Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Floggn']

This is my biggest complaint about Genia's passing this year. Too often this year he hits the first receiver on the chest when they are still stationary and standing in a very deep position.

The first receiver also needs to be moving forward and getting the halfback to pass the ball in front of them but with stand-in fly halves, it should really be up to Genia to get that going himself. I think he's more than capable of making the Reds attack look substantially better than it has been just by doing that but he hasn't on a reliable basis.

BH you said it yourself when players are stationary where else are you to pass? Kafer showed this on Fox field one night and it was clear the players around him weren't helping him look like his former self.

 

[Braveheart81]

BH you said it yourself when players are stationary where else are you to pass? Kafer showed this on Fox field one night and it was clear the players around him weren't helping him look like his former self.

Genia has to be changing that. He's one of the leaders and best players in the team.

He's making long passes to the 10. It isn't like a pass slightly in front of the man will go to ground because they're not moving. If the pass is a metre in front of them they will move to catch it and then the whole backline will be in motion. Too often this season he hits them on the chest and by that point the defence has moved up and the Reds backline is still stationary.

I think he's exacerbated the problem of the 10 standing very deep rather than helping solve it.

 

[Gillys_ghost]

I agree that Smith should be in the Squad with Poey and Hooper, but it seems bloody unfair to Gilly who likely wouldnt make the squad. I reckon hes the form Australian 7 and if it was any other year he should be given a crack.

 

[Tomikin]

I agree that Smith should be in the Squad with Poey and Hooper, but it seems bloody unfair to Gilly who likely wouldnt make the squad. I reckon hes the form Australian 7 and if it was any other year he should be given a crack.

Hoopers the wobbs 7 even though his a dirty Tah.. Gill doesnt do anything better then him or if he does not by much.. Poey owns rucks ..It is what it is.

and my fan boy club .. G.Smith does it all and then some

 

[Braveheart81]

I'm starting to come around to Qwerty's way of thinking in that if you're going to play two opensides, the pilfer specialist is better used later in the game rather than at the start.

The breakdown penalties seem to come much more often late in the game especially if there is a fresh flanker on the ground because other players start getting tired and the cleanouts become less forceful and accurate.

Earlier in the game you're far more likely to create a ruck turnover through a dominant tackle and a good cleanout.

Personally I can't see Cheika selecting George Smith at any point this year if both Hooper and Pocock remain healthy.

 

[Brumbieman]

Genia's pass is the best in Australia and one of the best in the world. BUT he is slow at the breakdown. But when he delivers it there is no quicker pass. Yes Genia's box kicking since 2012 has been outright awful.

Phipps, Stirzaker, and White, wipe the floor with Genia in terms of passing speed and accuracy.

 

[Brumbieman]

BH you said it yourself when players are stationary where else are you to pass? Kafer showed this on Fox field one night and it was clear the players around him weren't helping him look like his former self.

You pass it anyway.

4m in front of them, where they should be, and MAKE them run onto it.

 

[Tomikin]

I'm starting to come around to Qwerty's way of thinking in that if you're going to play two opensides, the pilfer specialist is better used later in the game rather than at the start.

The breakdown penalties seem to come much more often late in the game especially if there is a fresh flanker on the ground because other players start getting tired and the cleanouts become less forceful and accurate.

Earlier in the game you're far more likely to create a ruck turnover through a dominant tackle and a good cleanout.

Personally I can't see Cheika selecting George Smith at any point this year if both Hooper and Pocock remain healthy.

Why not ? ... I wouldn't select him off the bat but he'd be in my rugby championship team.. and if Smith is still Smith.. you would pick him..

or

do you think his not better then the alternatives if his in 2013 form..... fuck you gotta have a look dont you .. ? ?

 

[Braveheart81]

Why not ? . I wouldn't select him off the bat but he'd be in my rugby championship team.. and if Smith is still Smith.. you would pick him..

or

do you think his not better then the alternatives if his in 2013 form... fuck you gotta have a look dont you .. ? ?

There isn't a whole lot of time to have a look and my guess is that the incumbent captain and the openside flanker before him (who has also been captain) won't be amongst the positions Cheika is trying to sort out.

If you tinker with the side too much it becomes difficult to work out which changes made the difference.

I'd be surprised if Smith is brought out here unless Cheika thinks he is very likely to be in his final RWC squad and I don't think that is going to happen.

The European players will also be available for less time during the Rugby Championship and prior to the RWC. It's not like Cheika will have the luxury of being able to bring Giteau, Mitchell and Smith out here for the entire time he has the Wallabies available for training camps.

 

[Tomikin]

There isn't a whole lot of time to have a look and my guess is that the incumbent captain and the openside flanker before him (who has also been captain) won't be amongst the positions Cheika is trying to sort out.

If you tinker with the side too much it becomes difficult to work out which changes made the difference.

I'd be surprised if Smith is brought out here unless Cheika thinks he is very likely to be in his final RWC squad and I don't think that is going to happen.

The European players will also be available for less time during the Rugby Championship and prior to the RWC. It's not like Cheika will have the luxury of being able to bring Giteau, Mitchell and Smith out here for the entire time he has the Wallabies available for training camps.

So Cheika has had so much time with the team.. to be honest he lost alot more then he won..

I don't expect Smith to be picked.. it just doesn't fit but you would have to be dumb to not drag him out during the rugby championship and see what his got... no offense to Hooper or Poey.. they are both trying to be Smith..

Now if your a coach and you don't take 10 minutes (before the world cup) to see if Gits, Michell and Smith are any good.. your a clown..

 

[qwerty51]

Curious, do you even watch Smith for Lyon? He plays #8 exclusively and whilst still a very good player is no way better than Pocock or Hooper now.

 

[Tomikin]

Curious, do you even watch Smith for Lyon? He plays #8 exclusively and whilst still a very good player is no way better than Pocock or Hooper now.

Okay, I agree his not better then smith or poey, and gill... you willing to bet your house on it..

 

[Tomikin]

Edit...Hoper and Poey..

 

[USARugger]

The rum claims another victim.

 

[BDA]

Curious, do you even watch Smith for Lyon? He plays #8 exclusively and whilst still a very good player is no way better than Pocock or Hooper now.

I haven't seen any of Smith overseas, but i'd be really surprised if he's a better player than either. Hooper is in his own league in terms of what he brings to the game, but in terms of pocock v smith, I doubt Smith could shade Pocock.

When Smith came out in 2013 people weren't expecting that much and he proved he was still world class. But when Pocock and Smith were both in the team back in 2010, Pocock was arguably outplaying him. Move forward to 2015 Smith is probably past his prime, while Pocock looks to be hitting top form again. If either Pocock or Hooper are injured i'd expect Smith to be in the squad, but otherwise I'd say he's our third choice 7.

 

[BDA]

Do we know yet the exact number of players in the WC squad yet? i think it was 31 last time, but I'm expecting they'll extend that to 32 (likely) maybe 33.

 

[BDA]

I'd say the squad will look something like this:

Props: Sio, Slipper, Kepu, Holmes, Alexander
Hookers: Moore, TPN, Fainga'a
Locks: Simo, Skelton, Carter, (undecided - Horwill/Coleman/Arnold)
Backrow: Hooper, Pocock, Fardy, Palu, McCalman, Jones
Halfbacks: Phipps, Genia, White
Flyhalf: Foley, Cooper
Centres: To'omua, Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Wingers: Speight, JOC (James O'Connor), Horne
Fullback: Folau
Utility backs: Giteau, Beale

 

[Slim 293]

Do we know yet the exact number of players in the WC squad yet? i think it was 31 last time, but I'm expecting they'll extend that to 32 (likely) maybe 33.

It was 30 last time, but now it's been extended to 31.

 

[qwerty51]

I think that's on the money BDA except I would drop Genia for Adam Coleman and Jones for Higgers

 

[southsider]

Haven't watched any of giteau's games in full but looking at some highlight reels; he still seems to crab sideways a bit and tries to beat his defender with speed (still looks pretty quick but not sure how he would compare to test footballers), pretty crisp pass and the majority of his try's come from supporting players who make a break popping up everywhere from his own channel at 10/12 to appearing on the wing in support think that could come quite in handy late in the game with players like kurindrani, folau and speight making breaks or getting their hands free for a offload.