Autumn Int. other countries

[kingtiger]

ID for today's broadcast

240d4d9f74fd0c2908a43405eb1fbb03dd6329e7

[paddyor]

Anyone see the English game? Farrell any good at 12

[Peg Leg]

Anyone see the English game? Farrell any good at 12

Yes, no.

[Vamos los azules]

Anyone see the English game? Farrell any good at 12

I only caught the last 10 minutes and as he had been subbed by then I am guessing no.

Mind you, I do feel bad for him (and all the various England players in various sports who have gone through the same before him) because the media built him up into something he clearly wasn't when he first came on the international scene, and now they have decided it is time to tear him down because George Ford is the new anointed one. At least until Ford's form hits the skids/he gets steamrollered by Henshaw in the 6N/his woejous place kicking costs England a big match and then it'll be time to go after him and pick the next new great white hope to promote.

[nc6000]

Looks like the France win over Australia last week was a blip because they were back to being rubbish tonight against Argentina.

[berniemac67]

Anyone see the English game? Farrell any good at 12

Yes, no.

In fairness, he was no worse than most of them. Australia should win by at least one score next week. I am putting money on England going out in the group stages next year. Taking account of what's available to them in terms of playing resources, they are every bit as bad as we were under Kidney, and I don't say that lightly. Shocking.

[simonokeeffe]

Welsh team went for their annual broken clock performance yesterday
Defence was amazing but no bench killed them in the end despite NZ especially SBW contriving to drop as many balls as they possibly could

[berniemac67]

Welsh team went for their annual broken clock performance yesterday
Defence was amazing but no bench killed them in the end despite NZ especially SBW contriving to drop as many balls as they possibly could

If they played the same tight game (for 80 minutes) against the Wallabies they would beat them. I can't understand what gets into them when faced with gold jerseys, they feel compelled to fling the ball about and play at a million miles an hour. A real shame for them.

[ichabodscrane]

Welsh team went for their annual broken clock performance yesterday
Defence was amazing but no bench killed them in the end despite NZ especially SBW contriving to drop as many balls as they possibly could

If they played the same tight game (for 80 minutes) against the Wallabies they would beat them. I can't understand what gets into them when faced with gold jerseys, they feel compelled to fling the ball about and play at a million miles an hour. A real shame for them.

I think we felt, or at least Zebo felt compelled to fling the ball around in the first half yesterday. Wales have only one way of playing and I think it takes a LOT to sustain that style for 80mins.

[simonokeeffe]

Welsh team went for their annual broken clock performance yesterday
Defence was amazing but no bench killed them in the end despite NZ especially SBW contriving to drop as many balls as they possibly could

If they played the same tight game (for 80 minutes) against the Wallabies they would beat them. I can't understand what gets into them when faced with gold jerseys, they feel compelled to fling the ball about and play at a million miles an hour. A real shame for them.

I think we felt, or at least Zebo felt compelled to fling the ball around in the first half yesterday. Wales have only one way of playing and I think it takes a LOT to sustain that style for 80mins.

it also takes a bench

[berniemac67]

If they played the same tight game (for 80 minutes) against the Wallabies they would beat them. I can't understand what gets into them when faced with gold jerseys, they feel compelled to fling the ball about and play at a million miles an hour. A real shame for them.

I think we felt, or at least Zebo felt compelled to fling the ball around in the first half yesterday. Wales have only one way of playing and I think it takes a LOT to sustain that style for 80mins.

it also takes a bench

A bench is particularly necessary if you play the Aussie way for 80 mins. We only needed half a bench.

My point is that if Wales had played defensively/conservatively against the Aussies like they did against NZ yesterday they would have been better placed to win. They just didn't play smart in that match.

[simonokeeffe]

Ford is starting at 10 again this weekend
Lancaster implying 12x3 to play outside him

[Ruckedtobits]

FYI,
Georgia 35 Japan 24 on Sunday in Tblisi. 5 Tries to three Tries.
Japan (under Eddie Jones) had risen to No 10 in World Rankings prior to Sunday when Georgia beat them. The clear suggestion is that game time against good (i.e. Tier 1) opposition can rapidly improve teams in Tier 2. Georgia played with the following team (same as against Ireland except where noted):

15 Kvirikashvili
14 Mchedlidze
13 (C) Kacharava
12 Sharikadze
11 Todua
10 Khmaladze
9 Khutsishvili - (Sub v Ireland)
1 Nariashvili
2 Mamukashvili
3 Kubriashvili
4 Nemsadze (Sub v Ireland)
5 Datunashvili
6 Tkhilaishvili
7 Kolelishvili
8 Lomidze (Sub v Ireland)
Subs
16 Maisuradze
17 Zhvania
18 Chilachava
19 Mikautadze (Selected v Ireland)
20 Chkhaidze (selected v Ireland)
21 Begadze (Selected v Ireland)
22 Tsiklauri
23 Aptsiauri

WORLD Rankings - Monday 24th November 2014
Teams Points
1 NZL 93.7
2 RSA 89.93
3 IRE 85.48
4 ENG 84.21
5 AUS 83.59
6 WAL 79.94
7 FRA 79.66
8 SCO 78.78
9 ARG 78.23
10 SAM 75.39
11 JPN 74.7
12 FJI 74.57
13 TGA 74.12
14 ITA 71.19
15 GEO 70.76
16 USA 67.61
17 ROM 67.38
18 CAN 66.83
19 RUS 64.12
20 URU 63.58

So fairly significant gaps opens up from No 8 (Argentina) to No 9 (Samoa) and from No 15 (Georgia) to No 16 (USA). Both Romania and Canada will feel that they should be up among Japan, Fiji, Tonga and Georgia. Italy have slipped a long-way from their 2013 standards.

Of the traditional "Top Tier" Nations, Ireland and Scotland will be happiest with Autumn progress.

[simonokeeffe]

have France ever been as low as 7 before? heaven help them if they hadnt beaten Australia

[Xanthippe]

have France ever been as low as 7 before? heaven help them if they hadnt beaten Australia

They dropped to 8th (on 78.71 points) in February 2009 when Mr. D'Arcy made his miraculous comeback to score against them in our 30-21 victory.

They also dropped to 8th (on 79.72 points) for a single week during the 2011 RWC when they were beaten 19-14 by Tonga

[simonokeeffe]

have France ever been as low as 7 before? heaven help them if they hadnt beaten Australia

They dropped to 8th (on 78.71 points) in February 2009 when Mr. D'Arcy made his miraculous comeback to score against them in our 30-21 victory.

They also dropped to 8th (on 79.72 points) for a single week during the 2011 RWC when they were beaten 19-14 by Tonga

nice one

wouldnt fancy getting them as a 3rd seed in a RWC

[Morf]

have France ever been as low as 7 before? heaven help them if they hadnt beaten Australia

They dropped to 8th (on 78.71 points) in February 2009 when Mr. D'Arcy made his miraculous comeback to score against them in our 30-21 victory.

They also dropped to 8th (on 79.72 points) for a single week during the 2011 RWC when they were beaten 19-14 by Tonga

Amazing game. Maka the former Toulouse BR was captain that day, wasn't he?

A nephew playing with them now too I think.

[hugonaut]

What are people's thoughts on the mini-controversy surrounding Sonja McLauchlan's questioning of Gatland's record?

He loses sh*tloads of friendlies [one win against SANZAR teams in 27 attempts, or whatever it is], but does well in competitions [three Six Nations championships, semi-final of a World Cup]. Is it a big deal?

[Peg Leg]

I'd rather we lost to sa and aus in November and beat them in the rwc

[Peg Leg]

Or maybe not, they are still test matches. Should they be considered as "friendly"