Wales v Australia

[Joe Blow]

I thought Nic White's service was noticeably quicker and minus the two side/back steps before giving the ball. Genia probably just needs time to get his confidence and decision making back in line. Genia is the most dangerous in attack, best in defense and the best under the high ball when sweeping behind the play. In form he is straight into the 23. Someone please tell him to lose the steps!!!
I would say that White should be on the bench this week.
Also thought To'omua was immense and should get the start against Wales.
Quade on the bench to cover 10/12/15.

 

[Braveheart81]

After watching the evolution of Nick Phipps this year, it seems pretty clear that Cheika wants his halfback to recycle the ball as quickly as possible and be the catalyst for the team to play an uptempo game.

The way White played when he came on which involved no kicking and a noticeable attempt to speed things up seems to further validate that.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Watching the Baa Baa game, when White came on, he seemed very average to me. His passing to Foley was often misdirected, and for whatever reason, he seemed to lack rhythm.

I suggest you have another look and especially concentrate on Nic's involvements in the four phases leading up to Rob Horne's try. His management of play in those phases directly led to the overlap for Horne on the left flank.

The rest of his game was very good as well. Made some telling covering tackles as well as some dominant front on tackles of bigger blokes. Cleaned up some kicks through by the Baa Baas as well. His speed to the rucks was mostly very good. On the whole, he had a much better game than Will did and I believe Cheika will have him on the bench for Wales if indeed this game was a guide to choosing between Will and Nic.

 

[Viking]

Agree with all the above comments. White certainly played the more up-tempo game. But Genia did show glimpses of his old self and that is hard too ignore. I would still be tempted to have Genia on the bench over White.

 

[cornetto]

I suggest you have another look and especially concentrate on Nic's involvements in the four phases leading up to Rob Horne's try...

Cheika has hopefully\probably fixed White already. Ditch the box kick and pass in front of the man, not to him. Any decent coach should have drilled those 2 traits out of him a while back. The only things holding him back from being a much much better player. I though he went alright when he came on.

 

[Scrubber2050]

White has, in the past, played fucking Jakeball. he has been severly flogged for it.

Chek has obviously banned the bax kick - useless play anyway only about 1 in 10 ever work

White will now play Chekball - quick passing and no box kicks.

It is refreshing that we now have 2 world class props. The backups are the problem.

McMahon, hopefully gets his first cap - boy the kid was good.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I am more than a little perplexed by some posters here wanting certain players to have more game time before they are included in the test day squad. There are no games other than the remaining four test matches on tour. Just when would any of the fringe players get an opportunity for game time if not included in a test 23. Is the suggestion perhaps that the tests against France and Ireland are of lesser standard and can be used for blooding those players?

The Baa Baas game was the only opportunity for any fringe players to get game time, and that is now a lost opportunity for the likes of Luke Jones and Faulkner. McMahon got his chance and took it with both hands. He probably won't get another chance if he is overlooked now for the Wales game day 23. Similarly, Henry Speight had one chance only to show what he's got. It looks like he is over the hammy injury and is regaining some fitness after being out of the game for quite a while. He may have to be taken a bit on trust to be selected for Wales but when else will he get a chance to show his wares. Same really for Will and Quade. This was the only opportunity for game time unless they they are included more on reputation and history rather than current form.

Unfortunately, with the structure of EOYTs these days, there is very little opportunity for fringe players or those returning after injuries to press their claims for selection. Maybe we'll see a lot more shuffling of players on the bench from test to test, but I think the starting 15 will be very consistent for the four tests to come.

 

[Joe Blow]

There will be inevitable injuries and form slumps. 4 tests in 4 weeks plus training gives ample opportunity for players to jump up the pecking order.

 

[Braveheart81]

Similarly, Henry Speight had one chance only to show what he's got. It looks like he is over the hammy injury and is regaining some fitness after being out of the game for quite a while. He may have to be taken a bit on trust to be selected for Wales but when else will he get a chance to show his wares. Same really for Will and Quade. This was the only opportunity for game time unless they they are included more on reputation and history rather than current form.

Do you select Speight as your starting winger now based on his past form or do you go on the fact that Horne has been in either the starting XV or matchday 23 for a while now and playing well and had a better game against the Barbarians?

I think Speight needed to have a blinder to go straight into the starting XV and it didn't happen.

 

[Tip]

How can people be serious on Higgers? He does NOTHING on defence. He had one tackle in 20 minutes against the Baabaas. But what about his attack I hear you say- Sean McMahon did more in 60 minutes than Higgers has in the last three games I have seen him play.

I know this might sound like I am a closet Rebels fan but McMahon or Luke Jones needs to start at 6 and the other one needs to be the bench backrower.

Hey dude, just so you know. You are completely wrong about Higgers. Like, completely wrong? I mean, nothing you have written above is correct. Did you watch the game?

I'm 15 minutes through the Barbarians game and have been player-camming him the whole time. And he has made 3 tackles, including 2 tackles in a row in the 8th minute. He has been EXTREMELY active around the park and is regularly one of the first persons set in the defensive line. He also knocked the ball down to prevent a 5 v 2 overlap from eventuating. 1 Minute later he sticks his head in a maul and holds the ball up over the line. That maul looked for certain to be a try.

Let me spell it out for you, because you obviously can't count past 1.

Higgers is our biggest, quickest and most athletic forward. Unfortunately, Rugby players are smart and try and avoid running directly into the biggest c**t on the field. Not surprising that he doesn't make as many tackles as the smallest men on the park regularly do (Hodgeson, Hooper).

So please. Stop bullshitting evidence to suit your agenda. You're just as bad as the bloke claiming White kicked it too much.

Higgers played well in his 20 minutes on the field. That is all.

/Rant.

 

[TheBigDog]

I agree with Higgers dad's post above. He has been improving lately, getting back some of the 2011/2012 form.

 

[Joe Blow]

Hey dude, just so you know. You are completely wrong about Higgers. Like, completely wrong? I mean, nothing you have written above is correct. Did you watch the game?

I'm 15 minutes through the Barbarians game and have been player-camming him the whole time. And he has made 3 tackles, including 2 tackles in a row in the 8th minute. He has been EXTREMELY active around the park and is regularly one of the first persons set in the defensive line. He also knocked the ball down to prevent a 5 v 2 overlap from eventuating. 1 Minute later he sticks his head in a maul and holds the ball up over the line. That maul looked for certain to be a try.

Let me spell it out for you, because you obviously can't count past 1.

Higgers is our biggest, quickest and most athletic forward. Unfortunately, Rugby players are smart and try and avoid running directly into the biggest c**t on the field. Not surprising that he doesn't make as many tackles as the smallest men on the park regularly do (Hodgeson, Hooper).

So please. Stop bullshitting evidence to suit your agenda. You're just as bad as the bloke claiming White kicked it too much.

Higgers played well in his 20 minutes on the field. That is all.

/Rant.

You go Uncle!!

 

[boyo]

Speak England you bastard

Combine harvester, cider, nowt, apples and pears, all right guvnor?

 

[Viking]

Do you select Speight as your starting winger now based on his past form or do you go on the fact that Horne has been in either the starting XV or matchday 23 for a while now and playing well and had a better game against the Barbarians?

I think Speight needed to have a blinder to go straight into the starting XV and it didn't happen.

Bit harsh on Speight I think. I think he did enough to earn a spot. He was strong into contact and I think he goes looking for work a lot more then Horne - who I still don't think is a natural winger. So I disagree he needed to have a blinder - he just needed to prove his fitness.

 

[Braveheart81]

Why is it harsh on Speight?

Why should he leapfrog players in better form just because he is a natural winger?

His defensive positioning was also the biggest downside to his game.

We'll see when the team is announced later in the week but on that performance it's a tough call to have him leapfrog Horne or Tomane.

I completely agree that Speight would have played a bunch of tests over the last two or three years if he'd been eligible but I don't see why he needs to be rushed into the starting XV now if his form isn't better than the player(s) you'd be dropping to select him.

 

[Tip]

I personally believe you pick the best Australian Winger for the past 3 years now that he's proven his fitness

 

[Viking]

Why is it harsh on Speight?

Why should he leapfrog players in better form just because he is a natural winger?

His defensive positioning was also the biggest downside to his game.

We'll see when the team is announced later in the week but on that performance it's a tough call to have him leapfrog Horne or Tomane.

I completely agree that Speight would have played a bunch of tests over the last two or three years if he'd been eligible but I don't see why he needs to be rushed into the starting XV now if his form isn't better than the player(s) you'd be dropping to select him.

@Tip said it best. You pick the best Australian winger for the past 3 years now that he's proven his fitness.

Horne had a decent game against the Baa Baa's, he also had some shockers in the TRC. So his form isn't good enough to ignore. Same with Tomane who has had mixed efforts. So he isn't exactly "leapfrogging" a player in outstanding form.

I think if you watch the game again his defensive reads weren't that poor, What is he suppose to do when their is a 3 on 1 overlap and he has Ben Alexander next to him? I suppose we should drop Falou too for his poor defence?

Speight will start, and should start.

 

[cyclopath]

Why is it harsh on Speight?

Why should he leapfrog players in better form just because he is a natural winger?

His defensive positioning was also the biggest downside to his game.

We'll see when the team is announced later in the week but on that performance it's a tough call to have him leapfrog Horne or Tomane.

I completely agree that Speight would have played a bunch of tests over the last two or three years if he'd been eligible but I don't see why he needs to be rushed into the starting XV now if his form isn't better than the player(s) you'd be dropping to select him.

Fair point.
But, Speight has showed stuff in attack that few other wingers have showed in Aus in recent years. And he's just a winger. Horne is doing very well on the wing, but offers a good sub role, so I think I would start Speight, and have Horne as number 23. I think Tomane misses out. Bit tough on Horne as he has done all that is asked of him, but there you go.
Speight has been marked down a little for defence, but as Cheika stated, they are revamping the defensive structures, and he spent more time defending than attacking, and it might take them all some time to get it right.

 

[Tomikin]

Do you select Speight as your starting winger now based on his past form or do you go on the fact that Horne has been in either the starting XV or matchday 23 for a while now and playing well and had a better game against the Barbarians?

I think Speight needed to have a blinder to go straight into the starting XV and it didn't happen.

I didn't think Speight was that bad, but I think he is shaking off the Rust, and Horne played well too.

I believe he can be one of the most devastating wingers in the world so do you play him off the bench or start him with Horne on the bench as cover as he covers more positions. Probably a little tough on Horne but it's the way of professional sports.

 

[Braveheart81]

I didn't think Speight was that bad, but I think he is shaking off the Rust, and Horne played well too.

I believe he can be one of the most devastating wingers in the world so do you play him off the bench or start him with Horne on the bench as cover as he covers more positions. Probably a little tough on Horne but it's the way of professional sports.

I don't think Speight was bad at all. That's not what I've said.

I'm just less convinced that getting through the game was all he had to do to get a starting wing spot next week.

With the recent test wingers, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Tomane both rested and Horne having a strong game it's by no means a straight forward decision in my mind.

There's already a logjam for bench spots with Cooper and Leali'ifano likely battling for one bench spot.

Who knows, Cheika could stick with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and Tomane on the wings, play both Cooper and Leali'ifano on the bench and Horne and Speight could both miss the 23 altogether. I don't think that's likely but it isn't out of the realms of possibility.