Can’t understand how people are saying the yellow card killed the contest. 51-11 cannot put down to one yellow card. It was a rubbish decision and I thought the referee tried too hard to impose himself on the game rather than letting the game flow. But the the French defence was broken down by the All Blacks. The slow French pack and inside backs were found out and their set piece was dismantled. One yellow card doesn’t do that. Plenty of sides have gone on to win after having yellow/red cards. The French just gave up.

Though I doubt it would happen at a super rugby level, it could happen in the Mitre 10. A few of international players have come over the odd Mitre 10 cup season. Getting a few aussie players into a team like Canterbury would do them a world of good.

Right you are. I think that even at Mitre 10 Cup level the contracts are all centralised with the NZRU.

Are you not worried that that could lead to a situation where players from Australia would rather play super rugby in New Zealand and further dilute Australia’s super rugby stocks?

There seems to be a focus in the short term rather than the long term in Australian rugby. Arnold and McMahon seem to be getting a lot of flack for the way they played. For goodness sake, they’ve haven’t even got 10 tests between them and they were playing against an experienced and well coached English pack practically twice their size. They are both promising rugby players, give them some time to adapt and get comfortable with test rugby. Four years from now, if Cheika or who ever the Wallabies coach is keeps them in the team, they’ll have 50 plus tests by the start of the world cup. Same with the likes of Frisby, kerevi, DHP, and Morhan You wallabies supporters should be ecstatic seeing young players get there chance four years from a world cup. The next couple of years is a building phase and it doesn’t matter if you lose a series three nil, no one will care in four years.

In terms of captain, Moore shouldn’t be captain even if he was the best captain on the planet. He won’t be around in four years, same go’s for Pocock and who knows what Folau will be doing in four years. Give it to a young bloke like McMahon, throw him in the deep end and even if he drowns a little at the start, he’ll learn to swim.

I find it strange that there has been little/no discussion on CLL. He was notable absent during the entire match. I had a little moment of surprise in the second half when I saw him on the field. He was playing for 53 minutes made one run and one tackle with three passes. He seemed to make an active effort to avoid contact. That to me isn’t good enough for one of the senior back line players, particularly with two debutantes on the field.

The way in which they went about those wins was unconvincing bar the win against the All Blacks. But the fact they were slaughtered the following match and in the final seems to suggest the All Blacks had an off day rather than the Wallabies playing fantastically well.They could have easily lost to Scotland or Wales. Hardly convincing.

I would argue that Australia’s recent rugby record is just as unconvincing as England’s.In terms of internationals the Wallabies have been fairly unconvincing bar their win over the All Blacks and the last minute win against the Boks. The Wallabies were hardly convincing against the Welsh, English, or Fijians (particularly against the Welsh were they didn’t score a try).They conceded 34 points against the Scots, one of the least inspiring attacking teams on the planet and beat the Pumas, which for the wallabies is hardly a challenge. They proceeded to lose by the second biggest winning margin in rugby world cup finals against the AB’s.

The only possible highlight for Australian super rugby teams is the Waratahs beating the Chiefs which as a very impressive display. They were able to do this through pure physicality against a fairly small, injury ridden Chiefs pack and back-line. Both the Waratahs and the Brumbies, the two teams that contribute the most to the Wallabies, have been dismantled by the Crusaders and Highlanders through a similar, although admittedly less skilled, version of the rugby England has been producing recently.

Now keeping that in mind. If the English bring a physical game, which they will, I highly doubt the Australian forward pack will be able to compete. The English are a very different team from the one in the the Wallabies met in the World cup. They destroyed a Welsh team, while missing a majority of their players, by a higher and more convincing margin than the Wallabies have been able to since 2007.

I think it’s sensible to keep this in mind. I still think the Wallabies are a fair chance to win all three games but I don’t think some of you should be as confident and as dismissive of England as you are.

While I don’t mean to sound like the usual arrogant kiwi (which is usually pretty hard). Imagine how good Folau would be if Steve Hansen had his hands on him. Just think about what he could have done with players like Carter, A. Smith, Nonu, and B.Smith giving him ball.

Let’s make a few points here Carlos,

1) South Africans, in my experience at least, are the least likely people to complain like “prima donna soccer players”. Being bitten in a game of rugby warrants a reaction like Daniel’s. Being bitten isn’t particularly pleasant. Having a little sister who had a propensity for bitting at a young age I can promise you it is one of the least pleasant experience you can have.
2) Argentinians are probably the worst rugby players for behaving like their football counter parts in complaining and pretending to be injured so I find your criticism hypocritical.
3) “When playing Saffas, be prepared for dirty provocations and childish thuggish behaviour” This comment is ridiculous. Apart from the odd act of stupidity, Saffas dirty reputation is completely unwarranted and their aggressive and entirely legal style of rugby is often mistaken for thuggery. I would go as far to say that the Pumas are overtaking the Springbok for a reputation of bad on-field behaviour. The deliberate trip on Julian Savea after scoring a try is just one example.

Harry hardly needs to grow up. His comments and article is nothing but mature and I think you’re guilty of the childish behaviour you’ve unfairly criticised him of. The blind defence of Argentine behaviour is, as you put it, getting a little annoying.

In regards to your comment about Folau repeating Faddes’ performance against the Crusaders, you have to remember a lot of credit has to go to Arron Smith. Smith’s flat and accurate passing put Faddes into the position where he was able to do what he did. Folau won’t be able to do the same with Phipps.

I think people have to take note of how well Dagg is playing at the moment. He’s playing with a hunger and skill level we haven’t seen since 2011. I’m not advocating he takes over Ben Smith but he is playing bloody well. The only problem is his defence. Even though the NZ herald stats centre has him tackling at 91% (10/11) he still has a bad habit of tackling too high. Perhaps the nightmares of Savea running him over still haunt him. Still, his attack and positional play has been outstanding.

Some stats( because I love stats):
61 carries for 368 metres (6 metres per carry)
9 clean breaks
16 defenders beaten
8 offloads
3 try assists
4 trys

All of this only in 304 mins of rugby.

Again, you haven’t justified your comment. McCaw and Pocock made the SAME amount of turn overs during the final. I have given stats and an example to back up my point. Your argument holds no substance. McCaw was evidently better around the ground.

Not in the final. I don’t know how you could possibly justify that.

McCaw was still the superior player overall. Plus his overall work rate was far superior. Stuff posted an article before the final comparing McCaws breakdown and ruck work to Pococks over the quarters and semi-finals. McCaw cover about 30% more the the pitch, being involved in rucks and turnovers all across the field. Where as Pocock only covered one half of the field. After watching the final it was evident that McCaw’s speed to the breakdown and work rate was far superior. One instance comes to mind. There was a wallabies scrum near half way, the wallabies kick high and short. McCaw had turned around (he was facing the other way) and sprinted to where the breakdown was, beating Pocock by about 5-10 metres and effectively negated Pocock before he even had a chance. It was obviously intended for Pocock to attack that particular breakdown and McCaw recognised that and shutdown Pocock.

I have previously posted in one of David Lord’s previous articles on McCaw vs. Pocock. McCaw was leading in every stat apart from turnovers and tries
By the end of the RWC:

Mins:
McCaw: 376
Pocock: 381

Metres per run:
McCaw: 3.92 (27 runs for 106 metres)
Pocock: 1.41 (34 runs of 48 metres)

Clean Breaks:
McCaw: 2
Pocock: 0

Defenders Beaten:
McCaw: 4
Pocock: 5

Try Assists:
McCaw: 3
Pocock: 0

Tackling Percentage:
McCaw: 90%
Pocock: 86.8%

Missed Tackles:
McCaw: 6
Pocock: 9

Turnovers conceded:
McCaw: 3
Pocock:3

If you actually have a look at the work McCaw did through out the tournament you’ll realise how uninformed your comment is. His carries, running metres, defenders beaten, clean breaks, tackle success, amount of tackles, and try assists was superior to all of the Australian back row. The only thing he aspect of the game he did not come out in top in was overall turnovers. But considering the way he played in final, where he beat Pocock, Hopper, and Fardy to all most all of the breakdowns and made more turnovers than Pocock, you could comfortable conclude he’s been on of the best back rows, if not the best, in the tournament.

It would be nice if David could back up his assertion that the Australian back row is superior with actual argument rather than useless rhetoric.

There has been a lot of talk about the breakdown work of the Australian back row, yet they have only made three more turnovers compared to the All Black back row. (21-18). Hardly a difference.

The Australian back row have made a combined 73 carries for 187 metres. Thats an average of 2.6 metres per carry. The best being Hooper with 21 carries for 60 metres.

Compare this to the All Black back row. 85 carries for 374 metres, an average of 4.4 metres per carry. The best being Kaino with 28 carries for 159 metres. The worst is McCaw, 20 carries for 79 metres.

The All Black back row is clearly superior in attack.

The All Black back row vs. Wallabies back row in other attacking stats:

6-1 (AB’s) clean breaks, 14 -13 (AB’s) defenders beaten, and 4-0 (AB’s) try assists

Defensive stats:
AB’s:91.4% tackle success rate
WB: 87.4 %

AB’s: 14 missed tackles
WB: 21 mIssed tackles

Again, the All Black back row has the edge in defence.

Both McCaw and Kaino have given away less ball than their opposites.

Other notable stats:

AB’s: 34 lineout catches
WB: 21 Lineout catches

AB’s: 7 lineout steals
WB: 0 lineout steals

AB’s: 73 passes in open play
WB: 46 passes in open play

I’m not entirely sure how anyone can justify the assertion that the Wallaby back row is superior.

DEFENCE is the big edge Smith has over Folau. The amount of try saving tackles Smith makes is insane, both in super rugby and test rugby. Remember, defence is half the game. Folau may have an attacking edge over Smith but ask yourself this, if a player like Nemani Nadolo or Julian Savea had just broken through the line and one defender stood in their way, who would you rather it be? Folau or Smith?

Until Folau is able to defend as well as Ben Smith he will never be a better fullback. As I said, defence is half the game and a half a fullbacks job is to be the last line of defence.

Nonu will be player of the tournament.

ha

McCaw was immense. Good signs leading into the RC and the RWC. DC also played well.

Buckman is the next Conrad Smith, but faster. He got to 33km/h in the semi final, thats only 2km/h slower than Naholo’s fastest. Hopefully he’ll do what Ben Smith did and play so well he’ll force himself into the All Blacks squad. If not, he’ll be the most skilled player in New Zealand not to wear the black jersey

1. Slipper
2. Hanson
3. Holmes
4. Arnold
5. Simmons
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. Higgs
9. Genia
10. Copper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. Kuridrani
14. Tomane
15. Folau

I’d much prefer Folau at 14 and JOC at 15.

It’s ridiculous that the Waratahs could get a home semi final when there is the very real chance that the Highlanders and Chiefs will finish above them on the table. I’m all for the top team of each conference getting through, but gifting a team a home semi final when they’re only fourth on the table makes no sense.