2012 Rugby Championship Game 1 Australia vs New Zealand - 18 August

[D train]

When Tatafu Polota-Nau isn't concussed and not on the field, he's on the wing. How does this guy constantly regain his test jersey?

 

[lewisr]

Calling a Kiwi sabotage... Sent over Deans to ruin the Wallabies.

He consistently chooses hopeless teams and needs to go. Quade needed Barnes outside him at the World Cup to link up what was without a doubt (or would have been) the most potent attacking back line ever seen in the professional era. We saw that work brilliantly in the Bronze medal match and yet he still seems to have a love affair with McCabe and Horne. If you can't win matches with blokes like Genia, Cooper, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Ioane, Beale and J'OC there is either something seriously wrong with your coaching or you're deliberately screwing up the team...

Either way Deans has to go. I'm sick of seeing our unbelievable potential wasted by his complete incompetence.

 

[Roundawhile]

Without focusing on any player, I just do not like the "feel" of the team as a whole.

It doesn't strike me as a "go out and smash em" group of players.

Just too bloody conservative for my liking.

 

[Swat]

I actually think TPN starting over Moore is a good thing, at least it means Dingo will use the bench and bring on Moore when TPN knocks himself out. Otherwise we'd start with Moore and get to watch TPN come on as an impact player with 4 seconds to go.

 

[No4918]

That's a pretty insightful comment from someone with a pretty inane username.

Don't feed it, it may go away of it's own accord.

 

[No4918]

I'd definitely rather Moore. Have big concerns about the ability of the piggies to keep going for 80.

Would really like to see Moore, Slipper and Simmons getting 30mins.

 

[Slim 293]

I actually think TPN starting over Moore is a good thing, at least it means Dingo will use the bench and bring on Moore when TPN knocks himself out. Otherwise we'd start with Moore and get to watch TPN come on as an impact player with 4 seconds to go.

That would actually make more sense..........

The only aspect of TPN's game that is arguably better is his ball running, and Moore is already an excellent ball carrying forward.........

It would be like starting with Hooper over Pocock because of his ball running abilities while completely ignoring Pocock's better all round game..........

 

[ACR]

If you can't win matches with blokes like Genia, Cooper, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Ioane, Beale and J'OC there is either something seriously wrong with your coaching or you're deliberately screwing up the team. Either way Deans has to go. I'm sick of seeing our unbelievable potential wasted by his complete incompetence.

All backs, need I say more?

 

[Hairy Test Eagle]

The success of a Super Rugby side should be reflected into the international team. The Queensland Reds clearly outplayed the Waratahs in their last match yet there are somehow 8 Waratah players in the starting side? Has the cheque from the All Blacks cleared yet Robbie?

 

[biggsy]

I actually think TPN starting over Moore is a good thing, at least it means Dingo will use the bench and bring on Moore when TPN knocks himself out.

Which knock out, 3rd or 4th one through the game... Or start Moore and don't use TPN at all unless where in dire straits for a winger.. He knows that position well.

 

[Swat]

That would actually make more sense....

The only aspect of TPN's game that is arguably better is his ball running, and Moore is already an excellent ball carrying forward...

It would be like starting with Hooper over Pocock because of his ball running abilities while completely ignoring Pocock's better all round game....

Ummm, yeah slim my post was supposed to be humourous. I'd personally rather have Moore start but in the grand scheme of things it's not too bad an alternative. I think we need to all just calm down and see how things go in the first test before we all lose our shit and start looking for a short rope and a high branch.

Edit: ditto for biggsy

 

[biggsy]

Calling a Kiwi sabotage. Sent over Deans to ruin the Wallabies.

He consistently chooses hopeless teams and needs to go. Quade needed Barnes outside him at the World Cup to link up what was without a doubt (or would have been) the most potent attacking back line ever seen in the professional era. We saw that work brilliantly in the Bronze medal match and yet he still seems to have a love affair with McCabe and Horne. If you can't win matches with blokes like Genia, Cooper, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Ioane, Beale and J'OC there is either something seriously wrong with your coaching or you're deliberately screwing up the team.

Either way Deans has to go. I'm sick of seeing our unbelievable potential wasted by his complete incompetence.

mate I LIKE THAT HEAPS...

 

[Braveheart81]

The success of a Super Rugby side should be reflected into the international team. The Queensland Reds clearly outplayed the Waratahs in their last match yet there are somehow 8 Waratah players in the starting side? Has the cheque from the All Blacks cleared yet Robbie?

The Chiefs side won't dominate the All Blacks and the Sharks won't dominate the Springboks.

You could argue for Simmons to be starting ahead of Timani and most people think Cooper should be in the 22. Aside from that though, there's not a lot of Reds players who can count themselves overly unlucky.

 

[waratahjesus]

There really isn't that much between TPN and Moore, as Robbie has stated, he starts TPN for the front row combo he has with the props.

I prefer Moore when the games opens a bit more so I don't have a problem as long as he gets plenty of time.

Either ways i think both are international quality and am thankful that I don't believe either one lets down the number 2 position for the wallabies.

 

[Swat]

 

[Braveheart81]

The level of negativity is quite amazing.

Is there a more negative group of sports fans than Australian rugby followers?

 

[Richo]

You could argue for Simmons to be starting ahead of Timani and most people think Cooper should be in the 22. Aside from that though, there's not a lot of Reds players who can count themselves overly unlucky.

And Samo can count himself really fucking lucky to make the team at all.

The Waratahs are - rightly - accused of under-performing. By definition, this means that the team is not achieving what it's talent level suggests it should. Or, to put it differently, just because the Waratahs team sucks it doesn't mean the players suck individually. Look at the difference in performance from Barnes between Super Rugby and the Wales games, for example.

If it were up to me, and I was selecting from the 30-man squad, the team would look like this:

15. Beale
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
13. Horne (in the interest of minimal disruption)
12. Fainga'a Barnes
11. Digby
10. Barnes Cooper
9. Genia
8. Higginbotham
7. Pocock
6. Dennis
5. Sharpe
4. Timani Douglas (better contrast to Sharpe)
3. Kepu
2. TPN Moore
1. Fat Cat

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Simmons
19. Hooper (more dynamic as a ball runner than Gill)
20. Schatz (better at 6 and 8 than Gill)
21. Phipps (White injured)
22. Mitchell

That makes it 7(2) Waratahs, 4(3) Reds, 2 Force, 1(1) Brumbie and 1(1) Rebel.

 

[Swat]

Not directly related to the thread, but I think we all need to lighten up a bit.

 

[biggsy]

The Chiefs side won't dominate the All Blacks and the Sharks won't dominate the Springboks..

And for good reason.... Why change a World cup wining team.

A struggling Australian Franchise dominates a already Wallabies Team.

 

[Swat]

If it were up to me, and I was selecting from the 30-man squad, the team would look like this:

15. Beale
14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
13. Horne (in the interest of minimal disruption)
12. Fainga'a Barnes
11. Digby
10. Barnes Cooper
9. Genia
8. Higginbotham
7. Pocock
6. Dennis
5. Sharpe
4. Timani Douglas (better contrast to Sharpe)
3. Kepu
2. TPN Moore
1. Fat Cat

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Simmons
19. Hooper (more dynamic as a ball runner than Gill)
20. Schatz (better at 6 and 8 than Gill)
21. Phipps (White injured)
22. Mitchell

Nail on the head. This is the team I would have picked (and I think most people to be honest).