This from the person who has to Google Adam Goodes or any tennis player. I've seen the Brumbies on the Super Rugby fwiw (we get all the matches live here). I had no idea at the time why Genia was subbed to bring Phipps on anyway? They also took the 1 off because he gave a few penalties away at the scrum and his 17 replacement gave the dire pass to blue not gold.

Oh, I meant to add that Japan produces even greater players.

The subs have been a pretty important part of the coach's game plan. Has been all year and most of the time its done us very well. We actually have good depth now and bringing those fresh legs on for the last 20 mins is a good thing.

Every game this year he has subbed the whole front row. Its been a good thing. He should have subbed Sio earlier. Joubert had it in for him and when a ref does, you sub. So many points are scored off scrum pens these days, you need take that out of the equation.

Yeah the replacement prop threw a dodgy but props should not be throwing passes. The backline went missing.

If Scotland are pissed it shows the lack of knowledge depth they have in the game. They infringed all day at the scrum and got 9 points out of it and injured an Australian player doing so. They took their opportunties via Australian errors and never looked like creating their own.

Australia best team on the day ..... rugby is the winner.

Yep. Foley still had to kick it over from out wide and in the pouring slippery rain and under immense pressure. Great skill.

Yep. Moving on. Interesting games this weekend.

I think the Saff's, if they were to play their cards right could stifle the AB's. Stifle being the trick. Got to kill off their attack from the breakdown and snuff down the backline forcing errors.

As for the Arg Oz game, well the Argies have the scrum and they have a backline. You don't get to a WC semi without one. They were also pretty dominant against Ireland at the breakdown, mind you, the Irish were no where to be seen at the breakdown with O'Brien. Close call me thinks. I'd have to think the Wallabies might try and put all those silly errors to bed and play it pretty straight and simple. That should ensure a close win.

I agree. A good summary.

And as long as the ABs are refereed to the law of the game. For some reason, the majority of refs hold the ABs in some kind of thrall - they're allowed to get away with things that other teams aren't. Their captain McCaw knows this and plays to it - the biggest cheat in world rugby. Almost as bad as Fitzpatrick and Gregan once were

Yeah McCaw runs a pretty tight line. Lots of hands where hands shouldn't be. He's bloody good at it too.

Let's hope Jérôme Garcès is vigilant.

If this is the case then the Saffers should be mentioning it as much as possible pre-game and pointing it out to the ref (like Australia did with England's scrummaging to great effect).

If someone has a strength in any sport then you don't play to it too much. I guess that means trying to run the ball and move it wide but probably the All Blacks would thrive on that? (I'll leave it to the rugby experts, you know who you are, to comment on that).

That was close. That lost lineout from the Saffas around the 72 min mark could have been the difference.

Very close, much closer than I thought it would be. I really hoped South Africa could pull it off....have to just wait for the Australia game tonight now.

For personal reasons, I'm now rooting for the Aussies.

Best of.

Like I said, rugby league makes more sense because teams don't try to win via penalties.

Look at SA, all of their points scored via penalties. Not a single try.

Earlier, Scotland was actually the team that according to rugby union rules should have dumped Australia out of the tournament. It took an idiot ref (or a bent one) to deny Scotland their rugby union victory.

Gimme league any day...

i can hear a pin drop