England to whitewash Australia
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="592082" data-time="1466965071">
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<p>Has any team previously scored 40 points in a top tier test and LOST?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>2000 NZ v South Africa, 40-46</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2004 Wales v Argentina, 44-50</p> -
That Fijian winger is so fat! Has he been playing in Top14 or something?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="592103" data-time="1466976858"><p>That Fijian winger is so fat! Has he been playing in Top14 or something?</p></blockquote>
Scotland I think. And he was bigger when he landed I'm told. <br><br>
Need that extra coat to play oop north -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="592094" data-time="1466973668"><p>
It's very much looking like England will have a good chance to improve over the next couple of years. We've had good results but have to recognise that we've ridden our luck at times. We're not world beaters as yet. The level of improvement has been impressive, although coming from a low (RWC) base in terms of results more than performance in general. It's a bright time to be an England fan but until we can beat the other top teams regularly then we have no bragging rights.<br><br>
NZ are, as Kiwinmelb says, in a astute of rebuilding. Not such an issue because the succession planning that Hansen and co have put in place means that they can lose four world class players and leaders and hardly break stride. Very impressive. NZ will inevitably get better as the newer combos are cemented and then gel. England have the greater level of improvement to aim for, which makes the next couple of years potentially very interesting but the thing is, will they achieve the level of improvement that we hope they are capable of? That, to me is less likely than the lower degree of improvement that NZ have due to their higher starting level.<br><br>
Easy to talk of all this but no so easy to achieve. But as I say a bright time for England after many dark years.</p></blockquote>. <br><br>
End of the day , you get us at twickenham next , <br><br>
That becomes more of a Toss a coin game than most kiwis will acknowledge with the way you are playing IMO . <br><br>
I would have us as much stronger favourites at home though . -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="592094" data-time="1466973668"><p>
It's very much looking like England will have a good chance to improve over the next couple of years. We've had good results but have to recognise that we've ridden our luck at times. We're not world beaters as yet. The level of improvement has been impressive, although coming from a low (RWC) base in terms of results more than performance in general. It's a bright time to be an England fan but until we can beat the other top teams regularly then we have no bragging rights.<br><br>
NZ are, as Kiwinmelb says, in a astute of rebuilding. Not such an issue because the succession planning that Hansen and co have put in place means that they can lose four world class players and leaders and hardly break stride. Very impressive. NZ will inevitably get better as the newer combos are cemented and then gel. England have the greater level of improvement to aim for, which makes the next couple of years potentially very interesting but the thing is, will they achieve the level of improvement that we hope they are capable of? That, to me is less likely than the lower degree of improvement that NZ have due to their higher starting level.<br><br>
Easy to talk of all this but no so easy to achieve. But as I say a bright time for England after many dark years.</p></blockquote>. <br><br>
End of the day , you get us at twickenham next , <br><br>
That becomes more of a Toss a coin game than most kiwis will acknowledge with the way you are playing IMO . <br><br>
I would have us as much stronger favourites at home though . -
<p>Holy fuck Nick, G&G must make you tear your hair out (oh...)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>lose 0-3 at home to England, changes that MUST be made. Get Quade in. Bring in a new winger. Replace Palu with, um, someone!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Are you guys really so happy with Pocock at 8 that he walks back in there when he's fit? Or is it just you have no one else? (that you are willing to try)</p> -
<br><br><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="592150" data-time="1466986241"><p>Holy fuck Nick, G&G must make you tear your hair out (oh...)<br></p></blockquote>
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Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa funny fluffybunny.<br><br>
It's been great over there. Such a cavalcade of fuckwits. There are some people who clearly don't know what rugby looks like. <br><br>
The best one was the call for Foley at 13. Gold. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="592150" data-time="1466986241">
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<p>Holy fuck Nick, G&G must make you tear your hair out (oh...)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>lose 0-3 at home to England, changes that MUST be made. Get Quade in. Bring in a new winger. Replace Palu with, um, someone!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Are you guys really so happy with Pocock at 8 that he walks back in there when he's fit? Or is it just you have no one else? (that you are willing to try)</p>
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<p>Pocock has to be in the team somewhere, Australia wins a lot more often when he is playing</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="592161" data-time="1466986979"><p>Pocock has to be in the team somewhere, Australia wins a lot more often when he is playing</p></blockquote>
Fardy hit more rucks than anyone on Saturday. <br>
Hooper's form is irresistible. <br>
We need an 8 and McMahon was pretty good on Saturday.<br><br>
Where to fit Pocock? -
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/81150196/Wallabies-v-England-Numbers-show-Australia-doesn-t-cope-without-David-Pocock'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/81150196/Wallabies-v-England-Numbers-show-Australia-doesn-t-cope-without-David-Pocock</a></p>
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<p>Fardy may have hit more rucks, but I didn't think he was that effective.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And is hoopers form irresistable? First thing a Blind side flanker should know, if the 8 runs blind off the scrum, it's his man.</p> -
<p>Someone posed this hypothetical backline, which I really like:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9. Phipps/Genia</p>
<p>10. Foley</p>
<p>11. Tomane</p>
<p>12. Giteau</p>
<p>13. Folau</p>
<p>14. AAC</p>
<p>15. Haylett-Petty</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reckon that's a pretty good unit. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for the backrow, it's really tough. I think we need Fardy and Pocock. McMahon played really well at 8, and can carry the ball really well. Ultimately Hooper will start with McMahon on the bench, but wouldn't mind seeing the reverse tried once.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="592169" data-time="1466988132">
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<p>Fuck. You mean they made mistakes?<br><br>
SACK THE LOT OF THEM!!!</p>
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<p>Stop being so precious, I don't think Hoopers the superman you make him out to be</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not making that tackle on the side of the scrum was a schoolboy error. </p> -
<p>I think Fardy has been ordinary this series (by his standards, I'm a fan), lots of endeavour for little output. He hit a lot of rucks, but didn't do much in most of them. That said, he took his lineouts, often under pressure, and that was a pretty big role for him (and an essential one going forward if the selection continues).</p>
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<p>Big news for Aus is Douglas will be back on the bench for the Reds this week. They'll be praying hard he comes back in the same sort of form as the end of last year. </p> -
<p>Just a point arising from your post Barb, are you at all worried by more overseas players coming in? I think Kepu's effectiveness was down on his previous levels, do you think they'll be able to 1. slot back in to the unit, and 2. provide the increase in performance required?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Genia especially, who had a long lay off. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="592170" data-time="1466988241">
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<p>Someone posed this hypothetical backline, which I really like:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9. Phipps/Genia</p>
<p>10. Foley</p>
<p>11. Tomane</p>
<p>12. Giteau</p>
<p>13. Folau</p>
<p>14. AAC</p>
<p>15. Haylett-Petty</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reckon that's a pretty good unit. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for the backrow, it's really tough. I think we need Fardy and Pocock. McMahon played really well at 8, and can carry the ball really well. Ultimately Hoopah will start with McMahon on the bench, but wouldn't mind seeing the reverse tried once.</p>
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<p>The key there is that you have Genia instead of Phipps. HB is such an important position from a decision making POV, and Phipps just makes the wrong decision too often.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="592176" data-time="1466988528">
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<p>Just a point arising from your post Barb, are you at all worried by more overseas players coming in? I think Kepu's effectiveness was down on his previous levels, do you think they'll be able to 1. slot back in to the unit, and 2. provide the increase in performance required?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Genia especially, who had a long lay off. </strong></p>
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<p>Fuck he's got to be better the Phipps!</p> -
<p>Not sure I can criticise the halves too badly when we scored 5 tries. Toomua helped significantly.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Phipps looks good when he just gets there and flings it. The difference in speed for the attack is noticeable when he takes a step on the pass.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He's also about the best defender - particularly cover defender - that we've got.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Is Genia better? Dunno. The theory about people coming back from the NH and having issues isn't a bad one, but it depends on the ethics of the club they're at.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If the Reds and ARU admin hadn't made so many fuck headed decisions I think we'd still see Genia and Quade here, and probably both qualifying for the Giteau Rule right now. C'est la vie.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="592173" data-time="1466988332">
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<p>Stop being so precious, I don't think Hoopers the superman you make him out to be</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not making that tackle on the side of the scrum was a schoolboy error. </p>
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<p>Yes. But I was being sarcastic. And really, I have no idea why we were trying to push 8 mean in that scrum - who the fuck does that defending their own line?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="592176" data-time="1466988528">
<div>
<p>Just a point arising from your post Barb, are you at all worried by more overseas players coming in? I think Kepu's effectiveness was down on his previous levels, do you think they'll be able to 1. slot back in to the unit, and 2. provide the increase in performance required?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Genia especially, who had a long lay off. </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I think they will help, yes. Kepu will hopefully be fitter and a bit sharper by the TRC - he got better as the series went on and our scrum was at parity with the Poms in the third game.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I remember it was Nathan Grey who said during the tight matches of the World Cup, the two blokes who were taking charge and marshalling our defensive line were Giteau and AAC. They add a stability and a confidence we didn't have this series.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm not too sure on Genia, his form dropped off a bit in the late stages of the RWC (he was very average in the final) and he's been injured since. But Cheika clearly rates him.</p>
