RWC 2015 Final - Australia v New Zealand, Twickenham, Sunday 1 November, 3:00 AEDT

[Riptide]

Biggest concern is the punishment the back row and locks have taken on these past 4 games. And now they have a 6 day turnaround, after being out on their feet. At tis stage of the tourney, no loads are being placed on the players at also Im not buying talk of tapering off. Legs just lose their spring, and players are just slightly less explosive. The Wallabies are obviously fit but the ability to perform at optimal levels is going to be tough.

 

[Riptide]

Good analysis here on the threat Pocock poses to NZ.
http://www.the42.ie/david-pocock-new-zealand-rwc-15-2413462-Oct2015/

 

[qwerty51]

Biggest concern is the punishment the back row and locks have taken on these past 4 games. And now they have a 6 day turnaround, after being out on their feet. At tis stage of the tourney, no loads are being placed on the players at also Im not buying talk of tapering off. Legs just lose their spring, and players are just slightly less explosive. The Wallabies are obviously fit but the ability to perform at optimal levels is going to be tough.

Doesn't make sense that this is on a Saturday giving the Wallabies a distinct disadvantage.

 

[saulityvi]

They are professional athletes playing in a RWC final, both teams are able to beat another on their day. Not in a million years will it come down to fatigue, mental strength and will power are the keywords here.

 

[USARugger]

They are professional athletes playing in a RWC final, both teams are able to beat another on their day. Not in a million years will it come down to fatigue, mental strength and will power are the keywords here.

Plenty of top-flight test rugby matches open up in the last quarter. You can will yourself to ignore metabolic fatigue but it doesn't change the fact that guys are going to be moving and reacting a beat slower in the closing chapters of a match because of it.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Doesn't make sense that this is on a Saturday giving the Wallabies a distinct disadvantage.

Clearly not everyone on here sees it that way:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-launch-petition-to-change-final-kickoff-time

https://www.change.org/p/world-rugb...up-final-a682c8da-9ec5-4d09-aa10-8c39d85bde63

"I just had a five minute conversation with someone who I thought was a work colleague... but was actually the photocopier.

This madness needs to end."

- Hugh Cavill, Australia

aka Barbarian if I'm not mistaken.....................

 

[Tex]

I see it as quite even, on form:

Scott Sio vs. Joe Moody AUS
Stephen Moore vs. Dane Coles EVEN
Sekope Kepu vs. Owen Franks AUS
Kane Douglas vs. Brodie Retallick NZ
Rob Simmons vs. Sam Whitelock NZ
Scott Fardy vs. Jerome Kaino AUS
Michael Hooper vs. Richie McCaw EVEN
David Pocock vs. Kieran Read AUS
Will Genia vs. Aaron Smith NZ
Bernard Foley vs. Dan Carter EVEN
Drew Mitchell vs. Julian Savea NZ
Matt Giteau vs. Ma'a Nonu NZ
Tevita Kuridrani vs. Conrad Smith EVEN
Adam Ashley-Cooper vs. Nehe Milner-Skudder EVEN
Isreal Folau vs. Ben Smith NZ

Aus 4 vs. NZ 6. Would be 5-5 if Folau was at his best.

Tatafu Polota-Nau vs. Keven Mealamu AUS
James Slipper vs. Ben Franks EVEN
Greg Holmes vs. Charlie Faumuina EVEN
Dean Mumm vs. Victor Vito EVEN
Sean McMahon vs. Sam Cane EVEN
Nick Phipps vs. Tawera Kerr-Barlow EVEN
Matt To'omua vs. Beauden Barrett EVEN
Kurtley Beale vs. Sonny Bill Williams EVEN

Aus 1 vs. NZ 0

Michael Cheika vs. Steve Hansen EVEN

I might have that NZ team wrong, but that looks like a likely Wobs.

Agree with a lot of that but I reckon it's a bit generous to Hooper, Foley, Moore and Kuridrani.

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[teach]

Agree with a lot of that but I reckon it's a bit generous to Hooper, Foley, Moore and Kuridrani.

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Plus he forgot about the defense coach Wayne Smith. Someone the English want to poach as their coach.
Possibly a little over generous to call Carter v Foley any less than Carter all the way.
Vito over Mumm if it comes to an open, free running game.
McMahon does not have the experience of big games. I thought he ran far too high into contact (against Wales?).
Beauden Barrett is a proven game changer.
Charlie Faumuina is one of the best props out there and IMO unlucky to not be starting. Excellent mobility and ball skills for the last 30.
Phipps not at all steady enough in those final minutes where accuracy and composure needed. I thought Nic White would have been a better option. Aaron Smith is fit enough he will do 70 minutes easily unless injured. Maybe the whole game.

Just my 2c.

 

[zer0]

Aaron Smith is fit enough he will do 70 minutes easily unless injured. Maybe the whole game.

If it's even remotely close, then he should be playing the whole match. Neither Kerr-Barlow or Perenara are a patch on him, and both have made numerous late-game mistakes in the past.

 

[saulityvi]

I think McCalman has offered alot of impact from the bench in this cup, so I would favour him ahead of either Vito or Cane

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Plus he forgot about the defense coach Wayne Smith.

Smith flies a little bit under the radar but everything I have ever heard or seen from him is very impressive: he contributes to some rugby coaching site I subscribe to (for reasons I can no longer recall - haha Sam Cordingley features on the front page with Box Kick: Genia might take a look!) and I am reading "Legacy" in which some of his quotes are pretty profound.

 

[KOB1987]

I see it as quite even, on form:

Aus 4 vs. NZ 6. Would be 5-5 if Folau was at his best.

Wouldn't it be the ultimate foxing exercise to have the Kiwi's thinking Folau is a weakness when he's actually back to 100% for this game.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

@Groucho. Love your work brother. But as no Kiwi can say it I will. Your graphic is offensive. No I'm not being cheeky or funny, just factual. Offensive. And no Im not a Kiwi, don't have any Kiwi relations. There are at least some Aussies who don't think it's clever, don't think it's funny, hell, I don't even think it's original.

Thanks for that, was going to PM him suggesting it be toned down a bit.............

No, it's not original. It's from Green & Gold Rugby's "Rooting Proudly" T-Shirt.

.................. and thank you for the modification.

As @dru said, let's get back to the footy

 

[Pfitzy]

Greg Holmes vs. Charlie Faumuina EVEN

Nup. Holmes - when it comes to the primary role of a THP, all your running around breaking tackles isn't worth shit.

If Faumuina has to come on early to cover an injury, the ABs will be hoping there are no scrums for the rest of the game.

 

[Pfitzy]

Vito over Mumm if it comes to an open, free running game.

As per my comment on Charlie above: as a reserve lock - which is the position we're talking about after all - the ABs will be hoping that scrums aren't required should Retallick or Whitelock need to be replaced.

Vito is a good player, but not having a second row replacement is a bit of a risk. If there are no scrums and its an open game, the extra flanker on the bench alongside the superb Sam Cane will be a bonus.

But if there are scrums, the ABs will be trying to quick heel that shit with urgency and get the ball away.

 

[zer0]

As per my comment on Charlie above: as a reserve lock - which is the position we're talking about after all - the ABs will be hoping that scrums aren't required should Retallick or Whitelock need to be replaced.

In the event that one of the locks goes down, Kaino has been the one who shifts into the tight five. Thus making such comparisons somewhat difficult.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Apparently the DT have played the "choker" card, a moniker I'd have thought belongs to the mob who've now lost three Finals, four Semi Finals, a Quarter Final & more Pool matches than anyone else from Tier 1.

Two more sleeps (and possibly a nap) until it's GAME ON!

 

[drewprint]

I don't know that there has been any trolling on this thread has there? Definitely no 'mass' trolling - not IMO anyway. If anything, it's come how busy plumbers in NZ will be this week and how worried AB fans are.

My apologies - I was referring to the activity on the Wallabies Facebook page. All of the Kiwis here are brilliant.

 

[Pfitzy]

In the event that one of the locks goes down, Kaino has been the one who shifts into the tight five. Thus making such comparisons somewhat difficult.

Still not the same.

All speculation unless it actually happens of course. While Retallick and Whitelock have played all minutes in both the SF and QF, they're not going to have had the workload our blokes have.

 

[Tex]

waiopehu, chokers are teams with an overwhelming expectation to win who can't get it done. By definition the underdog can never choke, unless they happen to give up a winning position.

You could argue the Wallabies choked the moment Nic White opted for the box kick and gave the ball back to the Uruk-hai back three in the 79th minute a few years back.