Wallaby Watch 2014
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qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I agree god help us but it's not like we have a better option.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
While he seems to be playing TH lock for the Rebels I don't think we should consider him a TH lock.......... at least not for the Wallabies........
He's definitely more of a 4/6 like Fardy..........
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Why? He doesn't run wide at all, he's often pick and driving and taking runs one off the ruck. That's where he's most effective.
Skelton is also a loosehead. This is how they all play for their Super Rugby teams and how they should be viewed for the Wallabies.
Horwill
Douglas
Jones
Carter
Simmons/Fardy
Skelton
Pyle
Skelton is also a loosehead. This is how they all play for their Super Rugby teams and how they should be viewed for the Wallabies.
Horwill
Douglas
Jones
Carter
Simmons/Fardy
Skelton
Pyle
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
It's not like Domingo has adapted well to the new laws, either. He was a bit of a shadow of his former self during the 6N.
humanbeast
Ted Fahey (11)
I agree, I think McCalman should get a crack. As much as I love watching Higgers play super rugby I don't think he is a test player.
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
I don't think we're in any position to write off any 26-27 year old loose forwards who are playing in great form at Super Rugby level, especially when they have 20-30 caps of test experience already.
We have a new coach and with that comes new tactics. This can completely and totally change how a player looks on the field.
Look at the change we all saw in Higginbotham the other year at Super Rugby level, the change in Quade this past year at Test level..etc
They are both on form, young in terms of the next RWC and both have test experience.
There is absolutely no reason they should not both be given a crack in the coming months.
We have a new coach and with that comes new tactics. This can completely and totally change how a player looks on the field.
Look at the change we all saw in Higginbotham the other year at Super Rugby level, the change in Quade this past year at Test level..etc
They are both on form, young in terms of the next RWC and both have test experience.
There is absolutely no reason they should not both be given a crack in the coming months.
BDA
Peter Johnson (47)
I disagree re Higgers form.
He is obviously playing a certain role for the Rebels, as he would for the Wallabies. I've watched his play very closely over the first 8 rounds. He plays wide of the ruck, links with the backline, doesn't get too involved in chasing the breakdown. Personally I think he should be playing tighter (ala 2013) but by no means has he been ineffective. In fact, he's been very effective. He has a number of tries and try assists; he's made a real impact with ball in hand by drawing in defenders out wide. I think his role within the team gives the impression that he does not get through enough "work" but his role within the team appears to be as an impact player, and I would argue that he is immensely successful in that role on current form. I would also argue that he is the type of ball in hand forward we need at test level.
We all know a good test pack is about balance. I think if you played Higgers with the likes of Hooper and Fardy in the backrow, you have a decent mix of breakdown work and attacking prowess.
The stats also suggest that Higgers is our best no.8 when it comes to the line-out and that shouldn't surprise anyone.
By no means am I saying he should get the nod, but this Bob Dwyer esq vitriol about Higgers not measuring up to the other contenders is a load of hogwash.
He is obviously playing a certain role for the Rebels, as he would for the Wallabies. I've watched his play very closely over the first 8 rounds. He plays wide of the ruck, links with the backline, doesn't get too involved in chasing the breakdown. Personally I think he should be playing tighter (ala 2013) but by no means has he been ineffective. In fact, he's been very effective. He has a number of tries and try assists; he's made a real impact with ball in hand by drawing in defenders out wide. I think his role within the team gives the impression that he does not get through enough "work" but his role within the team appears to be as an impact player, and I would argue that he is immensely successful in that role on current form. I would also argue that he is the type of ball in hand forward we need at test level.
We all know a good test pack is about balance. I think if you played Higgers with the likes of Hooper and Fardy in the backrow, you have a decent mix of breakdown work and attacking prowess.
The stats also suggest that Higgers is our best no.8 when it comes to the line-out and that shouldn't surprise anyone.
By no means am I saying he should get the nod, but this Bob Dwyer esq vitriol about Higgers not measuring up to the other contenders is a load of hogwash.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Jones has played a fair bit at 8 both in Super Rugby and SS. In that role he plays a wider, running game and does it good. He could most definitely play LH lock and maybe should be listed as both.
Higgers has been improving in the last couple of rounds as well. I think it is entirely fair to say that after round 2 where the Rebels smashed the Cheetahs, Higgers was pretty quiet for about a month and was probably well behind Palu and McCalman on form.
In the last couple of weeks he's getting much closer to his best and Palu has missed a game (and will miss this weekend).
It shows what a dynamic situation boiling down the likely Wallabies team is and how form changes over time. You can absolutely bet that form in weeks 9-16 is going to have a greater impact on the Wallaby squad than form in weeks 1-8.
In the last couple of weeks he's getting much closer to his best and Palu has missed a game (and will miss this weekend).
It shows what a dynamic situation boiling down the likely Wallabies team is and how form changes over time. You can absolutely bet that form in weeks 9-16 is going to have a greater impact on the Wallaby squad than form in weeks 1-8.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Limk will remain reasonably faithdul to the blokes that have already performed for the Wallabies. Higgers is the stand-out who will get the nod.
Whether he is chosen as Captain or not remains to be seen. Think it is time that Link chooses a long term captain that will be around in the national team for a number of years - don;t necessariry think Higgers fits that mould.
The cupboard is a bit bare except maybe Hooper or Cooper (unsure of him as a captain)
Whether he is chosen as Captain or not remains to be seen. Think it is time that Link chooses a long term captain that will be around in the national team for a number of years - don;t necessariry think Higgers fits that mould.
The cupboard is a bit bare except maybe Hooper or Cooper (unsure of him as a captain)
Tomikin
Simon Poidevin (60)
I think he has to be the form 8 which his not as Benny Mac is and arguement could be made Palu will get the nod before both...then we can talk Higgers as Captain. .
Not saying it cant happen but unlikely. Horwill will get the job
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suckerforred
Chilla Wilson (44)
The advantage that I see with Higgers over the other number 8's at the moment is that he is going to have denfenders standing off him at the moment because he is a little more unpredictable than the others. He runs, he passes, the off-loads, he kicks, he jumps, and the takes the ball up.
I understand other's reluctancy though because you are right that his past performances in the gold jersey have probably not been good. But remember neither have McCalman's.
Personally for No 8 I think that it is a choice between Higgers, McCalman & Palu depending on what game plan you are going to run. Also if you are going to start with Palu then I would have Higgers on the bench as he can cover 6 & 8, but that of course depends on who else you have in the pack and on the bench.
I understand other's reluctancy though because you are right that his past performances in the gold jersey have probably not been good. But remember neither have McCalman's.
Personally for No 8 I think that it is a choice between Higgers, McCalman & Palu depending on what game plan you are going to run. Also if you are going to start with Palu then I would have Higgers on the bench as he can cover 6 & 8, but that of course depends on who else you have in the pack and on the bench.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Jones is an athletic type of lock, good jumper with decent pick and drive and running game. Don't think that puts him in the frame as a TH lock at Test level though. Seems more like a 6/4.
Dumbledore
Dick Tooth (41)
I'd be pretty wary of Jones at TH lock at Test level, and my love for Jones is almost at Daz-Inman levels. The best quality he can offer at that level is his adaptability. Watch him for the Rebels, he's very good at changing his game based on what's needed from him. His 'natural' game, if he has one, is as a tight ball-carrier trucking the ball up and over the advantage line from pick-and-goes and one-off passes from the ruck. Look at the Highlanders game from last year though, he came on with half an hour to go, played wide and started blowing the Landers up with his carrying out on the flanks. He's got an enormous tank that lets him reach a large amount of rucks and make a big amount of tackles with effect. He's still growing into his body though, and I'm not quite sure he's ready to play 60-80 minutes of Test rugby right now.
Twenty minutes off the bench, playing whatever role is needed, at 4, 5, 6 or 8, seems like the best way to bring him up to the next level.
Twenty minutes off the bench, playing whatever role is needed, at 4, 5, 6 or 8, seems like the best way to bring him up to the next level.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Ahead of Fardy?
I doubt it.........
And besides, he plays his best at 8 and that's where he should be considered........
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