England v Australia

[Quick Hands]

It's not necessarily bias I agree. But saying there's only 7 ignores that there's 3 players unavailable due to injury from the first choice team, and another 3 that are not available.

It's not entirely inconceivable that if not for injury Simmons, Carter and To'omua could be the only interstate starters.

But there's guys unavailable from all 5 provinces, plus guys like Cooper and JOC (James O'Connor) will be back in the mix in 2015. I think that the circumstances of the coaching change meant that he was always going to keep the team stable, particularly when he knows what some can do vis-a-vis his game plan/style, while giving players an opportunity where appropriate. This team reflects that.

 

[Train Without a Station]

This comment leaves 3 possibilities -

1 - Despite winning two European Cups and a Super Rugby title as coach, Michael Chieka can't recognise rugby talent

2 - Michael Cheika does recognise superior talent, but is so wedded to his Waratahs pals that he would rather lose international test matches and jeopardise the rest of his coaching career and legacy than select better players from other provinces

3 - Bitter parochiality is clouding your judgement

Votes, anyone?

So it's not at all possible that Cheika has made selections do to familiarity and a case of "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't"? People do that all the time when hiring people in successful companies.

Being willing to take the risk for the right selections is the difference between successful, and the most successful though.

 

[Quick Hands]

This comment leaves 3 possibilities -

1 - Despite winning two European Cups and a Super Rugby title as coach, Michael Chieka can't recognise rugby talent

2 - Michael Cheika does recognise superior talent, but is so wedded to his Waratahs pals that he would rather lose international test matches and jeopardise the rest of his coaching career and legacy than select better players from other provinces

3 - Bitter parochiality is clouding your judgement

Votes, anyone?

Well said. Sadly it's been a sentiment inherent in a number of posts.

 

[Train Without a Station]

But there's guys unavailable from all 5 provinces, plus guys like Cooper and JOC (James O'Connor) will be back in the mix in 2015. I think that the circumstances of the coaching change meant that he was always going to keep the team stable, particularly when he knows what some can do vis-a-vis his game plan/style, while giving players an opportunity where appropriate. This team reflects that.

So Cooper will be back in the mix for 2015? Doesn't even look like he's in the mix for 2014.

 

[cyclopath]

And Pocock and Moore and MMM and and and..

.........and Kuridrani, and Speight, and .........
Really, quite a silly comment.

 

[Gagger]

So it's not at all possible that Cheika has made selections do to familiarity and a case of "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't"? People do that all the time when hiring people in successful companies.

Being willing to take the risk for the right selections is the difference between successful, and the most successful though.

Take your pick.

1

2

or 3

 

[Pfitzy]

Votes, anyone?

Not until you put it up as a proper poll!

So Cooper will be back in the mix for 2015? Doesn't even look like he's in the mix for 2014.

Well, given Foley wiped the floor with him (and just about everyone else) in Super Rugby, are you surprised?

 

[Viking]

Well I calculate it differently

It is all S15 games, nearly all tests, French rugby, NPC, ARC, Currie Cup and some Heineken Cup

but I have no kids to get in the way and record everything, then pick what I want as my whims decide

That actually sounds pretty good, Unfortunately I don't think I have the time to watch that much rugby though.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

That actually sounds pretty good, Unfortunately I don't think I have the time to watch that much rugby though.

You're not trying - there's SFA else to watch

 

[qwerty51]

So Cooper will be back in the mix for 2015? Doesn't even look like he's in the mix for 2014.

What are you talking about? He's played in every Cheika team so far and gotten decent minutes.

 

[Viking]

Not until you put it up as a proper poll!




Well, given Foley wiped the floor with him (and just about everyone else) in Super Rugby, are you surprised?

He certainly didn't wipe the floor with To'omua.

 

[BDA]

If he selects Beale on the bench again I'm leaning towards 2.

 

[fatprop]

Funny there was so much less angst from some when Link picked essentially the same side

 

[Viking]

You're not trying - there's SFA else to watch

SFA?

 

[chasmac]

...and Kuridrani, and Speight, and ...
Really, quite a silly comment.

And Higgers.

 

[KOB1987]

There's not one Tah in the side that hasn't been there all year! Horne is the only contentious one but that was always out of he & Tomane, the latter has been ok but hardly a 'gimme'..


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Inside Shoulder]

SFA?

Polite version: sweet fanny adams
Impolite version: sweet f*ck all

 

[BDA]

What are you talking about? He's played in every Cheika team so far and gotten decent minutes.

hardly. He's sat on the bench for the majority of the tour. He's still yet to be given the reigns.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Well, given Foley wiped the floor with him (and just about everyone else) in Super Rugby, are you surprised?

The Waratahs success doesn't equal dominance in every single position.

 

[BDA]

Remember Mighty Ducks 2, when Emilio Estevez gets the team to come out after half time wearing the Ducks Jerseys, rather than the National Jerseys.

that