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A NZ vs. England would not surprise. But it would surprise more than it would have before last weekend. The Saffas did expose them.

That's the one they didn't win. 86 was a golden year, perhaps the golden year for Australian rugby. I can still remember the bourbon and stimulant fueled hangover after failing to get that result. :(

Yes, like Goethe. vs Cliff Richard on meth.

RWCs are few and far between. If we were to come 2nd in the RWC but then win three successive Bleds (and by extension a few T-Ns) then I think we'd be very happy. Added to that is the way the team plays. The 198x Wallabies didn't win a world cup, but that was certainly a golden age.

I agree, except Samoa. In fact, Wales might conceivably finish fourth. These will all be home crowds for the Islanders.

Sorry mate, I was Reds-baiting. :)

My orange roughy is for Samoa to keep Wales out of the QFs.

I think Blake has real potential. But he needs to work to unlock it. He will do well next year, I think.

I've just watched an MP4 of the second half - very entertaining stuff. A few errors were made but the Wallabies were playing high-risk rugby, and just ignored them instead of losing composure. Some players looked a lot better second time round. McCalman in particular hit it up many times in...

We certainly have an outstanding draw: the best of the main contenders.

Great news for Jerry and Fiji, methinks. The Islander nations' star is on the rise. They'll take some scalps at the RWC.

You're lucky I only weigh 75kg, Bruce, or I'd be gunnin' for ya. :mad: ;)

MrMouse, I may be wrong (I often am) but I'm not sure allowing Italy to hold the ball in and use second, third and fourth efforts to demolish us was quite within the laws. Some of those second and third efforts resulted in no forward movement.

I didn't make myself very clear. I was making the point that size makes no difference if the player can't be reached by a defender. Of course I don't think there is no difference between an 80kg and 120kg player in the dynamic interplay of an actual game. JOC (James O'Connor) is quite small but he...

No one I've spoken to who knows him, has ever said anything other than he is a great team man. I was at a Gordon lunch just after "that photo" of him looking sulky with Deans was published, and the player mood was completely supportive of Giteau.

Yes, Ioane is the direct back we need. The question is, who to replace? I think it has to be Barnes. We have a list of power forwards to re-grunt the pack. Bring 'em on.

Good post. This is very true. We're at most a direct back (not a big back) from a good balance. If you don't get a hand on them, it doesn't matter whether they're 80kg or 120kg. As long as they can defend. All our small backs except Cooper can defend.

I think a Waratahs scrum of Robinson, Nau, Baxter, Douglas, Vickerman, Mumm, Waugh and Palu is at least as strong as the Wallabies scrum, and will be better coached.

Giteau's highlights reel (as evidenced in the Wallaby backline highlight videos posted here) is absolutely sublime. We forget now how many times he has cut opposing backlines to pieces, from nothing. Now we just see the crabbing.

The correct response from Giteau would be to win his spot back. If he can authentically do that, and we have a rejuvenated Gits breaking the line at 12, then we are sweet.