England to whitewash Australia
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="590879" data-time="1466689940">
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<p>Greasy ball in Melbourne, kicking not the worst option. What's the weather forecast for Sydney?</p>
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<p>Bit of rain around today but quite windy, so shouldn't be here for long, or be too detrimental.</p>
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<p>Tomorrow is sunny and cold as a front comes across the continent, dumping snow on the ranges.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.weatherzone.com.au/nsw/sydney/randwick'>http://www.weatherzone.com.au/nsw/sydney/randwick</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="590928" data-time="1466724861">
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<p>There's more than 1 way to win a rugby game.</p>
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<p>and the corollary - the body types needed to win a rugby game depend on the style you'll use to win.</p>
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<p>Our law makers lost sight of this at their peril</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="590928" data-time="1466724861">
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<p>Agree, I also quite like watching the different style of game played by England too. </p>
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<p>There's more than 1 way to win a rugby game.</p>
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<p><strong>Seems like in recent years everyone has tried to copy the All Blacks plan and failed. </strong></p>
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<p>That's the thing, you can see another team play, but you will never be able to replicate what they do, sure you can try to play a more expansive style, but you need to be able to do so with the cattle you have.</p>
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<p>The last couple of years England looked like they were trying to play a style of game that the players simply couldn't do naturally, and if what you are trying isn't natural and instinctive, then you will fail.</p>
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<p>I see kids on Saturdays running it from everywhere, because at that age they enjoy running with the ball rather than kicking it away and playing the defensive game (although I am trying to teach TR Jnr tackling is the best part of a game!)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="590695" data-time="1466640890">
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<p>Does Mumm have some incriminating photos of Cheika? </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="590696" data-time="1466640997">
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<p>Well, he's not yet on the bench - one of Mumm, Palu, or Coleman will go I think, depending on Eddie's team announcement, which I assume is this afternoon.</p>
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<p>Apparently, Mumm doesn't have incriminating photos of Cheika (anymore):</p>
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<p>Coleman has been selected on the bench over Dean Mumm, who will drop out of the 23.</p>
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<div>Wallabies team to face England in third Test</div>
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<div>1. James Slipper 2. Stephen Moore (c) 3. Sekope Kepu 4. Will Skelton 5. Rob Simmons 6. Scott Fardy 7. Michael Hooperr (vc) 8. Sean McMahon</div>
<div>9. Nick Phipps 10. Bernard Foley 11. Rob Horne (vc) 12. Matt Toomua 13. Tevita Kuridrani 14. Dane Haylett-Petty 15. Israel Folau</div>
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<div>Replacements</div>
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<div>Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio, Greg Holmes, Adam Coleman (Uncapped), Wycliff Palu, Nick Frisby, Christian Leali'ifano, Taqele Naiyaravoro (1 Test)</div>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/06/24/01/16/coleman-to-make-test-debut'>http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/06/24/01/16/coleman-to-make-test-debut</a></p> -
<p>I find Palu off the bench an interesting option. It's not often you finish the game by slowing the pace and getting physical . </p>
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<p>Again, he's more of a starter, like McCalman, so why not start him?</p>
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<p>Good to see Coleman get a run. He's a big lad with a bit of aggression, and 204cm and 122kg (or so) he's got the physical attributes. Turned 24 in October and a lot of punters have him earmarked as a long term Wallaby.</p> -
<p>Because Cheika seems obsessed with proving 2 opensides works (and only Eddie couldn't make a go of it)?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-cid="590882" data-time="1466692652" data-author="Cookie"><p>... My guess is that Eddie will want to show we have developed a few more strings to our bow and also catch the Aussies by surprise by not kicking the leather off everything.</p></blockquote><br>If so it won't catch Cheika by surprise as his latest mutterings to the press is stating that England need to be less dull and "open up a bit more". You know play a bit more like us Australians and "try and play some footy".
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="591191" data-time="1466760394"><p>If so it won't catch Cheika by surprise as his latest mutterings to the press is stating that England need to be less dull and "open up a bit more". You know play a bit more like us Australians and "try and play some footy".</p></blockquote>
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That cunning ruse worked for Dwyer in the '91 final, can't see Eddie falling for it. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1466762639" data-cid="591203" data-author="NTA"><p>Eddie has already laughed and said "we're playing winning rugby"<br><br>And 3-0 in the first ever three game series between the nations means a place in history, of a sort.</p></blockquote>Yep. Difficult to out mind-game Eddie at any time. No chance when he's winning.
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<p>just to clarify, my earlier point re the poms kicking everything wasn't a criticism - you can certainly argue that it's not pretty rugby, and i wouldn't like to see every game like that, or for that to be the most successful way to play the game over the long term - but it was a well thought out and well executed winning tactic - and deserves a lot of kudos for that.</p>
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<p>on the other hand i don't think it is a sustainable winning tactic... if you give the opposition all the ball again, after them having a week (without the red mist) to work out how to deal with your defensive line and lack of committing to the breakdown, then i think you're asking for trouble.</p>
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<p>it's going to be interesting to see how both sides approach it.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="591212" data-time="1466764633">
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<p>just to clarify, my earlier point re the poms kicking everything wasn't a criticism - you can certainly argue that it's not pretty rugby, and i wouldn't like to see every game like that, or <strong><em>for that to be the most successful way to play the game over the long term</em></strong> - but it was a well thought out and well executed winning tactic - and deserves a lot of kudos for that.</p>
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<p>It kinda is -</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.optasportspro.com/about/optapro-blog/posts/2015/guest-blog-effectiveness-of-kicking-game-in-rugby-union/'>http://www.optasportspro.com/about/optapro-blog/posts/2015/guest-blog-effectiveness-of-kicking-game-in-rugby-union/</a></p>
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<p>And the All Blacks have for a long time been one of the kickiest teams in world rugby, 2015 WC we kicked 6th most out of 20 teams.</p>
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<p>Eddie has always been a stats guy & Sarries are very much stats driven, all the stats for the last few years say kick lots, tackle lots, take points when offered, dominate the lineout. Thats pretty much his (and the AB's) method. And also the opposite to the Aussie gameplan last 2 weeks</p> -
<p>England really have nothing to lose - they can afford to be expansive because they've already won the series.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1466766385" data-cid="591218" data-author="antipodean"><p>England really have nothing to lose - they can afford to be expansive because they've already won the series.</p></blockquote>I don't agree with this entirely. The difference between 2-1 and 3-0 is huge. As Mr Percentage said, to win the series 3-0 is like the business end of the RWC, you have to win all three hard matches to take the trophy. For England to win this series 3-0 will be a huge boost and will carry momentum on. For Aus to lose 3-0 is possibly the polar opposite. Would Cheika survive a 3-0 series loss? Especially after playing some pretty dumb rugby? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see England being a bit more adventurous but this is one time I'd be more happy seeing us play duller rugby but winning.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="591191" data-time="1466760394"><p>If so it won't catch Cheika by surprise as his latest mutterings to the press is stating that England need to be less dull and "open up a bit more". You know play a bit more like us Australians and "try and play some footy".</p></blockquote>
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Double-bluff ;)<br><br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="591041" data-time="1466734590">
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<p>I find Palu off the bench an interesting option. It's not often you finish the game by slowing the pace and getting physical . </p>
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<p>"and getting physical" ... only occasionally, but mostly ambling about amiably.</p>
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<p>I'm similarly unconvinced by Skelton starting - he'll be puffing and blowing after 15 minutes, trying to keep up. He's big but it would be ever so helpful if he was also useful.</p>
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<p>I did see him attempt to release his inner Bakkies Botha a couple of weeks ago and get pinged straight away. If I were Eddie I would have seen the same thing and noted it.</p> -
Well, so far Cheika should be happy. He's getting what he asked for from England.
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If Itoje knocks that ball on to to HP's thigh, and it goes forward off the thigh, is that not a knock-on by HP? Whatever. Good score by Oz, but Nowell should have taken Folau. Great start to the match.
