If we had lost to South Africa ...

[Inside Shoulder]

Deans for Governor General - of Australia - if we win tomorrow or only if we win next week (in the final)?

 

[pete88]

citizenship for the first win, governor for the second.

 

[Groucho]

citizenship for the first win, governor for the second.

The greatest award that Deans could win would be acceptance by this varied and enthusiastic forum. In my humble opinion.

 

[pete88]

He's never getting that one. I promise you even if we win people will continue to say he's shit. It will be all down to him coaching like Link does using the players Link discovered and David Pocock being evidence that God exists and he wears Gold.

 

[Groucho]

He's never getting that one. I promise you even if we win people will continue to say he's shit. It will be all down to him coaching like Link does using the players Link discovered and David Pocock being evidence that God exists and he wears Gold.

Who cares anyway, pete88. The important thing is that the Wallabies do well. The rest is just theory.

 

[pete88]

Yeah I'm with you, couldn't give a shit how we win so long as we do.

 

[DPK]

Reminds me of the etymology of the word "laconic".

This name would be lost in the obscure shadows of time if not for one particular amusing reaction these people had to Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great.

Philip, one the grandest conquers of history, sent a foreboding message to the Spartans of Laconia. It read, "If I enter Laconia, I will level Lacedaemon to the ground."

Laconia replied... "If."

 

[Groucho]

Reminds me of the etymology of the word "laconic".

Great post! That is in my memory bank for future use.

 

[Scarfman]

I said in advance of the RWC that with the games held at Eden Park, I wanted the Wallabies just to make the final. It would be unreasonable to EXPECT to win, but we needed to win all the games we should, so that we put ourselves in a posiiton to win it. I also want to see the Bled before Deans leaves. Not unreasonable asks. We'll see if Deans can deliver, or if we learn more lessons.

This thread was really about balancing the optimism this week with the (possible) pessimism at some point in the future.

Anyway, enough. As soon as I get over my hangover, I'm going to be jumping up and down in anticipation. Those Kiwis might choke yet!

 

[Hardtackle]

Talking about Eden Park, I have a theory that the NZRU made a mistake giving the Wallabies a match there earlier this year. Made them a few bucks for the cost of increased familiarity for us. Plus I reckon we always play better in the latter games of series against the darkness, so go the men in gold.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Talking about Eden Park, I have a theory that the NZRU made a mistake giving the Wallabies a match there earlier this year. Made them a few bucks for the cost of increased familiarity for us. Plus I reckon we always play better in the latter games of series against the darkness, so go the men in gold.

Increased the familiarity with completing games on the wrong side of the Scoreboard is another way of looking at it.

These are professional athletes who should be above hoodoos about the stage upon which they perform their trade. The various hoodoos are figments of media fixations and are used to pad out Editors requirements for column inches. Us punters just pick up and run with the vibe.

The exception to this is obviously the Gwald Optomism Gnome. Unknown to many until CardiffBlue started treading these boards, but now recognised by most for the mischievous little sod that he/she is.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Increased the familiarity with completing games on the wrong side of the Scoreboard is another way of looking at it.

These are professional athletes who should be above hoodoos about the stage upon which they perform their trade. The various hoodoos are figments of media fixations and are used to pad out Editors requirements for column inches. Us punters just pick up and run with the vibe.

The exception to this is obviously the Gwald Optomism Gnome. Unknown to many until CardiffBlue started treading these boards, but now recognised by most for the mischievous little sod that he/she is.

Mate you can never underestimate the importance of the psyche - both teams have hoodoos to overcome today. NZ havent even made a final since 1995 - have they? They have, therefore, only ever 2 won semis.....

All of the Wallabies (except Vickerman) have played at the ground at least once every 2 years (subject to transfers) so they should have an appreciation if not an intimate understanding of the relative positions of the stands and the ground and all the other markers. So unless they're re-marking the ground using the patented Matt Williams Murrayfield Template familiarity should not be an issue.

i gather the captain's run was held at North Harbour stadium - I wonder what that's about? could they not get on because of preps for last night's game or did they not want to show their hand in front of the inevitable "tradesman" preparing the ground for SF1?

 

[Hardtackle]

Why is it then that we haven't won there for twenty something years, when we've beaten them elsewhere in NZ? Surely by the same argument, these are professional athletes who should be above home ground cheering etc etc?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Why is it then that we haven't won there for twenty something years, when we've beaten them elsewhere in NZ? Surely by the same argument, these are professional athletes who should be above home ground cheering etc etc?

If you look at the league stats I think you'll find that the home crowd doesn't influence the players they influence the ref: and there's less room for doubt in league than union.

It may also have to do with the piss poor seats allocated to the ARU by the NZRU (at least in my experience): the aussies are kept in a pen behind the in goal - the consequence? for the few aussies who are there nothing ever happens in fron of them about which they could seek to influence the ref. Anything doubtful in the in-goal goes upstairs.

We on the other hand like the gracious hosts we are sell tickets to Kiwis to sit in the prime positions for s. 15 and tests.

 

[Fredfreduels]

Deans forever haters never.

 

[Cardiffblue]

forget the precendents. forget the meaningless trivia questions from down the pub. what matters is now. History is bollocks and was created long before most of Wallabies were born. It's of no relevance to day's event. I hope to god I am wrong about QC (Quade Cooper) and the effect of beale being out. this is the game that both teams h.ave been planning for. Bring it on

Best bit of this thread is the stuff about arogins of laconic.

 

[Cardiffblue]

If you look at the league stats I think you'll find that the home crowd doesn't influence the players they influence the ref: and there's less room for doubt in league than union.

It may also have to do with the piss poor seats allocated to the ARU by the NZRU (at least in my experience): the aussies are kept in a pen behind the in goal - the consequence? for the few aussies who are there nothing ever happens in fron of them about which they could seek to influence the ref. Anything doubtful in the in-goal goes upstairs.


We on the other hand like the gracious hosts we are sell tickets to Kiwis to sit in the prime positions for s. 15 and tests.

Doesn't make difference if they sit there in silence

 

[Hugh Jarse]

In the Jarse family and invited guests footy tipping competition on Footytips.com.au, we run several "phantom" tippers including "Home Teams", "Away Teams", "Last Seasons Ladder", and "Coin Toss".

In NRL, typically Home Team is a clear advantage. Last Season's Ladder and Coin Toss are very close do significantly better than Away Team.
In AFL, International Rugby and Super Rugby, Last Season's Ladder is a better form indicator. Home Team and Coin Toss are very close do significantly better than Away Team.

From my unscientific observations, Previous Form rather than Home Ground Advantage is a better guide to predicting winners.

PS. We also run a Favourites Only tipper. This phantom tipper generally is in the top 3 in the competitions, less successful comparatively speaking in Super Rugby. More successful in NRL.

 

[maxdacat]

im supporting the boys 100%, but ive been offended by the press conferences of robbie this week and the press saying his master plan has come off, his shit has stuck to the wall, hopefully it doesnt fall off.

Will be supporting them too....but I've also been irked by Quade's comments that he doesn't need to play well, as long as the team does....err NO it does matter.

 

[Jnor]

I think his point was he doesn't care if his own game is shit, just as long as the team wins; not that he thinks he doesn't have to play well for the team to win.

It was a commendable notion IMO, delivered in a clunky way