RWC: Key questions for Wallabies v England quarter-final, schedule
The Wallabies will start underdogs in their World Cup quarter-final against England — but across the group stage, we’ve learned plenty about how Michael Cheika’s men can force an upset.
Now or never.
The Wallabies will catapult themselves to a big finish at the Rugby World Cup or head home as flops depending on the result of the epic sudden-death quarter-final against England in Oita on Saturday afternoon.
JIM TUCKER dissects what we have learnt from four patchy pool games.
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FIVE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNT ABOUT THE WALLABIES
1. Beware a terminal red or yellow card. Isi Naisarani’s yellow for an accidental jaw bump in a clean-out against Georgia was the 28th card (27 yellow and one red) against the Wallabies since the 2015 World Cup. No other top nation has given away that many. So, yes, discipline is a finger-crossing, toe-crossing lottery.
2. Goalkicking. England’s Owen Farrell just wins it if it comes down to a tight duel of penalty goals in the final 15 minutes. Christian Lealiifano, Matt Toomua and Reece Hodge have to somehow muster a 75 per cent success rate between them. Now or never.
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3. The Wallabies are going to run. The Wallabies will back their high-passing game but a little less of the dumb stuff please. Why you’d try to run out of your quarter in the wet against Georgia and have hooker Tolu Latu knock on in front of the posts is beyond us. Find the right balance. More ball to Marika Koroibete. His solo try against Georgia was a dazzler.
4. The forwards can go toe-to-toe with England. There have been huge gains at the lineout. Lock Izack Rodda stole three Georgian lineouts and Latu is nailing long throws which means a great platform to run a tricky set play attack from. Scrum...rock solid.
5. Start matches at halftime. The Wallabies are stronger finishers with a collective 87-25 edge in second half play against Fiji, Wales, Uruguay and Georgia. It reflects fitness gains, some excellent supersub efforts from Matt Toomua, Will Genia and co, too many errors early in games and adapting with some good halftime chat.
Originally published as RWC: Key questions for Wallabies v England quarter-final, schedule