Wallabies edge sterile sideshow
21 Oct 2011
RYAN VREDE watched Australia stutter to an uninspiring 21-18 victory over Wales in the World Cup bronze medal match at Eden Park.
Naturally this contest lacked the intensity and compelling appeal of a match where the result was meaningful. Consequently it descended into a structureless, error-strewn and utterly unpalatable sideshow to Sunday’s final.
It would have been more bearable if either side had earned the right to play expansively by showing some appreciation for building a platform. Instead the strike runners in either pack were rarely deployed often enough to achieve this, with the showmen in the back division asked to enthral and entertain the 60 000 poor souls who paid to be punished.
Handling errors abound and Australia’s lethargy in sending cleaners into rucks often resulted in turnovers in the Welsh 22m. Their troubles were compounded and cause undermined when key play makers Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper were injured before 25 minutes had elapsed. The latter, did, however, craft a try for Berrick Barnes with a deft offload, before his exit.
Australia looked a better side than the impotent Welsh, whose struggles were rooted in their inability to impose themselves at the gainline. They also missed suspended captain Sam Warburton’s ability to stifle the opposition’s attacking flow through his breakdown work. Indeed Warren Gatland’s side played with the verve, accuracy and innovation that suggested they’d had spent their week working their way through Auckland’s pubs and nightclubs.
Wales missed three goalkicks but still trailed by just four points (7-3) with with 30 minutes to play, before scoring courtesy of a clear forward pass. On the evidence of that incorrect decision, it appeared referee Wayne Barnes and his assistant had been lulled into a slumber themselves.
James O’Connor kicked two penalties to regain the lead for the Wallabies before Barnes took the Wallabies eight points ahead with a drop goal. Stephen Jones set up a tense final 10 minutes with a three pointer.
Adam Ashley-Cooper should have sealed the result with six minutes to play, but he grassed the ball in a tackle a metre for the goal line. Ben McCalman, however, made no mistake shortly thereafter. Wales would score after the siren had sounded, but were undeserving of victory.
The Wallabies thus finish in third place, which is much like almost bagging the hottest girl at the party, then having to settle for her ugly friend.
649 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 9 10 11 … 13 » Show All
21 Oct 2011, 12:29 pm
You’re plain evil Ryan and don’t know a thing about rugby or how to be a good sport.
21 Oct 2011, 12:29 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-243: stop labouring the point chap, you have him on the ropes
deans has failed, period!
Campaign highlights Wallaby shortcomings by: Jim Tucker
From: The Daily Telegraph October 18, 2011
ROBBIE Deans is still the right man to be coaching the Wallabies but he needs to find a brawny, cauliflower-eared Argentinian prop who can scrum like a truck and a 105kg centre who can smash defences in a hurry.
The post-mortem on the World Cup cannot just focus on Deans, as coach, or five-eighth Quade Cooper, who never looked comfortably in rhythm for much of the Wallabies’ three important games.
The overwhelming feeling from six weeks at the tournament is that the Wallabies are not the team of out and out stars that fans, past players and the media thought they would be.
Just an example. The Wallabies would kill for a line-busting, all-purpose centre like Jamie Roberts or a prop off the conveyor belt from Buenos Aires.
The 1991 and 1999 World Cup triumphs have put the bar exceedingly high on this country’s expectations at the tournament every four years. Australian media made hotel bookings all the way through to the final. The Irish press made theirs only to the quarters.
On the trusted measure of needing five or six World XV quality players to win a World Cup, the Wallabies came up well short.
Only lionhearted flanker David Pocock and fullback Kurtley Beale were hands-down in that club. Winger Digby Ioane and skipper James Horwill put their hands up at their best moments as did halfback Will Genia, who was still far less of a standout than expected.
What did we get out of six weeks? There was a blur of wonderful second half tries against Italy, the predictable try-fests against the US and Russia and a supremely gritty and character-filled win over South Africa.
Against the All Blacks in the semi we barely fired a shot which is the toughest thing to swallow.
With two non-passing centres like wonderfully courageous Pat McCabe and Anthony Faingaa, Australia’s best weapons on the wing in Ioane and James O’Connor were starved of ball.
We now realise how much that shock loss to Ireland spooked the Wallabies because it convinced Deans to put away the expansive point-of-difference style he had drilled for four years in favour of a poorly-executed kicking and pseudo-northern hemisphere game.
Kicks were rushed away early in the phase count instead of holding the ball for longer. Cooper looked at sea with it all too.
Deans is devoted to the job but it is also about results. He was shown faith with a new two-year deal before the Cup but now it’s a series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2013 or bye-bye.
21 Oct 2011, 12:30 pm
viva la Man Untd…
21 Oct 2011, 12:30 pm
I might just make a tidy little packet from my 100 quid flutter on France at 8/1. I see the odds on a French win have improved, ever so slightly… Could it be that the bookies are getting a little bit nervous…
21 Oct 2011, 12:32 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-245:
ffs you were saying that winning the 3rd vs 4th game was pointless and now you are talking about Romania again.
Make sure you read post 250
You are the anti-rugby almanac
21 Oct 2011, 12:32 pm
viva la Luke Waton
Sommer a double viva
21 Oct 2011, 12:33 pm
viva la wp finding a decent prop
viva
21 Oct 2011, 12:33 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-252:
Read 250
90% of what he says is incorrect and pulled out of his arsse.
21 Oct 2011, 12:33 pm
viva la HG and ET
viva
21 Oct 2011, 12:34 pm
viva la cold beers in the afternoon
viva
21 Oct 2011, 12:34 pm
@grant10(grant10)-253:
They playing today?
21 Oct 2011, 12:35 pm
@grant10(grant10)-259: Viva le Mini me backrubs…
Viva le Gwantie wubber ducky
21 Oct 2011, 12:36 pm
Really really looking forward to playing the new number 3 side in the World
21 Oct 2011, 12:41 pm
I wonder if the ABs win are the French back to 4th?
21 Oct 2011, 12:41 pm
@chch(chch)-263: And they could be the new number 1 side in the world after sunday… A miraculous feat, sure… But it could just be…
My oh my, the humiliation…
Naah, it cant happen could it…
No Soozie within 10000miles… No Wayne Barnes…
Wonder what the excuse would be this time if it should ever, ever happen… French brutality? LMFAO
21 Oct 2011, 12:41 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-254:
No, if you really spent that money then consider it lost.
21 Oct 2011, 12:42 pm
@chch(chch)-250:
I concede I got the rankings wrong regarding France/NZ, I presumed that would be the case since they beat NZ.
But even so my point is that it doesn’t serve as an advantage to anyone, so where’s the reward in that?
We know who the top teams in the world are and they usually take the 1st and 2nd spot in the pools.
Who ends on top during pool play is decided by who the form team is that year, that moment and NOT on ranking systems of 4 years ago.
21 Oct 2011, 12:42 pm
@grant10(grant10)-257:
Did we make a decent buy?
21 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-265:
No excuses here. If we lose we lose.
21 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
@Brads(Brads)-266: I do consider it lost… But with 8/1 for a final, it was worth a squirt… Beyootiful if it should come to pass
21 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-265:
Nothing like it.
Time for us Kiwi’s to cast off the pretense and say what we believe..
The French will get rooted on Sunday.
21 Oct 2011, 12:44 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-240:
That’s a shame.
Extraball had his tuppaware all ready to take on his first visit to the President’s box for.
His extended family in the PE area could have eaten for a week.
They didn’t join the “struggle” to be poor.
21 Oct 2011, 12:44 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-267:
You are arguing that avoiding a top 4 side in the pool is not an advantage. That is just silly
21 Oct 2011, 12:45 pm
@chch(chch)-258: hehehe
“90%”? you’re being harsh…
201.wpstormerbok said:
21 Oct 2011, 11:38 am
@chch(chch)-196:
Deans did okay but ultimately he failed as only 1 contender can walk away with the spoils of victory.
There’s no reward for second or third best at RWC.
204.chch said:
21 Oct 2011, 11:41 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-201:
He didn’t turn up with the best team and he got third. Not bad
it would seem from the above that you are making excuses for robbie deans. wrong?
8)
21 Oct 2011, 12:46 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-270:
8 for every one placed … isnt that the same number the bokke left the WC this year at? 8?
21 Oct 2011, 12:46 pm
We can put you guys back into No3
21 Oct 2011, 12:48 pm
@Brads(Brads)-271: We all know it is a pretense…. But what we don’t know is if the AB’s also think that way too… I reckon they do… They keep saying they are “relaxed”.
The French however are not even playing for the WC… I don’t think they care too much for Coupe Du Monde… they will be playing for pride.
Backs against the wall… derided universally… Nothing to lose…
Hehehe… The miracle might just very well happen….
21 Oct 2011, 12:48 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-272:
“tuppaware”
21 Oct 2011, 12:48 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-270:
You must be almost bankrupt then betting on outsiders in the hope it will be “Beyootiful”
Did you know we have several organisations who’s members would happily get whip lash coming to yor support, such is their eagerness to help people like you.
21 Oct 2011, 12:48 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-274:
No. I am saying I think he did well. Australia are a very competitive side despite having a bunch of ordinary forwards to choose from (besides the open side dude)
21 Oct 2011, 12:49 pm
Scot Higginbothamm
Barrick Barnes
veryy under used by Deanns!!!!
Ben McCalman????…Mr Invisiblee
21 Oct 2011, 12:50 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-278:
as well as as many bottles of appletiser (cape spanish champagne) as he can fit in his pockets.
amandla.
21 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-275: Look, I know you have difficulty with numbers so I will help you… Hold up both your hands, and pull in both thumbs… That is 8.
Put one hand down and keep thumb pulled in with remaining hand… That is 4.
Here endeth elementary Math lesson one…
21 Oct 2011, 12:52 pm
240
Again you deliberately miss the point and try to confuse by making Gerald the subject.
Your twisted, deliberately distorted and quite sick ethnic agenda is the subject and the substantitiation I forwaed is the mischievious cricket reference to “rajan” whilst ignoring the prime example of fraud, G. Majola in cricket and the same city. Rajan who I do not know and certainly thus not as a Sacos member actually served a sentence for his crime and as such is free to rejoin functioning in any society again if they trust and allow him.
Gerald is not the Majola family. That truly belongs to Eric and the brother Khaya and everybody else.
” you want to denounce gerald majola now, when you were quite eager to adopt him, his brother and family … ”
Stating, as a fact of life and thus truth, that I have seen(and more) Eric at cricket and rugby and Khaya at cricket and housed some nephews as members of EPTTU is deliberately and shamelessly distorted into ” to adopt him, his brother & family in your namedropping ” ? How do you cross that divide. Better still bring forth the substantiation to support your twisted, distorted wild claim.
You are clearly quite disturbed to make such unfounded, desperate claims. For that you should blame your pathologic arrogance that a quirk, aberration of history now affords you.
Easier still reveal one instance where I have made a positive comment about the crook, Gerald.
Again I say the subject is your trying to counter truth the only despicable way you know how and that is to distort, twist notions and ideas and LIE. Depravity should be your name.
21 Oct 2011, 12:52 pm
@Brads(Brads)-279: I assure you I am not bankrupt…
I do know when a bubble could burst however… And this might be a beyootiful bubble
21 Oct 2011, 12:55 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-283: no problem with maths, you guys bombed out of the world cup in 8th spot..
finish and klaar
21 Oct 2011, 12:56 pm
Warburton gone and the Welsh are rudderless from all accounts.
Is that the reason why they lost the semi?
Nope. They have the worlds worst goal kickers as their only go to men.
21 Oct 2011, 12:57 pm
@Gunt(‘C’ for G)-272:
As always only functioning in your world of FANTASY.
Read 284 for a much needed education for the LIARS.
I could walk pass GM anytime and not ever know it is the fraud. So another wild claim is just filled with emptiness.
21 Oct 2011, 12:57 pm
@chch(chch)-273:
My point is that the next four teams are also good teams so what’s the advantage in avoiding anybody as these 8 teams can more or less beat each other on any given day depending on form, fitness, conditions etc.
Australia are in the top 4, they may get drawn into the same pool as their bogey team England next WC, or heaven forbid the mighty Irish again.
Where is the advantage in any of that, in fact I’d be happy if say the Boks end up with NZ in a group then we’ll sort each other out and will only be able to meet again in a Final.
21 Oct 2011, 12:58 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-209: Since the boks are out I’ll support the most deserving team and that sure isnt France, hope they get thrashed.
21 Oct 2011, 12:58 pm
Ok. Just got tickets for the 7′s tournament scheduled in PE on the 9th and 10th of December. I got Saturday tickets. Need costume ideas.
21 Oct 2011, 12:59 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-291:
nun.
21 Oct 2011, 12:59 pm
@chch(chch)-280: However you want to look at it, Deans did better in this world cup than his predesessor (sp).
21 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-292: The habit might be too hot! It will be high summer by then.
21 Oct 2011, 13:01 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-291:
you and transie can go as lamar and chloe.
21 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-285:
The general acceptance of what is natural is this.
The time you know when a bubble has burst is after it has happened.
Are you living in a little world of your own?
21 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-292: Transformation is also going, so think of something for him too.
21 Oct 2011, 13:04 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-295:
But I don’t like her! She looks a little transvestitish.
21 Oct 2011, 13:05 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-297: you could wear a box of tissues and go as HG Rossi
21 Oct 2011, 13:07 pm
@ET.(ET.)-284: you are the one obsessed with “ethnicity”. i mentioned that your SACOS gatgabba rajan was standing for election. you subsequently concluded that the reason i mentioned him and not gerald was related to either persons’ ethnicity.
it’s like me saying darren scott is racist and helen jumping up and down that malema is equally racist.
i mentioned rajan, your gatgabba because it was breaking news HERE in the EC, you know the “ground” where you supposedly have “feelers”.
this is the 2nd time you conviniently disassociate yourself with corrupt SACOS members as you did when i previously mentioned the shenanigans of your other gatgabbas phillip josephs and george davids.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 9 10 11 … 13 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.