Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[Ash]

I think it's pretty well accepted that McCabe is a limited player, but he does what he does pretty well. I thought he looked good against the Rebels, doing what he does best (tackling and getting the team on the front foot).

Cummins looked great on his return from injury a few weeks back.

Regarding Cummins, yes he did, then didn't he miss the next game though injury?

McCabe did well in what he did against the Rebels, but the weakened Rebels and Lions will be very, very different propositions. Recall McCabe vs Ireland in the 2011 World Cup. I have no problem with what McCabe does well, it is those extra things he needs to do that worry me. If he provides a one-dimensional threat, he is easily marked. (And to be fair McCabe has shown he can do them - his distribution in 2011 was not bad for the Brumbies, but that has not been on show in 2013.)

If I was the Lions, I would be thinking seriously about the following tactics:
- cut down time and space on Genia (easier said than done, but some teams have contained him in Wallaby colours).
- put pressure on the fullback (if Beale or Barnes), paritcularly with high balls, don't kick to Folau if he's playing. I'd focus on Barnes because I'd have a question about his match fitness, and Beale because I'd have a question about his form and headspace. If either is at fullback for the Wallabies, I'd want them working hard from time dot.
- have a quick up and in defence on JOC (James O'Connor), that drifts when JOC (James O'Connor) drifts off the ball. JOC (James O'Connor)'s play at 10 usually consists of two things: short passing (both outside and inside), and following the ball to get the second touch. The first is easily checked, but for the second defenders must follow JOC (James O'Connor) and work hard to stop the overlap from the wrap.


For the Wallabies, what they can take from the Reds game is that the kick chase needs to be good for all kicks. Some of those kicks that Bowe and North ran back were well placed kicks, but they managed to run across field and field holes all too easily in the defensive line. With a better kick chase, those breaks should not happen. The Wallabies should also look to what the Reds did right in their kick chase: got their loosies and backs there quickly in numbers and blew the defenders off the ball.

Another thing the Wallabies can take is to play a physical game at the breakdown. In that department I thought the Reds were better than the Lions, particularly some counter rucks (as mentioned the kick chase).

Cut down the penalties in their own half. The Lions kickers have not missed a kick in Australia yet. This one is obvious.

Finally, get the lineout right. The Lions will likely attack their throws. In a way the loss of Timani may be useful as the Wallabies will field an extra jumper than they otherwise likely would've.

 

[Dan54]

[quote="qwerty51, post: .

Benn Robinson is better than Vunipola. Palu is better than Heaslip or at least equal. James Horwill better than one of their locks. Hooper better than Tipuric or Warburton (Halfpenny).[/quote]
Gwety, I think you underestimate Heaslip, or perhaps overate Palu. I am still waiting to be convinced on Hooper over Tipuric, Warburton or OBrien (but could well be in a couple of weeks), though I think you could make arguments for either way for others.
As for the comments from a couple of people that Lions didn't look convincing against Reds, while I agree ,do not let how a touring team plays against lesser teams make you think they won't play well in tests!!! Always remember Reds beating 1972 Lions on their way to NZ, we all laughed said they may win a couple of provincial games and then saw arguably one of best touring teams I have ever seen, and they certainly changed how the game was played!!!

 

[jollyswagman]

As far as I care the moment a coach decides not to build a side around Cooper's particular attributes, approach and covering for his weaknesses, then it becomes near impossible for him to be picked because he just doesn't slot into another structure.

Not quite sure why you quoted my question FP???? How did your response have anything to do with my question? My earlier post was a genuine question. Yes, I do recall Horan being critical of QC (Quade Cooper)'s performance last weekend but he said on Sunday he would still have him in his side. I am not trying to stir the QC (Quade Cooper) argument and I felt my question was a valid one deserving of a better response than the general sentiment of "he's not in the squad so get over it!"

 

[Phil]

Not quite sure why you quoted my question FP???? How did your response have anything to do with my question? My earlier post was a genuine question. Yes, I do recall Horan being critical of QC (Quade Cooper)'s performance last weekend but he said on Sunday he would still have him in his side. I am not trying to stir the QC (Quade Cooper) argument and I felt my question was a valid one deserving of a better response than the general sentiment of "he's not in the squad so get over it!"

Actually,Horan also wrote when the squad was first picked,why he thought he was left out and what his weaknesses were.So,although he would probably have selected him,you have a fairly knowledgeable "expert"understanding the decision.
I think maybe we should all understand the decision has been made, so let's move on and support the team.

 

[RoffsChoice]

I think it's pretty well accepted that McCabe is a limited player, but he does what he does pretty well. I thought he looked good against the Rebels, doing what he does best (tackling and getting the team on the front foot).

That's why McCabe is so good at the end of the line, where he was for most of the Brumbies game. Playing him on the wing is just better than playing him at 12.

 

[I like to watch]

Roff, I am a big fan of McCabe generally.However there are better options than him at OC.wing & FB, IMO.
I reckon you either pick him at 12, or on the bench.
He can cover the back line bar the halves, so he is valuable to have in the match day squad,where ever you decide he should play. .

 

[Dai bando]

Wow you really think we only better them at 9 and 2?? I feel as I know quite a bit about the NH players and I do respect them but I have us winning a h2h favourably.

Benn Robinson is better than Vunipola. Palu is better than Heaslip or at least equal. James Horwill better than one of their locks. Hooper better than Tipuric or Warburton and Mowen even though he hasn't even got a cap is up there with Croft (wouldn't compare to O'Brien - too different). Our back 3 is more dangerous. JOC (James O'Connor) is on par with Sexton if you take out goal kicking (Halfpenny).

Interesting, so we have no chance then, Your back three better than Bowe, 1/2penny, North, What makes you think Heaslip or Vunipola will even make the test side, as for croft cant see him even making the bench, I would say there is only 5/6 players at this point who have nailed their test spot, still much to do and look at.
Tell me if, I say if the lions were to win, would that be Deans fault?

 

[Dai bando]

2 and 9 are the positions where there's a bit of a gap. Some are othres are marginally in our favour. I admit that I probably incorrectly left out 7.

Regarding JOC (James O'Connor), as in individual player he's better than Sexton, as a 10, no, there's zero evidence of that in my opinion. I'd take Sexton over JOC (James O'Connor) at 10, and have JOC (James O'Connor) elsewhere. As a unit, I'm not sure who will be better. In my book, Sexton is a better well rounded 10, but Phillips isn't exactly a traditional 9. Genia is a more traditional 9, and JOC (James O'Connor) does not yet have the vision for a more traditional 10 in my opinion.

Benn Robinson all things being equal is better than Vunipola. However, Vunipola has been great recently and Benn Robinson is not quite at his peak, but he's nearing it. I'd not have much between them right now. Overall, as a unit, I reckon our front row will have the edge around the field, thanks to Jones, and theirs may have the edge in the scrum, thanks to Jones.

Horwill, yeah, he will likely be better than one of their locks. As a combination, though, I'd have the Lions locks above ours. A lot will depend on POC's form. Gray was great against the Reds, I thought, and Parling was better than I expected. If Douglas and Horwill show up, though, we may go well here, although the Lions locks will likely be better in the lineout. I'd guess that the starting Lions will be POC and Gray.

Hooper / Gill, agree I probably missed that one. As a unit, though, I'd say there's not much between backrows, depending on what the Lions pick. I reckon the Lions could pick a backrow unit marginally better (SOB, Tipuric, Heaslip) to worse (Lydiate, Warburton, Faletau). I have no idea what Deans will do with our backrow, if he reverts to Dennis, Hooper, Palu I'd give the edge to the Lions.

Disagree on our back three being more dangerous. A lot will actually depend on what our back three are.

Halfpenny will be more dangerous running than Barnes, and I don't think Barnes is fully match fit. Barnes is a better organiser and defender than Halfpenny though. Beale will be more dangerous running but there's not much evidence of his form other than that Rebels game a few weeks back where he wasn't pressured too much, and the Randwick game where he was just solid. I worry what will happen to Beale if he's put under a lot of constant pressure (I'm remembering his return from injury against the ABs).

I reckon our fullback will either be Beale or Barnes, with the other on the bench. Fullback is a huge wildcard for us, because Barnes/Beale could either be great, poor, or anywhere in between. We won't know until the first test is well underway.

I think that North and Bowe would've been a better wing combination than ours, but Bowe is out for at least the first test. With Ioane out, our likely wing options are Folau, Tomane and Cummins. I really rate Folau (my one criticism is his decision making of run vs kick), but am not sure of him on the wing. He wasn't as good there for the Tahs as at fullback - although I reckon he would be with more game time. Cummins and Tomane are great players, but they aren't in the league of North or Bowe. I reckon our wings for the first test will be two of Cummins, Tomane and Folau, with the other missing out on the 23. For the second test, Ioane will likely be back and starting.

Whatever the Lions do to deal with the loss of Bowe will be a big loss.

Where the Lions definitely have it over us is the centres. Jamie Roberts is better than McCabe or Horne, and a fit BOD would likely be more than a match for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

What could be telling is that our guys will go into the first test not having played in three weeks.

Avery informative post, I will point out however the lions have played every squad member, they have not yet picked the starting 15 and might not until the first test, so I think there we might be on an equal footing going into the first test, The lions side against the reds were a completely different team, with very little cohesion, considering that I thought they did quite well.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Roff, I am a big fan of McCabe generally.However there are better options than him at OC.wing & FB, IMO.
I reckon you either pick him at 12, or on the bench.
He can cover the back line bar the halves, so he is valuable to have in the match day squad,where ever you decide he should play. .

I'm of the mind that there are four FBs nine wingers, two OCs and three ICs that should be in Wallabies Gold ahead of McCabe when it comes to starting. But when it comes to closing out the game, he's one of the best bench options.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I guess that depends on who plays in the centres. BOD is in the twilight of his career whereas AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is probably at the peak of his career and is in great form. I think these two should be fairly evenly matched. I think Lilo could easily get the better of Jamie Roberts, but it remains to be seen whether Deans will go down that route.

BOD had an excellent 6Ns and domestic season and has looked the goods in the tour games to date. He is a class player that has shown to be able to still turn a test match.

I've always liked AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as a centre/FB and he really looks refreshed as a player this year at the Tahs, but from what I've seen of each player over the last 3-6 months, I'd take BOD every day.

There are question marks over Roberts given injury concerns and now Tuilagi (who I'd start with BOD, but know Gats will go for the Welshman).

 

[jollyswagman]

Actually,Horan also wrote when the squad was first picked,why he thought he was left out and what his weaknesses were.So,although he would probably have selected him,you have a fairly knowledgeable "expert"understanding the decision.
I think maybe we should all understand the decision has been made, so let's move on and support the team.

Yes, Horan did write why he thought RD omitted QC (Quade Cooper) but that is not to say that he agreed with RD's decision to do so. He has repeated on several occasions since that he does not agree with the decision. We all have heard the reasoning behind Deans call and "understand" that reasoning......again, that does not mean we "agree" with the call. AKA, I understand you're point of view but I don't agree with it."

Again, please don't be so patronizing as to suggest any of us that are critical of this call, and all the other bamboozling selections, need to "move on and get behind the team." I am behind the team 100% and will be screaming at them from the other side of the planet at 3.00am in the morning come game night. At the end of the day, we have heard a 1000 opinions from every ex-player / coach / journo / tv host that has had the chance to comment on the QC (Quade Cooper) selection issue and I have not heard a single one of them agree with the decision to leave him out of the squad - I was curios to know if anyone else had heard otherwise. John Eales even thought it was a poor call for christ sake and he is on the ARU board. So if anyone can name a single bloody "expert" who has stood up and said they AGREE with the decision to omit QC (Quade Cooper), I would love to know.

 

[Braveheart81]

When has a commentator ever said that it was the right decision to leave someone out of a team or squad?

The reality is that the commentator has the benefit of not having to name who they would have left out instead.

Secondly, for the commentators/former players getting their bit of airtime in the press, you get quoted by disagreeing with the unpopular coach, not for agreeing with him.

 

[jollyswagman]

When has a commentator ever said that it was the right decision to leave someone out of a team or squad?

The reality is that the commentator has the benefit of not having to name who they would have left out instead.

Secondly, for the commentators/former players getting their bit of airtime in the press, you get quoted by disagreeing with the unpopular coach, not for agreeing with him.

By commentator I was referring to a wider group of people such as Kearns, Cannon, Horan, Sharpe and the rest of the Fox group. All of which have shared their opinion on who they thought should be in the squad. In doing so they have in fact let us know who would have been left out. To think that the only opinion that is going to get published is one that is in agreement with an unpopular coach is absurd.

There will be life after Robbie Deans is gone and I believe that the new coach, be it McKenzie, White or whoever will have a very different approach to selection. If QC (Quade Cooper) is still playing rugby then I think we will all have to get used to the highs and lows of supporting a Wallaby team that he is a big part of. Personally I would prefer he keep playing the way he does. The unpredictable crazy crap that he has the balls to even attempt to pull off is what makes the games he plays so bloody entertaining.

To think that Genia will be anywhere near his best in this series without QC (Quade Cooper) behind him - now that is ABSURD!

 

[gel]

I think spiro said that he thought cooper had not done enough to be selected. But maybe that doesn't exactly mean the same thing as agreeing with the decision, it might not even have been spiro, but one of the other journos. It is also debatable that he is an expert

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Tomane out with a toe injury, Morahan in.

Well deserved after a cracking game on Saturday night.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Tomane out with a toe injury, Morahan in.

Well deserved after a cracking game on Saturday night.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

 

[vidiot]

Tomane cannot take a trick. Disappointing - dreadfully unlucky last year also.

Morahan was brilliant on Saturday and as Link said has always seemed capable of those moments, but it's interesting how 40 mins at the right time of the year lands you in the squad (and maybe the time he has spent around the squad in the past).

Good luck to him.

 

[Gnostic]

Referring to my blog piece a few weeks back about the advantages of playing two full backs I could see a place for Mogg over Morahan. He has played well in a couple of games but Mogg was sensational earlier in the season even if his form has dipped a bit he isn't in poor form. However as usual Morahan's "time" with the squad sees him picked.

I can feel injuries being again used to excuse Deans if the results don't go as planned or they struggle and win in dire fashion.

 

[lewisr]

Secondly, for the commentators/former players getting their bit of airtime in the press, you get quoted by disagreeing with the unpopular coach, not for agreeing with him.

You really think the likes of George Gregan, John Eales and The captain and vice captain of the wallabies just want air time? Eales is on the board for god's sake. You can't just disregard the opinions of our Wallaby legends and past coaches because they want some 'popularity'.

jollyswagman I for one think you make a good point. But it is one that just adds to the pro quade argument that we have been having since the dawn of time. Some will never be convinced and we have to respect that opinion. I'll personally stick with the opinion of legends and experts that have won world cups and captained the wallabies.

 

[Ruggo]

Moz just got very lucky. He had a blinder last Saturday but his form all year has been nothing flash.