Rugby Championship 2012: Our Backline

I like.

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. McCabe
13. Horne
14. JOC
15. Beale

20. White
21. Faingaa
22. Mitchell

So much attack with solid midfield defence. And young.

Your man love for Tomane and McCabe are a little over the top. I can't see how Tomane offers more than either JOC or AAC.

I don't agree with that at all. He is probably the quickest player in the country when fully fit and firing.
The problem is playing for the Waratahs invokes a risk adverse style rather than a free flowing structure where he can show his true value.

For those that say JOC is too small for 12.

Our greatest 12 ever was only 1 inch taller (apparently 6 foot, but I reckon he is a touch under) and 4 kgs heavier.

If JOC puts on 2 kgs of muscle - is he then ok to play 12?

Measurements should have nothing to do with it, people just get so hung up on numbers these days.

When JOC Shows he can successfully shutdown Nonu or SBW then he can have the 12 jersey whenever he wants. Atm our best players to do this is only Barnes and McCabe.

He is quick but I have not once witnessed him use his speed. You can't fully blame the Tahs as he has had many Test opportunities already and unfotunately has not shown any great attacking ability. He is solid but he is no attacker.

I think the only way we can truly find out if JOC can defend at 12 at the Test level* is by playing him there for a few games.

*I don't think you can apply a lot of the defensive statistics from Super Rugby to the Test level.

Um, I think you might've misread that...

Those weren't rankings...

I feel that tomorrow will be a big day for this backline in terms of the TRC (can we use this as an abbreviation for The Rugby Championship. I am getting sick of typing it).

They haven't blown Wales off the park in this series but I think they've been really solid. I think it's fair to say that aside from Vuna, every player has played well.

If they have another good game and we win tomorrow, they will make it really difficult for players like Cooper and JOC to jump straight back in to the starting side.

I am not sure when Tapuai is expected back from injury, but with McCabe and Horne performing well and Barnes, JOC, Fainga'a and AAC all potential midfield players, I will be very surprised if he plays test rugby this year.

The same goes for Mitchell. If Beale stays healthy at 15 and Ioane has a complete mortgage on 11, AAC, JOC and possibly Tomane will be all competing for the 14 jersey and will be well ahead of Mitchell.

You are probably right, he deserves a few games to see how he goes and I truely hope he does well as he'd be the perfect attacking weopon at 12. However I do keep thinking about the Brumbies Vs Rebels game with McCabe V JOC at 12. McCabe dominated that game with his crash-balling and direct play. JOC struggled to contain him. Im not saying McCabe is a better option but SBW and/or Nonu at test level would be even harder to contain then McCabe at Super level. So I'd struggle to see how JOC would be defensively successful at 12 for the Wallabies.

I would have loved to see how he goes vs Wales. but unfortunately that moment has passed and I would rather not trial him against the ABs (our strongest opposition).

I like
9 Genia
10 Barnes (no reason to unseat him after his exceptional play)
11 Ioane
12 McCabe
13 AAC
14 JOC if available otherwise Tomane or Mitchell
15 Beale

20 White
21 Horne, Faainga, Tapuai or Inman (a great hard yards centre)
22 Mitchell/Tomane

Does anyone else feel Ioane is the modern day Campese ? The guy can be absolutely brilliant and inimitable in attack. But then turns arounds and makes some of the most elementary schoolboy errors with handling and ball security.
I'm still waiting for him to learn to catch, pass, and kick to round out his phenomenal talent with ball running and footwork.

You mean he should have caught that crap pass thrown behind him?

The James Hook kick through. But in general, no other Wallaby seems to be so hot and cold.

I'll rewatch it, but at the time I didn't think it was digby's fault.

Barring injury, I think JOC might make the bench, but the backline will remain the same for the first TRC test.

I think you're right about that, but I'd give JOC good odds of knocking off AAC for the 14 jersey after a game or two.

Id bet money that JOC will start over AAC on the wing.