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

[jomjom]

I dont think Autumn tests against the SH sides are meaningless, at all. The top SH sides are the 3 best teams in the world, this is indisputable. Playing them, and beating them (especially NZ) merits true recognition. I anticipate it every time. Its a yearly chance to really display and improve a teams skill. I mean, they are all 2 time world champions and have a consistent higher win ratio against us. Their first and second choice squads are all class. Beating them feels GREAT, Autumn test or not. I think its very convenient for you to label them as "meaningless" just because Wales crumble when playing SH sides

I guarantee you that the Welsh players certainly dont find these SH tests as "meaningless"!

 

[Maverick1987]

Even tho Wales have been the best northern hemisphere team in the last 10_years - 3 grandslams says so, when was the last time England did a grandslam? We were only lower in the ranking due to our poor record to the southern hemisphere in the autumn internationals bit its winnng tounaments that count and we do that better than England lately like it or not

I'd be interested to know who has won the most games in that period . Wales have obviously won the most grand slams but we have been on the verge a few times we seem to lack that cutting edge when the pressure is on like Wales have in the 6N . Also when you say tournaments I think you should say 6N because we have clearly been better in the world cups in the past 3 tournaments

 

[Maverick1987]

Happy to see Giteau in for Australia.
Can't tackle, can't handle pressure.

Burgess opposite Giteau ? Would certainly get some go forward ball off that and get over the game line fairly easily .

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

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I know it is important for ranking points but your not getting what I'm saying?
Id rather lose all the matches in the autumn and go on to win the 6 nations by a grandslam which we have done. Its not like we get blown away by the SH teams we've been close to beating Australia about 10 thousand times now and we did beat the boks lately a feat that England couldn't manage so reign it in a bit!

It would be hard not to get what you're saying - you care more about tournaments than autumn internationals, fine. But it's a bit odd to discount the only games we have against the top sides in the world. Rugby is a lot bigger than our little tournament we get together to play each year in the North. It's not only important for ranking points to include the internationals in autumn, it's also the only way we really get to test our sides against the best and genuinely get an idea of how good we are.

 

[Maverick1987]

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I know it is important for ranking points but your not getting what I'm saying?
Id rather lose all the matches in the autumn and go on to win the 6 nations by a grandslam which we have done. Its not like we get blown away by the SH teams we've been close to beating Australia about 10 thousand times now and we did beat the boks lately a feat that England couldn't manage so reign it in a bit!

How can you say you prefer 6N wins than wins against NZ when unless you are 90 odd you wouldn't even know what a win against NZ was like ? When Llanelli beat the ABs every pub in the town ran out of beer ......

I'd say it's a shade more important than your making out its just it doesn't suit your argument so you are playing it down ....

 

[The80sDogCancer]

RSA looked very average when they fielded a 'B' team against japan.
Then they played the 'A' team (albeit with the doddery Matfield) against Samoa and looked as good as they have ever looked.
Don't expect anything less from the Boks, make no mistake that loss to Japan will hurt them for decades. They are a vastly successful and immensely proud rugby nation.
They went right up the favourites chart to the top for me after the loss to Japan.
Look at how they wiped the floor with Samoa, the Boks were back to their imperious physical best.
Judge them poorly at your peril.

totally agree. the squad is not only awash with talented players plenty of experience in big tournaments but after the way the team handled themself both on and off the field after the japan loss tells me they are mentally prepared to win too.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

RSA looked very average when they fielded a 'B' team against japan.
Then they played the 'A' team (albeit with the doddery Matfield) against Samoa and looked as good as they have ever looked.
Don't expect anything less from the Boks, make no mistake that loss to Japan will hurt them for decades. They are a vastly successful and immensely proud rugby nation.
They went right up the favourites chart to the top for me after the loss to Japan.
Look at how they wiped the floor with Samoa, the Boks were back to their imperious physical best.
Judge them poorly at your peril.

Sorry, how was the team which played japan a B team? That's completely laughable.

 

[Maverick1987]

Sorry, how was the team which played japan a B team? That's completely laughable.

Agree !! I was short a few players maybe 3 or 4 but the rest were starters imo

 

[Folau Tank]

Australia to win. QUADE should not be the starting Fly-Half

 

[kesh]

I dont think Autumn tests against the SH sides are meaningless, at all. The top SH sides are the 3 best teams in the world, this is indisputable. Playing them, and beating them (especially NZ) merits true recognition. I anticipate it every time. Its a yearly chance to really display and improve a teams skill. I mean, they are all 2 time world champions and have a consistent higher win ratio against us. Their first and second choice squads are all class. Beating them feels GREAT, Autumn test or not. I think its very convenient for you to label them as "meaningless" just because Wales crumble when playing SH sides

I guarantee you that the Welsh players certainly dont find these SH tests as "meaningless"!

You sound like you've just jumped backwards into a swimming pool with ..girls.
@wayevs thinks his trolling, probably after money.

 

[Hulkster]

I'm sorry but the England bench is just wrong and inexcusable.

Any injury at 11, 13, 14 or 15 and the game is over.

 

[ncurd]

BBc saying Joseph "earns recall", not sure that's how I'd phrase it. Nothing really shocking here no idea why we had to wait a few more hours...

England XV: Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Ben Morgan.

 

[Patchey]

Yeah, once again we have demonstrated a complete lack of understanding on what a bench is for...

Haskell must be cranking in his hotel room. Dropped for a 37 year old who has only been in the squad two day.

I hope Joseph and Ben Youngs are actually fit.

 

[Willodell100]

As widely expected:

 

[ncurd]

Bench:.....

Replacements: Webber, M Vunipola, Brookes, Kruis, Easter, Wigglesworth, Ford, Burgess.

Wing cover? Because when Watson got injured in prem final Joseph going to wing really did wonders for Bath's attacking shape....

Easter when you already have lock cover?

 

[wayevs]

Christ, this can only mean one thing!

FarrellBurgessBarritt (Part Deux)

It can be found down your local video store. Horror section (only in England). Anywhere else the comedy section.

Brilliant!

 

[ncurd]

I'd be interested to know who has won the most games in that period . Wales have obviously won the most grand slams but we have been on the verge a few times we seem to lack that cutting edge when the pressure is on like Wales have in the 6N . Also when you say tournaments I think you should say 6N because we have clearly been better in the world cups in the past 3 tournaments

England but not by a huge amount.

1 jan 2006 to 18 Sep 2015

England record 63/116 54%
Wales record 56/120 47%

It might be worth to note that England have played NZ 4 more time than Wales (8 games to 12), SA 2 more times (13 games to 15) but Wales have played Aus (the weaker out of SH teams and one I'm reluctant to call top 3 size, we have a top 2) 4 more time (15 games to 11).

 

[Willodell100]

Brilliant!

This will happen if anyone of Joseph, May, Watson or Brown picks up an injury early on.

Not a very smart use of the bench in my view especially if we are chasing the game after 60mins.

 

[brokenoses]

I have to say I still haven't shaken off my doubts over Jonny May's defensive ability. Don't get me wrong, he has shown brilliant attacking play recently but he has been caught out of position once or twice and seems to lack the solidarity and stopping power that someone like Jack Nowell brings. Exeter bias aside and despite recent performances from May, I would like to have seen Nowell on the wing against a rampaging Australian backline. RE: Burgess, I think England will have to play hard and fast to counteract their weakness at the breakdown and for me Burgess has done enough to play on Saturday. I would rather see him at 12 and Nowell/Slade at 23 but Barritt seems to be destined to play every match despite his poor performances.

 

[wayevs]

Yes generally mean the 6 nations , although most would agree that we should of been in the final against the AB s in 2011 due to playing the semi final with 14 , not saying we would of won but considering the performance of the ABs in that final any was possible