Wallabies vs Russia - last game before the QFs!

[Tangawizi]

Report on the Rugby World Cup website suggests that Ant Fainga'a will be available for selection against Russia.

 

[Braveheart81]

... for a match against Russia.

I'm sure all the permutations have been considered and it has been decided that it is preferable having the currently injured players available for the quarter final and onwards than replacing one now with someone like Tapuai.

With most of the injured backs being available for the quarter final, I can fully understand why you wouldn't make one leave the squad for the game against Russia. The likelihood would be that anyone coming in would play against Russia and then not be used in the 22 again.

 

[Ignoto]

Putting Tapuai or Morahan into the team who have zero test experience and haven't trained with the squad for over a month would seem like a massive risk to me.

But they'll more than likely have Barnes on oneside of them with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the otherside. Thats a good amount of experience to be surrounded by.

He carved up against Canada only a few weeks ago (who are better than the Russians) and he just finished playing in the Brisbane Premier Club GF. To me he's a less of a risk compared to Giteau who's just been training by himself, McCabe or Anthony who both wouldn't be at 100%.

 

[Braveheart81]

I agree that Tapuai was excellent playing for the Baa Baas. I just don't see the point of bringing over a replacement who will get some game time in the match against Russia and then will almost certainly not make the 22 again no matter how far we progress.

 

[Ignoto]

I would have thought there would be a greater risk of McCabe or Horne re-injuring themselves than a replacement not making the 22.

Plus Hornes injury appears to be banking on us making the Semis in the first place and being in the 22. After this weekend it's do or die so who's to say Horne will even play another game in this campaign?

 

[Braveheart81]

I don't think anyone is saying that Horne is a guarantee to make the 22 if we make the semi.

It's not like we lose our opportunity to make replacements. I don't see the need to make rushed decisions just so we don't have to play someone out of position against Russia. If Fainga'a becomes available for the game against Russia then we won't even have to play a halfback/Samo on the wing or Higgers in the centres.

As it currently stands, our quarter final backline is likely to look like this:

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane/Mitchell
12. Barnes/McCabe
13. Fainga'a/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. O'Connor/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
15. Beale

21. Burgess
22. Mitchell/O'Connor/Barnes/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Having Beale/Ioane/Fainga'a/McCabe all become available for the quarter final makes a massive difference to our selection options.

 

[Ash]

I agree, it makes no sense not sending (at least) one of McCabe or Horne home and flying in someone for a one-off vs a very weak Russia. Horne makes more sense to send back when you consider his injury, amount of rugby player, and how often he goes down. Let him get a full pre-season in. Hell, even sending McCabe makes sense if there's a high risk of it reoccurring. It could be Gits, Tapuai, Turner, Morahan, or even from outside the squad like Tom Carter or Mortlock - it doesn't matter, just get a fit centre/fullback there and play a game. Better than starting a concussed Fainga'a, or relying on your backrowers to cover the backs.

In the backs, you have to play 10. Cooper 12. Barnes. If we want to go to the quarter with this combo, which is likely, then they need a game together, even if it is only vs Russia.

I don't think Genia will be in the 22 this game - Phipps needs game time as all squad members were promised a game.

 

[hammer]

Hoping this is the XV for QFs.

1. Kepu
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Vickerman
5. Horwill
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Samo
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. McCabe
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Beale

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Sharpe
19. Higginbothom
20. McCalman
21. Burgess
22. Barnes / Fainga'a

 

[light]

vs Russia.
1. Slipper - Still needs match time
2. Moore - Only for 50 mins or so, needs a good run
3. Ma'afu - Can't risk injury to Alexander
4. Simmons - Deserves another go, works well with Horwill
5. Horwill - Will be back to captain
6. Elsom - The more time he plays the better
7. Pocock - Last training run, hopefully won't have to play full 80
8. Higgenbotham - Can he play 8?
9. Burgess - Genia needs rest
10. Cooper - Needs combo with Barnes for QF
11. JOC (James O'Connor) - Defensive formation is fucked as is, luckily only Russia
12. Barnes - Same reason as Cooper, most likely 12 for QF's
13. Fainga'a - If fit
14. Mitchell - More game-time the better, last chance to make statement for XV before QF's
15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - Give him room at the back, he can defend at 10.

16. Fainga'a - TPN played last 2 games, Fainga'a was brought for a reason
17. Kepu - Eh? who else we got. Covers both sides of scrum
18. Sharpe - Leadership off the bench, to replace Horwill
19. Samo - To replace Elsom or Higgers
20. McCalman - Replace Pocock
21. Phipps - We brought him for a reason
22. Beale - Covers bench positions

 

[Braveheart81]

@ hammer

That would be my 22 except I would swap Barnes into 12 for McCabe and have Mitchell on the bench.

 

[Braveheart81]

@ light

Any reason why you're picking Mitchell and O'Connor on the opposite wings to which they normally play?

 

[light]

It's Russia, I figure Ioane is going to be coming back at 11 next round. Figuring that Mitchell and Ioane are our best 2 wingers that means one has to play at 14, O'Connor will go back to the bench, Barnes kicking.

 

[jollyswagman]

Hoping this is the XV for QFs.

1. Kepu
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Vickerman
5. Horwill
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Samo
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. McCabe
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Beale

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Sharpe
19. Higginbothom
20. McCalman
21. Burgess
22. Barnes / Fainga'a

Agree with one exception......put McCabe on the bench and start Barnes. If he kicks well against Russia then Barnes has to start as we have no other options - Cooper's place kicking is a bit of shit and both Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) have not looked any better - not mention that they are both nursing tender hamstrings. Should we be lucky enough to get up over the Saffa's in the QF and meet NZ in the semi at Eden Park, can you imagine the amount of shit that is going to be directed at Cooper during any place kick? He is going to be shitting his pants that game regardless and the less our team's success is dependent on Quade Cooper's performance the better off we will be.

I would also prefer Fingers on the bench over Horne as the guy just can't seem to stay fit. Christ, it was his first contact in the opening minute that did his cheekbone in. It's not like he lasted 60 minutes then did a number on himself - his first contact for crying out loud.

 

[jollyswagman]

vs Russia.
1. Slipper - Still needs match time
2. Moore - Only for 50 mins or so, needs a good run
3. Ma'afu - Can't risk injury to Alexander
4. Simmons - Deserves another go, works well with Horwill
5. Horwill - Will be back to captain
6. Elsom - The more time he plays the better
7. Pocock - Last training run, hopefully won't have to play full 80
8. Higgenbotham - Can he play 8?
9. Burgess - Genia needs rest
10. Cooper - Needs combo with Barnes for QF
11. JOC (James O'Connor) - Defensive formation is fucked as is, luckily only Russia
12. Barnes - Same reason as Cooper, most likely 12 for QF's
13. Fainga'a - If fit
14. Mitchell - More game-time the better, last chance to make statement for XV before QF's
15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - Give him room at the back, he can defend at 10.

16. Fainga'a - TPN played last 2 games, Fainga'a was brought for a reason
17. Kepu - Eh? who else we got. Covers both sides of scrum
18. Sharpe - Leadership off the bench, to replace Horwill
19. Samo - To replace Elsom or Higgers
20. McCalman - Replace Pocock
21. Phipps - We brought him for a reason
22. Beale - Covers bench positions

No disrespect to you Light, but could someone please tell me what that reason was again?

 

[Braveheart81]

No disrespect to you Light, but could someone please tell me what that reason was again?

So the ARU could say that representatives of all 2011 Australian Super Rugby franchises made it to the RWC?

 

[light]

Totally with you Jolly,

I've been asking myself that question for quite some time, but he's there now, and there is nothing we can do about it. No point risking Genia with our recent injury run, Phipps shouldn't be too bad against the Russians

 

[Nusadan]

I would also prefer Fingers on the bench over Horne as the guy just can't seem to stay fit. Christ, it was his first contact in the opening minute that did his cheekbone in. It's not like he lasted 60 minutes then did a number on himself - his first contact for crying out loud.

I believe Horne played for 48mins before he came off...some of it with the injury, so he's not a softie...it's just so unfortunate that the chain of events happened really.

 

[barbarian]

Because halfback is a specialist position and you need 3 people to cover it fully. Imagine if Genia went down with a Ioane-style thumb injury, and we only had Burgo left. Who is our bench halfback?

Like hooker, you need full coverage.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

I think Beale is being rested for this game. I reckon Quade might play 15.

 

[Ash]

And Phipps will play, it was stated that all 30 members would get game time.