Pool A - Australia, England, Wales, Fiji, Uruguay

[social]

re: Pocock.

His running game has improved so much. Perhaps it was those knee reconstructions holding him back earlier as he was a bit of a one-dimensional player in my eyes but he's been massive lately. Consistently breaking the advantage line which is something I hadn't seen from him.

Certainly a form player.

His performance against SA in 2011 was arguably the greatest individual forward performance in WC history

It's not about form but fitness as the only thing standing between him and all time greatness is longevity IMO

BTW, I am not counting any chickens yet as I can see Oz going out in straight sets - lose to Wales and we play SA

Win next week and we should make the final & that will be a clash for the ages against the ABs

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

 

[Spark]

How on earth did he get that anyway? Wasn't even in my top three.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Rugby fans vote on the winner. From three candidates. Before the match has ended.

 

[Spark]

Well, England weren't even winning at any stage of the match, so...

 

[ripper868]

Yeah, think he was a bit embarrassed receiving that award.

Like Socail I owe Bernard an apology as well, he tore them to shreds. Genia was (in my live watching opinion anyway) getting towards his best again, passes were on the money and his direction to the pack was superb. Contrast with Phipps who threw 0 completions from 2 attempts for -70 metres and a gift 3 points when he came on. Mind he did settle well.

The other guy who deserves some love is Kurtley Beale - i still may not like him as a bloke, but gee he did well on the wing and at 15 when Izzy went off.

Can anyone tell me what happened last time we had a 10 named Bernie playing at 10 in a UK World Cup?

Now to beat Wales, lock in top spot and the 'easier' run to the final - though Argentina have been brilliant, and shouldn't be discounted (neither should the French or the Irish)

 

[91Jmay]

Michael Hooper banned for only one game for dangerous, yellow card at least worthy, no arm clear out. Clearly just because they don't want him out of the Quarter finals, bit of a joke given some of the bans given to smaller teams.

 

[ripper868]

Michael Hooper banned for only one game for dangerous, yellow card at least worthy, no arm clear out. Clearly just because they don't want him out of the Quarter finals, bit of a joke given some of the bans given to smaller teams.

Yeah, especially given Tom Wood is free to play for kicking a guys head in, Sam Burgess free to play for a high shot and Owen Farrell for a shoulder charge nowhere near the ball. Dan Cole as well for his shoulder on Bernard Foley. If you watch from both angles you'll see their is a hint of arms in Hoopers clean out, stupid as it was, and his cleanish record has helped as well in seeing it be only one week.

Do agree that the minnow teams have been harshly treated.

 

[marc71178]

Weren't some of those you mentioned classed as worthy of a yellow card and hence added to tournament tallies whereas Hooper's was classed as worthy of a red though?

 

[91Jmay]

Burgess was a yellow, Wood was lucky to escape a ban. Farrell's was a nonsense penalty/card as Aus back was long way offside. Dan Cole was barely a penalty.

Hooper could easily have seen red, was a shocking deliberate head-shot. Meanwhile Tuilagi has been banned 5 weeks for carrying the ball

 

[hendrix]

Tuilagi's ban is outrageous.

 

[social]

Tuilagi's ban is outrageous.

Length of ban maybe but unquestionably dangerous

Used to be common practice in league and they have attempted to stamp it out

Reckon he'd get 2 weeks in the NRL

 

[social]

Terrible match so far with Wales content to spoil and hoof it high at every opportunity and Oz having no continuity

 

[wpdavid]

Aus boys decide to make a game of it by going 13 against 15.

If Wales can't capitalise on this ....

 

[social]

Great win from Oz but too much one-out stuff from Wales when we were down to 13

Bizarro world when Oz have a dominant scrum, good goal-kicker and never really looked like scoring a try

 

[Spark]

Great win from Oz but too much one-out stuff from Wales when we were down to 13

Bizarro world when Oz have a dominant scrum, good goal-kicker and never really looked like scoring a try

In fairness, Wales gave away breakdown penalties every time we attacked the 22, so it's not like we got that many opportunities

 

[social]

In fairness, Wales gave away breakdown penalties every time we attacked the 22, so it's not like we got that many opportunities

Whilst the Oz cards were fair enough, you have to wonder how Wales got away with it as it seemed like a fairly blatant tactic

Reckon it worked against them in the end as they weren't able to play expansive rugby when they had the numerical advantage i.e. mindset was to spoil, keep it tight, etc and they couldn't change

 

[Spark]

Whilst the Oz cards were fair enough, you have to wonder how Wales got away with it as it seemed like a fairly blatant tactic

Reckon it worked against them in the end as they weren't able to play expansive rugby when they had the numerical advantage i.e. mindset was to spoil, keep it tight, etc and they couldn't change

Yeah the ref took an age to warn them about what they were pretty obviously doing IMO.

 

[Niall]

Awesome stuff from Aus when 13 men down, but no composure from Wales whatsoever, numerous chances to go wide when numerical advantage, North botched a try and turned down penalty points.

Australia have been the best side however so far, lovely draw now, bookies may disagree, but I think their is very very little between them and NZ.

 

[ripper868]

Wanted: 2 tickets to Aus v Scotland. In Return: 2 tickets to Wales v South Africa