WOBBLIES AWAY

Sorry folks I have been absolutely tardy in updating the website, my apologies. My main excuse is that the awful Rugby the Wallabies have dished up has left me completely unmotivated to write about it. To be honest I have really enjoyed watching Rugby League in the latter half of the year, the Grand Final was great and the first test against the Kiwis was also grand, especially the punch up. Watching the Wallabies has left me cold, you can predict exactly what will happen, forwards smashed in the lineout’s and scrums with a resulting struggling backline. I am absolutely sick and tired of the Wallaby forwards getting belted from pillar to post. In putting the knife in, I will say there were some glimmers of hope in the 29 – 29 draw with Wales on the weekend.
For once the Wallabies had a number of players who really played well on the weekend. Vickerman and Sharpe were the standout in the forwards, they were everywhere; carting the ball up, off loading in the tackle, making tackles and winning the lineout’s. Roy Slaven and HG Nelson have a classic saying for Nathan Sharpe’s performances over the last few years “I have not seen him break a tackle in three seasons”. How true for Sharpey, he was woeful for the Force this year and has been stealing oxygen for the Wallabies over the last few seasons but give him his due he played very well against Wales on the weekend. Giteau was outstanding at halfback, doing stuff that wins games and can’t be coached, his pass was even good. Look out George Gregan the press will be absolutely baying for his blood after this performance by Giteau.
Chris Latham was sensational and really deserved his man of the match award. He is not especially quick but his size, power and sheer passion make him hard to stop. Steve Larkham also had a very good game at inside centre; too bad Rogers had another below par performance at Number 10. Certainly helps the coaching staff when you get most of the team putting their hand up and playing well. Unfortunately we still can’t get the scrum to perform at this level. The last play of the game was a scrum near the Welsh line, if the scrum had just held we would have had a very good chance of scoring. It was roller skates all over again and the Welsh simply monstered us forcing the turnover.
The Wallabies really lost their structure when Giteau had to shuffle out the backline when Larkham got injured. If the backline could have stayed in place, I am sure this would have been a Test win for the Wallabies. The Welsh for some reason did not contest the tackle area; they made the tackle then fanned in defence. The Wallabies must have thought it was Christmas with Wales not contesting the tackle area especially after they had been belted in this area by the Boks and All Blacks all year. The Wallaby scrum was again below par, Blake struggled at tight head as he has all year and Baxter just has not played enough loosehead. There has been some slight improvement as they were not completely demolished; they will struggle again this weekend against a very accomplished Italian front row. Look for the Italians to really have a go at the Wallaby forwards, for many years the Italian tight forward play has been superb. I am predicting a close score line against the Italians this weekend.
The social event of the year was not the Melbourne Cup but Stormin Norman’s wedding two weeks ago in Coff’s Harbour. Stormin Norman will have to curb his bachelor ways and keep his phone on silent; he will also probably have to change his phone number as his number of female admirers is legendary. William “The Snake” of Coff’s reports that Norm’s numerous trips to Wollongong have now ceased and he is reported to have gone straight. So well done to Norm and his lovely wife Frances, I certainly had a great time at the wedding the Kava flowed and Soni and the boys had the Fiji music pumping. It was great to see Soni turn up as he usually moonlights at the Gosford Reptile Park on the weekends.