[2024 TRC] Australia vs New Zealand - 21/09/24

[Alex Anghel]

The Boks with 5 or 6 first choice players out beat them twice.

Both those games could have easily gone either way, not to mention that NZ missed some key players as well, either from being unavailable as playing abroad or simply injured.

If SA managed to dodge the bullet twice and get two scrappy wins (with the referee's help in the first contest) against a building side, I seriously doubt Ireland or France would roll over NZ.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Both those games could have easily gone either way, not to mention that NZ missed some key players as well, either from being unavailable as playing abroad or simply injured.

If SA managed to dodge the bullet twice and get two scrappy wins (with the referee's help in the first contest) against a building side, I seriously doubt Ireland or France would roll over NZ.

who are you thinking about Richie Mo'unga? if so then hes far from a game winning at international level

seen a comment going around that i have not fact checked....but apparently the AB's have not score in the final 20min this season...thats criminal

 

[Alex Anghel]

seen a comment going around that i have not fact checked....but apparently the AB's have not score in the final 20min this season...thats criminal

Yes, that's true...it's mainly a mental issue, because they cannot close the games out earlier, despite the many chances they create and put themselves under unnecessary pressure.

After they were 21 - 0 up in the 16th minute, I immediately thought of the legendary 2000 Bledisloe and how it ended, with a Jonah Lomu sensational escape...we weren't too ar from that script, I believe...

 

[miccloarch]

A perfect storm conspired against the ABs in this game:

Completely legal disallowed try at the end of the 1st half and the smallest error in a brilliant move at the start of the 2nd. Those two tries could've killed the contest early but credit the Wallabies, they put in a very unlikely comeback (the Aussie 9 with the porno moustache should've been carded for dissent as well but whatever).

This AB team just doesn't know how to finish games though. It's really shocking. Fitness was the issue against the Boks but it was a complete mental breakdown in this one.

Scooter is a brilliant lock but he looks like the wrong choice for captain right now. Steep learning curve ahead for him.

 

[Derpus]

A perfect storm conspired against the ABs in this game:

Completely legal disallowed try at the end of the 1st half and the smallest error in a brilliant move at the start of the 2nd. Those two tries could've killed the contest early but credit the Wallabies, they put in a very unlikely comeback (the Aussie 9 with the porno moustache should've been carded for dissent as well but whatever).

This AB team just doesn't know how to finish games though. It's really shocking. Fitness was the issue against the Boks but it was a complete mental breakdown in this one.

Scooter is a brilliant lock but he looks like the wrong choice for captain right now. Steep learning curve ahead for him.

The one where he used the opposition player in front of him to control the ball? It was absolutely the correct call but I too am surprised it was pulled up. Rugby is usually pretty fast and loose with knock on/forward pass rules.

The ABs just aren't that great at the moment. Said it elsewhere but NZ rugby is on the exact same path as Aus - just about 10 or 15 years behind.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

The one where he used the opposition player in front of him to control the ball? It was absolutely the correct call but I too am surprised it was pulled up. Rugby is usually pretty fast and loose with knock on/forward pass rules.

The ABs just aren't that great at the moment. Said it elsewhere but NZ rugby is on the exact same path as Aus - just about 10 or 15 years behind.

you might be right, 2023 RWC final is your 2015 RWC final, papers over the cracks a bit