[EOYT] England vs. Australia 02/11/13

[Crapspray]

Could be a very long day at the office for the front row.

The bench has a stronger scrummaging unit if it all goes to ****. Marler's better than Vunipola, Wilson better than Cole, and Attwood better than Lawes/Launchbury. Plenty of impact in the loose- with Morgan as well.

 

[Patchey]

Expect to see Robsahw and Wood pushing very heavily in on their respective props in order to do that. This will, of course, make it a bit harder for them to get off the back of the scrum quickly.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'm happy to see that Lancaster's Ben Youngs love has its bounds - Dickson was the right call. I'm also really happy to see that Billy has impressed the coaches enough to merit a start.

I would rather we started Wilson ahead of Cole, and Foden ahead of Brown.

I'm pretty indifferent about the Lawes/Attwood call - though like most others, I hunger after a more meaty lock to sink his teeth into Dan Cole's arse.
I agree that perhaps Lawes' form of late has been overstated by sky - but in my opinion he has been playing well, having seemingly improved his ball carrying and, on the lineout matter, he may not be a specialist per se but he fairly beasted the lineout in a recent saints game I saw(think it might have been Castres in the heineken?)

Tomkins? For me jury is out. Annoying that the old wisdom about two double decker buses coming along at once has applied to Tuilagi and Joseph - shame the Jospeh bus left whilst Tuilagi was still pciking up passengers!

 

[ratsapprentice]

Lawes better lacerate Cooper's internals.

I'm not really worrying about the set-piece because as you say, if it goes ***s up then the bench is the strongest we have available to us.


Just because it's not been talked about that much... how nice is it that there is currently no question as to whether Barritt is going to be picked ahead of 36?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Well the team has been picked, time to get behind the boys and hope they spank the Wallabies' asses. Come on England!!!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Lawes better lacerate Cooper's internals.

It's a good point - I imagine he'll go right after QC, putting in his late-but-questionably-not-late hits he likes to put on 10s. If he can put Cooper off his game then he's worth his starting shirt.

 

[Big Ewis]

Well the team has been picked, time to get behind the boys and hope they spank the Wallabies' asses. Come on England!!!!

Hey ! You're saying that because you're totally taking advantage of the fact that this website has like 1 Australian post every 2 months !
We'll see though, we'll see... :/

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's a good point - I imagine he'll go right after QC, putting in his late-but-questionably-not-late hits he likes to put on 10s. If he can put Cooper off his game then he's worth his starting shirt.

99% of the time they aren't late.

You know when you play him that he will smash you if you give him half a chance.
So In my mind it's down to players to get the ball away before he commits - because he is so tall he needs to commit a lot further out than most other people.
I agree, I don't think people outside of England have seen how devastating his tackling can be - I hope he can show it.
I have a sinking feeling that he wont to anywhere near the extent he does domestically though.

 

[Jaguares]

I like that McKenzie keeps this threesome: 9-Genia, 10-Cooper and 12-Matt Toomua. As Stirling Morlock said, Wallabies have to keep a backline, is the only way to gain confidence and play safely, is what ABs make: 9 Aaron Smith,10 Dan Carter ,12 Ma'a Nonu and 13 Conrad Smith. They play with confidence.

I also like the inclusion of Timani, he's the strongest aussie player, he can push back any rugby player elite around the world. I want to see Lee Dickson facing a big opponent.

If Wallabies keep the level they had in Rosario and Dunedin, they should win this game by +10. They will have to counter the English scrum, that will be the hardest for them, if they can contain that, then they will win the game.

Cheers

 

[ratsapprentice]

They will have to counter the English scrum, that will be the hardest for them, if they can contain that, then they will win the game.

The English scrum is actually not very impressive on paper.

 

[Aristodemus]

99% of the time they aren't late.

You know when you play him that he will smash you if you give him half a chance.
So In my mind it's down to players to get the ball away before he commits - because he is so tall he needs to commit a lot further out than most other people.
I agree, I don't think people outside of England have seen how devastating his tackling can be - I hope he can show it.
I have a sinking feeling that he wont to anywhere near the extent he does domestically though.

I imagine Argentina are aware of him, that WC game he injured half their team!

 

[Crapspray]

I imagine Argentina are aware of him, that WC game he injured half their team!

It's easy when you start knee-dropping them though .

 

[TRF_Olyy]

99% of the time they aren't late.

You know when you play him that he will smash you if you give him half a chance.
So In my mind it's down to players to get the ball away before he commits - because he is so tall he needs to commit a lot further out than most other people.
I agree, I don't think people outside of England have seen how devastating his tackling can be - I hope he can show it.
I have a sinking feeling that he wont to anywhere near the extent he does domestically though.

Agreed on all points - I think I got my original point the wrong way round :lol:
I meant to say not-late-but-look-questionably-late
i.e. When he smashed Flood twice in the premiership final - if a ref caught it out of the corner of his eye he could easily think they were late (God knows Cockerill and half the Tigers fans did) but were actually fine.

 

[Jaguares]

The English scrum is actually not very impressive on paper.

Forward by forward, England have more potential than the Aussies in that aspect, particularly in the first row, England have more and better props than Wallabies.

In all other aspects of the game, Wallabies have more potential than England.

I imagine Argentina are aware of him, that WC game he injured half their team!

Courtney Lawes is too dirty. I want to see him against Timani, he's a tough player.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anyone watching the Legends game? It's on Sky Sports (4?), kickoff in 15mins - could be a great game, Jason Robinson is playing so I'm happy

Will Greenwood is water boy but says he might try and get on in the second half :lol:

 

[Tony Manx]

Looking forward to it although the bar after and the post dinner tomorrow night would probably prove more entertaining!!

 

[psychic duck]

Anyone watching the Legends game? It's on Sky Sports (4?), kickoff in 15mins - could be a great game, Jason Robinson is playing so I'm happy

Will Greenwood is water boy but says he might try and get on in the second half :lol:

What is former Scotland centre James McLaren doing in the Australia team?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Grew up in Australia, apparently.
Must've been short of players :lol:

 

[Tony Manx]

Loved Spreaders there when England kicked down field................."Wait for me, wait for me""!!!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Reckon Robinson and Greenwood are free on Saturday?