[2015 RWC] Pool A: England vs. Australia (03/10/2015)

[Zed]

Yes he does but connects with a head instead, still think he was lucky to escape with that, it may not have been with intent but it was clumsy. Although hes not the mass murderer some people are saying he is.

It was a moronic thing to do and something you'd lambast an U13 player for doing, but anyone that thinks he deliberately set out to kick him in the head is a fool.

 

[austingtir]

It was a moronic thing to do and something you'd lambast an U13 player for doing, but anyone that thinks he deliberately set out to kick him in the head is a fool.

Compared to the Arg player being banned for 9 weeks for what was likely an accident you've got to wonder.

 

[The80sDogCancer]

I switched over from league to play union this year (in sydney) and I would estimate 3 quarters of our comp are ex pat kiwis. Not to many ****s are given about union over here, and the only time we will see it splashed over the pages of the news paper is if the beat the ABs in a WC, if they beat the poms or if they win the RWC. Its GF time here in Sydney so all we will hear about for a while is how the future immortal Thurston will lead the cowboys to premeirship glory!!

yeah i hope the cowboys do it this sunday!

 

[ncurd]

Compared to the Arg player being banned for 9 weeks for what was likely an accident you've got to wonder.

really this again?

It's the difference of the head being on the floor roughly where the ball was and being kicked which is a stupid mistake to make but kicking the ball on the floor is part of standard play.
And making delibrately contact to the head & accidentallly eyes when someone is standing. Which has no reason in play to actually be happening.

Point being the circumstances are different so naturally like anything else in life the punishments varied.

My 2 cents I thought it was accidental and slow motion makes it look a lot worse as it looks likes he takes forever after the ball is not there for Wood to come in when the reality is it not much time at all. This said it was reckless and he did connect with the head. Lucky but not entirely unfair to get a warning as opposed to a LE band for this offense.

 

[spartan32]

If that team sheet is right it's not a complete disaster. I gUess SL was always going to stick with BB but good to see Joseph back in the mix. Shame about Ford but then again Faz has a very good big game mentality and no one can deny his ability to tick the score board over. That pack is going to need the game of their lives if we are going to have any chance at all.

 

[Hulkster]

If that team sheet is right it's not a complete disaster. I gUess SL was always going to stick with BB but good to see Joseph back in the mix. Shame about Ford but then again Faz has a very good big game mentality and no one can deny his ability to tick the score board over. That pack is going to need the game of their lives if we are going to have any chance at all.

The bench will make it a disaster.

At some point it is likely JJ will be subbed for either Burgess or Ford.

This means Barritt at 13 again.

I expect this will also be the game where we see Brown on the wing and Goode at fullback once the changes are made.

 

[ncurd]

Most likely pre meditated changes are Burgess for Barritt & Ford for Farell

But I'll believe the team when I say see it like normal unless everywhere is reporting it...

 

[81st_Minute]

I switched over from league to play union this year (in sydney) and I would estimate 3 quarters of our comp are ex pat kiwis. Not to many ****s are given about union over here, and the only time we will see it splashed over the pages of the news paper is if the beat the ABs in a WC, if they beat the poms or if they win the RWC. Its GF time here in Sydney so all we will hear about for a while is how the future immortal Thurston will lead the cowboys to premeirship glory!!

League is a terrible, terrible ******* version of Union. Can't stand it. It's just a professional game of bullrush which we used to play in primary school.

ps: yes I'll be watching the grand final and cheering on... the Cowboys.

 

[Mattybuck]

Interesting article:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/rwc-analysis-know-your-enemy/

People go on about Cole and penalties but why the fuk is he the second highest ruck participate in the forward pack?

Perhaps if the other players actually made more of an effort to hit the ruck early in defence and provide support him wouldn't be the only one trying to create a turnover?

James Haskell in 18 minutes hit 3 rucks, Brookes in 9 minutes hit 2 rucks why has Haskell did Haskell hit only one more ruck than Brookes despite playing twice the time.

Interesting that Burgess has the same work rate in the ruck as Vunipola. It looks quite impressive really for Burgess in terms of rucks and why Bath see him as a flanker.

Also shows how much work the Aus back row makes.

Burgess was winning a penalty against Wales contesting over the ball until Wood made no attempt to move and wasted all his hard work.

Burgess will start at 6 for Bath this season but will play 7 towards the end I reckon.

 

[Mcfadden]

No it looks bad in slow mo as most things do, dont know what he was suppose to have done in the Fiji game that was so bad but I get fed up with people coming on here screaming thuggery like some stupid tabloid journ feeding off a false outrage demanding people are banned and their family all shot. Half expecting the "if he had done that on the street" line to come out next.

Its because of people behaving like this we have so many TMO reviews now and the games becoming so sanitised.

I won't be cheering for England but I do totally agree with you on the Wood incident. People are blowing it up far too much. Not sure if they've even played rugby in real time, not just sitting forward in front of a screen.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Telegraph is reporting the same team. Burgess on the bench, but no Goode. Lawes out of the 23. Wiggles to start if Youngs unfit.

 

[Mcfadden]

How is raking someone's eyes accidental, but trying to hack the ball ahead (which only happens..ALL the time) not accidental?

I know it's all in the eyes of the interpreter, but some strange calls going on here.

 

[ncurd]

Burgess will start at 6 for Bath this season but will play 7 towards the end I reckon.

Not convinced by that I can see him moving to 8 but take Louw's place as starting openside? I doubt it.

 

[Mattybuck]

9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. May
12. Burgess
13. Joseph
14. Watson
15. Brown

Yes, yes and YES

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Not convinced by that I can see him moving to 8 but take Louw's place as starting openside? I doubt it.

His breakdown work is nowhere near good enough for a 7 and it takes ages to learn the ball control that an 8 needs at the back of a scrum. But carrying hard, offloading and smashing people is pretty much the job spec for a 6. I'm sure he'll want to become a line out jumper, but it's not essential. One jumper in the back row plus locks really ought to be sufficient.

 

[Mattybuck]

Rumour is Louw is off at the end of the season. I was surprised to hear that as I thought he'd see his career out at Bath.

 

[Willodell100]

Burgess will be exceptional for club and country in the backrow once he gets the technical side locked in. For this World Cup he's made a very good inside centre for England.

We have a snitch or a mole in the camp but either way I'm not happy about the team being leaked early.

That being said if rumours are true I am again left perplexed by SL's 23. I understand the wish to go back to Barritt / JJ combination even though Barritt has been awful. But by having Burgess on the bench we are leaving ourselves open to a centre combination of Burgess / Barritt as early as the 1st minute if any one of Brown, May, Watson or JJ gets injured.

I simply cannot understand this thinking when we could well be chasing a game after 60mins.

Because of this I think we should start Burgess who was widely regarded as having an excellent game v Wales.

The other reason is, opposed to Barritt who threatens the gain-line, Burgess can go past it and has the ability to offload which will be key when trying to avoid Hooper & Pocock threat on the floor.

Secondly we desperately need back three cover on the bench and because of this we need to drop Barritt altogether.

 

[Mattybuck]

If what the Telegraph is reporting is correct then this selection will sum up SL's reign as coach. Therefore it will be the ultimate judgement of his time as coach.

My issue if Farrell for Ford. Farrell is better defensively and a more natural kicker, however he does not read attacking opportunities as well as Ford. Ford has the ability to take it to the line and delay passing until the last minute, Farrell does not do this and I would suggest that it is something that can't be trained into a player.

So if you play Farrell it's not good having Burgess/Barritt outside him, you need a player like Slade or Eastmond so that you can bring the back 3 and JJ into the game.

Ford doesn't need the second ball payer, so for that reason, if you're playing Barritt at 12 then Ford should be 10. If Slade is 12, where I think his long term future is, then you can play Farrell, though I'd still pick Ford as I favour attacking rugby or turgid attritional stuff.

Burgess should be in for Barritt, Burgess is feared in defence as he can stop pretty much anyone who runs down his channel. He also offers far more than Barritt in attack with his committing of other players, carries and ability to offload.

So for me once again SL has picked a back line to defend, not to attack, which against the Aussies, over whom we should have the upper hand in set play, is lacking ambition.

But like I said, this selection is typical of SL, neither here nor there really, and he will have no complaints if his future is judged upon it!

 

[TRF_heineken]

Rumour is Louw is off at the end of the season. I was surprised to hear that as I thought he'd see his career out at Bath.

Is he returning to South Africa??? That would be good news...

 

[Mattybuck]

I know I'm only focused on the 10,12,13 selections, but these are crucial as the selection as it is will choke England's ability to attack.

Any before the Sarries score loads of tries brigade come out, they have a dominate pack and score lots from set plays, with organised moves. That doesn't work at this level enough to rely upon...

I really hope we progress and do well in this tournament but, I'm really tired of Lancaster's reign as coach. Unless we win, personally 4 years of winning nothing with our depth in playing talent is nowhere near good enough.

- - - Updated - - -

Re Louw, apparently there are a number of super rugby franchise's looking at him. I hope its not true!

- - - Updated - - -

Burgess will be exceptional for club and country in the backrow once he gets the technical side locked in. For this World Cup he's made a very good inside centre for England.

We have a snitch or a mole in the camp but either way I'm not happy about the team being leaked early.

That being said if rumours are true I am again left perplexed by SL's 23. I understand the wish to go back to Barritt / JJ combination even though Barritt has been awful. But by having Burgess on the bench we are leaving ourselves open to a centre combination of Burgess / Barritt as early as the 1st minute if any one of Brown, May, Watson or JJ gets injured.

I simply cannot understand this thinking when we could well be chasing a game after 60mins.

Because of this I think we should start Burgess who was widely regarded as having an excellent game v Wales.

The other reason is, opposed to Barritt who threatens the gain-line, Burgess can go past it and has the ability to offload which will be key when trying to avoid Hooper & Pocock threat on the floor.

Secondly we desperately need back three cover on the bench and because of this we need to drop Barritt altogether.

Farrell on for Ford at 60 mins makes sense... Ford on for Farrell at 60 makes NO sense... Weird I know!