What you thought - Wallabies vs Ireland in Dublin
November 18, 2009 - 12:21pm
Story by: ARU
The Men of Gold mailbox was a mix of dismay and frustration this week as Qantas Wallabies fans from all over the globe agonised over the last minute try that ended the Men of Gold’s Grand Slam dreams and vented at some of the decisions handed out to the Wallabies.
Typical of the emails we received was this one from Nathan Rogers in Victoria:
“I'm a Victorian who's getting deeper and deeper into Rugby Union but I don't pretend to understand all the nuances of the game. Can anyone explain to me why Wycliff Palu gets sin binned for making a tackle with his chest and arms while the recipient of that tackle Rob Kearney is allowed to shoulder charge Rocky Elsom over the try line clearly making not attempt to use his arms?”
A very good question Nathan. A very good question indeed.
Paul Oehlmann who works for the Wallabies principal supporter, Qantas, had similar queries:
“Rocky Elsom's try in the second half came with what I think is a severe failing on Jonathan Kaplan's behalf.
The Irish number 15 very obviously shoulder charged the Wallabies Captain in a failed attempt to push Mr Elsom over the sideline. Whilst letting a try through and being outmuscled would be enough punishment in most games, contrasted with Wycliff Palu's questionable yellow card decision in the first half for the same offence seems offensively unfair.
The Irish fullback made no attempt to wrap his arms around the attacker whilst Palu could be seen to at least raise his arms to at least horizontal level.
Whilst Mr Kaplan is a formidable referee and on reviewing the game he should note the error, I hope the ARU discretely brings the oversight to the attention of Mr Kaplan if the review does not make his error obvious.”
Very diplomatic Paul. Others were less so. Such as Gary Whiteside:
“Next game of Rugby I watch where a player is sent off for a front on tackle will definitely be my last. Apart from that enjoyed the game and thought a draw ok.”
Ok Gary ? Hmmmm ...
Hywel Edwards was also in a quandary over the yellow card:
“ Can't complain, except about the Palu sin-bin.
And at last it looks as though the Wallabies are playing as a team.What baffles this old man is, as the Irish commentator said, the compulsory period of aimless kicking. Both sides being guilty.”
There was much praise for the Wallabies powerful scrumming and criticism of the unusually sloppy work at the lineout – although we should remember in Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan, the Men of Gold were up against two of the best jumpers on the planet.
Tighthead Tezza revelled in the scrumming, as you might expect:
“Fantastic scrum, though a disappointing lineout, some good defence and almost another glorious win in Dublin, a shame but far from a disgrace at CrokePark. Well done those Wallabies, though the Grand Slam dream has been dashed, you still have an opportunity to be undefeated on the tour, making you the second most successful Wallaby team. I think the 1984 team could live with that. Good luck. Go hard.”
A “terse” Stan Krasnoff was one of many wondering why the Wallabies didn’t compete in those final crucial lineouts:
“Terse thoughts: Wallabies learn how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Why were the last few Irish lineout throw-ins uncontested?
Was the Wallabies' backline given leave of absence?
How much longer must we suffer (Matt) Giteau? Long past his use-by date!”
Is that the same Matt Giteau who’s just been nominated for the iRB Player of the Year – surely not.
Peter Moloney was also feeling the lineout woes:
“We need to start contesting opposition lineouts properly, but first we have to get our own lineout sorted out. These guys have to know where the ball is going because too many lineouts of ours went into Irish hands.
Our defence was superb though, but unfortunately we couldn't hold on for the last minute.”
Several contributors think the services of the great J.Eales are required to fix the lineout.
From Nick Kobas: “As a Wallaby supporter my/our patience is running very thin… Unable to make it count… Unable to defend… Management, selectors, players??? Very disappointing! John Eales help!”
Frank Sykes agrees: “The boys are starting to look very good. The scrum, led by Rocky, man of the match, was VERY impressive in both tight and loose. BUT who is the lineout coach [send an SOS to John Eales]; has happened before! Who is the fitness coach? fadeouts have happened before!”
Seamus Bonner, writing from Dublin, also focused on the lineouts while reminding Wallabies fans just how good this Ireland team is:
“Two aspects of Australia’s play today caused them not to beat Ireland. A) Lineouts. Ireland stole so many of them from the Men of Gold. B) Penalty kicking. (Matt) Giteau missed too many.
But then again, the Ireland team that Australia met today is a far cry from the ‘give-in-easy’ Ireland teams of even 3 years’ ago. And don’t forget, this was Ireland’s first match together as a team for 6 months. Australia are feeling disappointed they did not take the Grand Slam. Ireland are disappointed they didn’t do in the first 60 minutes what they did in the last 20.”
Worth a pint of Guinness or two that. Thanks Seamus.
Quade Cooper came in for a bit of a hammering.
This from Bob Meadows:“Quade Cooper kicked too often - why give away possession with men outside you, as he did at least once in the first half, with the defence scrambling.
It is only with ball in hand that you can score tries.”
Rob Taylor from Goondiwindi also hoed into the young Queenslander:
“When are the selectors going to wake up to the fact that (Quade) Cooper cannot tackle to save him self. It seems to me that he let the Irish in for both their tries. He was useless in the Investec Bank Super 14 and he hasn’t improved in the Wallabies side. In world rugby these days you have to have two good solid defensive centres. He should not be one of them.”
Harsh words Rob but thanks for your contribution.
Regular scribe Doug Mackintosh also had some (more measured) thoughts on Quade:
“Whilst Quade Cooper was one of the better chasers of kicks, too much kicking, the dropped pass in the last play leading into half time and no real flair in the putting of team mates through gaps as in some past games ,meant that he did not shine, but he was not alone.
Both of the Irish tries were scored because the team did not follow the very basic rule of having a defender to mark each member of an opposing backline. Having said that I have to admit that the move on the final try was a beauty! but of all the opponents not to mark!!”
Exactly Doug. 80th minute, Irish Rugby legend in his 100th Test – who else is the ball going to go to !
L F Albouze writing from Washington D.C. saw things differently:
“Thank god Berrick Barnes was injured because it exposed a much more valuable talent to the selectors in (Quade) Cooper.
I have never rated Barnes as an inside centre he is a 10 and way too small and boring to be playing 12, either pick him at 10 and put Gits (Matt Giteau) @ 12 or don't pick him with the run-on team. Quade is the goods at 12.
(But) it is glaringly obvious that the talent pool in the engine room department is dry so again it's about time that Australia give up on its home based players policy, we just can't manage it.
I'm not saying let the flood gates open but pick players on how good they are, not where they are. You honesty don't think (Justin) Harrison, (Toutai) Kefu, (Dan) Vickerman or (Hugh) McMeniman would have made a significant difference today or over the past five years to Test matches?
We have got to start having a policy of horses for courses. Age also should not be a factor wouldn't it have been nice to have (Chris) Latham running at the Irish, he's 34 years old and playing in the Premiership at FULLBACK. It was a bad idea to gut the Australian team not retaining some of the older players to help mentor the new ones into an experienced and cohesive team. There has to be a transition period as new players are added to the team and the old players are let go. Australian team hasn't had one for over ten years.
Furthermore I would like to say it again, yes field position is valuable but without getting over the advantage line possession, it doesn't mean squat as shown in this year's Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations series. That is why for me, it's either Gits or Quade at 12. Skill, Speed and the X factor.”
Some interesting thoughts there L.F. Ta !
Coach Robbie Deans also felt the ire for the decision to sway Adam Ashley-Cooper for James O’Connor late in the game, as Paul Grainger expressed:
“Well I am sorry but I feel this unfortunate result should be seen as an example of Robbie Deans poor decision making. Playing totally inexperienced centres against the brilliant Brian O’Driscoll was always a huge risk. To see such a fine experienced centre as Ryan Cross sit on the bench all game just beggars belief.
Then to see Adam Ashley Cooper off for James O'Connor, a novice at best, just defies understanding.
The final disaster was Stephen Moore off for Tatafu "who cannot throw the ball in straight" causing them to loose line out after line out in the last twenty minutes. Well, gifting the draw to Ireland was always on the cards.
Sorry Robbie Deans, I know you had great success with the Crusaders, but with the Wallabies, no thanks.”
Liam O’Regan also thinks Robbie got the selection wrong:
“The people in the team are right but I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is to go to Outside centre. (Digby) Ioane to the other wing, and (Drew) Mitchell to fullback. That's the back line change that is needed.”
Mike James from Bendigo thinks the Wallabies have taken a step back: “A step back from the England game. The more experienced Ireland players found a way to stop the Wallabies' flow, especially from the line-outs. The problems in the line-outs need fixing for the long term future of this team. There was also a problem with decision making and ball handling in the centres. This is where they miss the experience of (Stirling) Mortlock and the ability of (Berrick) Barnes. I was surprised that this match was so lacking in atmosphere, given the full house: very dispiriting and seemed to affect the game, which lacked passion.”
I think the crowd was still getting over the Football World Cup qualifying loss to France the day before!
Steven Duke from Adelaidethought the Wallabies were lucky to get a draw: “I thought that the Wallabies were very fortunate to come away with the draw. Again ill discipline cost Australia another test, when are our backs going to learn to pass a ball when they have open players outside them instead of getting white line fever? This is costing Australia easy tries.”
While Scotty, writing from Paris, thinks the match just confirms the gulf between the Men of Gold and their southern hemisphere rivals:
“It seems that this game confirmed what has been obvious from the Bundaberg Rum Tri-Nations – the Wallabies are good, sometimes great… but NZ and SA are just that much better.
We are as good as the best in the Northern Hemisphere, but NZ/SA are still ahead.
If we’re looking to win some major silverware, maybe we should enter the Six Nations next year!!”
Pardon me Scotty but I think the Springboks lost in a place not that far away from you on the weekend.
Darryl de Clifford writing from Yorkeys Knob in North Queensland was frustrated at the Wallabies inability to close down the game:
“The team should never have been in a position to lose the test in the last minute if they had not adhered to the laws of the game and stopped giving these stupid penalties away in their red zone.
Until this team's discipline improves another 50%, the Wallabies will never be a continuing force in the world of rugby. Listen to your coach guys because you obviously will drive your supporters away if you don't.”
Regular contributor Anil Thapa was concise: “Superb performance, forward were great, backs were good, probably lineout and (Matt) Giteau inconsistent goal kicking let them down.”
David Baldwin from Queensland wants the iRB to “Bring back rucking!!!!
I am sick of watching players deliberately collapse or lie all over the ball. The rules don't need to be changed, the game is great...they just need to allow it to be a contact sport. The kiwis always use the tactic of having the tackler lie all over the ball and then send the cleanout brigade through to the position where he is lying as opposed to cleaning out the Wallaby ruckers legally through the gate.
We constantly have the first player at the breakdown to bridge and seal the ball, but the Kiwis just step over that and get away with it cause it looks like they are rucking legally cause of the player lying on the ball still. Bring back the ruck and watch (them) move faster than warp speed when someone is going mountaineering on their back.”
Men of Gold thinks David is making a very good point.
Graeme Romans was trying to focus on the positives:“Standouts? It was a great Captain’s knock and Rocky is back leading from the front. Watch out Scotland!
(David) Pocock was what I expected him to be by the Rugby World Cup! Cliffy Palu shifted that huge frame all over the park and announced with that fine tackle that got him binned that he wanted that number 8 spot. Our back three is formidable.
Quade Cooper deserves a mention for his second game in (Berrick) Barnes’ shoes. He made his mark against the English and backed up with a solidly quixotic (?) (Slight contradiction there Graeme – MOG) performance that has been his trademark, along with improving defence. Gits (Matt Giteau)? Needs a try. Confidence in his role still lacking.”
As was Mark Fraser:“I think the team is developing quickly... admittedly England and even Ireland are not the Springboks or the All Blacks but a developing team needs a few wins to start believing in itself...
Tonight the forwards intensity was far greater than I have seen in a long time at times forcing the 6 Nations Champions back off the ball...
I think the Wallabies were far the superior team. The Ireland commentators were so disillusioned that they had given the game away even though Australia was only 4 points in the lead - and there was 30 minutes to go!”
Owen Hughes, writing from Quebec, Canada shows Wallabies fans will go to any lengths to see the Men of Gold perform:
“Watching the game on the Net from Canada, a draw was a fair enough result and it was a nice touch that Brian O'Driscoll could cross unopposed like that at the end, although I'm sure Robbie Deans et al don't agree. (You can say that again! – MOG)
Against Ireland, the Wallabies missed experience and ultimately punch in the backline and it would have been a good move to bring on (Stirling) Mortlock at half-time.” (If only we could have Owen – he’s back in Autsralia, injured - MOG)
“Quade Cooper definitely looked dangerous a couple of times and might have benefited from having Mortlock handy to punch the odd hole.
Australia seemed to be protecting their 7-point lead for most of the last 10 minutes and this was a mistake. Good game though.”
Not sure the Wallabies were protecting their lead. They just couldn’t get their hands on the ball!
Sharon Altman offered her report card:
“EXCELLENT
Scrum- dominant and reliable. World class, finally.
Breakdown- excellent. Fantastic execution. Strong commitment and presence. This is what we needed during Tri-nations.
Defence- generally very good, especially scrambling defence.
NEEDS WORK
1.General Kicking- weak, ineffectual and aimless.
2.Lineout - Atrocious.
3. Restarts- kick receipts are terrible.”
But our Men of Gold Email of the Week this week goes to our good friend from Argentina, Fernando Marzano:
“Hi Australian friends
Excellent game, I understand that was the best game of the year 2009 by the Wallabies.
Finally the team is appearing today in 15 places - 12 or 13 of them are well covered, and Australia has once again become the team we all expect. I agree that (David) Pocock was the man of the match, but it needs a great credit to the task of Rocky Elsom, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper (I am pleased to see the great long pass he has), the entire front line, and so on.
I do believe (what) the Wallabies have to recover is a safe lineout today as much like the Pumas, are undergoing this training.
Surely, with Nathan Sharpe and Dan Vickerman the Wallabies would have a better line, while the mobility and the play of Mark Chisholm make it an important player. Must have other options as they have a third line with height, such as 1.97 Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu 1.94. I have not seen much of Dean Mumm to say.
Conclusion, today the Wallabies have a solid Scrum, an excellent pack of forwards;
have greatly improved Peter Hynes and Palu; averaging Adam Ashley Cooper has been the best player throughout the year; Digby Ioane and Quade Cooper, have gained strength in the tackle , Digby also has been very important in the offensive game, and Cooper comes as a great alternative to download (!) the game (if you see again this match you’ll see how important they were today).
The pair of halves with Matt Giteau and Will Genia is working better every day, Benn Robinson remains one of my favorite players and also you have a super-alternative coming from the bench like George Smith, Stirling Mortlock, Tatafu Polota Na'u, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell and two young players with a tremendous future as James O'Connor and Richard Brown.
Probably may feel frustrated because the Wallabies today deserved the victory, but understand they played against a really good side, the winner of the 6 Nations, plus Ireland in 2009 has not lost a single game, that's something.
I understand that the best is yet to come.
A fraternal greeting from Argentina.
Fernando”
Thanks for that Fernando. And buenos dias till next time.
Yours in Rugby,
Men of Gold
