England V NZ & Wales V Oz - Thoughts?
Discussion
So the final round of the autumn international is upon us, none of the home nations has shown anything yet, will this weekend be different?
Fixtures/Predictions:
England v New Zealand
Where do we start with this one? I don't think NZ will run away with this like SA did but I can't see England scoring much apart from the odd penalty, Wales threw the kitchen sink at them for 40 mins and only came away with 9 points! Can the England defence keep the marauding ABs out? Eng 9 NZ 26.
Wales v Australia
Should be a very close game, we on this side of the border see this as our 'easy' game following SA and NZ but time has shown again and again; never write the Aussies off! They are as stubborn as they come and simply don't know when to throw in the towel, they will play for the full 80 and are very streetwise. Wales 19 Aus 16
Thoughts?
Fixtures/Predictions:
England v New Zealand
Where do we start with this one? I don't think NZ will run away with this like SA did but I can't see England scoring much apart from the odd penalty, Wales threw the kitchen sink at them for 40 mins and only came away with 9 points! Can the England defence keep the marauding ABs out? Eng 9 NZ 26.
Wales v Australia
Should be a very close game, we on this side of the border see this as our 'easy' game following SA and NZ but time has shown again and again; never write the Aussies off! They are as stubborn as they come and simply don't know when to throw in the towel, they will play for the full 80 and are very streetwise. Wales 19 Aus 16
Thoughts?
disco1 said:
So the final round of the autumn international is upon us, none of the home nations has shown anything yet, will this weekend be different?
Fixtures/Predictions:
England v New Zealand
Where do we start with this one? I don't think NZ will run away with this like SA did but I can't see England scoring much apart from the odd penalty, Wales threw the kitchen sink at them for 40 mins and only came away with 9 points! Can the England defence keep the marauding ABs out? Eng 9 NZ 26.
Wales v Australia
Should be a very close game, we on this side of the border see this as our 'easy' game following SA and NZ but time has shown again and again; never write the Aussies off! They are as stubborn as they come and simply don't know when to throw in the towel, they will play for the full 80 and are very streetwise. Wales 19 Aus 16
Thoughts?
I reckon you're pretty close with the Wales v Oz score prediction. Wales will win I'm sure.Fixtures/Predictions:
England v New Zealand
Where do we start with this one? I don't think NZ will run away with this like SA did but I can't see England scoring much apart from the odd penalty, Wales threw the kitchen sink at them for 40 mins and only came away with 9 points! Can the England defence keep the marauding ABs out? Eng 9 NZ 26.
Wales v Australia
Should be a very close game, we on this side of the border see this as our 'easy' game following SA and NZ but time has shown again and again; never write the Aussies off! They are as stubborn as they come and simply don't know when to throw in the towel, they will play for the full 80 and are very streetwise. Wales 19 Aus 16
Thoughts?
I think England could get trounced by NZ. I haven't seen any sign of an England game plan yet, and doubt they will have one in this game. England 9 NZ 45.
England v New Zealand
The bad news for England is that NZ are a noticably better side than SA. The good news is that they can't possibly play as badly again as they did last week. England 6 New Zealand 33
Wales v Australia
I think a lot of people see this as the "easy" game of the big 3, but that ignores the significant strides forward that Oz have made since Robbie Deans took over. However, Wales are well capable of beating them at home if they play at or near their potential, even with the current injury problems. Apparently Wales can move up to 4th place in the world rankings if we win by 15 points or more on Saturday (this is significant because the world cup draw happens next week and the top four will go into seperate pools, so the 4th placed team will not meet SA, NZ or Australia in the group stages). I can't realistically see us winning by that margin, but if we play as I expect us to, I'd expect a narrow victory. Wales 18 Australia 15
The bad news for England is that NZ are a noticably better side than SA. The good news is that they can't possibly play as badly again as they did last week. England 6 New Zealand 33
Wales v Australia
I think a lot of people see this as the "easy" game of the big 3, but that ignores the significant strides forward that Oz have made since Robbie Deans took over. However, Wales are well capable of beating them at home if they play at or near their potential, even with the current injury problems. Apparently Wales can move up to 4th place in the world rankings if we win by 15 points or more on Saturday (this is significant because the world cup draw happens next week and the top four will go into seperate pools, so the 4th placed team will not meet SA, NZ or Australia in the group stages). I can't realistically see us winning by that margin, but if we play as I expect us to, I'd expect a narrow victory. Wales 18 Australia 15
TheGreatSoprendo said:
However, Wales are well capable of beating them at home if they play at or near their potential, even with the current injury problems. Apparently Wales can move up to 4th place in the world rankings if we win by 15 points or more on Saturday (this is significant because the world cup draw happens next week and the top four will go into seperate pools, so the 4th placed team will not meet SA, NZ or Australia in the group stages). I can't realistically see us winning by that margin, but if we play as I expect us to, I'd expect a narrow victory. Wales 18 Australia 15
This is very true! Would mean we actually have a chance of getting out of the pool stages 
A 15 point margin is possible but unlikely, as I mentioned, the Aussies are very streetwise and will fight tooth and nail to the whistle.
I just hope we stop kicking away possession, I'd rather we play through the phases than allow the opposition to run it back at us. The ELVs were supposed to get rid of terrible aerial ping pong.
Is it on terrestrial TV? Or freeview?
I've missed all the matches so far and am gutted. I miss top flight rugby!
ETA - I agree with the general consensus, England will get stuffed and I think Wales will scrape it. But I hope that Wales get to move up to the top 4 in the World, what a moment that would be and what a turn around in recent years Welsh rugby has seen. Good on 'em.
I've missed all the matches so far and am gutted. I miss top flight rugby!
ETA - I agree with the general consensus, England will get stuffed and I think Wales will scrape it. But I hope that Wales get to move up to the top 4 in the World, what a moment that would be and what a turn around in recent years Welsh rugby has seen. Good on 'em.
Edited by nakedninja on Thursday 27th November 14:30
nakedninja said:
Is it on terrestrial TV? Or freeview?
I've missed all the matches so far and am gutted. I miss top flight rugby!
ETA - I agree with the general consensus, England will get stuffed and I think Wales will scrape it. But I hope that Wales get to move up to the top 4 in the World, what a moment that would be and what a turn around in recent years Welsh rugby has seen. Good on 'em.
Wales game is on BBC and England are on Sky. Both 2.30pm KO's I think...I've missed all the matches so far and am gutted. I miss top flight rugby!
ETA - I agree with the general consensus, England will get stuffed and I think Wales will scrape it. But I hope that Wales get to move up to the top 4 in the World, what a moment that would be and what a turn around in recent years Welsh rugby has seen. Good on 'em.
Edited by nakedninja on Thursday 27th November 14:30
Cipriani will never be world class, as he is too much in the 'Gavin Henson mould', if you know what I mean. Glad to see Flood getting a go. I would also start Hipkiss in place of Noon, who doesn't bring much in my opinion.
Hopefully the losing margin will be a bit less this week, NZ by 14 (optimistic I know!)
Australia by 12 in the Wales game.
Hopefully the losing margin will be a bit less this week, NZ by 14 (optimistic I know!)
Australia by 12 in the Wales game.
BigMans197 said:
TheGreatSoprendo said:
BigMans197 said:
Cipriani will never be world class, as he is too much in the 'Gavin Henson mould', if you know what I mean.
I don't. What's the 'Gavin Henson mould'?I just wish he wasn't injured/banned all the time. Wales need him more than anyone else.
BigMans197 said:
TheGreatSoprendo said:
I don't. What's the 'Gavin Henson mould'?
Lack of commitment. Too much time in the press (not in the sport section).Well he was banned by the Ospreys not long ago for missing training. That sounds like lack of commitment to me? And yes most of his press coverage is no doubt down to his girlfriend.
Anyway, my original comment was based on Cipriani, remember. I have no doubt about Hensons talent as it happens.
My point was, a professional sportsman shouldn't be in the public eye unless its in the sport section. And commitment-wise, I also meant on the field, some of Ciprianis defence and work at rucks is poor.
Sorry if you disagree!
Anyway, my original comment was based on Cipriani, remember. I have no doubt about Hensons talent as it happens.
My point was, a professional sportsman shouldn't be in the public eye unless its in the sport section. And commitment-wise, I also meant on the field, some of Ciprianis defence and work at rucks is poor.
Sorry if you disagree!
BM197 - no worries! I wasn't particularly having a pop at you, more venting my general frustration/bemusement at the Henson-related nonsense that gets spouted (much of it from within Wales, it has to be said).
As for Cipriani, completely agree with his deficiencies on the field, particularly in defence. You have to feel a little sorry for him though, as he's been criminally over-hyped by the press, for example people touting him as a shoe-in for the Lions at 10 after one decent game at international level (v Ireland in the 6N). Naturally, the very same hacks who over-hyped him in the first place are now pulling him to pieces...
As for Cipriani, completely agree with his deficiencies on the field, particularly in defence. You have to feel a little sorry for him though, as he's been criminally over-hyped by the press, for example people touting him as a shoe-in for the Lions at 10 after one decent game at international level (v Ireland in the 6N). Naturally, the very same hacks who over-hyped him in the first place are now pulling him to pieces...
Edited by TheGreatSoprendo on Friday 28th November 11:33
Eng vs NZ: Unfortunately I can't see anything other than a All Blacks win here. England just aren't good enough and (as others say above) the problem isn't merely silly mistakes, it's that the players just aren't capable of a high enough level of rugby at the moment.
Wales vs Oz: This one will be much closer. I hope Wales win but think it might come down to a final minute drop goal from either side.
Sadly I'll be running round cold and muddy fields and woodland rather than in the pub watching the games. Highlights for me it is then...
Wales vs Oz: This one will be much closer. I hope Wales win but think it might come down to a final minute drop goal from either side.
Sadly I'll be running round cold and muddy fields and woodland rather than in the pub watching the games. Highlights for me it is then...
I have a feeling that England are going to face a loss by 4 tries... maybe more & cannot see England crossing the NZ goal line (they might get a penalty but thats it).
I'd imaging that NZ will set the highest points against Eng & the margin of victory as their goal - they are notably better than SA at the minute and to any other side Im sure that onslaught by Wales would have yeilded a try but not the NZ!
Wal v Oz...
Well 2005 Wales win IIRC by 10 points, 2006 draw 27-27, 2007 WC loss by 10 points. Wales are a much much better team than in 2007 and now have a good coach, but Oz have improved a lot too their front 5 especially. I'd say Wales have a really good chance of winning it but cannot see a winning margin of 15> points so it would purely be the scalp. Home advantage - got to be worth 7 to 10 points and the loss to NZ & SA (which if you look at the games Wales won a half in both matches - clutching at straws I know) should boost the team to come out and give it everything empty tank by the end of the game is required.
I'd imaging that NZ will set the highest points against Eng & the margin of victory as their goal - they are notably better than SA at the minute and to any other side Im sure that onslaught by Wales would have yeilded a try but not the NZ!
Wal v Oz...
Well 2005 Wales win IIRC by 10 points, 2006 draw 27-27, 2007 WC loss by 10 points. Wales are a much much better team than in 2007 and now have a good coach, but Oz have improved a lot too their front 5 especially. I'd say Wales have a really good chance of winning it but cannot see a winning margin of 15> points so it would purely be the scalp. Home advantage - got to be worth 7 to 10 points and the loss to NZ & SA (which if you look at the games Wales won a half in both matches - clutching at straws I know) should boost the team to come out and give it everything empty tank by the end of the game is required.
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