England to whitewash Australia

NTA

Positives for us: scrum a lot better. Young blokes coming through are looking alright. Thought Coleman was great, DHP too 
Work-ons: leadership - particularly ref management, discipline, kicking. 
The rest of it was OK for a team with three different selections in three weeks, some injuries and a bit of farting around in between. 
Cheika will need to tweak a few things in terms of game plan before TRC. The second-channel ball is very predictable and doesn't work on a team with a good defensive line.

NTA

Also: we look a shitload better when Phipps doesn't step-pass

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="591776" data-time="1466856454">
<div>
I'm happy to kick that can down the road. If Eddie can deliver a big Autumn series and a second 6N (by no means a given), a big group of battle hardened English will get to test themselves in NZ with the Lions. Then, but not before, England should be ready to take on the ABs.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Best sidestep of the year ;)

Nepia

If that fat winger plays the ABs we'll have to call Fatty Savea Skinny Savea.
 
I really enjoyed that match - it's easier when you've got no skin in the game. The Aussie dude I watched it with was less enthralled by it as a spectacle.

Unite

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="591690" data-time="1466853239">Interesting tidbit from the commentators that he is the 3rd Tasmanian ever.</blockquote>
 
3rd for the Wallabies, I know Derren Witcombe was born in Hobart and played for the All Blacks.

hurricane

Regarding Coleman - I Thought he had a fantastic debut. One minor error where he jumped funny in a lineout and it went to Robshaw at the back of the lineout and England nearly scored. Apart from that he was your best lock in the loose all night. I wouldn't give Skelton another game as a lock. Maybe if he loses 15kgs and becomes more mobile and comes back to life as a backrower in an alternative universe, but not being an asset in the lineouts and his lack of understanding of the game leading to three penalties meant that not only was he not helpful to Australia's cause, but I can't see a forseeable circumstance where he will be helpful except against teams of the ilk of Scotland in the world rankings.

antipodean

Just back from the pub, warm enough to cope with an apparent temperature of -5.4; 
 
England deserved winners. Difference would be larger in scoreline if England could defend better the scoreline could be drastically different.

Tordah

Skelton and Phipps need to be dropped. Phipps has been awful the whole series, I'd imagine Australia would have won 3-0 had they had Aaron Smith instead of the Sydney stifling stepper.
Skelton was just awful. Big waste of protein and body mass on a currently useless individual. He should be fed to McMahon.

hurricane

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tordah" data-cid="591800" data-time="1466859544">Skelton and Phipps need to be dropped. Phipps has been awful the whole series, I'd imagine Australia would have won 3-0 had they had Aaron Smith instead of the Sydney stifling stepper. Skelton was just awful. Big waste of protein and body mass on a currently useless individual. He should be fed to McMahon.</blockquote> Magnificent post.

Cookie

Wow 3.0. I wonder if Aus have ever scored 5 tries and lost before? 
Tackling seemed optional at times today, but I don't want to take anything away from a well deserved series win. I thought the Aussies played well today, they must be left scratching their heads as to what they need to do to win. 
Big plus points for me have been the back row, and with Itoje bringing extra speed and athleticism almost as an extra six, it's much better balanced. Dylan Hartley I've mentioned already, captaincy has been the making of him. Another disappointing game from Brown, he's probably worn out from being angry all the time. 
Cameo award for the series has got to go to Jamie George. All hail the little fat man.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="591806" data-time="1466860529">Wow 3.0. I wonder if Aus have ever scored 5 tries and lost before? </blockquote>
 
2000 versus ABs at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney. I think? Maybe that was only four

barbarian

It's a weird feeling.
 
We played pretty well, all things considered. It was a fucking great series filled with bloody good rugby. And we lost every game.
 
I was at the SFS tonight and it was great- such a good game to watch. Just the wrong result!
 
No one player had a shocker, we can't blame the scrum, or the ref, or the coach. There are no easy scapegoats here. Just... England played better. Their execution in our half was remarkable, their composure and option-taking was flawless.
 
Give us Ireland, or Wales, or France and we might have won 3-0.
 
Well played England. One of the greatest touring NH sides ever.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="591241" data-time="1466770350">
<div>
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.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Hindsight being 20:20 and all that, England deserved to win by playing with a deal more enterprise than last week. Had they defended more competently the scoreline could have been more stark.
 
This is what I was alluding to; you've demonstrated enough to win a series, but by playing with more attacking endeavour the sword has been firmly shoved through the breastplate. Or with a different bounce of the ball, one could reasonably claim that it was the end of a very long season, series already won, having a go etc. But to England's credit they kept the foot on the throat.
 
Looks to me like the Wallabies were genuinely lucky to make it past the quarter final stage at the World Cup and this is a reasonable reflection. The game plan they're playing to is weird, or poorly executed. The selection roundabout prevents any semblance of momentum for players.

Hooroo

Burn Catogrande for he is a witch!

barbarian

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="591820" data-time="1466866421">
Looks to me like the Wallabies were genuinely lucky to make it past the quarter final stage at the World Cup and this is a reasonable reflection. The game plan they're playing to is weird, or poorly executed. The selection roundabout prevents any semblance of momentum for players.
</blockquote>
 
I think what it shows it the margins in top level rugby are fine.
 
You take Giteau, Douglas, Beale, AAC and Pocock out of our World Cup team, and we fall back a peg or two. And you add Itoje, Vunipola, Kruis, Hartley and a renewed Haskall to England (as well as better coaching) and they rise about five pegs.
 
I genuinely believe this was a close series, and it each game rested on 2-3 big plays. England deservedly stepped up in those moments, and that's those fine margins. In the RWC it was us stepping up.
 
I like our game plan. In attack it worked tonight, it worked bloody well. Was just our defence and discipline in our own half that killed us.

Catogrande

All three games with the result in doubt up to the last few minutes is spectator gold so fair play to both sides for an bloody great series (yeah i know, easy to say when on the right side of the scoreline :yes: ). Most of the more enthralling rugby was played by Aus but most of the smarter rugby was played by England, though each had their moments elsewhere. 
 
Commiserations to Nick, Barbs and Mick your guys were really... aw no fuck it. Ha! We won.
 
Great series but a bloody difficult watch for any committed fan.

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="591632" data-time="1466850338">
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.</blockquote>
Knock on is off hands and arms. 
Forward off body is ok. 
Forward off thigh is a kick.

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="591694" data-time="1466853372">
Law 12 definition from World Rugby laws: 
"A knock-on occurs when a player loses possession of the ball and it goes forward, or when a player hits the ball forward with the hand or arm, or when the ball hits the hand or arm and goes forward, and the ball touches the ground or another player before the original player can catch it. 
â€˜Forwardâ€™ means towards the opposing teamâ€™s dead ball line. 
If a player in tackling an opponent makes contact with the ball and the ball goes forward from the ball carrierâ€™s hands, that is a knock-on. 
If a player rips the ball or deliberately knocks the ball from an opponent's hands and the ball goes forward from the ball carrier's hands, that is not a knock-on." 
So as you said Nick, just with more words. 
I think I had something at the back of my mind where off the knee was a knock on, not a kick. Then again, our Welsh brethren will remember Mark Ring who occasionally used to chip over the defensive line off his knee and gather the other side (hard to read from the defender's pov). Paul Turner used to do it too, I think. Great trick. I think maybe that was ruled "a throw forward on to the knee", and therefore a knock-on. However, back to the present day. Game on.</blockquote>
 
I see we've dealt with that :). 
There is something about chip kicking with the knee... think it got banned sometime somehow. 
Recall Spencer doing it back in the day. And a Saffa in Super rugby (Marinos?).

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="591907" data-time="1466894898">I see we've dealt with that :). 
There is something about chip kicking with the knee... think it got banned sometime somehow. 
Recall Spencer doing it back in the day. And a Saffa in Super rugby (Marinos?).</blockquote>
 
Kick is knee or below. Which makes thigh a weird kind of no man's land :think:

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="591909" data-time="1466896055">
Kick is knee or below. Which makes thigh a weird kind of no man's land :think:</blockquote>
 
Ok. Ta for that. But still not a knock-on when bouncing off the body in general play.

The Silver Fern

England to whitewash Australia