Well… I had faith the Wallabies could win, but that they’d give me a heart attack doing it.
Instead, it was a comfortable win for Australia at Twickenham. They move on to the quarter-final stage after their game against Wales, and England play Uruguay, then get to watch the rest of the tournament at the pub.
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There was an incredible build-up to the game, with Twickenham once again showing why it is one of the best rugby stadiums in the world.
Both teams were primed. There was plenty of promise, and Australia delivered.
Here are my talking points from the Wallabies’ win.
Bernard Foley’s complete performance
What do you say when a flyhalf puts in a performance like that?
28 points – the most ever by a Wallaby against England. At Twickenham no less, with the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup fortunes at stake.
There’s no doubt now about who Australia’s number one flyhalf is, with Foley repaying the faith showed in him by coach Michael Cheika.
He was flawless with the boot, never really looking like missing, even with his last attempt from the sideline with the game already buried.
There were plenty of adjectives you could ascribe to a performance like that, but the one that stood out to me was poise.
The Wallabies didn’t panic. They didn’t make mistakes, even if they didn’t make the advantage line. They trusted they would find a gap eventually, and Foley capitalised on this patience twice.
His second try, in particular, was one for the backline purists. A switch of play, with Kurtley Beale on his shoulder, back to Foley, over untouched.
It was a thing of beauty, and summed up the way Foley led the team around the park.
How bad is Israel Folau’s ankle?
Israel Folau is an 80-minute player, and he certainly doesn’t come off with 15 minutes to play to be replaced by Matt Toomua.
He had a strong game, though he didn’t have a heap of space to work with. Folau was strong in contact, and the only real blemish was his inability to get the ball away to his winger for a try in the opening phases of the game.
Limping off with an ankle injury is the biggest cause of concern for Wallabies fans right now.
Israel is crucial to Australia’s plans, as he’s one of two big bodies in the backline. They need him, so let’s hope it’s not too bad.
But he doesn’t leave the field if he’s not hurt.
What happens to England now?
There has been a lot of criticism of Chris Robshaw thorough the week.
The England captain gave a good account of himself against the Wallabies, often looking like a lone hand over the ball at the rucks.
But consecutive losses at Twickenham, leading to an early exit from a Rugby World Cup staged on their home turf will take its toll. It’s likely England coach Stuart Lancaster will feel the pinch too.
All that said, you feel like this is an England team with lots ahead of it. If they win that tight one against Wales what would have happened?
It’s a hell of a predicament for the decision makers in English rugby.
Is David Pocock the best player in the world?
People got stuck into me after the game against Fiji, when I asked the question whether Pocock would be the player of the tournament.
Today, I counted at least two penalties earned, three turnovers made at the ruck, as well as some powerful carries to setup front foot ball for Australia.
It wasn’t just the numbers. Where he made the turnovers was crucial. More often than not it was a momentum-changing play, nabbing the ball with England on the attack.
Not only that, but I don’t remember him giving away one penalty, which is incredible for a man who spends so much time over the ball. He led the Wallabies, both in defence and discipline.
Pocock was also clever at the back of a dominant scrum for the Wallabies, holding it in where control could have easily been lost and the pressure relieved.
The question is, who is a better player on the ball? And is there a more influential player in world rugby right now?
We’ll certainly be closer to an answer when he faces off against Wales captain Sam Warburton next week.
What the hell was that yellow card on Owen Farrell?
Late in the game, and Owen Farrell takes Matt Giteau out on suspicion.
Sure, it was off the ball, and a definite penalty. But to give a a yellow to a tackle using the right arm as well as the shoulder was harsh.
I thought Sam Burgess’ high swinging arm on Michael Hooper would have attracted more attention from the television official, but instead it was the flyhalf who was sent packing for the last 10 minutes of the game.
It was the harshest yellow of the tournament, both in the context of the game and for the crime he committed.
As a final, bonus talking point, Joe Launchbury was voted the man of the match by Twitter people. Right.
What were your talking points from this huge game Roarers?
Blades
Guest
You'd take Foley over Carter? I certainly wouldn't.
Mike
Guest
Forgive me father for I have sinned... ;)
Ralph
Roar Guru
The English did not adjust to the ref's breakdown calls very well. The ref allowed a lot of leeway to lie on the ruck and Australia took advantage whereas the English rolled away very quickly. I assume they were told to do so by the coaches because the ref wasn't handing out penalties for it. England got slow ball, Australia got fast ball. Hooper comes in from the side fairly regularly. I was surprised Hooper wasn't carded during the game, but he has been cited now for his breakdown missile. Some of the English defence was very poor and their decision making was terrible at times. The Aussies got the rub of the green in the game, even a few ball bounces went well, whereas nothing seemed to fall for the English. Moore is not a great captain.
soapit
Guest
connor at the time farrell initiated the tackle he could have reasonably assumed giteau was going to get the ball
Dones
Guest
We all heard the cooper dribble before if you're talking punching above weight its cooper he should never have made the squad and should consider himself lucky at the expense of a quality player like CCL glad cooper is not there he would definitely have crumbled and forced the team into unwanted pressure and a chance at loosing a game that they were otherwise dominating, thanks follow for the opinion though !
marto
Guest
Kurindrani has been poor..
DiploMatt
Guest
He's a joke of an "expert" or "guru" or whatever he wants to call himself. I know what I'd call him...
DiploMatt
Guest
Indeed he was.
Dones
Guest
Weren't you crapping on about how shiznizil his form was and how he should never be there ahead of Horwill. "20 poor minutes in one game then selected ahead of the best performing Lock in the RC" That sounds a bit more like your summation of Douglas , Oh silly me he's a Reds player now I get it nuff said. Fickle is a descriptive word often bandied around when discussing reds supporters.
Dones
Guest
Omg wtf QC what about QC ? Not a mention ??? wow you must be Qlder only their supporters are so fickle, of Foley especially you have been scathing week in week out, article after article then all of the sudden pretend like it was always expected. Wow way to turn it around. Big up ya Red Kev Quality stuff.
Damo
Guest
Possibly because your waffle trying to justify his 'mistake' was so partisan and condescending it didn't deserve a serious response.
LifestyleSpecialist
Roar Rookie
Uh oh Hooper was cited for the clean out on Mike Brown just before half time. Minimum 2 week ban if found guilty. http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/05/australia-michael-hooper-cited-foul-play-england Could be time for Sean Mcmahon to shine! Will miss Hoopers bone crunching defence though. His tandem play with Pocock (Hooper knocks em down a Pocock cleans them up) is one the of greatest rugby double acts going around.
Lube Goat
Guest
It was not just a gentle wave of the arm; Burgess' act was typical of the sort of thing you see in league here week in, week out. It was a cheap shot from a thug who looks lost out on the rugby paddock. Realistically he deserved a yellow but it is a big call on the ref's part to produce that ruling at that time.
JimmyB
Guest
Good onya Dan, enjoy it mate.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Alan I am an AB supporter .... Pocock to me is the best No 7 on this planet but I agree that Sam Cane is close ... Pocock was fantastic against the Poms ... so strong over the ball and his body position so low, hard to shift... McCaw's contribution comes now from anticipation, he is still in everything, leads well defends well but as a No 7 more in the mould of Graeme Mourie
Lano
Roar Guru
I think he's TWAS rebranded breathlessly popping up everywhere defending QC.
cs
Guest
Goodonya Iwillnotstandby Yep, I remember all our arguments. Glad to see you that you also know when fair's fair.
Iwillnotstandby
Guest
RTK, I'm not really a fan of Beales behaviour on several occasions but I think you are allowing your judgement to be clouded by a personal dislike. Kurtley played a blinder, including one hit that the commentators originally ascribed to Kuridrani, like they could not believe it was actually Beale. I've been a fairly constant critic of kurtley and have said several times that he shouldn't be in the team. But his performance gives me no rational option other than shut up and accept reality. I hope Folau is not badly hurt but I'm somewhat reassured that Beale is playing well enough at the moment. Well done kurtley.
Loosey
Guest
The English team could be an easy fix: New coach, preferably one who selects players in their position or at least close to it. Allow English players to head over see and still be picked, I see no value in preventing it. France is next door, it would allow for more talent to come up through the ranks and bring more skills into the English game. I don't know if England already do this but have the team assemble regularly throughout the year in the same manner NZ have been doing for a while now and how the Wallabies began to this year. It helps build the team and keep the team dynamic that is developed over a tour or during test season. With backs like Farrel, Ford, Joseph, Watson, May and Brown, it's a brilliant team. How good could a Wood, Burgess and Armitage backrow be? There are plenty of tight fives to choose from. England are now embracing a more attacking, 15 man approach and they will only get better and better at it. I could see England being no.1 in a few years and staying there for a long time to be honest.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
The Owen Farrell incident was rubbish. Giteau was clearly running obstruction, preventing Farrell getting to the ball player. Burgess is just a NRL buffoon and showed it with his coat hanger tackle which would be clearly welcome on a NRL pitch. England were never looking like winning the match but that bit of poor reffing made the end result a formality and removed all chance they had. Foley was head and shoulders better that Launchbury. The man of the match award became a joke. and they really need to scrap this twitter selection of it. Have some system where the twitter votes account for a certain percentage in the overall weighing up of who deserves the award but do not make whomever has the most twitter followers the overall determining factor. If Launchbury had any self respect he would decline the award and offer it to Foley. Pocock was great but best in the world? Master the All Blacks and Richie then he might deserve the tag but every time someone call hims best in the world and he steps up against the All Blacks, Richie puts him in his place. I would put Folau in cotton wool and not risk him against Wales if he is suspect. Wales is missing a few first stringers with injury and there is bigger things to worry about than beating Wales.