Wallabies: Latest Injuries and selection for Test 2

[Train Without a Station]

I don't understand the Palu hate at all. His game was every bit as good as Mowen's and he put in a few dominant tackles and very effective ruck clearances when we were under pressure. There is no chance he will get dropped.

I wouldn't say it's hate. I'd just say it's realistic to say his involvements are more like that of a lock, than a line bending forward. Obviously he is still a good player at test level, but also considering he isn't a frontline line out option, he probably doesn't offer the type of game which we need in the back row.

 

[Joe Blow]

I wouldn't say it's hate. I'd just say it's realistic to say his involvements are more like that of a lock, than a line bending forward. Obviously he is still a good player at test level, but also considering he isn't a frontline line out option, he probably doesn't offer the type of game which we need in the back row.

We need one of Mowen or Palu to make the big plays. Both just go about their work and contribute steadily throughout a game. Palu did pull off a couple of big hits and shifted a few rucks that enabled us to keep possession and he was probably more prominent than Mowen. Hooper was also pretty quiet and we didn't see any game changing stuff from him.
I would like to see the same backrow start again next week but with Kimlin and Smith(if fit) on the bench as back-up.

 

[fatprop]

We need one of Mowen or Palu to make the big plays. Both just go about their work and contribute steadily throughout a game. Palu did pull off a couple of big hits and shifted a few rucks that enabled us to keep possession and he was probably more prominent than Mowen. Hooper was also pretty quiet and we didn't see any game changing stuff from him.
I would like to see the same backrow start again next week but with Kimlin and Smith(if fit) on the bench as back-up.

We need Mowen & Palu to miss fewer tackles, Hooper topped the tackle count with 16, missing one,that was double his other two and they missed 4 & 3 respectively

 

[ACT Crusader]

We need Mowen & Palu to miss fewer tackles, Hooper topped the tackle count with 16, missing one,that was double his other two and they missed 4 & 3 respectively

I think that is why if I were Deans I would be seriously looking at George Smith for one of those jersies. He's not going to have that sort of ratio of tackles/missed that do put pressure on the defensive patterns.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I would prefer Taps at 13 over Horne, I will be amazed if Digby is fit

FP I think you've got to go with the players you have in the squad already. McCabe seemed to be the 12/13 cover in the 1st test should AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) or Lilo go down crook.

Horne is the next cab off the rank to fill that hole now void of the 1st and 2nd options.

Wasn't sure what the case was about Digby. If he's goneski then another straight swap with one of the wingers that weren't in the 23. Probably Badger

 

[fatprop]

FP I think you've got to go with the players you have in the squad already. McCabe seemed to be the 12/13 cover in the 1st test should AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) or Lilo go down crook.

Horne is the next cab off the rank to fill that hole now void of the 1st and 2nd options.

Wasn't sure what the case was about Digby. If he's goneski then another straight swap with one of the wingers that weren't in the 23. Probably Badger

yeah, its just I have seen Horne grow into a quality 12 this season

he is solid defensively at 13 but hasn't offered a lot of threat ball in hand

I said somewhere, I would have called in Kudrani as cover for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and had Horne as cover for Lilo

 

[lewisr]

Under Deans' logic, Tapuai's form will return without Cooper there to stifle his abilities so I can see why he made that decision. I think Taps will lift if he has to play and he is not a bloke that cracks under pressure so good luck to him. Would've gone with Kuridrani but thats my personal opinion.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

my $0.02:

the best feature of wallaby play in Test 1 was the speed and accuracy of our breakdown control, defensively but more so offensively. This I put down to the whole pack. As such, I would not change a single forward for the second test, injury permitting. I know our scrum would be stronger with alternate props, but Robbo and Alexander did their share of the hard stuff and should be re-selected on the back of it.

I'm going to have to make assumptions on injuries, but going from twitter is saying I will assume Lilo and Digby will be OK, barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and McCabe are out.

My Backline would be
9: Genia
10: Beale
11: Digby
12: Lilo
13: Horne
14: JOC (James O'Connor)
15: Folau

I think KB (Kurtley Beale) showed more skill and control at 10 than JOC (James O'Connor), and deserves the shot. While I like Horne at 12, there is no alternate cover in the squad for 13 other than him, so he would have to start at 13. Lilo still deserves his shot at 12. Izzy needs to be more involved and that's why I would put him at 15, and I think we can now assume he is up to it. JOC (James O'Connor) is still too skilled a footballer to leave off the park, ad has shown great play in the past at 14, so i would return him there.

OK, now start tearing my thoughts apart

 

[RedsHappy]

Deans will not move JOC (James O'Connor). He declared him to be the flyhalf and definitively so. He won't go back on that after one match. Especially one for which excuses are readily available.

I think that, in Deans' mind, his selections need to plug holes, not reinvent the wheel.

Richo: I fear you're right. Deans has a proven stubborn streak around 'favoured' players even when the evidence is strong that the selection concerned has been a serious misjudgement (as JO'C at 10 is - so far - looking). An immediate change after one Test is a de facto admission of the coach's responsibility for a glaring error and Deans in 5.5 years has never once a admitted a personal error in the conduct of his role.

The excuses may be available, but they are not credible upon serious analysis. Saying that it's smart to pick a totally unproven player (as a Test 10) at 10 in a massive match on the basis that a Test rookie will come in at 12 'to do the distribution work for the 10' is laughable. If a 10 can't distribute dynamically, accurately to create space and befuddle defenders, what is his role and capability - to pass to his 12 to do 70% of the 10 role whilst also trying to do 100% of the 12's role? It's remarkable how expectations of genuine Wallaby excellence for and within Australian rugby have fallen since say 2003; in the UK or NZ, if a national coach had selected a hitherto unproven Test 10 as ineffective as J'OC was on Saturday night in a crucial Test series, there'd be a mass media meltdown come Monday.

Sexton gave a masterclass on what a Test 10 must be able to do and displayed a Carter-like 10 model in my book. Stuart Barnes' itemised critique of JO'C on Fox Rugby Central after the Test was entirely accurate. If we put QC (Quade Cooper) aside, To'omua would be a far superior risk-reward proposition at 10, particularly if paired with Lilo at 12 in a proven combination.

Deans' media team leaked %-based defense stats re QC (Quade Cooper) as part of the orchestrated pre-Lions series diminution of his 10 credentials, and the Harrises and Cullys lapped them up and recited them in solemn and highly worried tones. JO'C made some serious defensive errors on Saturday and there's barely a word written about the risks so created. Regrettably, analytic consistency and rigour is not an attribute we can associate with our mainstream rugby journalists.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Deans was so committed to JOC (James O'Connor) at 10 before the first test, he can hardly now admit that he was wrong, so expect to see the same for test 2. He just may be able to justify in his own mind a straight swap with Beale at 10 and JOC (James O'Connor) to 15, but I cannot see any other scenario. Theregore, Izzy stays at 14.

If Digby is out, I expect Tomane (if fit) to play. Joe plays 11 while the Badger generally plays 14.

Horne is already in the squad and should replace Christian if he can't take the field. Tapuai has been brought in presumably as cover for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). I think he is a better 12 than 13, but 13 seems to be his go in Deans' logic.

Without Barnes, Digby, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Lealiifane and McCabe I think we'll see a backline of Genia, JOC (James O'Connor), Tomane, Horne, Tapuai, Folau, Beale. My tip is that it will not work with JOC (James O'Connor) at 10. And with Roberts and Bowe returning for the Lions I can't see us matching their backline with our defence against their attack.

 

[I like to watch]

Deans' media team leaked %-based defense stats re QC (Quade Cooper) as part of the orchestrated pre-Lions series diminution of his 10 credentials, and the Harrises and Cullys lapped them up and recited them in solemn and highly worried tones. JO'C made some serious defensive errors on Saturday and there's barely a word written about the risks so created. Regrettably, analytic consistency and rigour is not an attribute we can associate with our mainstream rugby journalists.

Deans didn't leak anything.Those stats are there for all to see,as are the regular QC (Quade Cooper) defensive cock ups.
Deans announced to the media what QC (Quade Cooper) had to do.
Had Link put QC (Quade Cooper) in the front line for those last 3 games,and QC (Quade Cooper) handled the assignment.Deans would have been forced into picking him.
Maybe you should ask Link why he chose not to put him there?

 

[Scotty]

I wouldn't say it's hate. I'd just say it's realistic to say his involvements are more like that of a lock, than a line bending forward. Obviously he is still a good player at test level, but also considering he isn't a frontline line out option, he probably doesn't offer the type of game which we need in the back row.

Mowen, Smith or just about any other loose option we have aren't line bending either. Samo is the closest we have, but he would only last 20 minutes.

 

[Scotty]

yeah, its just I have seen Horne grow into a quality 12 this season

he is solid defensively at 13 but hasn't offered a lot of threat ball in hand

I said somewhere, I would have called in Kudrani as cover for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and had Horne as cover for Lilo

Easy answer. Horne defends at 13 but attacks at 12. Lilo can go wider to be the playmaker for fullback and wings.

 

[Richo]

RH, I do think it's fair to say that O'Connor did not have an optimal situation to settle into the match after Lilo went down. McCabe is such an utterly different player, it must have made things (even more) difficult than they would otherwise have been. If a distributing 12 was so essential, one not bring on Beale to 15 and move Barnes to 12? That would have been much more "like for like" than bringing on McCabe.

As for the selection of O'Connor in the first place and the media management and so on -- I tend to think we're almost in a great place regarding flyhalves. Meaning, we have a bunch of guys who are almost great flyhalf options but no one who demands selection. Deans has put his money on the horse he knows and trusts the most. It looks like he might have bet with his gut more than his head, but I don't think it was such a wild idea.

 

[fatprop]

Mowen, Smith or just about any other loose option we have aren't line bending either. Samo is the closest we have, but he would only last 20 minutes.

The Lions were only bending by team work, they had a unit on the ball carriers hip. That seems to be the optimum option to go from static.

We were rolling out short passes, that worked when a unit (Robinson) was actually in motion off quicker ball

 

[youngone]

So does Gill (the only form/fit 7) of the last 8 weeks miss out now because Smith is back?

I'd argue that Gill is harder on the ball now that Smith uses his wiles a bit more to impact less often, but with greater impact.

Not that it will ever happen, and Hooper had a decent game at 7, but I didn't see him make one pilfer, not even sure if I noticed him attempt one... He's too small for any other position.

6. Mowen
7. Gill
8. Palu

19. Smith
20. Hooper

Smith to cover 7/8
Hooper if they want fresh and energetic running.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

So does Gill (the only form/fit 7) of the last 8 weeks miss out now because Smith is back?

I'd argue that Gill is harder on the ball now that Smith uses his wiles a bit more to impact less often, but with greater impact.

Not that it will ever happen, and Hooper had a decent game at 7, but I didn't see him make one pilfer, not even sure if I noticed him attempt one. He's too small for any other position.

6. Mowen
7. Gill
8. Palu

19. Smith
20. Hooper

Labelling Gill the only form / fit 7 in Australia at the moment is drawing a long bow. Hooper was solid on Saturday night and has been in outstanding SupeRugby form for the last few rounds. He topped the tackle count on Saturday night, and while made a defensive misread for the Cuthbert try, played reasonably well out of position for close to half the game.

The fact of the matter is Gill didn't show enough in his close to half game on Saturday night to displace Hooper.

And two opensides on the bench? Gimme some of what you're smoking. If we have Smith at 19 for the Wallabies - who covers the back row?

 

[rigs23]

I havn't been too impressed with Taps this year. If worse comes to worse than I'm happy for him to be at 12, but not over JOC (James O'Connor) or Lilo who are better options there. And there's no way he should be put in 13; he's a different style of player.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Warrant issued for Digby Ioane arrest over assault

• From: AAP
• June 24, 2013 4:24PM

A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of Wallabies winger Digby Ioane after he failed to appear in a Melbourne court on an assault charge.
Ioane, 27, is facing a charge of unlawful assault after he allegedly assaulted a man in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran on March 9.
A magistrate issued the warrant when Ioane did not appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.
Ioane plays for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby competition and was part of Australia's team that narrowly lost the first Test to the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night

If it's not a shoulder injury, it's the boys in blue. Diggers will surely be at long odds to play this weekend.

Cummins or Tomane in to replace him. I'd go with Cummins as he has the runs on the board in the Wallabies set up.

 

[lewisr]

Deans didn't leak anything.Those stats are there for all to see,as are the regular QC (Quade Cooper) defensive cock ups.
Deans announced to the media what QC (Quade Cooper) had to do.
Had Link put QC (Quade Cooper) in the front line for those last 3 games,and QC (Quade Cooper) handled the assignment.Deans would have been forced into picking him.
Maybe you should ask Link why he chose not to put him there?

Ok, I'll bite.

O'Connor played 80% of the season at 15 and then when he played 10 against the reds, defended at fullback. Beale has a tackle rate of 73 percent. There are blatant double standards.

Also, Link plays Cooper where he thinks (and has consistently proven) he is most effective. And that is as a pendulum counter attacker rather than sitting in the front line. He has said this numerous times. Frankly, he coaches the reds and positions his players to win his match, not appease the national coach who seems to have a special set of requirements for QC (Quade Cooper).

I thought both Hooper and Gill had a quiet night. Expect them to fire up for the next match. I suspect 33 minutes at inside centre did not help Hoops stats either.

Edit: Digby has already had 2 shoulder reconstructions on his left joint. If it has popped I don't think they will be keen on playing him.