cripple wrote:A good effort to get past the quarter final last week. Tonight just went to show how much impact an referee's interpretation goes towards determining a result. Last week our most valuable player Pocock was allowed to do almost whatever he wanted, it was clear early on tonight that wasn't going to happen again. We couldn't place the all blacks under any sustained pressure and as a result our expansive players never had any room to work in. Beale's absence was also very noticeable.
Good point about Kurtley, he has been our best player in the last 12 months.
Only good thing about a loss is hopefully Deans gives Sharpe a start next week so he can get his 100th test cap which will be well deserved, personally I would have had him in the side tonight (and would have had Barnes starting instead of Cooper or have Cooper at FB).