Australia vs Wales RWC Pool A 10th October

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AUSTRALIA v WALES
10 October 2015
KO: 16:45
Twickenham, London

Live on [tbc]

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) & Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

A. Head to Head

38 Played 38
27 Won 10
1 Drawn 1
10 Lost 27
897 Points 590

B. Recent Form

8 November 2014
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
28 – 33 Australia

30 November 2013
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
26 – 30 Australia

1 December 2012
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
12 – 14 Australia

23 June 2012
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
20 – 19 Australia

16 June 2012
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
25 – 23 Australia

9 June 2012
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
27 – 19 Australia

3 December 2011
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
18 – 24 Australia

21 October 2011
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
21 – 18 Australia

TEAMS:

AUSTRALIA

I Folau; A Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, M Giteau, D Mitchell; B Foley, W Genia; S Sio, S Moore, S Kepu; K Douglas, D Mumm; S Fardy, S McMahon, D Pocock.

Replacements: T Polota-Nau, J Slipper, G Holmes, R Simmons, B MCCalman, N Phipps, M Toomua, K Beale.

WALES

G Anscombe; A Cuthbert, G North, J Roberts, L Williams; D Biggar, G Davies; P James, S Baldwin, S Lee; L Charteris, AW Jones; S Warburton, J Tipuric, T Faletau.

Replacements: K Owens, A Jarvis, T Francis, J Ball, R Moriarty, Ll Williams, R Priestland, J Hook.

*************
The pool decider.

Damn those boys in the Canary yellow shirts look good, really good. Going through top of the pool Wales would be likely to meet Japan or Scotland...! Go through second and we meet a refuvinated Bok side.

Fanster wrote:I still don't think this Australia team has a RWC win in them, they havn't played anyone of note for ages, SA were awfull in the RC and backed that up by being beaten by Japan, Argentina mauled them in their own back yard, NZ played a 2's/fringe team v them and probably coulve won the game still, then a dejected and nervy England rolled over.

An injury strewn Wales will be their biggest test this season, and although I think Aus will nick it, I don't see them beating Ireland or NZ, and in fact Scotland and Argentina are prepped well to deal with them IMHO.

Astralia and France are looking good in very lucky situations, neither have been tested thus far, but we will get a better painting of what they are about after this weekend.

Quick question, if Wales eak out a win, any type of win this weekend will they become 2nd favourites to win the RWC out right?

I don't disagree with your conclusion, but we struggled with SA, flogged the Pumas in Arg and beat a near full strength NZ (no Nonu and Whitelock on bench) in Sydney. I'm not buying the favourites hype but the Wallys legitimately won the games they have won.

Australia look strong and confident across the board and its great to see as they play the game in a way the purists amongst us love - They're not unbeatable however.

Not unbeatable like the media is trying to hype them up to be; but wins over SA, NZ and England aren't to be sniffed at. Thankfully Gatland has a special plan, hence the changes to our team .

Far from it. If we don't put out a good performance tomorrow I'd think last week was just a bit of a fluke. Really good tomorrow and I'll start to believe Cheika's fairy dust has transferred to international level.

You've won a rugby championship under Cheika, so I think we can assume he has the capabilities!

Chieka has his flaws

boomeranga wrote:

Fanster wrote:I still don't think this Australia team has a RWC win in them, they havn't played anyone of note for ages, SA were awfull in the RC and backed that up by being beaten by Japan, Argentina mauled them in their own back yard, NZ played a 2's/fringe team v them and probably coulve won the game still, then a dejected and nervy England rolled over.

An injury strewn Wales will be their biggest test this season, and although I think Aus will nick it, I don't see them beating Ireland or NZ, and in fact Scotland and Argentina are prepped well to deal with them IMHO.

Astralia and France are looking good in very lucky situations, neither have been tested thus far, but we will get a better painting of what they are about after this weekend.

Quick question, if Wales eak out a win, any type of win this weekend will they become 2nd favourites to win the RWC out right?

I don't disagree with your conclusion, but we struggled with SA, flogged the Pumas in Arg and beat a near full strength NZ (no Nonu and Whitelock on bench) in Sydney.  I'm not buying the favourites hype but the Wallys legitimately won the games they have won.

A 41-13 response at the hands of the All blacks though kinda puts the first result in perspective.

Like I said earlier, I wouldn't discount them, they are favs tomorrow for a reason, but until now I have seen nothing to make me think they have a RWC winners trophy in camp, I however maybe 100% wrong, as is life sometimes, but I will need to see them beat someone playing well. Realistically they could reach the semi's without had a game to speak of whatsoever, how much would the English media love that, going out in the group stage to the best team ever to grace a rugby pitch lol

mikey_dragon wrote:You've one a rugby championship under Cheika, so I think we can assume he has the capabilities!

Sure. We can all assume that.

All that's left for him to do is to somehow convince Fanster. That is Cheika's next big challenge.

eden Park was a flogging. They were all very worked up that week which was good in itself.

boomeranga wrote:Far from it.  If we don't put out a good performance tomorrow I'd think last week was just a bit of a fluke.  Really good tomorrow and I'll start to believe Cheika's fairy dust has transferred to international level.

Agree with this. Last week's performance was solid, without being the complete performance many are claiming it to be. They were under serious pressure and making mistakes in the  15-20 min before Farrell was yellowed. Had he stayed on I think we could possibly have seen tomorrows game as being a straight knock-out.
Either team will have a realistic shot at getting to the final. The problem for both though, is that they both have a very difficult run. 5 consecutive tough games for Australia and 4 for an injury-plagued Wales if either are to win the whole thing. Not sure if any team can keep up the intensity needed to do that.

The Loaded Dog wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:You've one a rugby championship under Cheika, so I think we can assume he has the capabilities!

Sure. We can all assume that.

All that's left for him to do is to somehow convince Fanster. That is Cheika's next big challenge.

I hope he likes impossible challenges then...

The Loaded Dog wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:You've one a rugby championship under Cheika, so I think we can assume he has the capabilities!

Sure. We can all assume that.

All that's left for him to do is to somehow convince Fanster. That is Cheika's next big challenge.

Theres no need to let insecurities to get the better of you.

Australia have played well so far, and go into their toughest game against an injury strewn Wales with their tales up, and a massive media push...

Similarly I was hearing the exact same thing with England going into the Wales game, so forgive me if media hype and opinion on here isn't going to make me hand over the WWE right now.

Fanster wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:You've one a rugby championship under Cheika, so I think we can assume he has the capabilities!

Sure. We can all assume that.

All that's left for him to do is to somehow convince Fanster. That is Cheika's next big challenge.

Theres no need to let insecurities to get the better of you.

Australia have played well so far, and go into their toughest game against an injury strewn Wales with their tales up, and a massive media push...

Similarly I was hearing the exact same thing with England going into the Wales game, so forgive me if media hype and opinion on here isn't going to make me hand over the WWE right now.

'outta nowhere...

RubyGuby wrote:Chieka has his flaws

He can be crankier than a bag of cats.

Two flawed geniuses at work then. (Gatland/Cheika). We're blessed to live in their time.... God help the dressing room bills though.

Fanster wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:You've one a rugby championship under Cheika, so I think we can assume he has the capabilities!

Sure. We can all assume that.

All that's left for him to do is to somehow convince Fanster. That is Cheika's next big challenge.

Theres no need to let insecurities to get the better of you.

Australia have played well so far, and go into their toughest game against an injury strewn Wales with their tales up, and a massive media push...

Similarly I was hearing the exact same thing with England going into the Wales game, so forgive me if media hype and opinion on here isn't going to make me hand over the WWE right now.

Stop telling tales!
You obviously have more exposure to the media barrage than we do since Cheika banned all media coverage here.
I wouldn't take their hype so personally if I were you. It's not WWE after all, is it?

The media hype for Aus was based on how they had played in the last couple of months - the media hype on England was based on how they were gonna play in the RWC - I always like to look for the evidence before making a judgement otherwise it becomes pure conjecture or hope as some might like to call it.

The Loaded Dog wrote:

Fanster wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:You've one a rugby championship under Cheika, so I think we can assume he has the capabilities!

Sure. We can all assume that.

All that's left for him to do is to somehow convince Fanster. That is Cheika's next big challenge.

Theres no need to let insecurities to get the better of you.

Australia have played well so far, and go into their toughest game against an injury strewn Wales with their tales up, and a massive media push...

Similarly I was hearing the exact same thing with England going into the Wales game, so forgive me if media hype and opinion on here isn't going to make me hand over the WWE right now.

Stop telling tales!
You obviously have more exposure to the media barrage than we do since Cheika banned all media coverage here.
I wouldn't take their hype so personally if I were you. It's not WWE after all, is it?

Cheika has banned media coverage where? Does he have the power to control the media in an entire country, or did the Aus media decide to boycott the RWC due to online rights to highlights etc?

As someone else just mentioned, i'll keep my opinion based on what I've seen, not on what the media tells me!

Mikey - You may be the only one here young enough to know an 'outta nowhere' joke... RKO!

It was part of Chieka's contract that he'd pretty much control domestic Australian coverage of the event from England.
He's meticulous and that's why the Government agreed to the coup d'état takeover.

If a government agrees, does it qualify as a coup d'état?

Then why were the Australian media negotiating rights with World Rugby / RFU / ITv (not sure who it was they threw the hissy fit with)...

At no point in no way can anyone control the media, within certain contexts maybe, but do I beleive the ARU have the power to negotiate with the gov, and tell Cheika he can do what he wants with media coverage? No chance! would it be a coup d' etat in that case?

Pre tournament the Australian news.com.au, Sydney Herald and Herald sun all said they would boycot RWC coverage because they weren't alowed full access to highlights package etc.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:If a government agrees, does it qualify as a coup d'état?

A Government always 'agrees'........... a coup d'état is a gun telling you to agree. There is never a choice.

Fanster wrote:Then why were the Australian media negotiating rights with World Rugby / RFU / ITv (not sure who it was they threw the hissy fit with)...

At no point in no way can anyone control the media, within certain contexts maybe, but do I beleive the ARU have the power to negotiate with the gov, and  tell Cheika he can do what he wants with media coverage? No chance! would it be a coup d' etat in that case?

Pre tournament the Australian news.com.au, Sydney Herald and Herald sun all said they would boycot RWC coverage because they weren't alowed full access to highlights package etc.

Well that one didn't boycott (is as much as I think I've been reading it over the course) so the threat was a bluff?

SecretFly wrote:

Fanster wrote:Then why were the Australian media negotiating rights with World Rugby / RFU / ITv (not sure who it was they threw the hissy fit with)...

At no point in no way can anyone control the media, within certain contexts maybe, but do I beleive the ARU have the power to negotiate with the gov, and  tell Cheika he can do what he wants with media coverage? No chance! would it be a coup d' etat in that case?

Pre tournament the Australian news.com.au, Sydney Herald and Herald sun all said they would boycot RWC coverage because they weren't alowed full access to highlights package etc.

Well that one didn't boycott (is as much as I think I've been reading it over the course) so the threat was a bluff?

TBH after writing that i'm not 100% sure if they went through with the boycott either, I just struggle to beleive the Aus government would allow the ARU the power to give Cheika dictatorship over media coverage of an international event...

Just a joke mate.

I was alluding to the contrast between the full in-your-face media coverage that you have over there (and which obviously makes you get very tetchy... thereby fulfilling the media's objective of stirring the likes of people such as yourself up!!) compared to our more relaxed, laissez faire style of media coverage over here.

The is no media ban in Australia whatsoever. Talk about being insecure. Too easy.  l*l

I think there are a lot of open wounds on here at the moment Dog and satire is going over most people's heads . I nearly wet myself with one Irish poster today, thankfully he saw the funny side

Quite funny reading back.
Some people take things too seriously on here and get themselves into a tangle for nothing. Everyone's a phucking expert it seems.
Nice day here... better to do some work out the back before it gets too hot.

Good luck tomorrow Dog your team are playing some great rugby

Good luck to you too Ruby. Should be a classic either way.

This could be one of the epic unforgettable games that go down in rugby World Cup folklore.

Australia have been superb in their attacking flair, set piece and their control. Wales, blighted by injury have a dogged determination that gave us two fantastic wins over the Irish and a phenomenal performance to best England.

Good luck wallabies, I hope to see you play some spectacular rugby. Wales o hope you continue to do us proud.

2 fit looking teams.
If this game is anything like the last match then we're in for a treat.

hate to say it as i want wales to win but i cant see past a aus win

hands in the scrum?

looking good for Wales so far , oz look nervous

"Genia looking right back to his best"

No he hasn't, he's looked pedestrian and off the pace. Same as he has for the last 2/3 years.

Wales doing well at clearing out, something England were Poopie at

The was on the floor and clearly available. Then Charteris climbed over it to trap it in there. All clearly visible to the ref. Would have though penalty to Australia.

Wales really keeping Foley out of the game so far. If he gets in the game then its good night Wales.

HammerofThunor wrote:The was on the floor and clearly available. Then Charteris climbed over it to trap it in there. All clearly visible to the ref. Would have though penalty to Australia.

That's what I thought too

This has got a quarter/semi final feel about it. Oz have had a nervous start.
All territory and possession to Wales thus far.

Can we get the ref to blow for full time now? That's enough surely...

this is a pretty physical game, hopefully there are no injuries

mckay1402 wrote:Can we get the ref to blow for full time now?   That's enough surely...

Pretty harsh that whoever loses this gets south Africa in the next game

Wales need to start hooking on their own ball and getting out quicker, they are just under too much pressure to hook. Maybe G.Davies should stop feeding it so straight!

Moore straight in at the side there

Biggar is a bit of a drama queen isn't he?

ebop wrote:Biggar is a bit of a drama queen isn't he?

He comes across as a prize tool tbh. He's always whinging and complaining, such an unlikable character on the rugby field. Good fly half though.

Yeah, great with the boot, but always asking for yellow cards.

How the hell was Australia not done for changing lanes then?

eirebilly wrote:How the hell was Australia not done for changing lanes then?

Yeah, I thought that.