Where can the Wallabies improve? Let’s go to Phil Gould, first. In his NRL commentary Gould has two mantras. The first is said with world-weary sagacity, “It’s a funny game rugby league.” (Add water, and repeat 50 times until everyone’s nose bleeds.) The second one, said with even more world-weary sagacity – it’s his personal specialty – is apposite here. “If you let the ball bounce, you’re inviting disappointment into your life.” Thrice, the Wallabies let the ball bounce, and thrice they suffered disappointment as
a result, with Ireland regathering to do us damage. For ruck’s sake, youse blokes, it is permissible to go up for it and bobble it or knock it on. It is NOT permissible to have no-one shout out – like we were taught in the under-12s – “MINE!” and go hard after it. In similar fashion, a couple of times the ball was loose on the deck and just needed someone to dive on it to secure it. But the ball went undived on, and
Ireland got what was not properly theirs. The next thing is this: once the Wallabies cross the stripe, they need to look to run it around closer to the posts. We lost this match by two points, and on two occasions we missed difficult conversions that might have been made if the try-scorers had made the effort to run closer to the posts. Conversions see a 40% premium on the scoreboard, but in the rush of scoring we too often squander our advantage and hope
the kicker can salvage the premium. Against Ireland that didn’t happen, and cost victory!
Wallabies, Ireland, Phil Gould, conversions, loose ball, rugby, Wallabies vs Ireland
So Ireland just grabbed all the rebounds? Wild.
I don’t even watch rugby like that but if they let the ball bounce three times that’s literally asking for trouble. Also the conversions thing… I swear one kick can change everything.
Phil Gould sounds like he’s just yelling his sayings again lol. But yeah if nobody was calling “mine” on the loose ball then how are they even practicing? And the running closer to the posts for conversions?? Kinda feel like they should’ve just scored from better spots from the start.
Okay but missed chances could mean a ref call too, like I’ve seen this before. Everyone talks about bounces and conversions but the real issue is the Wallabies were probably gassed or something, like why are we acting like it’s only effort? Also “two points” sounds small, but it’s always those tiny gaps that kill you. I’m not saying this is rigged or anything, I’m just saying… two points is two points, ya know.