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Wallabies v. Springboks : Team announcement

Brumby Jack September 27, 2012 52

No GravatarThe Rugby Championship continues this weekend for the Wallabies when they take on the Springboks in South Africa.

After a week of off-field turmoil, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has come up with yet another new lineup for the clash in Pretoria.

The biggest talking point is at fly-half where Kurtley Beale has been recalled to the starting XV at fly-half in place of Quade Cooper to take the reins of the Wallabies backline at Loftus. On the bench Rob Simmons has been named to provide cover at lock in a reserves bench that sees a 5/2 split.

The Team is:
15. Berrick Barnes
14. Dominic Shipperley
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
12. Pat McCabe
11. Digby Ioane
10. Kurtley Beale
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. Rob Simmons
19. Scott Higginbotham
20. Liam Gill
21. Brett Sheehan
22. Anthony Fainga’a

Meanwhile, under fire Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has named his side for the clash with all eyes on who would take on the fly-half duties after some less than impressive performances from the under fire Morne Steyn.

Zane Kirchner; Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers, Francois Steyn/Jaco Taute, Francois Hougaard; Johan Goosen, Ruan Pienaar; Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Tiaan Liebenberg, Coenie Oosthuizen, Flip van der Merwe, Marcell Coetzee, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute/Juan de Jongh, Pat Lambie.

TAGS » ,
POSTED IN » South Africa, Wallabies
About the author: Brumby Jack View all posts by
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.

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Discussion »

  • JimmyC

    Did Sita fail the fitness test? Simmons is a waste of space. 3rd best lock in the gf last week. He tried to chip the fullback. Would brad thorn ever do that. No fing way

    • Brumby Jack

      Timani had been battling a stomach bug all week.

    • Brax

      Waste of space eh? What an absolute crap comment wasting space in the internet.

      • JimmyC

        What has he done? It seems he has regressed over the past two years. Look he runs a good lineout but doesnt add much else.

        • Fletch

          I think what Brax is getting at is the somewhat harsh terminology – I think waste of space should be reserved for slightly more sinister characters – like say Shitler or Stalin – not an under performing wallaby – bit harsh don’t u think ?

        • http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/ Matt Rowley

          Agree Fletch!

          The rest of Brax’s post was fine (whether you agree with it or not) but there’s no need for a personal slur like that

  • Jimbo81

    WTF is Hansen? Tapuai? Harris? Why did the ARU bother flying them to Pretoria when they have been Shunned by Deans? It’s not like a last ditch effort against Argentina is anything to be rewarded for. Why hasn’t Deans wielded the AXE for the Argentina debacle?

    Mogg is better than Barnes.
    Harris is better than McCabe.

    I can see the comments coming thick and fast on Sunday praising McCabe for his dedication and ticker after we lose. Not good enough! You’re a Wallaby center FFS! You should be a living legend of the game, able to break the line with devestating runs and amazing acts of skill and cunning. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
    McCabe is the first player to be cut when McKenzie takes over and cleans up Deans’mess.

    • JimmyC

      Your chat is rubbish.

      • The Rant

        You sure your name shouldn’t be Jimbo2001?

        Same comments every week – ‘wheres beau robinson, wheres a wallace-harrison…’

    • http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/ Matt Rowley

      I just can’t take it anymore Jimbo – you’re boned.

  • Jimbo81

    You must be a Brumbies supporter. I’m sorry but as a Queenslander, I cannot accept that the Wallabies are not number 1.

    • McKenzie

      Meow!

  • The Rant

    Beale vs Goosen. Gonna be interesting. Just hope beale settles. To me he seems to try too hard and forgets the simple basic 5/8 role of directing play. Wallabies need to use Mccabe and AAC to get us going forward before going wide. I’m sure barnes will come in at first receiver a fair bit.
    Guessing AAC will drop to FB when barnes limps off in the 70th minute.

    That said, as with any test – the forwards will make or break it. Jarps are gonna hit us hard at loftus – angry at their two losses they’ll feel they should have won. Hoping douglas can build on lat game and samo breaks at least one bok in half.

    • johnny-boy

      Go the Tahs ……

  • James

    Fearful of Beale at 10. Hope he proves those fears unfounded.

    Is honey badger injured? Haven’t seen his name in the mix and think he’d be great for a bench spot if nothing else, versatile and powerful. To look good playing at the force… You have to be in decent form!!

  • Dougs

    You know the world is a wierd place when one of the Wallabies main problems is pointless chip kicking so they install Beale at fly half to stop it from happening! Best team available, hope we win.

    • Blinky Bill of Bellingen

      ‘You took the words right out of my mouth’. Oo yuck stop that song right there. Please!!!!!!!!! :(

      Spot-on observation with the need to rid ourselves of the chip & seeing KB as the solution. Hopefully KB’s confidence will return with one or two nice touches and he will be away (again), and it’s curtains for Quade.

      Funnily enough I’d reckon a little KB chip might just catch the Saffers out. I mean it’s not like they’d be expecting it after all the flack chips have caused.

  • Gunner

    Good post The Rant, maybe Beale is trying too hard, I don’t know if he has his head in the right place to control this game (not talking bean ball here). What other options do we have at 10?

    • Fletch

      I actually have every confidence in Beale.He’s an amazing talent….yeah he had couple of moments but shit who the hell hasnt. I actually think that Kurtley has more leadership potential in him than Cooper and with Cooper not being there may allow Kurtley to step up and be the man. I actually think the 3 amigos thing is over exaggerated and the inner dynamics are different to what ppl think.Certain people who you’d would never think, usually the quite ones, r the ones who when asked to step up, handle it comfortably and give the team a whole new feel. Quade is not a leader and I dont think he will ever be a leader because he aint cool under pressurre. Kurtley has that Coori / mark ella-ish cool and I like it and I think the better quade has a go at diet rugby the better. I think Beales potential as a leader hasnt even being explored yet to be honest because primarily of Coopers presence.But I think its fantasy.Teams have worked him out and he is never to be that player anymore.Acouple of slick passes a game but he wont do much more damage than that anymore.I see Kurtley breaking the line as first five more often than Cooper now.

      And as for rest of team, well it aint half bad in my opinion.No timani and Simmons in is not good but its amazing what team reveals itself when alot of injuries plague a team and before long your second picks become your first picks ie Shipperly ( still cannot believe Deans picked mitchell for bledisloe – unfrigginbeliable)

      • James

        I’d argue kurtley may have been the best 15 at the rebels but was the 4th best 10 (cippers, hilgendorf, JOC) and JOC isn’t a ten. I’m not sure where the KB is the answer at 10 comes from. He’s far too ‘sketchy’ which is fine in counterattack from 15 but I don’t see him being the guy to give the attack structure.

        Surely the answer was Barnes at 10 and an earpiece under the headgear with a voice on loop saying “no fucking chips or grubbers. pass, run, maybe occasionally when the situation warrants kick for position”

        • Patrick

          Did you watch much rebels games? Hilgendorf was quite good in one game, but JO’C was plainly not up to it, and Cipriani could never do quite enough, whereas Beale absolutely dominated the opposition backlines with his option-taking.

          We were a different team with him – we would never have pulled off the matches we did against the Bulls and Crusaders without him.

  • Fletch

    And one more thing I want to get off my chest ( just thought about this when doing the dishes)

    How the hell can a team settle sub consciously and long term when it’s head playmaker tweets ” and I wanna play with my brother SBW ” ….IT CANT and thats why Kurtley Beale who is rugby through and through should be elevated long term.

    To me, that Cooper tweet was a spit in the face to the rest of the players and the green and gold jumper he has been given the privilege to wear.

    Bye Quade

    Rant over

    • Brax

      Yawn.

      • Fletch

        well it may make u yawn but not having the bledisloe for 10 years through constant selection and managerial f@$@k ups is making a lot of ppl really pissed off – and sticking with that schmeil is just another example

        • Pie Thrower

          Well not having the bledisloe for 10 years through poor selections tactics and managerial fuck ups is what QC is getting at, so maybe you agree with him?? He (even though is going about it the wrong way) seems to be trying to do something about it.

        • skyblue

          No pie thrower.. Qc dosen’t care about the wallabies.hes trying to protect his brand by using the wallabies as an excuse for his rubbish performances.who does he think he is? He’s no gregan and no eales,who is he to have a spray,this should have come from a respected senior member ie.sharpie.Acting like a 10 year old by saying” if nothing changes im not playing” is an absolute joke.get rid off this prick.he’s the toxic in this team along with his ego.we’ve won without him..maybe someone needs to remind him and that he really at test level ain’t that good anyways. Just my thoughts .

        • skyblue

          No pie thrower.. Qc dosen’t care about the wallabies.hes trying to protect his brand by using the wallabies as an excuse for his rubbish performances.who does he think he is?. He’s no gregan and no eales,who is he to have a spray,this should have come from a respected senior member ie.sharpie.Acting like a 10 year old by saying” if nothing changes im not playing” is an absolute joke.get rid off this prick.he’s the toxic in this team along with his ego.we’ve won without him..maybe someone needs to remind him and that he really at test level ain’t that good anyways. Just my thoughts .

  • DC.

    Faingaa on the bench? Oh yeah because he can cover other positions than centre /end sarcasm.

    What does Slipper have to go to get a start? He’s our best prop by far.

    • Tipsy

      Agree that a scrum half and a centre is not great backline coverage. If AAC gets hurt, we are up shit creek. Was surprised Lucas didn’t make the squad after Genia broke. Kind of handy having a scrum replacement that can slot into three other positions.

  • spectator

    Go the Wallabies!

  • Patrick

    Never mind that teamrehab is probably still a stronger team than the actual XV on the pitch, I’m strangely optimistic, I think it comes from being a wallaby supporter :)

    I do like the look of this backline, though, I think it could cause a real headache for South Africa.

  • Mighty Moth

    I like these selections for both sides. It gives a hint of attacking rugby. One can only hope.

  • Fletch

    @Pie Thrower a couple of threads back – what Im suggesting is that Quade IS the selection f..k up and managerial stuff up – so how can he come out and point fingers ? ? – he aint that good – teams no his weaknesses now and they are on to him and again a guy who tweets his desires to play in another code is a egotestical slap in the face to his mates and its plain out rude and wrong – its actually disgusting – anyway hes just sealed his fate on paytv so if JON had any brains he’d quietly tell quade to go play with SBW , tell Deans to contact Ray White and put Link in and keep his job for another 4 years – the bankers always win – quade has just handed it to him on a silver platter

    • Fulltime

      Please explain the “tell Deans to contact Ray White and put Link in and keep his job for another 4 years – the bankers always win”. Cheers.
      Agree with you that QC is rather immature in his approach and as somebody else suggested; he might be doing somebody else’s bid.

  • mad italian flyhalf

    The game will end when there will be the first deep central kick.

    At that moment, Berrick Barnes will start to kick deep to Kirchner, who’s gonna kick back deep to Barnes, who’s gonna kick to Kirchner and so on until Loftus Versfeld lamp will fulminate.

    Hope the WBs are leading by that time.

  • Gallagher07

    Screw the negativity, lets look at the positives! These Boks do not look like the winning combination they have over the past few years, they are in massive rebuilding. We should have them here depsite the away game and injuries.

    - AAC at OC is AWESOME!
    - Barnes at fullback is great cause he can catch and place kick very well and doesnt have as many opportunities to screw the game plan with aimless chip kicks on the front line
    - Beale provides an ex-factor at 10, like Quade, that the entire back line will feed off all night if the pigs can front up
    - Samo and Hooper are playing very well at the moment
    - Our bench is VERY good considering each player on it bar Sheehan has a case to make the run on team, given the stock we have fit and available

    Im tipping a few tries in this one,and Im dreaming up a Wallabies win by 16 and sending the Boks back to 5th in the IRB rankings.

    • Blinky Bill of Bellingen

      Positives – Thank goodness someone tried to get us back on track.

      Just watch though. As positive as you try to be, most wander off subject for a whinge.

      I think the Phipps / Beale combo is a huge plus. Phipps has been doing well (Brett Sheehan’s on stand-by anyway) and KB is about due for a big one following that late penalty against the Puma’s.

      All bodes well.

  • Nick_Brisbane

    Fletch – Deans has been making managerial and selection f**k ups all season while Cooper was out injured

    • Fletch

      what I am suggesting Nick is that appointing Deans in the first place was a managerial f..k up – we have plenty of aussie know how right here thanks

  • murph
  • Boutbloodytime

    A fit KB at 10 will hopefully ignite this backline…with some conservatism & stability at 15 from Barnes…especially if KB is a bit hyper and tries to overplay his hand early on…

    Really looking forward to seeing some scintillating backline play with Diggers n Shipperley coming in-field to run off Kurtley’s hip…I think we’ve got the wood on the Saffers at the moment & if this side can get a first win at Versfeld, there could be an interesting changing of the guard at 10 & a Wallabies side beginning to play with a bit of confidence…starts to look a bit better for November with injured players coming back into the mix as well…

    C’mon Wallabies!!

    • Blinky Bill of Bellingen

      Totally agree. I believe we need to find our new 10 and build around him. I’m hoping Kurtley does enough to win over selectors and fans with his performance in the high velt, and in the process solve some of our problems.

      Hopefully KB is talking with Mark Ella and getting some important last minute advice, because for me this could well be the start of something great for this talented Wallaby.

      • johnny-boy

        Gee Bobb you’d never guess you were a tahs supporter, forever hoping, wishing, praying, aching, yelling, screaming, pleading, something will go right. Wouldn’t it be great to have a well drilled, well organised, ruthlessly efficient killer Wallabies team that you would be confident would go out and have a go at smashing other teams. A lot of supporters seem to be stuck in this, gee I ‘hope’ things work out this time ….

        • Boutbloodytime

          One thing at a time there Johnny Boy…

          Let’s go with the things we CAN influence at the moment…massive injury count- out of our control…Dingo coaching the side this weekend- also out of our control.

          The dynamics that MAY change…a KB ready to stamp his place at 10 & two wingers who look willing & able to get in amongst it & go looking for work…and AAC at OC…everyone wants to argue about should/shouldn’t McCabe be there…irrelevant…he’s there.

          Deans has had numerous selection screw ups etc all season, now team rehab has cut down his choices to hopefully (there’s that word again) a good nucleus of a decent team, we might actually see some good Wallaby backline play.

          We can only work with what we’ve got…and at the moment we don’t have a ruthless, well drilled side, so let’s get behind THIS side…C’mon Wallabies!!

  • Grease gun

    Off topic but doesn’t Cooper’s mention of the ‘yellow jersey’ put things in perspective. Bloke doesn’t even know he’s in the green and gold. There’s more to this Kiwis playing as Aussies thing. Let him go with his bra Sonny.

    • suckerforred

      Have you seen the latest Wallaby jersey? Not much green. Just saying.

  • Grease gun

    True, however it is gold. When it’s described as yellow it’s usually by people who are ignorant of its color or denigrating the jersey or players.

    • Blinky Bill of Bellingen

      He’s probably been mixing too much with people who don’t support the Wallabies. Just a thought.

  • The ardent b’stard

    Has Beale ever started a test at 10?

    Right thing to do not touching stuff that wasn’t broken, ie the rest of the back line, but u need a speciialist 10 in Pretoria cause it a nasty environment for the flakey or uncertain, no matter how far down the list you go a specialist 10 is a must.

    • Boutbloodytime

      YAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnn…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

    • Merrow

      Yeah Jimbo cos the Qld club premiership is right up there with test level rugby.

    • Fulltime

      Unfortunately you are right … Reds best Ausie team, not S15 best team.

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