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Bruce call me a c**t by all means but suggesting I read the Daily Fail is out of order.
A Scotsman walks into a bar. Usually there’d be an Englishman, an Irishman and a Welshman involved but they’re all still in Japan.
Slightly weird how some folk post more about our team and its supporters than their own on here.
The pots and kettles are at it again:
Yellow.
The pots and kettles are at it again:
> https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/rugby-world-cup/nz-boss-brent-impey-accuses-northern-hemisphere-of-colonialism-against-pacific-nations/news-story/dadcc827c8ab7aecbd63e25e80a77f07
Contracts that effectively force players to put club before country are poor form as far as I’m concerned. Whilst I enjoy club rugby, the international game shouldn’t be the pinnacle of a player’s career.
IMO the World Cup has been utterly fantastic so far and I'm really looking forward to the quarters. The way I see it;
ENG v AUS
Australia should emerge victorious, Cheika is smart and has the players to carry out his game plan. England are strong and fit but unfortunately struggle when things aren't going their way. Aus by 9 points.
IRE v NZL
I fear for Ireland, they aren't playing well and NZ are getting into their stride. But if anyone can beat the All Blacks.......... NZ by 25 points.
WAL v FRA
My strong favourites for the World Cup and this is Wales' best chance. Wales peaking at the right time with the right players. Great coach and the team know how to win. Wales by 15 points.
JPN v RSA
Japan have been inspirational and have a nation behind them. SA are big and strong. If Japan keep hold of the ball then I think they have a good chance but SA will probably prove too strong and dominate in the last quarter of the match. SA by 8 points.
Happy to be completely wrong and probably will be!
Cheika is smart
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50026631
Some interesting points and analysis made in the above link about whether Tier 2 teams are actually closing the gap to the tier 1s.
I would also add one point that I think relevant. Early in one of last weekend's games - I can't remember which - the tier 1 team was penalised (free-kick) immediately for an early push at a scrum. No argument and no discussion needed. Later in the game, the tier 2 team pushed early but the scrum was reset with the ref saying something along the lines of 'I know what you're trying to do but you can't push early'. The rules in these group games don't seem to be applied equally to all teams, with some allowance. some leeway, given to the lesser teams. I wonder if that's the reason we haven't seen so many hammerings? And I wonder whether it's a deliberate policy designed at keeping those nations a bit more interested?
Australia should emerge victorious, Cheika is smart and has the players
Cheika's win rate with Australia as of August was 50% - way below average for an Australian national coach. Australia have only beaten England once with him. His win rates with his previous teams is quite variable as well - he's the not the most convincing of coaches. My money's on England for a convincing win.
Most of us England fans are afraid of what Australia “can” do. Chances are they won’t, but they certainly might.
Most of us England fans are afraid of what Australia “can” do. Chances are they won’t, but they certainly might.
Most accurate summary today.
Speaking to a lot of people (admittedly in between Chester and the Welsh border) there's a general feeling that we're in for a a Wales / AB's final. If Wales win, us arrogant English will claim that the UK team have won the RWC 😉
Nz v SA would be my guess.
Speaking to a lot of people (admittedly in between Chester and the Welsh border) there’s a general feeling that we’re in for a a Wales / AB’s final
Chances are, if you spoke to a lot of people in Bloemfontein, you'd probably get a general feeling for a NZ/SA final.
Ford dropped!
So Jones appears to have fallen into the same trap in the WC as previous coaches...dropping the combination that has worked when the pressure is on.
Ford has been is ten so far and he’s now decided that Farrell is the man, with Manu and Ade outside him. Maybe he was worried about the Aussie 12 who is a unit, but our attack looks better with Ford at 10.
I think this will be Australia’s big WC performance and well on hoping on a plane home.
I'm not surprised about Ford being dropped to be honest. There is going to be a lot of pressure coming down the 10 channel. Also, I don't think Farrell offers anything in attack as a centre.
Glad to see Lawes start, very good player - Kruis will also be destructive coming off the bench in the second half.
Slade is an absolutely fantastic rugby player but it's a big ask coming back from injury to perform in the knockouts.
Looks like a defense first thought from Jones with Ford to have fun with tired legs if needed. A bold call in the battle of dumb vs dumber :/
Slade is an absolutely fantastic rugby player but it’s a big ask coming back from injury to perform in the knockouts.
He’s never quite cemented his place on the international stage though. I really rate him and he appears to have a lot of attributes to be a very very good centre but he still has a habit of drifting in and out of games a tad.
This:
I’m not surprised about Ford being dropped to be honest. There is going to be a lot of pressure coming down the 10 channel. Also, I don’t think Farrell offers anything in attack as a centre.
Glad to see Lawes start, very good player – Kruis will also be destructive coming off the bench in the second half.
And two players with 20 mins of RWC under their belt after long layoffs from Injury.
I am nervous but lets hope this:
Looks like a defense first thought from Jones with Ford to have fun with tired legs if needed. A bold call in the battle of dumb vs dumber :/
...is indeed the plan and it works.
Cheika’s win rate with Australia as of August was 50% – way below average for an Australian national coach. Australia have only beaten England once with him. His win rates with his previous teams is quite variable as well – he’s the not the most convincing of coaches. My money’s on England for a convincing win.
Didn't Cheika get the job because he won Super Rugby competition with the Waratahs which given the recent record of the Aussies teams was a pretty big achievement. Also he was the coach who finally made the breakthrough with Leinster in the HCup. I'm not sure anyone would have done better with current Aussie team.
Seems strange to develop the plan around ford and then drop him for the first big game. Good teams should be imposing their game on others not be chopping and changing depending on opposition.
Seems strange to develop the plan around ford and then drop him for the first big game. Good teams should be imposing their game on others not be chopping and changing depending on opposition.
This x100
Seem to have seen this somewhere before - could it have been the host nation at the last RWC?
Looks like a defense first thought from Jones
If that were the case - JJ at 13 would make the most sense.
Cheika’s win rate with Australia as of August was 50% – he’s the not the most convincing of coaches
Well he did take over a rock bottom Wallabies squad shortly before the last RWC and took them all the way to the final where they gave the ABs a damn good game.
I don’t think Farrell offers anything in attack as a centre.
You too? I thought it was just me?
He doesn't actually offer much in defence either - seeing as he can't actually tackle.
You too? I thought it was just me?
He doesn’t actually offer much in defence either – seeing as he can’t actually tackle.
He has moments, normally when the pack are smashing the opposition. Seems odd to chuck him in at 10 having been at 12 for the last games (other than substitution time).
Jones does appear to be doing what the last few coaches did...shit their conviction at WC.
Well he did take over a rock bottom Wallabies squad shortly before the last RWC and took them all the way to the final where they gave the ABs a damn good game.
Did they win? 😁
They’ve only got a 50% success rate against Scotland under him. Just throwing that out there.
(I shouldn’t make fun - in the Welsh games the Ozzies have won 80%. ☹️ )
So, Farrell's our no 1 place kicker at the RWC, He's stronger in defence than Ford, he less - although not the best admittedly - likely to perform badly under pressure than Ford.
Slade has performed some magic trickery for England, and offers more than JJ in the kicking stakes - he may line up at 12 in attack perhaps to relive pressure on Farrell? Ford is of course on the bench, and may come on after the storm has been weathered with Slade off after 40/60 mins. I bet Aus thought they were running down Fords channel all day long until today. Australia of course have been using their own 10/12 channel to attack, and we have that quite well marked now to force them wide, or into the forwards where I'd expect England to dominate physically over 80 mins.
I'm of the opinion its a defence first, points later setup, with Farrell and Slade charged to keep the Ball down in the Aus 22.
It’s about winning not playing pretty rugby.
Is Ford a good enough spot kicker under pressure?
I imagine there was a lot of consideration for EJ, not just on the fact that AF is proven to be more consistent in big games. AF is probably that bit better defensively as well.
I wouldn't see this as a knee jerk reaction. I'd also see it as being fairly positive for England. They have options during the game depending on how it goes. Build up game and easier pool games, yeah give it a go seeing how good AF looks at centre (not very!) and see how Ford looks at 10 (pretty comfortable)
My personal opinion is that Ford is the better stand off. But, I don't know how well he will cope with the pressure that will be on the England 10. I'd even guess that part of the decision is that AF is not a centre, so he is either dropped from the team (so relying on a different kicker) or England drop Ford and move AF to 10.
I don’t get the Ford being weak in defence thing. He is actually very clever in defence and teams don’t get much out of him and seems to get a bad rep just because he can’t pull quite an angry face as his buddy Owen (who incidentally has shocking defence stats most games!)
I think its a mistake dropping Ford.
My personal opinion is that Ford is the better stand off. But, I don’t know how well he will cope with the pressure that will be on the England 10.
Not a good record in the past.
And btw, AF stopped his short career playing for England rugby union some time ago, I suspect you mean his little boy Owen...
I think its a mistake dropping Ford.
No Scottish advice thanks, we want to get into the final 😉
No Scottish advice thanks, we want to get into the final 😉
Brutality.
Ouch
It's smart. Bring Farrell in closer so there's more cover for tackling and hopefully his awful technique and potential red/yellow tackles will be lessened.
But Oz are going to chuck the big units at Slade and really pressurise the 10/12 channels both in attack and defence. They'll also swing the big unit 12 round the back of Slade on the outside to meet manu on the pull back pass.
Haha!! Sorry, I'm a Rugby League person so easy mistake to make!
I can see how Farrell's defence can look weak. But there is just a little bit more about him defensively. He will slow down/stop a rampaging Australian defender, where as I think Ford may well become overwhelmed. I could be completely wrong.
I think Kryton and myself are in agreement, but its hard to explain in a forum, much easier to explain over a pint of Guinness! Getting excited for the weekend now!
For me, I'm really interested in the battle of the front 5. Scrummaging is going to be really interesting. I've not been impressed by the England front row for a while - nor do I rate Dan Cole (gives away too many penalties) Also Underhill and Curry going to have to play out of their skins. Billy has to be fully fit as well.
Being honest, I just don't think England have the team to cope with Australia. With or without Farrell (or his dad!)
Whats the consensus on the Wales game? Its my wife's birthday on Sunday and we are out for dinner on Saturday night. Going to have to work out how to sneak out of bed early without losing any brownie points! Since 2012 Wales have only lost once to France, but there have been a lot of close games, home and away.
Farrells defence at 10 is good despite what many say here, He has good vision and passing at 12 too. He's a good player. Ford brings other threats into the attack better though.
Vunipola at 1 weakens the scrum and is a bit of a risk although he carries well.
The France Wales game will be close again no doubt, hopefully Wales can win, I'll be gutted if they lose so my usual pessimism must be a bit off.
Hence the move to 10 but also his form slips and the now illegal tackle will com back. He's more exposed at 12.
and hopefully his awful technique and potential red/yellow tackles will be lessened.
With Australia’s form for stupid tackles in this competition it will be interesting to see who gets carded...
Is Ford a good enough spot kicker under pressure?
I imagine there was a lot of consideration for EJ, not just on the fact that AF is proven to be more consistent in big games
I actually think that Ford has the better kicking averages than Farrell at the moment plus his kicking out of hand is better.
We’ll see. It’ll either be a stroke of genius or we’ll be packing our bags.
Carre and Beard onto bench and Shingler and Smith drop out, otherwise unchanged...nerves are jangling now!!
Wales: L Williams; North, Jonathan Davies, Parkes, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; Wyn Jones, Owens, Francis, Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Wainwright, Navidi, Tipuric.
Replacements: E Dee, Carre, D Lewis, Beard, Moriarty, T Williams, Patchell, Watkin.
Seems like the RWC is really starting properly this weekend.
Now that all the minor teams, like Namibia, Uruguay and Scotland, have had their moments in the sun - it's time for the big boys.
You have to say man for man thats much stronger than Wales. AWJ, J Davies and Williams would get in that side, maybe Tipuric and one of our wingers.
Jangling has been turned up to 11!
France
1. Jefferson Poirot
2. Guilhem Guirado (capt.)
3. Rabah Slimani
4. Bernard Le Roux
5. Sebastien Vahaamahina
6. Wenceslas Lauret
7. Charles Ollivon
8. Gregorie Alldritt
9. Antoine Dupont
10. Romain Ntamack
11. Yoann Huget
12. Gael Fickou
13. Virimi Vakatawa
14. Damian Penaud
15. Maxime Medard
16. Camille Chat
17. Cyril Baille
18. Emerick Setiano
19. Paul Gabrillagues
20. Louis Picamoles
21. Baptiste Serin
22. Camille Lopez
23. Vincent Rattez
My nerves have been jangling all week. The Wales team looks good to me, if that team loses then I don’t think we could have done much better.
namastebuzz - that’s harsh, but I am quite impressed that what to me appears to be clearly the strongest 8 teams have made it to the QFs. I’m not so sure what the best 4 teams are. I don’t hold out much hope for Ireland and Japan will have to go one step up again, but anything could happen in these games, and they could all be very exciting.
I have a bad feeling the France team are going to be on fire, but if Wales want to win the whole thing then they need to be able to beat whatever they come up against. Argh, the tension!
France are shite. Wales know how not to lose. Only one result there.
France are shite. Wales know how not to lose. Only one result there.
I hope you're right.
I hope you’re right
France have some talented players but they're flakey. Plus they've got all sorts of strife in the camp.
Wales are settled. Have a game plan and experience of winning together. Can't see anything other than a Wales win.
The idea of France turning up and being brilliant is now so unlikely that it's almost passed into the realms of mythology.
Yeah but the counterpoint is that Wales are a team of battlers who are well coached but with few game changers, few genuine top class players and in the likes of Francis, Wyn Jones, Jake Ball and Parkes the Poach a core of first 15 players who would not make the wider squads of any of the teams in the 1/4's except from maybe Japan. We also have no actual proper 8 in our entire squad. That Wales have done as well as they have in recent years is done to great coaching and massive work rate.
. That Wales have done as well as they have in recent years is done to great coaching and massive work rate
Indeed but France have had none of that.
The signs of a good game here. Australia have started brightly. C’mon England.
Australia self destruct
I'm watching in our local bar in Boltana!
One try from Aus and this is a very different game. Still very nervous here. Hooper lifted Billy V - should have had 10.
One tryTwo tries from Aus and this is a very different game.
One try from Aus and this is a very different game.
Game on!
Oh.
And there you go..... 🙁
Boom!
I'm surprised in the most gentlemanly of games, that Sinckler's opposite number didn't rush over to pat his head for that try? Or do i misinterpret his earlier congratulation?
I’m surprised in the most gentlemanly of games
But Australia are playing.
Congratulations England, into the semi-finals!
Oh, that was nice!
And goodnight
That was beautiful!
Amazing performance from England - would never have thought they would put 40 points on the Ozzies.
forward pass?
{edit - checking - and confirmed....}
Nothing going right for the Aussies. Shame, nice finish.
I generally struggle to feel sorry for an Aussie sports team, but that was harsh. Koroibete has had a good game, and that sprint was ridiculously fast for the 80th minute.
I’m starting to think this England team is quite a balance of power and skill now. Awesome game, great game England. Nothing better than to knock Aus out. Can’t wait for Cheika’s interview....
That was a pleasure to watch.
Great game of rugby and the better side won convincingly in the end.
In for a great weekend if the other three games live up to that standard.
Wow. Didn’t see that coming.
We played pretty damn well and I’ll take that. Hopefully that’s not our one big performance at the WC.
The Aussies were nuts though trying to play for their 22 all the time.
Great game of rugby and the better side won convincingly in the end.
Yep, well done England.
Just stopped for a puncture amd checked score!!!
Bloody hell, well done England.
I generally struggle to feel sorry for an
AussieFijiian sports team, but that was harsh. Koroibete has had a good game, and that sprint was ridiculously fast for the 80th minute.
Damn it missed it because I’m on nights. Seems I missed a good game.
You did, that was great! I can't get used to the idea that we can go into a match against one of the tri nations as favourites - but I do rather like it.... 🙂