World Cup Final match thread
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<p>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...?</p>
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<p>watching again: that opening 90 seconds was brutal.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="red terror" data-cid="537554" data-time="1446326159"><p>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...?</p></blockquote>
Well he isn't in a Super squad and his contract runs out at the end of the year. <br>
He just didn't want the focus on his retirement instead of the team. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="537555" data-time="1446326186">
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<p>watching again: that opening 90 seconds was brutal.</p>
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<p>ABs came out ready to smash them. And they did. Didn't show immediately on the scoreboard, but the damage was done early.</p> -
<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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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="red terror" data-cid="537557" data-time="1446326297">
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<p>ABs came out ready to smash them. And they did. Didn't show immediately on the scoreboard, but the damage was done early.</p>
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<p>Forgot to mention: accuracy of the AB defence was superb early, like against France.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<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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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Next year will be very interesting. <strong>We're losing some of these guys</strong>, 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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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? </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="537558" data-time="1446326300"><p>
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.</p></blockquote>
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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.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="537562" data-time="1446326440">
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<p>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. </p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<p>Moore and Chieka have handled themselves admirably all RWC really, the former has been one of my fave Wallabies in recent times.</p>
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<p>Is that the spirit of Chuck he is drinking?</p>
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<p><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"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="537526" data-time="1446323873"><p>
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.</p></blockquote>
Sounds like you need better 'friends'. -
<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>"Go Beauden!" will be something I remember.</p>
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<p>Was screaming at NMS to find touch so that Smith could come back on.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="537576" data-time="1446327482">
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<p>Sounds like you need better 'friends'.</p>
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<p>More the pages one likes that sometimes get infested with knobs. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="537562" data-time="1446326440">
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<p>Who is leaving? </p>
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<p>In order of importance from the current squad:</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>AAC is going to Bordeaux as well i think, and has also basically indicated he's goneski.</p>
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<p>Not sure if Mitchell and Giteau will be back after giving up a stack of cash for one more shot. </p>
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<p>That is about 340 caps right there among 4 blokes - one of them a prop so more like 400 caps in terms of worth ;)</p>
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<p>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:</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Cheika is the kind of coach who will wipe the slate clean in terms of form and start again next year.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<p>JUst re-watched the first half, and the try at the end.</p>
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<p>Think it was NTA who said that Fardy shoulda earned a penalty? Anyway, not how I saw it, he was always 'on his head' and Pocock was bridging on players as he dpoes often...but the play leading to that try was reminiscent of the final play vs Ireland to complete the perfect season.</p> -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="537585" data-time="1446328162">
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<p>Think it was NTA who said that Fardy shoulda earned a penalty? Anyway, not how I saw it, he was always 'on his head' and <strong>Pocock was resting on players as he always does...</strong></p>
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<p>And that's the key - my comment was:</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="537507" data-time="1446322816">
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<p>We'd won a couple of those earlier in the half and that one looked the cleanest of the lot.</p>
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<p>I thought a couple of the earlier ones were more suspect - Pocock could easily have been judged in from the side at one of them, for example.</p>
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<p>Owens was a bit inconsistent both ways there. e.g. he busted Moody for rolling into Genia's feet at one point in the match, but then similar scenario later let him go. At another ruck he didn't penalise Moody - correctly in this case - because Moore had pushed him back into the ruck.</p> -
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<p><img src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11229894_10154908323426959_6157892464736781364_n.jpg?oh=7195943f4e647f1a03188af2bdb106db&oe=56CD2038" alt="11229894_10154908323426959_6157892464736"></p>
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<p>It made me wonder, just after the droppie the camera cut to the engraver working away on the cup. If he was engraving "New Zealand" on it at that stage he has balls of steel, cause if Oz had come back I can't for the life of me work out how you apply Tippex to a gold trophy.</p>
