Wallabies v Well sure we won....
May 28th 2007 11:17
...but I'm not too happy about it.
Don't get me wrong. I always want the Wallabies to win...but by merit not default and there was far too much cockiness displayed in this match.
eg. Not a very good one as this image does depict winning rather than cockiness and although Matt Giteau is just a little...Git...I do like this photo very much...
...and the win was by a fluke and not because we worked for it. It was only in the last few minutes that the pretty little backs decided to actually come into the game and take some pressure off the Forwards, ie allow the Forwards to play their game instead of playing their game and winning it.
I really do need to write some others posts as a lead up to this one.
1. The naming of the squad.
2. Why wasn't Peter Hewat chosen?
3. Why is Lote Tuqiri allowed to speak?
4. Why wasn't I called?
5. When will I wake up to myself?
6. Why isn't there a Stephen Larkham reality TV show...or at least a permanent camera on him?
7. Who selects the selectors who select the squad?
...but, for now...I'll just write about this match.
Look, I was already disappointed for many reasons. Firstly because of the squad that has been picked. The selectors have left out so many valuable and more deserving players... I cannot even begin to understand why the choices made, were allowed to be made.
Still on firstly....why was Jeremy Paul not picked? He is Australia's most capped hooker (#2 and no that doesn't mean he's a prostitute with a hat fetish...it means JP has played the most matches at this position).
...I've got a post coming up about this but I don't blame him for telling the ARU to just get the ruck out oh his life...they didn't choose him, despite an excellent Super 14 season, they decided to dump him in Australia A (which is like the...um...logies compared to the tOscars) and they won't release him from his contract so that he can get on with his life.
Sheesh. Bunch of freakin' bloody customs officers.*
Secondly....Gregan wasn't chosen as Captain. And he wasn't chosen as Scrumhalf on the run on squad. He was a reserve.
Bad, bad decision.
Matt Giteau (in pic above) was chosen as Scrumhalf (#9) and Phil Waugh was chosen as Captain.
Phil Waugh??? He's been out all season and what the f**k?? What form has he shown sitting on the sidelines wrapped in plastic?
Sing after me: Waugh....what is he good for? Absolutely nothing.
Matt Giteau may be a freakish little energiser battery hobbit but he is not a Scrumhalf neither is he a Flyhalf.
The Scrumhalf position demands info dissemination and Hobbiteau is too focused on accumulating points for himself instead of speaking with the team...and to the ref.
Gregan is a master at this. He keeps the communication flowing and all you non-Rugby people who say you are Rugby people can go and take a flying leap off the nearest cliff, if you think that Gregan is anything less than the World's Premier Scrumhalf.
...and of course....Larkham being injured just completely deflated me.
If Sam Not Tonight Not Ever is the second choice for Flyhalf (#10)...we are doomed.
Hobbiteau is not suited to this position. It requires brains that can think and do 5 phases before the done.
Stephen Larkham owns this position.
Okay... the match. Which is why we're all here.
What really pissed me off is how the AustralianBoys Club Rugby Media completely wrote Wales off.
Who's wailing now boys? Hope you all get fired....
Pick me, pick me, oh pick me.....
The Welsh may not have brought their big guns but they were firing on all barrels.
Although the Wallabies did dominate possesion and territory, it was a poor performance from a team that was supposed to have won this match by...oh...4000 - nil in the first 5 minutes.
You think I'm harsh? No. I'm being kind. The Wallabies are World Champions. We have won the World Cup twice.
Wales?...well...come on now...they're good, no doubt about it...but they are not The Wallabies.
...I kid you not...if Larkham and Gregan were there...the Welsh would have begged for mercy.
Although their Forwards could eat our current Forwards for pre-match snacks. No. Forget snacks. For dental floss.
And I like the Welsh. I love their Captain, Gareth Thomas. He's a great player and a fantastic man and what a body!!
Plus their flyhalf James Hook is bordering on brilliant, he's no Larkham...but you can't win 'em all.
...and of course pretty boy Gavin Henson was there on the reserve bench...fake orange tan et al.
Don't let the make-up fool you. The kid is devastating on field.
By the way, just in case suspicions have been aroused...I am on my second flute of methode champagnoise...okay maybe my third....
How many flutes does it take to change a Dusk?
...just the top note apparently....
Shoot. This is becoming a saga. There's 3 posts in this already. But my fingers cannot stop. They're possesed. Dammit. I have to finish this post.
Okay, the Match. The Match.
Summary.
We sucked. Wales almost had us. In the end, we won.
In the last minutes...and this was when Gregan walked on field...and did you hear the crowd roar its apprecaition?...the team perked up and performed.
The Welsh made the most of Wallabies lost opportunites and scored 2 tries early in the match (and this is when all those Rugby journos got fired) to lead 17-0. Captain Gareth Thomas scored the first try and don't you love that the welsh are all Gareth and Thomas and Jones and Dylan?
The Wallabies came good and came back into the game with tries to 2 Forwards - #8 Wycliff palu and lock Nathan Sharpe to close the gap 17-12 at half time.
2nd half, we still sucked but not as much. Hobbiteau struck gold (see pic above) and then Mortlock...who had been missing his kicks and really looked unsteady on his back, forget his feet...kicked a penalty goal, which finally put us in the lead by one point, with about 10 minutes to go.
...but the Welsh held on. And regained the lead with a wannabe Larkham moment by Welsh #10 James Hook. He kicked a 30m drop goal and regained some credibility after having missed a penalty goal that my 11yo could have kicked.
With 8 minutes to full-time, Wales led 23-22 and they held their lead and defended with all their Celtic soul butalas fortunately the Wallabies attack broke them.
Yeah, I said "alas" okay? The Welsh were so brave...they deserved to win this match.
Not if Larkham was on field though....
Finally...and this did coincide with the Return of the Gregan so it wasn't a coincidence, just fact...the Wallabies kicked into high gear and created a passage of play that saw reserve #8 Stephen Hoiles cross over for a try in the 81st minute (pic below). Mortlock converted and it was Game Over for the Welsh.
Wallabies 29
Tries: Palu, Sharpe, Giteau, Hoiles
Conversions: Mortlock 3
Penalties: Mortlock
Wales 23
Tries: Thomas, Robinson
Conversions: Hook 2
Penalties: Hook 2
Drop Goal: Hook
Summary Summary:
The only players worth their weight in Green and Gold were Gregan and the Forwards... except Matt Dunning (#1) who is a blight on all Props and should be put out to pasture.
Rocky Elsom, Wycliff Palu and George Smith (when he finally replaced Phil Waugh...what is he good for...absolutely nothing...) were standouts.
Sam Norton-Knight to Larkham's day...let's not kid ourselves people...if he is our only choice as a replacement Flyhalf/#10...I am offering my services for free.
I'm done.
Finally.
*if you want to know what I mean by this...ask me...
Images courtesy of www.sportal.com.au
Wallabies v Wales
Wallabies 29
Wales 23
Wallabies 29
Wales 23
Saturday May 26 at Telstra Stadium, Sydney.
Don't get me wrong. I always want the Wallabies to win...but by merit not default and there was far too much cockiness displayed in this match.
eg. Not a very good one as this image does depict winning rather than cockiness and although Matt Giteau is just a little...Git...I do like this photo very much...
look Ma...no hands...
...and the win was by a fluke and not because we worked for it. It was only in the last few minutes that the pretty little backs decided to actually come into the game and take some pressure off the Forwards, ie allow the Forwards to play their game instead of playing their game and winning it.
I really do need to write some others posts as a lead up to this one.
1. The naming of the squad.
2. Why wasn't Peter Hewat chosen?
3. Why is Lote Tuqiri allowed to speak?
4. Why wasn't I called?
5. When will I wake up to myself?
6. Why isn't there a Stephen Larkham reality TV show...or at least a permanent camera on him?
...but, for now...I'll just write about this match.
Look, I was already disappointed for many reasons. Firstly because of the squad that has been picked. The selectors have left out so many valuable and more deserving players... I cannot even begin to understand why the choices made, were allowed to be made.
Still on firstly....why was Jeremy Paul not picked? He is Australia's most capped hooker (#2 and no that doesn't mean he's a prostitute with a hat fetish...it means JP has played the most matches at this position).
...I've got a post coming up about this but I don't blame him for telling the ARU to just get the ruck out oh his life...they didn't choose him, despite an excellent Super 14 season, they decided to dump him in Australia A (which is like the...um...logies compared to the tOscars) and they won't release him from his contract so that he can get on with his life.
Sheesh. Bunch of freakin' bloody customs officers.*
Secondly....Gregan wasn't chosen as Captain. And he wasn't chosen as Scrumhalf on the run on squad. He was a reserve.
Bad, bad decision.
Matt Giteau (in pic above) was chosen as Scrumhalf (#9) and Phil Waugh was chosen as Captain.
Phil Waugh??? He's been out all season and what the f**k?? What form has he shown sitting on the sidelines wrapped in plastic?
Sing after me: Waugh....what is he good for? Absolutely nothing.
Matt Giteau may be a freakish little energiser battery hobbit but he is not a Scrumhalf neither is he a Flyhalf.
The Scrumhalf position demands info dissemination and Hobbiteau is too focused on accumulating points for himself instead of speaking with the team...and to the ref.
Gregan is a master at this. He keeps the communication flowing and all you non-Rugby people who say you are Rugby people can go and take a flying leap off the nearest cliff, if you think that Gregan is anything less than the World's Premier Scrumhalf.
...and of course....Larkham being injured just completely deflated me.
If Sam Not Tonight Not Ever is the second choice for Flyhalf (#10)...we are doomed.
Hobbiteau is not suited to this position. It requires brains that can think and do 5 phases before the done.
Stephen Larkham owns this position.
Okay... the match. Which is why we're all here.
No. They're not urging. They're cheering. After the fact.
What really pissed me off is how the Australian
Who's wailing now boys? Hope you all get fired....
Pick me, pick me, oh pick me.....
The Welsh may not have brought their big guns but they were firing on all barrels.
Although the Wallabies did dominate possesion and territory, it was a poor performance from a team that was supposed to have won this match by...oh...4000 - nil in the first 5 minutes.
You think I'm harsh? No. I'm being kind. The Wallabies are World Champions. We have won the World Cup twice.
Wales?...well...come on now...they're good, no doubt about it...but they are not The Wallabies.
...I kid you not...if Larkham and Gregan were there...the Welsh would have begged for mercy.
Although their Forwards could eat our current Forwards for pre-match snacks. No. Forget snacks. For dental floss.
And I like the Welsh. I love their Captain, Gareth Thomas. He's a great player and a fantastic man and what a body!!
Plus their flyhalf James Hook is bordering on brilliant, he's no Larkham...but you can't win 'em all.
...and of course pretty boy Gavin Henson was there on the reserve bench...fake orange tan et al.
Don't let the make-up fool you. The kid is devastating on field.
By the way, just in case suspicions have been aroused...I am on my second flute of methode champagnoise...okay maybe my third....
How many flutes does it take to change a Dusk?
...just the top note apparently....
Shoot. This is becoming a saga. There's 3 posts in this already. But my fingers cannot stop. They're possesed. Dammit. I have to finish this post.
Okay, the Match. The Match.
Summary.
We sucked. Wales almost had us. In the end, we won.
In the last minutes...and this was when Gregan walked on field...and did you hear the crowd roar its apprecaition?...the team perked up and performed.
The Welsh made the most of Wallabies lost opportunites and scored 2 tries early in the match (and this is when all those Rugby journos got fired) to lead 17-0. Captain Gareth Thomas scored the first try and don't you love that the welsh are all Gareth and Thomas and Jones and Dylan?
The Wallabies came good and came back into the game with tries to 2 Forwards - #8 Wycliff palu and lock Nathan Sharpe to close the gap 17-12 at half time.
2nd half, we still sucked but not as much. Hobbiteau struck gold (see pic above) and then Mortlock...who had been missing his kicks and really looked unsteady on his back, forget his feet...kicked a penalty goal, which finally put us in the lead by one point, with about 10 minutes to go.
...but the Welsh held on. And regained the lead with a wannabe Larkham moment by Welsh #10 James Hook. He kicked a 30m drop goal and regained some credibility after having missed a penalty goal that my 11yo could have kicked.
With 8 minutes to full-time, Wales led 23-22 and they held their lead and defended with all their Celtic soul but
Yeah, I said "alas" okay? The Welsh were so brave...they deserved to win this match.
Not if Larkham was on field though....
Finally...and this did coincide with the Return of the Gregan so it wasn't a coincidence, just fact...the Wallabies kicked into high gear and created a passage of play that saw reserve #8 Stephen Hoiles cross over for a try in the 81st minute (pic below). Mortlock converted and it was Game Over for the Welsh.
...hold him down! No! Hold him up....
Wallabies 29
Tries: Palu, Sharpe, Giteau, Hoiles
Conversions: Mortlock 3
Penalties: Mortlock
Wales 23
Tries: Thomas, Robinson
Conversions: Hook 2
Penalties: Hook 2
Drop Goal: Hook
Summary Summary:
The only players worth their weight in Green and Gold were Gregan and the Forwards... except Matt Dunning (#1) who is a blight on all Props and should be put out to pasture.
Rocky Elsom, Wycliff Palu and George Smith (when he finally replaced Phil Waugh...what is he good for...absolutely nothing...) were standouts.
Sam Norton-Knight to Larkham's day...let's not kid ourselves people...if he is our only choice as a replacement Flyhalf/#10...I am offering my services for free.
I'm done.
Finally.
*if you want to know what I mean by this...ask me...
Images courtesy of www.sportal.com.au
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Comment by Wendi
The game? I'll never get it...
Your style?
Unmatched.
Much Respect,
W
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I am truly truly impressed, amazed, in awe...and grateful...that you managed to get through this post.
...so...to you....Much Respect...
Dusk
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Friend... unlike Wendi I have had to "hire" an interpreter to assist in increasing my knowledge regarding this game. In college, all I remember about rugby games I attended:
1. Hot guys with balls in the mud (yep you know what I mean girl)
2. Tshirts that read "Give blood...play rugby" worn by same said hot guys
3. Flirting my ass off with aforementioned hot guys after the rugby game at a local pub.
Wow someone has a one track mind....
Mis
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Oh look...they need to expend that adrenaline somehow....
....an abstrackt mind....a very very attracktive mind...
...much warmth Mis...
Dusk
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Although I am currently trying to convert my loyalty to the Wallabies I did think Wales deserved to win... that last little bit of scoring at the end was rather sneaky.
What was up with the one Welshman who looked like a caveman??? My word he looked like he belong in a Museum under Neanderthals!
~smacks mouth~ that was not very nice was it?