Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[Bernie_Larkham]

lets win the thing first. then once we have won it, play some ball games
i do not want to spend the next twelve years thinking we got beaten on the scoreboard but we played the more entertaining rugby.

It may do the game more harm than good grinding a 2-1 victory rather than a scintillating 2-1 loss.

No I'm not joking. It's is where the band wagon people can be sold on rugby being a great spectacle or not seeing the same people again for 12 years.

 

[jay-c]

im care more about us winning, than what people who dont care about it think

 

[No4918]

Id be surprised if cooper actually misses out on being in the final squad.

I'm going the opposite way, will be very surprised if he makes it.

Bringing him into the team if they are outclassed in the first test won't happen either. Would be a huge admission by Deans that he got it wrong and I don't see that happening with his contract up.

 

[Bernie_Larkham]

I'm going the opposite way, will be very surprised if he makes it.

Bringing him into the team if they are outclassed in the first test won't happen either. Would be a huge admission by Deans that he got it wrong and I don't see that happening with his contract up.

Yes the more I think about it the more I agree. It's not just Cooper Deans is playing mind games with either. He is putting link under the pump too with his comments. Gives deans the opportunity to say we didn't see him in the front line so we can't pick him. Link may or may not fold for coopers sake. If he doesn't maybe they know it doesn't matter anyway.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Am I the only person who thinks that we cannot beat the Lions with grinding play, as they will be superior and better practiced at it and the only way we will beat them is to play enterprising rugby?

 

[lewisr]

Am I the only person who thinks that we cannot beat the Lions with grinding play, as they will be superior and better practiced at it and the only way we will beat them is to play enterprising rugby?

I'm in the same boat as you mate. I think we also underestimate the Lions ability to throw the ball around.

 

[Gnostic]

Does anybody actually think that the starting 22 is not actually found in this initial 25, with the addition of a back-up 9?

My views on Deans are very well known, I do not need to re-state them. The selection of many of his favourites without any consistent game form in comparison with their direct competition (or in some cases any game time) just shows the selection process for what it is. Form is irrelevant when it comes to selection in the Wallabies under R. Deans. He has fixed ideas about players and fixed ideas about how the game will be played. This makes him and the Wallabies predictable and easy to beat when their opponents are able to produce a flexible game plan to the target obvious deficiencies.

I would refer to the Blog pieces that were published here a few weeks ago regarding playing Two 15's and the Two Playmaker system. What I wrote about in both those articles is about balancing the backline with skill sets and specialists to produce an outcome for a game plan while having the ability to play multiple styles and adapt. All the possibilities I can come up with from this squad have major issues and imbalances in the skill sets required, it is basically what I expected and what I dreaded.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I can't help but think this safe, risk adverse style Deans has directed the team towards may be his undoing, as we are playing to our weaknesses and is costing us games.

 

[fatprop]

Possibly fp, but sticking to the status quo has not set the world on fire. Why not shake things up a bit? What is the worst that could happen, apart from a series loss?

well he has taken the other option and picked the side accordingly

 

[Train Without a Station]

Does anybody actually think that the starting 22 is not actually found in this initial 25, with the addition of a back-up 9?

Some do. Considering you are taking 4 of the 5 Super Rugby captains, team disruption cannot be too highly considered. Barring this, why would the initial 22 not be in this squad? How can after this many rounds of rugby, the selectors not have an clear idea on who their preferences are?

The fact that there is no back up 9 in that 22 is ridiculous. Both for the fact that a player who will be suiting up is not there, yet one who will be wearing a suit in the stands is, and also for the fact that it is likely they are considering Burgess, a player with clear deficiencies in the areas critical to his position. Oh he's a great runner and a tackler? Well maybe he should play in the fucking centres because a halfback needs a decent, reliable pass.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Am I the only person who thinks that we cannot beat the Lions with grinding play, as they will be superior and better practiced at it and the only way we will beat them is to play enterprising rugby?

Not at all. Grinding, attritional rugby is not a traditional strength of Australian rugby and I'm glad about that, because frankly who wants to watch 80 minutes of that every week. I can understand that there will be days when you need to win ugly, but the kind of footy that Deans has the Wallabies playing seems to be putting ugliness and risk aversion as a first option.

 

[Richo]

From reading this thread, you'd think that Deans had just dropped Bernie Larkham in his prime. He hasn't.

Give or take a name or two, it's a bloody good squad. If everyone could take a big deep breath, we'll all make it through alive.

 

[BDA]

I think the answer is pretty simple. Deans has already chosen Burgess as the back up 9. He will surely join the squad when he returns to Australia

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

From reading this thread, you'd think that Deans had just dropped Bernie Larkham in his prime. He hasn't.

Give or take a name or two, it's a bloody good squad. If everyone could take a big deep breath, we'll all make it through alive.

For me it's not so much the squad, though I think there are a few bad omissions, just the style of game that Deans is likely to employ as a result.

 

[Richo]

For me it's not so much the squad, though I think there are a few bad omissions, just the style of game that Deans is likely to employ as a result.

This I agree with. The squad he's chosen could be used to play some dynamic, attacking rugby. But it could also be used to grind out games, depending in who he selects where come match day.

Ps. Good to see you, TBH!

 

[Bowside]

Does anybody actually think that the starting 22 is not actually found in this initial 25, with the addition of a back-up 9?

My views on Deans are very well known, I do not need to re-state them. The selection of many of his favourites without any consistent game form in comparison with their direct competition (or in some cases any game time) just shows the selection process for what it is. Form is irrelevant when it comes to selection in the Wallabies under R. Deans. He has fixed ideas about players and fixed ideas about how the game will be played. This makes him and the Wallabies predictable and easy to beat when their opponents are able to produce a flexible game plan to the target obvious deficiencies.

I would refer to the Blog pieces that were published here a few weeks ago regarding playing Two 15's and the Two Playmaker system. What I wrote about in both those articles is about balancing the backline with skill sets and specialists to produce an outcome for a game plan while having the ability to play multiple styles and adapt. All the possibilities I can come up with from this squad have major issues and imbalances in the skill sets required, it is basically what I expected and what I dreaded.

If Folau plays wing and Barnes fullback, then you have two 15's, and also two playmakers in barnes and JOC (James O'Connor).

Still think Cooper would have been a better choice as IMO more 'play' would have been made.

 

[ChargerWA]

I could live with Cooper being omitted if there was a credible alternative. But JOC (James O'Connor) has proven he is not a brilliant 10 this season and the other options haven't even been playing 10.

I've been anti- Deans for long enough now thinking he was incompetent. But now he has added wilful subversion he should be gone before the RC.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

This I agree with. The squad he's chosen could be used to play some dynamic, attacking rugby. But it could also be used to grind out games, depending in who he selects where come match day.

Ps. Good to see you, TBH!

Thanks Richo!

The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour aint it ;-)

 

[lewisr]

Quade Cooper Continues to top the flyhalves by a significant margin on 60.73% on the Rugby HQ halves "lion tamers"

No need to tell you who is on 87% for half backs. They may need to add Burgess to the mix though.

I find it interesting that there is such a universal acceptance of who should be the starting flyhalf and yet the coach disagrees... Brisbane Crowd may get hostile towards Mr Deans.

 

[jay-c]

I find it interesting that there is such a universal acceptance of who should be the starting flyhalf and yet the coach disagrees. Brisbane Crowd may get hostile towards Mr Deans.

it would be in the best interests of the country if brisbane crowds show no such hostility towards the wallabies coach or any player they arnt happy with. it doesnt do anyone any good