RWC '15: Pool A General Chat [AUS/ENG/WAL/FIJ/URU]

DDC1990

bilston wrote: »

Because they're fit?

Missed a clear knock on from Matawalu there as well. Aussies turned it straight over after so it didn't matter.

DDC1990

Slipped up off the ball.

No intent. Good call.

DDC1990

Pocock.

Aussie maul looks good in attack, not Sao good in defence.

Stheno

10-3 Australia

Losty Dublin

bilston wrote: »

Because they're fit?

The short turnaround is obviously affecting the underdogs :pac:

Stheno

Fijian prop in the bin, another try for Australia

DDC1990

Pocock again from the maul.

Looking for another hat trick from mauls.

captbarnacles

Hooper and Pocock would be a nightmare to play against.

DDC1990

Fiji are so chaotic.

Just throwing bodies in all sides.

matthew8

For all their hype, Fiji look terrible. No ability to keep possession.

beertons

Mother of God, the size of that number 11 for Fiji.

Stheno

beertons wrote: »

Mother of God, the size of that number 11 for Fiji.

He's monstrous. Weighs 20 stone.

And he's a placekicker.

Half time 18-3 to Australia.

Is it just me or is this a rather dull game?

MJohnston

Stheno wrote: »

He's monstrous. Weighs 20 stone.

And he's a placekicker.

Half time 18-3 to Australia.

Is it just me or is this a rather dull game?

Might be the TV3 commentary, main commentator is very flat and sleep inducing...

Stheno

MJohnston wrote: »

Might be the TV3 commentary, main commentator is very flat and sleep inducing...

Noticed that alright. That's probably it.

crisco10

its alright but not great. Aus have this game in 3rd gear and know it. Hopefully Fiji improve in 2nd half.

Al_Coholic

Fiji have always had the same problem...Ill discipline.
you could have tons of skill players but if they are constantly giving away penalties they wont get far

Kiwi_knock

Not the greatest game to watch, I say Australia are a bit fearful of throwing the ball around too much as that would suit Fiji. I say they will keep the same structured play for the second half, unless they are still chasing the bonus point with 15 mins to go then maybe we will see them get a bit looser with the ball.

Kiwi_knock

Kepu loves a step.

Losty Dublin

Another try and it's down to yet more woeful Fijian tackling. Add to it that the Wallabies are making a better go of protecting their own ball than England did last week and you can see this becoming a cricket score.

corny

Say what you will about Fiji. I'm impressed with the Aussies. Think they'll have too much for England and Wales.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

corny wrote: »

Say what you will about Fiji. I'm impressed with the Aussies. Think they'll have too much for England and Wales.

Just thinking the same. Fiji have had a 5 day turnaround but Australia have looked the most impressive of the 3 sides expected to be battling it out for 1st and 2nd.

DDC1990

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Just thinking the same. Fiji have had a 5 day turnaround but Australia have looked the most impressive of the 3 sides expected to be battling it out for 1st and 2nd.

Lackluster 2nd half from Australia really. They cannot get anything going in attack. I'd like to see a change at 9/10

Stheno

Not helped by the appalling amount of handling errors from Fiji

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

DDC1990 wrote: »

Lackluster 2nd half from Australia really. They cannot get anything going in attack. I'd like to see a change at 9/10

Yeah, was just about to say impressive in the forwards but there's nothing happening in the backs. Folau has been trying to make things happen himself but it's going nowhere. Not sure who they've got on the bench but all of their 9/10 combinations have been poor for a while.

DDC1990

Good try but joke that Fiji got away with that last ruck.

matthew8

Fiji score a try despite messing things up, and are suddenly in this game.

LuckyGent88

Nice finish there. Might be in for an exciting final 20 mins. Hopefully Fiji have the energy to keep going now.

crisco10

If Fiji got another try could be interesting. ...

LuckyGent88

Line out and maul for pococks hat trick coming up I'd say

Or maybe not!!

Stheno

Ouch - nasty looking collision there.

crisco10

3 line outs in row lost by oz there.not ideal

DDC1990

I'd say it the condensation from the Millenium Stadium that caused the last 2 lineout misses. Really looked like a sloppy ball.

LuckyGent88

Nasty clash that. Definite concussion test.

bilston

Stheno wrote: »

Ouch - nasty looking collision there.

Not sure it was a penalty though? Did the Fijian raise his shoulder a bit? The replay looked fairly inconclusive to me.

LuckyGent88

bilston wrote: »

Not sure it was a penalty though? Did the Fijian raise his shoulder a bit? The replay looked fairly inconclusive to me.

Penalty was for the ruck after for holding on. Another turnover by pocock. He is incredible

crisco10

bilston wrote: »

Not sure it was a penalty though? Did the Fijian raise his shoulder a bit? The replay looked fairly inconclusive to me.

Penalty was for holding on at subsequent ruck no?

RugbyLover123

How has Toomua not been brought on yet??

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Pocock was rather violently twisted out of a ruck there a few minutes ago.

Stheno

Australia down to 14

matthew8

Pretty awful if Australia can't get the BP. They may well have to beat both england and wales.

Stheno

matthew8 wrote: »

Pretty awful if Australia can't get the BP. They may well have to beat both england and wales.

Doesn't look like they'll get it now anyway

Can't see Wales bothering them tbh. England might give them a run for their money

Al_Coholic

Professional performance by Australia but thought the match itself was boring.

RugbyLover123

I think England will beat that Australian side, very average out in the backs in this game & RC. With Foley at 10, bar Pocock and Hooper, they're very average.

Greyian

matthew8 wrote: »

Pretty awful if Australia can't get the BP. They may well have to beat both england and wales.

The one thing in their favour is that England vs Wales takes place before Australia play either. All Australia really need to do is beat the losers of that match, to secure 2nd place (of course they should be targeting 1st, and they also need to beat Uruguay obviously).

Stheno

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

I think England will beat that Australian side, very average out in the backs in this game & RC. With Foley at 10, bar Pocock and Hooper, they're very average.

Was that their first or second 15?

RugbyLover123

Stheno wrote: »

Was that their first or second 15?

I would say that was Australia's first choice 15, bar maybe Speight for Horne but Cheika likes Horne.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

If England or Wales can take Pocock and or Hooper out of the game they'll be laughing. I assume getting up in support as quick as possible and getting quick ball off the rucks is the way to do it.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

I would say that was Australia's first choice 15, bar maybe Speight for Horne but Cheika likes Horne.

Yeah. I can't think of anyone that you'd start over any of the 15 that started today. Anyone they brought with them to England anyway.

RugbyLover123

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Yeah. I can't think of anyone that you'd start over any of the 15 that started today. Anyone they brought with them to England anyway.

I'd say it was Cheika's first choice 23 too

English Lurker

RugbyLover123 wrote: »

I think England will beat that Australian side, very average out in the backs in this game & RC. With Foley at 10, bar Pocock and Hooper, they're very average.

A bit like saying a bacon sandwich with no bacon isn't very nice though. They do have Hooper and Pocock, and the latter in particular scares the living daylights out of me. He almost single-handedly makes them a good side.