2010 Wallabies End of Year Tour (EOYT)

[Spewn]

does it really matter if our A team loses? It doesn't effect our IRB Rankings. THere's no trophies on offer. There's no RWC qualifications. Its a development tool pure and simple.

So it's ok to lose from here on in?

 

[Lee Grant]

your belief doesn't change what I just stated however.

Well said RR.

 

[#1 Tah]

At the end of the day: QLD 28 - NSW 30 is all I'm sayin'

Fixed.

 

[Thomond78]

does it really matter if our A team loses? It doesn't effect our IRB Rankings. THere's no trophies on offer. There's no RWC qualifications. Its a development tool pure and simple.

Unless you want to find out just how much of a living hell I can make your collective lives from the morning of November the 17th onwards if they do lose - then yes, it most certainly does.

 

[RugbyReg]

So it's ok to lose from here on in?

the mid-week games? I don't really mind. Would much prefer to win as it establishes a culture. But in the end they don't mean anything. The test matches do. So if these games can prepare some of the back up players for test match footy, then they've done their job.

 

[cyclopath]

Unless you want to find out just how much of a living hell I can make your collective lives from the morning of November the 17th onwards if they do lose - then yes, it most certainly does.

Why, Mr 1978, would we think you would possibly be annoying and revisionist in any way if your boys happened to sneak a win?:lmao::lmao:

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Unless you want to find out just how much of a living hell I can make your collective lives from the morning of November the 17th onwards if they do lose - then yes, it most certainly does.

Thormond78. I guess your name relates the Munster victory over the Darkness in 1978 12-0 at Thormond Park. I also note that Munster managed to scrape home twice against a very understrength and tired Men in Gold in atrocious conditions at Musgrove Park Cork 11-8 in 1967, and 22-19 in 1992.

Legend has it that the scoreboard at Thormond park still reads 12-0 (unless there is a game on). Is this still true?

Given your earlier posts regarding your deluded desire for a Munster victory over the Men in Gold, would this victory be considered more important than the 78 version, and will your name be changing to Thormond10?

We will graciously subject ourselves to a Thormond inspired "living hell" if the unimaginable happens on November 17, provided there is a forfeit on your behalf when the inevitable Golden victory occurs. What are you proposing for when we win?

 

[Gnostic]

It is painfully obvious that Deans dislikes players being specialised in playing a position. Instead it appears he picks teams of journeymen and jacks of all trades over specialists. Judging from what S. Finger said in an interview even the Props aren't specialists anymore.

"It's kind of a lottery because the props are nearly all training both sides of the scrum now and everyone in the front-rowis being kept on their toes," Fainga'a said.

This is nothing new for Deans - anyone remember C. Cullen at 13?

I don't think I am alone in wanting players to be the best in THEIR position. If they can also play somewhere else that is a bonus. That is not to say that all players shouldn't be able to do the basics like pass and defend.

 

[DPK]

Gnostic, what make's you think he want's them not to be specialists? Maybe he's trying to widen their skill base so that they better understand the fundamental parts of the game.

Or maybe he's trying a sort of rugby version of "total football"...

 

[#1 Tah]

Tipping on superbru is open... who is organising a comp?

 

[RugbyReg]

yeah, I see no problem in teaching props, in practise in particular, to play both sides of the scrum. I also see know problem with running wings at fullback, in the centres, in at flyhalf etc as you never know when they will need to step into that position during the game.

 

[TOCC]

Training players in different positions takes them out of there comfort zones, can be useful in improving a players skills

 

[fatprop]

I would prefer to see Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander and Moore working their arse off in their correct positions that they will be playing, Alexander plays too little THP as it is.

 

[RugbyReg]

if Ben Alexander stayed in his "correct position" he wouldn't be playing TH for Australia though right?

 

[louie]

Agree gnostic.
To win a world cup you really need your positions sorted. Deans is really starting to piss me off

 

[Gnostic]

Have a look at Dean's teams. I have become even more convinced of this with this squad selection.

In Deans Wallabies only the Hooker is a specialist and if Pec Cowan had proved more able I suspect he would be ahead of S. Finger.

We have known for a long time that Deans wants the backs to cover multiple positions and it looks like he is applying the principle to the pigs as well. At least this explains his penchant for picking players like Ma'afu, Daley, and Edmonds over more specialist players.

Whilst a couple of utilities in a team is a good thing especially on the bench, a full team of utilities is IMO far from a consistent winning combination.

 

[en_force_er]

Understanding more positions and who they interact is helpful for when you change back to the position you specialise at. This is PARTICULARLY true of props.

If you know what works on you when you play LH then when you play TH you are going to do it.

 

[RugbyReg]

Have a look at Dean's teams. I have become even more convinced of this with this squad selection.

In Deans Wallabies only the Hooker is a specialist and if Pec Cowan had proved more able I suspect he would be ahead of S. Finger.

We have known for a long time that Deans wants the backs to cover multiple positions and it looks like he is applying the principle to the pigs as well. At least this explains his penchant for picking players like Ma'afu, Daley, and Edmonds over more specialist players.

Whilst a couple of utilities in a team is a good thing especially on the bench, a full team of utilities is IMO far from a consistent winning combination.

who are the more specialist players than Ma'afu, Daley and Edmonds?

 

[en_force_er]

who are the more specialist players than Ma'afu, Daley and Edmonds?

Exactly. Daley is only a loose head, Ma'afu is only a tight head and Edmonds has played all kinds of positions but only hooker professionally.

I would say they are all very specialised.

Obviously these blokes have covered all kinds of positions in their young/club days but professionally they are all pretty pigeon holed.

 

[Gnostic]

Understanding more positions and who they interact is helpful for when you change back to the position you specialise at. This is PARTICULARLY true of props.

If you know what works on you when you play LH then when you play TH you are going to do it.

That didn't help Alexander this year at S14 level, he was one of the most penalised props in the comp.

I would back a team of players the best in their positions in the country, against a team of utilities able to play well in multiple positions any day.

We have discussed at length where some of those chosen rank in the pecking order and players like Ma'afu are a long way down the list in terms of "best" in position so training him out of position is going to help that? In any event the whole thrust of my post is that this push for a team of specialists at least gives a credible theory to explain some of the mystifying selections Deans and Co have made during his tenure.