Author Topic: Australia 14 - 25 England (Read 369 times)

Pei · « **on:** June 21, 2003, 10:32:11 AM »

The Wallabies got smacked around up front: the England pack secured a huge amount of ball and territory. The Wallabies were on the back front on virtually every scrum, Kyran Bracken was all over Georgie Gregan and Taitai Kefu like a cheap shirt and they lost 4 lineouts against the throw in. The England game plan was obviously to let the big forwards bang the ball up the middle and suck in defenders and it seemed to work pretty well. Steve Thompson's lineout throw ins finally matched his ability with the ball in hand and both Johnson and Kay were fantastic in the lineout and the loose.
George Gregan and Nathan Gray were rarely given time to make use of the ball well. Lyons looked good with the ball in hand and got a couple of good breaks as did the number 4 (can't remember his name). Wendell Sailor had a good game but I'd still pick Lote Tiquiri ahead of him as he has much better alround ability (and has better manueverability). The Aussies were definitely missing George Smith's ability to secure the ball and disrupt the opposition. I cannot understand why the ball was passed to Taitai Kefu so much (not that he isn't a great player): It became so predicatable and while he is good with the ball in hand he got folded up by the England forwards on virtually every occasion. A better idea would have been to pass it out wide and try and stretch the England defence.
The England back row turned over a lot of ball and were generally massive both in defense and on the hoof (especially Lawrence Dellaglio). Johnny "I can only kick (c) the Aussie press" Wilkinson's mazy running and dummies might have only produced half breaks but it kept Gray and the Aussie back row pinned in the midfield, which ultimately led to 2 tries.

Still it is early days for the Aussie World Cup build up while England has to maintain form for another 3 months. And of course this is the first time we have one down here for 40 years.

Oh and by the way David Campese can go F*** himself

Aussies big worries: the front row, inability to secure and protect the ball.
England big worries: knocking on a ridiculous number of times, consistancy.

Curval · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2003, 10:39:45 AM »

Rugby Pei? People still care about Rugby?

Every year we have the World Rugby Classic here on the island. The teams are all comprised of former top players from each country.

Most of them have to be sponsored and live in peoples houses 'cause they can't afford a hotel.

Rugby is big here...but only with a certain segment of the population. If you aren't a "rugger" then to those people you just aren't cool. They have a clique of followers who we refer to as "rugger wannabies", and a few women who only date rugy players. They all seem to enjoy it, which is great. But they just don't understand why the rest of us don't worship them.

Pei · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2003, 10:43:38 AM »

Since rugby went pro it has gone from strength to strength. The classics in Bermuda have little bearing on modern internationals. You have not experienced sport until you have been at Twickenham with 70, 000 Englishmen singing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" (with actions) or Loftus Versfeldt with the Lions fans singing "Bread of Heaven" so loud they can here it 5 miles away.

Pei · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2003, 10:44:42 AM »

Oh and by the way

RUGBY IS LIFE!

Curval · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2003, 10:50:14 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pei
You have not experienced sport until you have been at Twickenham with 70, 000 Englishmen singing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" (with actions) or Loftus Versfeldt with the Lions fans singing "Bread of Heaven" so loud they can here it 5 miles away.

I've been to Twickenham many times.

Sorry, but forty thousnand signing "What a load of bananas" (with the accompanying hand movements) at the Tottenham visiting fans at Highbury, followed by "Five nil, five nil, five nil, five nil...etc etc" is a much better life experience.

Curval · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2003, 10:53:19 AM »

...and while the Classics may not compare to a modern international game inevitably those same guys end up here...missing teeth, bad knees, bad joints and all. Based on their drinking abilities it seems that alcohol must be what they spent all those millions on during their "careers".

Dowding · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2003, 12:32:06 PM »

England is the undisputed king of Rugby right now. Bring on the WC!

Pei · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2003, 08:04:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval
...and while the Classics may not compare to a modern international game inevitably those same guys end up here...missing teeth, bad knees, bad joints and all. Based on their drinking abilities it seems that alcohol must be what they spent all those millions on during their "careers".

Well for a start until 94 they didn't earn any money - most of the guys at the classics were never proffessional: when they played it was a strictly amateur sport. And while many of them were excellent players they wouldn't last 5 minutes against a modern side.

Modern rugby has reached a level of skill and intensity that wasn't possible back in the amateur days, and the atmosphere at a big game reflects it, as does the growth in spectator numbers.

I'll leave you to your Tottenham fans chanting "banana". I've never been much of a football fan but my brother is a Spurs fan so he would probably agree with you. Having been to a couple of big EPL games I can't see how it can compare to England vs France or England vs Australia at Twickenham, unless it is a cup final or a League clincher.

Pei · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2003, 08:06:07 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dowding
England is the undisputed king of Rugby right now. Bring on the WC!

I think that England have a long way to go yet. The Southern Hemisphere teams are only just gettijng into their stride. Things will be much tougher after the Tri-nations.

-tronski- · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2003, 12:32:08 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pei
I think that England have a long way to go yet. The Southern Hemisphere teams are only just gettijng into their stride. Things will be much tougher after the Tri-nations.

The southern teams are justing getting their act together...the super 12's, plus the Tri-nations will sort them out real fast.
Tri nations is the pinnacle of Rugby, I've been to every australian game from the last game at the MCG on, and nothings better.

Missed the aussie game, but did manage to catch most of the Blacks/Wales game on Foxsports ...that was the prime example of a team being completely monstered!

Tronsky

Furball · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2003, 07:55:11 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval
I've been to Twickenham many times.

Sorry, but forty thousnand signing "What a load of bananas" (with the accompanying hand movements) at the Tottenham visiting fans at Highbury, followed by "Five nil, five nil, five nil, five nil...etc etc" is a much better life experience.

haha i second that!

Also Martin Johnson was immense