World Cup Final match thread

Kirwan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="537526" data-time="1446323873">Geez there are some idiots out there. Facebook comments about SBW giving his medal to that kid saying the ABs must mean nothing to him and he did it for publicity. Morons.</blockquote>
 
Morons is right. He was bloody fantastic out there

Crucial

Possibly the story is that the kids father was part of the AB setup and recently passed away. Not confirmed. 
EDIT: story seems to be that he was just a fan that tried for an autograph and got smashed by a security guard. The TKB hat has me puzzled though unless the medal is his second souvenir

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="537526" data-time="1446323873">
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Geez there are some idiots out there. Facebook comments about SBW giving his medal to that kid saying the ABs must mean nothing to him and he did it for publicity. Morons.
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Meh, its his medal though he can do what he wants with it. If I was him you'd have to pry it from my cold dead grasp though.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="537523" data-time="1446323704">
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Nope. I'm typing words on a forum discussion where someone (could have been you, I didn't look) mentioned Giteaus importance. 
My view is that if that is the case it seemed strange to move him like they did. 
If you care to reply to that feel free to do so.
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OK. Wasn't sure if you were referring to my post.
 
To answer your question; they've been doing it at lineouts since he busted his ribs against England.

KiwiPie

Firstly - a great game of rugby and fitting that the best final ever happened when the best 2 rugby playing teams finally go head to head in one.
 
First half - almost complete domination but looked like being just a narrow lead until the try to NMS which was beautifully worked. After Nonu's try, surely it was in the bag but Australia came storming back and showed how much improved they are under Cheika. Second try was a masterclass in how to exploit the full-back being off the field. Carter stood up when it counted and has obviously been practicing impromptu drop goals for months.
 
Overall it shows that this ABs team has really answered all of the critics - team too old, Carter past it etc etc. I always felt that Hansen had a plan to play 3 big games and so it proved. End of an era for sure and I hope each of the AB retirees get the credit they deserve, especially the likes of Mealamu who has been quietly going about his business for all these years.

Crucial

Herald are reporting that the kid was smashed in a tackle by security after the game and SBW felt sorry for him. 
Btw kudos to the organisers for having the families in a special area down by the field. We got that wrong in 2011.

jegga

JC

:drinks:
 
That'll do, Dan. That'll do.

Virgil

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Richie8-7" data-cid="537489" data-time="1446321777">
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<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://vine.co/v/e3OtuWB9Ad3'>https://vine.co/v/e3OtuWB9Ad3</a>
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Thats a stamp, same thing will happen that did after the 2011 Final...nothing.

NTA

Whole match watched. Our ability to stay in that match in the first half turned on a couple of lineouts as I said before, and the fact that we couldn't break down the AB defence with our backline. Cheika's game plan to have a bit of width on the ball is not a bad one, but if you're attacking 14 or 15 players who know what they're doing, you will struggle. Throw in the try just after halftime when our defensive line broke up, and Ma'a thread his way through, and you're chasing smoke.
 
Douglas and Giteau early were big losses. In our heavy traffic games to date, Douglas' ability to play 80 and put in some critical work in contact have been great, while Giteau's left boot and experience is also invaluable.
 
We mounted some decent attacking rugby, but struggled to retain the ball. Really interesting tactic from SBW in that regard - slapped the ball out of Mitchell's hands a couple of times (nearly got him in the face once!). We started to mount pressure and looked like we were about to score when the YC happened, then we just used that to finally get some points on the board.
 
Two dropped balls from Mitchell in the last 5 minutes took away the possibility of extra time (score was 27-17 at that point) and the one with 2 to go, where he fell over the outstretched Whitelock, was the blowout.

taniwharugby

would only be pre-season S15 rubbish if he did get banned anyway.

Crucial

Pocockwombles stomp will certainly be a Horwill defence. Didn't look and aim but at best you could argue careless use of boot. He knew exactly where McCaw was lying. 
Nothing will come of it though. Pocockwomble will have his name on the POTY trophy and WR won't want him on suspension when he receives it. 
Happens just after the high shot in DC

red terror

So, is Richie really retiring? It's assumed by everybody as if it's engraved in stone, but I've never heard the mention from his lips, and he seems bloody reluctant. I mean, I guess he just played his last game, 'cos it's conventional wisdom, everybody says so. But his body language makes me think he's still unsettled on the question. Or is he...?

taniwharugby

watching again: that opening 90 seconds was brutal.
 
the Ben Smith not-knock-on and then the scrum penalty that lead to the Aussies first points was a huge let off really as they had just been under pressure since kick off until that point.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="red terror" data-cid="537554" data-time="1446326159">So, is Richie really retiring? It's assumed by everybody as if it's engraved in stone, but I've never heard the mention from his lips, and he seems bloody reluctant. I mean, I guess he just played his last game, 'cos it's conventional wisdom, everybody says so. But his body language makes me think he's still unsettled on the question. Or is he...?</blockquote>
Well he isn't in a Super squad and his contract runs out at the end of the year. 
He just didn't want the focus on his retirement instead of the team.

red terror

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="537555" data-time="1446326186">
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watching again: that opening 90 seconds was brutal.
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ABs came out ready to smash them. And they did. Didn't show immediately on the scoreboard, but the damage was done early.

NTA

<div>While proud of the team, some of the individuals disappointed me in certain aspects, and our lineout turned out to be the achilles heel while our scrum lost the battle in this one, due mainly to Douglas' absence I think.</div>
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The fact we made the final about 12 months after the shit with McKenzie is a credit to all involved, and after climbing the mountain that was the "pool of death" most of the boxes of the average Wallaby fan were ticked.
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To get this close is, in some ways, worse than losing the semifinal. But I don't think you can be too harsh on our blokes considering the time frame, relative experience of the two teams, and the type of tournament each had to play.
 
Next year will be very interesting. We're losing some of these guys, and the replacements aren't perhaps as readily available as in NZ. Time will tell if Cheika can continue to keep them running at this sort of peak using his methods.
 
The rugby public here - and the bandwagoneers it must be said - will hopefully stay the course. A lot of people will jump off and go back to their other sport. But the ARU need to capitalise on this.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="red terror" data-cid="537557" data-time="1446326297">
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ABs came out ready to smash them. And they did. Didn't show immediately on the scoreboard, but the damage was done early.
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Forgot to mention: accuracy of the AB defence was superb early, like against France.
 
And Aaron Smith is one of the smartest players going - in the early exchanges, he made a point to trip over Wallaby players at the back of the ruck and get the penalties for territory. Later in the game - or anywhere in the Wallaby 40 - he just played around them when they wanted pace on the ball.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="537558" data-time="1446326300">
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<div>While proud of the team, some of the individuals disappointed me in certain aspects, and our lineout turned out to be the achilles heel while our scrum lost the battle in this one, due mainly to Douglas' absence I think.</div>
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The fact we made the final about 12 months after the shit with McKenzie is a credit to all involved, and after climbing the mountain that was the "pool of death" most of the boxes of the average Wallaby fan were ticked.
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To get this close is, in some ways, worse than losing the semifinal. But I don't think you can be too harsh on our blokes considering the time frame, relative experience of the two teams, and the type of tournament each had to play.
 
Next year will be very interesting. We're losing some of these guys, and the replacements aren't perhaps as readily available as in NZ. Time will tell if Cheika can continue to keep them running at this sort of peak using his methods.
 
The rugby public here - and the bandwagoneers it must be said - will hopefully stay the course. A lot of people will jump off and go back to their other sport. But the ARU need to capitalise on this.
 
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Without sounding patronising I reckon there is much to be proud about. Cheika has proven himself to be a formidable coach and he has re-instilled pride in the jersey. Who is leaving?

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="537558" data-time="1446326300">
The rugby public here - and the bandwagoneers it must be said - will hopefully stay the course. A lot of people will jump off and go back to their other sport. But the ARU need to capitalise on this.</blockquote>
 
Some of them might even get inspired enough when their team is playing in a RWC final to get out of bed and watch it live.

The Silver Fern

World Cup Final match thread