How to beat Australia and NZ

[expansionist]

I think Samoa and PNG showed us how it can be done in the 2nd halves of their games, and I think France showed us how not to beat them..

My take on it is these teams approach the first half repeating the coaches mantra: nothing risky, hold onto the ball, complete the sets, kick and chase..

I think then when at half time theyre 30 points behind after that approach they open up a bit, take risks, push passes and score points.

The Aussies and NZ players are going to line up and knock down any team that approaches them with a 5 rucks and a kick approach. the only way to get them is surprise them, and throw them off, and play with aggression.

I know the weather conditions didnt help Fiji against Australia, but a penalty goal?? Really? as if that was ever going to decide the match. They played it way too tight and Australia swallowed them up.

PNG scored their points in the second half by playing a non conventional game - running on the last etc..

We have seen it in a few games now - and I sincerely hope that Ireland and Fiji try something different in their matches now. Bash the aussies and try some things, they may not come off - but at least they will die trying and not like France. The noises coming from Rick Stone seem to echo this, so I am very hopeful of some open attacking games, and maybe an upset!

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

The simple answer is, join them.

 

[some11]

If their defence isn't at the same level of Aus and NZ then they are going to get carved up no matter what they try.

 

[rlinternational]

By playing one against the other
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[Springs]

Although I hate it, the easiest way is to fight and play dirty. Samoa got NZ riled up and NZ lost their way.

England can beat NZ just as they've beaten them before. To beat Australia both England and NZ just have to keep the errors down. I think they're both good enough to win but they usually beat themselves while Australia just keeps composed and capitalises on their errors. If Australia get frustrated enough that they begin to throw it around and chance their hand they can fall apart as seen in 2008.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Although I hate it, the easiest way is to fight and play dirty. Samoa got NZ riled up and NZ lost their way.

England can beat NZ just as they've beaten them before. To beat Australia both England and NZ just have to keep the errors down. I think they're both good enough to win but they usually beat themselves while Australia just keeps composed and capitalises on their errors. If Australia get frustrated enough that they begin to throw it around and chance their hand they can fall apart as seen in 2008.

Very true. Rarely do Australia get nervous, especially against England. Hold the ball and play with confidence against Australia, and you're on a level playing field. (England and NZ anyway)

 

[Brutus]

Australia suck.

 

[BrisbaneRhino]

England seem to be unable to play any kind of expansive game without making mistakes. The other problem England have is that they seem to assume that if they are playing loose that the opposition will too - which is what seems to happen a lot in SL, where you get games where both teams throw the ball around and defence goes to pot.

Sadly what England tend to find is that to be mistake free they have to play it tight - which simply means they can't score enough points. But if they throw it around they get too loose and get caned for errors.

NZ have shown that at their best they can combine both good attacking football with a low-error rate. That's what won them the 2008 WC and the Tri Nations before that. I've yet to see an England team do the same for a full 80 minutes.

Australia are clearly number 1 because they have to be a bit under their best not to win against anyone, NZ are number 2 because at their best they are in with a real shot, and England 3 because at their best they have a good shot against NZ, but IMO not much hope against Australia.

 

[roughyedspud]

we know how to beat NZ so im not going to waste my time writting out a big essay on it....



australia on the other hand..lol...well...

if we look at the opening game...after 20mins we're 10-0 and been millimeters of being 16-0...now thats not the first time in recent games between us where we've raced out to a 8 or 10pts lead...only to let australia back into the game with silly mistakes & loss of concentration...

in a simplistic world after going out to a 10pts lead in cardiff we would have shut up shop,regrouped and played simple,stick it up the jumper, percentage RL and saw out the half...

if we look at the 2009 4nations game at wigan we kept the aussies out the entire 2nd half...so we can do it,we just need to put it into a single 80min game instead of bits of one game and bits of another..


so a game plan to beat australia?...break the game into 20min sections,have a clear plan on when to have a go and when to hold fire.....simplistic i know but simple is good.

 

[Joker's Wild]

we know how to beat NZ so im not going to waste my time writting out a big essay on it....



australia on the other hand..lol...well...

if we look at the opening game...after 20mins we're 10-0 and been millimeters of being 16-0...now thats not the first time in recent games between us where we've raced out to a 8 or 10pts lead...only to let australia back into the game with silly mistakes & loss of concentration...

in a simplistic world after going out to a 10pts lead in cardiff we would have shut up shop,regrouped and played simple,stick it up the jumper, percentage RL and saw out the half...

if we look at the 2009 4nations game at wigan we kept the aussies out the entire 2nd half...so we can do it,we just need to put it into a single 80min game instead of bits of one game and bits of another..


so a game plan to beat australia?...break the game into 20min sections,have a clear plan on when to have a go and when to hold fire.....simplistic i know but simple is good.

Possibly one of the worst things you can do against a side like Australia. Planning the game in such detail will only frustrate a team when things inevitably go off track.

If you want to beat Australia you need to play with intensity the whole game while at the same time maintaining discipline. Get in their faces, put pressure on their key men, get 2-3 tacklers in there to slow the ruck speed and kick to the corners to force them to keep coming out of their own end.

 

[juro]

For mine, the way for the underdog to beat a quality side in rugby league is to minimise their scoring opportunities. Bustle up in defense. Race off the line and hit them hard before they have time to move. If they then make errors and you get a chance to attack, try to stay composed. If you can't score, aim for the repeat set. If they don't make mistakes and you are bringing the ball out from your own line, make sure you get a good kick in. Aim for the sideline to slow the game down, or make sure your chasers get up there fast.

This is a very tiring gameplan, with lots of energy required. You'd need to rely on the adrenaline of the big game and a loud crowd to last anywhere close to 80 minutes.

Will it always work? Of course not, but it at least gives you a shot.

 

[Glen from the Mount]

Poison their food.

 

[shiznit]

Pfft...

We will use the same game plan we used in 2008.

Keep them in the grind for as long as possible... And then hope your world class players like SBW, Foran & Johnson do something special to win the game for you.

It's not a 100% sure fire way to win.... Australia have enough class to take the game away from you.

But you keep the game in the grind long enough to escalate the pressure on the favourites... Expectation can become crushing... Especially when things look like they are falling apart...

Funny things can happen to even the greatest players when they are put under extreme pressure... Look at Billy Slater in the 08 final.

The grind.... It's all about the grind...

 

[shiznit]

Dble

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

It's a forward battle. And as far as I've seen, NZ are playing with controlled confidence. Imo, they are favourites.

 

[Usain Bolt]

Aussies fear our forward pack. We will smash them into 2014. JWH, FPN, SBW, Pritchard, Kasiano and Matulino JUST WOW!!!!

 

[miguel de cervantes]

I didn't see the game last night, but reading the commentries as far as I can tell the Scottish pretty much played the attack card on the Kiwis last night - and it didn't really work.

 

[roughyedspud]

Aussies fear our forward pack. We will smash them into 2014. JWH, FPN, SBW, Pritchard, Kasiano and Matulino JUST WOW!!!!

gotta go through our pack first sunshine....

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

gotta go through our pack first sunshine....

You're luck Italy got knocked out early.

 

[thorson1987]

Poison their food.

Well it worked for the Saffas in the 95 RWC