Wallabies v. All Blacks: Team Announcement

Roscoe Tims August 14, 2012 167

Latest News: All Blacks team named:

Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Ma’a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Brodie Retallick, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.

The Wallabies team to play the All Blacks this weekend has been announced and some of you aren’t going to like it…

To prosecute the Bledisloe with or without a QC? For mine, the scales of justice appear to be weighed against him.

We’ve just telegraphed the game plan the Wallabies are going to play this weekend — essentially the same as last year. And that was a success against the All Blacks when it really counted, wasn’t it?

So, how do you truck the ball up and make gains against SBW and Nonu (or Carter for that matter)? Where is the creativity that’s needed in the inside backs to unleash our powerful back three?

This isn’t the Welsh we’re taking on and the difference someone like Cooper can make is significant. It is a risk but fortune favours the brave, not the predictable.

Don’t get me wrong, Barnes absolutely deserves to be in the side, but not at five-eighth.

The selection of a 5/2 forward and backs split doesn’t leave any room for QC on the bench either.

The sad fact of life is we’re going to learn this lesson again and when it doesn’t work (again) it’ll either be all over or too late to do much about. Isn’t there a Murphy’s Law about that?

And, mark my words, that will be the beginning of the end of the Deans regime…

The rest of the selection is fairly predictable. However, I’d much prefer the workrate of Squeaky Moore to start than the occasional kamikaze tackle of TPN.

If Sitaleki Timani is our number 2 lock (after an injured Big Kev) then you know we’re going to struggle.

Dave Dennis deserves a start after a good season and the props pick themselves, although James Slipper can feel a little hard done by. Likewise Nic White.

I really like the look of the bench — a mixture of experience and youth, but with guys who can make an impact. It’s going to be a big factor against the All Blacks and it’ll need to be managed effectively.

Whatever team we go into the Bledisloe with, I think we’re going to struggle. But I feel we’ve just made our job that little bit harder.

This day in history (18 August) in 1988, George Bush Snr selected Dan Quayle to be his Vice-Presidential candidate. He was a lemon.

Hopefully, history will be kinder to Robbie Deans…

Wallabies

15. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)

14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)

13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)

12. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)

11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)

10. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)

9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds, vice-captain)

8. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)

7. David Pocock (Western Force, captain)

6. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)

5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)

4. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs)

3. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)

2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)

1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)

Reserves:

16. Stephen Moore (ACT Brumbies)

17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)

18. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)

19. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)

20. Michael Hooper (ACT Brumbies)

21. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)

22. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs)

Bledisloe Cup — First Test

18 August : Australia v. New Zealand, Sydney (ANZ), 8pm

TRC — 18 August: South Africa v. Argentina, Cape Town

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POSTED IN » All Blacks, Wallabies

About the author: Roscoe Tims View all posts by Roscoe Tims

Roscoe Tims (aka Lance Free): A nasty, opinionated little man whose views are indeed narrow with a capital 'N'. Favourite Sport: mungo bashing. Does he ever have anything positive to say?

Discussion »

http://www.mudchooks.com MrTimms

And here’s to eleven years without the Bledisloe.
- D.
  
  Shit, give them the cup for 2 years. After these selections we don’t deserve to contest it next year.
  - Ryan
    
    Hey, it could be worse; at least he didn’t select McCabe!
    - James
      
      he wanted too…. but couldnt (broken).
      
      i just hope i can find a bar to watch it in that doesnt have a kiwi in it. i want to suffer quitely alone in the corner and not have my faced rubbed in it, again.
      
      thanks robbie
- Goddess
  
  The Kiwis are going to give Dingo a knighthood.
  - Captain & Tennile
    
    Is this what Graham Henry is talking about…match fixing??
- Ian
  
  I wouldn’t be too quick to give up,
  
  1. we have guys able to secure the ball (good start)
  
  2. We have good defence in the mid field (countering the obvious AB game plan)
  
  3. Berrick is much more safe against broken field runners, he gets the ball into the runners hands without throwing excessively long passes, risking intercepts & counter attack.
  
  4. Expect to see AAC, Digby and KB to be running a lot of inside lines. Off the shoulder of Berrick or even watch for them attacking the blind side at scrum time. IMO these three will be playing very close to the ball, using the second line of attack much more than they did against Wales.
  
  So will be bloody hard, but if the back three run into 2nd/3rd receiver deep behind the “Decoy runners” who themselves will be stalling the big NZ centers, We can make use of a real weakness that the kiwis have in having excessively large centers. I would put money on AAC, Digby and KB to get around a flat footed SBW and Nonu every time.
  - Ian
    
    Oh and Hooper has played a lot in the centres apparently, Angry little nugget running at SBW, I would like to see that!
  - ozrugbynut
    
    We should avoid thinking that the starting 15 is our best 15. It is simply our best starting 15.
    
    In an exercise of extreme positive thinking, I think its a good bench:
    
    - Moore can come on if TPN starts throwing rubbish, or TPN can give 100% in his stint to try and soften up some of those AB forwards early (if possible!)
    - Samo provides a good ball running option in the later stages, as does Hooper, who with Pocock gives us complete coverage on the ball over the 80 mins
    - Mitchell is a safe option (i think) if Ioane is targetted and gets banged up or is having an off game
    
    Having said that, i think we might have taken a chance by putting cooper on the bench for Phipps. I’m sure Genia would play with a broken arm if needed!
    
    Horne and Faingaa should apply good pressure on the AB centres with their line speed in defence early on when the game is still young, and between the two it seems like a reasonable combination to prevent SBWs offloads with AFs low tackling style and Horne coming over the top. We might just frustrate them a little in this area.
    - Ian
      
      We should also remind the hating masses that Rugby is a game where desire and a good game plan can turn a bad team into a victorious team.
      
      For example: Rebels over Crusaders, a severely depleted Reds over Chiefs, Scotland over Australia, Italy over the French, the poms over… well anyone they manage to beat.
      
      Keep the faith guys, it is claimed that some of the Wallabies actually read this blog site, keep the Wallaby bashing to the Kiwis.
    - Pie Thrower
      
      Here is hoping Robbie Deans reads this site as well so he can see some of the teams that have been put forward and think ‘oh f*ck me, that is a good team.’
    - The Other Dave
      
      ‘…good game plan…’
      Oh, that’s right, we don’t seem to have one!
- Nabley
  
  Mr Timms, have you ever looked at the cup and the sequence of wins. Eleven years is nothing. There was a period after the war when we won it playing AB b. Their a team was in SA. That then went on through to the 70s if I remember right.
  - http://www.mudchooks.com/ MrTimms
    
    Yeah, I have seen that. I remember thinking surely not in this day and age. We play so regularly. I haven’t got the facts with me but I am sure in those old gaps there were plenty of years we didn’t play to extend the period.
    
    It just honestly feels like we aren’t even trying any more.
tigerland 12

I’m physically ill after reading that…..absolute disgrace some of those selections.
Dovester

Just threw up in my mouth
- Dovester
  
  Then read it again and threw up all over the table
JonoMG

Gotta say… not sure that I am that upset. As much as a magician that Quade was… once you know a magicians tricks what’s the point in watching? Am happy about Berrick getting the run.

Agreed, there are a couple of positions we are appearing weaker on paper (thinking Inside Centre and our Locks… all credit to Sharpie for stepping in… again) but heart may have something to do with how we perform here – if we can get our noses in front, maybe… just maybe.
- Robson
  
  Quade doesn’t know his own tricks let the All Blacks or anyone else knowing them.
Brumby Jack

A 5/2 split on the bench with a halfback that didn’t play in the June tests.

Seems to indicate a reliance on Genia to play 80 mins.
- suckerforred
  
  If Genia is going to play 80mins, why have Phipps on the bench. Same as Nick White in the June tests. If you are not going to use him why have him take up a spot.
  - JonoMG
    
    Problem is… what happens if we don’t a reserve half and Genia got injured? Don’t think it would ever be a good idea to not have a backup, even if there isn’t an intent to play them.
    - Bobby
      
      WTF. Barnes played well in a team that played average. Timani is the new Dean Mumm. Useless. Inside Centre is not areal problem but outside centre is. Horne is a walking talking gate normally left open plus he is possibly the biggest hog since the mascot of Bogs breath went on strike. A 5/2 bench is ridiculous if you don’t have a players on the bench that can create something. TPN is and forever will be a bench player due to him being too soft for a run on position. I will put $100 on it he goes down twice…no stop 4 times. Fat cat I have always rated but he is unfit and looking just outight fat this year. Bledislow will gone again for another year in only 2 weeks. That pisses me off.
  - D.
    
    Phipps was selected on his bench warming abilities. He showed thru the S15 season how good he was at it for the Rebels.
- A cheeky kiwi
  
  Phipps named on the bench to cover for when Genia moves to 5/8?
Simo

Actually I’m pretty happy with that team – the starters anyway. Not too sure about the bench.
- horney
  
  you must be a tahs fan
  - D.
    
    Or a kiwi
  - Simo
    
    So what you’re saying is we should only like a Wallabies team if it has plenty of blokes from our state in it?
    - Bobby
      
      Simo it would fair to say even if you were a Tahs man (not that theres anything wrong with that ;) That there a lot of players in that team that through the test window or even just through the Super rugby comp were well below par.eg Horne, Timani even Tah man would agree.
James

My team (with what’s available) would have been:

Robinson
Moore
Kepu
Sharpe
Douglas (provide some strength behind the scrum, not bad around the park either)
Dennis
Pocock
Higginbotham
Genia
Cooper
Ioane
Barnes
Ashley-Cooper
Mitchell (seems fit enough)
Beale

Reserves:

Polota-Nau
Slipper
Simmons
Hooper
Samo
Phipps
Fainga’a

Ah well. This team isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. I think against Sonny Bill and Nonu, Fainga’a is required for his outstanding defence. Barnes should provide some good direction with Ioane, Genia and Beale providing the x factor. I’m a Tahs fan and I’m still confused about Horne….
- Jkb
  
  Mate I totally agree with ur selections. If you and I can see it why cant Deans? The fact is we scraped through against wales, we need heaps more firepower against the ab’s.
  The blacks will be laughing their heads off at this team.
  Probably one of the worst attacking centre pairings the wallabies have ever picked and Moore is a far better starting hooker than tpn, not to mention cooper’s omission.
  
  The only upside to these selections is that when we get belted Deans might get the arse…
  - Mart
    
    Yep you’d think he would’ve learned from the Mcabe Faingaa combo in the semi. But no
suckerforred

In most positions I am happy. The scary thing is that I fully expected Horne & Timani to be there. What else would happen?

Can anyone tell me if Nick Phipps can play anwhere other than Scrum Half? I just don’t understand having a specialist back on the bench when the bloke on the field can’t (shouldn’t) play anywhere else either. Is Will carrying an injury that we don’t know about? At least with Drew he can, at a pinch play full back & both the starting wingers can move into the centres if required.

Who actually selects the team? I know we lay a lot of blame at the feet of Deans, but really are there others that are making the same strange selections over and over?
horney

WHAT THE FUCK! i can’t believe what i just read!!!!! most of the forwards are tahs and horne omg! i thought that he was gone after mccabe was too… and no cooper on the bench? all of coopers games back from injury he outplayed barnsey… why not put barnes to inside and cooper in at fly half? it worked so well together….and timani if i see 1 more lackluster performance from you i’m gonna bring my gym trampoline to your front door and fly kick you in the face
- Pete
  
  Literally the funniest thing I’ve read today.
  
  Agree with most of the sentiments too.
- redbull
  
  Your last line. Absolute pure gold. Take a bow
ozusa

I just heard NZ sent SBW to japan. Said they didnt need him anymore.
Red Kev

I am not at all surprised by that team, but it does confirm for me that Deans doesn’t have a clue.
There are eight Waratahs in the starting line-up plus another on the bench. These are the same players that could only muster 4 wins out of 16 matches this year and finished off their worst ever season in the bottom third of the competition ladder.
Compare that to the Brumbies who are represented by 2 players on the bench, and they missed out on the finals by a point.
Sure there are a lot of injuries but that doesn’t excuse boneheaded selections like picking Timani instead of Douglas, not having Cooper in the team at all, and not even selecting Holmes and Tapuai in the squad.

Prediction: All Blacks by 20+ and at least 12 years (next year NZ host two matches) without the Bledisloe Cup.
muffy

With 8 starting Tahs, you would be forgiven for thinking they didn’t come 11th in the super 15.

Hopefully Timani has learned the rules by now and that (bless him) Radike has unearthed a birth certificate that says he is really only 31.

I have been reading with some dismay the negativity on here around the WBs the last few weeks, I am trying to keep positive…really trying…really really trying….*sigh*
D.

Just put $1000 on the all blacks. When they win I’ll still lose money because of the odds, but it’s better than betting on that Wallaby team and losing a bet.
stillatragic

Cooper at 10 and Barnes at 12 works well. Creativity with solid defense. AAC at 13, Michell Digby and Beale as the back three. Apart from the Cooper haters, can anyone tell me why not? And what about some versatile backs on the bench?
Sad to say, this will be embarrassing.
Is it Deans or is he a puppet for the NSW power brokers?
- Mart
  
  That is EXACTLY how the backline should look!
- Mart
  
  That is a world class backline. Instead we get another boring as fuck backline, that’ll be chasing the game all day and perform soley off 1 out stuff.
  
  The really frustrating thing is we have quality players not being used and not in the right positions……
Pedro

What a joke. It seems that Deans puts all the blame for the tahs season on their coach. At least the Brumbies players know how to win, I would have any of their locks rather than timani (powers, fardy, carter and kimlin).

While I have no problem with Cooper not starting, we need him in the team. He’s one of the most potent attacking players we have, there’s no point having players on the bench that can’t chase a game.
ooaahh

Best selection in this team is no Ben Alexander full stop!
Ian

I like it! but Squeeky Moore should start.
Ads

Why would you not pick Cooper on the bench instead of mitchell?
Lee Enfield

The majority of the team is good, the problem is the few players that shouldn’t be there, are in key spots. The forward pack I am ok with less Timani and Samo, would have liked to have seen Douglas and Shatz.
The backs lack creativity and attack in 10, 12 and 13, meaning Genia, Beale and Ioane will have to shoulder most of the attack. Beale, AAC and Ioane are going to have to go looking for the ball, as I doubt it will make it out to them through the backline. We could get caught out if these guys are forced to come in or up to get the ball, especially if we turn the ball over on attack when they are not in position.

Will certainly be looking at the odds for a Kiwi win by 13+.
- Lee Enfield
  
  I should also add, that the Wallabies could just as easily pull a rabbit from the hat and win this by 3 or less in a game with both teams scoring less than 20.
  My heart says Wallabies by 2, my head says All Blacks by plenty.
D.

I REALLY hope we can all eat our words on Saturday. I really, really do. I don’t see it happening but I pray we eat our words. PLEASE LORD LET ME EAT MY WORDS COME SATURDAY. I don’t think I can handle all the phone calls of kiwis and saffas just laughing at me. I beg you to grant me that wish. Amen. P.S. since we’re on the topic of wishes, could you throw a Bledisloe Cup our way this year? Cheers!!!
Doctor D

This team is absolute shit.

All Blacks are going to pound us by 20, possibly 30.
Touko

It seems to me that the problem, as always, is with the Wallabies’ forwards. I agree with everybody here that the 10, 12, 13 combination is uninspiring, but until our forwards can man up and dominate the ABs I can understand why the coach has gone for such a conservative backline.

So my request to everybody is can we please go a bit easy on the criticism of backline selections and go a bit harder on what our forwards are doing …. Or rather, not doing.
- Red Kev
  
  Fair enough, I won’t complain about the backs at all – try this:
  Benn Robinson has been pathetic this season and shouldn’t be in the game day 22. His work rate around the park has been non-existent this year and he was significantly out-scrummed by Greg Holmes all year long. Holmes should be wearing jersey no.1.
  TPN is a poor selection. He provides highlight reel kamikaze tackles but lacks in tight five grunt work (although his scrummaging is good). He’s a nice bloke and funny, but goes down “injured” every time there is a stoppage in play, he shouldn’t be in the squad let alone starting. Moore should be wearing no.2 as he out-points TPN in every facet of play except scrum time where he is shaded by only a little. James Hanson appears to be a much better prospect at hooker and shoudl be on the bench in my opinion.
  Timani is a joke. He is lazy, for all his power he rarely puts in. With Horwill injured, Douglas is by far and away the next best option for scrum power, he also puts in far more work than Timani around the park. Douglas should be wearing no.5 with Sharpe wearing no.4.
  I’d like to see Pyle on the bench against the Boks, but against the ABs I think Simmons is the right call.
  Dennis, Pocock and Higginbotham are all 80 minute players, why are there 2 back rowers on the bench? Samo for 30 minutes of impact is a good call, but Hooper is a wasted bench spot (better spent on another back).
  - Touko
    
    Sadly, I agree with nearly everything you say, especially about Moore deserving to start at Hooker.
    
    I’m even more concerned about our second row, especially given how much everyone is talking up Sharpe. I wish there were two or three options that had already pushed him into retirement, not because he was playing badly but because they were playing better.
    - Funk
      
      I haven’t seen much talking up of Sharpie, just a few who are thankful that he stuck around, if he had retired, we would have had Timani and Simmons starting and knowing Dingo he probably would have made a few phone calls and got Mumm back to come off the bench!
    - Bobby
      
      Conzy, yep and the Tahs could beat the All Blacks too even though they came 11th. No one in their right mind could say there are players in that team that deserve to be there unless you are Deans or another Kiwi spy out to ruin Oz rugby. ;)
  - Conzy
    
    @ Red Kev – Higgers is a 80 minute player coz he wonders around in the loose and wings a lot of the time. This is only dumb selection I see on the team…..otherwise Wallabies by 8.
    - Red Kev
      
      A loose forward that plays in the loose? Shocking.
    - Conzy
      
      And on the wing??…..gold
  - The Other Dave
    
    Oh look, Deans finally learned from last year’s world cup: a reserve openside flanker. Would have been useful LAST YEAR.
Nick

The All Blacks are about as vulnerable as they have been in years so Robbie Deans had to make this the worst and most one dimensional Wallaby side selected in years.
tommy

I’m so upset about this selection. Same selection strategy as the World Cup 7 we know how that went. Bledisloe Cup is one of the highlights of the year & with the backline that has been picked, I’m not sure if I will even watch. Chances of winning is nil.

I might just watch an NRL match on Foxsports instead. At least I’ll be guaranteed to see some tries scored.
- Pie Thrower
  
  Moderator! Moderator! Strike this comment off for it is offensive! Suggesting watching NRL over a Bledisloe is a crime punishable by banishment from these boards!!
- adc
  
  There will be plenty of tries scored, it just won’t be the Wallabies scoring them though
- Roscoe Tims
  
  No, he doesn’t mean NRL as in rugby league. He means Naturally Robbie’s Last test match…
JimmyC

Stop being such a bunch of negative wankers and support the team.
- Lee Enfield
  
  Can’t speak for everyone else, but, I support the team, not the coach. If the Wallabies win, it will be despite the coach, not because of him.
  
  This game will go one of two ways, Wallabies 18 All Blacks 16 or 17,or All Blacks by plenty.
Thierry dusautoir

So criteria for wallabies selection:
1. Do they play for the waratahs?
2. If a waratahs is injured who is the next best player?
- Bobby
  
  No Mr French Capt. you are wrong. It doesn’t matter if they play for NSW just that they are originally from NSW rugby.
Liam

Anyone know anyone from the Immigration Department? If O’Neil isn’t going to get rid of this clown than maybe the government can have a crack.

I am calling it. Worst team in 10 years. Get out of my life Robbie.
Dally M

The definition of stupidity – selecting the same team over and over again, and expecting a different result.

Surely Deans has figured out it’s not in their DNA by now!
- Robson
  
  Fraid not, Deans doesn’t figure things out – never has, never will.
Jimbo81

so pissed off – why aren’t the best players in the side????????

Rob Horne should self-select himself out of the team – surely he knows he is sh1t!
- Pie Thrower
  
  See I doubt that Rob Horne does think he is shit for two reasons:
  
  1: He has had Robbie Deans telling him he is awesome for the last 4 years even though he is mainly injured, can’t pass, can’t tackle and is a one trick pony; and
  2: He spends half the year standing outside Tom Carter at the Tahs. When looking at him, even Rob Horne looks good. He would compare himself to Carter and think ‘fuck me, I am awesome!’
  - Bobby
    
    ha ha ha ha ha. Gold
Robson

I am devastated and utterly dismayed by the composition of this team.

Let me not go into detail because I don’t blame the players. They are there because Deans selected them and most of them should be there, but there are others who are not even in the squad who deserve to be in the frame ahead of a couple who should be there – well ahead; and Quade Cooper is just one of them.

Dean’s view of some rugby players is very, very one dimensional and because he is a stubborn prick he will keep picking them until the whole world is in an uproar or they get injured. Then he lurches on to the next bout of mental disarray to do exactly the same thing with someone else.

Someone said that Deans is a clown. Clowns make people laugh, but the only ones laughing are Steve Hansen and co.
redbull

Oh well, Heineken Cup starts soon and I can claim Leinster by marriage.

Move on people. Nothing to see here.
bill

Nick Phipps ahead of Nic White, Robbie really is wearing tinfoil under his wallabies cap.

Barnes deserves a chance but at least have Quade on the bench, as things stand if Barnes reels under a head knock….well Genia can be a decent 5/8, but …why leave Quade out? what master plan is this? And no goal kicking cover on the bench.

I just don’t get it. AAC on the wing! He had a great game at fullback, as a defensive fullback, but as a winger? He’s a decent finisher, but he doesn’t get involved as a matter of instinct.

Looking at this I’d say they’re just about playing not to lose.

Hooper showed some inconsistency in june, which should just be a matter of experience and this is the best place to get it. Still Gill is a better openside, Hooper might be a good attacking option, but then Gill seems to get his share of tries as well.

Oh well, good luck.
bill

On the plus side that team has speed to burn. Which is very nice to see. They’re going to have to work unbelievably hard and well though.
- Pie Thrower
  
  enough speed to chase down the All Bleck players that run through Rob Hornes ‘defence’ time and time again?
johnny-boy

Looking on the bright side, which when manically depressed is the only real option, the end is probably even closer for Deans, thank goodness. As predicted, Cooper has been banished from the lineup as a result of his bagging Deans’ idiotic world cup strategy tactics, which buried Coopers options. Deliberately so ? You have to wonder.
Deans negligently risking Barnes’ long term health just so he can punish our key playmaker is Deans taking his bitterness at being a complete failure as Wallabies coach, far far too far. Hang in there Quade. It won’t be long.
Conservative

Barnes is conservative. If the fly half plays conservative, the backs play conservative. We dont have battering ram forwards either, so they too are conservative players. You dont play conservative rugby against the worlds premier attacking team. Conservative conservative conservative………my comment is almost as boring and conservative as the game will be this weekend.
Dan

Why are we all surprised? Deans has practically announced his resignation by selecting this team, which musters the same amount of excitement as Londons closing ceremony.
Simo

Damn this is a negative forum. Don’t like it – don’t watch it. Simple as that.
ooaahh

Ok here is my positive spin. Bear with me….

No Quade – this is to give Barnes confidence and not feel like he’ll be yanked. We have Kurtley as cover in case of headnock. Ironically KB’s game at 10 suits us more than Sookface.

I like our backrow and front row will take the all blacks on

We will be stable in the scrum and competitive in lineout with higgers, sharpe, deniss all good solid line out options front to back respectively.

Our centres are solid defenders…..
even horne and at least he has some size

if they play nonu at oc we will be ok he’s not a speed freak.

SNW has been contained by fingers in the past.

Go wallabies.
Razz

Our issue is simply that we lack depth. We have 5 world class players in a 15 a side game, which while that sounds bad it is actually not the problem. Its the other players in the squad that are so far behind it drags down our class players as they have to cover for these guys.

The ARU and our biggest player development pool the NSWRU need dramatic reconstruction. Every other sporting code is focusing resources into junior development. Instead we are pulling resources from juniors and focusing these resources on new Board Members and high performance facilities.

If the ARU and state Unions dont come up with a national junior program asap, club rugby is going to crumble, level 6 at ANZ stadium is going to be a ghost town and the only thing JO’Ns trophy cabinet is going to be full of is (more) cobwebs.

The first step would be to develop a national junior program around the Sevens. Its low contact, easy to teach and is fun. PLUS its going to be in the next Olympics so we should be eligible for AOC funding.

To the new ARU Board – the challenge is in front of you, cause if you havent worked it out already, your players and fans are losing patience.
- Mart
  
  All very true.
  
  But we could have all the talent in the world with this muppet in charge and he’d still pick mediocre
NTA

The two biggest jokes in the side are:

1) Rob Simmons ahead of

2) Radike Samo ahead of

Sorry QLDers, but the worst part of that team is not that there are so many Tahs there, but that there aren’t enough Rebels.
- NTA
  
  *Rebels forwards that is. Neville and Pyle are both superior to Sookface Simmons the ball-watcher. No grunt.
  - Lee Enfield
    
    We must have watched a different game when the Reds beat the Rebels in Melbourne. The game I watched showed Simmons completely out playing his Rebel counter parts, actually, it showed both Simmons and Wallace-Harrison out playing the Rebel locks.
  - Bobby
    
    Mate Pyle gets a lot of talk up on this site but the reality is he isn’t test quality yet. His lineout work is no where near Simmons (Simmons lost 0 lineouts when he was calling the June tests). Pyle plays like a loose forward around the park as well and needs to do the dirty work more. Mate I know people will say this isnt right but stop listening to bloody journos and commentators and actually watch what the player does and you will see a different player than what you and many others think.
    
    On another more serious note. Australian rugby needs to be entertaining right now to attract new supporters and bring old ones back. This backline will not do it. McKenzie has got it right at the Reds because his team are genuinely exciting. Barnes will like he did for the Reds kill any chance of his outside backs doing anything. His kicks are never attacking kicks, yes they may be good touch finders from time to time but really against a quality team like the AB’s they will win their own lineout and then put more pressure on us. This unfortunately will be a dour affair with more penalties from the Wallabies than tries just do that fact we don’t the attacking nouse to score them or entertain their own fans.
Skip

Just playing devil’s advocate for moment. Unless cooper has suddenly learned to tackle in the handful of games he’s been back what has he done to get his spot back? He’s as much a liability in defence as he is a genius on attack & given half the rants here are about poor forwards, it stands to reason we’re gonna defend a lot. Barnes does this without the whole back line doing some tango (KB is a world class FB) to cover for cooper’s inept tackling. When JOC is fit, lets re visit but i am sick of screaming ‘NO!!!!! FOR FUCK’s SAKE’ at the TV to give him a his spot without evidence. Plus dingo can’t coach him. Link can, dingo not.
- johnny-boy
  
  Cooper has learnt to tackle since he’s been back actually. He stopped a saffa prop scoring a try on the line recently in Super XV. It takes time to change perceptions.
Captain & Tennile

Higgers @ 8?
Nic Phipps on bench?
Tinmani @ Lock?
Horne @ centre?
Is this the best we have??
We seem to be defensive…. a Cooper/Barnes 5/8-IC combo would have provided more options.
Genia will play 80 – pick another back – Harris?
Timani – big man – we are light on…
Radike? Love the bug guy – but Ben Mowen or somone like higgers of the bench provides a bigger punch…would have liked to see Gill have run….and sorry 9 Horrotahs in the team?? where did they finish and did they show any ticker when it got hard???
- The Other Dave
  
  What does Mowen have to do to get a run? Detail Nucifora’s car? Peel grapes for Deans?
- Reds Fans
  
  The Tahs in the June Tests showed why they came 11th this year. At the 50th minute mark they have nothing. We’ll see if this is the case again on Saturday.
Stuart Fazakerley

Ordinary, but confirms a suspicion I have had for a long time that in the ARU’s eyes, there are only one and a half Australian teams in Super Rugby.

I have no idea what the Waratahs (especially their forward pack) have done to be so well looked after, especially with the Force pack’s solid efforts, and the Rebels’ young second row options.

Rob Horne, Radike Samo and Rob Simmons do not need to be there, and as much as I like him, Phipps is lucky.

Robbie Deans’ continued appointment as Wallabies coach might be the NZRU’s greatest achievement.
Nickwaiheke

I’m with the darkness and wanted to say you shouldn’t be blaming dingo for these choices. He is only selecting who the NZRU tell him to. You blokes need to sort things out as despite some of you calling us the stupid cousins across the ditch, when could you ever imagine us picking a saffa or an Aussie as head coach ???????
Timbo

Remember people, There are no Waratah or Red or Force Or Rebel or Brumbies colours being worn this weekend so get over the fact that there are too many Waratahs or not enough Reds or any other provincial crap! This is Wallabies Rugby! Anyone who owns a golden jersey with the Wallabies coat of arms on it should wear it this weekend with pride in our team.

Our team against the Blicknuss, the Bok and the Argies not a collection of Reds, Waratahs, Force, Brumbies and a Rebel.

Get behind YOUR team in spite of the coach with no idea and in spite of our rival who will show us no quarter or respect on the park.
- FiveStarStu
  
  It does matter. The selection of that many Waratahs is based off seemingly little logic or reason, especially when options with more potential exist at other franchises.
  
  It is poor selection, poor management, and should not be ignored or excused, especially with the Lions tour coming up next year.
  
  But, if we’re being patriotic, I suppose…
  
  It doesn’t matter, but the selection of that many poor players is based off seemingly little logic or reason, especially when options with more potential exist.
  
  It is poor selection, poor management, and should not be ignored or excused, especially with the Lions tour coming up next year.
http://twitter.com/sportamanda Amanda

I don’t Barnes at flyhalf, he does have more craft than he gets credit for, and it’s a good defensive backline. We know what Horne can do with ball in hand. Quade has brain snaps – you want a composed flyhalf. He grew up emulating Carlos Spencer, so it’s not a surprise. Spencer was hardly a mainstay.

I’d prefer to see Squeak starting, I completely agree with Mr Free there.

Big ask to see us winning.
- Reds Fans
  
  What can “Horne do with the ball”… Oh yep not pass it. Just ask Digby and Ashley Cooper in June Tests when he bombed 1 but really it was 2 tries by being a hog and not passing it. Yep he is brilliant……
murph

And this is exactly why I just cannot be fucked anymore. What a complete fucking joke.
Fatbillmack

When did we become a nation of such negative, petty, whining individuals looking to tear anyone down we can? And we have the hide to call the Pommies whingers. Do it may not be the team we would have all picked, but if you asked 10 people for their selections we would probably end up with 10 different teams and we can’t pick them all. Why not get behind whoever is picked rather than trying to pick faults in guys that run circles around most of the no talent, so called experts that have given us their wonderful insight into things they hardly anything about. I wish the players had a chance to show up at your work and pick at your all faults, tell you that you are going to fail and tell your boss how shit they think you are. I’ll be cheering for the Wallabies no matter what the score, and hope that they win, only of its to shut you do called experts up for a week or two.
- Dally M
  
  If we put in as many shit performances at work (Scotland, Samoa etc.) as a department, we would have new manager & some of the lazy bastards dragging us down would be punted.
- Mart
  
  The negativity is nased around the fact that we have quality players not being used and not being used in the right positions.
  
  And that is justified.
  
  Geez I hope they prove us wrong.
- Mart
  
  The negativity is based around the fact that we have quality players not being used and not being used in the right positions.
  
  And that is justified.
  
  Geez I hope they prove us wrong.
- redbull
  
  If I don’t perform at work. I get sacked. Not given a promotion. The Tahs performed poorly this season and some of them got promoted. So yep, I get the shits with it.
Larkhage

That lineup gave me cancer…
The Other Dave

So Fainga’a has been picked at 12 to give Barnes a better outside option than Horne. There’s no room for Quade because of the 5/2 bench, yet they’ve picked Phipps instead of White as the back up scrumhalf – Phipps is one half of the reserve bench!

I know Simmons didn’t set the world on fire this year, but Timani starting?

I note the astute move in having Squeaky as backup for TPN for the 20 minute mark in the first half. Oh wait, we’re required to have the reserve hooker. Nevermind.

This team will bear the imprimatur of Robbie Deans – woeful selections and no discernable game plan.
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com Roscoe Tims

But aren’t Barnes, Pocock, Moore, Sharpe and Mitchell also from Queensland? That makes 12 of the 22, which takes it down to 7 Waratahs.
Tight5

We all know that genia can play 10 too if berrick goes down!! Haha
#1 Tah

Quade has been tried and tested against the All Blacks, and has been found wanting almost every time (except 2 instances in HK and Brisbane) – he is a constant liability in defence which is completely unacceptable if we are playing against Nonu and SBW. Barnes is constantly reliable and is a proven performer at test level, having the skills and knowledge to play the game with a structure that benefits those around him and is an undeniable winner at international level.
- Dally M
  
  How did Berrick go against SBW & Nonu in Super Rugby v how Quade did?
  
  If you put the right players around Quade & give him a base game structure to work off the results are vastly different than giving him players outside him that cannot attack, no structure & no attacking moves.
- Lee Enfield
  
  Considering the most recent times we have beaten the Blacks was with Cooper at 10, I would hardly say he has been found wanting against them. If you are going to use that theory, then over 3/4 of the team have been found wanting.
  
  Berrick Barnes has played 10 against the All Blacks prior to this and Cooper, we didn’t win too many of those, so he too has been found wanting. I would hazard a guess that with Berrick at 10, the Wallabies win ratio would be rather low, overall. If you want to talk about liability, I would say Barnes’ glass head is a major liability.
  
  Don’t get me wrong, I like Barnes, but as a 12, Cooper is the far better 10. You only have to look at the two SRU franchises they play for.
  
  The Waratahs with Barnes at 10, were woeful in attack despite having a bucket load of talent in the team, proven by the number of Waratahs selected in the Wallabies.
  
  The Reds, with Cooper at 10, showed more creativity, more attacking play and created more chances. On a head to head battle, Cooper scored a knockout victory over Barnes in the last game of the regular season.
  
  Watching the Wallabies against Wales was pretty much like watching the Waratahs play this season, poor execution and poor fundamentals.
  - chasmac
    
    Cooper scored a knockout victory over Barnes – I see what you did there.
Bill

What we lack is creativity in the inside backs though thank goodness McCabe is injurted or he’d be in the side. Cooper at 10 and Barnes at 12, the backline actually looked quite good at the backend of the RWC with these two at 10 and 12. TPN should be out of the squad until he can consistently throw the ball straight in the lineout. The Tahs and the Wallabies lose too much ball in this set piece. Timani and Samo? A bad joke but the joke’s on us.
pants

I’ve been in constant bewilderment ever since Deans decided that McCabe and Horne was the best mid field Australia has to offer. Sure we get Fainga this time but only because McCabe is injured. Its a complete joke and as others have pointed out, provide no options for an improvising 5/8 like Quade Cooper. So we have Barnes, highly predictable. The talk about us bashing it up the mid field has to be a joke unless Digby is going to do all that bashing. I’m sure Nonu and SBW are shitting themselves. What if they decide to bash it up the midfield themselves? Then what?
- Lee Enfield
  
  Faingaa (McCabe if fit) and Horne bashing it up through midfield at Nonu and SBW is crazy.
  It would be like firing an M-16 at an Abrams tank expecting to cause damage, then being surprised when it fired back.
Disco

It just get’s worse, he has to be paid by the NZRU surely this is clear sabotage.
- Seaweed
  
  You’re right Disco. This is the man who wouldn’t give QC a break by using Barnes intelligently at the RWC and who took 1 open side and 3 half backs to the RWC. As anyone who actually watched the Wales tests will attest, the Wallabies were continually unable to penetrate or develop continuity play despite having loads of possession. I can’t believe we have to go through all of this again …
ozusa

Richard Loed an old All black player writes in the New Zealand Hearld that the Aussie would win only one game in the RC. Three days ago. How did he know, I reckon Deans gave him a heads up.
D.

“I’ve played a lot more in the centres with Ant – 12 and 13. I haven’t played a lot of 10 and 12 with him,” Barnes said.
Deans said Dennis, who will make just his second Test start, had proven himself as an international player in the June Tests.
“He’s been great – he’s very consistent,” Deans said of Dennis.

After reading these comments in an article, I’ve lost more of the little faith I had left.
WBGL

Robbie Deans has gone for ‘safety first’ across the team mainly because he hasn’t got much choice. Cooper is without doubt, creative and highly skilled, but a liability in defense more so when you have the likes of Nonu & SBW running at him, and they will, along with most of the AB’s through out the game. The AB’s would exploit his weakness with glee and if he did stand up, he would be pretty much buggered with all the tackling and little energy to do any magic. Deans can’t afford to have a forward playing nurse made for Cooper, nor anyone else in the backline. Playing the AB’s, everyone has to stand up and be counted. Most people are forgeting Beale at fullback, who can inject some magic at anytime, particularly playing from fullback. Deans is probably going to try to frustrate and strangle the AB’s with defense and if it works, in the second half hope that the AB’s make some mistakes and the Wallbies can feed off that. Go the Wallabies, but its going to be a test of their metal.
- Robson
  
  “Strangle the All Blacks with defence”!!!!.
  
  They will be struggling to contain them let alone “strangle” them.
  
  Sorry the only way to play the All Blacks is to maintain possession, use it cleverly and keep them guessing; for every second of the 4,800 seconds of this test match.
  
  If there is a set of good strategies around this supported with sharply honed pass / catch skills, some mongrel at the breakdown, accuracy at set piece and dominant tackles when tackles need to be made there is a chance.
  
  That’s what I’m praying for anyway.
danny

Can we vote for which Wallaby gets the yellow card for having their socks down or knows someone who swears?

Will it be a shoulder charge from SBW, constant offside from Richie, or blocking from everyone else in the ABs that isn’t enough for a yellow this time around?
- Dave
  
  All of the above?
spectator

Barnes is a skillful player with flair, so would have been able to keep up with Cooper while at the same time providing the stability in keeping the rest of the backline & Cooper as a cohesive whole. & i like the combination of ‘Ant’ with him also.

Deans is a very good coach & the Wallabies have a great team spirit, as shown by how often they win the close games. It’s not so much Cooper as it is the combination of Cooper & Barnes that would potentially be un-touchable, but the Wallabies are still good enough to win – they are just going to have to do it playing better at the All Blacks configuration/game plan rather than as something that is quite different to what the AB’s got.
boutbloodytime

This overly conservative, same old same old style of selections looks like the start of Robbie Deans’ resignation letter….I just hope O’Neill can find some small print somewhere in his contract that gives us a get-out clause before the Wallabies lose a further significant chunk of its fan base & another 2 or 3 Bledisloes in the process…

We have the cattle, they’re just not being selected…as proven by the work of Link & now Jake White…to keep using a formula that has been found wanting is the definition of either insanity, stupidity or both, but it’s one of Deans’ character flaws that needs to be addressed immediately.

The only way we have a chance against the ABs is if our backline fires…the only way that can happen is if the other 21 players selected collectively slap Horne around the ears before the game & yell at him to ‘pass the ball ya @#*&$ (insert expletive of choice)….failing that, he needs to end up at the bottom of a ruck & receive a bit of shoe action or run himself into the upright in the first 5 minutes & give himself a concussion, before moving AAC to 13, then with Mitchell, Diggers & K Beale, we have an opportunity to fire in the backs & stop our midfield becoming a Nonu/SBW tries turnstile.

For game 2, to have a crack at winning the Bledisloe, we need a 10/12 of QC & Barnes, AAC 13, same back 3 as above…a good combination of attack & defence, with K Beale/Barnes able to clean up any defensive errors by QC. This would hopefully end the R Horne brain explosion/experiment once & for all.

As for criticism of QC’s RWC2011 etc, I can fully understand his frustration & snipes at Dingo’s selections/gameplan etc (although probably not the best way to go about it), when he has a provincial coach who knows how to get the best out of him…and he received way more than his fair share of attention from the ‘avid’ kiwi fans during RWC2011…probably under as much/if not more pressure to perform than the ABs themselves…and in the few games he’s had for the Reds this season, he looked very good in attack & seemed to be fronting up more in defence.

At the moment I’m torn though…if I knew it meant the end for Deans, it wouldn’t be so painful if we got hammered in the RC, but I’d love the Wallabies to prove me wrong & maybe the new coaching staff are the change we need to inject some potency…I can hope can’t I?
- Mart
  
  Nearly everyone has can see that a backline of qc, barnes,aac, diggers, mitchell, beale is the best option.
  
  WTF except the national coach?
  - BloodRed
    
    I’d like to see Ben Tapuai in there somehow but Deans can’t fit him into our best 30, let alone 15, despite him being a stand out as the best Australian centre and top 2 or 3 in the SuperXV before his injury. He’s fit again and has played 10 top level games this year, can run at full speed, is creative, can pass the ball, is a terrific defender, doesn’t break down and doesn’t bomb tries. If he’s not streets ahead of Horne then vegemite doesn’t go on toast which is where the Wallabies will be if Deans keeps up with his selection favouritisms.
    - johnny-boy
      
      Agreed Bloodred. Tapaui is the best inside back in Australia by a country mile and makes McCabe and Horne look like a joke, which funnily enough is not a coincidence
Hooper for 12

Lads – Deans & Co have pit a fair vit of thought into this. The only way we are evrr goingto beat the ABs is to starve them of turnover ball and primary possesion. So RD picks our strongest kick receipt back 3 and 2 defensive centres. We are never gloomg to beat these guys through their backs. Our only chance is lineout dominance and a string scrum, and to win the breakdown. With this game plan you dont need Cooper, but just a good field position 10. Douglas is too raw against the ABs first up. Deans has motivated Fat Cat to play the game o his life, because Slipper is right behind him and Alexander would be better off the bench ( he can play both sides). Sharpie to rule the lineouts if TPN can throw straight. Timani – we just need to seriously fire him up – he’s a guaranteed 5 pointer if we can get the lime in pick and gos.

Summary – lineout dominance with very discipled pick and gos and ball retention to win us the day, a la Eddie Jones and the WC SF 2003.
- Bill
  
  Great idea but Deans picked TPN who probably has the worst throwing arm in Super Rugby. Moore would have been a better choice.
  - BloodRed
    
    Not to mention the world’s most overrated defender in Horne and the world’s laziest lock in Timani. The Tahs spent all season doing relentless pick and drives and that just ended in tears. To win you still have to score more points than the other team’ I believe Robbie would call that “imposing your story on the game” and anyway Quade can do field position better than Barnes.
PB

i find some of the comments left on this sight hard to swallow…. it was only 8 months ago at the RWC that Cooper was blowing up and Deans was being ridiculed for his failure to select Barnes at 5/8… in the post RWC analysis almost every armchair analyst agreed that if we selected Barnes earlier (ahead of Quade) we would have performed better.. Barnes then provided substance to this point of view with an outstanding game against the Welsh in the 3rd place play off. Fast forward 8 months and Barnes puts in 2 man of the match performances against Wales, and is rewarded with a starting spot – and yet all the experts are now calling for Deans head for selecting him over Quade! please… how quickly we forget… reality is that our best Backline is Cooper 10, Barnes 12… everyone can see that.. but Cooper is still coming back from injury and to throw him straight back into international rugby against the ABs (especially after his nightmare experience in NZ) is a mistake… bide your time people, he will be back in due course…
- Dave
  
  “i find some of the comments left on this sight hard to swallow”
  
  Are you new to this site?
PB

no Dave… been following it for some years
- Dave
  
  Well then you’ll know if the people here aren’t bitching about something then they no longer care.
  - Robson
    
    Amen to that.
Hills ton hog

Ok I’m normally the eternal optimist….and see no reason to change.
That said – unless Sanchez, diggers, Barnes and gilbert have a day to remember and bam can magically (read bend the rules) slow down the ruck ball for the lanolin lovers…….it’s going to be tough.
22- 15 to Wobblies !!
PM

Quade should never be picked for the Wallabies until he can defend in his position, he is a defensive liability although he clearly has some flair and a magic. He’s not fit so Barnes is the right choice for now and I wish he had been selected there during the WC. If QC could tackle, I wouldn’t hesitate to move Barnes to 12.

Unfortunately for Deans he does not really have an abundance of centres that are performing to choose from, so he is limited in his selections, who else is there other than AAC at 13 and Barnes at 12?

Like others have indicated, we’d be better off with AAC at 13, with Mitchell Ioane and Beale as the back 3.
- Roscoe Tims
  
  I agree with most of your sentiments, however, it was obvious during the latter part of Super Rugby that Quade’s defensive frailties had been worked on although technique still remains an issue.
- Lee Enfield
  
  If we ar going to go with the no Cooper at 10 option, then a backline of;
  
  9. Genia 10. Barnes 11. Ioane 12. Tapuai 13. AAC 14. Mitchell/Shipperley 15. Beale
  
  would have been a good mix of attack and defence.
  - PM
    
    I agree and like the suggestion of Tapuai at 12, has he had much game time has he had recently?
    
    I feel this will be a tight and conservative game from a Wallabies point of view (agree with johnny-boy that a conservative approach is advantage AB’s but could work for us if we take our chances for once).
    
    Gut says AB’s to win, but if the forwards can play like wild pigs and set a strong foundation for the backs with our back 3 getting involved and given the opportunity to do what they do best we might have a sniff.
    - Lee Enfield
      
      Not sure about his game time to be honest. He didn’t get much in the SRU, but I would imagine like Quade, he has been playing club rugby. I doubt he would be any less under done than O’Connor and McCabe will be when they get selected for the Wallabies.
      
      Well we soon see if the tactics that didn’t work against the All Blacks at the RWC will work this time around. Clearly Deans thinks there is merit to those tactics and he obviously thinks Cooper was the reason they didn’t work .
TIMTAH

I think Barnes is our best option at 10 atm. Quade is still working towards full fitness-having him there would compromise us more so than having a less creative player there in Barnes. Plus this game will most likely be won on defence, not attack. Barnes also better than Cooper in this respect. Beale will hopefully appear at 5/8 over the course of the game to provide us with a spark (Maybe once Mitchell comes on?). Barnes’ goal kicking may just win us this one
- Lee Enfield
  
  We will see if this theory of “Cooper needs more match fitness” holds fast.
  1. The reality is, if ain’t fit enough now, he won’t be at all this season.
  2. Let us see how many games O’Connor, McCabe and Palu play before they are recalled to the Wallabies team.
  3. Deans had no problems compromising the team when he rushed Beale back into the 15 for the 3rd test against Wales. He has no problem selecting Mitchell who has equal to or less than the same match fitness as Cooper.
  4. Deans has no problems selecting Samo, who has played less SRU than Cooper this year, who was dropped from the Reds because he was unfit.
  5. The whole match fitness issue with Cooper is a screen. We will select 30 palyers to take on the end of season tour. The domestic rugby seasons will be over, so who do we pick, as the whole squad will be lacking match fitness, so the whole squad will be compromising the team.
  6. If we get belted or Barnes has a shocker, Cooper will be in the team the following week. I highly doubt that extra week of match fitness will have made a difference, if he isn’t fit after 6+ matches, he won’t be.
  7. The whole squad of Wallabies will not be anymore match fit than Cooper. Cooper has played as much Rugby in the last 2 months, as every other member of the Wallabies squad, with the exception of the Reds contingent who played the QF.
  8. 9 of the 22 are Waratahs, the most unfit team in SRU this year. I can’t possibly see how Coopers’ presumed lack of fitness is anymore of a liability or anymore comprising of the team, than the reality of the Waratahs actual lack of fitness.
  9. Deans not picking Cooper is nothing more than punishment for Cooper having the nuts to say what we and most likely the players were all thinking about Deans’ coaching and tactics at the world cup.
  10. I hope Deans’ petty grudge comes back to bite him fair on his arse. The sooner he goes the better.
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com Roscoe Tims

It’s obvious through the weight of the comments above that the rugby public is at the end of its tether with the coach and some of his selections. I fear a loss will exacerbate the situation markedly and, short of a ‘miracle at Eden Park’ (where we haven’t won in 26 years), there’ll be a mob on the loose with rope in hand ready to deal some rough justice to dear Robbie…
- D.
  
  Although a little harder to transport, I’m more partial to use a guillotine. Maybe we can strap him down ‘Braveheart’ style and cut his nuts out.
  - Robson
    
    I realise that you are not totally serious (are you?), but this is rugby we are talking about here, not a revolution against a wicked and despotic king.
    
    Hmm, but on second thoughts, maybe there are certain parallels.
  - Roscoe Tims
    
    I guess it’s a plus for him that ’14 July’ has passed?
Lee Enfield

The Wallabies are up against it, that is for sure. I look at the teams and look at Deans’ past tactics or lack there of, and think how the bloody hell can we win this. My head says All Blacks win and comfortably.
However my gut feeling says that the Wallabies could win this one in a tight affair.
johnny-boy

If the Wallabies take a conservative kicking approach in to the game they will be playing in to the All Blacks hands. There’s nothing they like more or find easier to manage.
Roscoe Tims

Man for man, the only Wallabies ahead of their opponents in my view are Sharpie, Genia, Ioane and Beale (with a special mention for AAC)? And apart from Sharpie, they’re all backs…
- cantab
  
  How do you compare wings? (L v L or L v R as they mark each other?) I would put Ioane = Jane but both > Gear.
  - http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com Roscoe Tims
    
    None of that. I just work out who would be in a composite AB/OZ XV
    - Bunceman
      
      Geez … I think that is being a bit generous. Sharpie wouldn’t make the ABs and neither would Ioane. Aaron Smith is the best distributor in the game and sets the ABs backline alight so even Genia might struggle. I would pick Beale ahead of Dagg, but on his day Dagg is the best in the world.
http://www.dumptackle.blogspot.com Philip Bailey

Do have to wonder about the creativity of the Wallabies midfield, but I guess with the injuries there wasn’t much choice.

Fainga’a and Horne may have a tough day at the office against SBW and Nonu.

As for Barnes at 10, think he may be a good option against other nations, but not NZ. NZ will be happy for the game to be tactical and slowed down as they can just use their forwards to exercise their dominance. Cooper is a more frightening proposition for the AB’s even if he is inconsistent.

There is a nice write up on the key battles this weekend on the link below:

http://www.dumptackle-rugbyblog.com/2012/08/bledisloe-cup-australia-vs-new-zealand.html
spectator

Wallabies have option of changing their back dynamic to more attack in game if needed by something like by moving Beale to first five, Barnes 2nd, Fainga’a center, with Ioane & Mitchell as the fliers & AAC as full back.

Barnes would be a key man in making this kind of whole configuration work in balance. It was Barnes influence in quarter final against the Boks, that added variation in direction which lead to the penalty. A key man for the Wallaby backline as a whole.
Sohail

Well, Higgers will probably be hovering around in the midfield most of the game (not that I’m complaining) but he’s extremely good at what he does. He should be the one to give it the pill to if you want to go on a collision course with Sonny Bill and Nonu.
Skyblue

What I gather is the abs need to hammer us for the the good of aussie rugby
Bunceman

From an ABs perspective, this is the best backline Australia could have selected. When Australia use to beat us consistently, they had quality attacking players who played with confidence. Horan, little, Mortlock, Roff etc. If I was selecting the Aussie team, then I would turn their biggest weakness into a strength. The Aussie tight five is lightweight compared to the ABs. The only guy I rate is Higginbotham, but he wouldn’t even make the ABs. Pocock is a great scavenger, but he fails in his other duties as a number 7 – namely providing a link between the backs and forwards. Australia should have picked a mobile pack and attempt to run the ABs raggared.

My backline to play the ABs would be:

9. Genia
10. Beale
11. Mitchell
12. Tapuai
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Ioane
15. Cooper

Australia won’t win on defence alone. They need spark, creativity and an ability to play with gay abandon under pressure. Sure Cooper can be a liability, but he can also be a game winner. Why do you think Kiwi’s hate him so much? It’s because we actually fear him and what he can do!
- johnny-boy
  
  Not bad Bunce but I’d switch Beale and Cooper and despite AAC being great previously he’s lost his spark and Mitchell is nowhere near ready.
  Benn Robinson was one of the worlds top props a few years ago but since his knee injury he’s way off and needs to be replaced with Palmer or Holmes (might be mixing up sides in haste) . It’s crazy not to start Moore at hooker (world class and doesnt constantly go down) and not use TPN as 60 minute scare the shit out of tiring players wrecking ball. Just as it is crazy to use Timani instead of Douglas. Just as it is crazy to use Higginbotham at 8.
  
  Holmes
  Moore
  Kepu (threaten perform or last game buddy)
  Sharpe
  Douglas
  Higginbotham (6)
  Pocock
  Mowen (8)
  Genia (Nic White or Lucas as backup)
  Cooper (Barnes as backup 10 or 11)
  Tapauai
  A Fingers (Honey Badger as backup + wing)
  Ioane
  Shipperley
  Beale.
  Then Australia would have a real chance, if we had a decent Australian coach. It would be exciting. As it is Deans is determined not to pick our best side
johnny-boy

Barnes back up for 10 or 12
Ozabroad

IM on my honeymoon and this shit just makes me depressed. Pick the team on form.

A;though it hurts I want us to lose 3-0 to NZ so we get a new coach. Then some sanity can come back into selecting the team. Can we get Wayne bennett to coach the team

Wallabies v. All Blacks: Team Announcement

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