The Rugby Thread

[E17yid]

Australia team to face England: Beale; Hodge, Petaia, Kerevi, Koroibete; Lealiifano, Genia; Alaalatoa, Latu, Sio; Arnold, Rodda; Naisarani, Hooper (c), Pocock.

Replacements: Uelese, Slipper, Tupou, Coleman, Salakaia-Loto, White, To'omua, O'Connor.

 

[E17yid]

I think it was obvious Foley wasn’t going to play but I thought he might go with To’omua and not Leafano but To’omua completely changed the game for the Ozzie’s against us in the 2nd half so maybe best as a bench option. He covers center to I think. Leafano is a bit hit and miss for me. On his day he’s good.

 

[E17yid]

They’ll be a red in this game. Farrell looks like he’s changed his tackling technique. Anyone remember him escaping those 2 incidents in the autumn. Safe to say if he does anything like that he’s off. Kerevi is a red card waiting to happen too.

 

[E17yid]

Ireland: Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, James Ryan, O'Mahony; Van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Beirne, Ruddock, McGrath, Carbery, Larmour.

 

['O Zio]

Not sure I agree with dropping Ford. I'm not his biggest fan but he's been doing alright so far. I can't decide whether this is Jones panicking and trying to play it safe or whether this is him trying to be too clever and pull something out of his sleeve. Either way I have a feeling it might backfire.

 

[Japhet]

Not sure I agree with dropping Ford. I'm not his biggest fan but he's been doing alright so far. I can't decide whether this is Jones panicking and trying to play it safe or whether this is him trying to be too clever and pull something out of his sleeve. Either way I have a feeling it might backfire.

Ford's done well in games where we didn't have to defend. He's always a big target for the opposition ball carriers because it's pretty much guaranteed yardage. If we can keep Australia's scoring down for 50 minutes I expect him to come on. Wouldn't be surprised to see Slade brought inside Tuilagi at some point either since he can open up the wide channels with his passing.

 

[Yid-ol]

Very odd time for England to change their back-line. They must have seen this game on the horizon, so if this was our plan for the big games why not use it in the opening games to get those combinations warmed-up?

I know Slade had some good moments in the six nations, but he also had some very poor moments and does he really bring a huge amount more defensively than Ford?

Time will tell I suppose, but not sure about that decision at all.

I wonder if the France game would have been where we changed it to this for a run out? Tuilagi was unavailable until really the France game so probably why we never tried it before in easier games.

Just hope the swap pays off, I can see why it's been done.

 

[E17yid]

How you Irish boys feeling about tomorrow @tototoner @werty and others.

 

[SugarRay]

I don’t rate Slade, not at this level, he’s never an international 13, so I’m disappointed

Mako is a risk, especially as Marler is hardly a risk, he’s about as safe as you can get! Very good player in his own right.
I guess they’d rather lose him after 10 minutes starting than lose him 10 minutes after coming on in the 50th minute ( Mako that is ) once the sub has been made.

Should never worry too much about what’s coming back at you. Pick your team to win games first and foremost, never to restrict the opposition.

Kruis and Lawes is a tight call anyway. Think Lawes is better suited to the impact role but there you go

 

['O Zio]

Ford's done well in games where we didn't have to defend. He's always a big target for the opposition ball carriers because it's pretty much guaranteed yardage. If we can keep Australia's scoring down for 50 minutes I expect him to come on. Wouldn't be surprised to see Slade brought inside Tuilagi at some point either since he can open up the wide channels with his passing.

Yeah I get that. But that's partly what I mean by I'm not sure if Jones is playing it safe i.e. just trying to sure us up defensively at the expense of some attacking flair to try and keep things tight and grind out a result. Or is this all part of some "cunning plan" he's got up his sleeve, like throwing players like Ford on later in the game to suddenly go for the jugular in the second half.

 

[E17yid]

I wonder if the France game would have been where we changed it to this for a run out? Tuilagi was unavailable until really the France game so probably why we never tried it before in easier games.

Just hope the swap pays off, I can see why it's been done.

It’s a good question I think he might’ve done. Wasn’t Slade unavailable too? I remember seeing him in a protective boot on the sidelines in one of your warm up games.

If this was his plan all along then at least you know it’s what they’ve been doing in training for the last 2 weeks. It’s a gamble though for sure. Actually feel a bit for Ford. If you lose that’s 2 huge WC games he’s been benched for and he’s not really done much wrong.

Really looking forward to this one.

 

[E17yid]

South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handré Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (C), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira.


Reps: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn.

If Japan are still in the game at 55-60mins you’d think that SA bench (or bomb squad as their known) will finish it off. Very strong.

 

[werty]

How you Irish boys feeling about tomorrow @tototoner @werty and others.

I'm not confident, but I'm naturally pessimistic and I have no idea how good New Zealand are compared to previous teams.. This Ireland team have a stronger mentality that any other Irish side has had before and we're due a great performance, so who knows.

 

[E17yid]

I'm not confident, but I'm naturally pessimistic and I have no idea how good New Zealand are compared to previous teams.. This Ireland team have a stronger mentality that any other Irish side has had before and we're due a great performance, so who knows.

Everyone is writing you off which you can understand to a degree but I think that’s dangerous and suits Ireland.

I think it’s going to be a close game so like you say who knows. If you can perform to the level you were at a year ago I fancy you to cause an upset.

 

[Japhet]

Everyone is writing you off which you can understand to a degree but I think that’s dangerous and suits Ireland.

I think it’s going to be a close game so like you say who knows. If you can perform to the level you were at a year ago I fancy you to cause an upset.

Conditions will play a big part. NZ are utterly ruthless if any mistakes are made and Ireland have made plenty so far. They'll have to right at 100% and faultless IMO.

 

[E17yid]

Conditions will play a big part. NZ are utterly ruthless if any mistakes are made and Ireland have made plenty so far. They'll have to right at 100% and faultless IMO.

Unlikely I know but maybe we could see 4 northern hemisphere countries in the semis.

An England Ireland semi final would be mental.

 

[werty]

Everyone is writing you off which you can understand to a degree but I think that’s dangerous and suits Ireland.

I think it’s going to be a close game so like you say who knows. If you can perform to the level you were at a year ago I fancy you to cause an upset.

If we can get our box kicking game back I'll be more confident. We used to be the best at it and Murray was great at it for about 2 or 3 years, but for some reason we've been kicking it long and uncontested since the Six Nations and it's not working for us.

 

[Japhet]

If we can get our box kicking game back I'll be more confident. We used to be the best at it and Murray was great at it for about 2 or 3 years, but for some reason we've been kicking it long and uncontested since the Six Nations and it's not working for us.

A lot of the time when box kicks go too long, it's more a case of the chasers being obstructed and unable to challenge. It's an area of the game I'd like to see tightened up. What has been working well for a few teams this WC is chipping the ball into space. A bouncing ball is an absolute nightmare to defend compared to an inaccurate box kick IMO.

 

[E17yid]

To’omua ?

When a journalist asked current Australia star Matt To'omua for some insight on some English rivals that used to be his team-mates at Leicester Tigers, this wasn't the answer he was probably expecting.

"I know all their weaknesses luckily and I have been telling everyone. I will list them now for you if you want. Manu (Tuilagi) is a terrible snooker player, George Ford never pays for a beer, Ben Youngs isn’t even the best rugby player in his family, let alone the country. The chicken, Jonny May, very weird and Dan Cole doesn’t have a personality.

"No, look, we obviously had a very good relationship with a lot of the fellas there and one thing I do know is that they’re all quality players. He (Tuilagi) probably plays his best rugby in Tests and that’s the sign of a true champion player.

"Besides the fact that George never pays for a beer, there is no glaring weakness."

 

[SugarRay]

Unlikely I know but maybe we could see 4 northern hemisphere countries in the semis.

An England Ireland semi final would be mental.

A New Zealand Australia semi final would be pretty lively too!

I’ve said it pretty much all the way through, the usual suspects turn up at the World Cup time and again. How many times have we heard it’s Ireland/Wales time? England haven’t reached a semi final since 2007, which is frankly a terrible return if we’re being honest.

I’m adamant it’s All Blacks v Springoks in the final but I’d be pleasantly surprised if it doesn’t happen, no matter which team prevents it ( genuine )

I feel like it’ll be the weakest ever world champion, certainly in the modern game, whoever wins it. The fact plenty seem to fancy this England team says it all really.