Wallabies Watch

[scaraby]

Just read this from Eddie Jones on GAGR .
"I will leave it for others to argue the merits of individual selections in the respective positions, but I hope to see selections based on the holistic filling of the required skill sets for each specialist position, rather than a continuation of an overall philosophy of selecting to execute a specific game plan, at the expense of the ability to play a wide range of game plans with balance."
I TOTALLY AGREE...is this the problem we are all having with Robbies selections. Choose your best 15 players then base a game plan around the best talent. It is driving us all nuts watching genuine "x factors" not being selected. JOC (James O'Connor), Beale, Cooper.............. one thing they all have is the ability to read the opposition and change tact if need be. You pick big backs to bash at big backs and if their big backs are better at it you lose because you have no plan B.
This is Wallaby rugby lets run em ragged or turn them around until they get so dizzy they fall over.

 

[qwerty51]

Do we really think Kepu's the second best THP? Or the second best LHP? Surely Ryan's passed him for the 3 jumper, and I'll agree with those banana benders who judge Holmes is doing better at number 1.

But once again, could the expert fatties please tell us what numbers to put on Slipper and Alexander.

Around the park Kepu has been poor, his hands are quite poor and concedes silly penalties but he is our best scrummaging TH imo.

 

[Gnostic]

Just read this from Eddie Jones on GAGR .
"I will leave it for others to argue the merits of individual selections in the respective positions, but I hope to see selections based on the holistic filling of the required skill sets for each specialist position, rather than a continuation of an overall philosophy of selecting to execute a specific game plan, at the expense of the ability to play a wide range of game plans with balance."
I TOTALLY AGREE.is this the problem we are all having with Robbies selections. Choose your best 15 players then base a game plan around the best talent. It is driving us all nuts watching genuine "x factors" not being selected. JOC (James O'Connor), Beale, Cooper...... one thing they all have is the ability to read the opposition and change tact if need be. You pick big backs to bash at big backs and if their big backs are better at it you lose because you have no plan B.
This is Wallaby rugby lets run em ragged or turn them around until they get so dizzy they fall over.

WTF - I hope Eddie isn't plagiarising me!!!

 

[Braveheart81]

It is driving us all nuts watching genuine "x factors" not being selected. JOC (James O'Connor), Beale, Cooper......

These players have been selected at all times in the last three or so years when healthy.

If Cooper isn't selected to play the Lions it will be the first time he hasn't been picked when at peak fitness.

 

[BDA]

I do think squad selection should be guided by tactics and strategy. Gatland has done just that.

The question is what is the right strategy. Unfortunately Deans seems to be more focused on finding players to suit his tactics, rather than finding tactics to suit his players. Therein lies the rub.

 

[Deputy Van Halen]

Do we really think Kepu's the second best THP? Or the second best LHP? Surely Ryan's passed him for the 3 jumper, and I'll agree with those banana benders who judge Holmes is doing better at number 1.

But once again, could the expert fatties please tell us what numbers to put on Slipper and Alexander.

Armchair expert ex-fatty reporting in.

The pecking order as I see it playing props in their best position:

LHP (scrummaging & work around the field equally important):
1. Robbo (miles ahead of the rest IMO)
2. Benny A
3. Sio
4. Holmes


THP (scrummaging first, gravy second):
1. Palmer
2. Slipper (arguments can be made he's as good in the scrum and is light years better around the field)
3. Kepu (only gets the nod above Ryan due to scrummaging, complete rubbish around the field)
4. Ryan

The caveat is some of those guys can swap sides, with varying effectiveness. Slipper and Holmes in particular can swap and be just as effective, Benny A & Kepu can swap but are nowhere near as good on the opposite sides in my opinion. People will say Benny A did OK at THP on the EOYT particularly against England, but that would have to be the weakest English scrummaging front row in a very long time.

Regardless, it's heartening to see some depth up front, it's been a long time since we've had a some quality. Even with Palmer buggering off there is plenty of depth coming through.

 

[scaraby]

WTF - I hope Eddie isn't plagiarising me!!!

a billion apologies..think the photo threw me.....love the article

 

[scaraby]

WTF - I hope Eddie isn't plagiarising me!!!

a billion apologies..think the photo threw me...love the article

there i found your photo to put in instead

 

[scaraby]

?

 

[scaraby]

didnt work..failed humour

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Props
Robbo
Alexander
Slipper
Kepu
Sio
Hookers
Moore
TPN
Locks
Horwill, Simmons, Timani, Douglas, (Pyle to back up)
6's
Higgers, Mowen
7's
Hooper, Gill
8's
Palu, Higgers
Scrumhalves
Genia, White/Phipps (i'd pick burgess)
Flyhalves
Quade Cooper, JOC (James O'Connor), Beale
Centres
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Lealiafano, McCabe, Horne (Inman smokey for backup)
Wings
Ioane, Tomane, Cummins, Folau
Fullbacks
Barnes (rest from folau, beale and JOC (James O'Connor))

31 players. that is my bet on the squad. Mogg to be unlucky, but his competition shone last week and barring another incident, there is no way beale won't get selected on that form. QC (Quade Cooper) is in, but i don't he is guaranteed to start or see the bench.

I have left out MMM cause he's been injured and will remain injured for a few more weeks so i don't really see how he could be a "must" after what is it, 6-8 weeks on the sideline and a few years out of the wallaby fold.

I think wallabies are lucky that the options for 10 for the lions (sexton and farrell) aren't much better than the wallaby options. though farrell on song is absolutely fantastic (not always on song though)

my XV would be
Robbo, Moore, Kepu, Horwill, Douglas, Higgers, Gill, Palu, Genia, JOC (James O'Connor), Ioane, Lealiafano, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Tomane, Beale

Bench of Slipper, Sio, TPN, Simmons, Hooper, White, McCabe, Folau

I'd look to bring douglas off at 60 and put Simmons/Timani on. Bring hooper on for Gill, and Folau for Tomane.

the centre combination puts another playmaker outside JOC (James O'Connor), which would allow them to quickly interchange, giving JOC (James O'Connor) more space when he needs it. Lilo and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) are rock solid defenders and you could replace one of them with McCabe and keep the midfield D strong.

Unleash hooper after half to wreak havoc, ditto folau. white will only see the field if genia gets injured. Sio also on to run amok as needed.

 

[Lindommer]

No Smith, Sir Arthur?

 

[Done that]

I've been a fan of Alexander in recent years ,but he hasn't impressed this season , & while Palmer has scrumaged reasonably well this year hasn't shown enough
overall.Robinson has been solid in the scrums also & lifted his game in general play recently.
However based on this years form , & I'm not suggesting they will be selected by Deans , the 4 top props overall at the moment are Slipper ,Daly , Sio ,& Robinson.
The Brumbies loss last weekend was a wake up call for Australian Rugby ,& hopefully will prompt a few players & one or two coaches , to re asses current
standards with a view to the upcoming internationals.
I expect Deans to rely heavily on experience over form.

 

[Scoey]

Any word on when Madness will be fit again incidentally? Lots of talk about him in peoples squads etc but just wondering how many games will he get for the Force before the squad is even announced? He must be due back soon I imagine.

 

[Braveheart81]

I've been a fan of Alexander in recent years ,but he hasn't impressed this season , & while Palmer has scrumaged reasonably well this year hasn't shown enough
overall.Robinson has been solid in the scrums also & lifted his game in general play recently.
However based on this years form , & I'm not suggesting they will be selected by Deans , the 4 top props overall at the moment are Slipper ,Daly , Sio ,& Robinson.
The Brumbies loss last weekend was a wake up call for Australian Rugby ,& hopefully will prompt a few players & one or two coaches , to re asses current
standards with a view to the upcoming internationals.
I expect Deans to rely heavily on experience over form.

Que?

Surely Daley is only just in the top 4 Reds props and that's only because there are only four of them.

 

[qwerty51]

You'd hope he meant Holmes.

 

[Done that]

Que?

Surely Daley is only just in the top 4 Reds props and that's only because there are only four of them.

I've based my opinion on what I see each week .
He may have started off the season down the pecking order , but his overall game has improved more than any other Australian prop this year.(Sio has also been a big
improver , but needs more game time & experience at the top level , though I predict a big future for him)

Daly is tough ,hard ,defends well , gets around the field well in general play , takes no crap from the opposition ,good hands & most importantly ,no one is getting over the top of him at contact.
I understand how he may be unnoticed by many , based on his previous years performances & expectations , but take a good look at him in the upcoming games.

 

[qwerty51]

I think you're getting Holmes and Daly mixed up. Daly has barely played all year.

 

[BDA]

So it seems the selection picture is becoming a bit clearer at this stage of the season (at least according to the posters on this site).

I think most of us can now agree that:-

1) Palmer will not be the starting TH and will be merely vying for a spot in the 31.
2) Barnes will probably make the squad, possibly at Mogg's expense
3) Lilo, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), MCabe and Taps will be the centres in the squad
4) Horwill, Simo, Douglas, Timani will be the locks
5) Beale will be in the starting 15
6) Folau will be in the starting 15
7) Fotu will not be in the squad
8) Dennis is likely to miss the squad
9) 5/8 will be either O'Connor or Cooper

 

[BDA]

I suspect Cooper will be in the squad but not in the 23 for the first test. This creates the question/dilemma (which Deans has surely identified already) as to how long Quade will accept sitting on the sidelines before he becomes agitated.