England vs Australia 19th of Oct, 8.15am GMT

[Raggs]

I'll change it in the unlikely event of it being Wales.

Is it wrong to be feeling a little confident? I know all bets are off in knockouts but still?

EDIT removed comments on Aus/Geo.

[p/d]

steady, this will get moved. Certain posters might see the mention of 'both teams' as a spoiler

[Mellsblue]

Ffs. I was trying to keep the time and date of this match as a surprise.

[Mellsblue]

Ffs. I was trying to keep the time and date of this match as a surprise.

Actually, having now checked the details, I would’ve been surprised.

[twitchy]

I think it will be a cracking game.

[Digby]

I'd seen reasons for confidence whatever side we play. Not that we look excellent, more nobody really does, and we've got a lot of good players who have a gameplan whether one likes it or not

[Digby]

Ffs. I was trying to keep the time and date of this match as a surprise.

Actually, having now checked the details, I would’ve been surprised.

Kudos for quoting yourself so quickly. A bit annoying the game is on Sunday, Saturday would be better if they're up for moving some games!

[Raggs]

Ffs. I was trying to keep the time and date of this match as a surprise.

Actually, having now checked the details, I would’ve been surprised.

Kudos for quoting yourself so quickly. A bit annoying the game is on Sunday, Saturday would be better if they're up for moving some games!

The 19th is a Saturday?

[Digby]

Actually, having now checked the details, I would’ve been surprised.

Kudos for quoting yourself so quickly. A bit annoying the game is on Sunday, Saturday would be better if they're up for moving some games!

The 19th is a Saturday?

is it too late to complain the game isn't on the Sunday?

[Stom]

Fuck. I will be in Romania, of course, and this will be at 9:15am for me, there...Might not be able to watch it. Have to wait and see

Would be lovely to see Cheika hitting things again, the giant galah!

[Mellsblue]

Ffs. I was trying to keep the time and date of this match as a surprise.

Actually, having now checked the details, I would’ve been surprised.

Kudos for quoting yourself so quickly.

Always trying to push the envelope of what’s possible.

[Mellsblue]

Actually, having now checked the details, I would’ve been surprised.

Kudos for quoting yourself so quickly. A bit annoying the game is on Sunday, Saturday would be better if they're up for moving some games!

The 19th is a Saturday?

WR app saying it’s an 8.15am ko in the UK.

[Raggs]

Kudos for quoting yourself so quickly. A bit annoying the game is on Sunday, Saturday would be better if they're up for moving some games!

The 19th is a Saturday?

WR app saying it’s an 8.15am ko in the UK.

Hmm, time differences in Google got me somewhere, British summer time equivalent in Japan?

[Puja]

I am impressed with how quickly we have filled a page with nothing.

Also, with mod hat on, I think anyone who is trying to avoid that Australia score who then goes to a thread about Australia deseves everything they get. The issues have been about turning England vs threads into general world cup match threads rather than hitting new thread or going to one of the perfectly viable threads on the GMB. Comment away!

Speaking of, anyone else noticed that Australia love a high tackle? They've done about 4 each game!

Puja

[p/d]

foundations. The backbone to all good threads

[Raggs]

Let's be honest, aus could have won or lost and still are the likely opponents in this game.

[Gloskarlos]

Commentators reckoning Aus deliberately held back and played a one dimensional way to give nothing away to England. Agree? Or think that’s a load of gonads.

[Scrumhead]

Absolute rubbish. This is the same line that’s been rolled out to excuse poor, one-dimensional teams for time immemorial.

This is not a vintage Australian side.

[Digby]

But they do have some quality players, and can put points on anyone

[Puja]

But they do have some quality players, and can put points on anyone

True, but Genia's a shadow of his former self to the extent that Nic White is being selected ahead of him, they have no idea who's playing fly-half, and their main threat in Beale might be out injured after a big blow to the head today.

Famous last words, but this Australian side does't scare me. Out of the quarter finallists I'd probably choose them to play against (on the basis that the Japanese might have a monumental game in them in front of their crowd).

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Is anyone confident? 2015 still haunts me.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Is anyone confident? 2015 still haunts me.

Confident in a way, in that we should have the resources to beat this Australian side, but it is a one off game with a good chunk of pressure.

[Renniks]

Not even close to confident.

We're rusty, missing game time, not getting the best out of the squad as a whole, and if they manage to nullify our gameplan, we don't seem to adapt to a plan B.

Not to mention Billy underperforming (and potentially not being fit),
a risk of Ford being dropped lingers for big games,
Mako / Marler fitness situation is far from ideal,
Oh, and Ben Youngs and Willi Heinz being our scrum halves still,

The only glimmer of hope was that they struggled against Georgia - and that if things click for us we are the better team

[twitchy]

Is any one secretly hoping eddie will get involved in some aussie style sledging with cheika this week?

[Digby]

But they do have some quality players, and can put points on anyone

True, but Genia's a shadow of his former self to the extent that Nic White is being selected ahead of him, they have no idea who's playing fly-half, and their main threat in Beale might be out injured after a big blow to the head today.

Famous last words, but this Australian side does't scare me. Out of the quarter finallists I'd probably choose them to play against (on the basis that the Japanese might have a monumental game in them in front of their crowd).

Puja

They nearly beat Wales playing for just 40 minutes, and that's not. defence that tends to gift points (ignoring Parkes and JD have clearly been playing drunk). I've thought given relative resources available to Australia they've had the best attack going in rugby for a long time, though like Scotland (albeit with rather more talent than Scotland) they can overdo it somewhat. Here's hoping Genia is quiet, or perhaps here's hoping we play as we could/should