RWC 2011 France or England? (If we make the semis.)

[disco]

Just reading the Boks A team thread & a few posters seem concerned about the English.

If the group stages go to plan the Wallabies will meet either Samoa or Wales I for one would like it to be Samoa. For the fact we owe them one & I also believe it will be a tougher game.

The English should come up against the French which is definitely not a game they are assured of winning (likewise the Wobs v Samoa/Wales) but on form & coaching I'd back the poms.

After last years spring tour I am probably a little bit more worried about meeting the French for a few reasons.

1. It's the French in a RWC semi.
2. We spanked the French last time we met
3. The Wallabies mindset coming up against a side they should beat.
4. Most major upsets happen in the semi except for RWC 2007 when they happened in the quarters.

A lot has changed since the English spanked us at Twickers & here is a few reasons why I think we can turn it around against the English.

1. Deans/Blake have hidden Quade in defence which is a great move as keeping Quade's tackle count/attempts at 5 or below is a good thing. I'd much rather have Easter running at Digby.

2. JOC (James O'Connor)'s goal kicking is on the up, he was only new to the job when he lined up at Twickers.

3. Our pack will be reminded about the breakdown hiding we got @ Twickers last year in the lead up.

The Wallabies will have a few tough games along the way & are not assured of winning their group against an Irish side that spanked England but if we do make it to the semi final this year I say bring on the Poms.

 

[Blue]

The Enlgish will be better.

Australia has never really struggled vs the Frogs.

I'd be more worried about the Poms than them.

 

[qwerty51]

Not worried about the French at all. England worries the fuck out of me.

 

[Lee Grant]

The key for the Wallabies will be forward dominance - either getting some or denying it to the Poms.

As ever what the backs do will be irrelevant to that matter.

Conceivably the Wallabies could win without Genia, or without QC (Quade Cooper) or without .. whomever, but they can't beat the Poms without forward presence.

 

[RedsHappy]

The key for the Wallabies will be forward dominance - either getting some or denying it to the Poms.

As ever what the backs do will be irrelevant to that matter.

Conceivably the Wallabies could win without Genia, or without QC (Quade Cooper) or without .. whomever, but they can't beat the Poms without forward presence.

Yes to the power of 16. Bring back Foley, all will be well. We have IMO adequate 2011 forwards talent at our disposal, what we require now is what Foley delivered in 2008 and has since delivered so impressively for/with the Tahs. And I'd like Muggleton back for defence please - I did not entirely like what I saw in both Sydney Wallaby Tests in terms of depth, consistency and intensity of defence. With Blake and Williams we are not best using the superior specialist coaching resources at Australia's disposal. And I assume that all posters here recognise that there is today no clear, official Wallabies backs/attack coach.

 

[HG]

The key for the Wallabies will be forward dominance - either getting some or denying it to the Poms.

As ever what the backs do will be irrelevant to that matter.

Conceivably the Wallabies could win without Genia, or without QC (Quade Cooper) or without .. whomever, but they can't beat the Poms without forward presence.

They couldn't beat batter without Genia or Cooper.

 

[HG]

And I'd like Muggleton back for defence please - .

No way I would ask Matt Taylor any day. He is up with the new style the Wallabies are going to play and has done it for the Reds.

 

[disco]

Yes to the power of 16. Bring back Foley, all will be well.

Ditto.

Why is that Foley can't be forwards coach for the Tahs & Wallabies?

 

[DPK]

Ditto.

Why is that Foley can't be forwards coach for the Tahs & Wallabies?

Conflict of interest, probably.

 

[jay-c]

i have supported the wallabies through thick and thin
i have watched all the australian teams the last few years and it has been a painful ride sometime but the highs have been unmatched.
but if england win another world cup i think thats it for me, i hate the thought of it... but i can see myself giving up on sport completely if england were to win again. i just cant imagine the light of day if that were to happen.
i think god forbid i may even become a mungo just to know england would never beat us at that
id even take the saffas getting a 3rd wc on technicalities again before england

 

[Braveheart.]

Conflict of interest, probably.

What about Richard Graham? or was his appointment to the Wallabies limited to the EoY tour last year?

 

[louie]

france

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I'd rather face France than England. As I said in another thread, I think England's game does more damage to ours than the French. Granted, the French could be at their mercurial best and blow us off the paddock, but we have the game to go with them I think. England are able to strangle teams, something that works very well in tight games in knockout stages of tournaments like the RWC.

 

[qwerty51]

Just some stats to back up the feeling in this thread:

Last 3 games vs England:

Loss 18-35 in England
Loss 20-21 in Australia
Win 27-17 in Australia

Last 3 games vs France:

Win 59-16 in France
Win 22-6 in Australia
Win 18-13 in France

I do agree with the sentiment about playing them for payback. The joy of beating them 9-6 or something would be awesome.

 

[Braveheart.]

I was sitting in an English pub in Nov in '03.

I. HATE. THEM.

 

[Rebel rouser]

Let's be honest here. Every Wallaby supporter who watched the 2003 final and the 2007 QF is carrying mental scars from these games. Holy shit, I know I am. Losing to England is a fate worse than death.

England are our Bogey team. We are polar opposites in how we approach the game. English love the confrontation of the forward packs. While, otoh, every Aussie forward is a back whose body grew too big and slow to let them play in their preferred backline position.

Beating England is never a given. Yet, having said all that, I do want to play them in the semis. Why? So we can hopefully finally dish out some payback for all those years of hurt. But goddamn it, the Aussie forwards had better do it, because you might find my body floating in a river somewhere if we lose for a third time.

 

[chief]

I'd be worried about Australia beating Ireland and Italy. It could be difficult work. Particularly with each game one week after each other.

 

[Athilnaur]

I'd be worried about Australia beating Ireland and Italy. It could be difficult work. Particularly with each game one week after each other.

Is that you Nick?

 

[chief]

Is that you Nick?

All it takes is one loss. There is every chance Italy could beat Ireland. That will bring our whole RWC in jeopardy. It's all a possibility.

 

[Waylon]

The English always trouble us. They bore us to death and frustrate us and kick penalties. They enjoy dead boring rugby. Their fans worship penalty goals. They'd happily turn it into a penalty fest at the breakdown and strangle us of possession. It'll be a white knuckle ride. We haven't got a pack to put them on the back foot. Our team will be aiming for "parity".........a losers word in the rugby dictionary