The Wallabies begin their Spring/Autumn jaunt through the Northern Hemisphere by taking on England at Twickenham. Join us on The Roar from 1.00am AEDT for live scores, blogging, commentary and banter.
Starting the tour against England is a tough ask. The Poms have the air of a team building towards something and will be keen to log some wins against the Southern Hemisphere teams to cap that ascendency.
The biggest news out of the Wallaby camp in the build-up to this match is Ben Mowen replacing James Horwill as captain and the previously maligned Quade Cooper slotting into the vice captain’s role.
It will be interesting to see if there is any clear-cut difference in the Wallabies’ play during this game or if the main pieces were already in place and coach Ewen McKenzie just wanted a cultural change and a general tightening of the game plan.
Going into this tour the Wallabies had been on a two-game upswing of attacking performances. That is important because they’ve been giving up points.
Continuing an attacking style will be needed as England tend to keep the scoreboard ticking over at Twickenham, even against strong sides.
Two determining contests will be the scrum and the breakdown, as in all rugby matches.
Australia has noticeably struggled to adjust to the new scrum rules.
Mako Vunipola isn’t known for his scrummaing prowess – more his bullocking runs – but Tom Youngs and Dan Cole are going to more than even out that discrepancy, especially since Ben Alexander is in the other front row.
This England back row of Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw and Billy Vunipola will really Test the athleticism and power of Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy.
Billy Vunipola is a massive unit and creates a clear point of difference between the two teams immediately. The Wallabies might rely on the sheer speed of Hooper if they expect to create their own.
In any event, the team rucking is going to decide a lot in this match as both sides have backlines with creativity and speed to burn.
One interesting thing to watch will be how Israel Folau goes against the Northern Hemisphere teams for the first time.
The quality distribution of Cooper has brought him back into the game in a big way over the last two matches and he’ll be looking to make his mark on world rugby now.
Don’t forget to log on here for scores, blogging and commentary at 1.00am AEDT tonight!
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
I am a South African and was simply stating my observations of how I perceived it (as an ex front rower myself), and I also said the England scrum was dominant. But you have to admit that Aussie shunted them a few times and the England props slipped and lost their bind and were not penalized. But I agree, for years the Aussie scrum has been weaker than their international counterparts so they resort to either "clever" or "illegal" tactics to gain the advantage. They've been doing it for years. However in saying that the Brumbies scrum was strong this year. I know Super rugby is different to Test rugby but it's the same guys playing and scrumming so they have the players, it seems as though it just doesn't translate successfully onto the international arena. Surely you can't deny that Australia's scrumming reputation precedes itself in referees minds (especially the NH refs) and is subconsciously a negative for the Aussies? The same way that you lot call us thugs so any minor incident gets blown up and yellow carded because some refs think that the Boks are going to try and be "dirty" which is ridiculous!!
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
If we do that, then 13,14 and 15 will never see the ball......he does not pass!
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
+1000
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate, you're obviously British, and no doubt if the shoe were on the other foot, you'd impress us with your acceptance of the howlers dished up.
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
Herein lies the problem Chris; I think if there were a mirror image scenario.. Eg Quade Cooper slipping through past English forwards with the help of an Aussie forward lurking around, I don't think the refs would even entertain the thought of awarding a try, such was the rub of the green England enjoyed last night. Yes the ref rules a try and we have to live with it....but we are entitled to express an opinion just like you are.
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
Just because he supports your point of view doesn't mean he needs more attention than anyone else.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
The Aussie's were hard done by with some shocking decisions going Englands way. I won't go as far as saying they were robbed because they didn't deserve to win the way they played. England were ripe for the picking the Wallabies should have turned up with a lot more fire in the belly then they had. Disappointing, i have run out of ideas, not sure if there is actually anything they can do until they have those unavailable players fit and firing sometime next year. This tour will be a test of the nerves for the fans me thinks.
TheSnake
Guest
I watched the game, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Every rugby game, has mistakes and missed opportunities and I thought both teams played very well. Now that the game is over, why do people dwell on, a referees decision-missed conversions-off the ball infractions, it is all part and parcel with the game of rugby. Nobody really knows how a game of rugby will play out. Let’s see it for what it is, two teams giving it their all.
ChrisUK
Guest
Are you really trying to claim that it doesn't happen on every single occasion, from every single team? The rulebook also talks about the feed to the scrum needing to be straight and it never is. Put simply, if you want to go on about the endless amount of lazy runners in top level rugby then I've got sympathy with you. But if you just want to highlight this one example because Australia were on the receiving end, I do not.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Charging Rhino, some very good observations there.
chas tity
Guest
ChrisUK, I think you (and the officials) should read the rule book. IRB law 10.1(b) states 'Running in front of a ball carrier. A player must not intentionally move or stand in front of a team-mate carrying the ball thereby preventing opponents from tackling the current ball carrier or the opportunity to tackle potential ball carriers when they gain possession.' Blind Freddie could see that the English player subtly changed his line to obstruct Moore, only a little, but just enough to stop him getting in a position to effect a tackle. By the way there were numerous other occasions when the English obstructed and infringed and GOT AWAY with it. Any impartial viewer with half a brain and a basic understanding of the laws would realise that the WB's got the rough end of the refereeing.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Yes Chris I think we, in particular All Black fans (of which I am one) am very aware of that .... England played very well last year and deserved their win in a very good match to watch, but not sure what your point is. No team can remain unbeaten indefinitely and one has ever stated that All Blacks or the Boks are unbeatable, but their losses are generally heavily overwhelmed with their win/loss ratios. I think what Charging Rhino was alerting to and I agree, that it will take a very good performance at the moment to upset them but it does not mean that either or both these teams will go through their European EOYT unbeaten (though one have hopes!)\ . However if they do get beaten during the series of test matches to be played this year what does that mean? Rankings are produced for a purpose, it is also not infallible science but I feel, a reasonable guide as to the strengths of a nations premier rugby team relative to others at any given time. The number 1 and 2 ranked tennis players invariably get beaten a few times each year but that does not lessen their achievements nor their status
icky47
Guest
and JOC at 10!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Colin, I also am a neutral (well not quite, my support was for the Wallabies). To me the howler was the touchie missing Brown's foot on the line that preceded a few minutes later the English first try. However, as much as I would have been delighted to see the Wallabies begin with a win, they really did not play well enough. They had ample possession in spite of losing the breakdown IMO. England IMO other than Brown was very average as well. The game was definitely 'not a keeper' to save for future replays. Clancy's performance ensured a stuttering spectacle.
Colin Kennedy
Roar Guru
As a neutral I believe that Australia were robbed today. England lying all over the ball infront of the ref and he did nothing, in addition to a number of other shockers. If I were a Wallaby supporter I'd be livid.
Darth Vadar
Guest
:D
highlander
Guest
So that would pretty much be a Robbie Deans set of selections?
highlander
Guest
Yep - keeping up their solid one win in every ten years record
highlander
Guest
Yep - keeping up their solid one win in every ten years record
highlander
Guest
The hole comes from super lazy defence from Mowan, up out of the line taking shortcuts - again - you would shot for that in the U16's. Yes Moore got a block, but there was no urgency in setting that defensive line