Rugby (union) June Internationals 2016

[Niall]

Genuinely did not see that Ireland result coming, poor in the six nations, players out, smashed domestically, only sort of watching as real life was more pressing, but that looked a very average performance from South Africa.

 

[Niall]

Don't forget Ireland under 20s beat NZ as well, probably one of their all time great sporting days all things considered.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Didn't watch it but great effort from Ireland.

 

[Niall]

Aye Toner was a beast, father died 3 weeks ago and today was deservedly MOTM.

 

[Hurricane]

Itoje is too good to actually be a thing. I expect a career ending injury any game now. Despite the fact he has all of what 3 games under his belt he is in the top 5 locks in the world already.

With time he will learn to be more effective in tight. Yes he is a beast at the breakdown but he doesn't know what he is doing in a maul and he doesn't make hard yards rumbling it up.
Can tackle - check
Can steal line outs - check
Can acrobatically do things he should not be able to do - check
Is disciplined - check
Plays with an edge - check
Can scrummage - check
Can pilfer - check

His presence on the field a factor in the win and a point of difference.

I figured and bet on England to win. If they can stay healthy they will win 3-0
Back in the 80s itoje would find himself "touched up" in the next match so he learns his place. At least that is how things rolled back then. I am not sure if Australia have an enforcer of Botha-Ilk to do the business however.

At some stage however there will be a welcome mat laid out for him. He is a tall poppy.

 

[Hurricane]

In other news I am pleased to see the discrimination against yarde has ended and that he is in the team instead of May / Ashton and other pretenders.

England have 13 world class players on the field with only Burrell being the itm cup standard player on display.

Australia for their part had more "plumbers" in their line up and hence lost. Australia's 12 14 9 4 and 5 all being a bit average. Although Phipps had his best game ever that being said. Nonetheless his English counterpart was miles better.

 

[hendrix]

that red card was so weird.

 

[Howe_zat]

In other news I am pleased to see the discrimination against yarde has ended and that he is in the team instead of May / Ashton and other pretenders.

I've favored Yarde over May for some time but calling it 'discrimination' is way too far, May was picked because he's faster, has scored awesome tries against good opposition and Yarde has made some atrocious decisions in an England shirt. There was a Test against Samoa where he needed to make one pass in an empty field and didn't even bother looking before running into contact.

 

[StephenZA]

that red card was so weird.

The red card was a tough call... but by technical rules it was correct.
One of the things IRB are pushing at the moment is if you are going to do something 'dangerous' you must be able to do it(sounds strange)... this is particularly seen under the high ball. If 2 players go for the ball but clearly 1 player was never going to get there in time or mistimed there jump there is now a built in care that players must take... it is being hammered in SuperRugby here in SH. You will notice with a lot of SH players if they believe they will not get to the ball or hesitate even for a second, they stop competing now and wait for the player to land. When Stander went for the charge down he leaped just after the ball had already being kicked and also he had forward momentum directly at the player; for most charge downs you do not dive towards the play but across the player, thus he did not take due care... The big problem I have is that red and yellow cards seem to be towards the outcome rather than the action. If he had not knock Lambie out cold he probably would only have got a yellow.

 

[hendrix]

agreed

 

[Hurricane]

I've favored Yarde over May for some time but calling it 'discrimination' is way too far, May was picked because he's faster, has scored awesome tries against good opposition and Yarde has made some atrocious decisions in an England shirt. There was a Test against Samoa where he needed to make one pass in an empty field and didn't even bother looking before running into contact.

I accept that point

I will even add to the mix that yarde himself will be unhappy he didn't score a second try when he tried to gas the winger on the outside.
There are some wingers who would have made that play.

Goof ups against Samoa notwithstanding he suffered because Lancaster wanted to prove that may was the real deal and wouldn't give up on him.
Yes may scored some scorchers but he was erratic and you didn't know what you were paying for.

I like England by the way. If they can get Manu to play 12 then I believe they will beat the all blacks on the end of year tour or at lest come close to it.

Team rankings ATM by hurricane

Nz
England
Australia
South Africa
Meh

The word on my rugby web site is that Eddie jones is teaching England how to beat teams like New Zealand and Australia
England didn't kick away much pill last night and benefitted from it.
They have gone to a new level since the World Cup

 

[social]

Meh

All the SH teams were ordinary on Saturday night and I think you can put a lot of it down to the fact that they havent played since last October

 

[Hurricane]

Australia head coach has named a Wallabies team with four changes to his starting team to play England in the second Test at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday.
Sekope Kepu and James Slipper join Captain Stephen Moore in a new-look front row while Sam Carter will pull on the gold jersey for the first time since Australia’s 47-10 win over the United States in Chicago last year.

Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon will start his first Test in Australia at his home ground after earning selection as Number 8 following the injury to David Pocock in the series opener.
“Based on last weekend’s performance, we decided that we wanted some new combinations for Saturday’s game,” Head Coach Michael Cheika said.
“Sean never takes a backwards step while James and Sekope add plenty of Test match experience.”
The backline is unchanged after it had a hand in all four of the Wallabies tries last Saturday at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The extended bench will be trimmed to eight later this week, which includes Western Force utility Luke Morahan, who could be in line for his first Test since his debut against Scotland in 2012.
“Obviously with his (Morahan’s) selection, we’re looking at a five-three split on the bench as opposed to the six forwards we had last weekend,” Cheika said.
Melbourne Rebels prop Toby Smith will also get the chance to run out at his home ground after being named on the bench while Wycliff Palu is set to return to the Wallabies fold after his Test career was considered all-but-over following a hamstring injury at the Rugby World Cup last year.
The squad also marks a return for Liam Gill who last featured for the Wallabies in their win over Ireland on the 2013 Spring Tour.
Australia
1. James Slipper, 2. Stephen Moore (c) , 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Scott Fardy, 7. Michael Hooper (vc), 8. Sean McMahon , 9. Nick Phipps , 10. Bernard Foley , 11. Rob Horne (vc) , 12. Samu Kerevi , 13. Tevita Kuridrani,
14. Dane Haylett-Petty , 15. Israel Folau ,
Replacements: (Three to be omitted) Tatafu Polota-Nau , Toby Smith , Greg Holmes, James Horwill, Dean Mumm , Wycliff Palu, Ben McCalman , Liam Gill , Nick Frisby , Christian Leali’ifano , Luke Morahan


Read more: Cheika makes four Wallabies changes for England - Super Rugby | Super 18 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby

Deck chairs on the Titanic. McMahon = LOL.

 

[social]

McMahon is a good player but has never played at no. 8 in senior rep footy - bizarre stuff

 

[Hurricane]

I didn't know that fact but that adds to why piling in on England at the tab makes sense.

McCalman is the best number 8 in Australia by miles unless you like the idea of pocock.

Unfortunately, according mainly to cw pundits I have spoken to, Big Ben has never shown at international level. He is not big enough to be a big man in tests and not skilled enough to be " agile"

Nonetheless he dominates every super rugby match I watch.

Look for slipper to make a real difference to the scrum. I have him rated as one of the best scrummagers in the world even if cheika doesn't favour him.

I don't rate your 12 either and you are badly missing Beale

 

[hendrix]

Slipper is excellent.

 

[Howe_zat]

Where's Matt Tomua?

 

[Hurricane]

Where's Matt Tomua?

Injured, Again even if they had Toomua at 12 it would improve Aussie's chances

Australia dealt massive injury blow Matt Toomua faces long stint on sideline

 

[social]

I didn't know that fact but that adds to why piling in on England at the tab makes sense.

McCalman is the best number 8 in Australia by miles unless you like the idea of pocock.

Unfortunately, according mainly to cw pundits I have spoken to, Big Ben has never shown at international level. He is not big enough to be a big man in tests and not skilled enough to be " agile"

Nonetheless he dominates every super rugby match I watch.

Look for slipper to make a real difference to the scrum. I have him rated as one of the best scrummagers in the world even if cheika doesn't favour him.

I don't rate your 12 either and you are badly missing Beale

I'm a fan of Christian Leali’ifano and dont get why he isnt preferred over an erratic novice

Beale is massively talented but also erratic

If fit, I'd put him at fb and Folau at 13

Scrumaging is a lottery and keeping the poms onside for once is arguably as important

 

[Hurricane]

I'm a fan of Christian Leali’ifano and dont get why he isnt preferred over an erratic novice

Beale is massively talented but also erratic

If fit, I'd put him at fb and Folau at 13

Scrumaging is a lottery and keeping the poms onside for once is arguably as important

I think Christian's last test match has been remembered. He tucked his head in the wrong direction and got knocked out. He was your kicker for the match and a big part of your match plans. It upset Australia's apple cart and they lost the match. I wouldn't forgive him for that either. That injury was all on him and as a professional that shouldn't be happening to you.
So I think that memory along with meh form for the brumbies has only earned him a spot on the bench. Bear in mind as well that unless he is also going to be kicking goals for you he may not be enough of a value proposition around the paddock. He doesn't really break the line, and while his distribution is very good, as mentioned his tackling is only acceptable.

But yes I hear you I don't think the current chap you have at number 12 is the bees knees even though he did get a try assist.

I have a thing for Beale - so sure put him at fullback if you need to and move Kuridrani sp to 12 and Israel to 13, just get Kurtley in there.