France ... here we come!

[Dickie E]

'We're terrible': Eddie explodes in bonkers farewell presser

'You ought to give yourselves uppercuts, boys'

wwos.nine.com.au

 

[belladonna]

It all went wrong when they hired him back

 

[RemainingInTheGame]

Classic Eddie presser.

Got to admit though, the akubra question was pretty stupid…..

 

[Volun-selected]

A couple of questions, probably for our Aussie members.

Looking at a few responses to the Wallabies squad announcement and I’m seeing phrases like “radical Rugby World Cup squad with a heavy emphasis on youth” etc. This reminds me of when France essentially threw out their old guard and just decided to throw the young, admittedly excellent, players such as Dupont, Ntamack, etc. in to get blooded at the elite level. Is Eddie doing something similar even knowing that he is almost certainly not going to get the benefit down the line?

Another question I have is will the Wallabies play better without a high level of expectation sitting over them - do they play better when written off or seen as the underdog?

 

[RemainingInTheGame]

My take:

This reminds me of when France essentially threw out their old guard and just decided to throw the young, admittedly excellent, players such as Dupont, Ntamack, etc. in to get blooded at the elite level. Is Eddie doing something similar even knowing that he is almost certainly not going to get the benefit down the line?

I think Eddie reached a point where essentially he had to decide to either take the existing team and lose, or take a gamble on a new players, where at least he has a chance of a surprise win. (i.e. the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result).

Another question I have is will the Wallabies play better without a high level of expectation sitting over them - do they play better when written off or seen as the underdog?

I don't think it's expectation, more the intensity of the game - I feel that the Wallabies always step up a notch against the ABs / England as there is a huge tradition of it being a 'big match'. I hope that this carries into the RWC, as once we hit the QFs they are all going to be big matches!

 

[didds]

My take:


I think Eddie reached a point where essentially he had to decide to either take the existing team and lose, or take a gamble on a new players, where at least he has a chance of a surprise win. (i.e. the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result).

maybe that was his plan with england. But he forgot to tell Borthwick

 

[Dickie E]

I'm surprised he's only picked 1 specialist fly-half who himself is fairly inexperienced internationally

 

[SimonSmith]

I'm claiming honorary Wallaby status.

Some down here believe that EJ is the second coming, and this is a genius squad designed too shock the world.

Others believe that the world will indeed be shocked, but not for the reasons that the first group believe.

Only 1 fly-half; no Michael Hooper. A full back who's better on the wing.

I'll bet the team aren't feeling any pressure from the public expectations, but from EJ, who is continuing his form of being a weapons grade a**%le

 

[Volun-selected]

Taking a slightly more optimistic tone - and looking beyond the “big” matches with heavyweights, such as the FR-AB opener which I will be watching, what other matches are people looking forward to for the sheer joy/entertainment value. For example, I’ve heard Georgia are often fun to watch or matches where a team may focus to cause an upset, etc.

Hopefully I’ll get to watch them all eventually, but the OH will be most unamused if I go all Pokémon and try to catch them. So for a neutral, which matches do you collectively think are the ones worth setting time aside now to watch live?

 

[Dickie E]

SA v Scotland, England v Argentina, Wales v Fiji for a start

 

[Phil E]

SA v Scotland, England v Argentina, Wales v Fiji for a start

 

[didds]

Is stick Wales v Georgia, Fiji v Georgia in there to boot. Add Aus v Fiji too.
That group is the most interesting one - 4 of the 5 teams are ranked 8.9.10 & 11

 

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

I'm surprised he's only picked 1 specialist fly-half who himself is fairly inexperienced internationally

Is he able to kick a PK to touch when asked by the referee?
Yes?
He's better than the last one then.

 

[SimonSmith]

Is he able to kick a PK to touch when asked by the referee?
Yes?
He's better than the last one then.

True. But Foley can at least kick at goal...