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Wallabies finding rhythm in key area to lead World Cup statistics

The Wallabies claim the lineout. Photo by David Ramos - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images

Amid the doom and gloom in France around the Wallabies’ shock World Cup loss to Fiji, a shining light has been their lineout, spearheaded by new skipper Dave Porecki.

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The shell-shocked Australians are preparing for a must-win clash with Wales in Lyon this Sunday (Monday AEST), with their hopes of a quarter-final berth hanging on a victory.

After two rounds of the World Cup Porecki leads the tournament statistics in lineout throws, nailing each of his 21 deliveries which is eight more than any other hooker.

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Porecki, who became the Wallabies’ sixth captain of the year following a training injury to Will Skelton, was more concerned with the high-stakes match that lay ahead for his team.

“Everyone’s talking about how we’ve got an upcoming do-or-die game but it’s a World Cup so every game is do-or-die in my eyes and in the players’ eyes,” the 30-year-old Sydneysider said.

“We didn’t get it right (against Fiji) and we’ll get it right next week.”

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The Wallabies were outplayed by Fiji in almost every facet in Saint-Etienne apart from the lineout which rattled the Pacific Islanders, particularly in the second half of the historic 22-15 defeat.

The absence of injured giant Skelton was felt through the loss of his carries and defence through the middle but the World Cup debut of athletic youngster Nick Frost meant Australia had two genuine jumpers.

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Brumbies big man Frost, who missed the tournament-opening win over Georgia due to a troublesome ear injury, was a major disrupter to the Fijians, stealing four lineouts alone.

Richie Arnold was promoted from the bench to cover Skelton and while he had a mixed bag in general play and issues with discipline, he worked well in the lineout with Frost.

Arnold said another jumping option in the side was a trade-off to losing heavyweight Skelton, who doesn’t usually jump.

“When you lose Willy (Skelton) you lose that power, but obviously when another person comes in you have another jumping option,” Arnold said.

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“So yeah, our lineout defence was good and also our lineout attack was good but we still lost the match.”

Team Form

Last 5 Games

1
Wins
2
1
Streak
1
8
Tries Scored
13
-65
Points Difference
10
0/5
First Try
2/5
1/5
First Points
3/5
0/5
Race To 10 Points
2/5

With Skelton still sidelined with a calf injury, Arnold and Frost will again team up against Wales, with fellow lock Matt Philip covering from the bench.

They are expecting Wales to play a more traditional, grinding game based on their set-piece.

Unbeaten through two rounds, the Welsh line-out was vulnerable against minnows Portugal, who they beat 28-8 in Nice.

Fielding a B-side, Cup debutant Christ Tshiunza and fellow youngster Dafydd Jenkins lost four of Wales’ lineout throws.

But coaching great Warren Gatland will revert to the veteran second-row pairing of Adam Beard and Will Rowlands, who helped the Welsh to a tournament-opening 32-26 victory over Fiji.

Gatland said his team’s performance against Portugal “wasn’t pretty” but he was delighted they took maximum points to sit atop the Pool C table.

“Probably the lineout didn’t function as well as I would have liked and we were a bit lateral at times,” he said.

“When we were direct and in contact we looked comfortable.”

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P
PL 2 hours ago
Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


The officiating of last feet is non existent

The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

Last feet to last feet + 1 m


When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

25 were scrum for dissent


Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


All the s.ite would disappear


The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

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