This sounds familiar, that’s exactly what Eddie was saying in his last period as England coach. Meanwhile England kept loosing to sometimes inferior opposition considering the riches in talent at his disposal, in the end it didn’t wash and the RFU got rid. In the end that English team had not identity, where overcoached and couldn’t think on their feet and where like robots playing exactly what Eddie wanted. For example in good attacking positions where they needed to put the ball through hands and run for tries they would kick the ball and squander position and try opportunities. In the end Eddie’s style was almost like a hybrid Boks style which is pretty much have very dominant forwards and try to physically impose and dominate the opposition through physicality and the trys would come that was the expectation except that they didn’t come. It looked like they were under instruction to kick at every attacking opportunity instead of playing what’s in front and heads up rugby and score tries. I do fear what he is trying to do with this wallaby side, the problem he has is that in Australia he doesn’t have the players to play a total physical game which he could to a greater extent with England because Australia just doesn’t have enough players to play that physical style and dominate the opposition physically, I also noted the same tendencies of kicking the ball away in good attacking positions. Australia needs to stick to their dna which is playing running rugby and put the ball through the hnads and score trys instead of getting bogged down trying to play a physical game when they don’t have enough of those players in union as almost all of them are in the NRL. Personally I can only see the Wallabies having a disastrous world cup and falling to make it beyond the quarters or falling to make them. Eddie will surely be gone after that, I would love to be proven wrong but somehow I’m not sure I will.

The All Blacks will not be beating the poms in Twickenham with that team mate, the poms will suffocate them the same way the Boks did with their aggressive forwards and also at the break down and mauls and setpieces. I can see a copycat of that lose against the Boks happening in Twickers. Where the All Blacks have a chance is if the games opens up a bit more because the All Blacks have a better attack game than the poms but then again I doubt they will have a chance to play that expansive game. On the other hand I can see the All Blacks beating the Pumas, Wales and Scotland and then win only one of the Bledisloe games with the Wallabies winning the other one at home. I suppose you can add that will be a successful outcome for Razor and the All Blacks based on where they are in the rugby tree at the moment.

I’m struggling to find the benefit of your article matey, set peice mauling and forward dominant play are all part of rugby and most fans I know enjoy this or you want get rid of that as well?. You are not seriously trying to blame England for all the ills and issues that rugby union has in Australia are and forgetting that League and Afl do a much better job of attracting fans and talent to their sport for example and are generally able to fill their stadiums than Union does in Australia, or that’s England’s fault again. I would urge to take a trip to England on any weekend and and watch Premiership rugby any weekend you will find thier stadiums are pretty full much all than super rugby games we have here in Australia. The Premiership league over there has teams with varying styles from set piece dominant teams to teams that chuck the ball around more and some teams who do both well. Watching all these styles is very interesting and makes the sport interesting seeing all these teams with different styles trying to outsmart each other. Before you start pointing figures at the poms for ruining the game here just be honest with yourself, what is rugby Australia and the media doing to promote the code here more? Not anywhere near enough is the reality. As everyone will tell you South Africa having been playing this kind of rugby since I can remember, why don’t you take a pop at them as well. Unfortunately this article very much falls on devisive side and falls flat on its face, I for one enjoy forward every style of rugby as rugby is about many different styles in essence and that’s why we all love this game

Still drowning in your delusion I see????

I have to say I am surprised a bit by the Aussie confidence that they will beat the poms, some are even saying it will be 3 nil to the Wallabies. For me on paper the england squad still have high quality and world class players in there than the Wallabies even with Eddie’s confused strategy and confused game plan. In terms of physicality I don’t think the Wallabies are as much of a challenge than the top 6 nations sides or the boks so England will most likely win that one, I do worry that the Wallabies may find themselves in a wrestle or bear hug they can’t free themselves of and just be suffocated and not be allowed to play the free flowing wide game they are capable of if allowed. I think Australia will edge it if its an open game as I believe their backs are better than the pons currently but on the other hand the poms will edge it if its big bear hug suffocating type of game as England have better forwards than the Wallabies, never mind the likes of itoje, lawes, Billy to name a few on the second row. Having said that Farrel, Care and Smith will need some real tight policing. So for me I do worry about all this enthusiasm from the assuie fan base even with the poms currently at sixes and sevens because of Jones.

What a game from France, only 2 sides in World Rugby can handle that power, physicality and intensity from the French and those 2 teams are the boks and a full strength England, Dupont is probably the best player in the world at the moment. And what a lose Mack Hansen is to Australia and Australian rugby in general, he is some player and is only in his early 20s. I don’t think Carbery wa really able to fill the Sexton void, that’s the position Ireland need to focus on developing otherwise it will cost them in the world cup and any other big matches like that one. As for France I don’t know which side I’ll be able to beat them in their home world cup, I think the England 6 nations games in Paris and Twickenham and next year will tell us a lot about that.

I’m sorry I dont agree with you Bobby because hes already proven at Premiership level and European level and at the moment that level is higher than super rugby sides, certainly not the Aussie sides maybe the Kiwi sides who are all very competitive. Besides he is playing at Quins who are Premier champions and also won all their European games so far and these European games are sometimes like test rugby, so he is already proven at a higher level than super rugby that’s for sure. The question is for Lynagh himself, does he want to be capped by England for one game and only just as cover but then find himself not being selected again when everyone is fit and even miss out on world rugby selection when he can get that with the Wallabies and certain guarantee with Italy.

Both Cooper and Cipiriani can’t conform l meant to say Nick. Thanks sir.

Nick for me the 2 Aussie players where there is no question mark against them making the lineup are Korobeite and Hooper, the rest of your choices are very very debatable for me and most likely may not make the grade against their England first choice or even England 2nd choice counterparts for each position. Even Hooper has been outshone on many occasions by Curry or Underhil in that position whenever England has played Australia. My pick would be Marcus over Nic white as brilliant a player Nic is, I just think Marcus has that x factor and can produce magic out of nothing which Nic can’t although it’s fair to say Nic is probably the solid option for 50 mins but Marcus get my pick. Picking Cooper is a bit nostalgic I think, you might as well pick Cipiriani. Both are mavericks who thrive in chaos but can’t form and hence they become liabilities. Cooper is certainly no longer good enough for test rugby, he’s probably good at super rugby level but not international I’m afraid Nick and the Wallabies should move on from him for good. The selection that shocks me the most is Skelton Nick, that’s where you slightly lose a bit of credibility for me with this article when you are such a brilliant brilliant expert and my fav on roar. Skelton is long past it and should be nowhere near the Wallabies never mind a combined side. Skelton would not make the 4 or 5th choice in that position for England, he contributes nothing in terms of defence or attack apart from being a man mountain. Apart from that to be fair to you you did try to be fair and balanced overall. I’m an Aussie expat living in the UK so I do follow Premiership over here and have a very good grasp of the talent on show here. On a totally separate issue Nick I would like know if Reenie or rugby Australia are planning a move for Lynah before he finally gets capped by England because the boy is very talented and Australia will need a player like him in their ranks.

Come on you are being silly now Nick suggesting that not many english players would get into the aussie side, even you don’t really believe that statement surely. It’s fair to say that at the moment a credible and fair combined aussie english line up will probably feature more English players I’m afraid. To be honest there is a very strong case to say they might be another 3 nil whitewash this July tour because England have so much strength and depth in every position. That Quins, Bristol freeflowing style combined with that Tigers, Exeter Chiefs, Sale, Sarries grit will be a good base. I also think they probably have 3 or 4 possible first teamers for every position which I’m afraid we don’t have as an aussie side, I think the Wallabies can’t afford any injury in any of their key positions because the player coming in weakens the side really, you simply can’t say that about the English. It’s fair to say an Aussie pundit will suggest that their combined team will have more aussies than english players and vice versa if its an English pundit, that’s fine because its a personal choice of that pundit. Australia have already been beaten by England last autumn which is a continuation of loses against England stretching back many many games and many years, what that tells us is that Australia have an inferiority complex against England currently when it comes to rugby union same as England have an inferiority complex against aussies when it comes to rugby league.

Unfortunately Australia can’t escape its history, most white Australians I would say maybe well over 3/4 of Australians have English or British ancestory apart from migrants from other parts of Europe, Asia and Africa which is only a tiny number. I think Jones is being at his usual offensive best and mischievous which he can’t seem to resist all the time. Australians know their history and certainly don’t need a history lesson from Jones, all this nonsense was totally unnecessary to bring up its only a game of rugby after all. I think the Rugby Union should rebuke him for saying stuff like this just like what he said about the young tennis player, his attempts at mind games, jokes or humor are highly offensive all the time. I guess he can get away with saying stuff like this because he’s Australian, imagine if he was English and saying stuff like this and behaving how he does all the time. Now back to the game. I would love it if Australia was to win being an Aussie based in the UK but I’m afraid that’s wishful thinking than reality at the moment me thinks, this English side will bring higher physicality and intensity in everything than what the Wallabies faced last week against the Scots, they also have a very skillful backline with lots of pace and will score tries at every opportunity. The English Premiership now is played like super rugby in terms of style, skilset and pace but with that much higher Northern Hemisphere physicality, so this boys can play and it could be a cricket scoreline if the Wallabies are not at the races. So it’s gonna be tough for the Wallabies but I’m rooting for them and I’ve got a ticket for the game lucky me

Hi Leroy I do enjoy your posts but I totally disagree with your previous post where you said Australia will physically dominate England, and therefore win when we meet them. I think that’s more like wishful thinking than reality as there is no evidence to support this at all and certainly not on today’s showing. England are the most physical of the NH sides even when not on their flying best. I’m afraid England will bring more physicality both in attack and defense as well as intensity and scoreboard pressure than Scotland did today, the scoreline might get ugly. Scotland left a lot of points outthere today which I’m afraid England will take.

As much as I would like to the wallabies to get a win against the poms, I just don’t see it happening unfortunately. England are largely playing on second gear so far and they have still managed bonus points wins. Also the record vs England of late does not look good at all for the wallabies with England winning 10 games out of the last 12 with Australia winning only 2 since 2010. Australia have lost 6 games in row against England, so the odds are heavily stacked against the wallabies. The England forward pack will prove too powerful and their backs are also very quick and skilful, so for me it’s a comfortable England win unfortunately.

I am afraid to say this but England’s forwards overall look more powerful and dominant than this All black forward pack or the Wallabies, and to win this world cup you will need a very dominant forward pack that’s why I would put England and Boks ahead of the All Blacks and others to win the thing. To compound this I think both England and Boks have equally dangerous, skillful and fast backs who will score trys. Also the English and Boks rush defence is more faster and aggressive and better than this All Blacks side, even the Welsh and recently misfiring Irish rush defence are also better than any on offer. I know some will say these defenses are always offside and the refs should police it but we know they are not going to do it. Based on what we have seen so far teams know that if you put the All Blacks under pressure with that rush defense they struggle to engineer any attacks and then kick aimlessly to try and beat this defense, you are not going to win the world cup by kicking the ball away all the time especially aimlessly as BB has been doing in recent games with the exception of the last game in Eden park which was better. I’m sure a lot of you may say I’m talkin bull….. but you can’t deny the facts at hand. All Blacks game is based on forward momentum but if they get outmuscled which I’m afraid to say this English team will do to this All Blacks then there is only one winner with England’s equally dangerous backs.

Spiro Zavos you really do yourself no favours by your blatant anti-English bias so much so that you can’t help but be negative or worse about them. Your stereotype of England as this team that only or mainly relies or set-peice, playing scrums and kicking penalties to win games doesn’t really hold any water, maybe that statement would have been true many years ago but certainly not now and not this English team. Infact at times their turning down of kickable penalties have cost them some games they should have won i.e. against the all blacks when they should have kicked for goal but kicked for corner and ended losing that game by a single point. What that tells us Spiro is that maybe you really haven’t watched much of England’s recent matches if any over the last few years. Because if you did you would know that England play very attacking rugby with many line breaks and scoring plenty trys, infact England scored the most trys this Six nations and scored many tries in the last games against Australia. They also won that 3 nil series in Australia playing attacking footie and scoring tries and not by set piece and kicking penalties. So please swallow you pride a bit and give a bit of credit please. But what I do agree with you on the article is that its tactics or plan B and not simply a psychologist they need to work on when they are put under pressure and end up throwing away leads. It’s just too simplistic to say a psychologist will solve that problem. Otherwise I do enjoy reading your articles sir.

This is a bad loss for Australia considering England were missing a whole bunch of first teamers through injury and some not selected, Billy and Marko Vunipola, Chris Robshaw, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Sam Simmonds, Launchbury, Genge, Mullan, Obano, Cowan Dickie then you have players like Cole, Brown, Roko Ndungani, Iseikwe, Ciprianni whom many think should be selected including Goode, Morgan and soon to qualify Michael Rhodes. You add all these players to the current squad that played then you will have an almighty starting 15 and bench that can beat any team in the world. So my starting 15 for the world cup will be Marko Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Launchbury, Lawes, Underhill, Billy Vunipola, Youngs, Farrell, May, Slade, Tuilagi, Ashton, Daly then bench would be Care, Ford, Cokanasiga, Nowell, Watson, Hartley, Hughes, Wilson and Shields. The Forward is heavy and can all carry over the gainline then the backs are very dynamic skilful with lots of pace. There are some tough calls I made on leaving out these players from the 23 and these are leaving out a fully fit Sam Simmonds, Robshaw, Tom Curry,
And a fully fit Obano who carries massively over the gainline but has limited international experience may be a tough call, then Harry Williams, Mike Brown is also a tough call Perhaps the most controversial call is leaving out Teo beacuse for me Tuilagi is much better in that position.