Australia tour

[General Zod]

I might have been sniffing glue but did I just read Dell called up to the lions?! Finn too and some random Welsh x4.....

Yup.

Anyway, that was brilliant, particularly with some first choices out. Wonder if they'll get back in!

Fiji beat Italy, so following this up with our fourth win in a row will really test us.

[OptimisticJock]

What a great result. Had visions of them fucking it up in the last few minutes though.

[Big D]

Are we going to need to fly someone out on case of LHP injury/illness?

[Donny osmond]

Is the aus game available on youtube?

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[Big D]

Team I'd go for this week. Incorporating a bit of Toonie tombola and a bit of giving most folk a game.

Reid/Brown/Rae
Toolis/Gray
Barclay/Strauss/Watson
Price
Horne
Jones
Taylor
Scott
Hoyland
Jackson

Turner
Allan
Nel
Carmichael
Bradbury
Pyrgos (can't bring myself to put Kennedy on the bench)
Dunbar
Tonks

If Turner and Rae do get games if want some familiarity for them. E.g Turner with Nel and Rae with a Glasgow front row.

[hp18]

Carmichael, Bradbury and Dunbar released. Rae isn't starting.

[Adder]

Is the aus game available on youtube?

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So far there are only Highlights.

This is from one of the best highlight channels on Youtube.

[Jps]

I thought Tonks had a really really good game, as did lots of players, and we definitely looked better once the bench came on.

[Adder]

.

[General Zod]

I can't work out how we're up to fourth in the world. I think we're still fifth. Anyway, bring on the Fiji!

[hp18]

I can't work out how we're up to fourth in the world. I think we're still fifth. Anyway, bring on the Fiji!

We are still fifth.

[af73]

Watched it back 3 times so far.....all on Sunday. Might be regular viewing for a while yet

And then the u20's go and do their stuff. What a weekend!

Just great desire, belief and no small amount of rugby ability and the entire squad, playing and non-playing, and the staff.
Barclay's comment about perhaps too much being put on the pride, passion, gritty underdogs and not enough on the skill levels is absolutely correct.

It doesn't need to be pi**hing down or a penalty backs to the wall effort. The Aus commentary team relied on those lazy stereotypes throughout so was very satisfying to bring their knowledge up to date.

The third try was wonderfully conceived and executed. Everyone knew what was on, where to be and how to adapt to what was in front of them. Contrast to the Australian structure in attack (and defence) which if it wasn't successful after 2 or 3 phases was all over the place.

Going to pick out a couple of things though. After Robbie Nairns unfortunate spill over the goal line, I's sure Gregor will pick up on Finn and Duncan's one handed touch downs. In fact, Finn's doesn't look the cleanest at all . Super slo-mo might have been embarrassing!

[laribold]

From just watching the highlights, one thing I'd point out is Finn's defence.
Saw at least two try-savers in there I think. Plus his hit on Kurindrani 2 metres out just before Genia's try which stopped him dead (assisted by someone else too).
Very impressive.

[Big D]

Finally watched it, some cracking performances. Numbers 4 to 7 were outstanding IMO, massive games. Russell had one of his best games in blue. Decent cameos off the bench by Ford and Strauss too. Strauss made a couple of nice carries from the base and Ford made plenty of tackles.

Very positive performance from a lot of players. Taylor looks at home wherever he plays, Price is starting to look comfortable at this level etc.

Only gripes were too many penalties conceded and our defence at times. Our scrambling defence was good, but 18 missed tackles is too many and on all their tries our defensive system failed; Folau's two tries saw people flying out the line and although the second wouldn't have been stopped there was 2 aussies v Tonks, the 3rd saw a breakdown in the ruck defence. But it is nice to say we can work on that after a win rather than a loss.

[whatisthejava]

From just watching the highlights, one thing I'd point out is Finn's defence.
Saw at least two try-savers in there I think. Plus his hit on Kurindrani 2 metres out just before Genia's try which stopped him dead (assisted by someone else too).
Very impressive.

Noticed it , very clever hit, hit him at an angle which changed his direction and the other player helped stop him,

[Mikey Brown]

From just watching the highlights, one thing I'd point out is Finn's defence.
Saw at least two try-savers in there I think. Plus his hit on Kurindrani 2 metres out just before Genia's try which stopped him dead (assisted by someone else too).
Very impressive.

I loved that. I think the other guy was actually Price, who really throws himself in to tackles. It's great to see.

Scott's try-saver after that ridiculous reverse pass from Cooper was a gem as well.

[laribold]

Speaking of Scott, he seemed to have a very effective impact as a substitute.
I do like the way he runs with the ball, accelerating into contact. A lot of players seemed to be doing it too, but Scott was very noticeable.
The build up to Watson's excellent try has lots of good examples of this dynamism into contact.

[whatisthejava]

Speaking of Scott, he seemed to have a very effective impact as a substitute.
I do like the way he runs with the ball, accelerating into contact. A lot of players seemed to be doing it too, but Scott was very noticeable.
The build up to Watson's excellent try has lots of good examples of this dynamism into contact.

11 pairs of hands in 50 seconds to score , no matter what anyone says that is top drawer

[whatisthejava]

So if we beat Fiji by 15 + we go to 4th in the world (unless Oz lose to Australia) which isnt beyond possibility considering how much the players and coaches are getting hammered by the media

So we are about 11 players down from our first 15 I think this is a potential banana skin and think realistically a 3 - 5 point win is more likly

Whats everyones team with who is still there

Reid
Brown
ZFG
Toolis
JG
Barclay
Watson
Straus

Price
Horne
Visser
Taylor
Scott
Jones
Tonks

Ford
????
Nel
Swinson
Wilson
Pyrgos
???
???

[whatisthejava]

Also , i think if we do get to 4th in the world this may be the first time in history both Oz and SA have fallen out of the top 4 and we have 3 NH teams in top 4 at same time

[Big D]

Allan is the spare LH, I guess Jackson to bench and Hoyland. Means a bit of a rejig should a centre go down with Horne to 12.

[Big D]

Given the doubts about Dickinson an argument could be made we can start 7 of our 1st choice 8.

I think I'd start Nel but agree with rest of the above starting XV given what is left on tour.

[Cameo]

I'd start Nel too. He could probs do with the game more and Fagerson probably has more impact off the bench.

Otherwise makes sense (I didnt see the Aus game so cant say if Jones should be ahead of Hoyland/Hughes but from the highlights that seems fair)

Actually, is Grigg not on the tour? What are the chances of him starting with Taylor back to full back?

[af73]

I think Gregor might have found a interesting solution on Saturday with WP and Fagerson. Zander started to get the tempo up from the off with Nel coming on to solidify the scrum (when Barnes was started to get on Fagerson's case) and/or press home an advantage.

If that knowledge is banked for future opponents then this tour has served its purpose in that regard.

Likewise Scott. Played really well from the bench perhaps having seen the pattern of the game develop instead of trying to force it when starting.

Saturdays game will be like 7's at times - it's inevitable. Jones' experience reading of that type of game (in attack and defence) could be useful.
Would like to see Grigg at some point, perhaps outside Taylor which might be a preview of Taylor/Jones type combination.

Horne and Jackson - perhaps a half each with Price?
Strauss & Gray might be favoured to tie in defenders close to the breakdown, Hardie as well if in one piece!

End of a long season in which the rugby playing ability of our players has really started to flourish. We've also seen the concentration and application improve to much closer to a full 80 minutes than before. If they go out and "enjoy" Saturday the rewards hopefully will follow.

[Big D]

I'm not sure we can go wrong with either of Nel and ZJRF starting. Either can be good from start or off bench. Which is very positive.