Official Rugby Thread

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England yes

Oz no - this match alone will dent their confidence. They started tonight's match with a hiss and roar because they believed in themselves and that soon fell away. Self belief is critical.

The other reason I am not tipping Oz after tonight is Australia don't know their combinations because they used different line ups in each match. Players must get to know each other. And Pocock in particular needs a few tests in the 8 jersey to get better at the technical facets. Tonight he could have benefitted from getting a full 80 minutes.

My first post was wrong as it should've said that the ABs were still favourites but I rank the non-bathers and us beside them

I might be wrong but I'm not that concerned about last night's result as most people should recognise that the Wallabies didn't field their best lineup

However, it will be a major concern if stiffs like White, Palu, Skelton & Cooper maintain run on spots

 

[Hurricane]

Then I agree with all your insightful points

 

[Hurricane]

I like having my say on the Silver Fern as well. Right now a serious inquiry and finger pointing are going over the Folau try. It is quite funny. We won comfortably and the locals are upset with giving up that try.

 

[hendrix]

I might be wrong but I'm not that concerned about last night's result as most people should recognise that the Wallabies didn't field their best lineup

Well yeah, but this is also the first time this year that the ABs have fielded even close to their best lineup. It's been 2nd, sometimes even third string teams the whole way through the season.

I do believe that this is the first time Carter, Nonu and Smith have played together all year.

 

[WalkingWicket]

Anyone see England play France? Don't know whether it was on TV or not, but the reports on the BBC aren't great. Were we any good?

 

[ripper868]

I was there. If France could hold the ball you would have lost, they squandered at least 4 good opportunites through poor handling, plus they missed a try as the winger missed the ball. Pretty sure it would have been on BBC, so you should be able to watch it on catch up.

 

[marc71178]

Was on Sky. Alway pleasing to beat the Frogs. One or 2 enhanced their reputation, but the mullet on the reserve hooker was only the 2nd worst thing about his appearance...

 

[andruid]

Wales for World Cup glory anyone?

 

[ripper868]

Was on Sky. Alway pleasing to beat the Frogs. One or 2 enhanced their reputation, but the mullet on the reserve hooker was only the 2nd worst thing about his appearance...

Ah fair, I've little idea about UK TV. Yep, saw the mullet at the captains run, it's impressively bad. I imagine you'd need a trip to 1970's Bundaberg to find something else quite like it..

 

[marc71178]

Wales for World Cup glory anyone?

Could struggle to get out of the group to be honest. Was at the Millenium Stadium for the Ireland game and their reserves are seriously weak.

 

[WalkingWicket]

Wales for World Cup glory anyone?

Agree with above, getting out of the group will be a task in itself. We should beat them at Twickenham. Think its a bit off that Wales get to play twice at the Millennium, as it is, after all, a World Cup in England, but at least they play Oz and us at Twickenham. Their pack is always decent, and they have some outstanding individual performers in North (when he's not concussed), Warbourton, Hibbard, Lydiate etc. their match vs Australia will be the pick of the Group Stage games, IMO. Decides the second quarter finalist after England.

Two of my best mates are Welsh, so I love to see them lose. Hope they don't make it through. But I reckon they might. My sheltered, terrified-of-the-southern-hemisphere mind still thinks NZ will win it. Beating us in the final (unless the French knock out the Kiwis first).

 

[ripper868]

Hibbard was just dropped from the Welsh squad so don't expect to see hime come RWC time - he's back training in Gloucester.

In Super Rugby news the Reds have re-signed Richard graham. gahhh. Another bottome 2 finish coming up!

 

[social]

Hibbard was just dropped from the Welsh squad so don't expect to see hime come RWC time - he's back training in Gloucester.

In Super Rugby news the Reds have re-signed Richard graham. gahhh. Another bottome 2 finish coming up!

20 applicants, ZERO interviews and they re-appoint a guy with a 28% win rate

WTF are they thinking?

Reds' FB a/c has so far deleted more than 2200 abusive messages

 

[ripper868]

Yeah it's atrocious. I'm a staunch Reds man, and will still be supporting the team, but I honestly think that opening game next year they'll be lucky to get 10,000 through the gates.

 

[WalkingWicket]

Watched the highlights of England vs France, and whilst we didn't look amazing (like, WC winning amazing), I think Burgess has to be in the squad. Even if he doesn't start, he will be huge (literally) to have on the bench, as, like Cipriani, he is exactly the kind of X-Factor you want to come on with 15 minutes left in a quarter-final and you're 4 points down. His size and strength will mean he'll always be a threat to defenders, and his use as a decoy player may even be more useful than as a direct ball-carrying force. Our backs looked good, particularly Watson; great feet and great pace; he's really developing, although his defence needs to improve if he is to be World Class. Jonny May is just really quick, that's about it, and I still prefer Ford over Farrell. My backline vs Fiji would be as follows:

Youngs
Ford

Watson
Burrell
Joseph
May
Brown

 

[Burgey]

I just want say, I've posted some pretty ordinary ****e in this thread over the years (as well as every other one tbf) but I really enjoyed watching the Bledisloe Cup matches and am looking forward to the WC. Massive, massive kudos to McCaw on breaking the all time Test record. The bloke is a freak. Massive admiration for the ABs as a team and a culture.

Spent about an hour pre-game chatting with family about how NZ has seemingly always (from a distance, mind you) embraced the Maori culture and how Australia could learn a lot from it. It's great thing they have going.

 

[marc71178]

Are we getting a separate subforum for the World Cup? Seem to remember we had one last time?

 

[Hurricane]

Wallabies World Cup squad: Stephen Moore (c), Adam Ashley-Cooper, Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Greg Holmes, Rob Horne, Sekope Kepu, Tevita Kuridrani, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Drew Mitchell, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu-Polota-Nau, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua

Genia back

 

[hendrix]

Excellent decision. Sanity prevails.

 

[WalkingWicket]

England looking garbage in the first 30 against France. 12-3 down and we've conceded endless penalties. English pack - scrum, line-outs, general play - is awful and the French are all over us. Dismal stuff, doesn't bode well for the WC.