[November Tests 2017 EOYT] England vs. Australia (18/11/2017)

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I think this will be very tough. For the first time in quite a while I'm backing Australia to beat us at home.

 

[BenJeffrey]

I think this will be very tough. For the first time in quite a while I'm backing Australia to beat us at home.

I'm not feeling the air of optimism I'm used to, before an EJ England game... Fingers crossed.

 

[SomeOke]

Can I ask why the English aren't too confident? From my limited knowledge you're missing Brown and Billy V, from your first choice side, perhaps Itoje to start.
Didn't you 3-0 this team not so long ago?

Aussies are a good side, but they are missing Folau which throws off their whole backline, they're away and surely you back yourselves to beat Aus anyway?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Can I ask why the English aren't too confident? From my limited knowledge you're missing Brown and Billy V, from your first choice side, perhaps Itoje to start.
Didn't you 3-0 this team not so long ago?

Aussies are a good side, but they are missing Folau which throws off their whole backline, they're away and surely you back yourselves to beat Aus anyway?

Probably because we scraped through most of our games in the 6N and, were a bit off against Argentina away and now struggled against them at home. We've developed a knack for winning but we have rarely looked comfortably on top and it feels like that luck will run out again just as it did against Ireland.

 

[Pom in Exile]

I really need England to win this one!
Don't let me down boys.

 

[Wendigo7]

I really need England to win this one!
Don't let me down boys.

So what part of Australia do you live in?

 

[Derpus]

Australia are just coming off the back of a decent win over an admittedly under strength All Blacks side. Cheika has, despite being generally hated by everyone, done a pretty good job building real depth in Australian rugby.

Having said that, too many injuries to players in the pack (Tui, Arnold, Rodda, Slipper, Dempsey) and the absence of Folau mean England should really win this.

It should be fairly interesting. It's really a clashing of ideologies. England present an excellent defensive line with strong command of the basic skills and a dominant pack, whilst Australia bring flair and a genuinely world class attack to the table. The new breakdown laws ostensibly favor the Wallabies ball in hand style, but they have not had much time to adjust.

England by 8-10.

 

[Pom in Exile]

So what part of Australia do you live in?

Adelaide, which is a rugby wasteland but obviously they all become diehards if Australia beat England.
I don't have particularly high hopes for the Ashes so a win this weekend is good to have in the back burner.

 

[AM_Bokke]

I think this will be very tough. For the first time in quite a while I'm backing Australia to beat us at home.

Really? I think that England has some scary men on their team. Hughes, Vunipola, Lawes, Itoje are all incredible, physical rugby players.

Australia has a decent amount of experience but I think that England will have this one.

 

[Wendigo7]

England by 10-13 pts.

Aussies will have their moments but I expect England to cut loose a little here.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Can I ask why the English aren't too confident? From my limited knowledge you're missing Brown and Billy V, from your first choice side, perhaps Itoje to start.
Didn't you 3-0 this team not so long ago?

Aussies are a good side, but they are missing Folau which throws off their whole backline, they're away and surely you back yourselves to beat Aus anyway?

As Rage said, things have been more than a little shakey for a while. We've squeaked games we might have lost on another day, e.g against Argentina away, and since we lost against Ireland, EJ has tried to change a few things which may really be a longer term project. Can't say I'm very confident in our backrow, and I like what Australia have been doing

 

[JJFlash]

As Rage said, things have been more than a little shakey for a while. We've squeaked games we might have lost on another day, e.g against Argentina away, and since we lost against Ireland, EJ has tried to change a few things which may really be a longer term project. Can't say I'm very confident in our backrow, and I like what Australia have been doing

Yeah, I'll go along with that. England haven't been convincing in their last few games and could come unstuck tomorrow.
Underhill's got to have a hell of a game and beat Hooper & co to the loose ball. If he does, then I think England should get there by 8/10 points.

 

[curtbob7]

Starting XI's from both teams combined:

1. Vunipola
2. Polota-Nau
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Launch
6. Robshaw
7. Hooper
8. Hughes
9. Genia (incredibly close)
10. Ford
11. May
12. Farrell
13. Kuridrani
14. Daly
15. Beale

Obviously if Toomua, Pocock and Folau were available id chuck them in at the expense of Ford, Hughes and Daly.

 

[TommiG88]

Starting XI's from both teams combined:

1. Vunipola
2. Polota-Nau
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Launch
6. Robshaw
7. Hooper
8. Hughes
9. Genia (incredibly close)
10. Ford
11. May
12. Farrell
13. Kuridrani
14. Daly
15. Beale

Obviously if Toomua, Pocock and Folau were available id chuck them in at the expense of Ford, Hughes and Daly.

I don't know if I would. The same could be said if we had Billy playing. I would have Billy over Pocock at 8 all day.

 

[curtbob7]

I don't know if I would. The same could be said if we had Billy playing. I would have Billy over Pocock at 8 all day.

Yeah Itoje and Billy in for sure.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Wish I could watch this but I'm absolutely swamped. Hoping Aus win because Cheiks is ma boi but I can't really see it and think they're probably a year out from competing with England. Farrell coming back makes England a clear and obvious number two in the world and they've built a back three to do damage if Aus' defence is anything short of world class. I reckon England by about 6-10 in a high scoring job.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Starting XI's from both teams combined:

1. Vunipola
2. Polota-Nau
3. Cole
4. Lawes
5. Launch
6. Robshaw
7. Hooper
8. Hughes
9. Genia (incredibly close)
10. Ford
11. May
12. Farrell
13. Kuridrani
14. Daly
15. Beale

Obviously if Toomua, Pocock and Folau were available id chuck them in at the expense of Ford, Hughes and Daly.

Hodge over either of those wingers and Kepu over Cole but other than that I'd agree with your side.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Weird seeing the English so pessimistic and everyone else saying we'll win!

I'm not feeling great about the game tbh, Australia are in reasonable form and, as above, we've not been that good for a while now. We've been winning ugly, which isn't terrible, but that comes to an end sooner or later.

I'm starting to think Binny is our most important cog. His ability to make yards from a standstill even in heavy traffic is invaluable when we're playing bad.

 

[curtbob7]

Weird seeing the English so pessimistic and everyone else saying we'll win!

I'm not feeling great about the game tbh, Australia are in reasonable form and, as above, we've not been that good for a while now. We've been winning ugly, which isn't terrible, but that comes to an end sooner or later.

I'm starting to think Binny is our most important cog. His ability to make yards from a standstill even in heavy traffic is invaluable when we're playing bad.

Yeah agree we miss Billy massively but also miss the impact of Teo in midfield.

 

[Scotty]

My issue is not Robshaw and is not Underhill but more them 2 both playing together. Rate them both highly individually but together doesnt give a balance back row but more a defensive one. With little in the way of real go forward. I know the slack can be picked up somewhere else but still.

Id like simmonds to come on, get ball in hand and have a stormer. He is no where near ready to be first choice and has stuff to work on but having 6 Underhill/Robshaw 7 Simmonds 8 Billy gives a good balance. Simmonds doesnt shy away from a tackle either he made about 9 last week on our try line and in the time he was on but attacking given an inch of space he can be so dangerous. I hope we invest time in simmonds to be have a real chance for 2019.

The curry twins are an unknown quantity to me i rate them but dont know how high their ceiling will be,