RWC: AUS v WAL (Twickenham): POOL A; 2:45am (AEDT) Sunday 11 October

[RedCard]

I think Gatland has picked the team that can do the most offensive damage. It's not a case of defend and hold on in there and hope to pinch it in the end. It is hard to contain the Aussie backs and backrow especially now they have set piece sorted. Bold move to take the game to Oz and hope it makes for a good match. Wales have been written off in the run up to the rwc but they are stronger than given credit for. Key big name players with injuries have shifted the gaze a little more than it should have done. Pack is pretty much full strength now and we have largely juggled backs to cope with a small drop in level. The likes of Biggar finding great for has lifted this loss a bit though. Outside centre has been the big concern with 4 players have been injured at certain stages there. Cuthbert just needs a good bounce early on to get some confidence and he might not be as dog shite in formation as he has been.

Oz is a frightening team right now and whoever wins this has a great run to the final. We have had some hard games in this group so both deserve some easier games if there are such a thing at this stage. Expect Oz to be to good but Wales could surprise if they get going early on. If the new back line struggles to gel it could be walk in the park for Oz.

 

[KOB1987]

So as we suspected like for like substitution between the A team and the B team. This is clever as it allows us to continue with our strategic set up rather than have to adapt to injuries. So everyone is covering for their 'superior', McCalman of course is now covering 2 positions (6 & 8).

You'd have to assume that Simmons has been dropped. Either that or we want to get the lineout under control without him there. Maybe they just felt that Mumm was going to feel left out as all the other NH players were starting.

 

[fatprop]

I am personally surprised that Sio is starting. Has started every game so far and will be needed in the finals series. Could have benefited from a short rest and Slipper is not a huge drop down at LHP, if at all.

Sio is rolling along nicely, I don't see the point of changing at this stage

Simmons is a strange one, but his tank may be less full, or that Mumm being less used may have just more energy for that extra 10 to 15 minutes of game time

As Gits said, everyone has has niggles by this stage, now we get to see who can put in a solid effort while wounded



Typos by SwiftKey, errors in tone by me

 

[maxdacat]

So what's the verdict on our half back box kicks after last weekend? Was that 2 charge downs in the game?

We seemed to get away with it but not sure that will wash against sterner opposition.

 

[dru]

I didnt say anyone in the Wallabies camp is talking it up, they could be, i don't know.

I'm talking about the media from both at home and in the UK who have been fapping over their performance from last week, a lot of articles have been pretty dismissive of the Welsh, but i think Wales have always presented a dangerous opponent and Gatland knows how to make his players lift for the big matches.

Are we possibly falling into the "English Fan Syndrome"?

Hope not. Looking forward to this game.

 

[Viking]

One thing is, England found a defence to him in the air. Don't try to catch the ball: just get a hand in there to spoil. That needs a counter-tactic.

I think that relies on having a good scrum. Counter-tactic = spoil the ball in the air then demolish Wales the scrum.

 

[Viking]

So what's the verdict on our half back box kicks after last weekend? Was that 2 charge downs in the game?

We seemed to get away with it but not sure that will wash against sterner opposition.

Yep 2. Genia needs more protection from his forwards at the ruck, but more importantly needs to execute them quicker. He is simply slow and predictable. When he did manage to get one away it was a beauty that had one bounce before finding touch - so I don't think he needs to completely knock them out of his game, just needs quicker execution.

 

[mudskipper]

Wales have made 6 changes. Gatlands been sleepless over thinking this one. He has lost team continuity. I'm pleased Cheik has made as little disruption to last weeks team positions as possible..

There is a first Test start for the New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe, who features at full-back, while Liam Williams returns after concussion on the wing and George North switches to outside-centre as Jamie Roberts’ midfield partner.

Elsewhere, the prop Paul James returns from injury and replaces Gethin Jenkins, Luke Charteris features at lock and the captain Sam Warburton moves to blindside flanker, with the openside Justin Tipuric handed a start.

North and Warburton both make positional switches, while the Scarlets prop Samson Lee returns to the front row, where he will pack down alongside James and the hooker Scott Baldwin.

Elsewhere, Gatland has retained an in-form half-back combination of Dan Biggar and Gareth Davies, but the flanker Dan Lydiate does not feature in the matchday 23, with Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty providing back-row bench cover.


http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/08/rugby-world-cup-2015-wales-announce-team-play-australia

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

TK on George North - that is worth the price of Admission alone... cannot wait for this one.

 

[Viking]

I think Cheika learned a valuable lesson from Bled 2, don't make unnecessary changes to the structures of a winning team.

 

[jollyswagman]

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I think Cheika learned a valuable lesson from Bled 2, don't make unnecessary changes to the structures of a winning team.

Nah - Im thinking that Cheika has had a long term plan and he planned to change that team whatever the consequences. i don't know what the plan is or was but a purpose is being revealed.
Example: Shovelling the ball to Izzie v Fiji. We scored 2 tries on inside breaks by the 10 against England because they drifted off Foley expecting wide ball.
Maybe I'm infatuated with him but I think you can't underestimate the wider purpose he may have.

 

[fatprop]

Yeah we get to enjoy a seriously aggressive rush defense again, with much more threat at the breakdown

It will be interesting to see how the cleanout (more units required equal less at that next ruck) and then the subsequent ruck clearance speed is affected

 

[Braveheart81]

It will be interesting to see how the two backrows go with Joubert refereeing.

He's traditionally a referee that doesn't allow a lot of slowing down at the ruck and probably favours the attacking team more than most (certainly more than the northern hemisphere referees).

With essentially four opensides starting, both sides will be looking to go hard at the ball but I expect Joubert will be pretty strict on the three big things of competing at the breakdown:

a) clear release
b) not bridging past the ball and therefore not supporting their bodyweight
c) beating the ruck to get their hands on the ball

 

[Mr Doug]

So who will be calling the lineout calls...Douglas?

No mate, I'll just be watching, like the rest of us!!

 

[Pfitzy]

I think Cheika learned a valuable lesson from Bled 2, don't make unnecessary changes to the structures of a winning team.

No, he learned that giving players game time is important in a RWC year.

 

[wamberal]

I think Cheika learned a valuable lesson from Bled 2, don't make unnecessary changes to the structures of a winning team.

Are you serious? Chubby does nothing without thinking it through, that much we can be absolutely sure about. Ditto Stephen Larkham, who would have had a big say in backline selections.

Bled 2 was important, but not as important as working out whether or not Cooper was to be our first-choice 10 in the big World Cup games.

 

[Groucho]

So what's the verdict on our half back box kicks after last weekend? Was that 2 charge downs in the game?

We seemed to get away with it but not sure that will wash against sterner opposition.

It'll undoubtedly be sorted.

 

[Groucho]

View attachment 7023

Interesting quote, but it's hardly correct. Grinding style? Despite a newly successful scrum, our current plan is still based around speed of execution.

 

[Blue]

Caaarrnnnnn Straya!!!!!!

Right up them and keep on going straight through!

No stopping for sightseeing.