RWC 2015 Semi Final 2 - Australia v Argentina Twickenham, Monday 19 October, 2:45 AEDT

[Omar Comin']

Yeah, I think it was a great performance. We kept one of the best attacking teams in the tournament tryless, the team that carved up the best defensive side in the 6 Nations last week. And they threw a lot at us. 13 clean breaks to 7. We scrambled amazingly well and were clinical when we had our chances. We're now in the final and have every chance of winning!

The AB's have only looked really good in one match this tournament and the core of their team are on old legs. Keiran Read hasn't been in the best of form. We can do this!

 

[Brumby Runner]

Even as a Wallaby supporter i can accept that many of those penalties were deserved.. Argentina played a good game and i definitely don't think that it was just Barnes which was keeping them in the game, they deserve more credit then that.

I disagree. I like the way the Argies play and they have been particularly good in this RWC, but Barnes was simply atrocious with his scrumm rulings and just as much allowing the Argies to lie across the back of the ruck without penalising them. IMO the worst refereeing display of the whole RWC.

But a huge congratulations to Argentina for making it to the semis. Well deserved.

 

[jollyswagman]

What's going on with our scrum? Argies are good but so are England and Wales..

Slipper's confidence is shot from last week Q. Poor body height in most of the scrums and wasn't able to make the adjustments Barnes was asking for. I am hoping we see Sio back next week as we can't afford a bunch of scrum penalties.

 

[southsider]

I disagree. I like the way the Argies play and they have been particularly good in this RWC, but Barnes was simply atrocious with his scrumm rulings and just as much allowing the Argies to lie across the back of the ruck without penalising them. IMO the worst refereeing display of the whole RWC.

But a huge congratulations to Argentina for making it to the semis. Well deserved.

Can also add crooked line out throws

 

[JJJ]

What's going on with our scrum? Argies are good but so are England and Wales..

England and Wales aren't very good at the moment. Wales relied on the hit too much (remember Adam Jones?), and England on Corbisero and dodgy angles. France wrecked the English scrum in the warm-ups. The current English locks are pretty scrawny for a traditional English pack.

But my take was that the Argies didn't take the hit on their feed. They held off, knowing we'd want to start strongly. Seemed like the scrumhalf had no intention of putting the ball in. Then on our feed they attacked because the team with the put-in is at a disadvantage. So after we'd been penalized a few times for pushing early on their feed (the feed we could most easily attack) and they'd put some pressure on us on our feed a few times (the feed they could most easily attack) Wayne had made up his mind. Although we did finally nail the buggers at least once towards the end of the match on their put-in. Nowhere they could hide then.

I'd like to think our guys will learn from this, but how do you respond when a team backs off on the hit? Take it down? Seems like there is no other option.

 

[Cpt Crow Eater]

Slipper's confidence is shot from last week Q. Poor body height in most of the scrums and wasn't able to make the adjustments Barnes was asking for. I am hoping we see Sio back next week as we can't afford a bunch of scrum penalties.

Agree with this.

I am very concerned that our most capped prop ever is being dished up doing his core job.

I doubt we'll see Sio back, but God, Slipper needs to lift for next week

 

[Pfitzy]

Saw the last 15 minutes. We look rooted.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Watching a replay so apologies if this has been dissected: was giteau a tactical or injury sub?

 

[RugbyReg]

Gits was injured.

 

[Scotty]

David Pocock - man love coming.

Even though he was up against it. Calf injury and a Referee who was heavily favouring the attacking side. He just had the most dominating breakdown performance I have seen in a World Cup match.

He must have one 4-5 turnovers, plus would have had another 3 or so penalties with a 'standard' refereeing interpretation at the breakdown. Not to mention the dominant tackling and slowing of the Pumas ball.

There were those that doubted he'd ever be back for the Wallabies after his second knee operation (plenty of which are on this site), but they were applying 'normal' person rules to David Pocock.

He is not at all a normal person. The rules don't apply. What a performance.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Every time Phipps plays now Genia further cements his starting spot.

 

[JJJ]

I think we need either parity in the scrums or Foley to kick his goals to win this. Both would be preferable, but if we don't have either then I wouldn't like our chances.

Delighted to be wrong

 

[TahDan]

Every time Phipps plays now Genia further cements his starting spot.

Did he really? Phipps put on a bad pass early on, but fuck me if Genia didn't do some stupid shit in that second half... 90% of his kicks achieved nothing.

 

[qwerty51]

Phipps passing sucks, Genia's kicking sucks.. What to do.

 

[TahDan]

Phipps passing sucks, Genia's kicking sucks.. What to do.

This is true. If only we could some how combine them to create a Nic White type player...

 

[Marcelo]

LOL - I think the Wallabies will be in a lot of trouble if they give the ABs the same amount of chances and opportunities

Well, the reality is one. Argentina made a try against the ABs in the first half. Against the Wallabies they couldn't

 

[fatprop]

Did he really? Phipps put on a bad pass early on, but fuck me if Genia didn't do some stupid shit in that second half. 90% of his kicks achieved nothing.

I thought Genia was very good today, he was a calming influence out there, although he ran out of gas towards the end of his shift.

I thought Phipps was pretty good as well, one average pass? Shit, we have some harsh scorers out there

 

[TSR]

Phipps passing sucks, Genia's kicking sucks.. What to do.

Some of Genia's kicking is fine. Some just lacks a good chase. But he seems to take too long and pick some bad times too often.

 

[JJJ]

The only time I got the shits with Genia this match was one time when Folau got isolated behind the gain line and Genia didn't look at all interested in receiving an emergency offload. Looked like he was slowly jogging towards him. It may have just been a camera angle making him look a lot closer than he was.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Did he really? Phipps put on a bad pass early on, but fuck me if Genia didn't do some stupid shit in that second half. 90% of his kicks achieved nothing.

Phipps started badly but for once recovered to put Mitchell away.
Genia's kicking is a bit of a joke but i thought he was good today.
At 65 minutes I thought "Cheika isn't prepared to put Phipps on here because the game is in the balance". Phipps might be thinking the same and thats adding to the problem.
We looked like the tank was 1/4 full: 20 minutes v NZ wont cut it but, FFS, we've made a final that for 8 years our coaches conspired to make us miss.
We have come back from the abyss and I dips me lid to all involved since this time last year.