- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Some pundits are saying that Wales beating England at the weekend was a good result for the Wallabies. I beg to differ.
Wales’ win has just made things trickier for the Michael Cheika and his team. The Wallabies have the weaponry to beat England this weekend but must play a brilliant game against a home side expected to be playing out of their skin to stay in the world cup.
Yes, Wales’ win has showed that England are beatable at Twickenham , but the loss will surely make the Rugby World Cup hosts harder to beat. Stuart Lancaster and his troops are now fully aware their participation beyond the pool stages hinges on this weekend’s match against Australia.
Twickenham may not be the fortress in the manner of Ellis Park or Eden Park, but rarely have England lost twice in successive weeks at their spiritual home. They are not a bad side – it was team selection, strategy and decision-making that let them down against Wales.
This is their world cup – they stand to lose millions of pounds if they don’t get out of the pool rounds. The rugby public will likely disown them given the promises Lancaster and players have given them in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup. All the momentum rugby had gained in recent times in soccer-mad nation will be lost.
England will throw the kitchen sink at the Wallabies.
Their careers will be dented for years to come if they were to exit the Rugby World Cup at the pool stage. The television viewership in the United Kingdom for the rest of the tournament will likely also take a tumble.
As much as I would like England to fall this weekend, emotion and a desire for success as hosts will see them pip a spirited Wallabies effort. That will mean the two teams to advance from the Pool of Death to the quarter-finals will be decided in the Australia-Wales match.
It is likely to come down to bonus points – something, surprisingly, both Cheika and captain Stephen Moore brushed aside as not being a factor.
In 1991 (England), 2007 (England) and 2011 (France) teams have the lost a pool game but still went all the way to the final. England have been there before and can do so again at the expense of either Wales or Australia.
England will play as if their lives depend on it against Australia. They are playing for the sake of success of their world cup.
It is interesting to note that Wales played two openside flankers against England. The combination of Sam Warburton, the captain, and Dan Lydiate, is in the David Pocock-Michael Hooper mould but were outplayed at the breakdown for about an hour of the game.
Wales were on the back foot and were bossed at the contact area. It was not until the Welsh changed tactics and threw the ball wide that the tide turned in their favour.
The Wallabies can beat England but, like Wales coach Warren Gatland, Cheika will have to be smart in his team selection and tactics.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.