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The Wallabies Thread

Gnostic

Gnostic

Mark Ella (57)
Scrubber2050 said:
Hooper is a very good rugby player - no question.



From tidbits I have gleaned over the years from pretty good yet nameless sources (including the Tahs) Hooper is not overly respected by his peers, not as a rugby player but as a bloke. There has been plenty of stuff said that Hooper is an individual and not a team man and plays as such. IMO there are also another few players in the group who could easily be categorised similarly. The impression which is reality is that Hooper never seems to take responsibility and always seemed prepared to deflect negatives away from himself. He obviously has been a Cheika teflon player, certainly evidenced by Chek by not picking the best 7 available so many times. The Pooper worked well at the RWC but not so much since. Hooper always maintained the 7 spot and the bloke who is not an 8, played 8.



Players are not stupid. Players pick up on the nuances. To be off a per cent or 2 or 3 changes the results of team sports.



A mate of mine who played with Eales said he was a very good rugby player (not great in the true sense of the word) but was a superb leader and captain, so much respected by his peers both on the field and off. That "culture" or inclusiveness by the whole group made a huge difference.



I genuinely wish Hooper to be a successful captain and leader but I fear that may not be the case. We shall see..
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I also wonder about the history and the involvement of some Tahs players in the Link/Patston fiasco and how that taint still remains and perhaps even gets stronger with the return of Beale.

With culture problems having some players basically never accountable truly ingrains the entitled attitude and performance will be effected.
 
T

TOCC

Guest
fatprop said:
McMahon has been injured for most of the season, I don't disagree with his (or Timani's selection)

yep, it appears Cheika wasn't satisfied with the in-form locks, they had their chance, they have been in the training camps, others are now getting their chance

I just find it interesting to see that it is "justifiable" for the backrow selection but not for the locks.
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Why is it interesting? Do you not see the difference between a player like Douglas and Simmons who have been out of form, as opposed to someone like Timani who was in form when he wasn't injured or banned?
I said back in April before his ban that Timani should be be part of the starting backrow, the ban and injury rightfully set him back and he fell behind Higgers..

There has certainly been criticism for backrow selection, you've just chosen to overlook it. Dempsey has done nothing to justify his inclusion, likewise with Korczyk. Hardwick shouldn't be there either, Alcock and Fainga'a were performing better then him... but I've said all this before and I'm just repeating myself now..

Fatprop you have this marvellous way of trying to justify all Cheikas selection decision and try and hold it over other people as though we shouldn't question his decisions.
 
Mr Doug

Mr Doug

Dick Tooth (41)
Could someone please tell me how I get rid of the bloody annoying audio/video adds (for FAB detergent) that keep rotating on this thread?!!
 
No4918

No4918

John Hipwell (52)
Mr Doug said:
Could someone please tell me how I get rid of the bloody annoying audio/video adds (for FAB detergent) that keep rotating on this thread?!!
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Well said Mr Doug. We have finally got to a serious problem.

This is the only website that these bloody auto-ads start playing on if the page is idle. Has Gagger hit tough times and needs the extra revenue?
 
Ash

Ash

Michael Lynagh (62)
If your 10 is back on general play, you can argue it's for counter attack.

If your 10 is sitting in the channel on a lineout, he's hidden.
 
Killer

Killer

Cyril Towers (30)
No4918 said:
Well said Mr Doug. We have finally got to a serious problem.

This is the only website that these bloody auto-ads start playing on if the page is idle. Has Gagger hit tough times and needs the extra revenue?
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Yes I third that, get them off please.
 
No4918

No4918

John Hipwell (52)
cyclopath said:
Do you understand how a site like this helps pay for itself?
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cyclopath said:
Above and beyond what everyone on here pays for? Wait... ;)
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Yes, I don't mind advertising and know it is important. I really don't like autoplay though and would like to turn be able to turn it off. Seems at least 4 people agree.

But being the second greatest site on the net you really have us by the balls. So i will keep coming back, well played.
 
T

TOCC

Guest
No4918 said:
Yes, I don't mind advertising and know it is important. I really don't like autoplay though and would like to turn be able to turn it off. Seems at least 4 people agree.

But being the second greatest site on the net you really have us by the balls. So i will keep coming back, well played.
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I'm intrigued as to what the greatest site is
 
Viking

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
Rebels3 said:
I just want to pick our best team available. Not worried with combinations or people's strengths complimenting others weaknesses.

Sio - clearly better than the others
TPN - best of an ordinary bunch
AAT - close call with Kepu, but form this year been worth it
Coleman - obvious
Arnold- obvious
Hanigan - would rather Fardy but gets a lot of unfair shit from some, best of an ordinary bunch
Hooper - obvious
McMahon - runs hard, tackles hard
Genia - obvious despite some of the crap thrown at him from a 3 game sample size
Foley - obvious
Folau - could be worlds best winger but won't be worlds best fullback
Beale - obvious
Kerevi - kurindrani is a great player but if you gave the opposition the choice of kerevi or Kurindrani, 9/10 of them would rather face kurindrani
Speight - best winger in Super Rugby all year from aus perspective
DHP - better fullback than Folau, Folau a better winger

Uelese - Moore is running around like a geriatric
Faulkner
Kepu
Rodda
Timani - would rather Hardwick but no idea what happened there
Powell
Hodge - versatility
Rona - versatility
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Fardy is easily the best 6 - obvious to everyone

Why is Beale obvious? he's been playing overseas and just came back from injury. Plus like mentioned by many before - defence at 12 would be a big issue. Hodge, Hunt (if he were fit) has just as good claim.

I personally hate the idea of Beale at 12, with Foley inside him - both need and want to drop back to fullback too often - what a mess that would cause.

Kerevi also is hopeless on defence, despite being, I believe, far better then Kurdrani in attack - therefore 13 is Kuridrani until Kerevi sorts his shit out, Kuridrani a solid option, no need to change him.

I hope they swap DHP and Folau like you mentioned, Cheika just seems set on playing Folau at fullback though.

I think if you want Beale starting, you need to drop DHP, and start Beale at fullback. There isn't room for both. The wings will have to be Folau and a specialist - at least that's what I'd like to see. Naiavalu would be first choice if fit, Speight the next.
 
hammertimethere

hammertimethere

Trevor Allan (34)
I find it useful to think what's the hypothetical best 23 and work backwards from there based on injury availability etc. If I had the choice (with everyone fit and available) I'd go with;
1 - Sio
2 - TPN
3 - AAAA
4 - Coleman
5 - Arnold
6 - Fardy
7 - Hooper
8 - Timani

9 - Genia
10 - Foley
11 - Naivalu
12 - Hunt
13 - Kerevi
14 - Folau
15 - Beale

16 - Latu
17 - Cowan (could be robertson, bit of a toss up).
18 - Kepu
19 - Tui
20 - Mad Dog or Higgers
21 - Phipps
22 - ?QC (Quade Cooper)
23 - DHP

I'd use Beale as 2nd playmaker, Folau in the "blind" winger role the Wallabie play and try to play a fast, physical game where we probe both directions with the 2 playmakers (10 and 15, and half a one at 12). But for various reasons (form, injury etc.) this is a pipe dream.

With the current resources and squad selection I would go with.

1 - Sio
2 - TPN (Swap with Moore if the lineout goes to shit)
3 - AAAA
4 - Coleman
5 - Arnold
6 - Hanigan
7 - Hooper
8 - Timani

9 - Genia
10 - Foley
11 - Naivalu if fit (Speight if not)
12 - Hodge
13 - Kerevi (if fit, Kuridrani if not)
14 - Folau
15 - Beale

16 - Moore
17 - Robertson (could/should be Cowan)
18 - Kepu
19 - Douglas (pray to the lord he finds his previous fire)
20 - Mad Dog (as above)
21 - Phipps
22 - DHP (Covers Beale, Foley, Hodge)
23 - Rona (Covers Kerevi, Naivalu and Folau)

That line up gives us the best chance of playing with the speed and physicality required to hang with the AB's (though it's still light on in the Back row).
 
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