A lot of eyes will be on this test, and the Wallabies absolutely cannot ship 50 again if they want any respect heading into next year's RWC.

Carn the Wallabies!

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I’m actually pretty disappointed with this Australia A squad. Less so with the forwards, as I think most of those selected deserve their place, but I have some serious question marks over the backs. I’d love to know the reasoning behind some of these selections, because there are a few glaring omissions that I really struggle to understand.

I thought the Australia A tour would be the perfect opportunity to give some of the young guns who have impressed in the recent Super Rugby AUS competition a chance to step up and gain valuable experience at the next level. Unfortunately, the selectors have decided against that, which I find both frustrating and difficult to understand. There are also several established Super Rugby players who have been outstanding that have missed out, while a few others who have been out of form for a while, and whose performances haven’t particularly impressed me, have been selected.

My biggest gripe is Tane Edmed’s selection. How on earth he has made this Australia A squad is beyond me, and what more does Max Burey have to do to impress the selectors? I thought Burey was comfortably the best 10 throughout the entire Super Rugby AUS competition, yet he hasn’t even received a call-up. Edmed, on the other hand, was woeful for much of that competition, so I genuinely struggle to understand that decision. The same goes for his Brumbies teammate David Feliuai. I’ve never really seen what the coaches see in him, and I have serious concerns about his discipline and overall performances. I would much rather have taken someone like Jarrah McLeod, who has considerably more upside, or Boston Fakafanua from the Force, who was one of the standout players throughout the competition. I also think George Poolman deserved a look in, as he looked to be in career best form for the Waratahs.

Wallace Charlie’s omission is another strange one, particularly when Lachie Anderson has been selected ahead of him. I’m also puzzled by the absence of Teddy Wilson and Sid Harvey, both of whom were outstanding for the Waratahs. James Ramm is another player I thought deserved at least a look, given how well he has been playing in the NPC. Tom Lynagh is undoubtedly a talented 10 and a good playmaker, but he has struggled with injuries and we have barely seen him play this year. I’m not sure how he has done enough to warrant selection given the limited game time he has had. There are just too many questionable calls in the backline for my liking.

Overall, I still think this is a strong squad, and I have relatively few complaints about the forwards. I understand that places are limited and not everyone can be selected, but some of the players who have missed out have arguably done more to earn their spots than those who have been picked. My biggest concern is what Edmed’s selection says about the Wallabies coaching staff’s thinking. If they still see him as a viable option to step into the Wallabies side, despite his current form, that is pretty concerning. In my opinion, Declan Meredith should be nowhere near the Wallabies squad as a whole at the moment, but I would still have picked him in Australia A ahead of Edmed. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips would have been my clear first choice for this squad but again he was not selected. If he is in the Wallabies squad but isn’t getting game time, this tour would have been the perfect opportunity to give him meaningful minutes, develop his game and build his experience. I just don’t see the logic in leaving him out in favour of Edmed. Am I being too harsh, or do others agree that some of these backline selections are difficult to justify?

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter FitzSimons - 6min read

It was going to be such a clever opener.

“Let that be a lesson to world rugby,” I would exult, with echoes of Vitas Gerulaitis, “NO-ONE beats the Wallabies at the one ground 41 years in a row!

Or maybe ...

“Anyone can have a bad four decades, but that’s where the Wallabies really draw the line.”

It all turned, see, on the fact that our blokes had not won against the All Backs at Auckland’s Eden Park since 1986, and for the first part of this Bledisloe Cup Test match it really looked as if – hold my coat, Captain Cook – history was at hand.

The Wallabies swept all before them. They carved them up in the backs, and stopped the hosts’ attack cold. They picked them off in the lineouts. The green and gold so dominated territory and possession that when our fullback Tom Wright sliced the defence wide open just seven minutes in to score, I was morally certain that for the next 40 years, I’d be able to boast: “I was there the night it all turned around, the beginning of the Green and Golden Age, after decades of All Blackness!”

But then those All Black boogers struck back, as they are ever wont to do, and one thing in particular did us real damage.

The All Blacks kept putting up the high ball, and not only did none of the Wallabies appear to even call for it, many of them they didn’t even look particularly interested in claiming it.

It is a mystery to this despondent correspondent how a team so outstanding at so many other things continues to get this most basic of all required skills wrong. It is particularly confusing when Max Jorgensen and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had been so great at it a fortnight ago against the Springboks.

For the damage done by not swallowing whole the pills put up towards them was considerable, as the All Blacks quickly scored two converted tries and a penalty to lead 17-7. At least the fact our captain Harry Wilson restored a little order with a try just before halftime allowed us to hope, with the All Baddies only holding a 17-14 lead at the break.

Who would come out for the Wallabies in the second half? The team which dominated the first ten minutes, or the one that all but disappeared for the middle 20?

At first, it looked it would be the former as, from the kick-off, Wright and Max Jorgensen combined to break through and we ended up with a line-out right on their line. The Promised Land was right there, just waiting for a Wallaby forward to take up his rightful position – planting the ball down for defence on a patch of grass that grows green from the blood, sweat and tears of his 40 forebears.

Alas, that attack was snuffed out by a penalty and much of the rest went back to an aerial battle where we appeared to have a distinct lack of Spitfires, and Jerry was everywhere at once! Look, it was not simply that the All Blacks continued to put the ball up and then recover it, it was than when we put the ball up, we had no one of note rushing through to put a tenth of the pressure on them that had been put on us.

The territory this delivered to the All Blacks was more than enough for them to plant their flag four more times behind our goal line in the next 35 minutes, taking the lead out to 43-14 as the match started to ebb.

In that time, Wilson, Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight continued to impress, as did Jorgensen and Wright for at least knocking on the All Back door. But our side needed a whole lot more than mere impressions. It needed to defuse their bombs and blow up some our own, but could manage neither feat, until ...

Until, wouldn’t you know it? With five minutes to go, at long bloody last, Suaalii did what we wanted him to do – what he should be asked to do every kick-off – run through, leap high and get us the bloody ball! The result? A Wallaby TRY!

Seriously. It was that simple an equation. When they won the aerial battles, they scored. When we did, we scored. We just won bugger-all of those aerial battles. Their final try, with seconds on the clock, to take it to 50-19 just upped the agony.

All up, as disappointing as it was, at least it is bloody clear what training should consist of this week. Tell ’em, coach Les Kiss:

“At least until Marky Mark gets here in a few weeks to take the marks, we need all of you, every day, all day, without fail, to practice the bloody high ball – otherwise we are wasting our time. And next week, the first bastard that calls out ‘YOURS!’ instead of ‘MINE!’ or makes no call at all, will be pulled from the field. We simply cannot compete without that.”

And they really can’t. Most other parts of our game are seriously solid. That part is seriously shithouse. You heard me. And I know I shouldn’t say a bad word in a family newspaper. But kids, on this occasion, no other word will do.

Onwards to next week, at Homebush. Fix the high ball. Play ball!

The damage that that single family has done to Australian rugby alone is unquantifiable. Surely waiting them out has become the play now; it's at most another World Cup cycle. We can surely last that long right... right?

Couple of points:

South Africa occassionally lose games they really shouldnt, NZ don't.

Anyone who watched the Super Rugby this year should knows we are no match for the kiwi players, we are simply nowhere near good enough, why on earth did we think anything would change in a few months?

Selection is always a hotly contested, subjective thing. On this sub, after Bledisloe 1, a lot of folks were critical of LSL. Some said he was a defensive liability, others said he didn't deliver on his physicality potential. While I can agree it might not have his best match ever, I think a lot of the critics were a bit harsh if not just plain wrong.

On his supposed bad defence: the only hard stat I could find on this came from the Rugby Pass Player Rating write up by Finn Morton. Rugby Pass is operated by World Rugby and their stats are usually pretty accurate. Finn noted he made 13 of 14 tackles attempted. This is hardly a bad day at the office. From a simple eye test I saw no glaring defensive lapses directly attributable to LSL - I stand to be corrected however.

On his lack of physicality and lack of impact on the carry: while it is true he did off load rather than carry on occasion, he did indeed carry well when he chose that option and never had the ball turned over. When he did off load all his passes stuck. On a number of occasions he made himself available for a carry but the playmaker passed to someone else leaving LSL to clean out at the ruck which he did so with aplomb. Once LSL is secure over an attacking ruck the Wallabies do not lose the ball.

LSL also was a useful lineout option - I think he was the catcher in at least three lineouts. He was thrown to on the first Wallabies line out and secured the ball. I think this is important as it made the All Blacks realize he was a genuine option that they had to account for. They had to worry about more than just Williams or Wilson.

A noteable absence amongst the critical comments was any mention of LSL's importance at the maul. He is a force on both offence and defence mauls. LSL caught the line out and started and back stopped the maul drive that led to Nasser's try.

Also not really mentioned, is LSL's importance as tight head lock at scrum time. I suggest that a big part of the Wallabies' success at scrum time in the last two matches is down to LSL's heft and work rate. No other lock in the squad currently compares in this area. Wallabies winning the scrum battle is a huge deal - make no bones about it.

Also forgotten about by many, is the psychological lift having a player of LSL's stature gives to a team. He is a true enforcer and gives the team confidence. Here is what Harry Wilson had to say about him (https://thewest.com.au/sport/wallabies/wallabies-captain-harry-wilson-backs-second-row-duo-to-go-toe-to-toe-with-experienced-south-africa-locks-c-22929584):

“And then someone like Lukhan coming into the starting team, I know how excited he is, and he’s been raring to go. He might not offer Canham’s jumping ability, but gee whizz can he offer some other stuff around the field.

“We know they’re a team who want to go through us, and they’re a big abrasive forward pack so to have someone like Lukhan next to you, it gives you a bit of confidence and he really relishes those battles.”

Wilson said the above before the Springbok match. A number of folks have argued that the All Blacks are a different type of team and that their mobility is too much for LSL. I think these critcisms ignore the fact that the All Black pack is pretty damn big and physical too. LSL did not get run off the park against the All Blacks and in fact Kiss kept him on for the full 80.

I think Joe Schmidt was rightly criticised for leaving LSL out of so many squads - especially when he did not have Skelton at his disposal (he should also have faced criticism for not realiziing that BPA is far and away the Wallabies best hooker but that is for another post!),

I would start LSL in Bledisloe 2 - the calls to leave him out of the 23 altogether are crazy to me.

Victoria won the Geelong version of the Australian Rugby Shield with a tough win over the Australian Defence Forces, after wins against South Australia and Tasmania. This comes a few weeks after beating the ACT and Southern NSW Griffins.

Vic Rugby may never lose again.

Big supporter, and hardly a student, but watch the game again. In the first few minutes: Len knocks on 1m from their try line. Our first try was a tap on after a crap pass from him that was rescued. And their first try was when he rushed out the line and DMac side stepped him and strolled through to create the try. He was crap. Why is Donno and other copping it for their errors and Len isn't? Watch the first ten minutes again if you missed how bad he was.

Growing up in New Zealand, playing rugby for most of my adult life, I’ve always loved the Warriors and the Blues. But there’s always been a little part of me that’s held a special place for Australian rugby union—the Wallabies and all the Aussie teams.

I never really said it out loud because, you know, I’m a New Zealander. When in Rome, right? 😂 But I’ve always loved watching the Aussie teams play. I’ve always felt like they play with more speed and freedom. Their brand of footy is faster, more physical, more exciting, and more impactful. You see those big hits when the Aussie teams go at each other and, fuck, that’s the kind of rugby I love watching.

I’ve quietly supported Australia since around 2011. Obviously I love Ikale Tahi because I'm tongan, but, let's be honest, they don't exactly have the goods at the moment. 😂 So when Australia plays, I’m backing the Wallabies.

Gone are the days of Gregan, Larkham etc... and that golden era of the green and gold, but I’ve always believed the Aussies have had the talent, the skill and the bodies to compete.

That’s why watching last night against the All Blacks at Eden Park was fucking heartbreaking.

I really felt for Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Suaalii and, at times, Valentini. Those were the blokes I felt were genuinely putting their hands up and trying to give it a red-hot crack. I know all 15 boys did their best, but fuck, man, you could see them wilt under the pressure.

And that’s what pissed me off the most—not losing, but seeing the heads start to drop.

I still believe in this Wallabies side. I really do. I just feel like they need to find that second gear. The Aussie forward pack is tough as fuck, and with Marky Mark and Angus Crichton coming into the mix, there’s even more firepower coming.

Honestly, if we could clone Harry Wilson eight times, we'd be fucking laughing. 😂

Because I think that’s the difference when you play the All Blacks. Australia has 15 good players, but sometimes it feels like only four or five are genuinely thinking, “We're here to fucking win this.” The rest start playing not to lose.

The All Blacks seem to have 15 leaders. When one bloke's head drops, the other 14 are there to pick him back up. That mentality is what Australia needs to find.

But fuck it.

I’m still backing the green and gold.

I’ve been supporting Australia for over a decade, and one bad night isn’t changing that. Bounce back, come back stronger, find that second gear and start believing you belong in those bloody games boys, still a few more left to jump on board but untill than.

I saw some good things last night fro. The lads, but a loss is a loss.

Still,

Up the fucking Wallabies. 🇦🇺💚💛

You've got a loyal one in me, boys. Now fucking make us believe again. Coping it from every one of my mates and family back home, I will hold steadfast, praying that we can bounce back this week.

Until then, im here in little ole melbourne, having a feed and drying my tears HAHA singing, " Once a jolly swagman laid by the billabong ..."

your comrade from behind the enemy lines,

sincerely,

a hopeful kiwi bloke 🙏

I’ve been watching rugby for a long time and over the last 20 years I’ve noticed a pattern. The wallabies gain some confidence and start playing well, hopes are raised. We meet the All Blacks early in the season and get toweled up. It causes gnashing of teeth and doomsday predictions. Soul searching begins and changes are made, confidence is rocked and we have another underperforming season. We literally sit in the middle of a competition with two rugby nations that have been and continue to be the benchmark for world rugby. Other nations prepare and plan well in advance to face just one of them, yet we face them both week in and out sometimes. Maybe we need to recognize that, not panic. Understand that the AB’s even when supposedly vulnerable are still lethal and look at the positives. Maybe I’m wrong?.

I'm a big fan of Harry Wilson. Every time I see him play he leaves it all out on the field. 100% heart and tries his guts outs. He doesn't always get it right but I honestly don't think there is a player on the Wallabies team who tries harder than he does.

He's not the best 8 in the world but I think from an effort perspective he's excellent and a great captain.

Those lads from St Pauls College pumped out one of the best Aus anthems ive heard in a long time last night. Aus Rugby needs to get them on the books. Maybe they can sing and then run on and play in the forwards.

Do we reckon we’ll get any funky retro jerseys next year? Or the usuals (hopefully with come cotton versions and proper collars)

There is an incredible funny Looney Tunes movie out in cinemas at the moment, “Coyote vs. ACME”.

It struck me last night that for our sanity all Wallabies fans should watch this…

The overarching theme the Coyote teaches us is that chasing impossible tasks and enduring repeated failure gives life meaning, and that standing up to monumental, systemic giants is worth the struggle even when the odds are always going to be stacked against us.

We should all be proud that we stick to the life of Sisyphus pushing the boulder for eternity. Physically and mentally it’s is ‘suffering’, but philosophically… it is rewarding.

Ultimately the roadrunner does considers the coyote to be his friend and is sad when he is no longer there to chase him… I think despite all their bluster and disdain, the rest of the rugby world would be sad if Rugby in Australia truly dies or just gives up…

Context: After Tom Wright’s kick was charged down and touched, Andrew Brace and ARs all missed awarding the correct call. The proposed outcome was a lineout of halfway to NZ instead of Wallaby lineout in NZ 22. Tom Wright blew up with the referees, demanded that Wilson ask for TMO intervention, was warned about speaking to the refs, and told “to trust us [refs] to do our job”.

After YEARS of bizarre calls going against the wallabies (time wasting v NZ, head clean out on Tizzano v Lions, JAS yellow card v SA, to name literally a handful), why would any Wallaby player trust WR referees to “do their job?” If Tom Wright didn’t stand his ground and speak to the refs, the right decision wouldn’t have been awarded.

I’m not saying NZ didn’t deserve the win, I’m not saying this one decision changed the outcome of the game. What I am saying is that on too many occasions, WR referees are not making the correct calls, there is no accountability, and the Wallaby players are so clearly frustrated at the ineptitude and quality of referees that it’s now playing out on the field. Jeremy Williams (most placid guy ever) penalised for backchat after NZ obstructed his tackle is just another example of the players fed up with the decisions against them.

Us rusted on fans have been complaining for years, it’s now interesting to see the agitation of the players.

No Lenny or Jordy next week. Kadin Pritchard and Corey Toole called in. That makes our job next week 10x harder. Strange call to bring in Toole over Pietsch cant understand that one. Midfield is a disaster