Wallabies v. Argentina: Team Announcement

Brumby Jack September 11, 2012 111

The Rugby Championship continues this weekend when the Wallabies take on Argentina on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

With a few injury problems for Robbie Deans to consider — namely the long-term knee injury to scrum half Will Genia and hamstring concerns for lock Sitaleki Timani — Deans has come up with a new team to face Los Pumas.

The obvious change sees Nick Phipps coming in for Genia at scrum-half. Timani’s injury means Waratahs lock Kane Douglas gets his chance to partner newly named captain Nathan Sharpe in the second row. In the centres, Pat McCabe returns at the inside spot after a successful a 30-minute stint in Canberra club rugby on the weekend.

But the most interesting change sees Berrick Barnes move to fullback to replace Kurtley Beale, who will start on the bench. Also on the bench is Brett Sheehan who will be Phipps’s backup, with Nic White being unavailable after undergoing shoulder surgery.

UPDATE: Reserve hooker Stephen Moore is still battling his hamstring injury from last week and has been ruled out, which means Saia Fainga’a will take his place on the bench.

15. Berrick Barnes
14. Dominic Shipperley
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
12. Pat McCabe
11. Digby Ioane
10. Quade Cooper
9. Nick Phipps
8. Radike Samo
7. Michael Hooper
6. Dave Dennis
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
4. Kane Douglas
3. Ben Alexander
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
1. Benn Robinson

Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga’a
17. James Slipper
18. Scott Higginbotham
19. Liam Gill
20. Brett Sheehan
21. Anthony Fainga’a
22. Kurtley Beale

TAGS » News, slide

POSTED IN » Argentina, Wallabies

About the author: Brumby Jack View all posts by Brumby Jack

A Canberra born and bred Rugby tragic brought up on a diet of Canberra Kookaburra and ACT Brumbies Rugby. It was a choice between politics and Rugby, with Rugby the obvious winner.

Discussion »

http://cjandfinn.com Gibbo

At least with BB at 15 the chip kicks from 1st phase will take a back seat.

His Goal kicking keeps him on the field.
- Drop Kick
  
  and his defence, he made the most tackles of any aus back.
  - Blinky Bill of Bellingen
    
    Could it be that his crap kicking contributed mightily to the need to make the most tackles?
    
    Just a thought. :(
    - Drop Kick
      
      There is a bit of a myth being created by some posters that most/all of the kicking was Barnes fault and that he should have been hooked for disobeying Deans instructions.
      
      The stats put a bit of perspective on that. If anyone should have been hooked it was Cooper or Beale.
      
      As I detailed in a post above Cooper kicked twice as much as Barnes and gained far less territory per kick.
      
      Cooper kicked 15 times for a gain of 521m (average 34m)
      Barnes 8 times for 328m (av 41m)
      Beale 7 times for 222m (av 31m)
      Genia 5 for 165m (av 33m)
      AAC 1 for 28m
      Shipperly 1 for 26m
      
      Stats are from: http://www.rugbystats.com.au
    - Pedro
      
      But it’s not just how far you kick, it’s the context. I can recall 3 times in the first half Barnes deciding to kick with two players outside of him. I’m pretty sure they were all in the defensive half too.
      
      Cooper didn’t play great but at least oneof his kicks was regathered. One of Beale’s resulted in a yellow, so must have put some pressure on. Barnes was either losing a territory dual or grubbering to no one.
    - spectator
      
      Barnes didn’t get target touch when he should have a few times(i don’t know why) & went for distance but that was common by a few wallabies, & kicked once when he shouldn’t have in numbers situation as per that vid.
      
      Part from that, i thought he was very good all round & i like what his attributes add i confess in potential Wallaby backline balance and he even contributed to Higgenbotham try via ruck which i hadn’t picked up on in game. The missed pass was a close thing, fact is he was positionally there to create opportunity in first place, which he helped catalyze earlier in it’s build up and these things gel with more time.
      
      But i am just supporter and go the Wallabies!
    - Red Kev
      
      Drop Kick there seems to be a myth being perpetrated by you both here and on the Roar that the fact Barnes kicked less than Cooper means the crap kicking by the Wallabies is Cooper’s fault.
      IN ACTUAL FACT kicking is a very important part of a rugby match. Stupid grubber and chip kicks were not part of the Wallaby game plan, kicking is always part of the game plan. The important aspect however is knowing when to kick, or to put it another way, taking the right option and then executing it well.
      4 of Barnes’ 8 kicks were poor options – that’s a 50% stuff up rate.
      2 of Cooper’s 15 kicks were poor options – that’s only 13%.
    - Drop Kick
      
      Hey Red Kev what is your source for those stats of yours, or is it just how you see things through those red tinted glasses.
    - Pie Thrower
      
      Drop Kick – anyone who actually watched the game would know that it was barnes who was doing all the stupid grubber kicks that everyone found frustrating. I can think of one or maybe two that Cooper did, but I lost count of how many times Barnes did it – usually with men outside of him. Don’t try to use stats to back up whatever your agenda is – everyone with half a brain knows it was Barnes who was the main culprit for those kicks.
    - spectator
      
      Whatever overall tactic the Wallabies use, i want it to work and support it in game firstly.
      
      In the second half against Boks, the Wallabies had a type of forward go-forward which i’m not sure they even had against Wales, certainly not against the ABs; & the Bok backline defence was using flat form, giving the Wallaby backs more space and momentum to contribute to attack with.
      
      This occurred for three reasons: one well balanced chip WITH a well timed chase, had created a situation where a high scoring pressure moment was created out of nowhere which an Bok forward fouled against, resulting in a yellow card.
      
      A heavy away Bok pack, playing a man down for ten minutes, had a heavier workload to carry which started to decrease their limits gradually from the second half.
      
      Even though the Wallabies were lacking in the rythme of their chip/grubbers, due to the first half frequency of their efforts, the Bok defence was more wary of charging into Wallaby backspace, which was compounded by them going back more in general close play.
      
      The Wallabies were holding on to the ball now, for one reason or another, which was the perfect timing for the change in approach by them in relation to the changed game situation. I’m not saying this was perfect or planeed from start to finish, but it’s what happened, & the Wallabies rode it to a good confidence building team win.
      
      Only being happy with the kind of wins the A.B.s have, has the potential to be self-defeating even more so against the A.B.s
      
      It is the reverse situation of the Bok fans in this game who are not happy about having only one default approach, generally well executed, and losing.
    - Canuckruck
      
      Barnes and kicking….. When I watch a Wallabies game it is Barnes’ kicking options that drive me crazy.
      
      I would sit a U14 boy for insisting on kicking like Barnes does.
      
      Maybe Dingo needs to threaten to amputate his foot?
- Geoff Carruthers
  
  Barnes might as wellbe at 15; since he got hit in the head a few times he’s been standing level with the fullback in attack anyway.
BDA

Not a bad team. Interesting to see that Deans appears to have discarded Simo altogether. It be interesting to see how Douglas performs.
- Richo
  
  Douglas is a TH lock and hence partners better with Sharpe, who prefers to play LH. Simmons is definitely a LH.
  - BDA
    
    I realise that. I still think its interesting that he fails to win a spot on the bench
    - Richo
      
      It’s a consequence of Samo starting, I think. He has to come off, so Deans wants two loosies. I don’t know why it’s not a 5-2 split with Simmons on the pine.
    - sph45
      
      Richo – I don’t get the 5-2 split on the bench. Just leaves the team awful vulnerable when injuries hit during the game. The 5-2 split worked against us in the first Rugby Championship match when Barnes was inneffective and Beale had a terrible night – we had only Drew Mitchell and Phipps on the bench! I think it’s better to make the hard decisions about who to leave out of the team, for the sake of a more balanced bench. I think this shows more trust and belief in your forwards as well.
    - suckerforred
      
      It is not as much as the numbers split on the bench, but who you have there. Having one of the backs being an out & out specialist is always going to mean that you will need 3 backs for injury cover. Yes it paid off last week, but how many times have we seen Deans not use his full bench cause there was no need. I would sooner see a Frisby, Lucas or Stannard (Yes I know 2 of those are unavilable) on the bench. People who can play 9, but also play other positions if required.
tigerland 12

So when JOC is fit he goes to 15 and takes over the goal kicking. Yep I like that.

How does Benn Robinson still get a gig? Every time Slipper has come on he has played well.
- RJ
  
  Agreed. Slipper is bigger, fitter, stronger, better ball runner, etc etc. He looks like he has bulked up a bit too. Robbo is a slow slob of a prop.
  - http://BigFella Big Fella
    
    I’ve been pushing Slipper’s inclusion in the starting side, as a loose head for sometime.
    He is a good player of rugby and quality athlete.
    
    To be fair, Robinson is coming back from a serious injury and shouldn’t have been thrust back into Test rugby so quickly.
    
    For club rugby fans, it’s fantastic that both Douglas and McCabe have made their way into the Wallaby starting team from the Sydney & Canberra club competitions respectively.
    I’m sure there are others who’ve come through the same pathway.
    
    Robinson could have really benefited from a stint at club rugby level after finishing Super Rugby instead of playing Test rugby half fit and with a knee nowhere near 100%.
stinger

Interesting little reshuffle from Dingo. Obviously BB’s goalkicking is keeping him in the 15 (& against the Argies that is not a bad idea). I don’t think Simmons is discarded, he and Sharpe fill a similar role so there is only space for one. I guess the option is to have a 5-2 split to include a lock AND 2 flankers on the bench.

The question is – Is it Pat MCCabe match fit??? QC played 2 and 1/2 Super games and 2 club games but wasn’t “match fit” however McCabe can play 30mins at club level and straight back in…
- pants
  
  Obviously “match fit” means you fit in with Robbie plans, keep your mouth shut and don’t question him even though you think his tactics and game plan (or lack of) is crap.
  
  Robbie’s game plan revolves around McCabe. They must have a special bond those two. QC is going to suffer again with having nobody outside him that actually understands what he is about to do. I expect to see Digby running off Quade alot in this game since he’s the only one that will get it.
- Tree
  
  Patty McCabe was born match fit. I’ll give everyone on this forum $50 if he tries a chip kick. He is tough, just drops the shoulder and bends the line. Can play! Great inclusion.
  - D.
    
    Shippers doesn’t kick either and he did. I’ll send you my address on Sunday.
  - stinger
    
    I’m happy with Pat McCabe – especially for the Argies. He is not the best but he never lets anyone down & that is an attribute this version of the Wallabies needs.
    
    Just making the point about the coaches consistency with selections (or lack of it)
Fin

I like these selections. Barnes at FB and Pat in the centres give Quade much better options with the flat ball to either centre or a second line of attack with BB at second reciever. Douglas is the correct choice to replace Timani particularly against the Argie scrum. Dennis needs to step up in the tight work as does Higgers when he gets on.
Pedro

I notice no one’s whinging about Alexander this week.

Barnes at 15? We should be able to do better than that. You know he’s going to swap in and out with Cooper, kinda seems like a backward step.

Good to see McCabe back. Hopefully can add the size and straight running we’ve missed. Actually why not chuck him in at full back and replace Barnes with Harris.
Willy

Hmmmm…

Assuming the Argies are going to bomb away all night (which they are), surely it would be reasonable to pick a specialist fullback?

Although, having said that, KB has hardly been a rock under the high ball so far this season.
old weary

Suprised that Cummins didn’t get a look in, and AAC back to FB (considering previous team line-ups). Glad AAC is in the centre’s though.

Agree with Stinger though – how can Mcabe be match fit after only 30mins of club rugby?

Barnes execution of his kicking game has been off of late – sticking him in FB may only compund this (hope to be proven wrong). Just no grubber kicks please.

Considering the injuries, I think not a bad team Dean’s has put up there.
spectator

I have thought McCabe is a good player in what his attributes are, & in particular would work very well in a team like the A.B.s as a 2nd with what their balance is at the moment, particularly in combination with a Carter and a Nonu type at center, would be a trad. AB type of thing with their forward and back dynamic.

But go the Wallabies!
Joe Blow

Wow……interesting. Looking forward to seeing Douglas have a run at TH lock. That is a good call to replace the injured Timani with him and the scrum will not be any weaker.
BB at fullback. Maybe………has he ever played there at this level before? He will not offer much in the way of coming in to the line but will be very safe with good positional play. Argies will pepper him with bombs and test him early.
McCabe gets a dream run straight back in to start after 30 minutes of club ball? Hope he is fit. He provides a good option for QC to use to get over the advantage line and he and AAC will discourage the Pumas from targeting that area in attack, not that they really do.
Should be very interesting.
Go the Wallabies!!
billybobv

All in all, I like the line-up. If McCabe turns up not match fit, then A.F. will be a good substitute. That being said, if they play like they did in the first half last match, it could be a very long week. Las Pumas kept it close against the AB’s on the road.
Go Wallabies!
2ndRowLegal

I hope Brett Sheehan gets a run – and shows up Nick Phipps. He’s the most underrated halfback in Australia. Has he had a Wallabies cap before?
- Brumby Jack
  
  Sheehan debuted against South Africa in 2006 and his last game was the Barbarians game on the 2008 EOYT.
Peter

Good team considering the circumstances, come on Wallabies!!
Jimbo81

Anyone who thinks McCabe is a test level player is delusional. After contributing absolutely nothing in attack, with a complete inability to pass or offload, we have just hamstrung the backline. It will require a miracle for that backline to score any tries whatsoever. Deans is deliberately selecting the worst possible players – it MUST be sabotage!

Why is Harris not starting at Inside centre? Why has Barnes been retained and is starting at fullback – a position he has never played? Why have they reinstated McCabe after disasterous performances in every test he has ever been involved in?
- pants
  
  I’m not an alcoholic. I just have a beer every time McCabe holds his shoulder in pain.
  - Brumby Runner
    
    You would surely be an alcoholic if you had a beer every time TPN holds his head after making a tackle.
- Pedro
  
  Relax jimbo, he’s scored tries before and his passing has improved big time this year. Maybe having a 12 who’s not afraid of contact might actually give our currently impotent back line some starch.
  
  I think McCabe is (at full fitness) a test level player. Especially when compared to the apparent alternatives. I think only tapui would shift him, but then he’s a good winger/fb too.
  - Patrick
    
    I also like McCabe, and I think he will add a lot to Cooper’s game because he can always just pass it to McCabe without worrying that it will get kicked away!
- Gordo
  
  I’m not an alcoholic. I only drink when Berrick Barnes puts in a shit kick.
  - D.
    
    Mate, I would only assume you’re still pissed!!!!! I hope you get to sober up in time to watch this week’s game.
- AJ
  
  Those criticising McCabe should watch some of his Brumbies games this year. He has added a step and his passing game has progressed under Jake White. Partnered with someone like AAC, it gives us two hard-running centre options, with a quick finisher like Shipperley or Ione outside them to step in and take advantage of the gaps the open up. If he is match fit, I think he warrants selection.
  - Touko
    
    I love McCabe; he’s a great player. But it looks terribly unbalanced having two centres who who are hard shouldered non-passing defensive players. Add in Barnes at fullback and I don’t see a lot of line breaks. While it’s true his passing game has improved that’s not saying much.
    
    I’m also bloody worried McCabe is going to get injured. Surely he isn’t fit enough to go straight back into a test? I hope we don’t see another Drew Mitchell style injury that puts him out for six months. Though I suppose if we do, JOC can be rushed straight back in so he gets reinjured too.
    - Garry
      
      And true to form, Dingo races players back into the team, only to see them re-injure themselves. Followed by groans about the depths of ARU players and finally the wonderment of All Black DNA. Deans showing his piss poor player management skills once again.
      
      It would be comical if it wasn’t so sinister. He’s a mole I tell ya.
- TerribleTowel
  
  despite the fact that McCabe was the form Australian centre of the Super 15, and despite the fashionable option of saying he contributes nothing in attack except crash balls, during the Welsh Tests he was first in line breaks among Australian centres in the super 15 and third in offloads… Oh, and remember that quarter final against the Saffa’s at the world cup when we only scored one try and McCabe kept on defending like a madman even when he had a shoulder injury requiring surgery? guess who set up that try. Yup, McCabe. Remember the welsh tests, where one of the major reasons we won one of those matches was because somebody knocked the Warburton the fuck out when he was playing exceptionally well? yeah, that was McCabe too. The only true centre (not counting J’OC) in Australia who can claim to be better than McCabe right now is Benny Taps, and he’s injured.
- Peter
  
  You’re kidding, I’d take McCabe over Kiwi turn-coat Harris any day.
  
  Not sure what games you’ve been watching but McCabe was immense in the RWC QF vs the Saffas. He’s probably the toughest player in the squad and gives us strength and go-forward, exactly what we’ve been missing lately in attack.
  
  No wonder Deans was keen to get him back in the line-up.
  
  CARN WALLABIES!
PM

Douglas is a good selection, particularly before our end of season tour with no Sharpe or Horwill.

Wouldn’t mind seeing Slipper starting.

I wouldn’t have dropped KB despite his failings under the high ball and not being his brilliant best. Just spend plenty of time doing drills at training, the more game time he gets the better he’ll get before our tour.

Again Deans is picking someone out of position namely BB at 15.

Is McCabe really fit, like comments above I find it hard to believe. All good and well if fit, but if not again this is another hypocritical selection by Deans in terms of fitness.
Brumby Runner

Did anyone else watch the Shute Shield semi- final last week when Kane Douglas fronted up against Cadyn Neville? Both showed some great form. Neville was quite dominant in offence, while Douglas pulled off some great defence, especially one memorable hit on Neville. Not much to choose between the two, but my preference would be to go for the best attack, hence Neville by a small margin. But I think Douglas will give a very good account of himself.

Towards the end of the S15 season, McCabe was running different lines and also passing to outside backs. Maybe he can bring these extra dimensions to the Wallabies.
- boutbloodytime
  
  I think Jake White has been very good for McCabe this season, adding extra dimensions to his game (running better lines & passing) & McCabe seems intelligent enough to watch, listen & learn, so IF he is fit, he could be a good option.
  - chasmac
    
    Gregan and Larkham can take a bow for the Brumbies backline.
J-Rugby

We needs players like Mogg and White, who can really kick the leather off the ball so to speak. When we get penalties they need to hoist the ball deep into their 20m line (punish the opposition) – watch Reds versus Brums this year, they were amazing (I am a Reds man for the record!). Instead we are getting like 15-30m from place kicks which pretty much means we can’t even kick out of our own half!
- Funk
  
  Jeez I miss Latham’s torpedo!
- Josh123
  
  Mark Gerard? His penalties for the rebels were game changers and he could just pull them out of the bag. Not to bad under the high ball either. Talking about playing people out of position, you won’t find many other players with more experience.
Moz

Hey Gagger, going by some of the posts, perhaps you could start a new competition, with the best entry winning a prize (plus one for the person who came up with this idea…).

I’m not an alcoholic – I only drink when….

My entries

When Dingo makes another stupid team selection decision…

or

When Deans selects a player out of position
- http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/ Matt Rowley
  
  Genius – will collect the best for a poll
- Brumby Runner
  
  I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when the Darkness win.
- stinger
  
  I AM an alcoholic, I need to be to support the Wallabies.
The Battered Slav

Three from me:

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when the Wallabies scrum goes backwards.

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when Quade Cooper misses a tackle.

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when Kurtley drops a high ball.
Dunce

I’m not an alcoholic, i only drink when full credit is given to the boys.
PM

I drink a lot.

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when we try a grubber kick.

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when we try a chip kick.

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when Genia takes a step or 2 before he passes.

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when TPN gets knocked out.
Timbo

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when someone whinges on GAGR

I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when someone says someone else is better on GAGR
- Uncle Percy
  
  I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when it builds character
  I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when we spoke about that during the week
  I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when we learned a lot from that loss
  I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when we knew they would come at us hard
  I’m not an alcoholic, I only drink when you have to be on your game for 80 minutes otherwise they will punish you at this level
Larkhage

Ok, so we’ve got someone who runs straight and doesn’t kick in his position, McCabe, if only he could pass… Higginbotham in 12 would be interesting.. just saying..
- Higginbotham for 12
  
  Mate he would offload like Sonny Bill and he would smash them back in defence, his ball skills are great and it would leave room for Hooper and Gill to fill. And it would stop Bob complaining about him seagulling. The man is a try spotter and a train wreck rolled into one
  That said, those reminding us how good Pat McCabe was for the Brumbies should watch how Tapuai was playing before he got hurt this year. If he’s fit again what’s he got to do to get noticed
rugbyinmyblood

Am I the only person who thinks Dave Dennis is a myth. If you have an argument watch him clean out he hits and stops he is to weak. Higgers should be at 6 faster bigger stronger better lineout option runs lines scores trys. Here comes the tahs he is too wide yeah just where you want a guy who is twice the size of his opposition. And did I mention he scores trys. Most points wins. Remember.
- murph
  
  he’s a myth. you’re not alone.
- Brumby Runner
  
  Suffers from the same complaint as Rob Simmons – hits a ruck and falls over to the side.
  - rugbyinmyblood
    
    Agree Simmons has no mongrel it’s a shame he has skill and size and a big heart just no kill
Gunner

No continuity in selections – like most of the recent teams, not bad, on their day they can win, but hey lets stop the chopping and changing even with injuries it’s too much, how can anyone settle in? Surely this shows that the selectors are not on their game?
murph

Barnes at FB??! WTF??! Morahan should be given a gig if KB is judged to be out of form.

And McCabe just waltzes straight back into the side?? Seriously?

Oh, and naturally, good widdle wawatah, Kane Douglas, is a walk up while Simmons, Pyle and Neville are told to wait in line. What an absolute joke.
- Pedro
  
  I agree, wouldn’t mind seeing a real fullback in. Morahan deserves a crack, but is he even in the squad?
  - Brumby Jack
    
    Morahan has been playing with the Sevens team recently so I’m not sure what plans they have for him.
    
    The next leg of the Sevens is on the Gold Coast next month so they might be keeping him for that.
    - Red Raw
      
      Luke Morahan is playing finals rugger in Qld Premier rugby. Just collected a hat-track – would have been a shoo-in if wearing skyblue http://www.redsrugby.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/7609/Default.aspx
    - JimmyC
      
      Morahan played 13 on Sunday for Uni and scored 3 tries.
- Fulltime
  
  Good to see you happy.
  - murph
    
    Why should I be? I’m forced to support a team being run by an idiot. Barnes at fullback?? Are you seriously happy with that?!
Hawko

Simmons and Pyle are loose head locks, they would be on the list if Sharpe was injured. Neville is a tight head lock and I imagine it was a line ball decision as to who was chosen to replace Timani. Head to head last saturday it was pretty even.
- Hawko
  
  Given that Sharpie has been made captain, then it is quite likely that Simmons will be called up next week.
  - Brumby Jack
    
    Perhaps the captaincy duties should be limited to calling the coin toss this week?
    - Tom
      
      please don’t make Hooper captain, we need him for a while yet
    - Fulltime
      
      Hey, why not ask Robbie to toss the coin … in place of the captain.
  - pants
    
    Put Robbie on the paddock and make him captain. Problem solved.
- murph
  
  Simmons played tighthead lock in Horwill’s absence. Sharpe can play there too. Isn’t amazing how every lineball decision just happens to go one direction….?
  - JimmyC
    
    Nine Reds, six ‘tahs and you still complain. Come off it. It is not like there are players bashing down the selection door in the position that the ‘tah players occupy. Grow up
  - Red Kev
    
    Simmons did not play tight lock, he can’t play tight lock, AWH played tight lock for the Reds. When Timani came off against the ABs Sharpe shifted to tight side.
    Deans should grow a pair and play Simmons instead of Sharpe, but not playing Simmons and Sharpe is the right call.
    - JimmyC
      
      Simmons was pretty rubbish this year. It’s like he has regressed the past two seasons. Sharpe is in way better form.
- http://BigFella Big Fella
  
  I like Neville as a No 6.
  His athleticism, particularly the great pace and agility for a big guy, make him an exciting prospect.
  - Red Kev
    
    Neville is 120kg and 200cm, he’s a lock not a blinside, Hodgson, Schatz and Higginbotham are all better at 6.
    - Brumby Runner
      
      That may be but Neville played another very strong game at 6 last weekend. And did you catch his try the week before when he outpaced the defence from 75m?
    - Patrick
      
      Neville is as mobile and hungry as any of them (ok Schatz is pretty mobile), and can run an inside line pretty well too.
      
      Plus he is a line-out option.
- Higginbotham for 12
  
  Tighthead Lock Loosehead Lock is this some fake expertise, is this Fake Rocky Elsom setting us up
  
  Rocky if they pick you at lock in the Dubai club you’ll end up at you just ram your head in between two second row sheiks and try not to breathe. Training is Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7 to 8 and the rest of your time is free for paleontology digs. Its going to be a great gap year
stillatragic

Will be interesting to see Cooper’s form with McCabe outside him. What does McCabe bring? Straight running, good defense (shoulder willing) but is he in tune with Cooper? Will that combination break the advantage line, set up phases etc. Time will tell, but may be they are oil and water those two. Just a thought.
- Patrick
  
  I don’t think it is oil and water at all, more like a good steak and red.
  
  A player like Cooper needs someone running hard and straight to make their space, a hard straight runner thrives off someone who can put the ball right in front of them (and incidentally on the tackler’s wrong shoulder!).
  
  McCabe’s try against the Welsh was exactly the kind of play I would be looking for these two to execute. All the more so if Genia is playing.
- Stin
  
  I just re-watched 2011 Wallabies v NZ (Suncorp) & Saffa (Bloemfontein) tri nats games and I thought McCabe was very important in those wins. He’ll be better this year, assuming he’s fit enough. Ha.
GGR addicted

Sitting at starbucks in Budapest – laptop – headphones – gazing out window at summer scenery – also keep picking jaw up off the floor – to those who have been here – U KNOW – to those who haven’t been here. – quite ur job , sell ur house, go give ur mum a big cuddle and BUY YOURSELF A TICKET. Yeah team looks good.
- Westo
  
  I love the Budapest mate. I spent a week there in some Irish bar in 2007 watching the first couple of rounds of the world cup and know exactly what your talking about re the ladies – “I only go east”. I also loved England getting walloped by RSA.
  
  Something about Footy – Barnes at FB, come on. He plays there at club rugby, but is that enough, his place kicks are worth 15, maybe that is enough, but he’s lucky he has not cost the team 10 point per game lately. I would rather see Deans use some of our non-perceived depth. We do have some. Shipperly point and case. Have a crack mate!
Nipper

If I’m reading the pattern correctly, Berrick has gone from 10 to 12 to 15, next will be 19, then out of the 22 altogether.

He did have that one blinder against Wales the day after his kid was born, so full credit for that. But since then, he’s stifled the attack, kicking away everything in sight. It’s one thing if you’re kicking well and putting the opposition under pressure, but he’s certainly not doing that. Just giving guys like Dagg the ball on a platter.
- Robbie’s Butt Plug
  
  Shut up man. You’re never happy. Just shut up. So there.
  - Nipper
    
    Yes, Richie, you’re correct. I’m never happy watching crappy rugby.
Jimbo81

Back on to McCabe’s amazing selection in the run-on side:

rushed back from injury and lacks match fitness
supposedly has 30mins of club rugby under his belt

“Had a better season in 2012 for the Brumbies than 2011.” I’m sorry but this is far too much wishful thinking. He wasn’t the answer we needed to win the RWC! Making three line-breaks at super level in a side that dodged two of the top teams, that only really stayed in the hunt due to regularly losing by less that 7 does not make a test player!

Where is Tapuai? Where is Harris?
What has McCabe done to warrant selection over these players? Why was it OK to shelf Cooper for being unprepared despite him having three super games (banned from having 4 and winning the Reds Vs Sharks game for QLD), but rushing McCabe back in after 30 minutes in club rugby is acceptable?

What has Robbie done to deserve to remain coach of Australia? Surely we are better than this – this team beggers belief!

Berrick to FB is absurd! The Pumas have already changed their side from the high-ball merchants to a running backline. How long will Dean’s constant tinkering, random and unwarranted selections, total lack of any set-plays and inability to convincingly smash minnow nations and beat NZ be tolerated?
- Bewilded
  
  You would have thought deans would have learnt from putting drew mitchell in totally uncooked – same will happen with macabe – anyhow my tip is that the argies are going to blitzkrieg us in the forward and this will b Robbie deans undoing at last.i think out forwards r buggerrrd an the pumas have been waiting for this for years and can smell blood. Scrims will be a saluter house- at least 12 points in penalties-deans head will roll
- murph
  
  All valid points but expect to be told that you’re never happy.
  
  What an absolute joke of a coach.
- AJ
  
  Gee, what side do YOU support? Clearly Robbie needs to go – not enough Reds players.
  McCabe and Smith were the best centre pairing of the Aussie S15 sides this year. They are one of the reasons Mogg and Tomane had such great breakout seasons, and scored tries. As for not playing the best teams, the Brumbies played what was given to them. They actually did better against the “top” teams than against the mediocre ones. And had Piri Weepu not overindulged at Christmas, the Blues wouldn’t be wooden spooners. At the start of the season, people were still mentioning their form from last year!
bill

Would have preferred to see Barnes out, start Harris at FB, and Kurtley either at 2nd 5/8 or on the bench as cover. McCabe improved this year, but I would have preffered to see Simmons on the bench with a 5/2 split.

Barnes is just not fast enough to do much from fb and I don’t think his kicking is as good as Harris. Bit weird that Robbie identified KB’s conditioning as a problem then selects a player like Barnes who is slower, and probably makes even worse directed chip/through kicks.
the ardent b’stard

a left field idea from the blackness.

when all fit – does a loosie trio of Horwill at 8 (he could do this), Pocock at 6 (Brussow style as his carry metres at 7 arent good enough for todays style) and hooper at 7 – given the faster pace of the next evolution of our game.

then you can forget about the volatility of selecting dennis, palu, samo, higgie.

will leave the order of the princesses to you
- Pedro
  
  Horwill is a bit slow, plus he’s good, but not cram him on in any position good. I would however consider playing hooper pocock and gill at once. As long as we had higgenbotham and aleuia to come on when the pace slows down.
  - Patrick
    
    I’d thumbs that up but I’m using Chrome so I can’t.
    
    I’d select that back three too. With Neville (covering at least 4 and 6) on the bench instead of Aleuia.
bill

Neville playing well. Barnes playing ok, Cooper ok after a shaky first 20. Hooper is showing his inconsistent side, good game last week, handling errors this, experience should smooth that out.

Overall a much better structure to the attack. Phipps had had the best game of the guys on the field in the first half. If Robbie does bring Ant Faingaa on I hope he hooks Barnes, swings McCabe to FB and moves Faingaa to in centre.

Overall much better vision, lacking the last 5 per cent in execution though.
bill

Neville? Fark! meant Douglas. All those non queenslanders look the same to me.

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