2013 EOYT

[Zander]

Messy stuff, might not see him until 2015 then.

 

[RoffsChoice]

If he was still an Australian resident, just overseas temporarily, should that not be considered continuous?

 

[Richo]

While I can't say this squad fills me with joy, most of the changes that people are discussing would largely be tinkering around the edges. Phipps is the third-choice 9 and might not even play in any of the tests, so even if you reckon he sucks I don't understand being mad about the selection.

I'm also not surprised that there isn't a lot of new blood -- if we'd done well in the RC maybe, but with such a torrid performance the team needs to get used to winning.

What worries me the most is that this squad, as @Ash points out, suggests that the front row will go unchanged. Our scrum has been rubbish for most of the last 640 minutes of game time -- there were maybe 60 mins in there, being generous, where it stood up to the opposition. I suspect that we'll see 1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Alexander again, with Nau, Robinson and Kepu off the bench. Sadly, that might well mean more scrumfuckery and more cards.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Moore and Hooper need big rests. I don't think Horwill does, he's missed enough footy.

Hooper played every Test last year and once Pocock was gone played every minute too. This year he's played every minute of every game bar the Force one and every minute of every Test except the 3rd B&I Lions Test.

Gill & Fainga'a should start against Italy, Ireland and Scotland.

Less 10 minutes of Saffer test .

 

[Tomikin]

While I can't say this squad fills me with joy, most of the changes that people are discussing would largely be tinkering around the edges. Phipps is the third-choice 9 and might not even play in any of the tests, so even if you reckon he sucks I don't understand being mad about the selection.

I'm also not surprised that there isn't a lot of new blood -- if we'd done well in the RC maybe, but with such a torrid performance the team needs to get used to winning.

What worries me the most is that this squad, as @Ash points out, suggests that the front row will go unchanged. Our scrum has been rubbish for most of the last 640 minutes of game time -- there were maybe 60 mins in there, being generous, where it stood up to the opposition. I suspect that we'll see 1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Alexander again, with Nau, Robinson and Kepu off the bench. Sadly, that might well mean more scrumfuckery and more cards.

Honest QUestion, who else do you pick, Sio ? Yeah Maybe but they took Ryan as tight head cover, to try him out. None of the Rebels front row has some engine.. cowan over in the west well he gets dusted by the above guys...

I think its we are picking the best of a bad bunch and working hard with them. Get patricio noriega in as a consultant is my guess I would like to see this tight 5 at some stage

1.Robinson 2.Moore 3. Slipper
4 Fardy 5 Horwill

 

[Richo]

Yes, I'd take Sio. This squad suggests that Slipper and the Cat are being considered LHPs, so we likely won't see the lineup you're proposing.

 

[Tomikin]

Yes, I'd take Sio. This squad suggests that Slipper and the Cat are being considered LHPs, so we likely won't see the lineup you're proposing.

Good point I would taken the lot of em drop dennis or harris .. You know wouldnt mind seeing benny Alexander having a crack at LH I think thats were his played his best..

 

[Scrubber2050]

pretty obvious that Slipper and Robbo are the LHP and Alexander and Kepu are THP options.

Would like to see Sio get another chance - just hope he takes the opportunity this time.

 

[Hawko]

pretty obvious that Slipper and Robbo are the LHP and Alexander and Kepu are THP options.

Would like to see Sio get another chance - just hope he takes the opportunity this time.

Maybe the thinking is that Sio needs a full preseason in the gym and then a full Super season to help him take the next step up; as a front rower he will not peak till he's 25-27 and under Fisher he's in a good place. I very much doubt that he's not prominent in Link's long term plans.

 

[gel]

09th ITA G.Jackson R.Poite , J.Lacey, . G.Hughes

Are there two G.Jackson referees running around at the moment?

If this is the New Zealand one, I am quite surprised to see him elevated to international level.

 

[kiap]

Are there two G.Jackson referees running around at the moment?

If this is the New Zealand one, I am quite surprised to see him elevated to international level.

It is indeed Kiwi Glen.

 

[ChargerWA]

I don't get the Harris hate. Up north if we don't kick our goals we're fucked. Leali'ifano has played well, but his goal kicking is keeping him in the 15. He has hardly broken games open ball in hand.

If Lilo goes down, Harris is a proven option.

 

[Sully]

I thought Poite had been removed from the panel.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 4

 

[kiap]

Boet, M. Poite has been sent to the Eastern Front.

 

[Bairdy]

I don't get the Harris hate. Up north if we don't kick our goals we're fucked. Leali'ifano has played well, but his goal kicking is keeping him in the 15. He has hardly broken games open ball in hand.

If Lilo goes down, Harris is a proven option.

Would much rather have had Tapuai or Horne brought on the tour tbh. Get Cooper, To'omua, Foley, White to practice their kicking

 

[RoffsChoice]

To'omua is to goalkicking as Matt Dunning is to drop goals: They might get one, but it sure as hell won't happen again.

 

[cyclopath]

I don't get the Harris hate. Up north if we don't kick our goals we're fucked. Leali'ifano has played well, but his goal kicking is keeping him in the 15. He has hardly broken games open ball in hand.

If Lilo goes down, Harris is a proven option.

It isn't hate. He's a good Super rugby player.
I would hazard that our backline is not so dominant that we can afford to carry a player who pretty much just goal-kicks.
And no, he is not the all-round player that Leali'ifano is. He struggled to start at the Reds, for starters.

 

[RoffsChoice]

And no, he is not the all-round player that Leali'ifano is. He struggled to start at the Reds, for starters.

Was that injury related at all? He was a started at the start of the season and I thought he was only dropped due to injury.

 

[ChargerWA]

It isn't hate. He's a good Super rugby player.
I would hazard that our backline is not so dominant that we can afford to carry a player who pretty much just goal-kicks.
And no, he is not the all-round player that Leali'ifano is. He struggled to start at the Reds, for starters.

Fair enough, but to my mind it is telling that Link has selected Harris for the squad and ignored Tapuai, the guy who kept Harris on the bench at the Reds.

If Leali'ifano was to go down Harris would be the more similar skilled player to Lilo than Horne or Tapuai are. And against the forward dominant style of northern play his inclusion makes perfect sense to me.

 

[cyclopath]

Fair enough, but to my mind it is telling that Link has selected Harris for the squad and ignored Tapuai, the guy who kept Harris on the bench at the Reds.

If Leali'ifano was to go down Harris would be the more similar skilled player to Lilo than Horne or Tapuai are. And against the forward dominant style of northern play his inclusion makes perfect sense to me.

I think the play up north might be less forward-oriented than previously. Yeah, they'll be good, tough packs, but a few of the teams play good 15-man rugby these days.
Anyway, we'll see.