EOYT 2014

[Inside Shoulder]

Do tell? I missed the press conference.

I think this is it: http://media.smh.com.au/featured/michael-cheika-confirmed-as-wallabies-coach-5907193.html

He's an impressive man.
Edit: this is actually better: http://www.foxsports.com.au/video?v=cheika-named-wallabies-coach_1227098522262
The whole thing was worth seeing, IMO.

 

[Brumby Runner]

The reason Robinson came back in ahead of Cowan seemed to be the scrum though. Neither of them are close to Slipper who is one of our best players. I think you've got to go down the route of picking your most solid scrum to come off the bench as opposed to wanting props who are better at running the ball. Horwill and Hodgson should have provided enough carrying options from the bench.

Cottrell is still returning from the broken leg to my knowledge.

I agree with your reasoning, but when Robbo/Alexander were on I couldn't say it was our strongest scrum. Actually went to pieces imo.

And unfortunately neither Hodgson nor Horwill provided enough carrying options so every time the ball went to either of the Ben(n)s the carry mostly went backwards. The bench still needs a lot of improvement.

For what it's worth, I would like to see PAE on the bench as Th cover, and in Scott Sio's absence probably Pek Cowan as LH cover. I am fairly comfortable with Horwill but I do not subscribe to having a No 7 on the bench unless it is to replace the starting No 7. Two No 7s on at the same time reduces the go forward in tight the team needs.

Hope to see Cottrill come into the squad when over his injury problems. He doesn't know how to take a backwards step.

 

[Viking]

I think this is it: http://media.smh.com.au/featured/michael-cheika-confirmed-as-wallabies-coach-5907193.html

He's an impressive man.
Edit: this is actually better: http://www.foxsports.com.au/video?v=cheika-named-wallabies-coach_1227098522262
The whole thing was worth seeing, IMO.

He speaks well, Really passionate about coaching for the right reasons. Impressive.

 

[Braveheart81]

Based on this squad together with the few obvious injured Wallabies it seems that you'd have almost all of the RWC squad. Cheika won't have time to experiment with any debutants next year unless they have an astounding Super Rugby season or we have an injury crisis in a particular position like we did at hooker this year.

 

[Highlander35]

McMahon would be Openside cover without really being a Second Openside.

#TeamSean #6andahalf #betterthanHooper #provincialbias

 

[Grand Master Flash]

Im surprised that Toby Smith and Big Paulie were not given a look in, havent seen much of tetara but both those boys have been doing well in soup and smashing it in the rising, Toby in my thinking is in front of half the current wallaby props - as much as i have liked them robo and alexander aren't killing it at the moment

 

[Brumby Runner]

It'll be interesting to see what sort of role they want Jones to play. He played a slightly looser role at the Rebels this year which lead to him finally being noticed and then criticised for the very thing that got him spotted. I think he's much better suited to 6 than lock at Test level, but that comes with the concession that he's nowhere near as good over the ball as Fardy is. He needs to improve his hands a bit, as well as his body position in contact, but he's got the makings of a seriously good player.

To my mind, Jones has more aggression than either Higgers or McCalman. He carries probably as good as either and has a higher workload than Higgers. His defense is as strong as McCalman's. I think he is the best option to replace Fardy at 6. I prefer Higgers to McCalman at 8, and would really consider McMahon off the bench as 6, 7 and 8 cover.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Based on this squad together with the few obvious injured Wallabies it seems that you'd have almost all of the RWC squad. Cheika won't have time to experiment with any debutants next year unless they have an astounding Super Rugby season or we have an injury crisis in a particular position like we did at hooker this year.

My tip would be fullback. If Izzy goes down there will be a crisis.

 

[Grand Master Flash]

I would also have taken over a bolter for the second row as we are thread bare at the moment and need to find a jem or 2 for the RWC. Adam coleman would have been my pick, although there isnt much development time on this tour and big willy is in that role. Lets face it there will be no world cup victory with Horwell, Cater and Simmons in the engine room

 

[Bowside]

Is Gill injured?

I feel a bit for Toby Smith he's been very good and probably deserves to be there a bit more than some others.

 

[formerflanker]

Based on this squad together with the few obvious injured Wallabies it seems that you'd have almost all of the RWC squad. Cheika won't have time to experiment with any debutants next year unless they have an astounding Super Rugby season or we have an injury crisis in a particular position like we did at hooker this year.

One player who has an outside chance of being the RWC squad bolter is Karmichael Hunt.

 

[Train Without a Station]

To my mind, Jones has more aggression than either Higgers or McCalman. He carries probably as good as either and has a higher workload than Higgers. His defense is as strong as McCalman's. I think he is the best option to replace Fardy at 6. I prefer Higgers to McCalman at 8, and would really consider McMahon off the bench as 6, 7 and 8 cover.

Could not agree more.

Always been a fan of higgers. He was exceptional at the Reds in 2012.

But I think this talk of his aggression and mongrel is an absolute fallacy.

To me it's a lot like thaiday in the NRL who runs around throwing his hair about and is 3rd man into fights but nothing of real substance.

Now if we are talking about quick, dynamic, skilled back rowers, then higgers is your man. He's kind of like Pierre spies, except he doesn't get knocked off his feet by a strong breeze.

 

[qwerty51]

Is Gill injured?

I feel a bit for Toby Smith he's been very good and probably deserves to be there a bit more than some others.

Toby Smith should've gone just because we need 6 props. Currently only 1 prop is excluded from the game squad per match.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

yes his comments were something like "I have confidence that the coaches before me picked the right players".

Exactly the right thing to say.

 

[BDA]

I hope Slipper and Kepu are rested, or at least benched for the Barbarians game. those guys deserve a bit of respite.

 

[swingpass]

How McMahon get in ahead of Gill and Schatz seriously.

hooper has got sick of carrying the mascot around

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Gill is the unluckiest bloke in oz rugby.
But for injuries and the bounce of a ball..........etc etc.
I haven't seen a huge amount of him (who has?) but if the dice had fallen differently he'd be the incumbent 7.
He may not be durable enough but I think he looked like a better 7 than Hooper.
The history of the game is littered with those thoughts, however.

 

[qwerty51]

hooper has got sick of carrying the mascot around

Skelton is younger.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Given everything that's happened recently, would winning 3/5 be considered a pass or a fail? Or is it more about rebuilding confidence as a playing group & winning back the fans (or at least starting the process(es))?

 

[Highlander35]

A loss to the BahBahs would be awful.

2 additional wins would be a pass mark, given the shambles.