Wallabies Squad - the Link Era

[Bowside]

I wonder what the chances are of To'omua playing 10 and Cooper playing 15.

Link has said that he could put 15 on coopers back and he would play exactly the same way, so you never know.

Another left field idea is Lilo at 15. He's clearly the best kicker in the country behind harris, and kicks are crucial in test rugby.

 

[JSRF10]

I don't think you'd need to shoehorn Lilo into the 15 jersey for his place kicking. He is the best 12 available to the Wallabies at the moment. If Folau is fit he should be the 15, that's where he has played his best rugby and the position where he'll get his hands on the ball as much as possible.

Cooper will get first go at 10 under Link I reckon, I think To'omua will get a starting shot maybe against Argentina and on the EOYT. Its a position that is just begging for someone to come in and nail it down, whoever Link picks first up should be assured the first 3 or 4 games of the RC (disasters aside) to have a run at the jersey with rotation occurring later in the Wallabies run of fixtures.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Be very surprised if TPN gets a shot - hasn't played for a long long.
time so his fitness, which is average anyway will be lacking

Shame that Ryan is injured

 

[fatprop]

I really don't want to work today, so ..... .... ... how about a team with some form, attacking threat and athletic forwards.

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Horwill
5. Pyle
6. MMM
7. Hooper
8. Mowen
9. Genia
10. To'omua
11. Cummins
12. Goodwin
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Mogg
15. Folau

16 TPN
17 Kepu
18 Sio
19 Neville
20 Gill
21 White
22 Kuridrani
23 Beale

 

[fatprop]

Be very surprised if TPN gets a shot - hasn't played for a long long.
time so his fitness, which is average anyway will be lacking

Shame that Ryan is injured

I bet he is the reserve hooker, he and Moore are just streets ahead of the rest

 

[EatSleepDrinkRuck]

I wonder what the chances are of To'omua playing 10 and Cooper playing 15.

Link has said that he could put 15 on coopers back and he would play exactly the same way, so you never know.

Another left field idea is Lilo at 15. He's clearly the best kicker in the country behind harris, and kicks are crucial in test rugby.

Maybe - thats not a bad option, but I think it is falling into the trap of trying to have great individuals on the field instead of playing them to position.

I could see something like that happening in a world cup.

Also, Cooper/To'omua both at 10 would really complement each other whether you run Cooper on to take advantage of his own fresh forwards or Sub Cooper on once the other side's forwards tire and there is some advantage line momentum.

 

[Scrubber2050]

fatprop - pretty good run on team - some disagreements on the bench - my only concern is that Maggs best part s of his game are returning the ball at speed (if he has space) and his excellant kicking - would he not be wasted on the wing

 

[vidiot]

I really don't want to work today, so ... .. . how about a team with some form, attacking threat and athletic forwards.

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Horwill
5. Pyle
6. MMM
7. Hooper
8. Mowen
9. Genia
10. To'omua
11. Cummins
12. Godwin
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Mogg
15. Folau

16 TPN
17 Kepu
18 Sio
19 Neville
20 Gill
21 White
22 Kuridrani
23 Beale

Put Cooper at 10 (he can place-kick), swap Folau and Mogg.

Tell Cooper to fling or kick it to Folau at every opportunity and have the honey badger pop up on Coopers shoulder for that inside forward pass.

We will beat the Lions, I tell you!

Oh, wait.

 

[boyo]

I wonder how much the "Crouch, bind, set" laws will influence selection.

 

[RedsHappy]

I see two overlapping issues (amongst many others) for Link pre-August 17:

1. How does he rebuild morale and confidence in a core playing group after what I suspect was a crushing experience for the BIL Wallaby squad after Test 3, when the whole series was lost and lost in that match so overwhelmingly?Few of those Wallabies have played well since, and I feel sure the negative echoes of the Lions tour have lived on. The 'team mind' needs rejuvenating, and quite quickly.

2. How does Link want to use his honeymoon period, for what ends? Does he want to start with a radically redesigned team now with a view to risking some tough losses pain this winter, but with the upside of real gains for the slam/EOYT? Some marginal re-jigging of the BIL squad may minimise immediate risk when coupled with Link's own freshening qualities, but may never address the creation of something with far superior potential for 2014 and later (a la the much changed team as noted by fatprop above),

 

[emuarse]

Whether he acknowledges it or not, Cooper probably cares. I doubt anyone enjoys being singled out and booed everytime they touch the ball in a sporting match.

Win, lose or draw, I think we need to see Cooper put on a polished performance against the All Blacks in NZ before it can be discounted. So far he hasn't done this (although he has only had one chance at this since the 2011 RWC).

Cooper played quite well behind a losing pack and where the Crusader defense rushed the Reds backline, sometimes arguably from offside.
But the local boneheads really showed their fair mindedness with jeering every time he had the ball, or was about to kick a penalty.
I'm glad to see that QC (Quade Cooper) was not put off by this.

 

[wamberal]

When a new CEO takes over in the commercial world, the first thing he does is crystallise all the losses that he can....... ditto incoming politicians and "budget black holes". I suppose the equivalent move for Link is to be prepared to experiment a bit, try some new combinations, even new players (although he has to be very careful that he does not break a young player by throwing him in to situations that are too much of a challenge) at the expense of losing games that might possibly have been won with a more short term, conservative approach.

As a classic example: there is no point picking Kimlin, because he is going. Better to try somebody who will be here for the long term.

 

[Braveheart81]

Cooper played quite well behind a losing pack and where the Crusader defense rushed the Reds backline, sometimes arguably from offside.
But the local boneheads really showed their fair mindedness with jeering every time he had the ball, or was about to kick a penalty.
I'm glad to see that QC (Quade Cooper) was not put off by this.

Did he really play quite well though?

The Reds were thoroughly outclassed and their backline wasn't a threat whatsoever.

I completely accept that you're almost never going to win a game when your forwards have been belted like the Reds forwards were but I'd hope for a little more attacking spark from the playmaker who wants to and is likely to play 10 for the Wallabies in a few weeks time.

There was almost nothing on counterattack and nothing off set piece. The Crusaders defended brilliantly but it's not like the Reds were without the ball.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Is there time for a Australian Barbarians vs Australian Swagmen exhibition trial game to be held in somewhere like Newcastle, Bathurst, Toowomba, Cairns, Darwin or Perth for Link to experiment with combinations before TRC starts?

Be good for whichever town is chosen to host, and a sign from Link and the Pulveriser that they are serious about taking the game to the people.

Any word on an adjustment to his assistant coaches and management team?

 

[lewisr]

Did he really play quite well though?

The Reds were thoroughly outclassed and their backline wasn't a threat whatsoever.

I completely accept that you're almost never going to win a game when your forwards have been belted like the Reds forwards were but I'd hope for a little more attacking spark from the playmaker who wants to and is likely to play 10 for the Wallabies in a few weeks time.

There was almost nothing on counterattack and nothing off set piece. The Crusaders defended brilliantly but it's not like the Reds were without the ball.

I dont think he played well, I agree with you there. But he did not have a bad game or in any way pull the cooper errors we thought he would. This seemed to translate to a 'boring' quade cooper, who just did what most 10s do like kick well, tackle well and pass well. But that was about it. So for QC (Quade Cooper) it was an average, if not solid game.

So to be honest I'm a bit lost at the moment. I feel as though he is becoming conservative with age and maturity and thus is losing some of the touch that made him so unique. But at the same time as this, his backs have been off form throughout the year (yeh I know its the flyhalves job but hear me out). Couple that with a no show by the forwards. So all this, plus some devastated Wallabies led to a collectively poor performance on Saturday night.

I also think we should remember the shocker that To'omua had last week against the Force. Just putting it all in perspective and keeping the playing field level, he had a rare brain explosion and dropped the ball numerous times just when the Brumbies needed him to lift his game. For that reason I think Quades experience warrants him a shot in these tests, especially with the talent AND combinations that will surround him in the backline.

Think of the options:
1) Folau with a cross kick or wide pass

2) AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) wide pass or crash ball

3) Lilo second play maker which has been proven to work well with Cooper

4) Cummins inside ball

5) Genia - do I need to say anything?

6) Mogg to do the clearing - eliminates charge down horros (this is more of a solution to one of his deficiencies)

Of course To'omua can also take advantage of all these things but I seriously think its worth at least a shot with Quade because he can (not will) do it better.

If he fails, yet again, to produce the goods with his favourite coach at the helm and surrounded by the brilliant backs/ decent forward pack, then it's time for Matt.

for me:

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Horwill
5. Pyle
6. MMM
7. Gill
8. Mowen
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Cummins
12. Lilo
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Mogg
15. Folau

16 TPN
17 Kepu
18 Sio
19 Neville
20 Hooper
21 White
22 Kuridrani
23 Beale

 

[Gnostic]

I feel that criticism of QC (Quade Cooper) for the Reds last two games is somewhat overstated and doesn't take into consideration that:-
1) in both games the forward pack never gained parity in any aspect of the games.
2) in both games IMO we saw what A. Fainga'a brings to the Reds midfield. Compounding this was the loss of the back-up in Harris.

QC (Quade Cooper) has been historically lambasted for his defence. In recent games we have seen he tackle players which have a reputation for being very hard to put away, such as Rene Ranger. He has been in the last line of defence on numerous times to deny opponents tries. How much more can one ask. So now he isn't lambasted for his defence it is his failure to spark the attack. I would like to see Scott Allen's take on the Reds attack, but from my viewing the loss of those two midfielders, along with Ioane meant the Reds had nobody attacking the ball with pace and purpose. Certainly none of the replacements did. So who could Cooper pass to spark the attack. He tried to take it forward himself on a number of occasions but was closely marked, as was Wil Genia.

I still believe that when we assess the form of a player we should look at the execution of basic skills, in the context of what the player has sought to achieve. Cooper has made plenty of "errors" but in the context of attacking with a lethargic backline in support and a struggling pack with no real ball runners he executed well as far as I am concerned.

 

[sudrugby]

I haven't read all this folder and I'm sorry if this had been treated before but do we have an idea of who is going to be in Ewen McKenzie's staff?

I know McGahan is going to the Rebels but what about Blades, Scrivener and Sharpe?

 

[Gnostic]

I wonder how much the "Crouch, bind, set" laws will influence selection.

I don't think we will see any changes immediately. But I think we will see some changes moving forward, with specialists of the hit fading from contention unless they can change. I think that we will then see props in the old style, picked for strength and technique. I think we will see bigger changes at Hooker and it may well be players like S. Fainga'a who will come to prominence. It is a pity that Adam Frier was around just at the wrong time, because I feel that he could have been dominant under the reduced hit scrums, which should results in a return to true Hookers and not a third prop.

 

[Bullrush]

Quade 'tackled' Ranger.....lol

 

[Gnostic]

Quade 'tackled' Ranger...lol

Hit him front on with good technique and took him to ground. Then went low and with Shatz? brought him to ground with contact to complete the tackle. I think in any definition that is a tackle. This isn't a one off this year, especially in the last few week. Most importantly for me is that in each of the examples I have seen he has displayed good technique.

LOL all you want, though maybe you just prefer to boo as well?

Of extra note in the attached clip, after completing said tackle on Ranger he works extremely hard to get back into position to receive the attacking kick from the Blues and counter. That shows attitude and commitment. Again I have to say, what more can one ask?

youtube.com/watch?v=lZfHOEzMh9c

(Embedding the video is disabled so you have to go to Youtube to watch. Sorry)