England vs. Australia (2024)
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What a cracking game. Not often do I back Aussie but they're playing England so.
A better side would have scored a few more tries against the Wallabies I reckon but hell they showed some fight. After the first two tries they got their defence together and made it really tough for ENG to break through.
Aussies speed of pass was pretty special and when Tom Wright backs himself, he's a super weapon.
Have to agree. TT is a waste in that side. He's good for 10-15 mins to add some impact but he is fucking lazy. If I were Gus Bell I'd be pissed. How someone like him steps and bumps blokes off is a lesson for the Tongan Thor. Has all the attributes to be an outstanding prop but amounts to sweet FA.
Tate McDermott has got to start. He got the ball rolling with his snipes around the ruck. So much more of a threat than JG.
Still a long way off but the danger signs are there. This Wallabies side could be real potent.
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@African-Monkey I was thinking the same thing the Tahs will be worth a look in 2025 their backline is going to be lethal
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@MiketheSnow said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a better debut
He is a high skill player and he played league quite different to his peers. Was good to see him settle early and get a few touches. He’s played origin so the large hostile crowd wouldn’t have been a factor. More just getting the patterns right and adjusting to what NL and Ikitau were going to do. Happy for the kid, because after the announcement a while ago that he was changing codes there were a number in league circles who turned on him. They would’ve been ready with the daggers this morning had he not been so influential.
And not to reign on the parade with my black
(and red)eye patch but rewind 22 years, 51 weeks and some young debutante with a number 7 on his back ripped Ireland with a MOTM performance that will be forever etched in my memory as the best debut by a player 😎 -
@Bovidae said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Tupou has to be the most overrated rugby player. He never scrums legally and is just as likely to drop/lose the ball when carrying as do anything positive.
The Aust attack looked so much more dangerous with McDermott at halfback. Gordon leaving the field before HT was an advantage and got Aust back in the match.
BOK definitely shafted Aust with those two ruck penalties and got in the way in the 2nd half which caused a Aust turnover from the pass. McReight saved his arse by winning the penalty.
Yeah agree on both Tupou and McDermott. Tupou is barely a 15-20 minute player these days yet somehow finds himself starting.
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@ACT-Crusader said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Happy for the kid, because after the announcement a while ago that he was changing codes there were a number in league circles who turned on him. They would’ve been ready with the daggers this morning had he not been so influential.
And now they'll use it as proof that Rugby "Yawnion" is easy
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@NTA said in England vs. Australia (2024):
@Billy-Tell said in England vs. Australia (2024):
I see the Aussie league centre is only 21! Prodigious talent.
He was in the Kings School First XV for three years from the age of 14.
He played Aussie Schools Rugby at 16 and was bigger than some of the forwards.
He had to get a special exemption from NRL to play at 17.He's extremely level headed, physically gifted, and worked in one of the most professional environments in sport.
I've watched the first 11 minutes where he made his tackles, knocked back a restart, and carried once.
Sometimes you see a guy just walking around and it screams "ATHLETE".
That's him
Jeez, this guy sounds impressive. Judging by this he’s about half the athlete Reiko Ioane is !
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@NTA said in England vs. Australia (2024):
@ACT-Crusader said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Happy for the kid, because after the announcement a while ago that he was changing codes there were a number in league circles who turned on him. They would’ve been ready with the daggers this morning had he not been so influential.
And now they'll use it as proof that Rugby "Yawnion" is easy
Don't know what call is worse, 'yawnion' or 'kick and clap'....
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@African-Monkey said in England vs. Australia (2024):
@NTA said in England vs. Australia (2024):
@ACT-Crusader said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Happy for the kid, because after the announcement a while ago that he was changing codes there were a number in league circles who turned on him. They would’ve been ready with the daggers this morning had he not been so influential.
And now they'll use it as proof that Rugby "Yawnion" is easy
Don't know what call is worse, 'yawnion' or 'kick and clap'....
For every Lote Tuqiri, Jason Robinson and Brad Thorn there’s loads of Benji Marshall’s, Sam Burgess’s and Roger Tuivasa Shecks…..very hard to say who will or won’t make it for whatever reason….
Loigue fans arrogantly assuming players from ‘our game’ will dominate union are just absolute meatheads
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Leaguie's won't mention Will Chambers who did absolutely nothing in rugby for the Reds before going to League and becoming a regular fixture in the QLD State of Origin side and played a number of time for the Kangaroos
As @MN5 says - some players do and don't suit each code - others are terrific at both
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Tupou got for a couple of things wrong in his setup that made him easy to penalise. Easy to fix. Shouldn't need fixing TBH - you're a test prop!
Late in the first half the AR figured out that England were trying to fade after the hit to draw him off his feet.
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@mariner4life said in England vs. Australia (2024):
What a game!! That was awesome. And that is a huge win. Holy shit!!! Unreal watch.
Bobby V is the best loose forward in Australasia, what a player.
That Wallabies midfield is going to be a fucking problem. Suaalii showed a lot already and he was probably 2nd best to ikitau.Marcus Smith was huge, he did everything he could to win that for his team, best player on the park. What was that Wallabies formation? Every kick behind them found acres of space.
That last 10 minutes, wow. I thought BOK had absolutely robbed the Wallabies, but that last try... far out.
Twickenham silent, you love to see it. How's that northern dominance going?
Agree with everything you’ve said.
The biggest balls up England made last week was taking Smith off, he’s fast becoming one of the best 10s in the World. His ability to read the game today was something else. Those little chips and grubbers to fracture the Wallabies were a thing of beauty and his running game has gone to a new level.
It feels like any of the top 8 teams on their day can win now. Awesome for World Rugby.
From those you didn’t mention, I thought Angus Bell was a beast in this game as well. Carried really strongly and even made a few crucial breaks to get the Aussies on the front foot.
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@Canes4life said in England vs. Australia (2024):
From those you didn’t mention, I thought Angus Bell was a beast in this game as well. Carried really strongly and even made a few crucial breaks to get the Aussies on the front foot.
The speed of his feet at the line is key. Amazing to watch. Still young at 24
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Instant classic. Going to be a great week!!
Won’t repeat the good points from the many rugby gurus on the thread (and NTA posted as well), but I will say one thing.
Len Ikitau is just class. I really rate him. You know who didn’t? Eddie Jones, who left him out of our World Cup squad. Fuck that guy.
But yeah it’s the best Wallaby win since we put 40 on the ABs in Perth. And you could argue it’s better than that.
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@barbarian said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Instant classic. Going to be a great week!!
Won’t repeat the good points from the many rugby gurus on the thread (and NTA posted as well), but I will say one thing.
Len Ikitau is just class. I really rate him. You know who didn’t? Eddie Jones, who left him out of our World Cup squad. Fuck that guy.
But yeah it’s the best Wallaby win since we put 40 on the ABs in Perth. And you could argue it’s better than that.
Ikitau was excellent, typified by the final pass to Jorgensen
But it was the double threat of the midfield combo which allowed both to excel
English defence didn’t know who was going to be the threat on any given play
And that created time and space for both of them
This could be the start of a really good partnership
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Best Test match I’ve seen Smith play
Would much rather have him over Russell for the Lions
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@MiketheSnow said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Best Test match I’ve seen Smith play
Would much rather have him over Russell for the Lions
From what I have seen it would be madness to go with anyone else
He was good last week as well.
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Awesome for Wobs. They have got some really talented players in that squad, so it was just a matter of time until something clicked.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Awesome for Wobs. They have got some really talented players in that squad, so it was just a matter of time until something clicked.
And they are young! As long as the ARU and the old boys stay out of the way they can really build something.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in England vs. Australia (2024):
Awesome for Wobs. They have got some really talented players in that squad, so it was just a matter of time until something clicked.
Because they have quality coaching now
