The international rugby has been coming thick and fast over the last few weeks, but now we are down to one final game: England versus Australia.
The Wallabies have played five matches so far this Autumn, if you include the Australia XV versus the French Barbarians which was largely made up of the second string players. As the ARU look for a much-needed boost to the coffers by sending their international side to play anyone that will give them a game, it will surely take its toll on the players.
This is obviously England’s fourth international in as many weeks – the RFU aren’t shy of staging as many games as they can either, filling Twickenham nearly every time, and the England squad is also limping towards Christmas with countless injuries.
How will this last game go in that context?
I’ve been away this week, so I’ve largely missed the press furore around the Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika rivalry, thankfully. But there’s no question that this is a match that both sides want to win – England to crown an unbeaten year with a fourth win over Australia; and Australia to stymie England’s perfect year at the final hurdle, and to go some way to avenging their whitewash in June.
The two teams might be exhausted, but they will not be short of motivation.
England will want to tighten up their defence in the face of the dangerous Aussie backline, but I think it will come down to the set piece and England will have the edge. If Jones gets his way, the Wallaby scrum will be penalised (although drawing attention to scrum illegality could easily backfire), and England should dominate.
They are full of confidence, can clearly adapt their style of play to suit the conditions and the opposition, and on current form you have to back England to win at home.
England by 7
What do you think? Where do you think the game will be won or lost?
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
Think it will be close, but in Eddie we trust, so I’ll go for an England win. However regardless of the result this has been a great year for English rugby.
Exactly, it has been!
A monumental year! Who would have thought post WC that England would be where they are now at 2nd in the world instead of 5th or 6th was it?
More interested in talking it up than the nay-sayer drivel!
AlexD
Also agree.
Much better to have ‘talking it up’ drivel than ‘nay-sayer drivel’, that’s for sure!
And I bet you voted ‘Brexit’.
You know i did mate for the simple reason i’ve said so more than once.
Oh and don’t tell me all 19 million are racist; that would be quite something even for you i feel (i detect smatterings of reason, logic and objectivity in those rants of yours and hold much hope for you in the future by way of improvement.
Who are you supporting tomorrow in the England v Australia game (the former a country where you do live and work; you can’t hate us that much do you……?
Because RWC games count as double points in the ranking system Jones inherited the 8th best team in the world.
I really appreciate (unlike Lancaster) he’s not talked negatively about the past, but just moved us forwards.
If I compare the line ups to the last time we played our changes weaken us (loss of Watson, Itoje, Vunipola) and I think their changes make them significantly stronger
Sio for Slipper
Douglas for Skelton
Pocock for Fardy
Timani for McMahon
Naivalu for Horne
Hodge for Toomua
Our FR replacements could do some damage, but on balance I think Aus by 5.
Agree. @ home England likely to prevail.
Wouldn’t nec be surprised if it’s by more than 7, but mainly because the ref (Piper?) is likely to pen Aus by 2/3 to 1 judging by most prev stats in the AI’s?
Also agree that England will @ v least hold up @ scrum. This is where Piper can make or break the game IMO.
I just hope he is a mite more objective than prev, incl of release in the tackle before allowing the tackler to play the ball grounded ball carrier.
In principle though, I concur with Benjit, in that it will likely ‘be close’, certainly in terms of a contest, although less certain of on the scoreboard, as aforementioned.
Just trust that it’s an open game in so far as Piper lets the match flow. Oz will likely attack @ every opportunity, but will need to have @ least par & QUICK ball @ breakdown to do so effectively.
Can also only hope that England too play an open game, but, even @ the risk of my propensity to ‘doing England down’, I don’t see this happening in the biggest match & @ the fag end of the AI season.
Here’s hoping though.
I also hope that any players leaving the pitch only do so as subs & NOT because of cards!
Happy days.
Heart as always says England but head says Aus by 7
Admittedly Ireland managed to hold them at bay with a seriously rejigged back line but the Aussies let a number of chances go begging.
With the exception of Phipps, this is a better team than the one Ireland faced and they have even more motivation for a win after their whitewashing in the summer.
England’s defence has looked creaky at times with a number of first up tackles missed and if that happens again it will cost us.
If Hughes can regain his form of last year and if Wood plays out of his skin then we can win. But BV is a big part of this team and his injury changes things massively.
On the plus side, our bench is stronger and if it’s really close could make a difference.
Should be a good one!
Job done however again!
Creakiest start from England since the WC match against Oz.
Pluses aplenty however:
1. England ability to battle it out and use plan B, C and D in order to win.
2. Try line defence outstanding (definitely coached and inspired by Eddie’s manual of mental toughness)
3. Vunipola not badly missed due to Hughes our Commonwealth player extraordinaire (allowed i would argue when The ABs and Oz are no longer white but Pacific island brown) An excuse i would argue for England therefore to play multi-cultural catch up!
4. England’s attack as mentioned by Guscott in post match interview still needs refining as the tries were not out of the top drawer (particularly when compared to the brilliance of AB creativity and flair.)
However it matters not at this stage IMO. The points were still wracked up and a win is a win. They have a year to develop the creative flair and taste for wonder tries a la All Blacks.
Can’t say fairer than that!