RWC: AUS v ENG (Twickenham): POOL A; 6am (AEDT) Sunday 4 October

[Quick Hands]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...uls-so-they-should-shut-up-about-England.html

Shots fired.


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G&GR in the thick of RWC action.

A couple of noteworthy things - firstly he acknowledges that Marler's set up is illegal, but then offers the excuse that it doesn't advantage England??? I also not that he didn't cite the more egregious illegalities of the England rolling mau - see penatly try given to England v Fiji which should have been penalty to Fiji for turck and trailer.

 

[Quick Hands]

Can't agree with that. Foley played at first receiver off structured play most of the time. Beale played the unstructured playmaker role, suiting his particular strengths. Foley ran the backline and called the plays, not Beale. Cheika would hardly be using Foley in that role now if Beale did that job at the Tahs. Unless we're still counting Cheika's IQ on our fingers.

That's 100% correct, at the start of that year when Beale ran the backline and overcalled Foley too often it didn't work. It worked when Foley ran the backline and Beale only overcalled on rare occasions.

 

[I like to watch]

Why would any Wallaby WANT to make the England team? #RevokeTheirCitizenship

As silly as suggesting that not one Randwick (or Sunnybank) player would make (or want to make) the Balmain Subbies Team.

Met any good buses lately, Danny?

Is that the same Danny who couldn't crack it in the Melbourne Rebels squad when they were considered a human bye?
Some might consider him an expert in the field of not being good enough!
What happened to their usual media big mouth,that useless Austin someone,that apparently played for them previously?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The English Rugby Press summed up here:

Brian Moore sounding like the Conservative Party Candidate at 1:09 in the clip.

 

[Braveheart81]

Is that the same Danny who couldn't crack it in the Melbourne Rebels squad when they were considered a human bye?
Some might consider him an expert in the field of not being good enough!
What happened to their usual media big mouth,that useless Austin someone,that apparently played for them previously?

I'm somewhat embarrassed to say I watched it, but there was a video of JOC (James O'Connor) and Cipriani on Skype to each other and JOC (James O'Connor) brought up that issue.

Cipriani's response was that he was asked if he had to replace one member of the English team with a Wallaby which Wallaby we would he take and he said no one because he supports his teammates.

I think his answer would have been quite different if he'd been asked to come up with a combined team.

 

[Mr Doug]

I regard myself as a realist.
I therefore suggest the following: There are two teams of similar ability involved in this match. They will both be playing on the same field under the same weather conditions, (and hopefully), under the same refereeing conditions.
So what will separate them, (other than the number of points on the scoreboard at full-time)?

IMHO, it will be the ability to handle the pressure surrounding this match, (aka, nerves)!
Am I being too simplistic in suggesting that this match may be lost by a dropped high-ball, a knock-on, an incorrect lineout or scrum feed, or a botched penalty kick or attempted conversion, all as a result of the importance of this match?

 

[Joe Blow]

Youngs over Moore/TPN, Wood over Fardy, Brown over Folau

Even AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) over Watson is pretty iffy

Surely someone is having a giggle

Surely Giteau is only a "gimme" because England have no inside center worth mentioning? He hasn't been bad but I don't quite understand the serious wraps he's been getting the last few weeks.

It's easy to understand because he has dominated European rugby for a good number of years. On top of that Johnny W has endorsed him as the best player in the game, more than once.
The Orcs will come out firing and our boys will need to weather the storm.
Matt Giteau knows these blokes very well. He will have a lot to do with us winning. What the Orcs don't know is that we will maintain our intensity for the first 50-60 and then increase it.

 

[Quick Hands]

Is that the same Danny who couldn't crack it in the Melbourne Rebels squad when they were considered a human bye?
Some might consider him an expert in the field of not being good enough!
What happened to their usual media big mouth,that useless Austin someone,that apparently played for them previously?

They're both part of that rich fabric of English rugby which makes them so easy to dislike.

Plenty of good people in English rugby, but far too many of the Healy/Cipriani variety.

 

[Viking]

Can't agree with that. Foley played at first receiver off structured play most of the time. Beale played the unstructured playmaker role, suiting his particular strengths. Foley ran the backline and called the plays, not Beale. Cheika would hardly be using Foley in that role now if Beale did that job at the Tahs. Unless we're still counting Cheika's IQ on our fingers.

So Foley called all the plays that involved him shuffling on the ball to Beale and Folau to do all the work. I am yet to see Foley put some-one into a hole with a nice inside ball or well worked pass. He lacks vision.
His playmaking involves either:
1. Making a break himself then offloading
2. Relying on others to make a break and then be there in support.
He is quite good at though. I've said this many times but if his defence was solid he'd make a very good 12.

And no this is not an argument for Cooper V Foley but let's be realistic, Foley is the weakest link in this back-line and has the most responsibility. I'm worried.

Although I still think we can win with him but I'm annoyed we don't have better (still living in the Larkham days I guess).

 

[JJJ]

If ITV were ever going to get really dodgy with camera footage shenanigans aimed at influencing the refs, this would be the game for it. Millions on the line for them. Probably tens of millions. And who's to stop them?

 

[Pedrolicus]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/r...o-danny-cipriani/story-e6frf4pu-1227555220373

Fox sports australia do an alternative mixed 15. That link also contains their world cup podcast which talks about Matt's article and name checks the site a bunch of times.

 

[TahDan]

Wow... you have to love the English. Not even players in our League team would say that about England in an League test, and the poms haven't won a series v Australia for 50 years in that game!

Seriously, if we win it'll be just so much sweeter now.

 

[USARugger]

It's easy to understand because he has dominated European rugby for a good number of years. On top of that Johnny W has endorsed him as the best player in the game, more than once.
The Orcs will come out firing and our boys will need to weather the storm.
Matt Giteau knows these blokes very well. He will have a lot to do with us winning. What the Orcs don't know is that we will maintain our intensity for the first 50-60 and then increase it.

That's all well and good but his test form in 2015 has hardly reached those levels, which is why the continued adoration he's received from the rugby press has confused me.

 

[Braveheart81]

That's all well and good but his test form in 2015 has hardly reached those levels, which is why the continued adoration he's received from the rugby press has confused me.

The Wallabies backline defence has been much better since he returned. I think that is a big part of it.

I agree he needs to be more involved in attack. Our default option can't be to pass it out the back to Folau.

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[Brumby Runner]

The Wallabies backline defence has been much better since he returned. I think that is a big part of it.

I agree he needs to be more involved in attack. Our default option can't be to pass it out the back to Folau.

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Really don't agree BH. Even if so, not right to attribute the improvement to Giteau. The competition for the 12 spot is Matt To'omua who is a clearly better tackler and defender.

 

[Braveheart81]

Really don't agree BH. Even if so, not right to attribute the improvement to Giteau. The competition for the 12 spot is Matt To'omua who is a clearly better tackler and defender.

He's a better dominant tackler but I'd question whether his overall completion rate is better.

I really don't think he's a better overall defender. I also tend to think Giteau is driving the backline communication in defence and that is why he is starting.

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[Viking]

He's a better dominant tackler but I'd question whether his overall completion rate is better.

I really don't think he's a better overall defender. I also tend to think Giteau is driving the backline communication in defence and that is why he is starting.

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Gee it would be close! To'omua is a great defender, occasionally gets caught out going for the big hits - which Gits doesn't attempt because be can't do them.

Although I suspect Gits may have the edge as I'm pretty sure Lilo is the guy at the Brumbies who drives the back-line defensive communication.

I doubt the margin is large enough for that to be the reason he is starting. I think its the simply fact that To'omua is similar to Foley in attack, both straighten the line, Gits is more of an elusive runner who offers more balance outside Foley.

Also, To'omua played himself out of contention with his poor starts this season.

 

[jollyswagman]

He's a better dominant tackler but I'd question whether his overall completion rate is better.

I really don't think he's a better overall defender. I also tend to think Giteau is driving the backline communication in defence and that is why he is starting.

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I think you hit the nail on the head BH, and to take that point a little further, I believe this thinking is why we see the 10/12 pairings in the A&B side like we do. The combinations of Foley/Gits & Cooper/To'omua seem to me to be more complementary to one another on attack and defense than any other alternate arrangement. I believe the pairings have been selected as a combination and tend to think there is very little between the two of them. What will be very interesting to see is which pairing gets a run next week, dependent on this weeks result of course.

 

[jollyswagman]

16 hours and counting!

 

[Pedrolicus]

Anyone gonna make predictions? No qualifying or nothing. Just straight.

I'm saying 32 -18 wallabies.