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RWC 2019 1/4 Final England vs Australia

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
Your commitment to finding ways not to select Michael Hooper is truly incredible Brumby Runner.

True, BH, I am committed to the view that Poey is a better No 7 than Michael, and that the Wallabies only need one of them in the game day 23. In one or two more games after Poey retires, there will be no debate about Michael H being the number 7 and captain until someone like Liam Wright or Fraser McReight reach and exceed his capability (which I think is inevitable in time because they both have more potential to play as traditional No 7s than how Michael plays). I do concede that the debate about Pocock and Hooper is really only alive to a few of us dedicated posters who prefer the No 7 to be hitting rucks, slowing down opposition ball or pilfering.
 

formerflanker

Ken Catchpole (46)
Don't know what's up with Poey, recently he seems to die with the tackle a bit more. He used to be so springy in defence, if he tackles someone or gets knocked down in the ruck, normally he'd be back on his feet straight away. Maybe players are keeping him down more, but he's not so great at bouncing back up.

Lack of test match level fitness.
 

vissievisa

Bob McCowan (2)
V.Issievisa, I really, REALLY want to believe your posts but damnit


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Lols. I hear you.

But hey, I predicted Garces, England's man gets the qf. Maybe you'll have more faith when Poite gets the final. Then i'll turn water into wine and there will be bread a lake trout there, and you might actually start to believe i know what im talking about.
 

vissievisa

Bob McCowan (2)
The appointment of Ben Skeen is surely a golden opportunity for an officiating controversy and NZ to get one back against England for the Cricket World Cup Final.

I don't think Garces refereeing is necessarily a bad thing. He was the referee when we played NZ in Perth this year. He is likely to let more go at the breakdown and I would certainly start Pocock alongside Hooper on that basis.


How can you say that about Skeen given what he ignored in your game v Wales, that was done by Wales.

Garces is a fine ref, i genuinely mean that. Except when you're facing England or Saracens and he's in the middle.

They both have a 90%+ win rate with him reffing in 6 nations and heineken cup, since he went pro. And he keeps getting the big gigs. And referee appointments have ZERO transparency, in all compoetitions, and until it changes you will see more r*ape, for the big teams that control selection. If anyone needs the complete stats with match reports on Garces pm me, its all very clear.
 

KOB1987

Rod McCall (65)
Fox via Doran reporting we’ll be naming:

13. Petaia
14. Hodge
15. Beale (DHP if he fails HIA)

23. JOC (James O'Connor)
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
I think it really depends on the ref and how they interpret the breakdown. I couldn't help thinking watching the Scotland V Japan game that Pocock would have carved it up.

But then his turnovers against Fiji (i think it was Fiji) were penalised which seemed legal at first glace.

You may be right, but I think only slightly tougher - certainly not enough to drop a specialist fetcher, especially one regarded the best in the world - if he was in form.

I think his form is the bigger issue regarding his selection, I wouldn't even be considering the laws if he was playing in his previous years form.


The way the rules are being interpreted, turnovers are being spread across the team and are less about one specialist player.

We not are seeing any fetcher get those days of 5,6 or 7 turnovers - we are lauding when they get 2.
 

Try-ranosaurus Rex

Darby Loudon (17)
That would be dumb


Care to explain why it's dumb? As in throwing a lamb into a Lion's den?

I actually think it's a well considered selection. We're not going to win this game without taking some measured risks.

I know it's only Super Rugby, but in the limited time Petaia and Kerevi had to show their wares, they were the most damaging centre partnership we've seen in Aussie rugby for a long time.

JOC (James O'Connor) has hardly been setting the world on fire either. Kuridrani and Kerevi provides you next to nil balance in the centres.

This could fail, it could be a stroke of genius. I don't want to die wondering on this game.

F&ck it. Petaia for Man of the Match and to sit Tuilagi's arse down!
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
So are we looking at this side today?

1. Sio
2. Latu
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Arnold
5. Rodda
6. Pocock
7. Hooper
8. Naisarani
9. Genia
10. Leali'ifano
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Petaia
14. Hodge
15. Beale

16. Uelese 17. Slipper 18. Tupou 19. Coleman 20. Dempsey 21. White 22. To'omua 23. JOC (James O'Connor)
 

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
U
Care to explain why it's dumb? As in throwing a lamb into a Lion's den?

I actually think it's a well considered selection. We're not going to win this game without taking some measured risks.

I know it's only Super Rugby, but in the limited time Petaia and Kerevi had to show their wares, they were the most damaging centre partnership we've seen in Aussie rugby for a long time.

JOC (James O'Connor) has hardly been setting the world on fire either. Kuridrani and Kerevi provides you next to nil balance in the centres.

This could fail, it could be a stroke of genius. I don't want to die wondering on this game.

F&ck it. Petaia for Man of the Match and to sit Tuilagi's arse down!
undercooked injury prone youngster who has never played 13 at international level In against England in a quarterfinal.

At the very least it means we need a bench player that can cover 13.

I'd just play him on the wing.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
It's probably stating the obvious, but it's hard to say how dumb the Petaia selection may or may not be until Saturday.

It MAY be a genius selection in the Larkham-to-10 mould, or it could be the last desperate gasp of a team that has lost its way.

All I know is it's a bloody big risk for such an important game. As much for the cohesion element as it is the blooding of a new player - the Kerevi/JOC (James O'Connor) was as settled a combo as we've had in the centres for a long while.
.
 

formerflanker

Ken Catchpole (46)
Care to explain why it's dumb? As in throwing a lamb into a Lion's den?

I actually think it's a well considered selection. We're not going to win this game without taking some measured risks.

I know it's only Super Rugby, but in the limited time Petaia and Kerevi had to show their wares, they were the most damaging centre partnership we've seen in Aussie rugby for a long time.

JOC (James O'Connor) has hardly been setting the world on fire either. Kuridrani and Kerevi provides you next to nil balance in the centres.

This could fail, it could be a stroke of genius. I don't want to die wondering on this game.

F&ck it. Petaia for Man of the Match and to sit Tuilagi's arse down!

At least Cheika is consistent. He always emphasises the importance of training and that is where these combinations will have been tried out.
It's a big gamble and the payoff is a semi final berth. England will have precious little analysis of Petaia's work in the centres so he will be an unknown, unprepared-for player.
Or it's just a pre game ploy to unsettle Jones.
 

Forcefield

Ken Catchpole (46)
Happy to eat my hat on this but.... this could be the first World Cup where we don't actually play one good game. Everything has been highly underwhelming thus far and the weekend's selections (Beale, Petaia) are so mindless that we appear to be set for an almighty implosion. England by 20+.
 
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