World Cup Final match thread

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.

red terror

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="537562" data-time="1446326440">
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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. 
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Moore was superb in his post-match comments, and I hope there were more than a few Aussie bandwagoneers watching and discovering the good social values about rugby and become more attracted to it. I applauded the man.

taniwharugby

Moore and Chieka have handled themselves admirably all RWC really, the former has been one of my fave Wallabies in recent times.

taniwharugby

Is that the spirit of Chuck he is drinking?
 
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12189565_936911856345527_3930070523259753838_n.jpg?oh=b2503f04a4630314482392cd0b750860&oe=56B6B740&gda=1455066180_301318eaba651eed582cbe84520e10fb" alt="12189565_936911856345527_393007052325975">

canefan

Bet it started full too

junior

I will say it now... 2005 in that second test against the Lions and tonight - IN A WORLD CUP FINAL FFS - are the two best performances I have ever seen by any rugby player at any level ever!!!

Immenso Rapido

<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>
Sounds like you need better 'friends'.

hurricane

Well done New Zealand, we knew it would all on for young and old at the breakdown so we came out swinging in that area and held our own in turnovers. The difference in the match for me.
 
I know our commentators get dumped on from time to time but I enjoyed how they were allowed to be biased towards us given their efforts were just coming back here exclusively.
 
"Go Beauden!" will be something I remember.
 
Was screaming at NMS to find touch so that Smith could come back on.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="537576" data-time="1446327482">
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Sounds like you need better 'friends'.
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More the pages one likes that sometimes get infested with knobs. 
 
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="537562" data-time="1446326440">
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Who is leaving? 
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In order of importance from the current squad:
 
Kepu - who now qualifies under the Giteau rule - will go to France and has said he won't be making himself available (3 year contract with Bordeaux I believe). Can't blame him as he's not going to be making as much money as Giteau and Mitchell and therefore can't afford to give it up to fly across the world for training camps and such. Handy replacement on an EOYT.
 
AAC is going to Bordeaux as well i think, and has also basically indicated he's goneski.
 
Not sure if Mitchell and Giteau will be back after giving up a stack of cash for one more shot. 
 
That is about 340 caps right there among 4 blokes - one of them a prop so more like 400 caps in terms of worth ;)
 
Quade is heading to Toulon - not that he contributed much - which is another 58 caps. Note: Quade is now unlikely to qualify for the Giteau rule. No fucks given from over here. :yes:
 
While a lot of these are backs, that is a heck of a lot of experience that will be unavailable, and subsequently the blokes coming through haven't had the opportunities. Then we've got other difficulties with e.g. Foley targeting 7s at the Olympics etc.
 
What is a small pool will be challenged next year. Hopefully the rest of the forward pack have a good off-season, get the surgery and rehab they need, and go again next year.
 
Cheika is the kind of coach who will wipe the slate clean in terms of form and start again next year.
 
But in that vein guys like Nic White as also leaving along with a few others who felt left out this year or last, or just in general got sick of the bullshit with the ARU. A lot of player movement OUT of Brisbane when their dimwit coach was reappointed too. Horwill gone, for example. And he's only 30.
 
We shall see I guess. There are some exciting young prospects on the chart now (McMahon etc) but I really think this period was about Cheika trying to win a RWC and next year there will be a different approach - hopefully a more unified direction from the Super franchises in terms of style of play to prepare these guys for what Cheika wants.

The Silver Fern

World Cup Final match thread