Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[gold heart]

So, given that many posters here would agree with the premise of having both Gill and Hooper in the matchday 23, how do we pull this off given the following circumstances:

a) only five forward reserves (three of which are a full front row
b) MMM is not an option

Assuming that Higginbotham is out for the first test, do you start Mowen at 6, Palu at 8 and put a genuine lock on the bench?

The upside is you have a specialist lock reserve and if Mowen comes off early, you have to play Gill and Hooper for the rest of the game. If Palu comes off early, you have to move Mowen to 8 and then have Gill and Hooper at 6 and 7.

The potential downside is that you could be forced to play a really small backrow for too much of the game.

The upside is that you have a specialist lock on the bench and the ability to play two 7s has no downside if you're not forced to take Mowen or Palu off early.

I was just watching highlights of the 01 games with Kefu, Giffen, Finegan etc ...kind of scary how light we are on talented hardmen at the moment with those in the squad to date as backups ..... I guess higgers has his scans today ..... crap!

 

[Shiggins]

With Digby's fitness being borderline, you'd have to seriously wonder whether JOC (James O'Connor) will be shifted to the wing and Barnes at 10.

Very good point. JOC (James O'Connor) is dynamite on the wing and to be honest Digby hasn't been that great recently. He turns the ball over a hell of a lot and misses the odd tackle. Cummins is better then Digby now IMO. It has been hard to gauge with them both being injured though

 

[Scott Allen]

So, given that many posters here would agree with the premise of having both Gill and Hooper in the matchday 23, how do we pull this off given the following circumstances:

a) only five forward reserves (three of which are a full front row
b) MMM is not an option

Assuming that Higginbotham is out for the first test, do you start Mowen at 6, Palu at 8 and put a genuine lock on the bench?

The upside is you have a specialist lock reserve and if Mowen comes off early, you have to play Gill and Hooper for the rest of the game. If Palu comes off early, you have to move Mowen to 8 and then have Gill and Hooper at 6 and 7.

The potential downside is that you could be forced to play a really small backrow for too much of the game.

The upside is that you have a specialist lock on the bench and the ability to play two 7s has no downside if you're not forced to take Mowen or Palu off early.

The benefits of Gill/Hooper combination on the field at the end of the match is worth taking a risk with the bench.

I think MMM is the only player we have who can genuinely cover lock/6.

If he's unavailable you have to take a risk somewhere - weaken your locks if someone else is on the bench as 4/6 or weaken your backrow if a specialist lock is on the bench.

The scrum is going to be one of our major problems against the Lions. I don't think the risk of weakening the scrum with Dennis/McCalman/Mowen on the bench as a lock can be carried.

I'd say Palu at #8 Mowen starting at #6, Gill/Hooper as one bench reserve and Douglas/Simmons as the other.

Worst case scenario is Mowen and Palu both getting injured. Gill to #8 and Horwill to #6 is still better than having Dennis/McCalman/Mowen in as a lock.

 

[fatprop]

Sorry FP, yeah I think they deserve selection no doubt, but isn't one or both of them carrying an injury?

I am not sure, more concerning to me is who comes in if they are wounded, the cupboard is bare, Mitchell is struggling, the Reds? Ships & Davies? Nah well Davies maybe, the Tahs? Nah babies, Brumbies? No wingers, Rebels & Forces? Well no.

McCabe maybe a reasonable option (ducks head)

 

[Dumbledore]

I think MMM is the only player we have who can genuinely cover lock/6.

Jones. He's probably still a bit too raw for Test rugby though.

 

[gold heart]

Jones. He's probably still a bit too raw for Test rugby though.

Kimlin can cover both but goes missing at times

 

[USARugger]

I'd like to see Simmons starting for the combination with Horwill in the first test. After watching the Reds game again I think he really brought the whole package to the table. Called the line outs very well as he generally does, scrummaged well, was very good in the breakdowns and laid some serious hits. He showed an impressive level of measured maturity in a game filled with niggling and outright animosity between the sides while adding a level of sheer aggression and physicality to his game that I have not seen before.

Looks like he may be coming into form at just the right time. I was very impressed with him after a second tasting.

 

[Braveheart81]

The benefits of Gill/Hooper combination on the field at the end of the match is worth taking a risk with the bench.

I think MMM is the only player we have who can genuinely cover lock/6.

If he's unavailable you have to take a risk somewhere - weaken your locks if someone else is on the bench as 4/6 or weaken your backrow if a specialist lock is on the bench.

The scrum is going to be one of our major problems against the Lions. I don't think the risk of weakening the scrum with Dennis/McCalman/Mowen on the bench as a lock can be carried.

I'd say Palu at #8 Mowen starting at #6, Gill/Hooper as one bench reserve and Douglas/Simmons as the other.

Worst case scenario is Mowen and Palu both getting injured. Gill to #8 and Horwill to #6 is still better than having Dennis/McCalman/Mowen in as a lock.

Given the available options, this is what I'd do as well.

I think the biggest factor in influencing that decision is that Dennis and McCalman's form on the field hasn't been good enough to provide the upside necessary to offset the downside of them packing in the second row in a test against the Lions.

I guess the one thing that could leave them in with a chance of playing is that Horwill, Simmons, Douglas, Mowen, and Gill/Hooper will all be considered 80 minute players so if someone like Dennis or McCalman was on the bench they'd be considered for limited minutes only if there weren't any injuries.

 

[USARugger]

Horwill at 6 - NEVER AGAIN

 

[Braveheart81]

The thing I like about Rob Simmons and Rob Horne in this squad is both of them are in better form than I believe they ever were when they've been selected for the Wallabies previously.

I would also list Robinson and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as two players playing much better rugby than they have at any point in the last couple of years.

 

[USARugger]

Totally agree. Simmons seems to have grown up - his biggest flaw in the past was the ridiculous penalties he would give away. Not to mention he looks fucking hungry for that gold jersey, can't beat that.

What is the word on AACs knocks? I rate him up there with Genia, Horwill, Moore as players we need for this series. This comparison may be a little off but he is the Wallabies Conrad Smith when he wears 13. I really rate him very highly at test level. His form always explodes when he plays at the test level as well. If this happens again while he's on song like he has been I really think he will be pivotal to winning this series. I would not be surprised if he gives Drico some serious trouble/smashes him a few times (he actually is a dominant tackler).

 

[barbarian]

I would still wager Dennis is favourite to start ahead of Mowen at 6 if Higgers is injured.

As expected it seems Dingo is weighing past experience very heavily.

 

[Dumbledore]

Totally agree. Simmons seems to have grown up - his biggest flaw in the past was the ridiculous penalties he would give away. Not to mention he looks fucking hungry for that gold jersey, can't beat that.

Was more that he was incredibly lazy around the park and took as many shortcuts as he possibly could surely? That plus the penalties wasn't a great combination. Is having his best season to date though. I'd still start Douglas, but we won't lose much with Simmons.

 

[biggsy]

With cooper leading all australian player stats as number 10 and playing nearly double the games then 2 player all together. I figured out how cooper can squeeze himself in the team. Because its not base on performance over the last year at all.
He should Get one of these

Point I'm not happy that Beale is there bugger all games

 

[Richo]

I would still wager Dennis is favourite to start ahead of Mowen at 6 if Higgers is injured.

As expected it seems Dingo is weighing past experience very heavily.

I think you're right, but past experience should count against Dennis and not for him. He had one or two good games, the rest were anonymous.

 

[Richo]

Was more that he was incredibly lazy around the park and took as many shortcuts as he possibly could surely? That plus the penalties wasn't a great combination. Is having his best season to date though. I'd still start Douglas, but we won't lose much with Simmons.

The Tahs line out can and should count against both Douglas and Dennis. I'd have Douglas on the bench and Dennis in the stands.

 

[Braveheart81]

Surely there must be some sort of injury cloud over Dennis after Friday's game.

He looked like he'd done his hammy early in the game and kept playing. I thought he was completely cooked when he came off. It was a great effort to keep playing (including the intercept for Foley's try) but it definitely appeared like he was doing himself additional damage.

 

[Dumbledore]

With cooper leading all australian player stats as number 10 and playing nearly double the games then 2 player all together. I figured out how cooper can squeeze himself in the team. Because its not base on performance over the last year at all.
He should Get one of these

Point I'm not happy that Beale is there bugger all games

What stats is he leading apart from offloads? Turnovers?

 

[biggsy]

Very good point. JOC (James O'Connor) is dynamite on the wing and to be honest Digby hasn't been that great recently. He turns the ball over a hell of a lot and misses the odd tackle. Cummins is better then Digby now IMO. It has been hard to gauge with them both being injured though

This why I'm not concern of digby leaving the reds. i have never been a fan of his. And if there is someone that dreserves a spot in this tour it cummins.

 

[Dumbledore]

The Tahs line out can and should count against both Douglas and Dennis. I'd have Douglas on the bench and Dennis in the stands.

Start Mowen and let him run the lineouts then. I just think Douglas plays the tight, hard, brand of rugby that's completely invaluable come Test time.