Dead Rubber - Bled IV

[Lizard]

So Fozzie picked a somewhat experimental team, deciding that proper midfield and loose forward was an unnecessary luxury when you're blooding four new guys.

In response, Dave Rennie has gone full retard and picked Reece Hodge at 10.

Could be an interesting match.

[J Dory]

Hard to believe this is going to be Akira's first test. Looking forward to seeing Jordan get a run.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Is Nic White possibly the most whining whinging rugby player ever? He seems to throw his toys out the cot pretty damn quick and have a tantrum.

[morepork]

Nic White is the one that didn't quite make the cut for the Village People.

[zer0]

TJ Flapenara, B.Barrett at first-five, Reece, and McKenzie off the bench is a very Hansen side-to-side backline. I don't like it at all but it's a dead rubber so meh.

Am keen to see how Akira and Grace go at blindside though. They just need to go out there and murder some bastards.

[J Dory]

FFS Reiko dive on the ball!

[morepork]

On de wrong side of everything and a man down.

[morepork]

Ioane ^2 doing the damage in defence.

[morepork]

Prick White is a total prick.

[morepork]

Ref is sticking to his guns on safety. Who will adapt better? Not Oz. Yet.

[morepork]

Good win Oz. No complaints here.

[Silvercloud]

Nor from me Porky! Expect better from Barrett of the S variety.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Did Laumape play? I think tonight proved Goodhue is the glue that Conrad Smith used to provide for a backline. TJ Perenara was poor imo, looks to me like a man who has one eye on his Japan pay day

[canta_brian]

I only managed to see the highlights. Was it as messy as it looked?

I thought the first red was harsh, but the 2nd one was about the same so no issues there. Will we go back to tackling around the hips at some point. I know it shows my age and all that but the whole idea of making the "hit" seems to be a sure way to spend your evening sitting down.

[paddy no 11]

Sam came is a total dickhead, endless shitty highshots

Well done to slipper on the 100caps

[Cameo]

Entertaining game. I actually don't have a problem with the red cards. That's the risk you take if you aim for the chest. Arms weren't too involved in the second one either. Happy for Scott Barrett's to be a yellow too. Anything completely cynical like that can be a yellow.

Actually slightly less sure on Koribete's. Yes, they were on a warning but the situation was a bit different. NZ had dropped back and Australia were trying to counter ruck. Just seemed like a standard penalty but no real complaints.

In the game itself, NZ just seemed to get a bit too flustered. Not sure Perenara helped but Australia were very physical so deserve credit too. Was just a battle in the forwards (I thought Cane was great) and, in the backs, the Aussies generally got on top of their opposite man physically.

[cashead]

No issue with the reds, and Swinton was always going to get a red as soon as he clattered Whitelock around the head - Berry set that precedent for himself as soon as he sent off Tu'unfagasi - something that already puts him above Garces as a ref, not that it's a high bar to hurdle.

Scott Barrett shouldn't play any test rugby until next year, the absolute idiot.