Summer Rugby International Tours
Discussion
Satisfying to see Australia outplayed on the field and out thought off it in their own backyard.
You have to take your hat off to Eddie Jones for what he's done in such a short space of time. I dared to dream England could win the series but realistically thought they'd do well to win a game. Saturday's conditions showed in rugby when called for it's best not to have the ball Australia brought the same game plan as the first test, England were bloody streetwise in this game, didn't commit men to the ruck and just concentrated on the defensive press which shut the Aus 10 down.
EJ's masterstroke was gambling on leaving emptying the bench. Aus started with theirs on around the 50 odd minute mark, I thought our forwards would be dead on their feet and was wishing he'd bring some fresh legs on earlier.
Australia will be wondering where they go from here. They have a plan A and no plan B, it's just keep trying plan A. So so naive, they played it like a Super Rugby game. Foley isn't a great place kicker but they turned down sooo many 3 pointers.
Their forwards got bullied (great to see) They lacked some beef in the forwards particularly in the back row. Pocock injured so they brought in another 7 to play at 8. Hooper is a great player but I'm seeing him as a luxury player more and more, he plays like a back, tackles well and is good over the ball but when you've got a work rate 6 and light weight 8 on the pitch you can't afford to have a little fella at 7.
I think the Aus cupboard must be bare. They went for a bosh 12 and have no Matt Giteau waiting in the wings to come in as a high quality play maker at 12.
Hope for a 3-0 whitewash for the cherry on top.
You have to take your hat off to Eddie Jones for what he's done in such a short space of time. I dared to dream England could win the series but realistically thought they'd do well to win a game. Saturday's conditions showed in rugby when called for it's best not to have the ball Australia brought the same game plan as the first test, England were bloody streetwise in this game, didn't commit men to the ruck and just concentrated on the defensive press which shut the Aus 10 down.
EJ's masterstroke was gambling on leaving emptying the bench. Aus started with theirs on around the 50 odd minute mark, I thought our forwards would be dead on their feet and was wishing he'd bring some fresh legs on earlier.
Australia will be wondering where they go from here. They have a plan A and no plan B, it's just keep trying plan A. So so naive, they played it like a Super Rugby game. Foley isn't a great place kicker but they turned down sooo many 3 pointers.
Their forwards got bullied (great to see) They lacked some beef in the forwards particularly in the back row. Pocock injured so they brought in another 7 to play at 8. Hooper is a great player but I'm seeing him as a luxury player more and more, he plays like a back, tackles well and is good over the ball but when you've got a work rate 6 and light weight 8 on the pitch you can't afford to have a little fella at 7.
I think the Aus cupboard must be bare. They went for a bosh 12 and have no Matt Giteau waiting in the wings to come in as a high quality play maker at 12.
Hope for a 3-0 whitewash for the cherry on top.
irocfan said:
well the Hask is out - his replacement is Taimana Harrison (with "Jack Clifford to finish", according to EJ)
Would have been nice to see Clifford to get a start however when he played in the Wales game he didn't appear to do all that much 'graft' so Harrison is a more like for like replacement.Haskell has been immense.
spikeyhead said:
That's not what anyone would have predicted before the tour.
A great performance. Massive in many ways.However, I've seen Harrison play a few times, he is pretty special too. The Wallabies will be in for a long bruising afternoon if him and Billy keep the ball in hand!
England's pack is turning into something pretty special.
Missing Haskell but you have the sense that they haven't really found their pattern to playing without him yet. Massive game though - the intensity is relentless. And as expected the Australians are playing as if their lives depended on it. A couple of defensive lapses from England have cost them.
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