RWC: Australia v Fiji - 23 September 16:45, Millenium Stadium(24 September 1:45 AEST)

[BDA]

If I were Fiji

vs England - strongest side (opening ceremony, eyes on them)
vs Aus - 2nd string, concede (5 day turnaround)
vs Wales - strongest side, target a win (8 day turnaround)
vs Uruguay - best as possible, last game of the year (5 day turnaround)

Well from an australian perspective i like that approach. Not sure id use the word 'concede' though. The reality is that if fiji lose that first game (which is likely) theyll need to go for broke

 

[Omar Comin']

I don't agree. Two big games in five days for their first XV is a risk they don't need to take. Aiming to top the pool by beating all four teams is unrealistic.

People genuinely fancying Fiji's chances should get on them now. A sly $100 will net you $50,000 to win the pool. A motzer! Qualifying will net you $3,300. I'm on them vs. England with the 27 point start.

They just competed in the Pacific Nations Cup with similar turn arounds and were fine. Playing the first 2 games 5 days apart isn't some crazy risk for players, especially as a one off. They just have to focus solely on recovery and prehab. They'll only really need to rotate players who don't pull up well. Most players will be perfectly fine.

I have a little bet on Fiji to beat England at 50/1 on betfair. Someone matched me that high which was nice of them.

 

[Groucho]

They just competed in the Pacific Nations Cup with similar turn arounds and were fine. Playing the first 2 games 5 days apart isn't some crazy risk for players, especially as a one off. They just have to focus solely on recovery and prehab. They'll only really need to rotate players who don't pull up well. Most players will be perfectly fine.

I have a little bet on Fiji to beat England at 50/1 on betfair. Someone matched me that high which was nice of them.

I hope you win that, Omar Comin'. I'd love to see it.

 

[Red-L]

do we know what day the team is supposed to be announced ?

 

[RugbyReg]

not this week at least.

 

[Braveheart81]

Monday evening/night Sydney time would seem likely. Naming the side two days before the game seems pretty standard for the Wallabies now.

 

[Viking]

Is there a required time they need to name the team by?

If I were Cheika I'd wait till just before the game. Only reason to name it before is for the Australian media.

 

[Braveheart81]

Is there a required time they need to name the team by?

If I were Cheika I'd wait till just before the game. Only reason to name it before is for the Australian media.

I couldn't find anything specific for the RWC. I think it might be 48 hours before the game in general.

SANZAR has those requirements for both Super Rugby and tests.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Just had another look ahead at the quarter finals and it just shows you how huge it would be to finish on top of this group. If we finished top then we would most likely play Scotland or Samoa in the QF and then Ireland/France or Argentina in the Semi. We would avoid NZ/SA/England until the final.

 

[Viking]

Just had another look ahead at the quarter finals and it just shows you how huge it would be to finish on top of this group. If we finished top then we would most likely play Scotland or Samoa in the QF and then Ireland/France or Argentina in the Semi. We would avoid NZ/SA/England until the final.

Just imagine if we come second in the group to England, beat SA in the quarters, beat NZ in the semi and then go on to avenge our lose and beat England in the final.

Now that would be an amazing RWC.

 

[dillyboy]

^ that sounds too stressful for my liking - I'd rather do it the easy way....

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Just had another look ahead at the quarter finals and it just shows you how huge it would be to finish on top of this group. If we finished top then we would most likely play Scotland or Samoa in the QF and then Ireland/France or Argentina in the Semi. We would avoid NZ/SA/England until the final.

That would be the reward for winning the group of death and rightly so.

 

[qwerty51]

Just imagine if we come second in the group to England, beat SA in the quarters, beat NZ in the semi and then go on to avenge our lose and beat England in the final.

Now that would be an amazing RWC.

We should get two WCs for that.

 

[Tex]

Just imagine if we come second in the group to England, beat SA in the quarters, beat NZ in the semi and then go on to avenge our lose and beat England in the final.

Now that would be an amazing RWC.

Mates I stand by the ethos of "anyone but fucking England", so I'll happily take your hypothetical, as long as it means we lost to Fiji in a 50-51 shootout and win all of our other matches.

Win the final against England at Twickenham, call a snap referendum and finally fuck off from the soap dodgers.

That would be a mighty, mighty tournament.

 

[Viking]

Or we could draw against England and come second on points difference- let's say we got a red card and some minor injuries which made us play poorly.

Then we go on to win it.

Would surely be the greatest RWC win of all time.

 

[terry j]

doesn't matter HOW, surely being the first to win RWC three times would qualify as the greatest

 

[Viking]

doesn't matter HOW, surely being the first to win RWC three times would qualify as the greatest

I agree. But if we do lose the group stages its not the end of the world as it will potentially set us up for one the greatest RWC wins of all time! (beating ranked teams 1,2,3 and the home nation)

I'm thinking optimistically about all scenarios

 

[the sabanator]

Having a look at the photos from the Wallabies ND training camp and the comments by Bernie Larkham, I'm expecting our 'Best XV' for the Fiji game to look like:

1. Sio
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Douglas
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Pocock
9. Phipps
10. Foley
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. Kuridrani
14. Ashley-Cooper
15. Folau

Slipper, TPN, Genia, Holmes all bench locks. Then it comes down to To'omua, Beale, Cooper for the 1 of 1 or 2 backs on the bench and skelton/mumm for the second row and mccalman or palu for the loose cover.

 

[Viking]

I think To'omua will start over Gits.

Cooper is a starter or not in the 23, and let's be honest Beale is the most likely player to be on the bench.

 

[Red-L]

I still have hope we will see a Genia/Cooper/To'omua inside combo against Fiji. However it seems unlikely