Australia vs Wales 2nd test - Teams and Live match thread

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

First topic message reminder :

Australian playing 22:
Aussie team is:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
14. Cooper Vuna (Melbourne Rebels)
13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
7. David Pocock (captain, Western Force)
6. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
3. Sekope Kepu* (NSW Waratahs)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)

Run on Reserves: 16. Stephen Moore (Brumbies), 17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies), 18. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs), 19. Michael Hooper (Brumbies), 20. Nic White (Brumbies), 21. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds), 22. Mike Harris (Queensland Reds)

Wales : Leigh Halfpenny (Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), George North (Scarlets); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).

Replacements : Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Ashley Beck (Ospreys). Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, James Hook, Scott Williams. (BBC has the bench wrong)


Venue: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Capacity ~56,000
Weather: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2158177 - ~12 deg C, showery. But there is a roof.

Tour Previews:
http://www.v2journal.com/wales-summer-tour-preview.html
http://www.v2journal.com/australias-june-tests-preview.html

[rhonddasmackhead]

From everything I've read over the last few months, very few people were targeting a series. It seems they just wanted ONE in the SH and they wanted 3 chances to do it.

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

You are right dreamer - lots we could have done better but let's imagine the ref didn't gift penalties to oz - could it have been a different game then?

That's why I'm so gutted. 1st game I was talking about the rugby - now I'm angry because a ref affected the outcome of the game. We may still have lost, but we'll never know now and that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth

I actually have more issue with the ref in the first game. Just goes to show how differently fans can view a game I guess

The game was there for us to win, and we didn't through stupid errors. That's what hurts the most for me.

Fair play, I guess it's role reversal - Quite right though there were many things that yet again let us down ... line cough out cough cough. Been going on for years! Still though, if the ref allows play to go through 5 opposition infringements it does make you wonder!

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

Wales mistakes and infringements is what caused the penalty. Not the ref.

I never blame the ref.

If a side needs referee's decisions to win then that side isn't good enough and doesn't deserve to win anyway.

Just want refs to play it fair and consistent that's all.

[Equo Troiano]

He did.

[gowales]

From everything I've read over the last few months, very few people were targeting a series. It seems they just wanted ONE in the SH and they wanted 3 chances to do it.

I think people were just being realistic. A test series is incredibly difficult to win in the SH

[gavstar]

priestland or hook wont matter who we have next game, hook punts them up all game usually gets turned if he chases own kick,. rarely kicks for touch.
i have said on another post, we are now the only side still hanging on to the tactic of not kicking for touch when we need to make sure we stay down in the opposition half.

''we kick in field to keep opposition in their half '' said one poster, WELL IT DOESNT WORK !!! i think howley should go, have said so on this site for a long while.

the tactics are coming from howley, repeating myself i know , but he went public in saying he had told biggar how to play (the last game) i sense that biggar may have disagreed with the tactics behind the scenes, but he did follow them on the pitch and looked nothing like his usual game.

we are one dimensional, nobody is playing what is in front of them only 1/2p gets my vote for today. ryan should be back as captain, and we should ban box kicks, 80% of the time its another gift wrapped ball.

people who say the kicking tactics are right are entitled to their opinion, but the kicking tactics are not right FOR OUR PLAYERS because they are not good enough in the execution of the kicks, so lets do something else PLEASE. KEEP THE BALL.
there were also chances today for a little grubber behind, aussies were all up, instead we were buried time and time again. its like no-one is THINKING.............dont want to be dropped probably, even if the tactics are wrong at least they can say they followed the tactics, pathetic.

[gowales]

You do know that Jenkins is the kicking coach and that we've had the same kicking tactics for the past 4 years now right?

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

He did.

He didn't - I'm not going to debate with you.

[gowales]

Whatever happens Tipuric needs to start in the next game, maybe Lydiate can have a rest he needs to have surgery after this tour anyway.

[rhonddasmackhead]

Well at least England have managed a recent win in Australia so it's not all doom and gloom for the NH.

[mystiroakey]

australia are a very beatable side as all the NH teams have prooved recently. Wales have got to set the record staright in my book even if it is just 1 out of 3

[Equo Troiano]

He did.

He didn't - I'm not going to debate with you.

Oh that's that then. Dodgy Ref costs Wales yet another match

[Pal Joey]

Well at least England have managed a recent win in Australia so it's not all doom and gloom for the NH.

Have you forgotten Scotland's win already?

[mystiroakey]

[rhonddasmackhead]

Wales scored more tries.

They just gifted Oz easy possession in the first half and gifted them the match at the end.

Poor poor game management.

[rhonddasmackhead]

Well at least England have managed a recent win in Australia so it's not all doom and gloom for the NH.

Have you forgotten Scotland's win already?

Yes because it was a mickey mouse fixture just like next week will be.

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

He did.

He didn't - I'm not going to debate with you.

Oh that's that then. Dodgy Ref costs Wales yet another match

I said we don't know what the outcome would have been had he played it fair - we may still have lost. How can you be happy with a ref like that? Australia looked embarrassed in their interviews!

[Knowsit17]

With a minute left the ball should have been stuffed up the jumper. This is why I consider Priestland to be at fault. With so little time left the odds were in our favour retaining the ball long enough. Chance blown.

[mystiroakey]

This is another classic example of mentality and rugby union. Wales have that edge v england and the other NH teams, but never seem to v aus!

step up you silly welshies-From today I would be very proud as an irish fan(well lets be honest it wasnt much of a starting point!!), but gutted as a welsh fan tbh. I think you are the better team, and your not showing it

[Chubby_funster]

Long time reader, first time poster…always wanted to write/say that

Normally I don't feel strongly enough to post on here but I just cannot believe that Priestland is getting all this criticism. Yes, his tactical kicking was poor, he made a dreadful decision at the end.

BUT it was Matthew Rees' line out that is most to blame for that loss. The only reason Oz were in it in the fist half was thanks to the 3 or 4 missed line outs from Rees just gifting them possession. This gave them the ball and confidence to attack us and completely took the wind out of our sails. If it had been Owens or Hibbard we would have secured most, if not all of those line outs and thus kept possession, which obviously would have taken away the scoring opportunities Oz took...rant over

Granted I didn't see a lot of the match, and don't think I see these lineouts, but the hooker isn't always at fault in the lineout. If they're crooked or overthrown (this is a timing issue too) then they are pretty much at fault but other than that it isn't always their fault.


Welcome to the boards.

Thanks for the welcome, have always enjoyed reading your posts and found you to be one of the more level headed and knowledgable posters on here

Having had time to calm down I have to admit, with the over throws we should have had better reactions to at least try and clean up the ball, it just gets SO infuriating to see good possession constantly wasted and coughed up to opposition

[Pal Joey]

Well at least England have managed a recent win in Australia so it's not all doom and gloom for the NH.

Have you forgotten Scotland's win already?

Yes because it was a mickey mouse fixture just like next week will be.

Have you heard of the expression: "playing for pride"?

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

step up you silly welshies

That is an objectionable turn of phrase.

[Equo Troiano]

He did.

He didn't - I'm not going to debate with you.

Oh that's that then. Dodgy Ref costs Wales yet another match

I said we don't know what the outcome would have been had he played it fair - we may still have lost. How can you be happy with a ref like that? Australia looked embarrassed in their interviews!

Not as embarrassed as Warburton did...

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

He did.

He didn't - I'm not going to debate with you.

Oh that's that then. Dodgy Ref costs Wales yet another match

I said we don't know what the outcome would have been had he played it fair - we may still have lost. How can you be happy with a ref like that? Australia looked embarrassed in their interviews!

Not as embarrassed as Warburton did...

Funny, he looked like he left something out he wanted to say.

[Equo Troiano]

What? Like 'we lacked nouse', 'our decision making was poor', 'we were naive tactically', 'we played laterally and had to live off mistakes' and 'our discipline let us down. Again'?

[mystiroakey]

What? Like 'we lacked nouse', 'our decision making was poor', 'we were naive tactically', 'we played laterally and had to live off mistakes' and 'our discipline let us down. Again'?

yeah i think thats it

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

What? Like 'we lacked nouse', 'our decision making was poor', 'we were naive tactically' and 'our discipline let us down. Again'?

I never said any of those things weren't a problem - though we only lost by 2 points to one of the best sides in the world .... and yes I maintain with an awful ref.

If you honestly think that was a decent and fair performance from the ref then feel free - I thought it was disgraceful and I'm fed up that yet another game has been spoiled by it - take note .... I DID NOT say we only lost because of the ref.

[Equo Troiano]

You did. By inference.

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

What? Like 'we lacked nouse', 'our decision making was poor', 'we were naive tactically', 'we played laterally and had to live off mistakes' and 'our discipline let us down. Again'?

yeah i think thats it

Twickenham 25/2/12 cough ahem!

[mystiroakey]

What? Like 'we lacked nouse', 'our decision making was poor', 'we were naive tactically', 'we played laterally and had to live off mistakes' and 'our discipline let us down. Again'?

yeah i think thats it

Twickenham 25/2/12 cough ahem!

get yourself down the docs pal.

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

You did. By inference.

Read the rest of my posts then! That's not what I was getting at. I admit I am particularly focussed on the ref because I thought he was shocking! I do agree we made a lot of mistakes - I'm saying that the game is spoiled due to a rubbish ref (again) and the outcome was influenced NOT determined by the ref which makes it difficult to take. If it happened to your team you would be unhappy about it.

[Guest]

TBS - I wouldn't bother trying to debate with Equo if I were you, he tends to just read what he wants to and not what people actually post, or at least that's how they always come across to me

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

What? Like 'we lacked nouse', 'our decision making was poor', 'we were naive tactically', 'we played laterally and had to live off mistakes' and 'our discipline let us down. Again'?

yeah i think thats it

Twickenham 25/2/12 cough ahem!

get yourself down the docs pal.

Nah, I'm fine mate I can take a few mud shots from the english

[glamorganalun]

That game was lost in the first half with poor set play, the line out was terrible today and was good with Owens throwing in last week. Giving 4 away and other untidy front ball was hardly a solid platform to attack. The line out improved in the second half but we did not use R Jones, he was down the front lifting hence the mess due to the over throws.

I think Warburton as a captain was poor, he called for a scrum instead of taking the free kick in front of our posts and what happened, a debatable penalty. I did not see him talk to the ref as Pocock was doing all the game.

There were a number of improvement from last week, Preistland was much better but still flakey, the defence near the line and on the fringes and the centre partnership looked good with little ball.

I still think Hook is a much better option, I suspect the constant kicking is the management so if you are going to kick long use a longer kicker, the another change is Hibbard and Owens on the bench and bring Tips on or start. Where the hell is Ian Evans, not even on the bench?

[Guest]

the decision to drop Ken O is looking more and more ridiculous isn't it? he's our only 2 that consistently throws in well.

Do think we are missing Ian Evans though, he was captain of the lineout in the 6N's, no?

[JDizzle]

I am going to go against the grain, and say I was pleased to see Priestland kick it away. The way we had been rucking, the chances were always that we were going to give away a penalty to Pocock and we were well inside penalty range. The issue came when we gave away a stupid penalty when Australia were pinned in their own half. If we don't give that away then there is no way Australia go 60/70 metres.

And I thought Warbs didn't have his best game either, and I was surprised not to see Tipuric come on at all. He definitely could have made a difference out there. I got the impression North was playing hurt as well, as he didn't come in off his wing at all that I can remember and wasn't looking for work like he normally does. JD2 and Beck were fairly anonymous as well for Wales, with Halfpenny by a mile our MOM. Phillips and Priest were poor in general and if I could pick anyone I would play Webb and Biggar in the final Test (wishful thinking), so Priest will have to start again. Front five were decent today I felt, although the breakdown was still poor from us. Line-out as well. So maybe they didn't play that well in actual fact. On the referee, the only area I felt he was poor was at scrum time. I thought we had the Aussies and a sandwich there but his instructions were muddled. The only positive I can really take out of this series so far is that we are playing poorly and still Australia are only just scraping past us (And Halfpenny has been world class).

[red_stag]

A few welsh posters furthering a stereothpe and letting the side down. Its a little bit Boy Who Cried.Wolf at this.stage

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

the decision to drop Ken O is looking more and more ridiculous isn't it? he's our only 2 that consistently throws in well.

Do think we are missing Ian Evans though, he was captain of the lineout in the 6N's, no?

He's got to play the next one - Bradley looked like he was spoiling for a fight today! It's got to be Ken from now on too - his scrummaging will get better with age and his throwing in is by far and away the best in wales (but still not perfect).

Can we please also find an alternative to Phillips! Crickey he winds me up 9 times out of 10!

[Guest]

nice and informative Stag. It's their opinion, let them have it

I dunno, about Phillips. He was much better today then last week and I still think he's a lot better than any of our other SH's. A couple of brain farts but again he sorted out some really messy ball.

It's just lineout and kick chase tactics for me that needs a lot of work on, everything else is just fine tuning.

[Totallybiasedscarlet]

A few welsh posters furthering a stereothpe and letting the side down. Its a little bit Boy Who Cried.Wolf at this.stage

Yellow cards in Ireland v Wales match earlier this year - both decisions went against you, arguably cost you the game. This rubbish reffing is affecting more than just Wales!

[gowales]

I agree dreamer, i don't think Rhys or Lloyd are up to it yet

[rhonddasmackhead]

Maybe Peel and Richie Rees still have something to offer?

[Guest]

Vuna has been cited.

Rhondda - think they've been out of the team for too long now tbh. Webb and lloyd have got bags of talent, but just not quite there yet for me.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Wales didn't deserve to win. Some good performances and some excellent kicking from Halfpenny. But make no mistake, Wales lost because of poor decision making from their players, tactical blunders, poor kicking out of hand, dreadful throwing into the line out and total player incompetence in the last five minutes. The referee cost Wales nothing. Some of his decisions were questionable, but his refereeing of the breakdown was a shambles and how many times can you ignore a Welsh defensive line constantly offside. You could see Robbie Deans was absolutely beside himself. Blaming the ref is a cop put to yet another underwhelming performance from a team capable of much better.

[Ospreydragon]

Wales cannot expect to win against the best SH sides when they can't do the basics, especially the set pieces (lineouts). How many successsive lineouts did Wales lose in that game and how many in total? Pathetic.

[rhonddasmackhead]

So frustrating Wales can make so many basic errors, but still outscore them 2 tries to 1 and run them till the very end.

It's like having all the tools to do the job and throwing it back in someones face.

[boomeranga]

just back from the bub and have not read a ord to know if controverey has broken out.

my opinion is the game didnt deserve a winner and loser.

good on you wales I am proud of my team. you should be proud of yours.

[slartibartfast]

It was a pile of bull crap, the whole series is a farce with refs having such favor to the home teams ,
Welsh scrum murders the Aussie one with six resets called from the ref on the seventh scrum Wales slip the bind straight penalty to Australia.

NH teams are not allowed to compete for the ball at the break down instant penalty if they do, the SH boys can come in from any angle of their feet and treat the break down as a swimming pool.

It is not a level playing field ,those who blindly say it isn't are wrong.

Yup, I agree totally. You'll get the Old welsh haters like biltong and hersh on here saying its sour grapes. But it's been laid bare for all to see. Hope England win.

[rhonddasmackhead]

I won't blame the ref because Wales were good enough to win it on their own merits. Unforced errors like 3 lineouts lost in a row, Mike Phillips stupid decisions and knock on's and other daft things is why Wales lost.

SH refs are blatantly biased to their SH buddies, but we have always known this and it's something we should expect and be prepared for.

[slartibartfast]

I won't blame the ref because Wales were good enough to win it on their own merits. Unforced errors like 3 lineouts lost in a row, Mike Phillips stupid decisions and knock on's and other daft things is why Wales lost.

SH refs are blatantly biased to their SH buddies, but we have always known this and it's something we should expect and be prepared for.

I agree, however austriailia weren't perfect. What Aimee it up for me was how quick the ref was to blow agaInat Wales. Bradley pentalty a prime example, he may have been off side or whatever but he was nowhere ner the ball - ref blew straight away , yet ww constantly hear "away 7" again and no penalty.

The magic of mccaw has extended to pocock. Weird.

Even the aussies looked embarrassed.

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