Wallabies v Poms, EOYT 2010, Twickenham

[jason]

After today, whaddya reckon? I for one thought the Wallabies were disappointingly shaky and didn't seem particularly "up for it". We never really got out of 2nd gear, there were a lot of handling mistakes and the scrum, most worryingly of all, looked shit.

On the other hand, I hear the Poms were looking pretty sharp and (this may be the biased pommy press talking) could have beaten the ABs in the final 10.

I'll be at Twickenham for the third year in a row and I haven't had to make the walk of shame back to Richmond yet, hopefully Saturday won't be a first.

 

[disco]

After today, whaddya reckon? I for one thought the Wallabies were disappointingly shaky and didn't seem particularly "up for it". We never really got out of 2nd gear, there were a lot of handling mistakes and the scrum, most worryingly of all, looked shit.

On the other hand, I hear the Poms were looking pretty sharp and (this may be the biased pommy press talking) could have beaten the ABs in the final 10

Well we usually play one good one bad hopefully last night was the bad. We need Moore back or we'll be in for a long night Fainga'a well get killed at the scrum.

 

[dobduff11]

Wrote up a whole match report but by mistake pressed the return button and cant be bothered to write it up again, so you can read the bbc's version

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9161530.stm

English highlights, Foden was a counter attacking fiend,
Ashton was great in attack and defence and really wanted to win it
Scrum was destructive, welcome back Sheridan
Flood played on the gain line the whole game
Hape was suprisingly enterprising

Good luck boys only games where I support another team over Aus

Come on England

 

[en_force_er]

The Wallabies are a young team, as such one can concede that as much as they probably want to they just can't gee themselves up week-in, week-out.

It's hard for a young fellow to get pumped for a test against a depleted opposition a week after a huge win and a week before a huge game.

Understand what I mean?

 

[Groucho]

The Wallabies are a young team, as such one can concede that as much as they probably want to they just can't gee themselves up week-in, week-out.

It's hard for a young fellow to get pumped for a test against a depleted opposition a week after a huge win and a week before a huge game.

Understand what I mean?

Yes. After England we can't ask this young team to back up against Italy, then France. We absolutely have to play the A team against Italy.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

We will need to be super switched on this week. I thought England were good against the AB's and will be totally up for it against us.

 

[Newter]

The Wallabies are a young team, as such one can concede that as much as they probably want to they just can't gee themselves up week-in, week-out.

It's hard for a young fellow to get pumped for a test against a depleted opposition a week after a huge win and a week before a huge game.

Understand what I mean?

Nah, the young guys ripped in. McCalman and Pocock maintained the rage from last week. We were getting belted by a hard Welsh forward pack because Saia Fainga'a had a poor game (lack of match fitness?) and Chisholm is out of his depth.

 

[qwerty51]

Dunno what game you watched.

McCalman was very poor. He's just not big enough, tried hard but he went backwards in contact and didn't make an dominant tackles. I can't believe some people actually want him over Palu

 

[dbla]

England's game plan will be much the same against Aus as it was last night so I think whether we win or not will depend on how many points we can put on them early and whether we can rectify the way we hand over possession cheaply through poor kicking or option-taking. They will grind penalties out of our scrum or anywhere in our half so we just have to hope that we have enough of a lead like the AB's did that they can't kick their way to a lead. It seems that England don't know the way to get over the line, not for lack of trying mind you as it was good to watch them really have a crack at the AB's, they just don't seem to have the processes in place to score pies. If we can't get to an early lead of about 15-20 points then I see England coming home strong to win it.

 

[Newter]

Dunno what game you watched.

McCalman was very poor. He's just not big enough, tried hard but he went backwards in contact and didn't make an dominant tackles. I can't believe some people actually want him over Palu

What, once? That Welsh defence was very solid, and even drove Elsom back a few meters on one occasion. You could knock him for getting beaten in contact in one tackle, or you could look at the high number of rucks he cleared out and the fight he gave each time he carted the ball forward. I saw him clean up some very difficult scrum ball at the back.

Genia got some very neat ball for most of the night, and I think the No 8 had something to do with it.

 

[JJJ]

I reckon we've lost the favourites tag for this one, which probably isn't a bad thing.

 

[cakefan11]

Anyone know how bad Moore's injury is?

Andrew Sheridan in the front row will smash the wallabies with Faiinga as starting hooker.

 

[Sully]

I think our scrum only needs a minor tweak to get things right. The backrow pretty much forgot what they were suppose to do for most of the night. Slipper must be fairly close to getting a start to see how he goes. And Benn Robinson seems to have the wood on Sheridan. McCallum does seem a bit light for his position.

I think our backs kicked the ball away too often and I hope to see more ball in hand next week. I thought Matt Giteau was better than he has been for a while but still hasn't got to anywhere near his best.

I will admit that I am officially a Kurtley Beale fan. The leaps forward his game has had in the last 6 months are hard to believe. Is there anyway we can claim him as a Queenslander? I still don't want to here anything about him playing anywhere but the back three.

 

[#1 Tah]

I will admit that I am officially a Kurtley Beale fan. The leaps forward his game has had in the last 6 months are hard to believe. Is there anyway we can claim him as a Queenslander? I still don't want to here anything about him playing anywhere but the back three.

Sorry, it only works the other way. (Barnes, Dell....)

 

[Jnor]

What exactly has happened to our scrum since last year? Apart from Palu and TPN personnel are the same so you would think we could have similar levels of performance. The meerkatting from loosies seemed a problem, other than that Moore would've been better but is that the extent of it?

As long as we can win the breakdown and keep getting quick ball (without the errors of this week) against the Poms we have it over them everywhere else.

But then again we have Joubert and the possibility of rain. I think I'll remain quietly optimistic...

 

[Sully]

The Bens have both been injured and the rest got lazy.

 

[kambah mick]

Is it just me or did the ref let the ball be held in the ruck for an unusually (for SH football) long time. I thought the Welsh wre able to hang on in defence because they were able to slow down ruck ball too well.

 

[dbla]

What exactly has happened to our scrum since last year? Apart from Palu and TPN personnel are the same so you would think we could have similar levels of performance. The meerkatting from loosies seemed a problem, other than that Moore would've been better but is that the extent of it?

As Sully said the Bens are underdone and you have highlighted everything else. The other factor is that maybe Horwill is a beast of a second-rower when it comes to scrummaging? From what I recall the reds scrum went alright this year with a light front row so maybe Van the man can add starch to the scrum? Highly unlikely that he will be picked but if it were me I would start him for this game (and the rest of the tests...) and see if it helps shore up the scrum. To me it really seemed like Alexander was losing his second rower as well as his flanker forgetting that he also has to push for the whole scrum, not just the hit.

 

[wobbly]

But then again we have Joubert and the possibility of rain. I think I'll remain quietly optimistic...

fuck NOOOOOOOOOOO! I dread to think what we're in for with that jaapie pea-blowing fuck wit doing his "look at me" routine again.

Why the fuck the ARU don't put a quiet sanction on Joubert, Kaplan and any other shit-for-brains saffa ref coming anywhere near a Wallabies match more competitive than Fiji (no offense to Fiji per se)?

fucked if I'm going to stay up to watch that shit. no doubt I'll read on GAGR the next day.

 

[Travi34]

TPN to play @ 2? or 16? Moore out for the tour if bringing him in...

heres hoping againsts the Tigers... Fainga'a and barnes dominate the 5/8ths, giteau comes in for Fainga'a, and breaks both legs, arms and feet... or has a shocke so that Dingo CANNOT pick him...

McCalman will earn the 8 jersey soon... either that, or the Rock will switch to 8 and Hodgo comes in at 6....