Cooper rescues Wallabies in the Quade escape

[lmaag]

Do they not have any close up lenses in Italy. Watching it on tv was akin to watching Force at Subi from my cheap seats

[Burgs]

Thought it was just me watching it on a smaller screen for a change.
About the only times they zoomed in was when you needed a wide shot of a backline move

[mudskipper]

Tahu is a Super Coach Robbie Deans development project, it could take a while. We have now seen Proto-type Tahu Australia A, Tahu Mark I, and now Tahu Mark II...If he is injuered as repoterd Mark III won't be seen in Wallabies gold until mid 2009.

And likely to be against the Italians again in Canberra or Melbourne...

[travelling_gerry]

Back to the Laptop.

[qld supporter]

That was just painful to watch, I can't believe we played so poorly against very average opposition.
Don't know why we persisted with those poorly executed 'Gary Owens' when we seemed to be making such easy yardage with the ball in hand?
Half the teams positions must be up for grabs after that effort...and the coverage ..started with the rare 'full national anthem' catching everyone by surprise and degenerated into a 12th man version of Rugby commentary

[Burgs]

Was going to mention that to qs, there's a few rookies may need to learn the first verse of the national anthem a bit better but I don't think any of them even knew there was a second verse by the looks on their faces!

[TommyM]

Do they not have any close up lenses in Italy. Watching it on tv was akin to watching Force at Subi from my cheap seats

So true!!! Was strange watching it in 4:3 format too. Have gotten very used to a wider image. That might have been a factor- have to be zoomed further out with 4:3 to get as much play in the frame

[TOCC]

was it in the 4:3 format? i didnt even notice, i thought it was in 16:9

[GIGS20]

You were to too busy wondering why the Wallabies sucked so much TOCC, I know that's my reaction.

I guess I don't have to reiterate anything that has been said about Tahu and Turner....so I won't, Cooper did a good job with a limited amount of time. J O'C was heading the same direction until the EyeTies decided to tackle him early (although I blame Gits for that.....the Italian player just didn't seem to know what to do with him so the instant Gits threw a dummy he went 'Beauty I
ll tackle the guy I've never heard of'....Unfortunately he didn't have the ball!)

Yeah it was scrappy, but really, we all knew it would be when the team was named. Robbie sure seems content to stick with a formula once he's had a go at it. A couple of times this season, he's persisted with players for a whole match where there were better options on the bench....Can't figure out why, but that's what the deal was last nigh...possibly a bit of 'you got yourself into this, get yourself out!'

[mudskipper]

JOC enjoyed his close up moment during the national anthem. The brass band playing it enjoyed the score so much they played an extra stanza...

[mudskipper]

4:3 format...can't do it...and while we commenting on odd things about last nights match. The Italians play with a different shape ball...

[TOCC]

4:3 format...can't do it...and while we commenting on odd things about last nights match. The Italians play with a different shape ball...

what is this different ball shape you are talking about?

Rule2 of the IRB laws has to do with the shape and dimensions of the ball, they are pretty stringent and dont allow for much variation.

[mudskipper]

I noticed it in Rome 2006 it was a ball made by lotto but was like an old style rugby ball which was more rounded... It also bounces differently...

[blueandblack]

what is this different ball shape you are talking about?

Rule2 of the IRB laws has to do with the shape and dimensions of the ball, they are pretty stringent and dont allow for much variation.

The Italians use a smaller ball apparently.

[TOCC]

I noticed it in Rome 2006 it was a ball made by lotto but was like an old style rugby ball which was more rounded... It also bounces differently...

the balls are allowed to be made of different material including leather and synthetic materials, all in all this could easily be the reason they bounce differently. The circumference of the ball still has to meet IRB regulations.

The Italians use a smaller ball apparently.

Length in line 280 - 300 millimetres
Circumference (end to end) 740 - 770 millimetres
Circumference (in width) 580 - 620 millimetres

These are the limitations of the size of the balls to be used in rugby union dictated by the IRB.

There are also rules as to what pressure the ball is supposed to be pumped to, as i said before there isnt much variation allowed in regards to the ball.