Whitewash or Backlash - Austrlia v England, 3rd Test

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AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND
25 June 2016
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live on [Sky Sports]

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
A. Head to Head

46 Played 46
25 Won 20
1 Drawn 1
20 Lost 25
975 Points 736

B. Recent Form

18 June 2016 - AAMI, Melbourne: Australia 7-23 England

11 June 2016 - Suncorp, Brisbane: Australia 28–39 England

3 October 2015 - Twickenham, London: 13 – 33 to Australia

29 November 2014 - Twickenham, London: 26 – 17 to England

2 November 2013 - Twickenham, London: 20 – 13 to England

17 November 2012 - Twickenham, London: 14 – 20 to Australia

13 November 2010 - Twickenham, London: 35 – 18 to England

19 June 2010 - Telstra Stadium, Sydney: 20 – 21 to England



C. Teams

AUSTRALIA 


1. James Slipper – Reds (76 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) – Brumbies (104 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu – Waratahs (65 Tests)
4. Will Skelton – Waratahs (14 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons – Reds (61 Tests)
6. Scott Fardy – Brumbies (32 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (vc) – Waratahs (53 Tests)
8. Sean McMahon – Rebels (8 Tests)
9. Nick Phipps – Waratahs (41 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley – Waratahs (29 Tests)
11. Rob Horne (vc)  – Waratahs (31 Tests)
12. Matt Toomua – Brumbies (31 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani – Brumbies (33 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty – Western Force (2 Tests)
15. Israel Folau – Waratahs (40 Tests)

Replacements (One to be omitted)

Tatafu Polota-Nau – Waratahs (63 Tests)
Scott Sio – Brumbies (17 Tests)
Greg Holmes – Reds (25 Tests)
Adam Coleman (Uncapped)
Dean Mumm – Waratahs (46 Tests)
Wycliff Palu – Waratahs (57 Tests)
Nick Frisby – Reds (2 Tests)
Christian Leali’ifano – Brumbies (17 Tests)
Taqele Naiyaravoro – Waratahs (1 Test)



ENGLAND


15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 51 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 23 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 24 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 42 caps)
11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 16 caps)
10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 24 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 60 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 34 caps)
2. Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 74 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 64 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 6 caps)
5. George Kruis (Saracens, 17 caps)
6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 50 caps)
7. Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 28 caps)

Replacements

16. Jamie George (Saracens, 7 caps)
17. Matt Mullan (Wasps 12 caps)
18. Paul Hill (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
19. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 34 caps)
20. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 48 caps)
21. Jack Clifford (Harlequins, 7 caps)
22. Danny Care (Harlequins, 61 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Wasps, 4 caps)

Go easy Cyril. It's only a game...or three.

He's had this coming for a while Fly. Let's just call it karma

I'll certainly be watching the match tomorrow but, in the light of the referendum result, it doesn't seem quite such an important part of my life.

I'm happy to concede that I'm just probably just wallowing, but I wonder whether it might be also be a distraction for the players.

Itoje tweeted support for Remain and Jonathan Joseph tweeted that he was thinking of staying in Australia on hearing the result. Good professionals can refocus quickly but it'll be hard to put any thoughts of the future completely to one side.

Read a tweet this morning from someone who said that the players were running through their drills discussing the consequences of the vote!

Very odd situation for all, but I'd think they will handle it well

BamBam wrote:

yappysnap wrote:I've heard it bandied about a lot, but just what the heck is bodyline??

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyline

Comes from an England cricket tactic to try and nullify Don Bradman (an apparently famous cricket player )

I see what you did there...

Just pulling your leg yappy

Gooseberry wrote:

Notch wrote: I remember Cheika won a Heineken Cup with Leinster playing a lot more 'dull' rugby than England play so he's clearly deflecting here, but do people in Australia really lap this up?

Its hardly just the Aussies is it? This sort of thing has been levelled at every NH side in the last few decades regardless of whther they are winning or not....and to England by the rest of the NH whenever they win a game (moral victors etc.)
Kick chase is perhaps slightly nicer than up the jumper 10 man rugby I guess.

Someone should remind him that its called "footy" because rugby is a football (ie kicking) game at heart.

As for the Aussie media it does seem to have stayed fairly loyal to the team so far, seeking to lay the blame on refereeing, Englands tactics and the existance of NRL ratehr than going full on for their own team and coach like the British press would.

All that said thoug Jones has delibertaely tried to stoke the media fire, and wanted this to be a series with needle and traded insults. The mention of bodyline at the start made it clear he was quite happy to come along and upset people, England were never on a mission to win friends.
And Cheika has taken stick for not passively letting Jones control the headlines and undermine his team. So hitting back, even limply like this, is hardly a surprise.

Pedant alert......I read some where recently that the football codes are so named as they're played on foot as opposed to horseback, such as polo etc.

I'm guessing a backlash, i think England will be mentally and physically drained. I'm going for Australia by 15.

Having said that, I've been proved wrong for the last two games

nathan wrote:I'm guessing a backlash, i think England will be mentally and physically drained. I'm going for Australia by 15.

Having said that, I've been proved wrong for the last two games

That I believe is the sensible analysis, however it really depends on Ozy's approach. Has their confidence been knocked and will the big bopper and 2nd play maker replacements have the expected impact given they're both returning from injury?

I think it will be close for 50/60 minutes and then Australia will pull away

Is Owens the ref? I expect us to have a boat load of penalties against us

If Australia completely batter us, how much of a knock do you think that would be to confidence? A series win is massive but will it be like a missed grand slam but championship win?

HammerofThunor wrote:If Australia completely batter us, how much of a knock do you think that would be to confidence? A series win is massive but will it be like a missed grand slam but championship win?

It will certainly knock confidence but I'm happy with the progress of the team. Hope we show a bit more of our attacking game today.

Mon england

nathan wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:If Australia completely batter us, how much of a knock do you think that would be to confidence? A series win is massive but will it be like a missed grand slam but championship win?

It will certainly knock confidence but I'm happy with the progress of the team. Hope we show a bit more of our attacking game today.

A series win is an excellent achievement, win or loss today. I really hope England get the whitewash, quality team under Jones.

nathan wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:If Australia completely batter us, how much of a knock do you think that would be to confidence? A series win is massive but will it be like a missed grand slam but championship win?

It will certainly knock confidence but I'm happy with the progress of the team. Hope we show a bit more of our attacking game today.

Definitely. I was thinking more the players. But it could be another motivator anyway.

cmon england. ordinarily i think we would do this. but brexit may claim its first victim. must have been a distraction.

fantastic test for england's focus and application though.

cmon england

What a start. Great try.

I know he doesn't get much praise on here but i think youngs has had a great start

impressive. youngs great i agree.

Australia defence not looking that cohesive. Rare try from Dan Cole naturally from a props range.

As I said before the first test, England are simply a better team. Quality try that.

great variety of pick and drive and spreading it wide. very hard to defend against teams that do both well. fingers crossed it continues

England off to a great start

You could see that try was coming.

But of course the Aussies have hit back immediately ...pending video check...

That pace was too much for England.

When they have lifted it like this they have opened us up.

I do fear this will be about backlash.  Done so well to win the series but Aussie will be out to stuff them and it might be a game too far.

Nowell cant be missing tackles like that!!!!

Treb, thought for a second I had gone on the first test thread by accident.

trebellbobaggins wrote:That pace was too much for England.

When the have lifted it like this they have opened us up.

I do fear this will be about backlash.  Done so well to win the series but Aussie will be out to stuff them and it might be a game too far.

Starting the witchcraft early today , Trebs

Reckon this will be a good game...not predicting result.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Nowell cant be missing tackles like that!!!!

Owens put his arm out for England advantage so I don't think they were trying their hardest. Which was a mistake of course.

Looked to me like falou was in front when it came of ozzy leg

Aussie win, being serious I do think a 10-15 point win. They need it and England may fade.

We're missing a lot of tackles, can't see this is going well

England need to regroup

ANd too many tackles going a miss!!

Nowell either being targeted or he's just missing them

Barnes sounding worried. Says Aussie clearly a different animal today.

Oh dear.  The number 12 is opening their backline and they are destroying us.

It's been an utterly Poopie weekend with this Brexit so this was always going to happen I guess.

I wonder if Nowell is quite right? He's usually impeccable defensively, and was being assessed for a head knock for half the week

Harrison's defence has been a bit rubbish in defence so far

After that first ten minutes the Aussies have rather taken over. Still only a five point lead : it was ten about now in Brisbane...

England need to smarten up though.

HammerofThunor wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Nowell cant be missing tackles like that!!!!

Owens put his arm out for England advantage so I don't think they were trying their hardest. Which was a mistake of course.

How can Owens put his arm out signalling an advantage to England and then just carry on - I know you should play to the whistle but the ref shouldn't give dodgy signals that confuse teams

.

Throwing away our points right away. Very silly.

It is good to see them attacking and using the ball. Clearly Aussie won't be stopped in full flight so England must try to use what they get.

Excellent play from Watson

Set up Brown nicely and back in front

Harrison off for Lawes

Jones is ruthless

Lawes on for Harrison. Guessing Robshaw to 7, Itoje to 6 and Lawes to 4

Harrison off Lawes on

Why did Harrison go off, blood?

I see Oz adopting the old AB tactic of going way beyond the ruck and 'clearing out' players that haven't even got to the ruck - even after the ball has gone.

Harrison should have worn a red scrum cap!