BDA
Peter Johnson (47)
For me it's exciting to think about our potential bench at the world cup.
Last night was a great performance, but I thought our physicality went down for a period of the second half . The guys seemed to lift again when we hit the lead, and brought on some of the subs. The match really demonstrated how important it is for us to dominate in the tackle and be physical. Some of our guys just couldn’t keep that intensity up for 80 minutes so impact from the bench will be crucial later this year.
Luke Burgess, despite very little game time in the last 2 months, looked sharp and whilst he wasn't out there for long, I felt comfortable watching him come out and take over with 10 to go, a role that he is perfectly suited for, despite his imperfections.
Simo again showed he is BMT, despite his age...I think in the crunch games, Deans might be tempted to go with Vicks of Sharpe on the bench, depending on which one of those is to start. It's been interesting to watch the tussle for position between the wallabies locks over the last month, and in my view the pecking order now reads Horwill / Vickerman / Sharpe / Simo. So I think Sharpe would be my 18 for finals at the world cup. He’s experienced, can run the lineout and can easily play 80 minutes.
Neither Mafu nor Fainga'a got much time, but I was glad to see that Deans had enough faith to send them out there with the game in the balance. This is an area we can really amp up for the WC. TPN should be our 16. I’m excited about see him come onto the field with 25 minutes to go. He’s a he tackler, strong scrummager and is one of the few wallabies who has an outstanding pick n drive…exactly the kinda guy we need if we are trying to grind out a win late in the game. Slipper is another player who should be on the bench (if not on the field) I think Alexander has done well in the tri-nation so id keep Slipper on the bench for now. He’s another player that can go on for 80 minutes if we need him and offer much more around the field than Maafu.
The backrow is the interesting one. I liked the combination we played last night. Elsom/Samo/Pocock is the perfect combo for the first 40 minutes of the game. Samo obviously samo cant last 80 minutes…but Elsom can. I really like the idea of using Higgers off the bench at the world cup. He suits us well, because he can play 80 minutes and can cover both samo and pocock. So Higgers is my 19. With higgers there Dean could play a 4:3 split, but I think Deans is fully aware that, given the way the world cup will be played, a 5:2 is a better use of the bench. Last night is a good example of only 1 of the 2 back were used (and only due to injury to Genia, and all 5 forwards were needed). One of the wallabies strengths is the versatility amongst our backline players. McCabe/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Barnes/Beale/O’Connor are all versatile, so 1 outside/inside back can sufficiently cover our back. Worst case scenario, Higger move to centre. So I think an extra forward on the bench suits us better than having an extra back….Deans seems to see McCalman can act as a cover for 8/7/6 Not sure is really a true 6, but I did see him make one steal with pocock last night so he has his worth. But for me he continues to be a workhorse without being a warhorse. Last night he didn’t relly go out and put on any big hits in his first 15 minutes (the likes of which we had seen from Vicks/Elsom & Samo when they were fresh early in the game). What I’m trying to say is, I have no problem with McCalman on the bench but I think we could try for more impact by perhaps playing Palu off the bench. With Higgers also on the bench, you don’t have to worry about being forced to play palu for 80 minutes. If there’s an early injury to Samo, replace him with Higgers. If not, We’ll be able to replace Elsom and Samo with Higgers and Palu with 20 minutes to go in the game. That could definitely help shift momentum in our favour.
The most difficult position is no.22 I think this is a position which will change in most games. Of all our players there are a few that are probably best suited to this role….AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is very versatile, covering 11, 13, 14, 15. Barnes covers 10, 12, 15 & O’Connor covers 10, 11, 12, 14, 15. If oconnor is going to be kicker itll probably mean that he’ll be starting on the wing. Fainga'a/Horne/Mitchell all offer something different
So in my view our bench for the big games at the world cup should be
16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Sharpe
18. Higgers
19. Palu
22. Burgess
21. Any of Barnes/Fainga'a/Mitchell/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
I cant recall ever seeing a better wallabies bench
Last night was a great performance, but I thought our physicality went down for a period of the second half . The guys seemed to lift again when we hit the lead, and brought on some of the subs. The match really demonstrated how important it is for us to dominate in the tackle and be physical. Some of our guys just couldn’t keep that intensity up for 80 minutes so impact from the bench will be crucial later this year.
Luke Burgess, despite very little game time in the last 2 months, looked sharp and whilst he wasn't out there for long, I felt comfortable watching him come out and take over with 10 to go, a role that he is perfectly suited for, despite his imperfections.
Simo again showed he is BMT, despite his age...I think in the crunch games, Deans might be tempted to go with Vicks of Sharpe on the bench, depending on which one of those is to start. It's been interesting to watch the tussle for position between the wallabies locks over the last month, and in my view the pecking order now reads Horwill / Vickerman / Sharpe / Simo. So I think Sharpe would be my 18 for finals at the world cup. He’s experienced, can run the lineout and can easily play 80 minutes.
Neither Mafu nor Fainga'a got much time, but I was glad to see that Deans had enough faith to send them out there with the game in the balance. This is an area we can really amp up for the WC. TPN should be our 16. I’m excited about see him come onto the field with 25 minutes to go. He’s a he tackler, strong scrummager and is one of the few wallabies who has an outstanding pick n drive…exactly the kinda guy we need if we are trying to grind out a win late in the game. Slipper is another player who should be on the bench (if not on the field) I think Alexander has done well in the tri-nation so id keep Slipper on the bench for now. He’s another player that can go on for 80 minutes if we need him and offer much more around the field than Maafu.
The backrow is the interesting one. I liked the combination we played last night. Elsom/Samo/Pocock is the perfect combo for the first 40 minutes of the game. Samo obviously samo cant last 80 minutes…but Elsom can. I really like the idea of using Higgers off the bench at the world cup. He suits us well, because he can play 80 minutes and can cover both samo and pocock. So Higgers is my 19. With higgers there Dean could play a 4:3 split, but I think Deans is fully aware that, given the way the world cup will be played, a 5:2 is a better use of the bench. Last night is a good example of only 1 of the 2 back were used (and only due to injury to Genia, and all 5 forwards were needed). One of the wallabies strengths is the versatility amongst our backline players. McCabe/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Barnes/Beale/O’Connor are all versatile, so 1 outside/inside back can sufficiently cover our back. Worst case scenario, Higger move to centre. So I think an extra forward on the bench suits us better than having an extra back….Deans seems to see McCalman can act as a cover for 8/7/6 Not sure is really a true 6, but I did see him make one steal with pocock last night so he has his worth. But for me he continues to be a workhorse without being a warhorse. Last night he didn’t relly go out and put on any big hits in his first 15 minutes (the likes of which we had seen from Vicks/Elsom & Samo when they were fresh early in the game). What I’m trying to say is, I have no problem with McCalman on the bench but I think we could try for more impact by perhaps playing Palu off the bench. With Higgers also on the bench, you don’t have to worry about being forced to play palu for 80 minutes. If there’s an early injury to Samo, replace him with Higgers. If not, We’ll be able to replace Elsom and Samo with Higgers and Palu with 20 minutes to go in the game. That could definitely help shift momentum in our favour.
The most difficult position is no.22 I think this is a position which will change in most games. Of all our players there are a few that are probably best suited to this role….AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is very versatile, covering 11, 13, 14, 15. Barnes covers 10, 12, 15 & O’Connor covers 10, 11, 12, 14, 15. If oconnor is going to be kicker itll probably mean that he’ll be starting on the wing. Fainga'a/Horne/Mitchell all offer something different
So in my view our bench for the big games at the world cup should be
16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Sharpe
18. Higgers
19. Palu
22. Burgess
21. Any of Barnes/Fainga'a/Mitchell/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
I cant recall ever seeing a better wallabies bench
