RWC 2015 Semi Final 2 - Australia v Argentina Twickenham, Monday 19 October, 2:45 AEDT

[EatSleepDrinkRuck]

WHAT.

I love it when you get mad FatCat

 

[mudskipper]

looking more and more likely... its going to be the same team as last week Slipper at Flyhalf, covering Sio... sadly...

Pocock, Izzie hopefully good for the final IF we can beat the Pumas... not sure if Scott can make it back in time...

 

[Groucho]

So if Folau and pocock out and we struggled to beat Scotland - what do we change as to go in with same players and bench makes me nervous - or was just our strategy wrong for last game and that needs to change

Pococks absence is one most concerned about

Our strategy wasn't wrong, unless our strategy was to gift the opposition three tries through basic mistakes. It was our execution that was at fault.

 

[Groucho]

Slipper has a weak core and regularly gets his lower back popped up. Once that happens he loses all leg drive himself and has his upper body angled down towards the ground. Watch for it on the weekend.

Don't forget the transmogrified goosenipple. That's been Slipper's real problem throughout the ages. I'd draw a diagram, except my explanation doesn't make sense either.

 

[Tex]

Mmmmmmmm transmogrified goosenipple.

 

[chasmac]

looking more and more likely. its going to be the same team as last week Slipper at Flyhalf, covering Sio. sadly.

Pocock, Izzie hopefully good for the final IF we can beat the Pumas. not sure if Scott can make it back in time.

Don't worry about Slipper.

 

[zer0]

looking more and more likely. its going to be the same team as last week Slipper at Flyhalf, covering Sio. sadly.

And people lament Gatland for picking backs based on nothing but size!

 

[Groucho]

I'm pretty concerned if that injury news is on the money.

RugbyHeaven has concocted two stories in two days from the same information concluding they will and won't play. Something there for both optimists and pessimists.

 

[dru]

And people lament Gatland for picking backs based on nothing but size!

Didn't Slipper play at fly during his school years?

 

[Groucho]

No. After two very intense matches you were bound to be a little flat, physically and mentally. Look back at every tournament and the winner will always have a squeaky bum game or two along the way.

Indeed so. The Wobs had bum-clenching last-minute wins on the way to both the 1991 and 1999 world cups. In 1991 we squeaked past Western Samoa 9–3 in the pools and Ireland 19-18 in the quarters. In 1999 we beat the Saffers 27-21 in extra time in the semis.

 

[JJJ]

Fair to say the crowd support will be against us for this match. It probably would've been anyway since everyone wants to see Argentina do well, but I'm sure the karma vigilantes will be out in full force to see Joubert's 'wrong' righted.

I'm really nervous about this game. I probably would've preferred Ireland tbh, even before seeing what the Argies did to them. You generally know what you're going to get from Ireland, but with Argentina if they get the nudge on in the anthems they can be a completely different beast.

Sio would be a bigger loss to me than even Pocock, and I think Pocock almost single-handedly makes the difference between us being a decent team and a really dangerous team. So yeah, I think if we make the finals we will definitely deserve to be there. I'd still rather be us than the Boks right now though, obviously.

 

[Pedrolicus]

RugbyHeaven has concocted two stories in two days from the same information concluding they will and won't play. Something there for both optimists and pessimists.

Well summarised groucho.

They might play on Sunday but they can't play today.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Fair to say the crowd support will be against us for this match. It probably would've been anyway since everyone wants to see Argentina do well, but I'm sure the karma vigilantes will be out in full force to see Joubert's 'wrong' righted.

I'm really nervous about this game. I probably would've preferred Ireland tbh, even before seeing what the Argies did to them. You generally know what you're going to get from Ireland, but with Argentina if they get the nudge on in the anthems they can be a completely different beast.

Sio would be a bigger loss to me than even Pocock, and I think Pocock almost single-handedly makes the difference between us being a decent team and a really dangerous team. So yeah, I think if we make the finals we will definitely deserve to be there. I'd still rather be us than the Boks right now though, obviously.

Well just imagine if we were playing NZ in the semi with Folau, Sio and Pocock out - thank goodness we are not - as to have any chance to beat the AB's we would need close to a full strength team...

 

[Omar Comin']

I hope the Wallabies really go out and try to win the anthems. We're against the best in the world, but we thrive on underdog status. If we can win the anthems it will really throw Argentina and I think it'd be worth a couple of tries in the first 5-10 minutes.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I hope the Wallabies really go out and try to win the anthems. We're against the best in the world, but we thrive on underdog status. If we can win the anthems it will really throw Argentina and I think it'd be worth a couple of tries in the first 5-10 minutes.

Maybe we also go all out and try and win the coin toss. As I am sure that will really throw them as well.

 

[chasmac]

Well just imagine if we were playing NZ in the semi with Folau, Sio and Pocock out - thank goodness we are not - as to have any chance to beat the AB's we would need close to a full strength team.

The paradox of winning the pool of death.
Higher chance of injuries in the pool games offset by tiny respite in the "easy" side of the finals draw.
Beale did a good job in 15 and I have faith in Slipper.
Can you even begin to imagine agonizing over the decision on whether to play Pocock or not. Who would be a coach.

 

[barbarian]

Maybe we also go all out and try and win the coin toss. As I am sure that will really throw them as well.

It concerns me that I've seen no footage of Moore practising calling the coin toss at training, and we haven't appointed a specialist coin toss coach.
.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

The paradox of winning the pool of death.
Higher chance of injuries in the pool games offset by tiny respite in the "easy" side of the finals draw.
Beale did a good job in 15 and I have faith in Slipper.
Can you even begin to imagine agonizing over the decision on whether to play Pocock or not. Who would be a coach.

I agree less worried about Folau - as Beale showing he is the goods. Of course would rather Folau be injury free and starting but believe we can survive without him. Pocock has just been so immense and the real star of this RWC....which why one worries and to be fair McCalman not been too shabby but when you have one of the top players in the world missing.....

 

[swingpass]

RugbyHeaven has concocted two stories in two days from the same information concluding they will and won't play. Something there for both optimists and pessimists.

right word to use. one of the "journalists" has form.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

It concerns me that I've seen no footage of Moore practising calling the coin toss at training, and we haven't appointed a specialist coin toss coach.
.

Completely agree and need to ensure have back up bench players who can step in and step up for the coin toss in case Moore injures his coin flipping hand or loses some form in that department. I am concerned that not enough depth has been considered in the squad for coin tossing.

If we lose the coin toss and hence lose the game we need to hold someone accountable for this.