[2015 RWC] Pool A: Australia vs. Wales (10/10/2015)

[Perthshire]

this has the potentail to be a cracker of a game which neither team will runaway with

My prediction

Austrailia by a converted try

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Wales have this in the bag. Just one week ago, at training, the Wallabies phoned the police after discovering a strange white substance on the field. After some investigation it was found to be the Try line. Seriously, Wales have this by 10 (at least).

hahahahhaha, back to PF you go!! Nelso will be picked at 7 for the Wallabies and you know that Wales are going to get fingered big time

 

[RJAH777]

This should be a close game on the face of things. A couple of reasons why , firstly Australia almost certainly won't play as brilliantly as they did in twickers last week , last week they were out for revenge big time , a lot of stuff said in the English press only served to **** of the aussie and make them more determined for the win, another important reason - they are without 2 of their best players folau and man of the match last week(regardless of the decision) Michael super hooper! Yes they did have good replacements in mcmahon and Beale but the would put them in the league of the former 2 . Also Australia will almost take this win for granted , they haven't lost in the last 10 so you can't blame them, thing is when you go out expecting to win as always you can sometimes go through the motions , it happens to Wales alot when they play tier 2 teams that they are expected to win! . so taking all this into account I see a close game but Australia as usual will take the victory by 3-7 points . If they come out and play like they did last week then it will be a 15 point plus win however I don't see them replicating last weeks performance.

I understand your reasoning but there's nothing to say Australia won't play as well or better than last week. Either of the Macs and Beale will provide excellent coverage for izzy and crazy eyes hooper.

We have seen enough of Michael cheika to know Wallabies won't be taking Wales for granted. All the recent matches have been close. Australia have just as much reason to win as Wales.

It will be close but this is because Wales are a lot better than most people give them credit for. They should have been in the final four years ago. If the Wallabies beat them, I'd back Wales to beat the springboks the week after.

 

[RoosTah]

I understand your reasoning but there's nothing to say Australia won't play as well or better than last week. Either of the Macs and Beale will provide excellent coverage for izzy and crazy eyes hooper.

We have seen enough of Michael cheika to know Wallabies won't be taking Wales for granted. All the recent matches have been close. Australia have just as much reason to win as Wales.

It will be close but this is because Wales are a lot better than most people give them credit for. They should have been in the final four years ago. If the Wallabies beat them, I'd back Wales to beat the springboks the week after.

Agreed. If there's one thing you can definitely say about Cheika, it's that he takes nothing for granted... a win in a World Cup least of all.

I'd also argue that "out for vengence" argument goes both ways. Wales put in a heck of a performance to hold England out at home, and it was one driven by a lot of passion that they seem to really reserve for England in particular. I think it's fair to say that both Wales and Australia are both extra determined to beat England, and probably have less animosity to each other.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

They should have been in the final four years ago.

I agree, we could have been too. Ireland beating us was an upset which shouldn't have happened. We underestimated Ireland and they made us pay. We had such a good squad too, probably a little inexperienced if anything and we had the worst luck with injury Digby and Pocock missing a few games, Horne and Mitchell gone etc.

 

[Belvedere]

There's some funny 'leaked' info floating around the net, including a team selection that has Hook starting at 13 and Anscombe at 14.

I don't know how trustworthy the info is but I should imagine that Gatland would be willing to get a bit fruity with his pics considering he's already achieved the minimum and any possible scenario involving a Wales final would have to be an almost total reimagining of our backline for attacking intent.

 

[Belvedere]

I'd like to add that I'm massively grateful to Gats for his poaching of Anscombe.
We don't produce a great number of International quality players in Wales and given Anscomes position in the Kiwi youth system and his undoubted potential he represents quite a steal.

Considering our injury crisis. I'm happy for Anscombe to start in any position for us in this World Cup.

 

[ABs2011]

I'd like to add that I'm massively grateful to Gats for his poaching of Anscombe.
We don't produce a great number of International quality players in Wales and given Anscomes position in the Kiwi youth system and his undoubted potential he represents quite a steal.

Considering our injury crisis. I'm happy for Anscombe to start in any position for us in this World Cup.

He's a good player. I watched him a lot for Auckland. He is very fast so while he is primarily a 10, he is certainly quick enough to play 15 or wing. He's a pretty incisive ball runner as well. When he was younger his big flaw was his defence. It was largely non-existent. I'm not sure if that is still an issue for him or not now though. He got absolutely shafted by the Blues region (John Kirawn's failed regime I believe) who for some stupid reason didnt want to sign him. He subsequently got picked him up by the Chiefs and had a pretty good season with them when they won the ***lle as a utility.

I can only imagine that with DC, Cruden, Barrett, Slade etc in NZ and all the other talent Anscome knew he was never a shot at progressing to international level in NZ. Hence decided to follow the Wales path. Our loss is your gain for sure though as he is a talented kid and had a lot of potential before he left NZ. He was never going to be a star in NZ, but I wouldnt be suprised if he turns out to be a pretty good international player for Wales.

 

[Belvedere]

Well, if Team Wales is good for anything, it's good at turning weak tacklers into stalwart defenders. (Thanks Shaun!)
If Anscombe's intent was to come to Wales and nail down the 10 shirt in 18 months then I feel he may be disappointed.
I'm hoping he is more than willing to fit in at full back/utility back as I don't see him dislodging Biggar anytime soon.
He's been hit and miss for Cardiff, since he arrived, but the whole team is in a process of transition and I'm sure he'll find his feet soon enough.

The time to find his feet may be soon approaching though, on the big boy of all stages.

 

[ABs2011]

Well, if Team Wales is good for anything, it's good at turning weak tacklers into stalwart defenders. (Thanks Shaun!)
If Anscombe's intent was to come to Wales and nail down the 10 shirt in 18 months then I feel he may be disappointed.
I'm hoping he is more than willing to fit in at full back/utility back as I don't see him dislodging Biggar anytime soon.
He's been hit and miss for Cardiff, since he arrived, but the whole team is in a process of transition and I'm sure he'll find his feet soon enough.

The time to find his feet may be soon approaching though, on the big boy of all stages.

I would think he is tailor made for the utility cover position off the bench. Much like Barrett and Slade do for NZ, he can cover 10, wing and FB well, which permits the selectors to have a spot on the bench for either an extra forward or a specialist midfielder which is a real bonus.

 

[nzlizard]

Anscombe's best season for the Chiefs was when he was a starting 15 for us, he was awesome.

Never really worked playing him at 10.

 

[meck01]

Going to be a good match.

Will be close.

Hopefully Australia can win it, however Wales is a bloody good team and it will be a close run thing.

 

[Belvedere]

Anscombe's best season for the Chiefs was when he was a starting 15 for us, he was awesome.

Never really worked playing him at 10.

Good to Know.

We had Ben Blair at Cardiff for the end of his career and he was absolutely brilliant.

Blair, Jamie Roberts, Shanklin and a very young Halfpenny, with Xaveir Rush as captain, was a wonderful time to be a Cardiff supporter.

Hopfully Anscombe can be part of a Cardiff revival.

- - - Updated - - -

Going to be a good match.

Will be close.

Hopefully Australia can win it, however Wales is a bloody good team and it will be a close run thing.

Respect.

Hopfully we see plenty of really exciting rugby

 

[InsaneAsylum]

surprised Anscombe isn't in the XV more regularly - quality player

 

[Kiwi_]

surprised Anscombe isn't in the XV more regularly - quality player

Me to, probably needed more time to adjust to the slow pace of NH Rugby.

 

[81st_Minute]

Falou might be out too.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Australia by 40 points.
Wales are decimated by injury.
If/when Wales lose this one, how sick will Robshaw be about the decision NOT to take that kick.
Bonus point England would be going through.

 

[RJAH777]

Won't be 40 points. Wales are still very capable. More like 3-12 points. Wales are much better than england, they play as a team and know their game plan. Very well coached too.

 

[The Jones Boy]

It's at Twickenham, fresh from the memories of Robshaws great mistake all the English fans will be roaring for Aussie, thats worth 10 points alone...

 

[81st_Minute]

I think the English fans will still be feeling too sick to even look at a game of rugby, :lol: