That's because your coach has not only brainwashed the squad but also the entire country to pretend that they genuinely believe England will beat them. We're not buying it my friend!
Seriously Dan, England are at home, they have a gun kicker and will be hurting from the Wales game. They will try to ambush Australia. I can't see there being anymore than a handful of points in it at the final whistle. If that's the case, then England are in this. I don't think this won't be a blow out.
Having already flagged up that it's being profitable to back the underdogs with the start in the handicaps, I've had a decent stab at Canada +37pts against France at 11/10. The French were downright poor against Romania, I think they'll do well to win tonight by over 37 against a team give Italy a proper game at the weekend.
Beefy I think Ireland can beat this French team and top the group.Then it looks like we will draw Argetina in the quarter final which we can win.Australia in the semi is another matter but we did beat them in the last world cup but not to sure this time around.
The team with a head start on these handicaps must have won about 80% of the time. You would have thought the bookies would have lowered the starts by now
Could do, the French found Canada much tougher than we did Ste but if they turn it on they can beat anyone. They don't worry me that much and you'd want to beat them and top the group to hope you to make an impact on the tournament. Can't see the Irish squad getting too flustered watching that.
Saturday is **** or bust time for England. The crazy thing is that the way results have gone, Wales, despite winning all 3 games, could be sent packing if England can edge out the Aussies and then the Aussies beat the Welsh. I hope England can do it, our style is better suited to beating Australia than Wales' chances but I have to say, Barrett at 12 does not fill me with confidence. We have to play a very tight, direct, but crucially effective way against Australia. Massive stakes this weekend and there are some big performances required from Captain, Wood at 6, Barrett at 12 and Launchbury in the lineout. Forwards need a mega game this week in set piece and breakdown. Kicking game is something I will highlight as crucial this weekend. In Israel Falau, the Aussies have the most dangerous full back in world rugby. He skinned the Lions and if Farrell or Youngs kick innocuously, it will be goodnight Vienna. Hopefully however, we bully the Aussies in the scrum and lineout and get ourselves over the line any way possible.
I think if we do beat the Aussies, and it is a big if, then the Welsh are in big trouble as from what I seen of them today I wouldn't fancy them stopping the Aussies. Agree with you Toppy about the scrum, we seem to be very dominant in that department, even the Welsh who had a big weight advantage where always on the back foot in scrums against us, so hopefully we can make it count for more this time
I enjoyed watching the Fijians last night, throwing the ball around. I know next to nothing about the tactics in Rugby Union but I will watch the game and cheer us on. Would advise people to watch the Leeds Rhino's V St Helens tonight in the Super League semi-final, should be a cracking game
Big game for us in Oz this weekend City. Brisbane Broncos v NQ Cowboys in the final. First time in NRL history that two Qld teams make the final. Go Brisbane.
Actually, the Australians have turned that major weakness of their's into a genuine strength. Two decent packs. Both can scrummage. It will be a question of interpretation by the ref and that is really Graham Roundtree's job to work out how it will be judged and get it into the players heads. The reason we've been on top in the scrum is that Joe Marler has been scrummaging at an angle and it's not been picked up yet by the ref's. Watch his side on Saturday night. They have a huge advantage at 7 where Pocock is the best player in the world and will absolutely dominate on the floor. To top it off he's a bit of a legend off the field as well if any one can be bothered having a google, you'll see why.
Pocock, Hooper and Fardy are all great at the breakdown. The Wallabies are lucky to have 3 great ball "stealers."
No idea what will happen this weekend but one thing i'm pretty happy about is Burgess as an impact player off the bench. I'd like to see him come on in the final twenty minutes to bully those tired bodies. A fit Burgess may be able to make more line breaks in that situation. I want to see him hand off in the tackle a little more as well. Apart from his substitution, i want to see fewer subs in general. I agree with a lot of the ex pro's who've criticised the number of subs we made a week ago. I'm absolutely happy for England's second string to come on with twenty to go if it's our genuine second string. However, it isn't. Dylan Hartley would be starting if he wasn't such a silly lad so regularly. That make Tom Youngs a great impact player off the bench. Now, we have Rob Webber waddling on with twenty to go and the difference in quality and experience in noticeable. There's plenty of examples where the squad's a little thin past the first 15 and in several cases it's because our best players are injured, suspended or ruled out due to policy. Last point for me. i'm sick to the back teeth of the selection policy re over seas players. Europe's best 7 is sitting on a beach in the South of France when he should be giving Pocock the game of his life.
That selection policy is a load of bollocks in England alright. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face!
Yep, keeping the best players out of the team is crazy. Australia have until this year, been guilty of the same silly policies.
