Spring Tour: Australia v Wales - 3rd Test. (23/06/2012 05:00 GMT)

[dullonien]

First time in quite a while that I'm not happy with the team selected.

Is Hibbard being punished for giving away that penalty at the end? Odd considering none of the other offenders have suffered. Rees' lineout throwing is simply not up to standard, even when he finds his jumpers it's not great quality ball. He's been poor for the Scarlets, and poor for Wales since his return from injury.

No Ian Evans, even on the bench is simply mind boggling. The best lock in the NH at present, and he's seemingly being punished for organising his wedding before he was back involved with Wales, and the tour had been finalised. Maybe Bradley deserved to keep his starting place, but at least have Evans on the bench! Evans is the strongest rucker we have, exactly the kind of player that could have come in and dealt with Pocock.

Tipuric better be used off the bench this time! I'm not overly upset that he hasn't made the starting 15, dropping the captain might not have been a good move, whilst playing both might have massed up the balance of the backrow. I'd still have taken the chance, because Pocock's been reigning supreme up until now, and two opensides might have been able to counter him.

I can't believe the half back's are still there. I hope they have blinders to repay the faith shown in them, but if they have another poor game and we loose, this tour could end up in a complete disaster, where the fans turn on the management once more as well as loosing all three tests. Surely it's not good for squad morale, when certain players are being dropped for doing very little wrong (Hibbard), some are being retained despite poor performances (Rees, Phillips and Priestland), and some simply aren't getting deserved opportunities (Hibbard, Webb, Hook).

If we win, all will be forgotten I suppose, but unless there are massive improvements in certain player's performances I can't see anything but an Austrailia win.

Dear Phillips and Priestland, please don't kick the ball to Austrailia's back three, especially now that Beale is back.

 

[psychic duck]

Howley has openly criticised Hibbard in the press saying he had a "lack of discipline and emotional intelligence", so it would appear he is in the dog house in terms of selection for the time being.

It's a shame for him as he's worked hard to get back in shape and to get back in the squad now to be discarded like that, which I agree is harsh.

No idea why Ian Evans is not in the team. Strange that the Ospreys forward pack was on great form late season, yet there are only three there, and one because Faletau was injured. On form arguably 6 of the Ospreys pack should be starting.

 

[TPenn]

Howley has openly criticised Hibbard in the press saying he had a "lack of discipline and emotional intelligence", so it would appear he is in the dog house in terms of selection for the time being.

Ah, so Howley is already preparing his scapegoat in case we lose the third test and come home empty handed.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Are the Welsh players off form or is it some other issue? I have to admit I only watched the 1st test vs Aus but that Welsh team and the one that came too close to beating SA in the 1st round at last year's RWC weren't comparable (ITO performances). I'd have thought that a young squad would improve given a year and more time together in the 6N.

 

[dullonien]

Are the Welsh players off form or is it some other issue? I have to admit I only watched the 1st test vs Aus but that Welsh team and the one that came too close to beating SA in the 1st round at last year's RWC weren't comparable (ITO performances). I'd have thought that a young squad would improve given a year and more time together in the 6N.

A number of players were coming back from extended periods on the sidelines (Warburton, Scott Williams and Jon Davies, whilst Charteris only had a couple of regional games under his belt). I feel all were lacking match fitness, and Howley made a mistake in not giving the form players in Tipuric and Beck a chance. The form of a couple of pivotal players in Phillips and Priestland especially didn't help.

A lot of credit has to go to Aus in that first test. They dominated the breakdown which starved us of any decent quality ball, and supplied their dangerous backs with an abundance of quick ball. Genia thus proceeded to control the game.

In some ways we were worse in the second test (the possession and territory stats make for poor reading), but our defence was better and we managed to disrupt Aus ball, thus stopping the Genia show.

If we can disrupt Australia's ball in a similar way on Saturday, and get parity at the least in possession and territory, finally unleashing our backline, we will have a good chance of winning. However if we give the Aus back three a constant supply of ball again, and fail to our backs into the game, then a similar game to last week is the best we can hope for.

Neither Aus or Wales have been anywhere close to their best on this tour, which is a pity, because this series could have been an absolute belter, instead it's been hard fought and exciting, but ultimately a little bit of a let-down. That's the way I see it, maybe if we were 2-0 up I'd be saying the complete opposite. We certainly could have been as well, but ultimately mistakes have cost us.

 

[Big Ewis]

this one's going to be one heck of a tight match, based on the past 2...

 

[bushytop]

Not convinced about Howley...

 

[dullonien]

Not convinced about Howley...

Neither am I, but it's been a good test without being a permanent thing. Hopefully the experience will really help Howley develop as a coach so that he's ready for the extended period that Gatland will be with the Lions (probably). And looking further ahead to the future, maybe Howley will be Gatland's possible successor, which will really give us a sense of continuity if everything goes well in the lead up to the next world cup.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

I don't think he is a great international lock, but I think he is better than you are making out. As madflyhalf mentions, he does a lot of good work at the breakdown - something the Wallabies really need with Sharpe (and Higginbotham) spending most of their time standing out in the backline! I think he is 'missing in action' because he is stuck doing a lot of the unseen work that is vital for a team to operate (and I consider a primary role of a tight-forward). I think Australia's tight-five will struggle a lot more this week without him, as Timani is much more likely to be standing beside Sharpe in the backline than helping his fellow forwards at the breakdown.....

fair enough, it was a bit of a peanut gallery comment and he's probably go and score two tries now that i've slagged him off. I'm dissapointed pyle hasn't been given a go yet, what more does he have to do.

 

[Darwin]

fair enough, it was a bit of a peanut gallery comment and he's probably go and score two tries now that i've slagged him off. I'm dissapointed pyle hasn't been given a go yet, what more does he have to do.

Pyle's problem is that he is a loosehead lock, and is hence stuck behind Nathan Sharpe in the pecking order. I've got a lot of time for Pyle too, and ideally he would be starting (or at least on the bench) for the Wallabies already, but I think Sharpe's experience is pretty vital to the Wallabies at the moment.

 

[madflyhalf]

Do you remember last year 3N, when Ali Williams took out Quade Cooper in order to prevent him from defending? ("Defending".... )

Rob Simmons did exactly the same 50 minutes later (Ioane scored the try from there).


When it happened I thought: the guy is growing up quickly!
I don't remember how Ali Williams has been when he was 23, but Simmons could become in few years the Wallabies' Ali Williams, big ass face, playing disturbing game, you don't want to deal with!

 

[SelimNiai]

Neither am I, but it's been a good test without being a permanent thing. Hopefully the experience will really help Howley develop as a coach so that he's ready for the extended period that Gatland will be with the Lions (probably). And looking further ahead to the future, maybe Howley will be Gatland's possible successor, which will really give us a sense of continuity if everything goes well in the lead up to the next world cup.

There was a camera shot during the first test and just from that I thought Howley looked bereft of ideas but that might just be me. Howley is good as part of a coaching team but I don't think he's an International head coach, a club side maybe but I don't think he's a strong enough character to be solely in charge. Thats only going on how I've seen him on interviews or behind the scenes stuff.

 

[Keithmurdoch]

Hibbard gave away the last two penalties actually, we got a look at the reverse angle after the game and it was him dragging down the maul at the end. I would feel compelled to drop him too, if only to send a message about the importance of game awareness.

 

[dullonien]

Hibbard gave away the last two penalties actually, we got a look at the reverse angle after the game and it was him dragging down the maul at the end. I would feel compelled to drop him too, if only to send a message about the importance of game awareness.

Yeh, I didn't realise for a while that it was him that gave away the final two penalties, so I don't feel too bad he's been dropped now. Needs to learn, because both were silly and completely unnecessary. Still a better option than Rees at the moment I feel, so I'd have started Owens and had Hibbard on the bench. Prove me wrong Matthew!

 

[Mooly]

Looking forward to this and seeing how Beale affects the backline, hopefully straight back into the game and value adding.

 

[Darwin]

Looking forward to this and seeing how Beale affects the backline, hopefully straight back into the game and value adding.

He will certainly add to the backline, though I wonder how match-fit he will be after so long off....

 

[big ginger 8]

Really like the way Wales went through there phases there.

3 bd penalties already.

EDIT: Really good kick there.

 

[dullonien]

Halfpenny really is a great kicker.

Edit. Wow, Ryan Jones in for the steal and Jenkins gets pinged for not rolling away, that was harsh!

 

[big ginger 8]

Joubert is ridiculous. Wales need to get more disciplined and to secure the restarts.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

How can Joubert give a penalty for not rolling away? Jenkins was doing everything to move absolute disgusting decision. Saying that Wales are not disciplined enough and got to sort the restarts out.