England to whitewash Australia
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<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>
<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> -
<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> </p>
<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> </p>
<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 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> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<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> </p>
<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> </p>
<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> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<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> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="590209" data-time="1466479418">
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<p>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>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'll expand on this now I'm not on the train using Tapatalk: this week provides Cheika an opportunity to run a couple more players or try to establish some combinations. Really, we're on a hiding to nothing because if we lose, its a whitewash, and if we win - no matter how convincingly - its because England already won.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So might as well use this opportunity to try the combinations we want for TRC because chances are someone will get their shit injured the next 5 weeks anyway. </p>
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<p>Would we have won with Beale? Not against that defense.</p> -
Fair to say we got the rub of the green, but we do seem to have reduced the number of dumb penalties given away especially by the likes of Cole and Haskell. <br><br>
Final thought from me on this game. Previous summer tour failures have often been dismissed by England apologists because the boys are "tired" after having played too many games during the year. Are we no longer tired, or did we win despite flagging at the end? For me it seems players are now managed better during the season, often rested after 6N etc, but still some way to go. -
<p>It also might be to do with players making themselves available if they feel they're going to be looked after.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Has Eddie had much of a say over the welfare of his national squad as it relates to club time? Like running particular camps to take time out of club rugby etc.</p>