VOTE: Your chance to rate the Wallabies players vs France

It was almost as exciting as the first Test but, for Wallabies fans, the result was far less enjoyable.

With the Wallabies going down to France 28-26 in a thriller last night, it’s time for you – the readers – to rate each player out of ten.

If you’re not across how we do this thing on The Roar, don’t worry. We’ve got handy instructions just here.

Simply, you rate each player from 1-10 based on your assessment of how well they performed. If you don’t think they were on the field long enough, or you just didn’t catch them enough, you don’t have to rate them – you can leave them blank.

Then, we take everyone’s votes, crunch the numbers together and publish them the next day, so you can see where your opinion falls amongst your fellow Roarers.

For a guide on how scores work, check this box out.

1. Had he not played, the team would have been better off. Negatively affected the performance of the side. May God John Eales have mercy on his soul.
2. Anonymous. Was he even there?
3. Did some things that you expect a player to be able to do, but did a whole bunch of other things that sucked.
4. Was passable in patches, but not up to standard in a match of such importance.
5. Performed his role without anything really noticeable happening.
6. Good.
7. Pretty good, actually.
8. Very good.
9. Excellent.
10. Extraordinary. Calling them man of the match would be an insult.

So, what are you waiting for? Fill the ballot in now!

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Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/14/vote-wallabies-player-ratings-vs-france-2/

https://therugbystore.com.au/vote-your-chance-to-rate-the-wallabies-players-vs-france/

The rugby two-up: ‘It’s not rust, Australia lacks depth in every position’

Well, the Wallabies got it done last week against France, even if they did need a bit of overtime to do it.

And though most rugby fans know that a win is a win, and that you don’t have to draw a picture on the scoreboard, there’s no denying there was a fair bit of rust in the Wallabies performance.

But is that just a by-product of the professional game these days? That players are now so entrenched in domestic/club/provincial programs that national coaches have to spend time ‘un-stating’ them, to put them back on the national program?

Was there perhaps some merit in the South African need for 500 hours after all? Which they might yet get again, the way the Lions Series is looking at the moment…

Question 1: Why do you think some teams look rustier that others in their first Test of the year? And what is the biggest lesson from Brisbane that the Wallabies must get right for the 2nd Test in Melbourne?

Harry
It’s not rust, per se. It’s about depth and style.

Australia lacks depth at almost every position. To make it harder, their provincial unions have large differences in style. So, Dave Rennie has a more difficult challenge than Rassie Erasmus or Ian Foster.

The All Blacks’ challenge is pack depth. When Sam Whitelock retires, or when Cane is absent, the pack is not smart or hard enough, and the loosies are too loose. But their players are honed to a Kiwi style of tactical kicking, swift counterattack, all-court ball, speed of ruck, and precise set pieces. So their rust is simply down to form and depth.

Australia has to fight to get a real squad ready and trained and aligned. The big thing for the Wallabies to get right is to send the cleaners in hard and low and fast, after every single carry. Ball security is their Achilles heel.

Digger
It’s a difficult question to really land on anything but a handful of different reasons; new vs existing combinations, quality of the opposition, player experience.

To be frank I didn’t see a lot from any side that I didn’t really expect, all things considered. I would suggest that in the Wallabies case, they have a relatively fresh coaching team and currently do not have the same level of depth or experience to call upon as other sides, particularly in pivotal playmaking and organisational roles.

When factored in against what currently looks the best opposition thus far on the respective southern tours, it was always going to lead to some difficulties in getting cohesive game plans and combinations functioning.

Matt To’omua of the Wallabies passes the ball. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The biggest lesson from Brisbane for the Wallabies is that they need to be more patient and effective when in possession. A quick glance of the match stats show the Wallabies had the lion’s share of possession and territory but clearly struggled through their own accuracy and decisions, and of course a committed French side to stamp their mark on the game.

When you consider the Wallabies had eight more penalties awarded, this will be key for them to turn around on Tuesday night, as more of the same and a more disciplined French effort will see the series tied up.

Geoff
It used to be customary for sides like the All Blacks in particular, to play like rusted aerosols in the first half of the first Test of the year, before gradually getting some cohesion. That doesn’t happen so much nowadays, and don’t we all remember the Pumas last year, emerging from a COVID camp and a scratch match against club players, for their greatest ever victory?

As for the Wallabies’ stuttering performance last week, I’m not so sure it was rust as much as it was some unfamiliarity around some of the combinations and a little bit of nervousness. Neither of those things should be in evidence tonight.

The biggest lesson/thing to get right? Jake Gordon to back himself and repay the faith shown in him by the selectors. The French showed him a couple of holes on the fringes that, trying to do the team thing, he ignored. You’ve got pace Jake, back yourself to use it, man!

Brett
I do agree with the depth points being made, and that’s obviously a key factor for the Wallabies, but I think fitness and conditioning plays a role in early season rust.

It was very clear that the first part of the Wallabies camp was essentially a second pre-season, and Dave Rennie even eluded early on to players from some state presenting to the national camp with significantly lower fitness and conditioning levels than others.

They knew this because the Wallabies and states have been using the same programs and software for several years now. So, for the first time in a long time, they could actually compare apples with apples.

So this extra conditioning prior to adding “a lot of detail”, as we heard regularly from the Wallabies coaches, has to have contributed to the rust; it just has to have. Hopefully, the picture will look better in Melbourne.

More Rugby

• The rugby two-up: 'It's not rust, Australia lacks depth in every position'
• How will the Wallabies break down the blue wall?
• Unofficial first Test? Covid-hit Boks go for strengthened 'A' side
• Wallabies ready for beefed up France
• Lions set to face South Africa A in warm up Tests

Rugby

Speaking of which, the attacking cleanout needs to be the focus for the second Test. I mentioned last week that it was outstanding to see Angus Bell and Lachie Lonergan first on the seen when Tate McDermott went to ground with the fatally loose French ball last week, and with Rob Valetini, Darcy Swain, and Taniela Tupou not far behind.

And as I mentioned, this was great to see in the 81st minute, because there had been way too many occasions in the preceding eighty minutes where the attacking clean out was either too slow, too ineffective, or too non-existent.

But they showed when the game was on the line that they could do it. So now they need to do it.

Question 2: The Lions Series in South Africa looks to be in a really delicate position – do you think the Test matches can proceed as per the current schedule?

Harry
No, the tests will need to be in one place (Cape Town), and both camps have to stop half-measures.

The site isn’t that important if a true bio-bubble is used; it’s more about avoiding travel.

One thing not given enough attention is the Lions did not mandate vaccination (the Boks all did), and Warren Gatland has confirmed some Lions (rumoured to be as many as eight) did not get jabbed.

So, before everyone throws stones at SARU, maybe we should force the Lions to explain why they’d arrive in a developing country reeling under a third wave, with almost a dozen unvaccinated players?

Anyway, the tour must go on. The money requires it. If there are no crowds and the players and coaches are bubbled, there is a low risk to life.

Should players be obliged to get the vaccine? (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Digger
Always hard to pick one thing as being more important than anything else, especially for the first game of the year.

I’m split between a solid and cohesive defensive effort and a stable set piece, so I won’t choose. Both of those nominated will be important for the Wallabies to get right this weekend, and the season can flow forward from that solid base.

Geoff
With the important caveat that I’m not there on the ground and don’t know exactly what’s happening, things are looking grim for the series.

We all want it, but we also want a series that is fair and genuine; a proper test of both the Lions and Boks’ true abilities. A little asterisk is ok, we all know it’s a weird time.

But if that asterisk is too big, then it almost becomes like, perhaps we shouldn’t bother.

As Bob Dylan put it so beautifully on his brilliant 1997 album, ’Time Out of Mind’… “It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.”

Brett
It’s really hard to see how the schedule remains unchanged now, with more Springboks testing positive to COVID, including skipper Siya Kolisi as this all comes together. The total of impacted players and staff now rising above 20 is a massive concern, as is that the rest of the ‘Boks squad has only just emerged from six days of isolation.

Already, tour games have been switched, and the Sharks had to back up for a second game when the Bulls weren’t able to play just on the weekend.

I certainly agree with Harry that once the series gets to Cape Town this week, that it may not leave. And in a pure logistics sense, staying in one place would seem more logical now, with South Africa consistently recording more than twenty thousand new cases over the last few days.

How will Covid impact the Lions series? (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

But equally, it feels like the whole thing could have the pin pulled if the number keeps growing within the ‘Boks camp, too. There will surely be a number within the squad where training becomes difficult, and hopefully reports in the last day or so about new rounds of negative tests are a good sign.

There is already going to be a question mark or an asterisk or something applied to this series when it enters the realm of rugby history, and it would be a great shame if the last of the true rugby tours was forced to end abruptly.

Yet, it feels a long way from being out of the woods just yet.

Digger

No, I do not see how and nor should it. The priority should be to get the respective squads fit and healthy and ready to play the test matches alone.

It would seem the right way to do so would be to isolate each squad and do so at one venue, cancelling the remaining non test matches so to minimise any further exposure risk and concentrating on getting three quality test matches played.

OVER TO YOU: What’s the biggest lesson for the Wallabies from Brisbane to Melbourne?

And is more change inevitable for the Lions Series?

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/13/the-thursday-rugby-two-up-on-tuesday-be-gone-first-up-rustiness/

https://therugbystore.com.au/the-rugby-two-up-its-not-rust-australia-lacks-depth-in-every-position/

British and Irish Lions 2021: Warren Gatland rejects Springboks call for fixture change

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland rejects calls from the Springboks camp for his side to play South Africa A twice in a row.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57810953

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-warren-gatland-rejects-springboks-call-for-fixture-change/

The Paleo Diet

I consider this diet so important that I’ve given it its own section. In fact it’s more like a way of life than a diet. All my research and reading has led me to believe that the healthiest way to live is by following what’s known as the Paleo Diet. It is also known as the Paleolithic Diet, the caveman diet, the Stone Age diet and the hunter-gatherer diet. It represents a good way to lose weight and live healthier as it is a complete nutritional plan based on what is believed that humans ate during the Paleolithic era, a period of about 2.5 million years that ended around 10,000 years ago when man developed agriculture. It is based on the ancient diet of wild plants and animals that we humans consumed at that point in our history. Thankfully, the Paleolithic diet does not require you to go out and kill a woolly mammoth for food. The contemporary version of this diet consists mostly of grass-fed pasture raised meats, fruit, fish, vegetables, nuts and roots. It excludes legumes, dairy products, refined sugar and processed oils. It represents not just a diet but a change in lifestyle that can help you get healthy and stay that way. What the Paleo diet is really about is eating natural foods for better health and a better physique. It is based on the idea that for more than two million years, we humans subsisted on the foods found in nature, such as vegetables, fish, wild fruits, eggs, meat and nuts. It’s a diet that's high in animal fat and proteins and low in carbohydrates The Paleolithic diet was popularized by the gastroenterologist, Walter L. Voegtlin. It has been adopted and promoted by a number of authors and researchers. The basis of Paleolithic nutrition is the idea that human genetics have not changed much since the dawn of agriculture. This suggests that the best diet for our health and well-being is one that resembles what our ancestors used to eat, a Paleo diet. Supporters of the Paleo diet believe that if we stay with a traditional diet similar to those of the Paleolithic hunter-gatherers, we will be healthier and more resistant to disease. There have been a number of studies of the Paleolithic diet that have shown some positive health outcomes but nothing compares with trying it out for yourself for 30 days to see how you feel. A hunter-gatherer diet or Paleo diet has a high level of protein. It includes a lot of meat, seafood and poultry and these foods are super nutrient dense if they have been grass-fed. Cows that feed on a grass-based diet produce significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids as compared to grain-fed animals, while producing fewer trans fats and saturated fats. Anyone Can Lose Weight There is a good deal of evidence that people on high energy-density diets are more likely to over eat and are at a greater risk for gaining weight. On the other hand, low caloric density diets such as the Paleo diet, provide a greater feeling of satisfaction at the same energy intake and can help even overweight individuals lose weight without calorie restrictions. The vitamin and mineral content of the Paleo diet is very high, especially when compared to a normal diet. Fish and seafood are a particularly rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and other micronutrients, such as copper, selenium, iron, zinc and iodine that are critical for brain function and development. Another great source of these nutrients are thyroid gland, bone marrow and other organs. The staples of the Paleo diet -- the meats, seafood and fruits -- are more nutrient dense then grains, vegetable oils, refined sugar and dairy products. This means the vitamin and mineral content of the diet is very high compared with a standard diet. The Paleo Diet Food List The Paleo diet actually has a food pyramid with lean meats and fish at the bottom - or the foundation - followed by fruits, veggies and then berries and, at the top, nuts. While other foods are permitted it teaches that we should avoid dairy products, grains, legumes, starches, processed foods and processed sugars. More than anything else, you should favor raw and unprocessed foods over anything else. The Paleo diet requires you to eat only lean meat and mix up your vegetables. It teaches that the broader the color spectrum in your vegetable dishes, the better and more nutritious they will be, and the better you will start feeling after committing to this lifestyle. Following is a list of the foods used in most Paleo diet recipes… Meats Any type of animal meat including animal fats Fish All kinds of fish Vegetables Salads, asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, avocados, cucumbers. Limit intake of nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants) Nuts In moderation - Almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, pecans, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, walnuts. When Getting Started When you begin on the Paleo diet or lifestyle, you may feel that you're a bit limited in terms of what you can eat. That is wrong! You’ll find you can eat almost anything except for processed foods or foods with added grains or wheat.  

https://dietandcooking.info/the-paleo-diet/

Reasons for a Detox Diet

Maybe you have read a lot of articles discussing detox diets, its efficiency as well as its drawbacks. And because of the many write ups that you have read about it, you are now confused as to whether or not you should try this regimen. Some articles may have written that it is very effective and with just a few days, you will lose several pounds. Some articles, on the other hand, may tell you that this diet is not healthy and it may have some side effects that are not worth the try. What then should you believe? Perhaps with the right motivation and purpose, the detox diet may really improve your way of living. With just the name of the diet, you are sure to be free from the toxins in your body, and these are the chemicals that are believed to be harmful for your health. Perhaps if you know why and how the detox diet should be properly performed, then you can never go wrong. Most professionals believe that cleansing your body is a must and this is what a detox diet offers - an overall purification of the body system. Although the body is equipped with organs that are designed to perform filtration for the cleansing of the body, the detox diet can still be performed for assistance and support. However, most professionals also believe that the detoxification should not be performed for a long period. They suggest that twice a year or once every six months is enough. This is because for them, the detox diet is not really for weight loss. Its goal should really be for the elimination of harmful substances. Another reason for a detoxification is the attainment of good quality health. A good quality health would refer to what your body can do. Its ability to keep you going and keep you active to attend to your daily activities would mean that it has good quality. However, nowadays, the value of one’s health is dependent on his lifestyle and on the opinion of others who influence his life. You should always remember that you should take care of your health. You should always keep it running in good condition, because this will take you to where you want to go. Aging can also be another motivation for you to undergo detoxification. Through a detox diet, toxins are flushed out of your system; and these toxins are the same causes of aging and deterioration. Detoxification is better than taking drugs that claim to prevent aging. Growing old is a process that everyone has to undergo, and it is an inevitable course; however, you should be able to go through it healthily and with grace. Taking in drugs may only fill your body with more toxins, thus detoxifying is a better option. You should know your priorities when it comes to your health. And urbanization and commercialization may have caused a lot of people to establish different sets of priorities, but your constant priority should always be your health. For the right reasons, a detox diet is a great way to maintain your health and keep it in good shape. You will have greater protection against illnesses and diseases because your system is purified and cleansed. With moderation and proper guidance, you can never go wrong with a detox diet.

https://dietandcooking.info/reasons-for-a-detox-diet/

Five changes for France ahead of second Test

France coach Fabien Galthie has made five charges to his starting team as they seek to level the series against the Wallabies in the second rugby Test in Melbourne.

Three of them, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Pierre-Henri Azagoh and Ibrahim Diallo, will make their international debuts at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.

A late blunder when they failed to find touch after a lineout cost France a 23-21 defeat in the first Test in Brisbane last week.

Prop Demba Bamba has lost his place in the starting lineup to Castres’ Hounkpatin.

The second row is completely changed, with Killian Geraci, Romain Taofifenua sitting on the bench for Cyril Cazeaux and Stade Francais youngster Azagoh.

Flanker Cameron Woki replaces Dylan Cretin, who was ruled out with an ankle injury.

After a solid display in the Brisbane Test, winger Gabin Villiere, centres Jonathan Danty and Arthur Vincent retained their spots, as did captain and number eight Anthony Jelonch.

France are chasing their first Test win on Australian soil since 1990.

France: Melvyn Jaminet, Damian Penaud, Arthur Vincent, Jonathan Danty, Gabin Villiere, Louis Carbonel, Baptiste Couilloud, Anthony Jelonch (capt), Cameron Woki, Ibrahim Diallo, Cyril Cazeaux, Pierre-Henri Azagoh, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Gaetan Barlot, Jean-Baptiste Gros. Res: Anthony Etrillard, Enzo Forletta, Demba Bamba, Killian Geraci, Romain Taofifenua, Sekou Macalou, Teddy Iribaren, Anthony Bouthier. 

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/12/five-changes-for-france-ahead-of-second-test/

https://therugbystore.com.au/five-changes-for-france-ahead-of-second-test/

British and Irish Lions: South Africa captain Siya Kolisi tests positive for Covid-19

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi tests positive for coronavirus as his side build up to the series against the British and Irish Lions.

Original source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57794891

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-south-africa-captain-siya-kolisi-tests-positive-for-covid-19/