[2014 EOYT] England v Australia

[goodNumber10]

Yes, that would be me - not that I need to justify giving rep, but I gave it because he was trying to keep a thread on track.

Can I just ask what business it is of yours, or what it's got to do with the Australia V England match? ... Rhetorical questions obviously as it's neither your business, nor is it relevant to the thread
@goodNumber10 - no, not given by a WUM of a Troll, although it does seem that if you disagree with an opinion or the ability of certain players that are the favourites of certain other posters, you can certainly be labelled that way.

If we are concerned (collectively) about the quality of posts/posters, maybe look at who doesn't post anymore, and look to the quality of our own posts.

If anyone has a problem with any of the above, feel free to PM me, as I don't want this thread to derail further

As to the topic at hand, I think England can probably smell blood in the water, and will take this one, adding to Australia's misery

Mate I couldn't care less. He asked I answered. You do what you want, if you wanna rep Jones boy, that your prerogative.

Let's get the thread back on track?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I think what he's saying is that club centric backlines have seldom worked well for England.

Not saying the Ford/East/Joseph combo won't work but as we've seen on many an occasion a strong domestic 10/12/13 combo/Backline doesn't always translate - you'd hope it's the best from everywhere and the coaches can pull players up tot eh level they need them at.

We have never tried a strong domestic combo though.

We tried the sarries backline when it was one of the worst in the premiership but other than that just individuals.

I think having seen nonu and smith play well for so many years as the Hurricanes and all blacks I'd would be hard to argue a club partnership doesn't work.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 1 James Slipper

Pretty good team. Will be interested to see this Sean McMahon and how he does.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Aussie by 8 in the battle of the bottom feeders

 

[goodNumber10]

We have never tried a strong domestic combo though.

We tried the sarries backline when it was one of the worst in the premiership but other than that just individuals.

I think having seen nonu and smith play well for so many years as the Hurricanes and all blacks I'd would be hard to argue a club partnership doesn't work.

We may not under Lancaster but we have many times over the years/decades.

Good club combo does not = good international combo.

Nonu/Smith actually works against that point because for the most part they were gash for the 'canes. Nonu particularly is known for not delivering at super level, and secondly that's new Zealand and not as i state England.

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 1 James Slipper

Pretty good team. Will be interested to see this Sean McMahon and how he does.

Interesting how this will go.

Both sides are pretty similar in make up IMO.

 

[TommiG88]

Going for a disjointed win for England by 2 points. Hoping we look better with twelvetrees at 12 to keep Farrell from coming back into that role.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Seconded, come on Billy we need you. Deliver us from mediocrity.

I'm pretty uneasy about this one ... they seem to have scrummaged OK in previous tests, and I feel like we really need to properly smash the scrum to beat the Aussies. If they hold their own, their backs should outplay ours even without Kuridrani ... although their defence has looked fairly shaky, I'm not convinced we'll have the backline to really exploit that.

Maybe the "England Are In Crisis It's The Worst Disaster Ever" hype has got to me, but my gut feeling is Aus to win a close one

 

[TommiG88]

Seconded, come on Billy we need you. Deliver us from mediocrity.

I'm pretty uneasy about this one ... they seem to have scrummaged OK in previous tests, and I feel like we really need to properly smash the scrum to beat the Aussies. If they hold their own, their backs should outplay ours even without Kuridrani ... although their defence has looked fairly shaky, I'm not convinced we'll have the backline to really exploit that.

Maybe the "England Are In Crisis It's The Worst Disaster Ever" hype has got to me, but my gut feeling is Aus to win a close one

The hype has got to me and I feel we are due a big loss. I need to snap out of it.

 

[goodNumber10]

England Side annoucned:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30225467

England: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby) Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby); George Ford (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby).
Replacements: Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), George Kruis (Saracens), James Haskell (Wasps), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Marland Yarde (Harlequins).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Every player on Twitter! "<a href="https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby">@EnglandRugby</a>: Team v AUS at Twickenham: <a href="http://t.co/bR5hWVupv7">http://t.co/bR5hWVupv7</a> <a href="http://t.co/sfJcLPUCsH">pic.twitter.com/sfJcLPUCsH</a>"</p>&mdash; Twitter Sports (@TwitterSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSports/status/537910372293148674">November 27, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Beau Geste]

I've never got Twelvetrees. To me he's as mediocre as Farrell. Unless he comes up trumps on Saturday, I think I'd rather have Farrell. The only one in the Autumn, so far, who looked to have any go forward in the backs is Eastmond, but they're obviously worried about his lack of stature, but I don't recall him missing tackles.

Oh for another Will Greenwood to come along. he's never been replaced IMO.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Ben Youngs. Huzzah.

 

[Patchey]

Ben Youngs. Huzzah.

Indeed. I always thought we've been over emphasising passing in our nines...

 

[Every Time Ref]

I hear he communicates well has Presence and brings experience. It's experience of passing badly, but still, experience is experience.

 

[Patchey]

We once played very well against Australia though. Four years ago. But he clearly saves his best for games against the Wallabies so this was a no brainer...

 

[goodNumber10]

to be fair to Youngs he's far more physical than Care which he's going to need on Staurday,and is better at getting his Forwards moving off him in and around the contact area (little dart and pop to the runner), I know Care is a running 9 but he seldoms offloads iirc.

Tough on Wiggles as he's probably our best core skills 9 at the moment.

 

[Every Time Ref]

to be fair to Youngs he's far more physical than Care which he's going to need on Staurday,and is better at getting his Forwards moving off him in and around the contact area (little dart and pop to the runner)

He's going to need some runners actually running for that though. Dart and pop to a stander doesn't have the same effect.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Toomua v Twlvetrees, 36 needs to get revenge.

Also see Sam burgess down as a backs replacement for bath tomorrow.

Makes that game more interesting.

 

[Big Ewis]

England Side annoucned:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30225467



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Every player on Twitter! "@EnglandRugby: Team v AUS at Twickenham: http://t.co/bR5hWVupv7 pic.twitter.com/sfJcLPUCsH"
— Twitter Sports (@TwitterSports) November 27, 2014​

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boy, is that an exciting England side, or what ?..



...







FK, FK, FK, FK, FK, FK, FK, FK, FK !!!!!!!

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[Peat]

As to the topic at hand, I think England can probably smell blood in the water, and will take this one, adding to Australia's misery

Both sides will scent blood in the water and whoever loses will be very miserable.

There is a big increase needed in the intensity and discipline of England's loose play. Do so and I think we have a Win, particularly if we can establish set-piece dominance, fail and I'd bet on the Aussies.

 

[goodNumber10]

boy, is that an exciting England side, or what ?..

Cor! two decent results for a one dimensional France and @Big Ewis is in here dishing it out to England

- - - Updated - - -

Both sides will scent blood in the water and whoever loses will be very miserable.

There is a big increase needed in the intensity and discipline of England's loose play. Do so and I think we have a Win, particularly if we can establish set-piece dominance, fail and I'd bet on the Aussies.

We should be fine up front and in the second row.... but it won't be an easy game and Australia are never pushovers, but if this English backrow can't get on top of McCalman and McMahon then they may as well just retire now.

Hooper is not a fetcher, like Hodgson, Pockock and Smith etc... he is a ball carrier and tackler. McmMahon is a hybrid player like Wood Robshaw but only three caps deep. McCalman is the trump card for them though, he is a good defender and superb in the loose.