AB's v England, Wallabies v France, thoughts?

My gut says AB's win comfortably but then I can't recall an AB side ever letting in 2 tries in the last 10 minutes before last week. The one thing about backing NZ that you could always rely on over the years was that you got a full 80 minutes from them. They were the side to run in the late tries to rub the oppositions nose in it and would always give everything to keep their opponents from scoring in the dying minutes no matter how far in front they were. Lancaster has 46 players, you lose 2 tests, of course he has to make changes whether he wants to or not. I can't see that 7 changes can be beneficial for the Poms although Tuilagi back to centre is clearly the right move. His clash with Fekitoa will be interesting. AB's having their best backrow on the paddock should make difference. I expect them to at some stage get 13+ in front and surely this time they will go on with it.

Which French team will turn up? I suspect that a rampaging Skelton and Palu may well knock the competitive desire from the French forwards and halves. If this is the case, and if the Wallabies can put up early points, this could well be a runaway. It is hard to see the Aussie backs not improving on last week. Having said that, we all know how good France can be on any given day and may well prove me wrong.

I'm expecting both home sides to cover the 12.5 with a preference to AB's as the better bet.

Thoughts?

My book hasn't put up O/U lines yet but with both games being dead rubber there is no reason why the ball won't be tossed around. Probably won't bet the O/U but if forced to pick I'd say both games go over 50.

You think the home teams will cover Davo?

Good effort by Wallabies but nothing to get carried away with. Went much to plan with a terrific debut by Skelton and a big game from Palu. I still have major concerns over the halves. Nic White is solid but he'll never be in the same class as Genia, Phipps straight out shouldn't be in the equation and Foley remains unconvincing although he did appear more confident once Kurtley came on. izzie continues to put himself in try scoring positons and continues to score them. We don't represent the continuous threat that the AB backs do so it will be a matter of minimising mistakes and capitalising on the few opportunities to score that may arise when we're up against the big boys.

What a great atmosphere there was at the game and congrats to the boys for staying out on the paddock for a good half hour after the game, shaking hands with fans, signing autographs and having photos taken with the crowd. Everybody in rugby knows that Sydney wants Saturday afternoon tests and we want them at SFS. All the pubs around Moore park were a sea of gold well before and well, well after the game. They would have been lucky to get half that crowd (around 43,000) if that had been played at night at Homebush. They know they can and will get 85,000 thousand at night at Homebush for the Bledisloe but I guarantee every one of those would prefer to be watching at SFS on a Saturday afternoon. I do of course appreciate that half of them wouldn't be able to get tickets and thus the powers that be have us by the short and curlies.

Unfortunately I missed the AB's game.