Tri Nations/Rugby World Cup Thread

[Lee909]

Well the tri nations kicks off it in 30 mins and the world cup follows soon after.

 

Any watching today Australia vs South Africa today?

[Rapey Hugh]

Long may this thread live!! I tried on of these a while ago and it just died after a day or two!

It's gonna be a good game I see S.A winning by 10.

[loadsoftrophies]

I'll try and catch a bit of this. I heard yesterday that South Africa are sending out a B team as all of the first team players are injured.... in other words they're not risking them in the build up to the World cup.

[Lee909]

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom ©, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.

 

Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Pekahou Cowan, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Anthony Fainga'a.

 

South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 John Smit ©, 1 Dean Greyling

 

Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Ryan Kankowski , 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Patrick Lambie

 

.

[Rapey Hugh]

Well I was totally wrong!S.A. had players that should never be even considered. Deans has done well with this Australia team though

[Lee909]

I watch the first half and the start of the second but this S.A side is very poor.

I still think they will come good at the world cup.

[George Costanza]

Australia are imo the only team that can stop NZ winning the world cup. There two major flaws is in the set piece and while the back line is supremely excitng & talented it can blow a bit hot/cold.

 

They won at a canter today albeit against a heavily weakened SA side. Last year SA tried a more expansive game than there usual kicking/terriotry borefest and they struggled. I wonder if they will revert to type for the WC. They really need to get Du Preez & Brussow fully fit.

[Lee909]

I think SA will come good at the world cup.

IMO nobody can stop New Zeland except New Zeland and im sure as normal they will find a way.

[Lee909]

Looks like the Boks are up for another battering this morning.

13-0 20mins gone and Carter has missed both conversions

[Trucker Paddy]

Boks dont seem to be taking this serious, they'd a reserve team out last week, they done the same in 2007, despite there club sides battering all before them in the super 14's, they prioritised the RWC that year and then won it without breaking sweat.

Saying all that there not as strong as 2007

[Lee909]

Seems like they are just making sure the older guys are fully fit and carrying no injuries into the world cup.

 

Jon Smit shouldnt be playing come the world cup,just been slaughtered by a quick change of foot from Corey Jane.

Fuck me Carter has now missed three straight kicks.

[loadsoftrophies]

I heard England are planning to wear black as their new second strip for the World cup, New Zealand are not very happy with this. They'll get some abuse if they have to wear it at anytime over there, not a good idea to have the host country hating your team.

[Lee909]

It has not gone down well at all. I'm surprised would have thought dark blue or red would have been the way to go.

[Lee909]

Pics of the England shirt shown in the press today, really nice but it was really stupid going with black for a world cup in New Zeland.

England bs Wales & Australia bs New Zeland & Scotland bs Ireland this weekend.

Games starting at the same time is annoying.

 

O'Driscoll out for the two games with injury.He is going to be a mess when he retires, he seems to get concussed every game I see him in.

 

 

 

 

Can't wait for the world cup.

[Lee909]

Matt Stevens back for England tomorrow, Tuilagi making his debut aswell.

[Lee909]

Anyone watching

The All blacks are fucking awsome 9 mins gone 10-0 up

[Colonol]

Good match so far.

[Lee909]

The kiwis look awesome.Really solid in defence,taking nearly every chance created.Im beggining to wonder if they will actually win it tis year,the crowd may well drive them on.

[Lee909]

Great game.

The All Black just look immense.

Quad Cooper looks a liability,doesnt want to take a hit,doesnt seem to tackle to well and some of them passes were utter shite and at the hieght of stupidity.

Dan Carter is awesome.

[Trucker Paddy]

Great game.

The All Black just look immense.

Quad Cooper looks a liability,doesnt want to take a hit,doesnt seem to tackle to well and some of them passes were utter shite and at the hieght of stupidity.

Dan Carter is awesome.

 

Carter had two dead certain try saving tackles earlier, really is a super player even without the kicking

[Lee909]

He is a great defender,Wilkinson was similar for England at his peak.Both could take hits and give them out but Carter`s reading of the game is immense,always were he needs to be.

[Colonol]

Carter is immense and would make any team better. The AB's with him are just incredible. So many good players on their team though.

[Welsh]

My sister text me, she's in London and said there are more English people working behind the bar then in the "England" team. Haha, how many so called English people were playing? I missed the game.

[Lee909]

Id need to have a full look but Cueto,Tuilagi,Flutey,Stevens,Corbisiero.Only five out of 15,dont know what nyones complaining about.

Tuilagi looked just what England need.

 

Alot of work to do for both sides and on there showings they will be battered by the Southern Hempishere.

Mind you i need to see the highlights but it sounded like Ireland were a mess,worrying.

[George Costanza]

Great game this morning. Nz's physicality was just immense and then they just turn it on in attack and the points flow. Unless Australia have a blinder on the day.... NZ can only beat themselves.

 

Although they were only warm up games (and the first ones at that) the Northern hemisphere teams have a hell of a lot of improvement to make if they are going to get near Aus or NZ. SA are a bit of an unknown having rested so many for the Tri Nations.

 

Wales always have had exiciting backs but their pack is just far to weak & feeble to compete against the best. They seem to get outmuscled in nearly every game. Ireland's inconsistency continues. On paper a very decent team, they just don't show it often enough or for sustained periods. England seem to have a good overall balance but probably lack absolute top quality in key areas to really stand out.