You're boys take one hell of a beating [size=9](Almost)[/siz

[Fairleigh Good!]

What a superb advert for the Ashes series that game tonight was between England A and Australia. More entertainment in 80 minutes than the RU Hypeathon has provided since it started.

I know that Australia were just using it to prepare themselves and get things tuned, but there were several players who must go to bed tonight feeling uneasy about their places.

Sing was poor, as was the entire back line (Including Lockyer). I thought the most glaring differences between the sides were in the centres, and halves. At centre Gleeson shone like a beacon for England, and who his opposite number was I'm not quite sure as he was anonymous. Ellis must surely be thrown out of the senior side to make way for Gleeson. 3 clean breaks and 8 offloads, plus a try. Not bad going against the best in the world.

Young Burrow and McGuire were superb tonight, and should push for selection at least on the bench. Now is the time to throw these kids in, they'll never learn until they learn the hard way, a good hard test series against the Aussies would do wonders for their development.

Anyone know what got into Gower's bonnet? He was spoiling for a fight from the off, and chose the wrong man to launch off at when he finally did lose his cool.

I'm under no illusions that we will beat the Roos in the tests, but if the seniors can show the fight the young lads displayed tonight then the next month or so should be very interesting.

 

[JasonE]

I still don't think GB can win while ever they persist with Forshaw, Connolly and McDermott, they are useless.

 

[JJ]

Anyone know what got into Gower's bonnet? He was spoiling for a fight from the off, and chose the wrong man to launch off at when he finally did lose his cool.

I'm under no illusions that we will beat the Roos in the tests, but if the seniors can show the fight the young lads displayed tonight then the next month or so should be very interesting.

1. Gower's probably had a gutsful of being played out of position or being given half a game because of the coach's relationship with Kimmorley. How can he get anything going when everything seems set up for Kimmorley to be the half?

2. I don't think that believing you can win the ashes is an illusion anymore. They can, whether they will or not is another story. But if Anderson sticks with his favourites you'd have to be favourites for the first test. Whether Anderson bites the bullet and makes a bold selection or two will have a huge influence. The Aussies can always come back with "well we had 19 players out"

3. God, they need Girdler to play!!!!

 

[roopy]

This is the weakest Kangaroo team in living memory.
England should be favourites.
It is just history keeping all from declaring England favourites I think.
Morley could produce the game, or series, of his life and really dominate what is a weak Australian pack, and the Australian backs are a mixture of guys who are past it and guys who haven't made the grade yet.

 

[ali]

I still don't think GB can win while ever they persist with Forshaw, Connolly and McDermott, they are useless.

Agreed, not on Conolly though. But after today Gleeson is probably a better option at centre. Whilst I was confident England A would go close today, I still think Australia will win the Ashes.

 

[In-goal]

Sorry Barrie but you must be gone along with forshaw.

 

[JasonE]

This is how I see the first 2 tests panning out, Australia will win the first test and Waite will wake up to himself and get rid of the above mentioned players, then at Hull in front of an intimidating crowd GB will bounce back to level the series at 1-1.

 

[JJ]

This is how I see the first 2 tests panning out, Australia will win the first test and Waite will wake up to himself and get rid of the above mentioned players, then at Hull in front of an intimidating crowd GB will bounce back to level the series at 1-1.

I'd put my money on Waite waking up before Anderson does...

Series too close to call, the Aussies will be desparate not to lose though

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Great Britian to win 2-1 IMO.

 

[Misanthrope]

GB have a chance to really embarass the Kangaroos. It's not just injuries that are hurting us- it's idiocy on the behalf of the coach and selectors. There are a lot of players who should be there who aren't, and even more who shouldn't be there and are.

Chris

 

[Rooster Lozz]

Just got back from London after driving down to watch the game. Great atmosphere great to see some fellow Aussies. But what a joke that performance was! I dont even know where to start. Some of those players in that team should never be in the position to call themselves a Kangaroo. First of all bloody Mason was terrible, the guy did nothing all night and when it comes to defending on our line he either goes out to the wings or stands in the middle and badly attempts to tackle, this guy is a joke! Next is fricken Kimmorley, yeah sure he made us a good break and set up a few tries but apart from that he was useless. He got the man of the match but i dont know what game the judges were watching, if he plays in the test matches which he will the lions will just run over him and smash him all day We would be much better served to have Gower there and Wing at five eigth.
There was nobody out there with some guts and hard running determination and pride to be playing for their country. I think the only players that can hold their heads high is Lockyer and Ricketson the rest did nothing! And what the hell was Gower thinking when he starts a punch up with a guy with less than 10 to go when the other team were getting on top of us? Anderson is a complete joke he has picked some players without any heart.
Also just an interesting thing i saw was Kimmorley pointing fingers and yelling at team mates, I mean shouldnt he have a good look in the mirror and start pointing some fingers at himself?

 

[ChiaPete]

Morley could produce the game, or series, of his life and really dominate what is a weak Australian pack, and the Australian backs are a mixture of guys who are past it and guys who haven't made the grade yet.

I agree, I can see Morley controlling the Aussie pack. He has twice the kazoo's of any two of the Aussies, no disrespect to the Roo's thats just how high I rate him.

Pete
GO BULLDOGS

 

[In-goal]

the difference will be in the tests:

Australia won't wont to be the first team in 33 years to lose the ashes, so i can see them realy fireing up for the tests.

Great Britian will be more determined than ever to show that they are once again a force in world rugby, Morley wants to prove that he is the toughest player on earth

 

[Agro]

Like Rooster Lozz, I was at last night's game. And I came to the opnion like most other's that this is going to be a very very close test series against the poms.
IMO Australia's standout performer was Robbie Kearn's, he seemed the only forward willing to take it to the Pommy's. Lockyer was as solid as always . And I think the controversial BK played ok, I'd have to rank him in the best 5 aussies on the field, like that or not.

The english Halfback was also very impresive(and very small) , A similar player to Preston although with a better passing game. One to look out for iun the furture.

Overall the aussies were the better team for approx 50 minutes of the game, however in the last 30 mins they seemed to tire and were not getting up quick enough in defence.

CA will have to get the whip onto the boys, as last night's performance would not have beaten the no 1 english side.

Bring on the tests!!

 

[SFW]

A few players just didn't show up for Australia.

Lockyer wasn't himself, he wasn't effective when he joined the line.

Sing was dreadful :lol:

Gower was average, spoiling for a fight as the original poster said.

Mason... :lol: What a girl. 19-year-old Hock picked him up and dumped him on his ass, Mason didn't know what to do with himself. :lol:

Ricketson and Fitzgibbon were very quiet. Simpson was superb though, worked really hard.

I thought Kimmorley and Simpson were Australia's best. Kimmorley looked very sharp and made a couple of good breaks. His distribution is superb, Hegarty and De Vere got a lot of good ball but couldn't beat their markers (Gleeson and Aspinwall). Kearns was also very good, he hits up hard. Buderus played well too, he gave the markers a horrid time at the ruck.

To be honest, there was nothing there that GB couldn't handle. As long as the right players are picked we would beat Australia 3-0 if they played like that.

 

[JJ]

Morley could produce the game, or series, of his life and really dominate what is a weak Australian pack, and the Australian backs are a mixture of guys who are past it and guys who haven't made the grade yet.

I agree, I can see Morley controlling the Aussie pack. He has twice the kazoo's of any two of the Aussies, no disrespect to the Roo's thats just how high I rate him.

Pete
GO BULLDOGS

No one player can control a whole forward pack. If Anderson gets the right forwards on the field (Webcke, Buderus, Clinton, Ftiz, Simpson, Rickety - Res Civo, Kearns, Waterhouse & Crocker) it's a fairly handy pack. The players that can de dominated (Mason, Villa) need to be left out - their whole game revolves around intimidating the opposition, and it just doesn't happen at this level.