Dismal Pillock
Michael Lynagh (62)
Saturday 19 October
16:15 Japan Time
England v Australia
England team matchday gif:
RWC 2019 1/4 Final England vs Australia
- Thread starter Dismal Pillock
- Start date
emuarse
Chilla Wilson (44)
I hope the soap dodgers have had a great weekend enjoying their weather enforced draw and relaxing around the pub.
Is the break going to be beneficial for them or detrimental?
I'm thinking the latter; there's nothing like playing the matches & maintaining match fitness, to keep you on top of your game.
Is the break going to be beneficial for them or detrimental?
I'm thinking the latter; there's nothing like playing the matches & maintaining match fitness, to keep you on top of your game.
Hopefully that's the case. I think it is certainly relevant that this hasn't given them two whole weeks to prepare for the quarter final. They have a two week break between games but realistically about 9 days to prepare for the quarter final (as they were preparing for the France game prior to it being cancelled).
It's pretty fair to say that apart from South Africa and Japan, the other quarter finalists all have plenty of issues regarding their prep. Either from missing key games due to the typhoon or faltering in easier games that should have solidified their selection choices (and confidence).
I reckon there are only a couple of selection issues this week:
I expect White and Leali'ifano will start in the halves, Beale will remain at fullback if he overcomes his concussion and DHP will start on the wing spot ahead of Petaia and Hodge.
Tupou will probably get the nod over Kepu at 18 after a good performance off the bench against Georgia.
The backrow is still a little uncertain and your guess is as good as mine.
1. Sio
2. Latu
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Rodda
5. Arnold
6. Dempsey
7. Hooper (c)
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. Leali'ifano
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. JOC (James O'Connor)
14. DHP
15. Beale
16. Uelese 17. Slipper 18. Tupou 19. Coleman 20. Pocock 21. Genia 22. To'omua 23. Petaia
There are so many potential selection options in the backrow:
6. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 7. Hooper 8. Naisarani
6. Demspey 7. Hooper 8. Pocock
6. Pocock 7. Hooper 8 Dempsey
6. Pocock 7. Hooper 8. Naisarani
Dempsey has definitely improved his chances in the last couple of weeks and Naisarani has worsened his. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) probably also did his chances some damage with his yellow card against Uruguay.
I expect White and Leali'ifano will start in the halves, Beale will remain at fullback if he overcomes his concussion and DHP will start on the wing spot ahead of Petaia and Hodge.
Tupou will probably get the nod over Kepu at 18 after a good performance off the bench against Georgia.
The backrow is still a little uncertain and your guess is as good as mine.
1. Sio
2. Latu
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Rodda
5. Arnold
6. Dempsey
7. Hooper (c)
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. Leali'ifano
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. JOC (James O'Connor)
14. DHP
15. Beale
16. Uelese 17. Slipper 18. Tupou 19. Coleman 20. Pocock 21. Genia 22. To'omua 23. Petaia
There are so many potential selection options in the backrow:
6. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 7. Hooper 8. Naisarani
6. Demspey 7. Hooper 8. Pocock
6. Pocock 7. Hooper 8 Dempsey
6. Pocock 7. Hooper 8. Naisarani
Dempsey has definitely improved his chances in the last couple of weeks and Naisarani has worsened his. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) probably also did his chances some damage with his yellow card against Uruguay.
I think you will be pretty close but I would prefer to play England, weather the storm and come home with a wet sail
1. Sio
2. Latu
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Rodda
5. Arnold
6. Dempsey
7. Hooper (c)
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. Leali'ifano
11. Koroibete
12. To'omua
13. TK
14. Petaia
15. DHP
16. Uelese 17. Slipper 18. Tupou 19. Coleman 20. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 21.Pocock 22.Genia 23. Hodge
1. Sio
2. Latu
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Rodda
5. Arnold
6. Dempsey
7. Hooper (c)
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. Leali'ifano
11. Koroibete
12. To'omua
13. TK
14. Petaia
15. DHP
16. Uelese 17. Slipper 18. Tupou 19. Coleman 20. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 21.Pocock 22.Genia 23. Hodge
Froggy
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Not what I expect, but my side for England
1. Sio
2. Latu
3. AAA
4. Rodda
5. Arnold
6. Pocock
7. Hooper
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. To'omua
11. Koro
12. Kerevi
13. TK
14. Petaia
15. DHP
16. Uelese 17. Slipper 18. Tupou 19. Coleman 20. Dempsey 21. Geni 22. CLL 23. Beale
On the backrow, I get what everyone is saying about balance, the lineout etc and I agree BUT after studying the last couple of games, anyone who replaces either Pocock or Hooper is so far behind them, I just can't justify leaving either one on the bench. I'm going safety over risk/reward with To'omua at 10, I think if the Poms were to successfully target CLL it could be game over!
1. Sio
2. Latu
3. AAA
4. Rodda
5. Arnold
6. Pocock
7. Hooper
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. To'omua
11. Koro
12. Kerevi
13. TK
14. Petaia
15. DHP
16. Uelese 17. Slipper 18. Tupou 19. Coleman 20. Dempsey 21. Geni 22. CLL 23. Beale
On the backrow, I get what everyone is saying about balance, the lineout etc and I agree BUT after studying the last couple of games, anyone who replaces either Pocock or Hooper is so far behind them, I just can't justify leaving either one on the bench. I'm going safety over risk/reward with To'omua at 10, I think if the Poms were to successfully target CLL it could be game over!
yourmatesam
Desmond Connor (43)
Farrell is going to kick us into oblivion.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
I expect most posters here will know that I have been anti-Cheika since the end of RWC2015. I am looking forward to seeing the back of him asap.
But, I can see the Wallabies are in against England with a very good chance of getting the win. I don't think England's 2019 form has been overly impressive. Wales took out the 6 Nations and they were not impressive against us in the Round 1. Taking a line through that form, it should be a very close game v England. However, if the Wallabies can repeat their form against the ABs in Perth, which is very possible, then they would be favoured to win in my eyes. I guess I'm saying that in best form, the Wallabies will win, in usual 2019 form it will be a close tussle, so I am cautiously optimistic about the QF.
BH I expect the team to look very close to your prediction. Personally, I'd rather see a backline closer to the one posted by Fatprop - actually exactly the same, but it won't happen.
On the backrow, I see you have predictably shown Hooper as the only No 7 option. Again I think you are right in Cheika's brain (do you find a lot of empty space there?) but to anyone else, Pocock is also a No 7 option. I will never get to see it happen with potentially only three more games until Pocock retires, but I'd prefer Dempsey, Pocock, Naisarani as the starting backrow, especially against England (and SA and NZ).
Go Wallabies.
But, I can see the Wallabies are in against England with a very good chance of getting the win. I don't think England's 2019 form has been overly impressive. Wales took out the 6 Nations and they were not impressive against us in the Round 1. Taking a line through that form, it should be a very close game v England. However, if the Wallabies can repeat their form against the ABs in Perth, which is very possible, then they would be favoured to win in my eyes. I guess I'm saying that in best form, the Wallabies will win, in usual 2019 form it will be a close tussle, so I am cautiously optimistic about the QF.
BH I expect the team to look very close to your prediction. Personally, I'd rather see a backline closer to the one posted by Fatprop - actually exactly the same, but it won't happen.
On the backrow, I see you have predictably shown Hooper as the only No 7 option. Again I think you are right in Cheika's brain (do you find a lot of empty space there?) but to anyone else, Pocock is also a No 7 option. I will never get to see it happen with potentially only three more games until Pocock retires, but I'd prefer Dempsey, Pocock, Naisarani as the starting backrow, especially against England (and SA and NZ).
Go Wallabies.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
Could literally see one of two different players named to start for every other position except one!
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
That showing against Georgia reminded me of the game against Argentina in Brisbane. Pretty scratchy, not a whole lot of instinctive play, not great viewing. We turned it around the next week though so I'm hoping we do the same here.
Hooper is the captain of the team and has been one of our best performers through the RWC. He will be starting.
I could re-list the options involving both Pocock and Hooper and flip their numbers around. It won't make any difference to the way either play.
I don't see any option where Pocock starts and Hooper is on the bench though. It just isn't going to happen and shouldn't happen.
I think the best thing for the team would be to have Tupou, Coleman, Genia, Hooper, Beale and To'omua on the bench to come on and make an impact for the last 30mins. In reality Hooper will start the game, both because he's the captain and because of his form this tournament.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
In regard to the Pooper. Don't England also have limited line-out options? Are any of there back-row specialist jumper? I heard they are not.
If that is the case, I see no reason why the Pooper won't be starting. Dempsey's form has been mixed and the other option in LLS has not impressed either.
If that is the case, I see no reason why the Pooper won't be starting. Dempsey's form has been mixed and the other option in LLS has not impressed either.
