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Craig HillRWC 07: Wallabies v Japan Match Review...and other stuff
September 9th 2007 21:00
Well the first heavenly weekend is over and quite a few surprises...but believe it or not, the opening match (France v Argentina) result should not be one of them.
Disclaimer:
I am fully aware that this is Rugby World Cup and not Rugby Wallabies Cup and that there are other teams participating. However, please refresh or acquaint yourself with this site and its contents...and especially the Rucks and Rolls creed in fuschia...
I'll get to the other teams later.
AUSTRALIA 91
Tries - Rocky Elsom 3, Berrick Barnes 2, Drew Mitchell 2, Chris Latham 2, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Adam Freier
Conversions - Stirling Mortlock 7, Matt Giteau 3
Penalties - Stirling Mortlock 2
JAPAN 3
Penalty - Kosei Ono pen
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRE). Crowd: 40,043.
It was a sunshine filled afternoon at le Stade Gerland in Lyon...and I'm not just referring to the 6'2" hunk of Man wearing a Gold jersey with a #10 on his back.
Both teams looked fit and mean and although we all knew that a Wallabies win was a done deal, in front of an enthusiastic and welcoming crowd of 40,000plus, The Blossoms didn't wilt as quickly as predicted.
They were never expected to put up a real challenge....and I can't really say that the Japanese team excelled in their play tactics.
Consideration must be taken that Japan was without 3 of their best players due to injury, including world record Test tryscorer, winger Daisuke Ohata, but although this may have affected the score, it would not have changed the outcome....BUT...it still took about 20mins for the wallabies to score a try (Nathan Sharpe).
Many have scoffed at the team pool pairings, pitting "the minnows" against the giants but how else can a team improve and gain match experience if not matched with 'first tier' teams?
Certainly the Blossoms 'reminded' the Wallabies that complacency is the luxury of the loser. I hate to say/write this but...if the smAll Blacks were playing v Japan...they'd have scored 4 tries in the first 5mins.
Post-us interruptus
Sorry. I had to go wash my mouth out.
At times I cheered madly at the TV everytime it looked like the Japanese were on a try scoring phase. I like the Japanese players/team. I like that they never say die.
Clearly the Lyon crowd too were behind the Blossoms. First points on the board was through the boot of Captain Mortlock via penalty goals.
Unfortunately the crowd came to see Rugby not Rug-boot and they Rug-booed his decision to kick for points.
I was most impressed with the Japanese tacklers! Players who barely came up to our Forwards navels did not hesitate to throw their bodies on the line. To se the little Japanese winger bring down huge Wallabies #8 Wycliff Palu was quite something.
Rocky Elsom doesn't believe in failing. He didn't just try...he tried and then tried again!
Elsom scored 2 tries in the first half to help Australia to a 23-3 half-time lead, and then landed his 3rd just 90 seconds after coming back on for the second-half!
Prior to this match, Eddie Jones had proclaimed Elsom to be "not much of a player"
...and this is the guy that's going to help the Springboks win the World Cup?
I would like to point out that Elsom's first try was basically handed to him by Larkham, with a fluid inside pass and excellent vision and gorgeous physique and...I'll stop now.
Japan was left try-less but capitalised on careless Wallaby tactics leading to a penalty and 3 points for Japan. The biggest cheer of the match was for Japan kicker/flyhalf, the NZ trained Kosei Ono.
There was a very hot and bothered moment in the first half (and no, it wasn't when Larkham looked at the camera and...anyway...)
There was a lot of pushing and shoving in the rucks and then about 7mins in, Gregan was penalised and warned by the ref, for a high grab on a Japanese player in the maul.
It's not like Gregan to lose his cool. Without good reason. Unfortunately the cameras didn't capture the reason...all we could see is Griggs about to tear a Japanese head off. And then his famous "who me?" face.
Chris Latham proved his match fitness with no sign of a dicky knee. George Smith proved that even without the locks, he's still one to dread! His try was brilliant...from start to finish, it was all him.
Larkham was replaced 20mins before fulltime by rookie Berrick Barnes, who immediately scored a try. And then another. Whatever. I'm not convinced that this kid is ready to play the big guns. Let me see him against the fAll Blacks and then I'll make up my mind.
This match was not the best by which to measure the Wallabies form but it certainly cleared cobwebs and allowed individuals -the Forwards, the injureds and the rookies- to shine.
This match was good practise for the brilliant rolling mauls and the lineouts. In fact this match was an extended training sssion for the Wallabies. That's very insulting to the Brave Blossoms, I know but...Japan can hold their heads up high and take a bow...which they did at the end to a roaring, adoring crowd.
I believe the Japanese team, in keeping with their pragmatic national attitude, is saving its strength for Fiji.
I also believe that the Wallabies need to sandpaper their game strategy before meeting Wales in Cardiff next week....because right now, they're looking a little rough around the edges.
Except for Larkyum of course. He's just a hot knife through butter....
*************
Coming soon:
- Gerrard's RWC journey knee deep in misery
- Weekend match results
**************
images courtesy of Rugby Heaven
**************
Please accept my sincere apologies for being a Total Slacker (professional term) when it comes to responding to comments.
I am currently away and unable to commit to anything at the moment. Not even an asylum.
The Wallabies
Disclaimer:
I am fully aware that this is Rugby World Cup and not Rugby Wallabies Cup and that there are other teams participating. However, please refresh or acquaint yourself with this site and its contents...and especially the Rucks and Rolls creed in fuschia...
I'll get to the other teams later.
AUSTRALIA 91
Tries - Rocky Elsom 3, Berrick Barnes 2, Drew Mitchell 2, Chris Latham 2, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Adam Freier
Conversions - Stirling Mortlock 7, Matt Giteau 3
Penalties - Stirling Mortlock 2
JAPAN 3
Penalty - Kosei Ono pen
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRE). Crowd: 40,043.
It was a sunshine filled afternoon at le Stade Gerland in Lyon...and I'm not just referring to the 6'2" hunk of Man wearing a Gold jersey with a #10 on his back.
Stephen Larkham: The Golden 10
Both teams looked fit and mean and although we all knew that a Wallabies win was a done deal, in front of an enthusiastic and welcoming crowd of 40,000plus, The Blossoms didn't wilt as quickly as predicted.
Japan's scrumhalf Yuki Yatomi
They were never expected to put up a real challenge....and I can't really say that the Japanese team excelled in their play tactics.
Consideration must be taken that Japan was without 3 of their best players due to injury, including world record Test tryscorer, winger Daisuke Ohata, but although this may have affected the score, it would not have changed the outcome....BUT...it still took about 20mins for the wallabies to score a try (Nathan Sharpe).
Many have scoffed at the team pool pairings, pitting "the minnows" against the giants but how else can a team improve and gain match experience if not matched with 'first tier' teams?
Certainly the Blossoms 'reminded' the Wallabies that complacency is the luxury of the loser. I hate to say/write this but...if the smAll Blacks were playing v Japan...they'd have scored 4 tries in the first 5mins.
Post-us interruptus
Sorry. I had to go wash my mouth out.
At times I cheered madly at the TV everytime it looked like the Japanese were on a try scoring phase. I like the Japanese players/team. I like that they never say die.
Clearly the Lyon crowd too were behind the Blossoms. First points on the board was through the boot of Captain Mortlock via penalty goals.
Unfortunately the crowd came to see Rugby not Rug-boot and they Rug-booed his decision to kick for points.
I was most impressed with the Japanese tacklers! Players who barely came up to our Forwards navels did not hesitate to throw their bodies on the line. To se the little Japanese winger bring down huge Wallabies #8 Wycliff Palu was quite something.
Rocky Elsom doesn't believe in failing. He didn't just try...he tried and then tried again!
Rocky Ball-boa 3!
Elsom scored 2 tries in the first half to help Australia to a 23-3 half-time lead, and then landed his 3rd just 90 seconds after coming back on for the second-half!
Prior to this match, Eddie Jones had proclaimed Elsom to be "not much of a player"
...and this is the guy that's going to help the Springboks win the World Cup?
I would like to point out that Elsom's first try was basically handed to him by Larkham, with a fluid inside pass and excellent vision and gorgeous physique and...I'll stop now.
Japan was left try-less but capitalised on careless Wallaby tactics leading to a penalty and 3 points for Japan. The biggest cheer of the match was for Japan kicker/flyhalf, the NZ trained Kosei Ono.
There was a very hot and bothered moment in the first half (and no, it wasn't when Larkham looked at the camera and...anyway...)
There was a lot of pushing and shoving in the rucks and then about 7mins in, Gregan was penalised and warned by the ref, for a high grab on a Japanese player in the maul.
It's not like Gregan to lose his cool. Without good reason. Unfortunately the cameras didn't capture the reason...all we could see is Griggs about to tear a Japanese head off. And then his famous "who me?" face.
Chris Latham proved his match fitness with no sign of a dicky knee. George Smith proved that even without the locks, he's still one to dread! His try was brilliant...from start to finish, it was all him.
Larkham was replaced 20mins before fulltime by rookie Berrick Barnes, who immediately scored a try. And then another. Whatever. I'm not convinced that this kid is ready to play the big guns. Let me see him against the fAll Blacks and then I'll make up my mind.
This match was not the best by which to measure the Wallabies form but it certainly cleared cobwebs and allowed individuals -the Forwards, the injureds and the rookies- to shine.
This match was good practise for the brilliant rolling mauls and the lineouts. In fact this match was an extended training sssion for the Wallabies. That's very insulting to the Brave Blossoms, I know but...Japan can hold their heads up high and take a bow...which they did at the end to a roaring, adoring crowd.
The Blossoms take a bow that doesn't break!
I believe the Japanese team, in keeping with their pragmatic national attitude, is saving its strength for Fiji.
I also believe that the Wallabies need to sandpaper their game strategy before meeting Wales in Cardiff next week....because right now, they're looking a little rough around the edges.
Except for Larkyum of course. He's just a hot knife through butter....
*************
Coming soon:
- Gerrard's RWC journey knee deep in misery
- Weekend match results
**************
images courtesy of Rugby Heaven
**************
Please accept my sincere apologies for being a Total Slacker (professional term) when it comes to responding to comments.
I am currently away and unable to commit to anything at the moment. Not even an asylum.
The Wallabies| 103 |
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Comment by Chic Critique
I'm so amazed about the France and Argentina result....blew me away!
Nice to see you lovely lady! I'm ba-ack!
Cheers
CC
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Comment by Patricia
Travel Stripe
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
The green and golds are doing well!
Ash