Comments on: Rate the match: Australia vs Fiji, RWC 2015

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:13:07 +0000

He certainly seems to have turned things around a bit from losing 3 out of 4 on the Autumn tour.

By: Cramps

Cramps — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 09:49:50 +0000

Fair point on the lineout, that was Simmons leaving the field and it lost the momentum. The subs were also poor, which is unusual compared to the impact they had against SA, Argentina and NZ.

The first choice forward pack was on the field last night, but the back line was selected primarily to nullify the Fiji attack. The zippy playmaking fellas (cooper, Beale, Phipps, speight and Tomane) are all lined up to play in a separate XV on Sunday.

You’ll see a different combination next week. No one in Australia knows who the first choice 9 or 10 are. It’s been changing constantly. That was the first time Genia and Foley have run on together. Trust in Cheika has been the mantra, and with the exception of Eden Park, he’s been delivering.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 09:35:19 +0000

Disagree – they scored two good tries from rolling mauls ( a tactic that may not be so successful against stronger sides) but other than that showed little to no incisiveness with the honourable exception of Kepu who ran the best line we saw all night.

To have perhaps the world’s best running full-back and not be able to bring him effectively into a game against a team ranked 7 places below you is nigh on criminal.

I expected the Aussies to crack on in the second half and turn the screw. Instead it was Fiji (who, let’s remember, had played England just 4 days before) who finished as the stronger side.

The Aussie subs were poor. Their lack of any impact and the 4 lost line-outs in a row has to be a real concern.

Foley doesn’t seem to me to be the man to get the extremely dangerous Aussie backs moving. Cooper might be the better choice but does he still have the tendency to do silly things?

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:41:13 +0000

Good game, but there is a lot of worry in the Aussie ranks I would say. They may have put on a brave face, but you can’t deny that their backline was pretty much missing the whole game. This guy, Rugger, does his own blog and hit the nail on the head.

http://opinionbreakdownrwc15.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/game-10-australia-vs-fiji.html

By: Cramps

Cramps — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 04:13:26 +0000

I don’t know about that mate, the Wobs had the game stitched up at the end of 50mins. This is despite Fiji playing much more coherent ‘running rugby’ than against Pomgolia.

The execution of the lineout, a few pushed passes and a sub-par bench performance (and the yellow card) bombed the chance for the 4th try, but the Wobs won this at a canter.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 21:04:53 +0000

Good game and well played Fiji. The Aussies got away with murder in the last twenty mins when it came to offside

Think Fiji’s performance at the breakdown and scrum put England’s efforts into a bit more perspective. I’m less worried about the much heralded ‘Pooper’ combo now

By: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 21:00:52 +0000

They targeted England too and were as fresh as daisies still lost and gave away bonus point.

Teams just need to learn to respect them and treat them like the quality side they are becoming. Wales have been punished more than most underestimating Fiji won’t do the same again

By: Stu

Stu — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 20:12:15 +0000

Think it shows how the draw/turnaround affects the pools…you have to wonder if Fiji may have got even closer if they hadn’t played 4 days ago. They will be fresh for Wales though which is supposedly a game they targeted to win…could be the pool decider!

By: kit

kit — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 19:25:09 +0000

Aussies looked good, one of the few positives you can take as an England fan is that we played poorly and beat a much fresher Fiji team by more than the Aussies did with a far better performance. So if we pull together and actually play some good rugby we should go fairly well….. or am I clutching at straws!!!!

By: Col

Col — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 19:17:28 +0000

Good game of rugby though Australia were lucky to have avoided a yellow card or two in the first half when Fiji were camped in their 22. Overall performance by Referee favoured Australia and was poor. Aussies look strong & must be favourites to win the pool despite lack of bonus point.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:16:57 +0000

Easily an 8. Shows Fiji really do deserve a lot of credit for frustrating England. Caused problems at the breakdown even against Hooper and Pocock, won a scrum against the head and at one point in the second half stole four Aussie lineouts in a row, including two in their own 22 with Pocock about to get ready for a hattrick of mauling tries.
It was also a cracking game of rugby. To deny the Rugby Championship holders a bonus point after a five day turnaround is a herculean effort.