Swat
Chilla Wilson (44)
JOC (James O'Connor) is only listed as a fullback not fullback/wing. Surely that has to be an indication that he'll be first choice fullback...
2011 Spring Tour
- Thread starter light
- Start date
- Status
JOC (James O'Connor) is only listed as a fullback not fullback/wing. Surely that has to be an indication that he'll be first choice fullback...
Schadenfreude
John Solomon (38)
I prefer Token - since he's the token Rebels player - I can't think of any other reason to take him.
Brumbies Guy
John Solomon (38)
Rebel's have O'Connor also
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
This touring party is pretty much what we expected after the article of Brett Harris and even before that Dennis and Lucas looked like probables.
Dennis rose up this year after injuries to Palu and Mowen at the Tahs - sliding doors. Lucas has always been versatile but when he played fullback for the Reds there would have been few people who didn't know him who suspected he wasn't a specialist. [Not to the point, but with QC (Quade Cooper) out I hope he gets a run on game or two at 10 for the Reds, or at least some serious time there.]
Taps was the surprise for me as I thought that Morahan would be picked - but I thought that because I wanted JOC (James O'Connor) to play 12.
The selection of Tapuai puts the kibosh on that, and probably until the end of Deans' tenure, unless 2 or 3 injuries occur. Good luck to the lad though. Those outside of Brisbane who had never seen Taps play in his young days would have wondered what the fuss was about when he was played at outside centre for the Reds. It was only when he started in his best position of inside centre that they could see his promise in Super Rugby - and coming from the bench in the Oz A game against Canada.
As I mentioned earlier, I suspected Cowan would be selected because he was chosen for for 3N matchday teams, but I hope that good guy Pecker doesn't get on the park for too many minutes. Holmes would have been better IMO.
The other 3: Slipper, Ma'afu and Alexander, who are probably 3rd, 4th and 5th ranked based on Super form, should do OK even though THP Adam Jones will be back for Wales. If they do well it will assure us that we have improved: that the propping group of 5 (including the injured Fat Cat and Kepu) are better now than the 2010 group we had at home against England [again, including injuries], even though many of the same players could be counted in both years.
Dennis rose up this year after injuries to Palu and Mowen at the Tahs - sliding doors. Lucas has always been versatile but when he played fullback for the Reds there would have been few people who didn't know him who suspected he wasn't a specialist. [Not to the point, but with QC (Quade Cooper) out I hope he gets a run on game or two at 10 for the Reds, or at least some serious time there.]
Taps was the surprise for me as I thought that Morahan would be picked - but I thought that because I wanted JOC (James O'Connor) to play 12.
The selection of Tapuai puts the kibosh on that, and probably until the end of Deans' tenure, unless 2 or 3 injuries occur. Good luck to the lad though. Those outside of Brisbane who had never seen Taps play in his young days would have wondered what the fuss was about when he was played at outside centre for the Reds. It was only when he started in his best position of inside centre that they could see his promise in Super Rugby - and coming from the bench in the Oz A game against Canada.
As I mentioned earlier, I suspected Cowan would be selected because he was chosen for for 3N matchday teams, but I hope that good guy Pecker doesn't get on the park for too many minutes. Holmes would have been better IMO.
The other 3: Slipper, Ma'afu and Alexander, who are probably 3rd, 4th and 5th ranked based on Super form, should do OK even though THP Adam Jones will be back for Wales. If they do well it will assure us that we have improved: that the propping group of 5 (including the injured Fat Cat and Kepu) are better now than the 2010 group we had at home against England [again, including injuries], even though many of the same players could be counted in both years.
I would expect
1 James Slipper
2 Stephen Moore
3 Ben Alexander
4 James Horwill (captain)
5 Nathan Sharpe
6 Scott Higginbotham
7 David Pocock
8 Ben McCalman
9 Will Genia
10 Berrick Barnes
11 Digby Ioane
12 Rob Horne
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
14 Lachie Turner
15 James O’Connor
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Salesi Ma’afu
18 Rob Simmons
19 Radike Samo
20 Nick Phipps
21 Ben Lucas
22 Ben Tapuai
Pekahou Cowan
Dave Dennis
Anthony Fainga'a
Matt Hodgson
1 James Slipper
2 Stephen Moore
3 Ben Alexander
4 James Horwill (captain)
5 Nathan Sharpe
6 Scott Higginbotham
7 David Pocock
8 Ben McCalman
9 Will Genia
10 Berrick Barnes
11 Digby Ioane
12 Rob Horne
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
14 Lachie Turner
15 James O’Connor
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Salesi Ma’afu
18 Rob Simmons
19 Radike Samo
20 Nick Phipps
21 Ben Lucas
22 Ben Tapuai
Pekahou Cowan
Dave Dennis
Anthony Fainga'a
Matt Hodgson
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Apparently Robbie said JOC (James O'Connor) is the 10.
http://www.sportal.com.au/rugby-union-news-display/oconnor-to-five-eighth-146516
http://www.sportal.com.au/rugby-union-news-display/oconnor-to-five-eighth-146516
Yeah, the journo makes a fairly big leap from the actual quote to claiming that it means that JOC (James O'Connor) will be the starting 10.
Hard to imagine that Barnes won't be playing there.
Hard to imagine that Barnes won't be playing there.
Bruwheresmycar
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
In the interview Robbie was saying how Berrick and JOC (James O'Connor) are the guys who can step up to the playmaking role. I think they wanted him to elaborate on his JOC (James O'Connor) mention, so he said "James has expressed interest in the playmaking role".
I reckon JOC (James O'Connor) can be a world class fly half, and I like Barnes at 12 so I wouldn't mind seeing:
9. Genia 10. JOC (James O'Connor) 11. Iaone 12. Barnes 13. Horne 14. Turner 15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
But seeing as this isn't an important test series, I think Robbie will try something weird.
I reckon JOC (James O'Connor) can be a world class fly half, and I like Barnes at 12 so I wouldn't mind seeing:
9. Genia 10. JOC (James O'Connor) 11. Iaone 12. Barnes 13. Horne 14. Turner 15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
But seeing as this isn't an important test series, I think Robbie will try something weird.
light
Peter Fenwicke (45)
We have enough 10's that we shouldn't be playing JOC (James O'Connor) there internationally yet. We need to focus on creating a sustainable centre pairing that offers in attack and defence, Horne has made his case for the 13 jersey and deserves to be there, we just need to work out who to play inside him. JOC (James O'Connor) should be in contention for 12 but for now Barnes is our best 10 and I think JOC (James O'Connor) has enough on his plate without needing to run the back-line.
IMO Fainga'a and McCabe should be re-assesed after next years super rugby fixtures, if they haven't changed their attack than they shouldn't warrant selection and we should look elsewhere at form players who bring something to the team other than just good defence and a solid crash ball.
IMO Fainga'a and McCabe should be re-assesed after next years super rugby fixtures, if they haven't changed their attack than they shouldn't warrant selection and we should look elsewhere at form players who bring something to the team other than just good defence and a solid crash ball.
Swat
Chilla Wilson (44)
Found this:
[video=youtube;Ek1JswyyTbY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek1JswyyTbY[/video]
It annoys me to think that we can play such attacking football and yet during the RWC we did so little...
I think it is more likely to see JOC (James O'Connor) moving up from 15 into a 2nd playmaking role in the Beale style
In reality we need JOC (James O'Connor)'s broken field counter attack stuff from kick returns more
- Status