Fireworks
Jimmy Flynn (14)
Probably because Moore has an important letter after his name.
Bledisloe #1 - AUS v NZL, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, August 8th
- Thread starter KOB1987
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Probably because Moore has an important letter after his name.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Not even Lima.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Good call for the bench though.
drop kick
Frank Nicholson (4)
Actually, with To'omua out I think a 10/11/12 combo of Foley, Beale, Horne works pretty well.
If To'omua plays, Beale to the bench.
Dismal Pillock
Simon Poidevin (60)
didnt Hansen say everyone would get a burl? Dagg's had 3 and hasnt fired a bloody shot!
So Skudder and Jane have a week and a half to get fit and they get a run in Bled 1 & 2 ihomo.
damn shame Skudder got injured when he did, he couldve scorched the turf to shreds by now but we'll never know.
I reckon if he carves up then utility man Slade is fucked. Rememebr when Dagg first "arrived" vs the bokkes and pulled off that murderous first step and go try in the corner? Unignorable. Slade can't do that. Remember when Cullen first arrived looking all of 14-years old? GO WITH THE MURDER HANSEN
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
There was a number of instances where Tomane had multiple players coming at him. I thought he handled those occasions quite well in that he stayed in communication with the cover defence and assisted in shutting the attack down. Had he been as poor as some seem to think, the Argies would have scored on some of those occasions. The fact is they didn't and that can be attributed to the combination of the cover defence and Tomane's positioning when confronted with those multiple attackers.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Yeah, nah. We have to be honest about his strengths and weaknesses. He's a dynamic attacking player but weak on defensive positioning. If he was as good as you say then he'd be a regular first-picked Wallaby.
Good tackler however.
I'd pick him regardless. I'd be happy with any combination of Tomane, Horne and Speight on the wings. With Folau it's a good enough back three to win a RWC.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Yep, we've got plenty of wing depth in the squad. Pick two guys who can tackle and gas blokes on the outside and get on with it.
It's interesting that the discussions about wingers are generally leaving AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) out. It would seem to me that he's the most certain to be picked in the starting XV at the moment. I really can't see Cheika leaving him out.
I think the other wingers are all fighting it out for one spot. I think Beale will be the 23 in most of our matchday 23s moving forward so realistically only one of Horne, Tomane and Speight will play each test. I'd be surprised if Speight waltzes straight into the team for the first Bledisloe. I'm also not sure we'll see much more of Mitchell. Just too many good options.
I think the other wingers are all fighting it out for one spot. I think Beale will be the 23 in most of our matchday 23s moving forward so realistically only one of Horne, Tomane and Speight will play each test. I'd be surprised if Speight waltzes straight into the team for the first Bledisloe. I'm also not sure we'll see much more of Mitchell. Just too many good options.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Yay that.
I would still love to see Speight get a run, I reckon he is the better of the brumby wingers in Soup but it always seems to take a few games to step up at test level so it might be too late for him.
Case JOC (James O'Connor) also interests me as I don't think Cheika would have told the media he put him into a training program and then just leave him out of consideration as he could have just left him out for poor form of niggling injuries or whatever and Cheika doesn't strike to me as a guy who has to explain his selections or non selections
Case JOC (James O'Connor) also interests me as I don't think Cheika would have told the media he put him into a training program and then just leave him out of consideration as he could have just left him out for poor form of niggling injuries or whatever and Cheika doesn't strike to me as a guy who has to explain his selections or non selections
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
I think the correct response to the last sentence (I'm going out on a limb here - it was a doozy) is that JOC (James O'Connor) has to perform.
teach
Trevor Allan (34)
Last time Skelton played the Highlanders he was miles too slow and could not keep up.
I am not the only kiwi who is hoping Skelton gets a full 80.
I think Cheika would dearly love a hard man in the forwards, like a Brad Thorn or Brodie Retallick. Skelton may get there, but he is not there yet. Though I think he may make it if he can get his fitness and his work rate up. His tendency for cheap shots may be a problem though and will need to be cleaned up, especially at the RWC.
Marcelo
Ken Catchpole (46)
I agree. Skelton has never been a real impact player against the ABs. They have easily stopped him
A mutterer
Chilla Wilson (44)
Wtf? The entire tahs team got pantsed by the highlanders, including chieka, why single out the big willy? Few aussie forwards could claim victory over their darkness.counterparts recently either. He deserves the spot.I agree. Skelton has never been a real impact player against the ABs. They have easily stopped him
Personally I hope it's willy to start and a.rampaging big Kev on for the last 25.
BDA
Peter Johnson (47)
I don't buy the comments from the Kiwis that they all "hope" Skelton gets picked against the All Blacks. Seems like a bit of reverse psychology to me.
Nearly everybody else seems to agree that he should start.
From memory he's only played a couple of games off the bench in last years Bledisloe. I remember him being pretty poor, but that's not surprising in retrospect. He was very inconsistent last year, and his workrate, cardio and set piece technique were far from the finished product. He's unquestionably improved in those areas this year.
It's also unquestionable the physical impact he makes on the field; an area where we clearly struggle. As the boys on the podcast said last night, you cant use workrate to make up for a lack of players that can get you over the advantage line. The Kiwis know that, and I suspect they would much prefer not to see Skelton on the field.
Nearly everybody else seems to agree that he should start.
From memory he's only played a couple of games off the bench in last years Bledisloe. I remember him being pretty poor, but that's not surprising in retrospect. He was very inconsistent last year, and his workrate, cardio and set piece technique were far from the finished product. He's unquestionably improved in those areas this year.
It's also unquestionable the physical impact he makes on the field; an area where we clearly struggle. As the boys on the podcast said last night, you cant use workrate to make up for a lack of players that can get you over the advantage line. The Kiwis know that, and I suspect they would much prefer not to see Skelton on the field.
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