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

[Hugh Jarse]

Wang on.

 

[Bairdy]

New Zealand by 40

 

[kiap]

 

[Groucho]

New Zealand by 40

This is the New Zealand that beat Argentina 26-16, and squeaked past the Saffers 20-18? Hopefully our players aren't so girly as our fans!

 

[Bairdy]

This is the New Zealand that beat Argentina 26-16, and squeaked past the Saffers 20-18? Hopefully our players aren't so girly as our fans!

Just being skittish and realistic about our chances. I expect us to not be on the right side of the refereeing Saturday night.

 

[qwerty51]

Do we overtake NZ in the rankings if we win? Anyone wanna do the maths.

 

[saulityvi]

Do we overtake NZ in the rankings if we win? Anyone wanna do the maths.

Yes.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Do we overtake NZ in the rankings if we win? Anyone wanna do the maths.

Current points NZ 92.89 Aus 90.93

Aus win 15+ Aus 94.52 NZ 89.3
Aus win 1-15 Aus 93.32 NZ 90.5
NZ win 1-15 NZ 94.5 Aus 89.32
NZ win 15+ NZ 95.3 Aus 88.52

I've excluded the draw cos there can't be one.

http://www.lassen.co.nz/pagmisc.php#hrh

 

[zer0]

To no ones surprise, Nigel Owens will be reffing the final.

All Blacks selector Grant Fox has revealed that Welshman Nigel Owens will referee the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham next Sunday morning (NZ time).

Fox said the All Blacks were told by World Rugby - before they beat South Africa 20-18 in this morning's semifinal in London - that Owens would take charge of the final, which will be against either Australia or Argentina, who play the second semifinal at 5am on Monday (NZ time).

The announcement is set to be officially revealed in the next 48 hours and Fox said the All Blacks were delighted with the decision - praising his communication skills and his ruling of the breakdown.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...feree-the-all-blacks-in-rugby-world-cup-final

 

[Scoey]

This is going to be a long week.

 

[JJJ]

Our guys looked pretty stuffed at the end. With an extra day to recover and an easier route to the final, I'd be quietly confident if I were a kiwi supporter.

I'm hoping we'll scare them but I have a horrible feeling we'll see Bled #2, part 2.

 

[Scoey]

We've played the kiwis twice this year and it's one all. Neither team could beat the other away from home.

On current form, AUS are playing better for mine. We've had a far tougher run to get this far and whilst we haven't pumped the big oppositions we've managed to do precisely what was needed to get the win in each case.
NZ on the other hand appear to be struggling to find that top gear. Handling and discipline are letting them down but as always they are a team that can turn up and throw together a complete performance when needed so they can never be discounted.
I think a lot of the time we struggle to beat the ABs because we lack the belief that we can; particularly in NZ.
I feel that this game will be different. The RWC is a level playing field. Both teams have had to earn their ticket to the big dance. There's no easy way to do it.

I have no idea what either teams injury status is but if both can put out close to their best XV then I would back AUS to take this one.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

We need a week long ice bath or a clandestine meeting with Lance Armstrong to get us over the pool of death fatigue - win or lose this playing and coaching group have turned the Wallabies from a borderline farce to contenders in 12 months.
I can cop that if I have to.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Do we overtake NZ in the rankings if we win? Anyone wanna do the maths.

It also occurs to me that this will be the first RWC Final between the #1- & #2-ranked teams (even if you apply the rankings system retrospectively as the Lassen.co.nz site has done).

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Good Idea, but can't see it happening.

 

[Jellic87]

Richie McCaw was cleared earlier! A bit of common sense there! Would have been a tragedy if he was ruled out of his final game- a RWC final none the less over that!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

 

[EatSleepDrinkRuck]

I'm glad Richie was let off - that elbow looks 50/50 to me but A) I like a bit of biff B) its the goddamn RWC final in what will be the last world cup of his career (as a player).

Wallabies by 1 after Dean Mumm slots a penalty kick in extra time

 

[Scoey]

Any thoughts on who the non-AUS or NZ fans might be getting behind for this one? Any NH fans on here able to chime in on which team is hated less?

I genuinely hope they swing throughout the match and just get behind good Rugby no matter who is producing it.

 

[Jellic87]

I'm glad Richie was let off - that elbow looks 50/50 to me but A) I like a bit of biff B) its the goddamn RWC final in what will be the last world cup of his career (as a player).

Wallabies by 1 after Dean Mumm slots a penalty kick in extra time

Absolutely, plus for us if you want to be the best you gotta beat the best and the AB's without Richie just wouldn't have been the same.