16 July 2024 #001
Week 2 of the early check season.
How was that for a weekend of check rugby!
One other cracking weekend of rugby, with check matches galore throughout the globe. You possibly can learn Bris’s abstract of it right here.
Bris wasn’t to cowl the Wallaroo’s sport, so I’ll present a fast abstract of it to kick of the article, then I’ll put collectively a global staff of the week from the video games involving the Rugby championship groups, and spherical it out with some information of the day.
Wallaroos vs Black Ferns
The Wallaroos performed their first sport at Ballymore on an excellent Sunday afternoon in Brisbane. No glory available for the Wallaroos they usually must wait some time longer to interrupt that hoodoo.
The primary half
The Wallaroos had some early possession however couldn’t make any inroads, and an uncharacteristic error from Friederichs gave the Black Ferns possession, they usually went to work, sturdy carries, good fingers, good working strains and help play had the hooker Ponsonby working an awesome line and scoring their first attempt inside 5 minutes.
Whereas the Wallaroos received some possession, one other error led led to extra sturdy carries and help play by the Black Ferns (this was a theme that will final all through the afternoon), they usually have been over once more within the nook with the openside flanker Sae ending a superb passage of play. A sideline conversion for 14-0.
The Black Ferns have been on the board once more twice extra in fast succession, and whereas there might be a component of luck with kicks going handy for Tui, after which Vahaakolo, groups do make their very own luck by working arduous and desirous to make the play. 24-0 after 23 minutes and the Black Ferns actually had the Wallaroos at their mercy.
The Wallaroos couldn’t appear to make something go their means actually, whether or not it was the captain Leonard knocking on a turnover ball, or too many passes going behind the participant, the play broke down at any time when it appeared promising. Whether or not it was the defensive stress of the Black Ferns, or the Wallaroos giving them an excessive amount of respect they actually struggled to impose themselves on the sport. Eva Karpani did look to attain of the again of a rolling maul, however didn’t get the ball on the bottom and it was disallowed.
The Wallaroos lineout and scrum labored properly within the first half and you may see the hassle from the gamers, however they only couldn’t address the ability, help play, and offloads of the Black Ferns.
Vahaakolo was over once more for her second attempt within the thirty sixth minute and nearly had a 3rd on half time. The Black Ferns went into sheds with a 29-0 lead.
The second half
Vahaakolo was over once more within the forty first minute for her hat-trick after an excellent solo run to place the kiwis up 36-0.
The Wallaroos nonetheless couldn’t take a trick within the second half, two early knock-ons, one from a restart, one other whereas making an attempt to select up a unfastened kiwi cross simply saved on giving possession to the Black Ferns, and with the temper they have been in, that spelt bother.
Jo Yapp introduced some reserves early within the second half and it gave the staff a carry. Masters placed on a heavy shot midfield and the Wallaroos gained a turnover penalty at 50 minutes, however the Black Ferns stole the lineout and half a dozen phases later, outdoors centre Brunt took the ball to the road and put via a neat grubber that she pounced on herself. One other facet line conversion put the kiwis up 43-0.
Piper Duck suffered a nasty finger disclocation that meant she needed to depart the sector after 55 minutes. She’s clearly powerful as a result of she walked fairly calmly from the sector and took time to acknowledge the bench gamers earlier than making her means up the tunnel.
Bella McKenzie noticed cheese for a deliberate knock down, curiously the Referee known as it in actual time, with no replays and forensic examination.
Vahaakolo received her fourth attempt on 61 minutes after one other Wallaroos error inside their 22, and the Black Ferns put it via the fingers. 48-0 Vahaakolo can be denied a fifth attempt within the 72nd minute as a result of vagaries of the bouncing ball.
The debutant Lolohea scored a attempt within the 74th minute and a penalty attempt after the hooter rounded out the scoring at 62-0.
It positively was a tricky outing for the Wallaroos, they usually have a number of months earlier than they get one other likelihood on the sector. Tons to work on for Jo Yapp and the Wallaroos in the event that they wish to problem the Black Ferns and different prime groups.
Wallabies vs Wales Participant Rankings
I’m providing up the participant scores under primarily based on my preliminary watching of the sport, a second view of the mini-game, and a few incidental information that I learn at present. I’ll use the normal G&GR Ranking system (with one small tweak to the 5 rating) as follows, and can settle for any constructive suggestions on what I received proper. I do know that there’s some duplication with the scores from the publish sport assessment, however I wished to maintain the format going for a working tally.
Ranking system:
10 – A legendary efficiency to go down within the historical past books
9 – Man of the match worthy efficiency
8 – Excellent
7 – Good sport, nice in elements
6 – Stable efficiency
5 – Common, a cross mark
4 – Under par
3 – Had a foul sport
2 – Inform your story strolling pal
1 – A whole joke.
#1 James Slipper: Slips stepped in to captains position this sport and was good across the discipline. Good energy within the contact. 6
#2 Matt Faessler: The lineout struggled this week, might need been the rain, plus modifications with Liam Wright being out. 5
#3 Taniela Tupou: A a lot quieter evening from the large man. 5
#4 Jeremy Williams: Performed a whole lot of minutes on debut, stable contributions on either side of the ball and checked out residence on the large stage; congratulations to Jeremy, and right here’s to many extra video games in Gold. 6
#5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto: One other stable hit out from LSL this week, a excessive sort out and yellow card. 5
#6 Bob Valetini: Bobby V continues to ship, huge tackles, loads of hit ups, numerous publish contact metres. 8
#7 Fraser McReight: Put himself in place for the help to Daugunu for the primary attempt. Within the thick of the motion all evening and key turnovers. 7
#8 Charlie Cale: Charlie Cale made his beginning debut and received caught in. no free working highlights however a workmanlike efficiency. 6
#9 Jake Gordon: One other good sport for Gordon kicking, good passing, displaying some constructive management, and a meat pie in addition. Objective line defence within the moments earlier than his attempt. 7
#10 Noah Lolesio: One other sport filled with studying experiences for Noah, has copped some criticism for a missed sort out on the Welsh winger, however Wright missed him, and Fraser received carried over within the sort out. 5
#11 Filipo Daugunu: Filipo kicked on final weeks good efficiency along with his greatest sport in gold. two tries that every got here from large off the ball efforts set an ordinary for the remainder of the Wallabies to purpose for. 9
#12 Hunter Paisami: The Squatter had his share of carries and made his tackles on an evening that wasn’t made for expansive backline play. 6
#13 Josh Flook: Didn’t get too many alternatives with the ball on this sport however made his tackles. 6
#14: Andrew Kellaway: That chip kick and regather for the primary attempt. In any other case stable as you’d count on. 6
#15 Tom Wright: One other good sport from Tom Wright, a unfastened carry or two, nevertheless it was moist, and he actually provides the additional play maker within the backline. 7
#16 Joh Nasser: The Queenslander made his debut off the bench. Was stable when he got here on. 5
#17 Isaac Kailea: Was good once more off the bench. 6
#18 Allan Alaalatoa: 7As got here on at half time and was busy across the discipline, Scored his first check attempt. 6
#19 Angus Blyth: One other stable effort. 6
#20 Langi Gleeson: An necessary lineout steal. 6
#21 Nic White: Charged down kick marred another good work. 5
#22 Ben Donaldson: Some good time as a alternative, regular and a key penalty to shut the sport out. 6
#23 Dylan Pietsch: Didn’t get on the sector. n/a
Group Ranking
Total, I’d give the Wallabies a staff ranking of 6 once more. They received out to a cracking begin, however let the Welsh again into it. Maul defence was nearly non existent, however they labored arduous across the discipline to create some fortunate alternatives. On the finish of the day, it’s a check match in opposition to a real worldwide staff and the Wallabies discovered a method to win.
Group of the Week
One other huge disclaimer, or admission, it’s a lot simpler to select from video games that you simply see the complete match and likewise that you understand the gamers. I struggled to get into the Argentina vs France sport, it was thrilling however there are a great deal of new gamers, significantly for France. The reserves are a mixture of the gamers who got here off the bench, or the subsequent greatest within the place they began in.
Let me know what you assume within the feedback.
Different information
An ideal sledge on behind 2 posts tonight. The panel was speaking about Kellaways chip kick, how he shinned it and it was shoddy, when Michael Hooper known as it, “it was nearly like Bernard Foley Clearance”.
Jock stays on the Reds
In excellent news for the Reds, Jock Campbell has re-signed with the Reds for subsequent yr. I’m positive he’ll go properly in opposition to Wales this week. Talking of Wales, hopefully any of the Reds gamers not within the Wallabies match day squad can get launched to come back again and play for Qld in opposition to what you’d count on is a full energy Welsh facet.
Aussie U20s get to play and report the win.
The Aussie U20s have held on for a 36-29 victory in opposition to Wales, with Qld Reds fly half Harry McLaughlin-Phillips main the junior wallabies across the park. Clearly the image is the sport in opposition to the Italians, earlier than the pitch received too moist.
I’m positive that there’s a lot extra to cowl however I’ll depart it for Yowie, Karl, and Happyman later within the week.
That’s it for me this week, over to you G&GRs.
