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

[ncurd]

Or Aus could trounce Eng

Yeah you're missing the point.

 

[jflintoff]

Yeah you're missing the point.

Yeah I know it wasn't completely relevant, just throwing fuel on the fire

 

[kesh]

Or Aus could trounce Eng

On the plus side, i wouldn't have hear Polama Faith screeching 'the WOoOYYRLD as WOOONGE'.

 

[Hulkster]

Worsen regardless of most other criticism's Robshaw is clearly the leader of this group. Plus his work rate is huge, what we'd need to get Armitage to actually improve the situation is colossal injury crisis in the blindside flanker position.

Armitage joining mid-tournament in a way which nobody has practiced all summer will just make things worse rather than better.



I've been doing some Maths and the Fiji/Wales game matters less than I thought. Taking the relatively safe assumption England will get a BP victory against Uruguay, England just need to come out of this game with 4 more group points than Aus. Aus will then be unable to overhaul England on points thus England will qualify. Means Aus failure to get the BP against Fiji really does effect the overall result.

Would this mean England topping the group of Australia go on to beat Wales?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's a strange feeling, in this moment in time I am actually more confident for this game than I was for the Wales one.

I was literally about to say the same thing.

That said, when Lancaster announces the same side as last time, except with Care at 9, Wood at 8 and Haskell on the flank, I'll probably change my mind.

If Robshaw suffered a tournament ending injury in training today (which I would not wish on anyone), would that be sufficient 'exceptional circumstances' to call up Armitage, and would England's prospects worsen or improve as a result?

Wouldn't want him.
Kvesic is as good, was in the RWC extended training squad, and actually cares about the shirt.

From those of you with a finer understanding of the dark arts of the breakdown, whats the plan for dealing with Hopper and Po'ock? (Not a typo, just not sure about the language filter on here...)

Sack off Wood/Robshaw and deploy The Magnave Lundour.

 

[Jaguares]

Too much pressure for the Pommies and Australia has improved its scrum. So I picking Wallabies by 7

Don't forget Australia has the advantage of their top players like Pocock, Hooper and Folau only have played a game while the top English players have played 2 in a row. More rest for Aussies.

 

[Absolutia]

I've never had much faith in this generation of England - they don't have the cold-blooded professionalism that is required to consistently win at the highest level. Up to this point they've shown themselves as not being big match winners; as not having the wisdom to be able manage a lead and simply undoing themselves in crunch time.

That can all change on Saturday though, but my money's on Oz.

 

[OneFansOpinion]

The WC does strange things. I think this could be one of the only times when the bulk of NZ will be supporting the Aussies.

Amen Brother!!!!!

Can I ask why? Is something different about one of the teams than normal. Feel like an idiot for asking:lol:

 

[ncurd]

Would this mean England topping the group of Australia go on to beat Wales?

Yes....I think theres a scenario still where Wales can loose to Aus and make it through to if Eng win by this margin.

TBH I've only worked out what effects England for this weekend way way too many permutations with BP's, W/L/D and games remaining.

Picture will be clearer after Thursday.

 

[jflintoff]

Can I ask why? Is something different about one of the teams than normal. Feel like an idiot for asking:lol:

It will be good to see Wales go through. Personally I don't have much love to English rugby, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Willodell100]

I feared as much. Hard not to admire the Australian approach in so far as getting them both on the field, and in such a way that seemingly works too. The fact that Pocock is a good egg doesn't make it any easier to deal with.

So, we're 0-1 on finding a solution. Any other ideas here gents?

An easier way to limit Hooper & Pocock's impact on the game is to keep the ball alive and off the floor wherever possible. We have the personnel.

Burgess is an educated risk but thought he played well in both games and has that league ability to find an offload in contact which is key to this plan working. So is Billy Vunipola's fitness as he has the same ability. For the same reason Launchbury & Mako Vunipola must start as they are big ball carriers too.

We need to go back to what we've been trying to achieve offensively over the last 12-18mths and that means Ford back at 10 taking it to the line.

Farrell did very well v Wales but he is not the answer unless we need him to close out a game.

Barritt is the defensive leader but, even if JJ isn't fit in time, we need a natural 13 that can defend that channel effectively. Wales exposed barritt's defensive weakness there eventually but you can bet you bottom Aussie Dollar they will exploit it even more effectively.

Minus the obvious individual ill-discipline I thought our pack did well collectively and as a unit. And come scrum and lineout I think we will still have an advantage even if it won't be quite as obvious as last Autumn.

The breakdown is a concern but let's be smart and limit the damage.

Vunipola
Youngs
Cole
Launchbury
Parling
Wood
Robshaw
Vunipola
Wigglesworth/Care (still undecided)
Ford
May
Burgess
Joseph/Slade
Watson
Brown

Marler
Webber
Brookes
Kruis
Morgan/Haskell
Care/Wigglesworth
Farrell
Nowell

The chances of SL reverting back to his plan A are slim now as he is under even more pressure & he'll stick with a losing side. I hope I am proven wrong!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

If Robshaw suffered a tournament ending injury in training today (which I would not wish on anyone), would that be sufficient 'exceptional circumstances' to call up Armitage, and would England's prospects worsen or improve as a result?

Fuk that shyt will should call up Kvesic.

 

[OneFansOpinion]

It will be good to see Wales go through. Personally I don't have much love to English rugby, but that's just my opinion.

I see. Is that the general feeling in NZ. Just interested to know what the general perception/ feeling towards the NH teams is down South

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Fuk that shyt will should call up Kvesic.

Agree, but realistically we'd get Clark instead

We can't match Australia pound for pound at the breakdown.
What we CAN do rather more easily is make it easier for ourselves to get quick ball by the way we carry it. Get our forwards running into gaps not into defenders. Consider bringing Mako into the front row instead of Marler. I'd say also bring in Brooker but that would be too much danger to the stability of our scrum. Put out a big pack, make sure we carry over the gainline, and make it harder for their back-row to get round the corner to compete.

Slow-ball is Pococks absolute dream. Don't let him have it.

 

[RedruthRFC]

Fuk that shyt will should call up Kvesic.

This (although I supect Lancaster would go for Clark). This is a World Cup, not an end of season Baabaas tour - surely would would have to pick someone who having been part of the extended training group is close to being up to speed already.

Edit: once again, I type too slowly!

 

[Hulkster]

Easter called up in place of Vunipola.

 

[ncurd]

Easter called up in place of Vunipola.

**** I like Easter he did a real good job in 6N but Billy is a real loss, Morgan to start then? They're both good just prefer to have both.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

**** I like Easter he did a real good job in 6N but Billy is a real loss, Morgan to start then? They're both good just prefer to have both.

Hopefully Morgan is fit to start,
I'd feel better about Easter on the bench than Haskell to be honest.
I'm a big fan of Haskell, but Minty has been quality all season, and if you want a guy to close out (or even chase) a game he'd be the one for me.

 

[Jaguares]

What is the English injuries status so far?

 

[ncurd]

What is the English injuries status so far?

Billy out, JJ day-to-day I believe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34381977