So what did we all learn about the SH and NH teams this weekend ? ? ?

First topic message reminder :

New Zealand 42 - 10 (HT 23 - 3) Ireland

Tries:Savea 3, Thomson, Smith Tries:McFadden
Penalties:Carter 3 Penalties:Sexton
Conversions:Carter 4 Conversions:Sexton


Australia 27 - 19 (HT 10 - 3) Wales

Tries:
Higginbotham, Genia, McCabe Tries:Cuthbert
Penalties:Barnes Penalties:Halfpenny 4
Drop-goals:Barnes
Conversions:Barnes 3 Conversions:Halfpenny


South Africa 22 - 17 (HT 6 - 6) England

Tries:Steyn, de Villiers Tries:Foden
Penalties:Steyn 4 Penalties:Farrell 4


Pretty conclusive win by the Blacks over Ireland but Ireland did very well in the first half, new players looked good. But the ABs were sublime, making rugby look like the easiest game in the world.

Aussies really hit form, Wales were off colour, there is still a series here.

SA looked great in the 2nd third, made heaps of mistakes particularly goal kicking, but a strong scrum and great defending held out. This series is far from over if England can up their game, most likely be shuffling the squad for the match day team...

Linebreaker wrote:

damngoodOvalball wrote:England have a 100% winning ratio over Oz in the last two games played between the historic sporting rivals. The same stats apply to Test cricket.

That must be the weakest use of statistics in the history of sport.

As for cricket - I can't remember Australia ever losing a series 3-0 at the height of their world dominance. That surely is a first.

It's not that weak is it? The last two Tests in major sports?

That was an awesome aus cricket team though (was) and England are not at the height of their world dominance yet! Looking forward to the back to back ashes series and cranking up the saggy greens humiliation. I'm sure Ricky will be able to cope with jimmy Anderson far more easily in English conditions. He might even average more than 14 this time around!
Anyway back to rugby stats; England have knocked oz out of more rugby world cups than I've had hot meals (today)

Well i have learned that referes will bend over backwards to help the SH teams,
Welsh scrum murders the Australian scrum but the ref calls reset each time,
on the seventh scrum Wales slip the bind straight penalty to Australia! bloody pathetic.

Also the NH is not allowed to challenge for the ball instant penalty against them if they do,
the SH thou can treat the breakdown like a swimming pool.

F***ING ridiculous so gutted for Wales and Ireland today.

Guttered for Ireland because of the ref? Show some grace mate, pull your head in.

Ireland and Wales are really doing nothing good for my blood pressure.

Yeah we generally get the rub of the green down South, but then up north we don't.

A few 50/50 decisions gone against Ireland and Wales today. Thats to be expect though.

The SH teams are still the best but the gap is closing. Test matches in another few years are going to be very unpredictable.

damngoodOvalball wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:

damngoodOvalball wrote:England have a 100% winning ratio over Oz in the last two games played between the historic sporting rivals. The same stats apply to Test cricket.

That must be the weakest use of statistics in the history of sport.

As for cricket - I can't remember Australia ever losing a series 3-0 at the height of their world dominance. That surely is a first.

It's not that weak is it? The last two Tests in major sports?

That was an awesome aus cricket team though (was) and England are not at the height of their world dominance yet! Looking forward to the back to back ashes series and cranking up the saggy greens humiliation. I'm sure Ricky will be able to cope with jimmy Anderson far more easily in English conditions. He might even average more than 14 this time around!
Anyway back to rugby stats; England have knocked oz out of more rugby world cups than I've had hot meals (today)

But we've got two World Cups.

viewtothegym wrote:Well i have learned that referes will bend over backwards to help the SH teams,
Welsh scrum murders the Australian scrum but the ref calls reset each time,
on the seventh scrum Wales slip the bind straight penalty to Australia! bloody pathetic.

Also the NH is not allowed to challenge for the ball instant penalty against them if they do,
the SH thou can treat the breakdown like a swimming pool.

F***ING ridiculous so gutted for Wales and Ireland today.

Always with the Referee...

What we've learnt is that in the NH pool, Wales are probably on top at the moment. When it comes to playing SH however, they lack the nouse to close out games. Seriously, Wales had a good opportunity to win with 10 minutes against 14 men and Barnes crocked, the match should have been closed out. It was 3 all during that period which demonstrates the difference between the teams. I suspect the Wallabies will win in Sydney next week to make it 3 nil in the series.

Dry your eyes, Wales simply aren't good enough. Yet.

Some fantastic performances by NZ Ireland Australia and Wales. Equally South Africa blew England off the park.

Two very close games one in the final second, the gap between NZ and Ireland and, Wales and Australia diminished this weekend. But both teams lost to their SH opponents.

Hopefully we will see some more great matches next weekend.

Lets also say well done, yet again, to the Scots and their great winning streak, Australia and Fiji both beaten, Samoa next. A winning tour could see a huge boost in confidence for the Scots.

Scotland will still be wooden spooners in the 2013 six nations because they are still rubbish

See how many tries the leaked to Fiji? An almost amateur Fiji team may i add

Least they beat Australia View...more than your "gods" could do....tool!

Italy would have beat the Aussie b team in the rain,
just like last year when Scotland beat an under strength Argentina in the summer they bragged themselves up as the dark horses of the six nations
lets not skirt around the subject Scotland are god awful

You play to the conditions...Scotland did...Wales couldnt....

ok

I believe I was proven right, that Ireland have been badly underperforming, and are capable of playing far better, like they did at the weekend.

But I still think a change in coaching team is needed to bring an end to the inconsistency and the team generally being less than the sum of their parts.

As well as Ireland, I think Wales need to look at mixing up their tactics a bit too. There's no gulf in class evident between them and the Aussie's, but the Welsh were rather predictable and dumb at times.

New England have been taught a harsh lesson by the Springbok pack, as I thought they would, but it really is a new side, and they really will benefit from the experience I think.

Another win for Scotland. Now they just need to figure out how to win competitive competition games.

A good weekend for the north in terms of performances. But.......

still not good enough. Yet.

viewtothegym wrote:Italy would have beat the Aussie b team in the rain,
just like last year when Scotland beat an under strength Argentina in the summer they bragged themselves up as the dark horses of the six nations
lets not skirt around the subject Scotland are god awful

I think the Scots get upset if you call their National costume a "skirt".

The correct term is Kilt!

GeordieFalcon wrote:You play to the conditions...Scotland did...Wales couldnt....didn't yet

It's OK, I've fixed that for you