Bledisloe #2 - AUS v NZL, Eden Park, Auckland, August 15th

[Tangawizi]

Quade currently on 54 caps needs to play this match & plus the next 5 to hit 60 caps by the end of the RWC pool games.

Wonder if that entered into Cheika's thinking at all.

QC (Quade Cooper) needs to play well regardless if we're to have any chance. Hopefully the opening kickoff goes 10m.


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[Fireworks]

All the talk about QC (Quade Cooper) not being able to handle the pressure of a hostile NZ crowd. One of the best games I've seen Quade play was vs ABs in Dunedin 2013 (or best game from any player in recent times vs NZ in NZ for that matter). When he brings his A game he is on another level and to not give him a chance would defy logic.

 

[Tex]

Just a consummate performance.

 

[boyo]

When Crockett comes on, the Wobs are almost defiantly definately definitely guaranteed several penalties.

 

[Gillys_ghost]

i reckon thats our best backline, but i don't understand the tinkering with the pack, they were all pretty good last week. If we are going to win back the Bledisloe then Palu and Skelton need to have a huge 1st half, like the best 40 mins of their international careers, the bring back the Pooper and give Douglas his shot. definitley think this could be a resounding success of a terrible failure. I'm excited.

 

[emuarse]

That is a big bench. Looks like Giteau impressed filling in at 9 last week.

I hear the tactic is that White is deliberately going for a yellow card 10 minutes into the second half, to give Giteau time at that position, and then to have a refreshed White come back on for the remainder of the game

 

[Groucho]

Just a consummate performance.

Good-Cooper plus fast-Genia. We could do with both of those.

 

[Garry Owens]

Big fan of the Quade selection

This is a big ballsy decision by Cheika and if it pays off in performance ( not necessarily victory ) then Quade will have conquered some demons and you'll have a guy , who I believe , is the right guy to be your starting 10 for the World Cup.

Cheika, to me , seems he is prepared to risk the Bledisloe Cup now for the bigger goal of the World Cup

Taking risk , calculated risk , is what its all about

Quade, To'omua and TK is our best midfield , IF , they're at their best

I'm loving me some Cheks

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Please don't get overly cross at me but first impression on seeing Aus team was "forfeit". Hedging their bets. Got the win last week so file that away for future, now see if plan B works. But wft its for the Bledisloe, why not stick with the winning formula and attempt to compound NZ's misery? Maybe because if they lose with same gameplan then solution to plan will have been found.

QUADE.

As for NZ, with Slade on bench I would now think Sopoaga for RWC is fucked.

Dagg i would think is going. If B.Smith goes down injured would they trust Piutau/NMS at 15 in a big game? Piutau yes but definitely not NMS. I'd still reckon Slade only has to not crack up in his 20 mins and he'll be on the plane ahead of both Piutau/NMS. which would suck. fuck this safety first bullshit.

I would assume Vito is there for his pace vs the Pooper.... if so Cheika may have outfoxed Hansen by shelving the Pooper - knowing it works - and choosing Palu instead. For munt. Curious though as i thought Messam was a cert to go to world cup..... at expense of Vito.

 

[qwerty51]

Quade currently on 54 caps needs to play this match & plus the next 5 to hit 60 caps by the end of the RWC pool games.

scrum.com has Cooper on 55 and Kepu/Palu on 54.

After this match Horwill will be reach 60. Genia could very possibly be stranded on 59. He could play against USA without being in the RWC squad too.

It's possible they're wrong given this is Pocock's 50th and it says he's on 48.

 

[qwerty51]

As for NZ, with Slade on bench I would now think Sopoaga for RWC is fucked.

Dagg i would think is going. If B.Smith goes down injured would they trust Piutau/NMS at 15 in a big game? Piutau yes but definitely not NMS. I'd still reckon Slade only has to not crack up in his 20 mins and he'll be on the plane ahead of both Piutau/NMS. which would suck. fuck this safety first bullshit.

I would assume Vito is there for his pace vs the Pooper.. if so Cheika may have outfoxed Hansen by shelving the Pooper - knowing it works - and choosing Palu instead. For munt. Curious though as i thought Messam was a cert to go to world cup... at expense of Vito.

I've got Vito, Messam, NMS, Sopoaga, Slade, Piutau all making the squad and Dagg missing out. Seems balanced too.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

While on the subject of Test Caps, this will be Bam Bam Popock's 50th test when he comes on to finish the game and help lift the Bledisloe Cup.

I like the way Gagger has listed the squad in the front page scoop with the bench renamed as Finishers.

If we are going to take that step though, we really need to go the Full Monty and name the groups as Players (1-8), Onlookers (9-15) and Finishers (16-23).

 

[the sabanator]

Wonder if Quade will have a Goodes-whinge when the crowd starts booing him unnecessarily & incessantly

 

[Jagman]

Kepu has 55 caps, Palu has 54, Horwill has 61 (go to Reds website it says 58 but it's not updated for this year), Genia has 59, Cooper has 55. That's a lot of leaving players becoming eligible.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Fark if it was Dingo who posted this team sheet he'd be slated left, right and centre.

The forum would've exploded, along with Gnostic

 

[alex5545]

From a Kiwi point of view as soon as I saw the Wallaby Team selection I thought game over, Cheika is waving a white flag and the Wallabies are going to get absolutely slaughtered now by an angry All Black pack. If the same team from last week was selected then I would be a bit worried but not now lol

First name that screams out Quade Cooper lol then Giteau and Pocock on the bench 2 key players from last week taken out for most of the game, it will be too late by the time they make the field in the last 20. To'omua at 12 hardly threatening opposite Nonu, a lose trio from last year that got beat up and Skelton is hardly threatening. Only positives for the Wallabies selection is a front row that stood up in scrum time (don't think that will be the case this week anyhow), strong back 3, the right halfback is starting this time and a strong bench (but it will be too late by that point).

 

[Dan54]

To be quite honest, I can understand why Cheika has made changes, he is a good enough coach to know if you don't keep changing things opposition will counter your play. I can understand the QC (Quade Cooper) selection, you have to see how he will go, and if the crowd gives him heaps I would assume that is what Cheika would be haapy with, it is all about trying players in a cauldron, much like Shag giving Sopoaga a test at Ellis Park etc.

as an aside just finished watching Breakdown, the panel with Jeff Wilson was George Gregan and Justin Marshall, in my opinion the most enjoyable rugby show I have seen in a long time. And Gregan was doing a 9 skills thing with marshall, much like the Richie one where he talked us through breakdowns and how he approaches them, well Gregan's HB one was just as good, just discussing what he looked for and how he reacted etc going into pick up ball at back of ruck etc, brilliant viewing I thought, a rugby show with 3 ex rugby players discussing game!!

 

[Groucho]

From a Kiwi point of view as soon as I saw the Wallaby Team selection I thought game over, Cheika is waving a white flag and the Wallabies are going to get absolutely slaughtered now by an angry All Black pack. If the same team from last week was selected then I would be a bit worried but not now lol

First name that screams out Quade Cooper lol then Giteau and Pocock on the bench 2 key players from last week taken out for most of the game, it will be too late by the time they make the field in the last 20. To'omua at 12 hardly threatening opposite Nonu, a lose trio from last year that got beat up and Skelton is hardly threatening. Only positives for the Wallabies selection is a front row that stood up in scrum time (don't think that will be the case this week anyhow), strong back 3, the right halfback is starting this time and a strong bench (but it will be too late by that point).

I'm of the opposite view. With the exception of Simmons and Pocock it's probably our strongest pack, and it's probably also our most potent attacking backline. Pocock will be on in good time to play in tandem with Hooper. This is a development, not an experiment.

 

[qwerty51]

it will be too late by the time they make the field in the last 20.

Yeah, think you've got that wrong. I expect Pocock on for Palu straight after HT. Giteau might not come on at all, he's the 9 reserve.

 

[Dan54]

Gotta say, the one big surprise is Gits as back up 9, by geez you wouldn't want White to get injured!!