Wallabies V Samoa - Test 2011

[Rebel rouser]

McCabe played 12 against the Reds when they won and went quite well from memory.

Yeah, I remember liking the look of McCabe at 12. His hard, straight running is perfectly suited to that spot IF you are wanting a crashball 12.

What I am concerned about is that this is not the style we have been moulding in our backline the last couple of years. We've been leaning much more towards the first five/second five mould with two playmakers. Mccabe is the polar opposite to this. In addition, he needs to learn how to sidestep and offload. Currently, he seems too predictable. With him at 12 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13 there is a genuine chance the back 3 will never touch the ball. And if that back 3 is O'Connor/Beale/Digby you damn well want them to be involved as much as possible!!

 

[Blue]

Yeah, I remember liking the look of McCabe at 12. His hard, straight running is perfectly suited to that spot IF you are wanting a crashball 12.

What I am concerned about is that this is not the style we have been moulding in our backline the last couple of years. We've been leaning much more towards the first five/second five mould with two playmakers. Mccabe is the polar opposite to this. In addition, he needs to learn how to sidestep and offload. Currently, he seems too predictable. With him at 12 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13 there is a genuine chance the back 3 will never touch the ball. And if that back 3 is O'Connor/Beale/Digby you damn well want them to be involved as much as possible!!

So a guy who runs straight can't pass?

His step looks just fine to me.

 

[Rebel rouser]

So a guy who runs straight can't pass?

His step looks just fine to me.

He may pass, but I don't recall ever seeing it. And I've NEVER seen him step anyone. Case in point against the Rebels in Round 2, he was at full back, ran the ball back, had about 30 metres to size up the defenders who were shaping up on him, and ran straight into them, basically giving himself a concussion from the whiplash! I'm trying to find it on youtube!

 

[Groucho]

Spot on vidiot, I'm not up for supporting a team that carries their out of form captain. Australia seems to pride itself on loyalty and it has cost us in the past, I for one hope they don't carry him through to the world cup if he's not fit. Would rather win without the captain than lose with him.

So, light, which team will you support if Rocky is picked?

The All Blacks are the next best team, I think, but they'll have a few players picked on reputation as well, including their captain.

England are a smokey, but they also have a reputation for picking old trundlers such as Tindall.

The Saffas seem to be ignoring a whole generation of flair payers and will essentially roll out their 2007 team.

France?!?

 

[leftside]

soooo happy to see chibba hanson on the bench...i know that Fainga'a is probably just being rested, but here's to hoping that chibba puts in a good performance and usurps saia as the 3rd hooker in the squad

 

[Slim 293]

McCabe runs some excellent lines at centre... He's more suited in the centres than at the back where he has the tendency to try and bash it up...

He's set up a couple of nice tries for the Brumbies when he's come up into the line at outside centre, changed the angle to go through a gap and set up his winger...

He'll make an excellent outside centre in the future but I'm sure he won't disappoint playing a spot in either...

 

[Rebel rouser]

He may pass, but I don't recall ever seeing it. And I've NEVER seen him step anyone. Case in point against the Rebels in Round 2, he was at full back, ran the ball back, had about 30 metres to size up the defenders who were shaping up on him, and ran straight into them, basically giving himself a concussion from the whiplash! I'm trying to find it on youtube!

Found it!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-W8xjMfJg
Skip straight to 23:50 and I hope you brought some aspirin!!!

Edit: And again in slow mo at 25:30
This was probably the game of the season for the Rebels. Ah, the sweet memories!

 

[Lance Free]

Media Release

Benn Robinson Injury Update

Qantas Wallabies prop Benn Robinson has been ruled out of rugby for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old, who celebrates his 27th birthday next Tuesday, underwent an arthroscopy in Sydney this morning after stumbling at training yesterday and feeling a “click” in his knee.

While the injury at first didn’t appear serious, further examination today has shown that he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee, while also damaging a meniscus in the joint.

An operation in the coming days will be required to repair the damage, with the timeline required for recovery curtailing the rest of his season.

“It’s disappointing news for Benn, disappointing news for the rest of the squad and for Australian Rugby as a whole,” Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says.

“No one likes to see injuries like this. The seemingly innocuous circumstances in which it occurred only adds to the frustration, but injuries have always been a part of the game. When the door closes for one player, it opens for another and I’m sure the other front rowers we have will step up to fill the void Benn leaves.

“As far as Benn goes, we wish him all the best for his recovery and will be providing him with any assistance he needs.”

Robinson had been scheduled to feature in his 43rd Test during Sunday’s Castrol Edge Rugby Test against Samoa at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

Western Force prop Pekahou Cowan and NSW Waratahs prop Al Baxter have both joined the Qantas Wallabies in training today, with Baxter featuring in both of the day’s sessions while Cowan arrived in from Perth in time to join the afternoon session.

Both players were involved in the recent national scrum camps that were held by the Australian Rugby Union.

A decision on which of those players replaces Robinson in the Qantas Wallabies squad, and in Sunday’s match day playing roster, will be made prior to the weekend.

As well as covering for Robinson, the pair’s presence will also assist in team preparations while fellow props Ben Daley (shoulder), James Slipper (ankle) and Salesi Ma’afu (rehabilitating after an arm fracture) are unavailable for selection.

(FYI - I've created a separate thread for this)

 

[Slim 293]

Oh, and unlike AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), McCabe has a passing game...

 

[aussie1st]

Still not a fan of JOC (James O'Connor) on the wing especially with genuine wingers waiting. Hopefully that changes come the Tri Nations which is a possibility considering the only other option is Giteau at 12.

 

[MrTimms]

Scans are back on Benn Robinson. Out for the Season.

 

[S120]

Fuck fuck fuck.

 

[BDA]

Interesting choices for the Samoa game. I think Deans' line-up gives a good indication of his thoughts on the team this year.

I would imagine he is resting some important players that could have probably played this week (Ben Robinson, Pocock, Beale). the right move. I recall that some players were injured last year against fiji (including Alexander which made life particularly hard for the wallabies) so i think it is smart to rest our no.1 prop and no.1 backrower.

the McCabe/ACC centre pairing could be Deans centre pairing of choice this year. He probably would have put O'Connor at inside if he intended to play him there next week. Looks like O'Connor might stay on the wing this year which is fine by me as he was good there last year. He can obviously move in on attack from time to time.
I like the look of that centre pairing. two hard straight runners which should be fairly solid in defence.

Gerrard at Fullback shows that Deans will be using Gerrard in the team this year. I would think a 5:2 split is a good indication that Gerrard will be used to cover 11,13,14 & 15 in most games. That is the right move in my opinion, particularly because he iss extra useful to bring on in games that are rained out.

Still a bit too hard to say how Deans favours as our back up 2nd rowers. Timani, Simmons and Vickerman are going to be going tooth and nail to take the 2 remaining spots in the WC squad.

 

[Lee Enfield]

Rubbish. Brumbies almost lead the comps in line-breaks this season, and Gits was in great form.

If Gits isn't our back up 10 then who would you want?

James O'Connor, without doubt. He performed well at 10 this year with the opportunities he received. He has a genuine passing game, good footwork, explosive speed, good defence and reads the game well. He doesn't close down the outside space by crabbing across field, and isn't afraid to take the ball to the line.
Personally, for the tri nations and RWC, I would like to see O'Connor at 12.
My tri nations 22 would be:

1. Slipper (Now that Robinson is out for the season)
2. TPN
3. Kepu
4. Sharpe
5. Horwill
6. Elsom (Benefit of the doubt, incumbent)
7. Pocock
8. Samo
9 Genia
10 Cooper
11. Ioane
12. O'Connor
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Benefit of the doubt, had to play in a backline controlled by Giteau, got shifted from pillar to post, brilliant spring tour especially against France)
14. Davies (Speed kills, showed his worth against the Blues)
15. Beale

16. Baxter (Great S15 season, old stereo types may have died off)
17. Moore
18. Simmons (Been great for the Reds, deserves the reward)
19. Higginbotham
20. Beau Robinson (Been monumental for the reds, and a big part of their success)
21. Giteau
22. McCabe

I would go with a 5/2 split, as we have enough depth in our backline to cover all possibilities. I honestly don't think the Wallabies would lose anything having Giteau as back up 9, as I think he would be just as capable as Burgess.

 

[waratahjesus]

people shouldnt be rubbishing giteau, he deserves to be back up 10 and deserves a heap of game time this year based purely on form and form alone, he was fantastic this year.

 

[qwerty51]

What match did McCabe get capped in last year?

 

[vidiot]

Italy?

Rocky will play well enough if he is fit enough. That is my only concern with him. Glad he's playing so he can have a hit out.

 

[Braveheart.]

What match did McCabe get capped in last year?

Italy, subbed in for for Adam Ashley-Cooper in the Wallabies win over the Azzuri at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence.

 

[rugbyisfun]

Baxter remains an excellent tighthead prop. Against any team except the ABs, Poms and maybe the French he's quite likely to dominate. It has always been so. His exit from the world stage was the result of his targeting by those teams, and on some famous occasions he actually got the better of them.

He is one of the worst players to ever don the hallowed 3 jersey. A complete passenger who got found out time and time again. He offers absolutely nothing around the field apart from arriving late at the ruck or maul to pull stupid faces as the opposition front rowers run laps around him with their work rate, ball skills and set piece play.

If the Stadiums he builds hold up the way he did a scrum we are all in deep sh..t

I cannot wait to see the back of him and the arrival and development of blokes who can actually play (Kepu, Moore, Hanson etc).

 

[TOCC]

He is one of the worst players to ever don the hallowed 3 jersey. A complete passenger who got found out time and time again. He offers absolutely nothing around the field apart from arriving late at the ruck or maul to pull stupid faces as the opposition front rowers run laps around him with their work rate, ball skills and set piece play.

If the Stadiums he builds hold up the way he did a scrum we are all in deep sh..t

I cannot wait to see the back of him and the arrival and development of blokes who can actually play (Kepu, Moore, Hanson etc).

comeon mate, his the most capped prop in wallaby history, he wasnt that bad