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.

Bigwavedave said...

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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?

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

sausage said... Still gob smacked that Pat McCabe got the nod over Berrick

Yeah its a tough call that one as I have always thought that Pat is a bit one dimensional in his attacking approach. But maybe that is what is required for todays game - an ability to just run hard and straight and draw some defenders in and then go the quick recycle. The Boks will play it tight I recond and try and play it deep in yr territory knowing that any mistake will give them 3 points via Steyne - he can kick anything from 45m out. McCabe will be strong in defence and we all know how un-creative the Boks are so having a hard nosed defender close to Quade is vital as they will run one or two out from the ruck.

Good luck today. I think that its going to be a close game - Boks by 12 and under - yes I am a hoping as I do not want the AB's to have to play you guys next week if we get through!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Ted the Kiwi said...

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

Yeh Ted, a lot tighter than expected against the Pumas. The AllBlack's injury list is a big concern although I don't think losing Slade will be that bigger loss. Much rather Cruden there or Piri for that matter. At the end of the day though my heart says the Wallabies but my head says Eden Park and the AB's (no matter how injured) is an almost impossible task.

McCabe did answer his critics (including me) with an incredible defensive effort and Deans has been vindicated in some way. I reckon Barnes would be a better choice at 10 against you guys next week but the Quaction man must be made of teflon as sh1t just doesn't stick to him no matter how bad he plays. Bring O'Connor off the wing into second five eight as defensively there aren't too many better and he isn't afraid to hit it up. That kid made some serious yards against the Boks.

Bigwavedave said...

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.

Wallabies changed to their style to suit the ref, Springboks didn't. You always play the ref.

The ref had a shocker, but there has been a lot of whining about the ref costing SA the game which is not true. How a side can have 80% possession and lose is a mystery. It says a lot about the Aussie defence but it also says a lot about the homework the aussies did in terms of shutting down SA's attack and how they didn't adapt for it.

Some of the guys will complain about the forward pass, but just prior to that, 3 south african's dived over the top which wasn't blown. Then there was the cooper forward pass which Habana knocked down and would have been carded for so it goes both ways. The conversion also should have been retaken after the early charge out by South Africa.

Can't really compare against Argentina. They're not the same level as your top 5 sides. Argentina would be lucky to beat Aus/SA/NZ etc for 1 out of 10 games. New Zealand hasn't really had any hard games yet, so we'll only know how good they are in the next game and they've based a lot of their game around Dan Carter so we don't know how that will impact their game.

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.

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

worrier said...

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

I noticed this too. It was a real springboks love-in. There was a lack of impartiality for sure.

worrier said...

but it was almost as if they had a few bucks on SA to win

Most of us wanted them to win as we are not scared of them - they are an aging team with a total lack of creative juices running through them. Steyne is the main danger there. To nullify him you need to stop giving away penalties on yr side of the half way line.....as for you lot......well you have players the whole way across the park who can inflict pain. We would much rather have played them than you for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.