Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Dave Beat]

It doesn't hurt that Wales were sort of really shit at that period in their history.

I know, we also had a team good enough to win the world cup.

The point I was referencing was playing with confidence, and this has to be built. Back then it was there, and there is some great footage of games back then if you go hunting, players running straight, always have support, and having the confidence to play attaching rugby.

Good example of playing with confidence here.

Yes that Wales side was weak I now, but we built and played good rugby as well.


Back then we selected from NSW & QLD, now we have QLD / NSW / WA / VIC / ACT.

 

[Omar Comin']

I'm hoping we are playing clinical rugby, and put on better than 70 - 0 against teams like Fiji. Whilst the game has changed a considerable amount if you look back the the "pre" WC games of 91 we put big scores on against the NH teams and that is because we built and were clinical.

International rugby has become a lot more competitive and at the world cup the level of preparation of every team will be very good. I wouldn't expect any huge blow outs against anyone but Uruguay.

If Fiji start their best team (which they may not given they open the tournament against England just 5 days earlier), I really doubt it'd be possible to win by such a margin. Fiji will have a back line almost as good as ours and their main weakness will be their front 5. We're not exactly the team that will best exploit that. And it's not like their forwards are all a bunch of ITM Cup players. They're mostly guys playing for good clubs in Europe. A 30-40 point win would be an excellent result IMO. But we have to treat them the same as Wales and England. They're capable of being a threat.

 

[Braveheart81]

I like that Cheika is getting Aussie teams together the morning after local derbies (including games not involving the Tahs). I think the mentality of wanting to bash each other on the field but then getting over that immediately and getting together is a great idea, particularly in a RWC year.

We need all our players and teams working towards the same goal in terms of the Wallabies succeeding and being able to switch the rivalries on and off is an important part of that even for players outside of the Wallaby setup.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I know, we also had a team good enough to win the world cup.

The point I was referencing was playing with confidence, and this has to be built. Back then it was there, and there is some great footage of games back then if you go hunting, players running straight, always have support, and having the confidence to play attaching rugby.

Good example of playing with confidence here.

Yes that Wales side was weak I now, but we built and played good rugby as well.


Back then we selected from NSW & QLD, now we have QLD / NSW / WA / VIC / ACT.

Great video.
Includes the catch and pass from Jimmy Allen which I cite as evidence that people underestimated his skills because he was so big. Very unlucky not to play a test, IMHO.

 

[Dave Beat]

International rugby has become a lot more competitive and at the world cup the level of preparation of every team will be very good. I wouldn't expect any huge blow outs against anyone but Uruguay.

If Fiji start their best team (which they may not given they open the tournament against England just 5 days earlier), I really doubt it'd be possible to win by such a margin. Fiji will have a back line almost as good as ours and their main weakness will be their front 5. We're not exactly the team that will best exploit that. And it's not like their forwards are all a bunch of ITM Cup players. They're mostly guys playing for good clubs in Europe. A 30-40 point win would be an excellent result IMO. But we have to treat them the same as Wales and England. They're capable of being a threat.

Yes International Rugby has changed a lot - agree.

I will firstly say some of my best mates are Islanders they are great people.
BUT - I've had a number of Kiwis say there are 2 many islanders in that team, it is not balanced. Most recent reference was the Auckland Blue's this year.
So yes there may quite well be allot of very good players spread across the world - but - what is the balance, and how often have they played together.

 

[Scrubber2050]

I think we should always start with our best team.

If the game is being won easily then throw the bench on early and give the starters a rest for the bigger ones

 

[Dave Beat]

Great video.
Includes the catch and pass from Jimmy Allen which I cite as evidence that people underestimated his skills because he was so big. Very unlucky not to play a test, IMHO.

Yes, comes with confidence, and combinations. I liked that the straight running, and 2 touches, created space on the outside.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Yes International Rugby has changed a lot - agree.

I will firstly say some of my best mates are Islanders they are great people.
BUT - I've had a number of Kiwis say there are 2 many islanders in that team, it is not balanced. Most recent reference was the Auckland Blue's this year.
So yes there may quite well be allot of very good players spread across the world - but - what is the balance, and how often have they played together.

mate I've heard the same comment about the Reds - balance and all that. The comment was essentially that there is a "culture" within a culture

Can of worms stuff I reckon

 

[Braveheart81]

I think we should always start with our best team.

If the game is being won easily then throw the bench on early and give the starters a rest for the bigger ones

In general I'd agree but the RWC is a little different in that you have some shorter turnarounds and to win the event you have to win 7 matches in a row (or at the very least 6 out of 7 including your three knockouts). There's an element of luck and being able to deal with player attrition over the course of the tournament so you need to get something out of the last 8 members of your squad.

There's definitely room for holding a couple of keys players back from the easier games with the knowledge that the other players will be important to you and need to get on the field.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Trouble is you cannot afford to be done by a minnow

 

[Omar Comin']

BUT - I've had a number of Kiwis say there are 2 many islanders in that team, it is not balanced.

Yeah, that's a pretty old fashioned viewpoint. My 85 year old Grandpa is a Kiwi and he says this sort of thing. I think it's a little bit of a racist view. Like it's basically implying that Islanders are incapable of playing disciplined rugby and need some 'calm heads' (i.e. whites) to 'guide them around.' This is the standard view of my Grandfathers generation anyway, and I think it's a stereotype that we should move past.

But yeah the problem for the Islander teams is that they don't play on a level playing field for most of the 4 year cycle. Outside of world cups they rarely get a good preparation and rarely have all their players available due to pressure from club teams. But for the world cup they will have had a few months of preparation and everyone available. You only have to look at 2007 to see how much of a threat they can be. I bet they'll run at least 1 of Australia, England and Wales very close.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think the problem with the Blues isn't that they have too many Pacific Islanders in their backline. It's that from numbers 11-15 they would pretty much all play on the wing or fullback ideally.

That and they really don't have a top shelf halfback or fly half. It's very difficult to be successful without a good combination there.

 

[BDA]

For Fiji, I'd probably put the likes of Slipper, Kepu and Moore on the bench.
The last thing we need is to lose any of them to injury heading into the England game. Traditionally the games against Fiji are quite physical in the opening half and they often lead to a few injuries.

I believe Alexander was injured badly against Fiji in the first game of the test season, many moons ago (which led to us fielding the world class front row of Slipper (debut), Fainga'a, Daley (Debut) against England).

I also think that, with all due respect to Fiji, they will not have a particularly strong scrum so our subs should be more than capable of giving us the upper hand.

I'd maybe put Palu in cotton wool.

I'd otherwise play a full strength side because, as others have mentioned, for and against might become important in our group.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Yes, comes with confidence, and combinations. I liked that the straight running, and 2 touches, created space on the outside.

McQueen and Carson were the coaches at that time I think.

 

[Braveheart81]

With a squad of only 31, the worst side we can possibly field is still going to feature the majority of our best side.

 

[wamberal]

There are definitely some cultural differences between people who grew up in very different cultures - and there is absolutely no doubt that a good professional rugby coach understands this, and manages his players accordingly.

New Zealand coaches have been much better at this, historically.

 

[Wilson]

For Fiji, I'd probably put the likes of Slipper, Kepu and Moore on the bench.

I'd probably go further and rest Moore completely, our depth at hooker is excellent after last year and I'd have no problem playing the two back ups whoever they are.

 

[Jagman]

You have to remember also that three way tie between Aus, England and Wales is not out of the question. In that case it will come down who beat Fiji and Uruguay by the most.


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[The_Brown_Hornet]

I reckon we roll our best XV out against Fiji with the directive that we be as ruthless as possible. No basketball rugby, take every point on offer, smash everything that moves. These tournaments are all about building momentum and I don't want us stuffing about at the beginning. Just rip in and lay down a marker to all the other teams.

 

[Omar Comin']

When Fiji beat England in the opening match of the tournament after an 80 metre, 80th minute match winner involving 6 flick passes and a chip and chase, you heard it here first.