RWC 2011 The 3rd/4th place: Wales vs. Australia

[TRF_heineken]

If only Australia had another World-class Fly Half with a lot of experience... Oh wait, Matt Giteau!!

 

[Ostrayian]

Oh, please start Cooper as I need a pick-up, and watching Roberts run through Cooper time and again would be fun to watch.

hahaha you naturally would wouldnt ya!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

They have 3 players who can fill that position in style... Beale, O'Connor and Barnes... The issue with the first 2 is their position int he current XV. Who could replace them as full-back and winger?

Quade is a good option when you play Russia, Fiji or Italy, but that's the same with Stephen Donald, Ricky Januarie and Andy Goode, to name a few around the globe

 

[TRF_heineken]

They have 3 players who can fill that position in style... Beale, O'Connor and Barnes... The issue with the first 2 is their position int he current XV. Who could replace them as full-back and winger?

Quade is a good option when you play Russia, Fiji or Italy, but that's the same with Stephen Donald, Ricky Januarie and Andy Goode, to name a few around the globe

Don't forget Bryce Lawrence...

 

[JW.]

Oh, please start Cooper as I need a pick-up, and watching Roberts run through Cooper time and again would be fun to watch.

Oi, I actually saw Quade make a tackle on his own today. Im in no doubt he could stop a full speed Roberts...

 

[SelimNiai]

Oi, I actually saw Quade make a tackle on his own today. Im in no doubt he could stop a full speed Roberts...

If you clone him with the robots from the Super League promo's maybe

 

[Seaton]

Oi, I actually saw Quade make a tackle on his own today. Im in no doubt he could stop a full speed Roberts...

All he has to do is make sure when he gets handed off, is that he falls in front of Roberts so that he trips over him.

 

[JW.]

All he has to do is make sure when he gets handed off, is that he falls in front of Roberts so that he tramples over him.

\

Corrected that .

 

[Seaton]

\

Corrected that .

Now now, as the 'white Lomu' we know that is North's job.

 

[JW.]

Now now, as the 'white Lomu' we know that is North's job.

White lomu... pfft

 

[Rhyer]

The final is on Sunday

Oh. My bad.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

 

[ZeFrenchy]

The last time this match had any value was in 1995, when the winner was granted automatic qualification for the next RWC... Now it's just a useless match, since the other teams are already back home. The whole plate/bowl/shield concept would suit this match much better

Always think the 3rd place match is a bit pointless, but still interested to see how it goes

wonder how the players feel about the 3/4 playoff? Aus and welsh will both be gutted right now, they got to get up and play again. Heck if NZ were in the 3/4 playoff I'm not sure I'd even watch.

Probably none of you has played a 3rd place play-off, or watched Argentina in 2007's for that matter. I really don't think it's the same to finish 3rd and 4th in such a tournament. The words "podium" and "bronze medal" come to mind.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Probably none of you has played a 3rd place play-off, or watched Argentina in 2007's for that matter. I really don't think it's the same to finish 3rd and 4th in such a tournament. The words "podium" and "bronze medal" come to mind.

Has there ever been a podium at a Rugby World Cup where the 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams all stand on it and recieve their medals?? you'll need an engineer to design a podium that can hold 90+ men weighing more than 6 ton!!

 

[no-1-rugby-fan]

Hopefully Wales can go and get third place because they deserve it for the injustice they suffered in the Semi-Finals. The lads have been brilliant all tournament and have played at a higher level than Australia, not that a game against the Wallabies is ever going to be easy because they played some good rugby at times against New Zealand.

 

[james5000]

Hopefully Wales can go and get third place because they deserve it for the injustice they suffered in the Semi-Finals. The lads have been brilliant all tournament and have played at a higher level than Australia, not that a game against the Wallabies is ever going to be easy because they played some good rugby at times against New Zealand.

Wales will deserve 3rd place if they beat Aussie, until then I wouldn't say they deserved it.
Wales had a golden ticket to make the final for the first time and 1 tackle later it was over.

I still believe if Pocock, Moore and Ioane played against Ireland, it would be a NZ vs Aus final this weekend. In a way Aussie deserve it more than Wales, because if it wasn't for key injuries and an eventually tougher schedule they would arguably be in the final.

So I guess my point is neither of them can claim they deserve it, until they win on Friday.

 

[Wally]

I would like to see James O'Connor at flyhalf or inside. Not going to happen though. The best we can hope for is Barnes.

 

[ranger]

I would like to see James O'Connor at flyhalf or inside. Not going to happen though. The best we can hope for is Barnes.

I'm a fan of both Fainga and McCabe but they really shouldnt be in the same midfield. They are both excellent defenders but it makes for a pretty one dimensional midfield attack.

If i were Deans i would go with:

1)Kepu (Slipper if hes out)
2)Moore
3)Alexander
4)Horwill
5)Elsom
6)Higginbotham
7)Pocock
8)McCalman
9)Genia
10)Cooper (Hes not a bad player.. Hopefully he comes back stronger in 2015)
11)Ioane
12)O'Connor
13)McCabe
14)Turner
15)AAC

 

[donmcdazzle]

Hopefully Wales can go and get third place because they deserve it for the injustice they suffered in the Semi-Finals. The lads have been brilliant all tournament and have played at a higher level than Australia, not that a game against the Wallabies is ever going to be easy because they played some good rugby at times against New Zealand.

They don't deserve anything and there was no injustice. Their kickers missed penalties, Wales choked in a tight game just like they did against SA. If they score more points against Aus on Friday they'll have deserved it.

Maybe Quade Cooper will finally have a good game now there is zero pressure on him. Hope so, he is pretty exciting to watch in full flight. If the Welsh prop is out again then Aus scrum might be able to get some half decent ball for their backs. McCabe should be dropped for O'Conner at 12 I reckon and put AAC back to 13 if Beale is fit.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Perpignan), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues, capt), H Bennett (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Bevington (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), A Powell (Sale Sharks), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), S Jones (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets).