RWC: Australia - Italy (11-09-2011, 15:30)

[madflyhalf]

Someone could please throw Bocchino on the pitch? I mean: literally!
Mallett doesn't realise he has him on the bench.

Please!

 

[madflyhalf]

Double post.
Sorry.

If only our backs had Derbyshire's skills and flair I would be happy.

 

[TNT88]

Nice win. We held our own scrum, but gave away 2 penalties on their feed. It was alright though.

The backs were outstanding at the set piece, Cooper in good form.

 

[Ostrayian]

I bit of work for the wallabies pack to sort out. Poms will be licking their lips after watching the aussie scrum get smashed. Lost count how many times i ve said this but Kepu neeeds to be on the tighthead side and Alexander/Slipper on the loose. It would be more ideal to have no queensland reds on the front row.
Cooper was frustrating at times with the twinkle toes shuffle and then dieing with the ball. Him and Beale were probably guilty of holding on to the ball too long instead of passing on.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Higginbotham not binding and kicks the ball out of Parisse's control. Penalty try ignored by the ref. I feel for the Italians, they deserved to have scored at least one try.

 

[Ostrayian]

Higginbotham not binding and kicks the ball out of Parisse's control. Penalty try ignored by the ref. I feel for the Italians, they deserved to have scored at least one try.

Irish refs

 

[ZeFrenchy]

With a french dad... ugh

 

[Ostrayian]

It was definitely worth a penalty try. Some calls were spot on and others just left me dumbfounded.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Well, had he awarded a penalty, it would have been a penalty try surely... Anyway, not a game changer, but it would have lifted Italian morale for the next games.

 

[Sam Owen]

Some calls were spot on and others just left me dumbfounded.

Yeah the scrum one that Burgess got pulled up for was a bit of a strange one. You see it so many times the halfback feeding the ball to his hookers feet, its normal.

 

[TNT88]

I thought Burgess was being a smart-ass there. When he put it in, he flicked it with his left hand towards our side (from what I remember). Halfbacks don't need to feed it straight anymore, but they need to keep their arms straight when feeding it in.

Rolland did pretty well sorting out the breakdown early on. The second half was nice clean ball for both teams.

 

[erwanseb]

Italy hold the Oz for one half
Romania could have won.
Argentina could have won
Japan came close to a sloppy France who pulled away at the end
Ireland did not get the BP against USA
AB dominated but that was not a demolition

There is some king of pattern there , I do not think we will ever see again 80+ points scored in a pool game except maybe against Russia.

Each team now has a base of professional players.

 

[madflyhalf]

Agree.

 

[fred.arnold]

I cant Wait for the Italy vs Ireland game, I really do think Italy have a good chance of making the Q/F's this year

 

[donmcdazzle]

Thank god a ref finally picked up the Aussies for flopping all over the rucks

 

[ret]

Haha, you're kidding mate. I was impressed that the Wallabies generally kept their mouths shut while yet another NH showpony ref did his best to keep their opponents in the game!

 

[Sam91]

Yeah thought the reffing was abysmal to be honest, could have been worse, could have been stu dickinson. Italy arren't a bad team, they never were, shouldn't be a surprise that it was a close first half in the greasy coniditions.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Haha, you're kidding mate. I was impressed that the Wallabies generally kept their mouths shut while yet another NH showpony ref did his best to keep their opponents in the game!

Aussie forwards (especially the front rowers) constantly dive in at rucktime. Go have a look at the penalties for players leaving their feet and you'll see all were spot on.

 

[ret]

Nobody (me included ) can ever be totally objective, but I certainly don't agree that diving in is a constant feature of Aussie rugby. Just as I don't regard Richie as a constant cheat. Would you be happy to have Rollaind referee say NZ and France?

 

[donmcdazzle]

Nobody (me included ) can ever be totally objective, but I certainly don't agree that diving in is a constant feature of Aussie rugby. Just as I don't regard Richie as a constant cheat. Would you be happy to have Rollaind referee say NZ and France?

It has been something I've noticed over the past year or so, Stephen Moore is good at it. Mind you I don't understand people that say McCaw cheats so maybe I can get why the Aussies don't view things the same way as me.

Yeah I'd be fine with Rolland, anyone but frickin Wayne Barnes. Give me Joubert for every single NZ game and I'd be happy.