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2011 Spring Tour

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Knuckles

Ted Thorn (20)
All credit to McCabe's defense, but we saw on Friday just how different a team this is with Barnes outside Cooper.

With QC (Quade Cooper) out, I like 10. Barnes 12. JOC (James O'Connor) 13. Horne.

It's a pity Kiwi Robbie has decided to place all reliance on Kiwi Quade being able to be hidden at test match level in defence. Hate to say it, but perhaps Kiwi Quade's injury may actually force Robbie to choose sides based purely on form. I still reckon Matt Giteau should have been part of the squad and perhaps the injuries will provide him the opportunity to come back into international rugby. Though I doubt it, whatever went on between Kiwi Robbie and Gits, it seems to have spelled the end. Nonetheless, i would like to see a backline for the spring tour chosen as such:

9- Genia
10- Barnes
11- Digby
12- Giteau
13- Horne
14- JOC (James O'Connor)
15- AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

If KB (Kurtley Beale) is right for the tour then slot him back in at 15, drop Horne to bench and move AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13.
 

Hardtackle

Charlie Fox (21)
Nonu also gets found out often by fast nippy blokes. Then he resorts to shoulder charges and the like in frustration. He's due a yellow card isn't he?
 

Blue

Andrew Slack (58)
Nonu also gets found out often by fast nippy blokes. Then he resorts to shoulder charges and the like in frustration. He's due a yellow card isn't he?

Do remind us when last that happened? I can only seem to recall Nonu smashing little blokes and ramming their heads up their own outvalves.
 

Hardtackle

Charlie Fox (21)
Do remind us when last that happened? I can only seem to recall Nonu smashing little blokes and ramming their heads up their own outvalves.

How about I'll remind you know next time so I don't have to exert any effort? It's my day off.
 

Swarley

Bob Loudon (25)
Which bits of Horan don't you see in JOC (James O'Connor) other than his father not being a National Party hack?
Completely irrelevant and idiotic. I understand you have your views and political inclinations, but Mike Horan's political career has no effect on James O'Connor's ability to play #12 for the Wallabies.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Wallabies winger James O'Connor puts his hand up to play five-eighth in the absence of Quade Cooper

By Darren Walton
AAP
October 23, 2011 4:45PM


Wallabies wonder boy James O'Connor is spruiking a midfield playmaker's role in Australia's time of need.

Apart from David Pocock, O'Connor was Australia's standout performer at the Rugby World Cup, the 21-year-old coming of age with a series of match-winning performances in New Zealand.

The Wallabies' youngest player turned the game after coming off the bench against Italy, kicked nine from 10 in the wet against Russia, crowned an awesome display in the quarter-final with the winning penalty goal against South Africa and booted Australia to victory over Wales in the bronze medal playoff.

He also produced the chase of the tournament to bring down runaway winger Tommy Bowe at the death in Australia's shock loss to Ireland, a gallant effort that sidelined O'Connor from the USA game with a hamstring strain.

With Quade Cooper now facing at least six months rehabilitation from his knee injury and Berrick Barnes the only obvious five-eighth contender, O'Connor is eager for a senior midfield position on the Wallabies' upcoming tour of the UK.

How can the Wallabies best utilise James O'Connor? Have your say by leaving a comment below.

"It's no secret I want to play 12. That's the position I want to play," O'Connor said.

"I'm happy to play on the wing, bide my time, but I'll be putting my hand up now, depending on how Quadey's going.

"Hopefully he'll have a speedy recovery because he's not just a good mate of mine, but a massive asset to our team.

"But if the circumstances are such that he misses the spring tour, then I'll definitely be putting my hand up."

The Wallabies on Sunday confirmed that 23-year-old Cooper will next week undergo an MRI scan before having surgery to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, while also repairing his lateral ligament.

With 92-Test discard Matt Giteau almost certainly out of the frame, especially after tweeting that Ewen McKenzie should be the Wallabies coach after Australia's semi-final exit from the World Cup, O'Connor even looms as a flyhalf option.

"There's a couple of guys who can slot in. I've spent a bit of time at 10 and so has Kurtley," O'Connor said.

"So you've got Barnesy, Kurtley and myself who can all play 10 and we've got a lot of centres, which is probably a big asset to us.

"We've also got guys on the fringes as well who can slot in the wing and fullback positions, so we do have a lot of depth in the backline."

But if Beale is also ruled out of the spring tour with his hamstring injury, O'Connor will almost certainly be used as back-up five-eighth to Barnes, Australia's standout man of the match in Friday night's 21-18 win over Wales.

With Cooper and Beale both forced off inside 22 minutes, Barnes called the shots with aplomb, with young veteran O'Connor providing great support in his 36th Test since debuting on the 2008 spring tour.
 

Hardtackle

Charlie Fox (21)
Completely irrelevant and idiotic. I understand you have your views and political inclinations, but Mike Horan's political career has no effect on James O'Connor's ability to play #12 for the Wallabies.

Did you consider that the reference to Horan's dad may be a joke? Just asking?
 

Hawko

Tony Shaw (54)
Would be very happy to see the return of Greg Holmes to test rugby.

Won't happen. By Deans definition, Holmes is too old to be a good prop. Doesn't matter if its nonsense, Deans controls the selection panel.
 

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
You can't criticize the right on a rugby forum. That's just preposterous!

Back to the rugby.

Or private schools...

Which Owen Finegan just did in a Crimes article...

Unfortunately the article itself wasn't That good...
 

No4918

John Hipwell (52)
9th June at Suncorp.

8 months or there abouts. At most he might have 3 or 4 games for the Reds. If that is the case i'd be just as happy for him to take the extra month and not rush back.
 

Hardtackle

Charlie Fox (21)
You can't criticize the right on a rugby forum. That's just preposterous!

Back to the rugby.

Last comment from me on this, I wasn't being leftist at all. Don't all party have hacks? I just wrote the first word that came into my head.

Go France!!!!!!
 

rigs23

Allen Oxlade (6)
9-sanchez/lucas
10-barnes
11-diggers
12-taps
13-horne
14-mitchell?
15-JOC (James O'Connor)

If Beale is 100% then move him back to fullback and put JOC (James O'Connor) into 12. Bieber's a born inside centre in the same mould as Timmy Horan. Not a big hard straight-running machine like a Tom Carter or a Jamie Roberts and not quite a second 5/8 either, but a perfect mixture of both.
Ive started to believe that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has lost it a bit which is a shame because he's always been one of my favourite players. Even though been able to multitude of positions is beneficial for him in terms of selection there's no doubt that being constantly moved around has hindered his consistency. to the bench he shall go
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I agree. I think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is struggling to be in our best backline when everyone is fit. I think he is best on the wing due to his lack of passing and I think Ioane, JOC (James O'Connor) and Mitchell are all better than him.

I would like to see JOC (James O'Connor) and Horne or Tapuai and Horne given a crack in the centres. I think either of those combinations has the potential of being a long term solution and a great centre pairing for Australia.

I don't like our sudden infatuation with wanting big defensive centres who make more dominant tackles. Barnes, JOC (James O'Connor), Tapuai, and Horne are all excellent defenders but also potent attackers. I think they offer the best of both worlds and won't let us down in defence.

McCabe has done an excellent job but I think his passing game needs to be developed before he is a long term option at 12. He's far better suited on the wing for the time being.
 
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