England to whitewash Australia
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="587137" data-time="1465725465">
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<p>Gracious as ever Mike ;)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>England played very well in parts and quite average in others.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Deserved winners, some well constructed tries. Don't think the balance is there though. Haskell and Robson went well. They may not against the likes of Hoopah, Fardy and McMahon/Macallman which is a better balance IMHO.</p> -
<p>Yeah, we got out of jail a few times, mainly through unlikely interventions from Haskell and Itoje. Just some outlandish snaffling of the ball when we could have been in trouble. Little things like that can mean the difference between winning and sucking it up all week. I don't think we were a much better team than Aus and nor do I think we played as well as we could (Aus neither). I was most impressed by the way we didn't crumble when Aus were putting us to the sword early doors. I like the way we now seem to be building a tough battle-hardened squad that can develop together. I haven't seen this properly for a long time. Lancaster tried but then got very muddled and, IMO, undid a lot of his good work. Hopefully for Percentage Eddie, the success he's had will deflect this sort of thing.</p>
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<p>Like you, I'm concerned about the back row balance and as Aus will have to re-jig their back row to something more traditional it might be the time for Jones to bring on Clifford instead of having two locks on the bench. I don't see another alternative given the squad we have.</p>
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<p>As someone else on here said earlier, Haskell had his best game in white. Does this mean he's finally fulfilling his potential after 70 odd caps? Late developer? Or has Eddie pushed the right buttons?</p>
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<p>Still not a 7 though :yes:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="586947" data-time="1465694911">
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<p>It is an option. <strong>Depends on the ref we're getting.</strong></p>
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<p>On attack, England played flop-ruck as they're accustomed to doing up north, and Poite let them. Was always going to be fine margins there, and with Pocock out I think we look at minimising the attack on their ball, and concentrate on ball running a bit more.</p>
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<p><u>Sat 18 June</u>:</p>
<div>Referee</div>
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<div><a title=""><img src="http://officiating.worldrugby.org/images/officials/small/official_89_photo.jpg" alt="official_89_photo.jpg"></a></div>
<div><span>Craig Joubert</span> <span>(South Africa)</span></div>
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<div>Assistant 1</div>
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<div><a title=""><img src="http://officiating.worldrugby.org/images/officials/small/official_79_photo.jpg" alt="official_79_photo.jpg"></a></div>
<div><span>Nigel Owens</span> <span>(Wales)</span></div>
<div> </div>
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<div>Assistant 2</div>
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<div><a title=""><img src="http://officiating.worldrugby.org/images/officials/small/official_12_photo.jpg" alt="official_12_photo.jpg"></a></div>
<div><span>Mike Fraser</span> <span>(New Zealand)</span></div>
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<div>TMO</div>
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<div><img src="http://officiating.worldrugby.org/images/officials/small/whistle.png" alt="whistle.png"></div>
<div><span>Glenn Newman</span> <span>(New Zealand)</span></div>
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<div><span><u>Sat 25 June</u>:</span></div>
<div>Referee</div>
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<div><a><img src="http://officiating.worldrugby.org/images/officials/small/official_79_photo.jpg" alt="official_79_photo.jpg"></a></div>
<div><span>Nigel Owens</span> <span>(Wales)</span></div>
<div> </div>
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<div>Assistant 1</div>
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<div><a title=""><img src="http://officiating.worldrugby.org/images/officials/small/official_89_photo.jpg" alt="official_89_photo.jpg"></a></div>
<div><span>Craig Joubert</span> <span>(South Africa)</span></div>
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<div>Assistant 2</div>
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<div><a><img src="http://officiating.worldrugby.org/images/officials/small/official_12_photo.jpg" alt="official_12_photo.jpg"></a></div>
<div><span>Mike Fraser</span> <span>(New Zealand)</span></div>
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<div>TMO</div>
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<div><a><img src="http://officiating.worldrugby.org/images/officials/small/official_101_photo.jpg" alt="official_101_photo.jpg"></a></div>
<div><span>Ben Skeen</span> <span>(New Zealand)</span></div>
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Joubert is a bit of a homer ref and also is obviously Southern Hemisphere, so assume advantage to Aus in the Second Test. At least more than Poite.<br><br>
Owens is more or less 50/50 I think.<br><br>
I'm almost hoping Aus win next week to set up the giant finish.<br><br>
But then I think f*ck them, let's go 3-0.<br><br>
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="587153" data-time="1465728156">
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<p> Does this mean he's finally fulfilling his potential after 70 odd caps? Late developer? <strong>Or has Eddie pushed the right buttons?</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Still not a 7 though :yes:</p>
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<p>Eddie is pushing all the right buttons at the moment. Sadly last year Lancaster couldn't even find the keyboard</p> -
<p>Anybody else think that Maro Itoje was acting like a complete fuck wit in yesterdays game.</p>
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<p>wasted energy and just makes himself look like a cock, he also rubs oppositions heads when they give away a penalty. Only a matter of time before he gets his arse handed to him </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SimonAdd" data-cid="587171" data-time="1465735417">
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<p>The whooping, hollering etc? Whatever. It's not my preferred style <strong>but so long as it's directed at his own team and not the opposition I'm fine with it.</strong><br><br>
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk</p>
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<p>Say Wha? Pretty sure it's intended for the opposition really, Simon.</p>
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<p>I'm too old to endorse that kind of fuckwittery but I guess it's what they do nowadays</p> -
<p>Fuck Eddie must grin himself to sleep these days.</p>
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<p>He's got:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A shit load of wages</p>
<p>A passport that naturally negates the need to take any shit from RU fishheads</p>
<p>A forward pack big enough to front up to anyone</p>
<p>A gun goalkicker</p>
<p>A superstar 20 odd year old "any ball in the air" winner</p>
<p>A fair bit of pace on the wings</p>
<p>A box kicker</p>
<p>A team desperate to atone for the RWC</p>
<p>A gun goal kicker - worth mentioning twice for the relevance to his "annoy the shit out of them till they give away penalties" gameplan</p>
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<p>A fair rugby victory in the scheme of things and as others mentioned neither team played poorly - was a cool game to watch if you had no skin in it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>From the Wallabies, by fuck there was some OUTSTANDING passing to create space from and for the backs. Foley the star in that department I think</p>
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<p>Good stuff yellow and white teams - the series is alive and kicking!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="587172" data-time="1465735798"><p>wasted energy and just makes himself look like a cock, he also rubs oppositions heads when they give away a penalty. Only a matter of time before he gets his arse handed to him<br></p></blockquote>
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The lad was pumped up, but I personally didn't see anything offensive in his bug-eyed "we go again! we go again!" rantings. Like Siam, I'm too old for that crap, but once I wasn't and was as bug-eyed and ranty as the next man, so I'll allow Itoje some latitude. Particularly if he keeps playing as superbly as he has been. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="587104" data-time="1465721160"><p>
I think that comment about the Aus backline is a wee bit unfair. I was at the game and when the Aus backline got pace on the ball (hat tip NTA) they carved up. England just played smarter rugby and for long periods prevented Aus from getting proper attacking opportunities.</p></blockquote>
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Both teams flattered to deceive with ball in hand, both defenses splintered pretty quickly/easily around the fringes especially in the first half.<br><br>
Australia have looked good with front foot ball for the past decade, the unaddressed issue that you point out is quality teams can pretty much deny them of any opportunity through dominating at the breakdown, tackle and using their own possession productively.<br><br>
Both teams will focus heavily on their defensive pattern this week and I wouldn't be surprised if we a low scoring grind in game 2. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="587172" data-time="1465735798"><p>wasted energy and just makes himself look like a cock, he also rubs oppositions heads when they give away a penalty. Only a matter of time before he gets his arse handed to him</p></blockquote>
In a team with Brown? It's nothing. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="587182" data-time="1465743882"><p>In a team with Brown? It's nothing.</p></blockquote>
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Our secret strategy - get the oppo queuing up to twat Brown then Farrell, gives Itoje a free pass. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="587172" data-time="1465735798"><p>
wasted energy and just makes himself look like a cock, he also rubs oppositions heads when they give away a penalty. Only a matter of time before he gets his arse handed to him</p></blockquote>
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Don't have a problem with niggle. Rugby is an intimidatory sport. It comes with the territory. Some of the couch potatoes / backs may have a problem with that. <br><br>
Doubt anyone's going to hand his ass to him, honestly. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="587188" data-time="1465747765"><p>
Doubt anyone's going to hand his ass to him, honestly.</p></blockquote><br>
Unless of course he completely overdoes the bug-eyed straining and prolapses as a result, in which case he might require such assistance. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="587188" data-time="1465747765">Don Frye, on 12 Jun 2016 - 5:09 PM, said:
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<p>Don't have a problem with niggle. Rugby is an intimidatory sport. It comes with the territory. Some of the couch potatoes / backs may have a problem with that.<br><br>
Doubt anyone's going to hand his ass to him, honestly.</p>
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<p>Yes rugby is about intimidation but I'm sorry Itoje is not intimidating at all. He is just a cheer leader he's one step away from high fiving the front row after a penalty is awarded to them. I would love to see him do this shit with Bukkies Botha or Brad Thorn on the field.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="587197" data-time="1465758096"><p>Yes rugby is about intimidation but I'm sorry Itoje is not intimidating at all. He is just a cheer leader he's one step away from high fiving the front row after a penalty is awarded to them. I would love to see him do this shit with Bukkies Botha or Brad Thorn on the field.</p></blockquote>
Why would that matter?<br><br>
Yeah I bet he'd be way scared to do it if cheap shot Bakkies or Mr Christian Thorn were there. What a goof thing to say.
