RWC: AUS v ENG (Twickenham): POOL A; 6am (AEDT) Sunday 4 October

[Rugbynutter39]

I'm pretty sure Andy Farrell played most of his league career as a lock. He was quite a fine ball player.

Lock and prop and mainly prop in later stages of league career

 

[the plastic paddy]

What is he supposed to do with Farrell and Barritt as his centres? Watch him for Bath with Eastmond, Joseph, Watson, Agulla and Watson running lines off him all day. He can find holes in defences.

He can find holes in English Premiership defences. He is a cracking young player and Lancaster's dropping of him sent out an unequivocal message that England were desperate to avoid losing rather than desperate to win. They took that negative mindset into the Wales game, choked in sight of the line and found themselves backed into a corner for the Australia selection.

 

[WOOLI]

Well fair play to you guys, were the better team on the night. Not entirely sure how Launchbury got MotM, clearly Foley or Pocock were the options for me.

I reckon Lancaster will walk now, he has too surely. Who might replace him though? If no big names can be attracted I'd try and get Baxter from Exeter. He's done wonders down there on almost no budget.

Does anyone have Cheika's mobile phone number?

You have to give it to him.

He's taken the Tah's to their first Super Rugby title and now amalgamated the disjointed wobbolies into a team to match the AB's

 

[boyo]

There seems to be a mindset at English Rugby of "How dare a team come to Twickenham and play better than us"

 

[wamberal]

The elder among us would remember Dick Thornett, a forward, dual international for Australia in the 60's (from a great footballing family). Of course been a few backs who've done it.

Eh? You answered a post that said that "it is very difficult for a loig forward to switch to rugby". Dick Thornett switched the other way. So did Scott Gourlay, incidentally.


Dick's older brother Ken played a lot of loig, incidentally, as a full-back.


Ken Kearney was a rugby hooker who switched to loig, as was the Englishman John Gray.


Rex Mossop played for Manly Rugby club before switching.


Far more than "a few backs" have made the switch.

 

[Shelts89]

He can find holes in English Premiership defences. He is a cracking young player and Lancaster's dropping of him sent out an unequivocal message that England were desperate to avoid losing rather than desperate to win. They took that negative mindset into the Wales game, choked in sight of the line and found themselves backed into a corner for the Australia selection.

And Heineken Cup ones. But yes, dropping him sent out a really negative message.

There seems to be a mindset at English Rugby of "How dare a team come to Twickenham and play better than us"

Don't let the media trick you, most English rugby fans aren't that stupid.

 

[notapatrioticboneinme]

and both games have changed hugely in the meantime

rugby league certainly, more like touch football nowadays; but not so union; and if you're thinking today's players are better, think again; they were the best then and more people actually played the game in those days

 

[Teh Other Dave]

Still recovering from Lanchbury winning MOTM. That was for both teams, and not just England, right? I feel bad for him actually - his team just knocked out of the RWC with one match still to play, and he's given that award and told to pose for the camera.

 

[notapatrioticboneinme]

...
Far more than "a few backs" have made the switch.

I stand corrected regarding Dick Thornett.
I didn't mean "few" literally, have been watching Sydney league and union for nearly 50 years. (my dad played 1st grade Parramatta '52 and reserve grade St.George '54)

 

[galumay]

Still recovering from Lanchbury winning MOTM. That was for both teams,

It wasnt a real MOTM award, it was a stupid ITV idea, decided by an online poll - where obviously the vast majority of voters were English nationals.

Very embarrassing for Lanchbury.

 

[Groucho]

That is patently not true. One trip to Reddit or Planet Rugby will show you that Burgess causes more arguments among the English League and Union fans than I'd care to mention.

And any publicity is good publicity.

Tht's true. All English rugby and league fans know all about Burgess.

There's a sneaking obsession amongst English rugby fans with league, not dissimilar to here.

But Burgess' selection was highly controversial in English rugby circles. I heard some tasty first-hand scuttlebutt from someone who heard an England player talk about it it a private fundraiser during the week, who frankly said it was divisive amongst the team. Interedsting that it's the case. Doubly interesting that it was said.

 

[Pedrolicus]

Pretty close except for the kick metres, stats form fox sports.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

It wasnt a real MOTM award, it was a stupid ITV idea, decided by an online poll - where obviously the vast majority of voters were English nationals.

Very embarrassing for Lanchbury.

Apparently decided like Eurovision, Big Brother voting out and the like. A popularity contest divorced from any rational comprehensive analysis of comparative player skills analysis or game day contribution.

 

[Pedrolicus]

Didn't mean to post that thrice, but I guess it's hard to miss now.
Kick metres the only outlier for mine.

 

[Blue]

He can find holes in English Premiership defences. He is a cracking young player and Lancaster's dropping of him sent out an unequivocal message that England were desperate to avoid losing rather than desperate to win. They took that negative mindset into the Wales game, choked in sight of the line and found themselves backed into a corner for the Australia selection.

Lancaster has really been shown up.

He tried to play a game with Farrel that suits Ford so much better.

The dropping of Ford is simply inexplicable and in very simple words a total clanger.

 

[WOOLI]

If AUS need a new player on the squad, maybe they can JT...legend

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Who or what is JT.Legend?

 

[Mr Doug]

Chris Robshaw in the post match interview: "Australia was probably the better team"!! [And to think that they call him "Captain Fantastic"]!!!!

 

[Lorenzo]

But Burgess' selection was highly controversial in English rugby circles. I heard some tasty first-hand scuttlebutt from someone who heard an England player talk about it it a private fundraiser during the week, who frankly said it was divisive amongst the team. Interedsting that it's the case. Doubly interesting that it was said.

lol you've got the inside line on all the hot goss that gets posted on PR

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Yep just imagine if had players like Jonathan Thurston playing Union - and do people really think someone like Thurston would not have made it - superb footballer