Wallabies vs Scotland - 5 June 2012

[What2040]

Walls by 20

 

[Lee Grant]

Things you may not know about the Scotland side: (you may as well be aware, but I don't think I've seen them mentioned)

Hogg runs fast. And scores tries. More likely to run around a player than trough him. Good kicking as well. He's 19 and is likely to stick around the Scot setup for a while.

Gray is a likely Lions starter. The first Scot in a while to be one of the first in the side when speculating about it a year in advance.

Ford can be a nighmare in the breakdown. He's, IMO the best hooker in the british isles.

The Scottish lineout is exceptional. Their scrum is decent when Murray is on (which is anytime bar sundays).

I did mention some of these things earlier on the last page or two. They have some good players but sometimes they inexplicably drift into mediocrity; not that that is unknown to Wallabies supporters.

It's going to be a dark and stormy night in Newcastle and I think our guys will be like Babes In the Woods and will be looking at each other a lot and saying "What happened there?" as they did against a Munster Twos and Threes side about 18 months ago. I can't remember when the Wallabies last had a decent wet weather game, let alone a good one.

I'm looking forward to watching Hogg tomorrow night, but like our bloke Morahan, I don't know what he will be like fielding and kicking the high ball.

Gray? They were already talking about him in 2010/11 making the 2013 Lions team. A bit like a giant version of Eales, except he doesn't kick goals.

Yeah it's a good lineout but it will be windy and everybody will be throwing 2 ball. The lottery may suit Oz.

Ford should not be considered the best hooker in the British Isles until he throws to the lineout better. A whizz around the park and at the breadown though.
.

 

[p.Tah]

Lee thank you for these run downs. Why don't the Australian rugby journalist give us an overview of the opposition (perhaps they have,I've just missed it). Who they are, where their strengths are etc... I often think we (Australian fans) think we're playing a group of no names from the North and we expect to romp it in (Ireland @ RWC a case in point).
Not many here watch the Northern hemisphere comps. We don't know a great deal about the players.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Forgot to mention the "Commonwealth Hotel" in Cooks Hill who is the sponsor of a couple of local Rugby clubs including my own will have mini buses heading to the Hunter Stadium from 6pm onward. So if you get here early & want to go to a very Rugby friendly pub then it is one of the best picks along with the Sunnyside. They are also keen to have people come back after the game - they have a fireplace!

Here is their location:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=e...ocal_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ_BIwAA

I don't think they have their own bus heading back from the game but the directions there are pretty simple even if you're on foot, as follows:

Leave the stadium, the road straight outside is Turton, turn left of the stadium & walk toward the intersection (you'll see Master Builders on the other corner but stay on the other side) then keep walking around left onto Lambton road - there are buses doing into Newcastle along this way (better that its a week night). Just be sure to ask that its going straight into Newcastle (say your heading to the commonwealth) & it should take you to where you need to get off. Most bus drivers in Newie are happy to tell you when you need to get off for a certain location. Typing in Hunter Stadium Broadmeadow NSW to Commonwealth Hotel Cooks Hill will give the approximate direct route in google maps.

 

[qwerty51]

If we're doing predictions I'm going Scotland by 2!

 

[Bowside]

Wallabies by 1 point.

 

[BDA]

If we're doing predictions I'm going Scotland by 2!

Is that your serious prediction

 

[qwerty51]

Yes, I think they have the pack to beat us, not sure we'll be scoring too many tries in the conditions and with the players first outing. They're up for it.

 

[RedsHappy]

Yes, I think they have the pack to beat us, not sure we'll be scoring too many tries in the conditions and with the players first outing. They're up for it.

Qwerty, assume you're not forgetting the other well known variable: Robbie's notorious game plan 'situation', namely either (a) we don't have one or (b) the players don't quite understand the one we do have or (c) we have the wrong one for the opposition or conditions.

 

[troxler]

Yes, I think they have the pack to beat us, not sure we'll be scoring too many tries in the conditions and with the players first outing. They're up for it.

You gotta have faith!! Wallabies by 25...

 

[Tangawizi]

Wallabies are $1.12 in the betting. Have to give Scotland 28.5 start to get their odds that low.

I be taking the Wallabies by at least 8 points. Hope it's like the Under 20's though.......

 

[BDA]

Can I say I think it is impressive that we can name two different front rows for the Wales and Scotland games, both of which should be pretty solid. Five years ago playing two games in one week against Six Nation teams would have been impossible.

 

[Jets]

Wallabies by 14. Plenty of eager guys in form trying to make a name for themselves. I really hope a couple stand up and put in a performance demanding to be picked on Saturday. That being said I don't expect it to be very pretty and it will be hard work for the forwards. Scotlands problem is they don't have anyone who looks like a threat in attack.

 

[No4918]

I actually think the Scots +12.5 is a pretty good bet.

5 debuts in the 15 plus guys backing up from Fri and Sat. This game is no where near a sure thing.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

This just in! One of the Hamilton Women's Rugby Players (from the Harps) had contacted the ARU & told them about the death of local Rugby player Tevita Maile (aged 22) this week. As a result the Wallabies will be wearing black arm bands in support of the local Rugby community. Credit where credit is due, this is great stuff from the ARU.

The BOM rader may be off sometimes but currently we have a shit load of rain & wind heading our way, this is looking to be one hell of a first test in Newcastle! The crowd won't a have to 'raise the roof! with cheering' the wind may do that for us. Great stuff that I already have a cold!

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...eather-warning-issued-for-hunter/2579782.aspx

This is a poor youtube recording but Stewie's reaction upon finding out he's going to Disney world is about what I'm feeling right now.

This is my last post before leaving, Ma & I have decided to leave early incase the weather shuts down public transport.

Prediction: Wallabies by 1, stadium & all of Newcastle gets flooded, Pocock swims & drags every player, spectator, & resident in Newcastle to safety then manages the relief effort - gets a bravery award. Diggers will say the life threatening situation brought them even more closer together & that they should do a Newcastle test every year . Peace out!

 

[BarneySF]

From Diggers in today's SMH:

''I'll be on the left wing and Joe will be on the right,'' he said. ''I play both wings, but I gave him the first choice anyway … I think back to the days … well, I won't name names, but this bloke in the team said no go to playing on the other wing. So I'm doing it in reverse. I'm a good bloke.''
So I'm thinking that the wings back in the 'early days' when Diggers hit the scene - say around 2006, would have been, Gerrard, Tuiquiri, Rathbone, Shepherd and Staniforth. Surely he'd be talking about the Dark Shark, right?

 

[GaffaCHinO]

i think one of those players now plays right wing for a certain NRL team????

 

[Joe Mac]

From Diggers in today's SMH:

''I'll be on the left wing and Joe will be on the right,'' he said. ''I play both wings, but I gave him the first choice anyway … I think back to the days … well, I won't name names, but this bloke in the team said no go to playing on the other wing. So I'm doing it in reverse. I'm a good bloke.''
So I'm thinking that the wings back in the 'early days' when Diggers hit the scene - say around 2006, would have been, Gerrard, Tuiquiri, Rathbone, Shepherd and Staniforth. Surely he'd be talking about the Dark Shark, right?

I was also trying to work out who this would have been as well. For the Wallabies- Digby played against Wales (Brisbane, 2007) on debut, where he scored a try. How can we find a team list for that game?

 

[Braveheart81]

Tuqiri generally plays left wing for the Wests Tigers. The greatest rugby league team in the world.

 

[Braveheart81]

I was also trying to work out who this would have been as well. For the Wallabies- Digby played against Wales (Brisbane, 2007) on debut, where he scored a try. How can we find a team list for that game?

Google.

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/25442.html

15 FB
Julian Huxley
14 W
Digby Ioane
13 C
Stirling Mortlock (c)
12 C
Adam Ashley-Cooper
11 W
Drew Mitchell
10 FH
Stephen Larkham
9 SH
Matt Giteau
1 P
Benn Robinson
2 H
Stephen Moore
3 P
Guy Shepherdson
4 L
Nathan Sharpe
5 L
Dan Vickerman
6 F
Rocky Elsom
7 F
George Smith
8 N8
Wycliff Palu

Replacements​

16 H
Adam Freier
17 P
Matt Dunning
18 L
Mark Chisholm
19 N8
Stephen Hoiles
20 F
Phil Waugh
21 C
George Gregan
22 SH
Mark Gerrard