Originally Posted by vaughan6477:
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I strongly disagree with your last statement. S.A. had a brand new coach and were at the start of their international season. Australia are the tri nations champions with a settled coach and probably the best captain and no7 in the world at present in Pocock. I don't say that lightly but on the current tour matches , I think the Aussie has overtaken Mcaw as the worlds best 7. Hope Gatland and the other Lions coaches can come up with a plan to negate him next summer.”
I am really worried Gatland and co are going to try and play austrailia in exactly the same way as the Welsh tried to play them and we will lose as a result.
I have said it repeatedly to beat Australia you have to do it with a tight game based around your forwards and control the ball. If you try and play a wide game they will win. Austrailia were there for the taking up front and Wales never changeed there game plan.
Pocock is a great 7 and made wharburton look very ordinary. Simple way to negate him would be to have a lot of number 8 pick ups tight to the scrum going open. tie him up at the first phase and then its a bit easier. If you have isolate runners going into or near him in open play then he will turn you over.
I have heard this tri-nations argument a lot from welsh fans but lets not forget, it was just before the world cup and South Africa and New Zealand were not at the level they are now. South Africa were persisiting with Smit when du Plessis was by a mile better than him and they were an older team. New Zealand to were struggling all through that tournement and managing injuries to McCaw and Reid. I would bet Austrailia dont win this fourthcoming championship.