Mookachaka wrote:
Penalties and errors lose you matches.......... look at the NZ scores:
31 mins, Sam Tomkins error - NZ try
38 mins, G.Burgess penalty - NZ Conv
44 mins, Cudjoe error - NZ try
51 mins, Widdop penalty - NZ conv
79 mins, G.Burgess penalty - NZ try
We say we're improving, yet:
- we lack the compose to finish teams off, and we can't concentrate for a full 80 minutes
- I still think we lack belief due to the NRL supposively being superior
- The coach had a bad rotation policy, which showed when G.Burgess could barely run at the end of the game
- we lack discipline, which is absolutely vital in test rugby!!!!!
- We still lack depth in the backs, with Charnley and Cudjoe not being good enough for test rugby
Its no coincidence we've not won nothing major for 40 years plus................ Hopefully one day it'll come, but for now, I think we should stop feeling sorry for ourselves and saying how well we played and make some changes to the playing personnel and coaching staff:
Sinfield - Had his chance, too old, too slow
Westwood - Had his chance, too old now
Charnley / Cudjoe - Need competition from Reed and Briscoe
Chase - not the type of player you want at international level
Hock - what more can be said, his test career should be over
Hardaker - we need to question his commitment?
McNamara - Has he lost the confidence of the players?
Players to come in:
Brough - he should of been wooed earlier over Sinfield
Bateman - fantastic young backrower
Matty Smith - why was he not picked? the inform scrum half
Myler / Ratchford can also play a part
Am I being harsh, or realistic?
Brough should have been in. I can only think it was a case of K. Sinfield was in, D Brough was out!! There was all the complaining about Chase not being in sync with Sinfield? Trying not to be disrespectful to Mr Sinfield but yes, too old and evidently too slow. Chase is an outstanding player with great skills and managed correctly I am sure would have combined well with Brough. I am not a fan of McNamara and his lack of ability as a manager at international level did show.
Hock was shown the door too soon, that was a bad decision for timely reasons. McNamara's ego and his eagerness too show who is boss, lost him bigtime!! The problem with preparing big in the hope of beating Australia in the first game at Cardiff (I was there) meant that a failure there was a big problem after.
Australia were good, yes, however NZ were pretty beaten up by England in the semi's and left there game in the semi's.
As we are mentioning names who were omitted, what about St Helen's Lomax?
Sam Tomkins struggles at International level.
