Comments on: Autumn Internationals 2014: Australia team to play England

By: Don P

Don P — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:40:57 +0000

Prophet Enoch
Well thanks E, altho regrettably, it was nothing to do with my cheer leading in the pub. Since then of course, Wales have beaten SA, so a good boost?

Read an article last week by former Oz prop Ben Darwin who now consults for Prozone (SCW was a former advocate I believe). Anyway, his algorithm based view is that the SH outlast the NH due to ‘cohesion’. E.g. S15 players run ave 85m/game (test level = 80!), the Premshp = 65 (I think, anyway, much less). Also because NZ pick from 5 teams, Ireland 4 & England 12, the former 2 again have more ‘cohesion’ (or familiarity?) than England. He further stated that the latter’s skills were than same as NZ’s (altho I disagree), but that ‘cohesion’ was the diff. Interesting thoughts tho & they convinced Prozone to give him a job.

By: Don P

Don P — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:17:55 +0000

Pablito
Well ‘it’s all over now’ as someone once sang, but interestingly & acc to the ST, Oz won almost all the stats incl 100% of their scrums v England’s 91%. What really seemed to have killed Oz tho, was the penalty count (13 – 7) & turnovers (17 – 9) against them. I missed the 1st 1/2 hr due to a traffic jam, but from what I saw, my perception was that England ‘controlled’ it more up front. However, in terms of territory & possession, again, Oz had 70% & 66% respectively. It’s a funny ol’ game.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 19:38:08 +0000

No Don. My ‘not much to ask’ was rather tongue in cheek given England’s performances to date.

Their scrum is sh#te but they are experts at getting away with it.

By no means a foregone conclusion and as their games against fr and ire show, you can never count them out

By: Prophet Enoch

Prophet Enoch — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 19:12:11 +0000

Don,

Congrats on last week, some really bad substitutions by Gutless and I just knew that 1 point 10 mins was a no-way recipe for success.

I reckon I’ll be in my grave b 4 Wales beat you guys ever again! Hell my dad is in his 70s and was the same age as my son when Wales last beat the ABs.

By: Don P

Don P — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 17:26:54 +0000

Pablito
Are you implying that all England have to do is turn up to win it? And whether the ‘Aus scrum is still sh*te’ is yet to be seen. They only lost to FR & Ireland by a few, away from home, so yr view may be somewhat premature & clichéd. Also, as a parallel, Ireland’s ‘sh*te’ scrum v SA didn’t stop their winning. So, we’ll see.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 16:16:23 +0000

Anyone know who the ref is?

I am less worried with AAC at o/c. Talented and hard-working as he is, he is not one for passing the ball over-much. Much more suited to the wing

As for the Aussie wings – Horne is good but doesn’t set the world alight, Speight has the potential to do just that but is still green and hopefully England might be able to exploit any positional or defensive naivety

Folau isn’t in the same form as last year and seems occasionally at sea in defence.

The Aus scrum is still sh*te and can be exploited but this does really depend on the ref as they know every trick in the book to nullify their weaknesses here.

Their locks don’t fill anyone with fear and England could get some good results from the maul – this is one part of their game that is in good nick, not many teams score 2 tries against the Boks from mauls

All that aside, as we know, they can be superb running with the ball and can score tries that few other teams could. We also know they will never give up

But if England deny them space to run, knock them back in the tackle, hit the rucks quickly and hard and kick intelligently then they should win.

Not much to ask…

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 15:45:01 +0000

Sadly I think that back line will rip us to shreds

By: Don P

Don P — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 14:28:37 +0000

Cheika seems to have settled on his tight fwds. Again no place for former captain Horwill. Back row more fluid, with McCalman back in favour alongside ‘newie’ McMahon. Key backs likely Foley & Toomua. If Oz get enough ball, this back line looks potent. Perceived wisdom is that it’ll be England’s pack v Oz backs. However, I’m not quite so sure. England may (certainly think) they’ll have the edge up front, but are Oz going to be simply bulldozed out of the game? And how many scrums will there actually be? Line outs? Should be fairly even. So, the team that makes least ‘errors’ (& here the ref could be crucial, so hope he doesn’t screw the game) & best use possession will prevail. Oz will run it. England should do similar, but Ford will kick plenty for territory & stick it in the air. If so, he’s gotta be ACCURATE, as Samoa Oz ain’t. Too tight to call? England @ home have the edge & ref’s empathy, but Oz will also need a win badly, so their invention & tenacity to sniff it?

PS Bit surprised NO English comments.