Quade Cooper and his fkn flick passes..... seriously... first one nearly got the camera man... second one found an Irish one..... FARK....
I think you can't just say "beaten by the Irish - how crap are we"... because they played VERY good rugby, totally shut us down, we hardly got a chance to use the backline.... let alone keep possession.... (perhaps the stats reflect this differently, but to me it felt like we hardly had the ball).....
When 1 to 8 play a very tight game the opposition backs only ever get the ball in sh1tty situations or under pressure.
That's exactly what the Irish 8 did. Every time a piggy ran with the ball he had a pod of 2 or 3 right up his arse cleaning out and securing the ball.
By controlling the breakdown the Paddies won the game.
The Wallabies will get crunched by SA or AB forwards when the finals start.
Unless Cliffy is superb. If Cliffy hits his best the Wallabies may have a chance.
What a weekend so far!
Do we think the Wallabies forwards can give the backs a fair go tommorow or will the boks just be too strong?
What a turn around. Always good to see the poms humbled. Tomorrow is a must watch, will be able to watch on Fox
Wallabies to win, have done before can do again. If they don't then that is it, I am officially an All Blacks supporter. Hope David Pocock outplays that animal Schalk Berger.
Two really good games this arvo. Really happy for Wales and great to see Les Bleus get one up over the poms. Very hard to pick next weeks semi between the French and Welsh. If there is such a thing as karma then my money is on Wales for playing some great rugby right through the tournament as opposed to the french (until tonight). James Hook should be back so that's going to help them.
Very excited about tomorrow's games (well the Wallabies v Springboks). NZ will romp it home but I believe whilst Australia will do it tough they will get home in a tight one. Still gob smacked that Pat McCabe got the nod over Berrick and not as surprised but Vickerman running on with Sharpe warming the bench. Deans will be judged for a long time on tomorrow's game especially how effectively he utilises the bench.
Go Wallabies
when cooper spewed one of the side of his boot out on the full from a much needed scrum win in the second half, i couldn't watch it any more. went for a paddle, came back and i'll be darned on the news the wallabies won
Still on a massive high after that - how we came away with it is still beyond me but that is what the world cup is all about. Berrick will be in there next week as I think McCabe will probably be on the plane home tomorrow with his shoulder needing some serious work. Wouldn't be surprised if Cooper gets dropped for Barnes at 10 with O'Connor and two dads (Adam Ashley Cooper) in the centres with Digby and Lachie Turner on the wings. Beale at Fullback is a no brainer unless his injury is serious too.
Forwards not much to change although Kepu looked a little underdone. Vickerman and Horwill played really well but quiet surprised that Sharpe wasn't as effective off the bench. Line outs will need a massive improvement if we are to be competive against the Blacks.
Hey bigwavedave were u watching the same game as I was? We were woeful - ok not as bad as the English and yes we scored more points than the wallies but to say we smashed them is way out of line I reckon. Next weeks result is far from certain. Pocock was awesome and McCAab deserves a big medal - he had an awesome first half. He clearly deserved his spot. We have a massive injury count n that will really show next week. Let's hope the wallies are not equal to the task in front of them otherwise it will be us heading home from our own tourney early
Wallabies got away with hands in the ruck so many times. Ref had a shocker.
I only saw highlights of AB game but I still think Wobblies are in for a lesson.
Cooper was reserve grade and they only won because of McCabe and Pocock were on their game. No McCabe next week. Vickerman actually played well.
I think Arg played really well. And what an honourable speech by their Captain - a real gentlemen. Wish Arg the best for their rugby future, they really made AB's very nervous in the first half. Their forwards and defence were brilliant.
Don't have any nails left after the Bok game... great game, despite errors made, I thought those errors were more than reasonable with the amount of pressure going on. And James O'Connor.... that guys is fkn awesome.... amazing courage.
No complaints with the Welsh Ref - thought he awarded it fairly IMO.
The RWC has not failed to deliver some amazing tight games....
Go Wallabies!!!!
I think on balance the ref was about fair. He missed a bit each way - one Samo incident in front of the posts sticks in my mind. Bloody close game and I also had a good chew of my nails!!!
The AB's struggled against a super duper Argies performance but I wish that the ref had enforced their repeated offside play sooner. Once that got pegged we were away.
Its a big problem all our injuries. Maybe its time we do the Aussie trick and move our fullback Dagg into first five as he has all the skills to play there - runs hard, passers, tackles and can kick. Perfect. Worked with Larken - do not see why t can not work for us as well!!!!!! Although we will never replace Carter as he is just too good - but we do not need to change our style or game plan as both Cruden and Slade play similar games - just not to the same level.
Or as others will say...........
Beale has just been ruled out of the SF due to his hamstring injury. Unlucky - he is a top player and one I enjoy watching.
Wabblies sure didn't deserve to win, but who cares - they did!! WooHoo!!
Don't think I've ever seen the ABs play with so little passion. Very disappointed.
Sure hope both teams get a bit more fire in their bellies for next week.
My money's still on the ABs to take the cup.
Sounds as though McCabe is okay, That is one very hard man. Deans copped a lot of flack and a few must be eating their words. He and fourteen others put up an unrivalled defensive effort.
Cooper was off his game. I don;t really like the picture that the media portray of him, ( having never met the man personally), but if he was as poor in defense as some will have him then the boks would have won. That was a mega team effort.
Next weeks game is going to be a corker! I have a feeling that Wales will beat France so the cup is virtually ours
I was a bit anoyed with the comentators.
Normaly they woulda said something during the game about the huge effort of the aussies getting through so many tackles and keepin the SAFA's out. I know they gotta stay impartial but it was almost as if they had a few bucks on SA to win. They just seemed to bag the Ausssies all game to me. (No probs with baggin cooper from me he deserved it)
Ill watch it sober again sometime and see if it was jusy me or the beers though
W
Do you remember Gordon Bray? The worst of the lot!!!!! Although some of those Super 14 fellas from SA are hard to listen to. I actually did not hear a lot of the commentary as I was watching the game at the Pub and it was so loud it was impossible. Amazing atmosphere. I am sure there was nothing in it!
Here is my fav quote from overnight in the NZ Herald.
..........
Cooper has certainly copped a lot, yet he fronts up, takes the endless questioning in his stride and can spot a humorous opening, pressure and all.
Yesterday, when told Wallaby legend David Campese, the king of maverick footballers, had advised him to be more of a team player, Cooper said: "Coming from a guy like that ..."
This drew a decent laugh from the pack.
Quade Cooper has some magic skills and plays a lot like his boyhood hero
Carlos Spencer Spencer was the same, clever high risk stuff If it comes off its brilliant
if it doesnt well its disaster What is disappointing about Cooper is his lack of sportsmanship with his cheap shots against McCaw in particular
That is why he gets the Boos every time he touches the ball over here
no other reason and its a shame as otherwise he is entertaining
Ted,
Maybe my memory is failing me but I can't recall this level of hype before the 2003 semi-final. This is shaping up as the game of the century and I hope it lives up to expectations. May the best team win.
Incredible to think that Richie's foot is getting the same amount of press as the oil spill off Tauranga (Had a great night in Mt Maunganui recently too)
PS - agree with your Gordon Bray comment. Incredibly annoying. I'm impartial to the Aussie Foxtel team.
