We seem to have become public enemy number one with our forward passes, cheating referees and general convict behaviour.
Hopefully genuine underdog status swings some of the neutrals back towards us.
RWC 2015 Final - Australia v New Zealand, Twickenham, Sunday 1 November, 3:00 AEDT
- Thread starter Hugh Jarse
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We seem to have become public enemy number one with our forward passes, cheating referees and general convict behaviour.
Hopefully genuine underdog status swings some of the neutrals back towards us.
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
Bullshit planning means that I will have missed watching England, Wales and now New Zealand getting rooted by the Wallabies.
Fucking fuck. I may as well block this thread to save me the heartburn over a match I can't watch live. Fuck.
I've been a bit harsh on AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Mitchell as our wings when comparing them to Savea and Milner-Skudder, but I'd wager that the rugby brains and experience they bring to the table easily match the brawn and pace the Kiwis have.
For mine it's the Smiths we need to mark closely. They're all outstanding and are arguably outright best in the world in each of their positions.
Kuridrani made a number of poor defensive reads this morning and I shudder at the thought of Mssrs Smith, B and Smith, C running at him at their fucking sweet-as-pie angles.
Fucking fuck. I may as well block this thread to save me the heartburn over a match I can't watch live. Fuck.
I've been a bit harsh on AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Mitchell as our wings when comparing them to Savea and Milner-Skudder, but I'd wager that the rugby brains and experience they bring to the table easily match the brawn and pace the Kiwis have.
For mine it's the Smiths we need to mark closely. They're all outstanding and are arguably outright best in the world in each of their positions.
Kuridrani made a number of poor defensive reads this morning and I shudder at the thought of Mssrs Smith, B and Smith, C running at him at their fucking sweet-as-pie angles.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
What was Matt Giteau's injury?
Brendan Hume
Charlie Fox (21)
Two teams whose philosophy is to not accept any result other than success. This will be a torrid and tight affair, the blood of Australians and New Zealanders will again flow on the fields of Europe and dedicated men put their body on the line for their country. Despite having a great number of mates I should be watching with - Aussie and Kiwi - I think I'll take this in with my family at home to let the emotion of whatever the game brings fully soak in. It's no time to be a gracious loser and I'm pretty sure I won't be a gracious winner.
Bring back Bill.
Bring back Bill.
liquor box
Peter Sullivan (51)
I was wondering that too when there were a couple of scrum penalties against us this morning. We don't want a reputation to start about us having a defective scrum.
A thought I had that is a bit off this threads topic is will the next world cup feature the same 4 teams in the finals? I can't see why not, by playing the rugby championship we get to practice against the best for 4 more years.
Brendan Hume
Charlie Fox (21)
The other teams top teams aren't stupid though - they're all (probably except England and France right now) well coached and their players are improving skill wise all the time. You would think had Ireland and Wales not had so many significant injuries they might have gone a little further, and France were disappointing.
You're right in as much as squad depth seems to be the key to getting to the pointy end and the Southern Hemisphere model has been the successful one thus far, however a good run by any of the top 8 teams in terms of injuries will mean that's moot.
Crowd may be an influence at the next RWC. I know a lot of Aussies and Kiwis who are planning on going. It will be interesting to see a tournament without a home team that is a genuine threat. I can't wait.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Well the tournament is almost done and, as happens all too rarely, the best two teams are in the final:
- New Zealand has got there by just doing as much as they had to do to win. Against France they ran away with it but that match was still close until the card and France dropped their intensity immediately thereafter. All their other matches were just how they like it - don't expend too much petrol, get the systems functioning well and get good field position and stay in front.
- Australia has got there by the much harder route and you would think that will catch up with them in the end. They have played sudden death knockout rugby against tougher teams right from the start and will be battle hardened. Four games in a row where a loss basically meant they were gone, and now the knockout final.
- New Zealand has definitely had the run of injuries. They've lost their best LHP, but the rest of their team is as-selected except maybe for Crocket, though IMO he's no big loss and no one is under a big injury cloud, even at the replacement level. Contrasting that we have Folau and Sio seriously crocked and several other top 23 players on the plane home already.
- The Wallabies were clinical last night. None of the distressing rubbish we saw against Scotland; when we made a break we nailed it. If we can repeat that part of our performance there are enough holes in the New Zealand backline to change the script. Isolating Savea one-on-one with Mitchell or Folau would do the trick, Savea is a turnstile with someone running at him. Kuridrani on the cut running at Carter and Smith (A) has me salivating.
- No one but Argentina has been physical in running at the New Zealand holes and the Argies were in front till 60 minutes. Cheika's plan will be to have his ball-runners asking repeated questions.
- The New Zealand scrum, even with Moody, will have a lot of questions asked of it. If Sio is fit I fancy our chances.
Mr Doug
Dick Tooth (41)
Can we ask for the Haka to be banned, being neutral ground, etc?!
(Haka definition includes "performed in order to intimidate")!
Tangawizi
Peter Fenwicke (45)
So if things really do come in 3’s:
Cricket World Cup Final – Aus v NZ = Aus Win
Netball World Cup Final – Aus v NZ = Aus Win
Rugby World Cup Final – Aus v NZ = ???
Only 1 answer possible really………
3rd Rugby World Cup in the UK, would be a 3rd RWC win for Australia, we're paying $3 at the TAB....
Stars are aligning people! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Cricket World Cup Final – Aus v NZ = Aus Win
Netball World Cup Final – Aus v NZ = Aus Win
Rugby World Cup Final – Aus v NZ = ???
Only 1 answer possible really………
3rd Rugby World Cup in the UK, would be a 3rd RWC win for Australia, we're paying $3 at the TAB....
Stars are aligning people! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
During the Super Rugby season he was tackling at 56 percent.
There's no doubt that he can pull off a big hit. But at 56 percent, turnstile isn't the most farfetched description.
Source: http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11450673
Omar Comin'
Chilla Wilson (44)
So, Folau has been pretty poor against both Wales and Argentina. Clearly not quite right. Do we risk a 75% fit Izzy when Beale is in such good form? I'm really not sure.
I have a feeling Hooper is in for a big game in this final. He's been solid in this tournament but hasn't had a really great performance yet. Now is the time for him!
I have a feeling Hooper is in for a big game in this final. He's been solid in this tournament but hasn't had a really great performance yet. Now is the time for him!
Bullrush
Geoff Shaw (53)
dru
David Wilson (68)
I would.
Unfortunately it mucks up the shape of the finishers. You probably bring in To'omua, but I think Foley-To'omua isn't an ideal 10-12 partnering. Or maybe Beale swaps to 12 at that point and we bring in a winger/Fullback.
BTW let's hope Gitteau's injury is nothing.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Yeah that's a lot better. I'm curious to where (if they exist) the holes are in the AB's defence. So from this RWC, here's the tackle completion of their backline. Obviously stats are always to be taken with a grain of salt, especially since the data is coming from only a maximum six games.
Aaron Smith: 92%
Dan Carter: 88%
Julian Savea: 75%
Ma'a Nonu: 88%
Conrad Smith: 96%
Nehe Milner-Skudder: 56%
Ben Smith: 88%
Average: 83%
and for the Wallabies
Will Genia: 76%
Bernard Foley: 88%
Drew Mitchell: 65%
Matt Giteau: 86%
Tevita Kurindrani: 84%
Adam Ashley-Cooper: 81%
Israel Folau: 92%
Average: 82%
Not too sure you can infer anything from that, maybe missed tackles are a lot more prevalent on the wing. Very impressive from C. Smith, especially at outside centre. Shows you that he might not be the flashiest player, but it's incredibly important.
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