Wallabies NH November Tour

[The Fat]

Any chance that Cheika will be able to fix Ben Alexander's scrum deficiencies?
Kuriandrani was good AGAIN.
McMahon showed plenty.
Cooper, as pointed out by the commentators, put plenty of passes behind his support players. He also can't resist throwing the 3-man cut out pass when the defenders are almost level with his intended target.
Genia spoke at half time that they were too lateral in attack yet continued to pick the ball up from the breakdown and run 2 or 3 steps back and across before passing. When White (still haven't forgiven him for THAT box kick) came on he was passing straight from the pick up and the difference was immediately noticeable.
Loved the Baa-Baa's overhead kick option from the attacking 5m PK.
Cummins was one of the better Aussies on the field.

 

[Browner]

Looked like a decent early tour run out ........ TBH I've always expected the Wallabies to be 'market leaders' in terms of back line creativity, i was disappointed in that respect.

 

[The Fat]

Wallabies team to play Wales.
Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali'ifano, Joe Tomane, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Sean McMahon, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper. Res: James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Will Skelton, Matt Hodgson, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Rob Horne (one to be omitted).

My money would be on Will Skelton to drop out (barring a training injury).


All Blacks team to play England.
Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Liam Messam, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty.

 

[The Fat]

Got that prediction wrong. Cheika has gone for a 6 & 2 bench and left Cooper out. Signals his intention to up the physicality in the forwards.

 

[The Fat]

Interesting stats from an article on ESPN Scrum.


...........victory on Saturday, after sweeping the three-Test series in June and winning another Rugby Championship title will see the All Blacks become the first international rugby team to lodge 400 Test wins.

New Zealand have won 399 of their 523 Tests, at a strike rate of 76.3%, and the lead the rankings comfortable from second-placed France (386 wins from 706 Tests). England are third on the list with 362 victories from 676 Tests (53.6%)

 

[winchesterref]

Phenomenal win rate for the ABs there. Looking forward to a day of rugby on the box today!

 

[The Fat]

Phew!!!
Glad to get that one out of the way.
Lots of talk in the lead up to the game about the psychological advantage of each side winning with regard to the RWC but more important for the Wallabies to get off to a good start under Cheika.

 

[leaguerefaus]

Phew!!!
Glad to get that one out of the way.
Lots of talk in the lead up to the game about the psychological advantage of each side winning with regard to the RWC but more important for the Wallabies to get off to a good start under Cheika.

It followed the typical Wales-Aus routine where we take it at the death! Never in doubt

 

[The Fat]

It followed the typical Wales-Aus routine where we take it at the death! Never in doubt

Happy to be their bogey team at the RWC

 

[irishref]

The Aussie scrum is woeful though! Good game in the end. Real shame the BBC lost the rights to Ireland, I had to work and only recorded the Wales game.

 

[The Fat]

Ref appointments.


Wales vs Fiji at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa, Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

England vs South Africa at Twickenham
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France),Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France)

Scotland vs New Zealand at Murrayfield
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Johnny Lacey (Ireland), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)

France vs Australia at Stade de France
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

Italy vs Argentina at Stadio Ferraris, Genoa
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Ian Davies (Wales)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

 

[Dickie E]

France vs Australia at Stade de France
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

:sad::sad::sad::sad::sad:

 

[menace]

Now don't be rude Dickie.... He might be ok on Saturday


Or not...

 

[The Fat]

Don't worry lads, he's due for a cracker.
All good.
Honestly.




Seriously though, we'll all be on here next week commenting on how good he was.

 

[The Fat]

Penalties are still a concern. We all know the French will take any chance they can to kick a penalty goal.
Wallabies conceded 14 PKs against Wales and the French conceded only 9 against Fiji (you would expect they'll concede more in a tighter match).

Must say old Wayne Barnes makes me feel not so bad about a couple of my penalty counts this season. He gave 28 PKs and 3 FKs in the Scotland v Pumas game.

 

[Dickie E]

Don't worry lads, he's due for a cracker.

The last dozen times I've run the 100 metres I've not got under 10 seconds. I must be due to do it next time. Law of averages says so.

 

[DrSTU]

If france play like they did last weekend, it's going to be a very long day at the office for Australia. Spedding was clinical and he looks like he's going to be one of the first names on the team sheet for a while to come (just wish the sharks had realised his potential years ago!).

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/scott-speddings-test-debut

 

[winchesterref]

Glad we have SW on Sat, I've enjoyed his approach in more recent times.

 

[Dickie E]

has anyone ever seen these 2 guys in the same room?

 

[FlipFlop]

Glad we have SW on Sat, I've enjoyed his approach in more recent times.

But SW trying to communicate with a French AR and TMO? That's going to be fun to listen to!