Tri Nations Game 6 - Wallabies vs All Blacks - Saturday 27 August 2011 - 3N2011

[disco]

Last time we had the chance to win the Tri-Nations was in 2008 against the All Blacks in Brisbane & at the 45 minute mark we looked the goods.

By the 65th minute the All Blacks had scored 3 tries & we were chasing the game after a few wasted chances Ryan Cross finally scored a very good try with less than a minute on the clock which had us within 4 points of victory from the re-start Giteau put up a midfield bomb which the AB's defused without a drama & the game looked lost but somehow George Smith managed a turnover & it was game on after working our way down too the AB's 30 metre zone it happened an Aussie player was tackled & left isolated but it had seemed that MMM had done enough to save the situtaion but then the invisible cloak kicked in as Mils Muliania & Stephen Donald lept off their feet & lay all over the ball they had sealed off & won the game.

Now 3 years on with a new captain & basically a totally different team I hope we can reverse that result on saturday night, can anyone remember the 22.


2008 team that night: 1.Benn Robinson 2.Moore 3.Baxter 4.Horwill 5.Sharpe 6.Elsom 8.Palu 9.Cordingley 10.Giteau 11.Tuqiri 12.Mortlock 13.Cross 14.Hynes 15.AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

16.? 17.Dunning 18.MMM 19.Richard Brown 20.Burgess 21? 22?

 

[qwerty51]

Sharpe dropped. Wonder if people are going to start admitting it yet or say it's another rotation. :

Well done Robbie on making a big decision that is right for the team. I wonder who comes in for O'Connor if he's stood down. Based on the Barbarian side selection this should be the 22 if O'Connor stays.

1. Kepu
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Horwill ©
5. Vickerman
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Samo
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. McCabe
13. Ashley-Cooper
14. O'Connor
15. Beale

16. Fainga'a
17. Ma'afu
18. Simmons
19. McCalman
20. Higginbotham
21. Burgess
22. Fainga'a

 

[tigerland12]

No way will Vickerman start. Deans clearly has a preference for Simmons, and rightfully so. I also think Higginbotham will get another shot at 8.

If JOC (James O'Connor) is suspended (which he deserves), I suspect AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to the wing and Fainga'a in the centers with Turner/Davies/Morahan to come onto the bench.

It has only just occured to me that we only have 3 specialist wingers in our WC squad, but 5 centers (including Barnes).

 

[qwerty51]

No way will Vickerman start. Deans clearly has a preference for Simmons, and rightfully so. I also think Higginbotham will get another shot at 8.

Any reason why Vickerman wouldn't start? Simmons had a very poor game against the ABs last start and Vickerman was always going to start as soon as he's match fit which I think he has achieved. Vickerman offers much more Simmons and Deans won't be holding back in this game. Not sure why you think it's rightfully so that Simmons starts? Higginbotham could possibly retain at 8 but I thought he had a very poor workrate as a starter, he's more suited to making an impact off the bench. I don't really mind if him and Samo share 40 minutes either way.

 

[OLDDOG]

I reckon JOC (James O'Connor) suspended, a finger 13, mccabe should go fullback, beale wing, samo starts at 8, higgers replaces samo or rocky at 6 depending on who wilts + simmo replaces vickers at 50 mins.....and barnes 12

 

[Reddy!]

I reckon JOC (James O'Connor) suspended, a finger 12, mccabe should go fullback, beale wing, samo starts at 8, higgers replaces samo or rocky at 6 depending on who wilts + simmo replaces vickers at 50 mins.....

Yeh good one, change half our team for a crunch match.

Higgers should be on the bench or out of the team for Palu on the bench. Start Samo at 8. Mitchell is a straight swap for JOC (James O'Connor) if that's how the week pans out. Fainga'a in for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) maybe...otherwise I would make no other changes.

I think the starting line up will be pretty predictable but look out for a very very strong bench. eg. Barnes, Palu, Horne etc

 

[qwerty51]

Palu is not fit and anyone playing for the Barbarians won't be in this one.

 

[exmatelote]

Sharpie must wonder what he has to do sometimes.

 

[Reddy!]

Ah I see, half the players I named are returning via the Barbarians game. I forgot about that one. I don't think Deans can afford to drop JOC (James O'Connor) in that case.

 

[Brumby Jack]

The one concern I have is goalkicking if O'Connor is suspended.
Obviously, next in line is Cooper but against Carter you can't afford to miss or you could find yourself standing under your own posts very quickly.

 

[Ruggo]

O'Connor should be dropped for this one. It is a lesson he needs to learn and the team is greater than the one individual. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to the wing and Ant to OC. Mitchell comes onto the bench.

I think Sharpe might be being wrapped in cotton wool actually giving him enough game time to keep fitness but conserving him for the business end of the world cup. A reluctance to risk him might just be a compliment to his value to the squad while the big game experience is more benificial to Simmons.

Is Deans on the record as sayin no Barbarian players will be in the Test 22? I would not rule out some players being rotated early in the game and being conserved for bench duties in the test.

First test for Kev as captain in front of his home crowd. Suncorp is going to go nuts for this game.

 

[fatprop]

Hopefully Simmons will actually do stuff this week instead of running around being off side looking busy.

I would have preferred Vickerman getting 80 minutes against the Baa Baas with Sharpe & Simmons sharing time in the test

 

[fatprop]

Word is that O'Conner will be dropped with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) moving to the wing

so ............

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. McCabe
13. Fainga'a
14. Ashley-Cooper
15. Beale

 

[RedsHappy]

The one concern I have is goalkicking if O'Connor is suspended.
Obviously, next in line is Cooper but against Carter you can't afford to miss or you could find yourself standing under your own posts very quickly.

That's not my only concern, but yours is completely justified BJ. QC (Quade Cooper)'s kicking did not improve through 2011's S15. He would occasionally have an excellent game where he'd kick 6/7 or such like (you'd remember one of those), then he'd lapse back to say 3/5 or 2/4 and the cycle of unpredictable ups and downs would restart. He'd tend to miss easier kicks earlier in the game, then, remarkably, he'd often nail the harder ones later on under the biggest pressure of all (eg, v Cru game 1). IIRC, he ended the S15 at a high 60s% success rate, or v low 70s%.

But let's not forget that JO'C's most recent Test kicking has hardly been better overall. In summary: our whole kicking squad is dangerously under-performing so close to a WC, and is in a could-lose-Tests class of general performance standards.

 

[Ruggo]

I would not rule out an inprovement in goal kicking from Quade. He has been working with a kicking coach since comming into Wallaby camp and the only time we have seen him kick since, he nailed 2 from 2 after the bloke we are worried about being absent from the kicking duties kicked 0 from 3.

We will just have to wait and see but I am not to concerned.

 

[Richo]

I understand the desire for minimal disruption to the team, but do we think this might be AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s last chance to show form? If A. Finger has a blinder, do we see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) quietly go to the bench for the Italy game?

 

[Jumpers]

Yes folks it appears OMG James O is goinin to be baptised for a stay at home execution for his err err misdemeanours and you can contact him direct at the local fish and chip shop! Oh thats enough puttin James on the spot he'll take his punishment err up the??
a man or like a duck to water!

Now the important thing is to focus on them sneaky Wannabs who are planning the last crusade. I'm suprised my old mate Sharpie aint in the team, you know he gives watever is dished out and just to be honest too I'd ask Greg Growden to referee and Matt G for TMO duties. Now thats fair isn't it? I know we all can't be winners and winin' consistently becomes a habit thing, actually the Wannabs are in short supply of!

Tell you wat the enemy have a good set of young forwards in Vickerman, Pocock and Captain "James Horrible Horwill" hes the player thats got the flash car, wears makeup on Thursdays and can spell Aussie backwards! Timing could'nt be better for this clash of the titans so I'll be watchin me share market and TAB odds soar once we get over the ditch! Spot yous later!

 

[Joe Mac]

Palu has been excluded from the Barbarians squad. Does that mean Deans is planning on running him with Samo at 8?

 

[Scarfman]

Thanks Jumpers. You've really added something to the analysis of the game. And why do you write like that? Are you cockney?

 

[rsea]

I can't believe Sharpes been left out again. There must be something more to this. Does he have a poor record against NZ teams or something? I don't get it. He and Horwill were immense in SA
I hope O'connor is put on toilet duty a month "WIPERS!"