Match thread

NTA

Wallabies' first try good example of how to put your key ball runners into your first two phases. Bell crashes in, recycle to Valentini, luckily Arnold holds the pop

NTA

Try #2: good touch finder from Donaldson. Good lineout from Porecki. Good maul from the pack. Good finish from the skipper.

Porecki's strengths are set piece. Best lineout thrower we've had for a while and can scrum

NTA

Try #3: silly kick from Portugal 9, and we actually decide to counterattack. Fuck didn't appreciate how fast Foketi is.

Nearly goes to shit but Bell cleans up, then we're smart enough to use hands instead of going straight into contact. Funny how you can cover your rucks in time when you play on your feet.

You're not stopping Bell from there. Best prop we've had in so long. Wish we had Alaalatoa there with him

NTA

Frost's early knee injury looked like MCL to me. He's not well

NTA

Foketi looks fucked as well.

Great break from Perese

NTA

Kelleway is class. Cleaning up shit at the back, try saving tackles. Sensible on attack

NTA

Lol koroibete killed a guy.

Not sure that's a legal strike by Portugal at the scrum following - only front rowers can strike at the ball?

NTA

Portugal's 9 is an angry little cuss. Love it

NTA

Gotta say that tackle by the Portugal 2 on Pone is borderline illegal. Front on it becomes a cannonball. Side on its a different story

NTA

That said, Pone is a dumb fuck for pushing the opposition prop on the kick chase

NTA

McReight having his best game in some time

NTA

Lost our scrum on 56:30. Why the fuck is Arnold packing behind the loosehead? He should be the big lump on the right

NTA

Followed by a dumb late shot from Foketi and a dumb shoulder from Kerevi. Why? Just hold the fucking line and tackle low.

NTA

Aaaand the dumbest shit from Faessler. Deserved yellow.

NTA

TBH I have no issue with the knock on from Portugal 2. Ball goes forward into an opponent

NTA

Kerevi done for his troublesome forearm. What a goose.

NTA

Koroibete just hits too hard to wrap sometimes

NTA

@NTA said in RWC Week 4: Australia v Portugal:

Lost our scrum on 56:30. Why the fuck is Arnold packing behind the loosehead? He should be the big lump on the right

Rinse and repeat for Portugal's second try

NTA

Why IFL kicks away turnover ball - even with the game in hand - shows where we are

NTA

Last minute. Better scrum.

Ref says "tackle" multiple times. Marky Mark just did not listen. Facepalm.

NTA

Kemeny gets a token few minutes. Genuine shame

NTA

IFL kicks away. Again. We're honestly about 8 on 3 + a cover defender on our 22. Game win. Have a crack!

NTA

And another kick from the reserve halfback. What the fuck???

NTA

Farcical ending to that game. Mostly from us.

Jesus wept

NTA

Basically dominated first half and shat parts of the bed in the second. Never really threatened tbh - 3 quick tries around the 20 minute mark put paid to that.

Catogrande

@NTA

A hard watch all round for an Aussie I’d guess. You have my sympathies mate, we’ve been down this road of late.

I did see some positives though, albeit just personnel at this stage. Bell, as you say, had a good all round game and I thought Porecki put his hand up too. Sideshow Bob on the wing is a bit of a live wire and will feature in a good few Wallaby teams to come. McDermott has the game I feel and will grow into things with a bit more time. He could do with a decent 10 outside him though. Someone with a bit of experience would not go amiss…

A stat that surprised me a little though was that Slipper is approaching Gregan’s caps record. I mean he’s ok and doesn’t let the side down, but all time great he is not.

NTA

@Catogrande TBF he is a better loosehead than THP.

And in a country that doesn't value scrummaging, longevity has appeal

Duluth

Topic event: Duluth moved this topic from RWC Matches on