'12 | VB Test | Fri | NZ 12-20 AUS | Eden Park

[Coastbloke]

Re the refererring, this is the same Ref that awarded a maximum of 3 penalties, I think last year or the year before in the ANZAC Test..

Maybe because he was referring a Rugby League Test and not a NRL match..This is what happens when the NRL take it upon themselves to change minor rules and the 99% who watch NRL forget there's actually a League world out there that actually plays to the actual Rules of the game as intended..

 

[skeepe]

Well all the bullshit and bluster about how the Kiwis were gonna smash and bash Tamou was nowhere to be seen.

Waerea-Hargreaves got him in a pretty nasty looking arm lock a few times, very surprised it wasn't penalised.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Really solid win for the Aussies tonight, they defended well, didnt panic, just what they do all time. Smith was outstanding tonight, really stepped up when it was needed came up with the match winner. Hannant played well, probably the best forward out there.

I wish we could play more these games, I mean the players love it. All this talk about scrapping it is BS.

 

[typicalfan]

I thought the way the game was played didn't allow DCE into the contest. I forgot he was in the team and thought They used Dave Taylor well. Was probably lucky to be there in the first place DCE, definitely not good enough yet to oust Cronk or Thurston and not versatile enough to replace Smith.

And agree Hoffman by a mile. He reminds me of Karmichael except a bit smaller. Hoffman has a little more natural flair in his game but his strength is his resilience.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Great match..

Should be a 3 match series..

Good to see some players in the speeches make pointed comments about making sure this Test stays unlike the media stories today that reek of a agenda..

If it was a 3 match series, after tonights performance, I think we'd be seeing a classic tour..

Exactly, a 3 match series between Australia and NZ would be brilliant.

 

[typicalfan]

Waerea-Hargreaves got him in a pretty nasty looking arm lock a few times, very surprised it wasn't penalised.

JWH wishes he was as talented as Tamou, all other things aside Tamou was impressive when he was on, JWH was not. He was Jason King re Origin mk2

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I thought the way the game was played didn't allow DCE into the contest. I forgot he was in the team and thought They used Dave Taylor well. Was probably lucky to be there in the first place DCE, definitely not good enough yet to oust Cronk or Thurston and not versatile enough to replace Smith.

And agree Hoffman by a mile. He reminds me of Karmichael except a bit smaller. Hoffman has a little more natural flair in his game but his strength is his resilience.

Perhaps if New Zealand had've scored after the Nightingale break, maybe DCE wouldve been brought into the game, just to have that extra attacking option. I dont like the idea of having a player just incase of an injury, then they wouldve picked Gillet instead.

Hoffman looks so safe no matter whats coming towards him. Its a shame he missed the 4 nations through injury.

 

[skeepe]

JWH wishes he was as talented as Tamou, all other things aside Tamou was impressive when he was on, JWH was not. He was Jason King re Origin mk2

4 runs for 30 metres. Pretty pathetic.

 

[Desert Qlder]

To start with a negative, the NZ kicking game was atrocious, and was just about the key reason for them losing the Test.

Marshall must take much of the blame for this, as he is captain of the side and their chief playmaker. Against such a rigid defense as Australia, their only option is to try to keep them in their own portion of the footy field through kicks, and they failed miserably. Johnson chimed in with a couple of kicks and, considering it was his first test, performed well.

I'll be interested what New Zealanders think of how Kieran Foran will fit into the side when he is fit. Surely his toughness as a playmaker can combine with the flair of Marshall and Johnson in some capacity.

Otherwise it was a fairly good contest. The Australian forwards were able to outlast the counterparts, which funnily enough is where James Tamou would have helped a great deal. He could have started for NZ and played a lot of minutes, as he does for the Cowboys. Perhaps I shouldn't go down that road.

Luke Lewis was fantastic for Aus, and was my MOM. But Thurston, Smith and Hannant were terrific also. In the face of some very good defense from the Kiwis the combinations provided enough to get the job done. I wish though that they good rid themselves of some of the cynical plays like fake contesting of bombs from their game. These tactics are prominent in the NRL but are so unattractive come rep games.

All in all a good quality game and worthy of a contest between the nations.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

To start with a negative, the NZ kicking game was atrocious, and was just about the key reason for them losing the Test.

Marshall must take much of the blame for this, as he is captain of the side and their chief playmaker. Against such a rigid defense as Australia, their only option is to try to keep them in their own portion of the footy field through kicks, and they failed miserably. Johnson chimed in with a couple of kicks and, considering it was his first test, performed well.

Yes, where was he in New Zealand's biggest chance in the second half? After that Nightingale break, it didnt look like there was any sort of ball movement just one pass stuff that didnt panic the Aussie defence. Marshall shouldve been there calling the shots directing traffic.

 

[typicalfan]

Jesse Bromwich played outstanding as well. I think Johnson and Marshall has potential but Johnson is too raw, didn't direct the team around the park, his talent got him through but I think he will get better.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Marshall was quiet, but the forwards didn't give him and Johnson room. They didn't do much, bar Johnson's try I thought both of them were average and looked like they never practiced. In the 4 nations they will click though.

Marshall was not only quiet but he was shit as well. He went MIA when his side had scoring opportunities beckoning. Several of his passes failed to find their mark. Kicking into touch, when an attacking kick behind the line would've have been way more dangerous. Kicking out on the full.......:roll:

Johnson had by far the better game between the two of them.

 

[skeepe]

Yes, where was he in New Zealand's biggest chance in the second half? After that Nightingale break, it didnt look like there was any sort of ball movement just one pass stuff that didnt panic the Aussie defence. Marshall shouldve been there calling the shots directing traffic.

Marshall's been awful since all that assault charge drama. Sad, because he's definitely easy to watch when on song.

 

[Ladmate]

Marshall's been awful since all that assault charge drama. Sad, because he's definitely easy to watch when on song.

Not awful, inconsistent. He still is near the top in linebreak assists and try assists, but he's doing more stupid things.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

 

[vvvrulz]

Yes, where was he in New Zealand's biggest chance in the second half? After that Nightingale break, it didnt look like there was any sort of ball movement just one pass stuff that didnt panic the Aussie defence. Marshall shouldve been there calling the shots directing traffic.

This was Isaac Luke's fault as much as it was Marshall's, instead of spreading the ball he took a pointless and greedy hit-up and killed all the momentum.

Not sparing Marshall however, he too went missing when they really needed him. The Marshall vs Thurston contest was the difference in the game.

 

[Dragon2010]

Good on ya R&S not bad winnings there at all! Must be happy?

 

[Dragon2010]

Not awful, inconsistent. He still is near the top in linebreak assists and try assists, but he's doing more stupid things.

I think the blokes had a few to many hits in the head. Must have mucked up his brain. :sarcasm:

 

[Usain Bolt]

Dont know if you saw the extended interviews in Australia, but they were showing the Broncos players talking after the game and Hodges said to Glenn "mate ya forearm'd me in the head" and Glenn, Hannant and Beale laughed it off but Hodgo had a serious look on his face staring at Glenn when the camera cut away.

I LOL'd

 

[Grapple]

Dont know if you saw the extended interviews in Australia, but they were showing the Broncos players talking after the game and Hodges said to Glenn "mate ya forearm'd me in the head" and Glenn, Hannant and Beale laughed it off but Hodgo had a serious look on his face staring at Glenn when the camera cut away.

I LOL'd

That was a quite a cool scene seeing Brisbane's depth there. They all took a photo together too. Beale in his training jacket... :lol: