RWC QF 4 AUS v SCO (Twickenham) 19th Oct 0200 AEDT

[Rugbynutter39]

Regarding selections for next week, you'd be tempted to rotate some of the forward pack but i think you have to treat each game like a world cup final. I'd keep changes to a minimum but i wouldn't be too concerned if Cheika started (for example) his bench front row, because we really lose no quality in my opinion.

Obviously if Pocock is 100% fit you have to play him, but i presume he'll be sitting this one out.

Re Folau I'll simply say this - he does seem to be going through a poor patch of form, which i assume is due to him carrying an injury. HOWEVER, even in his current form he's still more dangerous than most players on the field. He was uncharcteristically poor under the high ball but he still got us going forward on numerous occasions. If he's fit, as with Pocock, you play him. But again I suspect he'll need a week on the side line.

Yep - TK not exactly been at his best form - but as a player at step below his best form still offers a lot - just not that top 3 star billing he use to have - same goes for Folau. No way you would replace either but yes neither have hit their peak form.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Possibly already mentioned but each QF will be NH v SH & I reckon we've a good chance of a clean sweep....

Also re the possible/ notional Wobblies Grand Slam, AB's did it in '95: Ireland & Wales in the Pool, Scotland QF & England SF.

Final random thought/ question: in order to "Bring Back Bill" you'll need to beat five top-10 sides in consecutive matches: when did you last achieve that? Not saying it can't be done but you're going to need a charmed run in all respects, not least injury-wise.

Yes but at same time you could ask when did Australia have such a strong side as it currently has.....suggest similar answers...

I don't know about a charmed run - as from here on most of the sides have the same proposition - at least we are battle hardened....so far we have done ok on injuries as suitable backups etc....but then again I thought wales with their key injury losses would not get out of the pools...how I was so wrong on that front...

 

[Rugbynutter39]

If Beale starts because Folau is out the choice of who replaces him on the bench will come down to whether you are more looking for versatility or the ability to provide late spark. At the moment Beale is playing very well and providing both which is a huge asset to the side.

Cooper would provide more late spark but less versatility.

Mitchell more flexibility but less spark.

I'd have no issues bringing Cooper on in the last 15 minutes and having him notionally playing on the wing but acting as a potential first receiver/extra playmaker on attack. Ultimately this is what Beale has done against England and Wales.

I reckon chances of Cooper getting a bench spot is about as likely as Scotland going on to win the RWC - i.e. slim

 

[jollyswagman]

Ok, as much as I can appreciate the "don't change it if it aint broke approach' let's think a little more critically at what we have seen. One thing Cheika has successfully been able to do, among many, is build a true "sqaud" with good depth right across the field. I honestly do not feel that the is daylight between many of the 1st string players and the likely substitutes as many hear make it sound. Yes, there are a few exceptions when you consider how devastating it would be to lose Pocock or even Hooper but beyond those two I don't think it would be terminal for our chances on winning the whole shebang. We have seen consistent rotation through with our locks and all they have all played very well in general. After watching Skelton & Horwill during the early games of TRC, did anyone honestly foresee the current locking combinations? I believe what we are seeing play out before us is the result of a squad with huge belief in themselves as a group. I can't think of a single player in the B-Team that would make worried if they we called up to start next week. Wholesale changes?.......no, I am not advocating that but if Cheika trotted our QC (Quade Cooper) as the starting #10 next week I would could understand his thinking....(probably a poor example there and I will await the wrath)....but let's not forget what happened to the Darkness and their #10 crisis in 2011....4th string flyhalf called into the squad from his whitebait fishing trip to play in the final of the RWC. If Foley goes down in the semi-final I would expect that QC (Quade Cooper) is our backup and we could be looking at him not having played 1 minute of rugby in 4 weeks. The matches are not going to get any softer moving forward and we have been very lucky with our injuries so far. I am not disrespecting Scotland, and yes they have pipped us a couple of time over the last few years but that was then and this is now. Scotland have not shown anything this tournament that would come close to what has been thrown at us by Fiji, England or Wales. Scotland will be pumped up next week no doubt but I believe that we could run out a number of combinations and expect to get the win provided no one had a shocker and the bounce of the ball was not against us.

So to get back to my original point, we have a great sqaud with good depth, and to put all of our cookies into one basket at the expense of some player rotation is just as risky. I appreciate the Cheika mantra of only worrying about the next game but surely they must also be considering the mental and physical punishment the players have been through over the last couple of weeks. What we saw against Wales was more of a carnal determined effort not to let Wales score as opposed to the calculated dismantling of a team we witnessed with England.....is this a sign of mental fatigue or a hangover from last week? The Wallabies are on the right path and looking very good at the moment but there is a very long way to go. There are a few guys that could do with some rest and some others that could benefit from some game time off the bench especially if we are going to need to call upon them later on.

 

[Tangawizi]

Do they announce the match officials tomorrow?

With England out, can we request Wayne Barnes for the rest of the tournament?

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

 

[jollyswagman]

Do they announce the match officials tomorrow?

With England out, can we request Wayne Barnes for the rest of the tournament?

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

Be sure to ask them when we get the keys to Penny Hill Park too!

 

[Highlander35]

Nige! Nige! Nige! Nige!

 

[TOCC]

If a player is injured and likely to play below his capacity like Folau, then yeah rotate him out. But i don't think the quarter-finals is a game where you want to rest players for the sake of resting them.

The Wallabies are now at the point of the tournament where they have a 7 day recovery period between matches, the intense(short turnaround) part of the tournament is over.

So that been said, if Giteau, Folau and Pocock don't recover then bring in Beale, To'omua and McMahon/McCalman. But if Foley is 100% then i wouldn't rest him for the sake of it.

 

[mark_s]

Anyone know what time this game is on? Hoping it's a little more Aus friendly

 

[KOB1987]

Anyone know what time this game is on? Hoping it's a little more Aus friendly

Nope afraid not. This one is at 2am next Monday morning. If we make the semi and/or final they are both at 3am. The bronze medal playoff is at 7am, that is the only appealing thing about that option!


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[qwerty51]

Quarter: 2am Monday
Semi: 3am Monday
Final: 3am Sunday

AEDT.

 

[Highlander35]

Luckily you won't have to be watching the Wallabies after next week!

 

[RugbyReg]

Had this sent to me. Seems apt to help sharpen the focus!
View attachment 7035

Agreed. Wouldn't be mucking with the lineup unless injury. No resting nor rotation. Just hold on for 3 more games.

 

[ChargerWA]

Luckily you won't have to be watching the Wallabies after next week!

Your mother was a trout.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

3 more games or 4 more years.

Ask the NZL team what they'd prefer? They've tried resting blokes in QF before to save them for SF's.

Must. Win. Every. Game. From. Now. No. Favours. To. No. One.

 

[Quick Hands]

Correct, we're now into pick your best 23 territory. If they're fit to play, pick them, which I'm sure will be the policy that Cheika follows. Taking injured players into these matches isn't an option either, it's a 23 man game now at this level and because of the lead-up that Cheika has given them, we have good cover everywhere.

 

[Jellic87]

Got off a plane to China and was elated to read this result! Unfortunately i won't be able to watch the game for a week but from what I've read it was sensational defense. I didn't sleep a wink on the plane as i couldn't stop thinking about it!

How serious is the injury to Pocock? Are we talking no chance this weekend? That'd be a huge loss!

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Ok, as much as I can appreciate the "don't change it if it aint broke approach' let's think a little more critically at what we have seen. One thing Cheika has successfully been able to do, among many, is build a true "sqaud" with good depth right across the field. I honestly do not feel that the is daylight between many of the 1st string players and the likely substitutes as many hear make it sound. Yes, there are a few exceptions when you consider how devastating it would be to lose Pocock or even Hooper but beyond those two I don't think it would be terminal for our chances on winning the whole shebang. We have seen consistent rotation through with our locks and all they have all played very well in general. After watching Skelton & Horwill during the early games of TRC, did anyone honestly foresee the current locking combinations? I believe what we are seeing play out before us is the result of a squad with huge belief in themselves as a group. I can't think of a single player in the B-Team that would make worried if they we called up to start next week. Wholesale changes?...no, I am not advocating that but if Cheika trotted our QC (Quade Cooper) as the starting #10 next week I would could understand his thinking..(probably a poor example there and I will await the wrath)..but let's not forget what happened to the Darkness and their #10 crisis in 2011..4th string flyhalf called into the squad from his whitebait fishing trip to play in the final of the RWC. If Foley goes down in the semi-final I would expect that QC (Quade Cooper) is our backup and we could be looking at him not having played 1 minute of rugby in 4 weeks. The matches are not going to get any softer moving forward and we have been very lucky with our injuries so far. I am not disrespecting Scotland, and yes they have pipped us a couple of time over the last few years but that was then and this is now. Scotland have not shown anything this tournament that would come close to what has been thrown at us by Fiji, England or Wales. Scotland will be pumped up next week no doubt but I believe that we could run out a number of combinations and expect to get the win provided no one had a shocker and the bounce of the ball was not against us.

So to get back to my original point, we have a great sqaud with good depth, and to put all of our cookies into one basket at the expense of some player rotation is just as risky. I appreciate the Cheika mantra of only worrying about the next game but surely they must also be considering the mental and physical punishment the players have been through over the last couple of weeks. What we saw against Wales was more of a carnal determined effort not to let Wales score as opposed to the calculated dismantling of a team we witnessed with England...is this a sign of mental fatigue or a hangover from last week? The Wallabies are on the right path and looking very good at the moment but there is a very long way to go. There are a few guys that could do with some rest and some others that could benefit from some game time off the bench especially if we are going to need to call upon them later on.

You lost me with suggestion Cheika could put Quade in for the quarter final....re: knock out stages....

Then again what ever you are smoking maybe I should get on it as sounds one hell of a trip....

 

[Jellic87]

3 more games or 4 more years.

Ask the NZL team what they'd prefer? They've tried resting blokes in QF before to save them for SF's.

Must. Win. Every. Game. From. Now. No. Favours. To. No. One.

Couldn't agree more, there are no resting policies in RWC finals rugby. Have to field our best XV week in week out.

 

[Quick Hands]

Referees not appointed yet. Hopefully the 4 quarters will see Owen, Garces, Joubert and Barnes as the only referees allowed near a whistle from this point onwards.