England to whitewash Australia
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<p>A very interesting game, although not one I overly enjoyed. It reminded me of the sort of dream where you are trying to run away from something, but just can't run for some reason.</p>
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<p>Australia came out far far too fired up and were just looking to to do stupid off the ball stuff and hurt the Poms, that was NEVER going to work and makes me, for the first time, question Cheika's credentials - Helen Keller knew that was the wrong game plan.</p>
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<p>Did Phipps at any point have a run himself? The English defensive effort was immense, but some credit must also go to Australia for having the most one-dimensional Australian attack in the history of the game. I'm not sure why Foley is taking grief, he actually had a go and broke the line a couple of times - that's not his job, but neither of his centres remotely looked like doing it. At least he was trying to make something happen, along with Folau who was dangerous, as ever, but he couldn't do it all himself.</p>
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<p>Hooper got thrown around like a rag doll, he's a great player, but he just didn't appear to have the required bulk in a game like this one. Changes for third test - I'd bring in some bulk, McCalman at 8 for a start, and then replace Phipps for somebody else, but that somebody needs to be somebody that likes a run. I'm not convinced by the Kerevi / Kuridrani partnership either, players are too similar. I like Leailifano, and maybe worth starting him with one of the K's to add another playmaker to the backline and take a bit of pressure off Foley.</p> -
<p>It was a fairly simple case of picking Cheikaball apart - rush the second and third channels, and force the errors. Some closer running and a bit of subtlety would have helped, particularly in damp conditions.</p>
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<p>EDIT: I can say that having not even seen the game. Just based on the commentary I'm reading, particularly the Aussie fans who are ready to make 352 changes to the starting lineup, and keep guys like Kerevi but play him on the wing.</p>
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<p>What a bunch of peanuts. A couple of subtle changes - mostly to the top two inches - and we can win by 20 on a dry track.</p> -
<p>dirty niggly game. aussies beaten through their own stupidity. poms went into their shell and did nothing but kick and defend - credit to them i guess, they tackled very well and it worked, but very limited stuff and if the aussies had a brain cell or two between them they should have had the lead and forced england to try to make the play. </p>
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<p>1. in a game like that, kick the points.</p>
<p>2. if the opposition is not committing to the breakdown and simply fanning out and moving up quick, you need to find a way to commit them in close rather than simply going laterally and one-out and getting picked off. pick and go to get them on the back foot. set mauls to draw forwards in. didn't do either once that i can remember. not really very complicated, ya pack of dumb-dumbs.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="589805" data-time="1466350558"><p>Is Matt Toomua injured?</p></blockquote>
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Yeah he is. Him, Beale and Tomane if fit would've been in the side. <br><br>
The inexperience of the combinations - locks, back row, midfield, compounded the poor game plan and execution. <br><br>
Experienced players that are at least on the same page can sometimes grind out a win in tough conditions when they've played and executed poorly. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="589864" data-time="1466382234"><p>Yeah its always great in hindsight. Haven't seen the game so can't speak of it, but if you're going to turn down sure points, in Test rugby, in wettish conditions, then you are your own worst enemy.</p></blockquote>
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There was still plenty of time to build for more points at that juncture. It was an astonishing decision not to go for the kick. -
<p><img src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/m/v/5/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gpmtco.png/1466334102757.jpg" alt="1466334102757.jpg"></p>
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<p>Two things stuck me from this test</p>
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<p>1) Aussie refusing kicks. Not just penalties but also when they had slow ball in the red zone drop goals would have been an idea. But as they never got the scoreboard ticking the pressure stayed on them rather then on England.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2) There has to be a common basic standard of pitch that an international test can be played on. If your pitch can't withstand a scrum then you should not be playing tests there. Is it going to take a serious injury before this is put in place?? We see it too often.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="590073" data-time="1466424716"><p><img src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/m/v/5/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gpmtco.png/1466334102757.jpg" alt="1466334102757.jpg"></p></blockquote>
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Despite this Eng only conceded 8 penalties vs 9 from Aus. This has been a major area of improvement in recent games. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mooshld" data-cid="590079" data-time="1466426910">
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<p>Two things stuck me from this test</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1) Aussie refusing kicks. Not just penalties but also when they had slow ball in the red zone drop goals would have been an idea. But as they never got the scoreboard ticking the pressure stayed on them rather then on England.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2) There has to be a common basic standard of pitch that an international test can be played on. If your pitch can't withstand a scrum then you should not be playing tests there. Is it going to take a serious injury before this is put in place?? We see it too often.</p>
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<p>ARU has already told AAMi they'll be stripped of their 2017 Test if things don't improve.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="590089" data-time="1466435624">
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<p>Despite this Eng only conceded 8 penalties vs 9 from Aus. This has been a major area of improvement in recent games.</p>
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<p>I'm not one to bag the ref, but Joubert certainly gave anything 50/50 to the boys in White and also made a couple of baffling decisons.</p>
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<p>Since when did somebody joining in a fight over=rule a neck roll? Robshaw got away with that scot free, which I can't for the life of me understand.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="590073" data-time="1466424716"><p><img src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/m/v/5/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gpmtco.png/1466334102757.jpg" alt="1466334102757.jpg"></p></blockquote>
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But yet the Poms are good enough to 'topple the ABs' now -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="590160" data-time="1466467119">
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<p>I'm not one to bag the ref, but Joubert certainly gave anything 50/50 to the boys in White and also made a couple of baffling decisons.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Since when did somebody joining in a fight over=rule a neck roll? Robshaw got away with that scot free, which I can't for the life of my understand.</p>
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<p>That is pretty much the only thing I saw of the game live, and they were in the middle of looking at it on the big screen.</p>
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<p>It is amazing, given the focus on attacking the neck or head, that Robshaw didn't leave the field. It is equally amazing, given the past focus we've had on dropping shoulders in at the breakdown, that Moore didn't join him.</p> -
<p>McCalman out up to six weeks with a fractured scapula.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="590160" data-time="1466467119">
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<p>I'm not one to bag the ref, but Joubert certainly gave anything 50/50 to the boys in White and also made a couple of baffling decisons.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Since when did somebody joining in a fight over=rule a neck roll? Robshaw got away with that scot free, which I can't for the life of my understand.</p>
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<p>i agree the normally reasonable joubert was terrible - i wouldn't say biased, but he didn't handle the niggle or dirty stuff at all well.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="590179" data-time="1466470411">
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<p>McCalman out up to six weeks with a fractured scapula.</p>
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<p>Palu to start. Cheika to throw this "mobility" shit out the window for his forward pack, to see if anyone has the fucking sack to front up to the Poms and give as good as they get.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Slipper</p>
<p>Moore</p>
<p>Kepu</p>
<p>Arnold</p>
<p>Horwill</p>
<p>Fardy</p>
<p>Hooper</p>
<p>Palu</p>
<p>Phipps</p>
<p>Foley</p>
<p>Horne</p>
<p>Kerevi</p>
<p>Kuridrani</p>
<p>DHP</p>
<p>Folau</p>
<p> </p>
<p>TPN</p>
<p>Sio</p>
<p>Holmes</p>
<p>Mumm</p>
<p>Houston - might as well have a look at him</p>
<p>Frisby</p>
<p>Lilo</p>
<p>Morahan</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="590187" data-time="1466471906">
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<p>Palu to start. Cheika to throw this "mobility" shit out the window for his forward pack, to see if anyone has the fucking sack to front up to the Poms and give as good as they get.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Slipper</p>
<p>Moore</p>
<p>Kepu</p>
<p>Arnold</p>
<p>Horwill</p>
<p>Fardy</p>
<p>Hoopah</p>
<p>Palu</p>
<p>Phipps</p>
<p>Foley</p>
<p>Horne</p>
<p>Kerevi</p>
<p>Kuridrani</p>
<p>DHP</p>
<p>Folau</p>
<p> </p>
<p>TPN</p>
<p>Sio</p>
<p>Holmes</p>
<p>Mumm</p>
<p>Houston - might as well have a look at him</p>
<p>Frisby</p>
<p>Lilo</p>
<p>Morahan</p>
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<p>NTA - whats the Aussie view on the Kerevi / Kuridrani partnership?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm not convinced at all. Both great players in their own right, but neither of them posess a great passing game and I think you need at least one of your centres to have that.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="590190" data-time="1466472432">
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<p>NTA - whats the Aussie view on the Kerevi / Kuridrani partnership?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm not convinced at all. Both great players in their own right, but neither of them posess a great passing game and I think you need at least one of your centres to have that.</p>
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<p>The broadsword and the rapier theory. Kerevi and Kuridrani are more like two warhammers. Although Kuridrani is playing more like a wooden mallet currently.</p> -
<br><br><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="590190" data-time="1466472432">
<p>NTA - whats the Aussie view on the Kerevi / Kuridrani partnership?</p>
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<br><br><p>Depends which franchise they support. :)<br><br>
Most Tahs fans are OK with them I think, and just want the forwards to work harder, while the back line could be a bit smarter.<br><br>
Most Brumbies fans want Toomua and Lilo into 10 & 12 immediately. And Stirzaker at 9, because they don't have White any more, and hate Phipps.<br><br>
Most Reds fans think it's all Foley's fault and he should be replaced immediately with Quade. The rest of the Reds fans think it's mostly Phipps' fault and he should be replaced with Frisby, if not Genia.<br><br>
The Rebels fans want Hodge to have a go at 12.<br><br>
The Force fans mostly sit in the corner, mouthing obscenities at their ex-coach, and everything east of the Nullabor.<br><br>
A few of the crazies want wholesale changes and miracle teams with players out of position everywhere.<br><br>
None of it will matter a week from now. Cheika has made what I consider some puzzling selections. But he is probably gleaning answers from all of it.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="590175" data-time="1466469999">
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<p>That is pretty much the only thing I saw of the game live, and they were in the middle of looking at it on the big screen.</p>
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<p>It is amazing, given the focus on attacking the neck or head, that Robshaw didn't leave the field. It is equally amazing, given the past focus we've had on dropping shoulders in at the breakdown, that Moore didn't join him.</p>
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<p>Couldn't agree more. Either or both were gone for me. Then nothing more than a reversed penalty. Bottled it I reckon and not the only time.</p>
