RWC 2015: Pool A discussion

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by Howe, Sep 12, 2015.

Page 34 of 41

  1. Starris ER Starris

    26 points wasn't it?

    Although it was the forwards who got the go forward and they would choose Hooper after he put the smash in.
    So Pocock becomes another good option - That scrum was superb.
     
    Starris, Oct 5, 2015
    #661

  2. Fiery GR Smith

    28 points actually.

    I disagree [MENTION=90]BoyBlunder[/MENTION]. It was Foley's tries that put England on the ropes. His turn of pace and running lines were superb. And his kicking game was faultless. I didn't think he had it in him to play quite that well.

    Pocock a close second though.
     
    Fiery, Oct 5, 2015
    #662

  3. BoyBlunder BOY Blunder

    We couldn't get near the goal though. We were ripping the Aussies apart in attack but our supporting forwards just couldn't get there quick enough before Pocock turned us over. Without that performance at rucktime Australia wouldn't have been in the position to score those tries in the first place and who's to say we wouldn't have had a couple ourselves. Australia's first 10 points came from a mistake from Brown (who's normally unflappable) after a clearance kick from a Pocock turnover IIRC.

    It's Rubies and Sapphires though - they both were outstanding
     
    BoyBlunder, Oct 5, 2015
    #663

  4. Fiery GR Smith

    Yeah it's hard to split them. Pocock has been an absolute revelation since being moved to No.8 and genuinely fear the Wallabies now, mainly because of the threat of him and Hooper.
     
    Fiery, Oct 5, 2015
    #664

  5. Starris ER Starris

    England had too many big slow lumbering knuckleheads in the forward pack!

    They looked impressive...
     
    Starris, Oct 5, 2015
    #665

  6. BoyBlunder BOY Blunder

    I can't work out if we were particularly slow to the breakdown last night or the Aussies were so quick it made us look slow. Probably a combination of both I guess
     
    BoyBlunder, Oct 5, 2015
    #666

  7. Fiery GR Smith

    Combination. Robshaw is just a carthorse. A serviceable No.6 or 8 but no way is he a modern openside flanker.
     
    Fiery, Oct 5, 2015
    #667

  8. Droos JP Rhodes

    Tata the Poms.
     
    Droos, Oct 5, 2015
    #668

  9. Madness B Morganpola

    Was at the game and hats off to Australia, they were just brilliant. England were poorly selected and seemed to struggle with the pressure. The crowd were fantastic up until the yellow card and then started to lose heart. Was one of those games we've all seen or played in where everything seems to go for one team, dropped passes go back rather than forward, bounces go in the right direction etc

    England looked so much better in the second half with Ford running the backs but doesn't matter how good he is when you get that murdered in the breakdown.

    Comfortable win for Aus vs Wales

    1/4 against Japan or Scotland
    Semi vs France/Ireland/Argentina
    Nailed on for the final I reckon
     
    Madness, Oct 5, 2015
    #669

  10. Fiery GR Smith

    Still amazed about that no-arms horizontal-missile non-tackle by Michael Hooper. SFAP should have been red-carded and needs to go down for that tbh
     
    Fiery, Oct 6, 2015
    #670

  11. Madness B Morganpola

    Gets better, England coaching staff, allegedly, talking to the ref 'team' at half time! Maybe we will get some points deducted....oh that doesn't matter anymore
     
    Madness, Oct 6, 2015
    #671

  12. BoyBlunder BOY Blunder

    He's been cited for it, not that that helps us one jot
     
    BoyBlunder, Oct 6, 2015
    #672

  13. Fiery GR Smith

    It could have helped you if a decision was made on the field. A yellow at least. But then again, Sam Burgess probably deserved a yellow for his head high tackle too
     
    Fiery, Oct 6, 2015
    #673

  14. BoyBlunder BOY Blunder

    Burgess has been cleared of his tackle but got an official warning which I think means it's no worse than a yellow card offence. I think the Burgess one was far worse than the Farrell one, and actually we've seen very similar challenges like the Farrell one escape cards in this tournament. I think it's harsh to count the Farrell one as off the ball because he had no idea that the ball wasn't going there due to the players crossing. The ref claimed it was card worthy because his head was down and he wasn't looking to see where the ball went, but tackling with your head up is one way to get seriously injured when you fly in like that. The fact he didn't wrap him up was the bad part but that got no mention. I think the refs were inconsistent on the day but tbh it's just looking for things - yes you could say we could have scored again if one or the other of those decisions went our way but for 60 minutes Australia were the better side and our pack just didn't turn up
     
    BoyBlunder, Oct 6, 2015
    #674

  15. Fiery GR Smith

    It must hurt bro. I can feel your pain etched in every word. How do you think I felt for 24 years :laugh:
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2015
    Fiery, Oct 6, 2015
    #675

  16. BoyBlunder BOY Blunder

    Mate I've been on a downer for 48 hours. I just hope we can take some decent policy changes out of this over our selection. Specifically exercise our "exceptional circumstances" clause when it comes to players playing in France - the European players of the year for the past 2 seasons were not included in our squad in positions we lacked decent depth (Haskell, Easter and Goode preferred) - and having more aggressive options on the bench to attack tired defences toward the end of games.
     
    BoyBlunder, Oct 6, 2015
    #676

  17. Fiery GR Smith

    I couldn't believe Danny Care wasn't picked. Crackerjack halfback. I respect Robshaw a lot. He's a trooper. But you really needed a more inspirational skipper and better openside. Tuilagi may have made a difference. You need a few mongrels in any team.
     
    Fiery, Oct 6, 2015
    #677

  18. Starris ER Starris

    It was a nasty pool from the outset... that could easily have been Wales.
     
    Starris, Oct 6, 2015
    #678

  19. BoyBlunder BOY Blunder

    Or the Aussies. Yes they played fantastically against us but if we'd have won that game which was a possibility all the way up until the yellow they also could have just as easily gone out without the bonus point against Fiji even if they did beat Wales
     
    BoyBlunder, Oct 6, 2015
    #679

  20. Starris ER Starris

    I think you guys lost the pool when you lost to a depleted Wales side.
     
    Starris, Oct 6, 2015
    #680
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