Aus v NZ test spoilers if not watching it live

[Fraze23]

I thought he looked quite comfortable at 5/8, and its not the first time he's smashed fui fui either.
After watching the test today, it made me wish that international Rugby League was a lot stronger than what it is. I'd love to see other nations try and topple Australia instead of just the usual 2 opponents.
I have no doubt that the Australian side could beat the majority of the sides playing in the world cup atm. (minus the technicalities of rugby).

 

[stryker]

I stand by it. I have only once seen him play a Test level game where he was dominant. Every other time Locky or JT have blown him off the field.

 

[TheSunTanSuperman]

Everyone saying Marshall didn't play well. What Kiwi did? Foran, Fein and the two centres were absolute rubbish. The pack was soft and kept dropping ball. What player would've done anything with that? It's obvious the NZ gameplan was to try and make Foran the dominant playmaker and have Marshall pop up when something is on. That clearly didn't work.

Lawrence was fantastic. Great in attack, A rock in defence. He, barring injury, will be in the test side for years from now on.

 

[innsaneink]

I stand by it. I have only once seen him play a Test level game where he was dominant. Every other time Locky or JT have blown him off the field.

Yeah I agree and its why NZ have only beaten us something like 3 times out of the last 16, two just happened to be bloody finals.
Marshall is an off the cuff type , big game player and I think it would be difficult to get a new squad to gel around him very quickly…as we see with us and our lack of consistency, its not easy structuring a team around a plyer that plays his best unstructured and unrestricted.
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Why didnt Blair play?
Still suspended or injured or ??

 

[jas83]

Lawrence playing 5/8 in a test match…maybe Sheens is thinking towards 2012?

I doubt it. Thurston and Lockyer were both off the field and i there weren't too many other options. I also sincerely doubt he would use the test arena as a club trial.

No I dont he would use a test match to trial him out. But maybe Sheens still hasnt given up on the idea of Lawrence/Marshall combo if we dont have Lui next year. I know its probably long shot but you never know.

 

[jas83]

I stand by it. I have only once seen him play a Test level game where he was dominant. Every other time Locky or JT have blown him off the field.

Yeah I agree and its why NZ have only beaten us something like 3 times out of the last 16, two just happened to be bloody finals.
Marshall is an off the cuff type , big game player and I think it would be difficult to get a new squad to gel around him very quickly…as we see with us and our lack of consistency, its not easy structuring a team around a plyer that plays his best unstructured and unrestricted.
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Why didnt Blair play?
Still suspended or injured or ??

Suspended…todays match counted as a match towards his suspension and not sure but think NZ have another 'trial match' next week before tri nations that will count as Blairs last match suspension

 

[citizen_cub]

I said prior to the game that the Four Nations and the RLWC are a 'two horse race'. Really, if Australia apply themselves for the full eighty and don't have periods of complacency, they should win every game by the length of a country mile. Today's game was a pretty sad indictment on IRL if you consider these teams are ranked 1 and 2 respectively. Until there becomes more competition, IRL will continue to be a yawn.

 

[happy_tiger]

Poor game by Benji.
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Posted using RoarFEED

To be totally honest (I would like to preface this by saying I'm his biggest supporter), Benji played his usual game at this level. He just cant seem to step up to test level. I thought his game today was a 4/10\. Not good enough for the Test captain and most exciting attacking weapon in the world.

As for the Aussies…what can you say? Totally dominated them. Smith, JT, Locky and Billy did whatever they wanted. Gallen was a monster, both centers and wingers were very strong, Watmough, Lewis....the list goes on. Comprehensive flogging of those pretenders. They are world champions in name only. They are still a mile behind the Aussies for the true number 1 test side.

Bring on the 4 nations...these blokes are going to really enjoy the next month and a bit.

Stryker i think half the issue is him being captain I don't think it suits him and put shackles on him he doesn't need at this level
Let's put it this way if Farah was ruled out for a month I wouldn't make Benji captain It would be Ellis or Fulton imo

 

[Tigerdave]

Good game from Chris and Sauce, but overall I was disappointed with the game. The Kiwis were just awful, just handing the ball over continuously. They should be bringing Isaac Luke on earlier too.

I really want the International side of things to be more competitive. Hope things improve in a couple of weeks…....but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Guest]

Good to see Rowdy and Sauce both look comfortable in Australian colours. Lawrence finished well and defended well and Galloway was good in the middle of the field with his hitups and defence. Hard choice between Lawrence and Tonga as I thought both players were good, but again, I'm not sure Inglis deserves a walk up start given his form throughout the year.

Benji was always going to struggle behind a pack that got steamrolled, but I expect the gap to narrow with the English conditions.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Everyone saying Marshall didn't play well. What Kiwi did? Foran, Fein and the two centres were absolute rubbish. The pack was soft and kept dropping ball. What player would've done anything with that? It's obvious the NZ gameplan was to try and make Foran the dominant playmaker and have Marshall pop up when something is on. That clearly didn't work.

Locke and Luke were good, the rest were absolute garbage. Benji, who is supposed to lead them, looked like he didn't even want to be out there. Dropped a heap of ball, thrown into touch on the 0 tackle and had some shocking misses in defence. Kearney probably tore strips off him at full time.