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Wallabies Squad - the Link Era

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Train Without a Station

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Any opinions on interchanging the 10 depending on the gameplan/ opposition? Too disruptive or revolutionary approach?

I wouldn't call it disruptive. Isn't that what any team does when they have fairly equal options in a position and they are differing types of players and neither have nailed down the jersey?
 

Scotty

David Codey (61)
To change game plans you probably need the same on field generals, which are really only the 9 and 10.
 

I like to watch

David Codey (61)
Scotty,not even Quade agrees with that.
He said himself, he shouldn't be selected if the coach wants to play tight and boring.
judging by the tactics last week, when link wants to keep it tight, he keeps it away from Quade.
 

Gnostic

Mark Ella (57)
To change game plans you probably need the same on field generals, which are really only the 9 and 10.

The two playmaker model with two 10s instead of a true 12 (or 2nd 5/8 in NZ speak) will allow for the rapid adoption of vastly different game plans if the players filling the 10 and 12 have different strengths, eg. Lilo and Cooper. I don't really like the two 10 model, much preferring the use of players who specialise in their particular position (with the exception that I like two 15s with one of the wingers also a fullback). However I don't mind Lilo at 12 as he fills the skill set required for a specialist 12 and plays in that mode in that position.
 

RoffsChoice

Jim Lenehan (48)
Best thing about Quade is he knows his limits - He doesn't want to try play a conservative style if his best play comes from being expansive.
 

Hugh Jarse

Rocky Elsom (76)
We have GOT to win the first game this year. No excuses.

The Australian rugby public has invested a lot of expectation in Link being the saviour to all the deficiencies in Wallabydom, and the reason for poor or inconsistent performance in the recent times is all due to a imported coach, not the players.

We have now got what we want. The last thing we need is for our saviour to be no better than the mug we just got rid of.

In many respects, Link was/is a last roll of the dice. When or If that doesn't work where do we go to from there? Jake White?

After all as the Oracle of Australian Rugby Philosophical Thought, the Exalted Matthew Burke has pointed out, it is only 760 days until the next World Cup.
 

Hugh Jarse

Rocky Elsom (76)
Taking from the squad we have, here is a potential in house trial. The players left over form the bench that the coaches can tap into both sides.

1/ Benn Robinson
2/ ./...snip.../. etc

Versus

1/ Scott Sio
2/ ./...snip.../. etc
14/ Nick Cummins
15/ James O'Connor

Left over players to form the bench are

./...snip.../. etc


Put that on at Ballymore in conjunction with a Wallaby Fan day and you would go close to selling it out. Great PR opportunity.
 

Dan54

Tim Horan (67)
Scotty,not even Quade agrees with that.
He said himself, he shouldn't be selected if the coach wants to play tight and boring.
judging by the tactics last week, when link wants to keep it tight, he keeps it away from Quade.
Actually what I heard Quade say on tv, if you want to play a defensive game, he shouldn't be selected, I never heard him actually mention tight or boring!!
 

Scrubber2050

Mark Ella (57)
am getting weary about the fantastic 'combination" of Genia and Cooper. Gebnia has not been consistently up to the level he is capable of and Cooper probably the same. even when they play together. Will never seems to take criticism.
Bloody hell I'm ready to give that pest nic white a shot. Puts in 100% every time and it would be interesting to see how Cooper would go.

This is an opportunity for Link to assess each player and reputations need to be shelved and performance rewarded. To do otherwise will not change the culture.

Ruggo good teams - always open to a few opinions and mine is that TPN will strugle in the McKenzie era and probably finger may benefit - simply because of work around the paddock
 

RoffsChoice

Jim Lenehan (48)
Slim 293 As opposed to thinking he's playing conservative when he kicks cross field in his own 22? He is a very instinctive player and knows that.
Scrubber2050 Genia is great in big games but can go missing in lesser games. I think the link between him and Cooper is overrated but still a factor.

Is there still talk of Horwill and Genia being rested for the first game?
 

boyo

Mark Ella (57)
am getting weary about the fantastic 'combination" of Genia and Cooper. Gebnia has not been consistently up to the level he is capable of and Cooper probably the same. even when they play together. Will never seems to take criticism.
Bloody hell I'm ready to give that pest nic white a shot. Puts in 100% every time and it would be interesting to see how Cooper would go.

This is an opportunity for Link to assess each player and reputations need to be shelved and performance rewarded. To do otherwise will not change the culture.

Ruggo good teams - always open to a few opinions and mine is that TPN will strugle in the McKenzie era and probably finger may benefit - simply because of work around the paddock


As a supporter of the Reds, are you allowed to say such a thing?
 

Hugh Jarse

Rocky Elsom (76)
^^^ The new era of Non-Partisan Gaggerland allows such heresy - for the time being. We should make the most of this while we can.
 

James O'Connor

Bob McCowan (2)
Nic White was invaluable all game. He made the right decisions at the right times and his kicking game was one of the best halfback displays I have seen. Bye bye Phipps
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Nic White was invaluable all game. He made the right decisions at the right times and his kicking game was one of the best halfback displays I have seen. Bye bye Phipps

I still don't think it is as cut and dry as this.

If Genia was unavailable I would certainly start White, but off the bench, I think the choice is much more difficult.

Phipps is a better ball runner as well as being a stronger tackler. As a reserve halfback who you might be calling on to bring a bit of an attacking spark in the last 10 minutes I think Phipps is potentially a better option.
 

EatSleepDrinkRuck

Larry Dwyer (12)
Any opinions on interchanging the 10 depending on the gameplan/ opposition? Too disruptive or revolutionary approach?

As a reds fan, you'd have to believe they can change gears and implement a different game plan depending on who is on-field with Link as the coach.

We saw it in plenty of games this year where the Reds would run out playing wild tempo with frantic hit ups either side of the ruck with multiple runners and then half way through change to running pods one wide toward the centre field with much slower ball.
 

Dugit

Frank Row (1)
Here is a bit of a thought from left field after watching To'omua on the weekend. What about playing To'omua and Cooper in the same team and have To'omua as the defensive 10 with Cooper at fullback when we don't have the ball, then switching with Cooper becoming the attacking 10 and To'omua dropping back to fullback when we've got the ball.

That way you get the best of Cooper's counter attacking and To'omua's amazing defence. Its just a thought but the more you think about it and with Link always thinking outside the square it could be pretty handy combination as Cooper will be back at fullback in defence anyway.
 
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