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2011 Spring Tour

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Peter Fenwicke (45)
Not sure if this is a thread already but the RWC is basically over and now all we have to look forward to is the spring tour. :(


Matches:
26 Nov - Barbarians v Australia - Twickenham, London
2 Dec - Wales v Australia - Millenium Stadium, Cardiff

With the injuries to Cooper, Beale, Robinson and McCabe and the departures of Sharpe and Burgess, do we take our strongest squad or rest players for the upcoming super rugby season? I'd like to think we are trying to win these matches but at what cost?

For mine, I'd like to see us blood some new players, experiment with the squad and build for the future, whilst also sending Sharpie and Burgess out in style.
 
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Peter Fenwicke (45)
Agreed, me thinks we need to take versatile players rather than specialists, particularly in the backs.
Assuming the squad is 30 man.. I would take:

Props: Alexander, Kepu, Palmer, Slipper
Hookers: Moore, TPN, Fainga'a
Locks: Horwill, Simmons, Sharpe, Pyle
Blindsides: Higgenbotham, McCalman
Opensides: Pocock, Gill
No 8: Dennis, Vaea
Scrummies: Genia, Lucas
Fly-halves: Barnes, To'omua
Centres: Horne, Fainga'a, Tapuai
Wings: Ioane, Morahan, JOC (James O'Connor), Turner
Fullback: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Starting XV against Baa Baa's: Slipper, Moore, Kepu, Horwill, Sharpe, Higgenbotham, Pocock, McCalman, Genia, Barnes, Ioane, Tapuai, Horne, JOC (James O'Connor), AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Bench: Palmer, TPN, Pyle, Gill, Dennis, Lucas, Morahan/Fainga'a/To'omua
 
tigerland12

tigerland12

John Thornett (49)
Looks like the strongest side will be something like....

1- Slipper
2- Moore
3- Alexander
4- Sharpe (will he tour?)
5- Horwill
6- Higginbotham
7- Pocock
8- McCalman
9- Genia
10- Barnes
11- Ioane
12 Horne
13- Fainga'a
14- O'Connor
15- Ashley-Cooper

Bench: Polota-Nau, Ma'afu, Simmons, Samo, Phipps, Tapuai, Turner

I read Kepu is in doubt and Vickerman is also out, that's why I didn't put them there. Burgess is now ineligble.

I'd like to see players such as Morahan, Hanson, Daley, Tapuai, Lucas, Dennis, Timani go on tour aswell.
At this rate they will be able to aswell, considering injuries.

O'Connor should be trialled as a 10/12 at some point now Cooper is out for a long time.,
 
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pete88

Guest
Tapuai must be given a shot. I can't remember our centres managing a line break all tournament. Not good enough, we need more penetration. Horne is a step in the right direction, hope he stays fit...

And gee it seems we're right back to square one with depth at Lock with Vickerman and Sharpe injured and probably on the outer for not being four years younger (fuck RWC cycles, seriously)
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
I would like to see


1- Slipper
2- Moore
3- Alexander
4- Sharpe
5- Horwill
6- Elsom
7- Pocock
8- McCalman
9- Genia
10- Barnes
11- Ioane
12 - O'Connor
13- Horne
14- Turner
15- Ashley-Cooper

Bench:
16 Polota-Nau,
17 Ma'afu,
18 Simmons,
19 Higginbotham
20 Phipps,
21 Fainga'a,
22 Morahan

with 2 games, I think they will take 30 at most

so 8 more

1 prop, I would take Kieran Longbottom
1 hooker, Faainga
1 lock, Timani is probably unavailable as he is under contract in Japan, so a smokey, no one stands out, maybe Pyle or Sam Wykes
2 backrowers, Dennis & Hodgson or Hooper
1 half, Stannard may be a smokey or Nic White
1 Inside Back, with O'conner to cover 10 and say Stannard as secret secret back up Tapuai
1 Outside back, Nick Cummins
 
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QuadeCooperFan

Guest
with Cooper out I would love to see Deans experiment with a combo of

10. Barnes
12. JOC (James O'Connor)
13. Horne

would love to see what they can do. If Beale and Mitchell are still out by the time these matches swing around then Ioane and Turner on the wings with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at full back.
 
Prodigy

Prodigy

Ron Walden (29)
My 30 Man Squad:
Props: Kepu, Slipper, Alexander, Ma'afu
Hookers: Moore, Saia, Hanson (resting TPN)
Locks: Horwill, Simmons, Sharpe, Dennis (almost Pyle)
Backrow: Higgers, Hodgson, Pocock, Saffy, Samo, McCalman (Saffy/Hodgo to cover as Openside)
Halfs: Genia, Burgess
FlyHalfs: Barnes, To'omua
Centres: Horne, Ant, JOC (James O'Connor), Robbie Coleman, Tapuai (to gain experience last two)
Wings: Turner, Ioane, Morahan
Fullbacks: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Shepherd

My 1st XV of choice from these is:
1. Kepu
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Sharpe
5. Horwill
6. Hodgson
7. Pocock
8. Higgers
9. Genia
10. Barnes
11. Ioane
12. JOC (James O'Connor)
13. Horne
14. Morahan
15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

A bit different and experimental but I think a backline (in particular) that shows versatility and gives us a bit of excitement with Quade and KB (Kurtley Beale) out.

If Harris wasnt recovering from knee surgery, he would have been my back-up 10 to Barnes.
 
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pete88

Guest
yeah I'd also like to see JOC (James O'Connor) at 12, but he hasn't been playing there lately, I'd prefer him to come off a Super Rugby season in the inside backs. Like this year. :robbie:
 
Gnostic

Gnostic

Mark Ella (57)
Those who haven't performed need a rest and think. A big question is who will be the Coaching team. I think it is a foregone conclusion that at least the assistants will be sacrificed.

I would like to see form players rewarded with a tour spot and a lot of development places.

Starting:-

1. Slipper
2. Moore/TPN (the latter only if fully, totally fit)
3. Kepu
4. Horwill
5. Sharpe
6. Higginbum
7. Pocock
8. Samo
9. Genia
10. Barnes
12. JOC (James O'Connor)
13. Horne
11. Ioane
14. Morahan
15. Turner

16. Charles or Hanson probably Hanson
17. Alexander if weather is fine against Welsh, if it is wet and they leave the roof open then select Palmer.
18. Simmons
19. Robinson
20. Phipps
21. Tapuai
22. Lucas

23. S. Fainga'a
24. Palmer
25. Pyle/Wykes - probably Wykes
26. Dennis
27. Elsom
28. A. Fainga'a
29. White
30. ?
 
Inside Shoulder

Inside Shoulder

Nathan Sharpe (72)
pete88 said:
Tapuai must be given a shot. I can't remember our centres managing a line break all tournament. Not good enough, we need more penetration. Horne is a step in the right direction, hope he stays fit...

And gee it seems we're right back to square one with depth at Lock with Vickerman and Sharpe injured and probably on the outer for not being four years younger (fuck RWC cycles, seriously)
Click to expand...

Rule #2 from now on is pick the best bloke and forget about whether he'll be there in 2015
Rule #3 no one under 20
 
tigerland12

tigerland12

John Thornett (49)
Take Lucas as the third half back. We never take Genia off anyway and Ben can cover 9,10,15 and was in great super rugby and QLD premier rugby form.

He needs to be picked in the squad now Burgess is gone.

And has Palmer played at all in the last few months since his injury lay off?
 
Lee Grant

Lee Grant

John Eales (66)
fatprop said:
I
with 2 games, I think they will take 30 at most - so 8 more .....

1 half, Stannard may be a smokey or Nic White
Click to expand...

As a scrummie only it would be Nic White every time - and he can play flyhalf too though we have seen it only for the Brumbies Runners and not yet in club rugby.

He could supersede Phipps as the backup to Genia in 2012. I know it's a big call based on club rugby but sometimes one feels the urge to do so. Mind you I remember making such a call about Burgess years ago before he got a Super gig.
 
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Train Without a Station

Guest
I'd like to see them play Fainga'a at 12 and Horne and 13 and see how that works, considering that's where they both generally play. I'm sick of Deans picking blokes in their back up positions and then acting shocked when they don't play their best footy.
 
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Peter Fenwicke (45)
Train Without a Station said:
I'd like to see them play Fainga'a at 12 and Horne and 13 and see how that works, considering that's where they both generally play. I'm sick of Deans picking blokes in their back up positions and then acting shocked when they don't play their best footy.
Click to expand...

I thought that was what they played last night... It looked rather inneffective in attack but solid defensively. Horne looked good with the ball in hand but the opposition weren't exactly nervous about him getting the ball. A feeling I had every time Roberts got the ball.. Tapuai would be a better 12 option IMO, he was stellar there in the s15 final and Fainga'a has looked lost there at times.

Sluggy - I agree, I think Schatz is one year off however, as too is Gill. Dennis would be a good option as he is versatile and offers mongrel that we so desperately need. To'omua would be my back-up 10 any day of the week, his club form has been bad but if he plays to his potential he will be pushing Cooper in years to come.
 
Slim 293

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Who is actually injured?

If we need another 6/8 then it would be Dennis...

Ita Vaea wouldn't be far behind...

If we need another openside - Hooper.

If we need another outside back - Morahan.
 
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