2012 Rugby Championship Game 2 New Zealand vs Australia - 25 August

[Braveheart81]

I don't think nearly as many people would be saying we should have a utility halfback on the bench if Nic White was fit and healthy.

The only reason that everyone thinks a player that covers multiple positions is a good idea is because Phipps isn't very good and no one likes him.

A quality specialist halfback on the bench is always going to be a better option than a utility player. It's just when the specialist halfback isn't very good that the utility becomes an attractive option.

Give it another season and I think Phipps will no longer be third in the pecking order.

 

[Karl]

Haha. Not according to the latest findings. Now David Pocock is assuming the mantle of villain at the tackle and ruck. The difference is Sir Richie breathed the game from birth and continues to live and breathe it. QC (Quade Cooper) and Pocock see the game as a means to a marketing end.

You're becoming offensive.

 

[waratahjesus]

Deans stated he was underdone so my point is clearly that was not the case. He wasn't selected in the match in Sydney for reasons that had nothing to do with fitness. He should have at least been on the bench in Sydney and this turn around by Deans makes things look out of control in Camp Wallaby. Cooper would have benefited massively from being on the pitch at some point in Sydney. Now he gets thrust into the main play making role in Eden park where the Kiwis will be howling for his blood. I can only hope this turn of events doesn't damage Cooper any more. Deans has done nothing to protect Cooper from anyone. In fact, he's almost set him up to fail. Go Quade.

Set him unto fail? Seriously, opinion is getting to fever pitch around here. Are you at training for the last month, did you witness quades preparation? Did he have his head in the game? Did he do 100% of the work? You have no idea. If he played last week and had a shocker that would have been added to his world cup performance, would he have been dropped like Beale? The commentary on his inclusion has been as a savior almost, suddenly the guy that let the wallabies down is the guy the wallabies need if they have any chance. He hasn't been set up or played a fool. He wasn't selected in a football team and the fact that it wasn't physical but hasn't been discussed publicly actually points to the fact that Robbie protected him from at least the media.

It's up to Quade to take huger from not playing and translate it into form and belief. He didn't play last weekend, he is playing this weekend. There isn't a conspiracy, no need for tin foil hats, just get behind the guy and hope he has a blinder and we can stick it up the kiwis on Saturday.

 

[FrankLind]

I don't think nearly as many people would be saying we should have a utility halfback on the bench if Nic White was fit and healthy.

The only reason that everyone thinks a player that covers multiple positions is a good idea is because Phipps isn't very good and no one likes him.

A quality specialist halfback on the bench is always going to be a better option than a utility player. It's just when the specialist halfback isn't very good that the utility becomes an attractive option.

Give it another season and I think Phipps will no longer be third in the pecking order.

Its difficult to have confidence in the backup when they are given vrtually no time in the middle for years.
An injury to Genia would f*** things right up

 

[fatprop]

When the next best is a long way second and not much different to the players I stated, I don't agree. If white was available it would be different.

The issue to me is what happens is Genia goes down in the 5th minute

I see Phipps as way, way ahead of both Kingi and Frisby.

I would prefer to see Sheehan rolled out again before either of those two

 

[Loki74]

Seems to me that Quade is only going to be the point of difference if it is a ridiculously open game and I can't see that happening. It will depend on the forwards battle. If our forwards can give us at least parity in terms of quick ball, we might have a chance. I keep trying to come up with ways that our forwards might get that dominance, but struggle. Lineouts seems to be the only area where we might have some parity. Really worried about how our scrum will hold up. And someone needs to give them all psycho pills to hit the rucks hard and smash some of those AB forwards. Need Timani and Dennis to play out of their skins and Hooper to handle the pressure of his first run on.

 

[I like to watch]

Deans stated he was underdone so my point is clearly that was not the case. He wasn't selected in the match in Sydney for reasons that had nothing to do with fitness. He should have at least been on the bench in Sydney and this turn around by Deans makes things look out of control in Camp Wallaby. Cooper would have benefited massively from being on the pitch at some point in Sydney. Now he gets thrust into the main play making role in Eden park where the Kiwis will be howling for his blood. I can only hope this turn of events doesn't damage Cooper any more. Deans has done nothing to protect Cooper from anyone. In fact, he's almost set him up to fail. Go Quade.

These types of worshipping of QC (Quade Cooper) shit me. If he succeeds it's totally due to his ability.If he fails it is all down to RD.
Remember, why are the kiwi's baying for his blood? Did RD talk him up last year,or did QC (Quade Cooper) do all that by himself?
Let's hope QC (Quade Cooper) has a blinder, but if he has a shocker let's be honest with our appraisal.

 

[Joe Mac]

The Aussies are paying $8.25 on a certain betting site for the win this weekend. That must be the widest odds on the Wallabies in history...

 

[scaraby]

Auckland Forecast for Saturday Night; 9 Deg C, slight breeze, zero chance of rain

zero chance of rain in Auckland??.which hour is that for.......?

 

[daz]

Strangely enough, I am starting to feel a cautious optimism that the Wallabies will play much better in this game.

Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope it isn't a train.

Can I ask what this is based on? I'm not having a go; it is a genuine question.

We have one of the most inexperienced teams in a Bled game and the game just happens to be at Eden park. I understand when RD says that history is irrelevant, but not having won there for 1000 years does carry a certain weight.

We have spent several weeks in camp (and 4 years in building), and after the first Bled game we have changed players and positions. No-one can blame RD for injuries, but the fact is it appears that the coaching staff still have no idea what a settled Wallaby squad looks like. Combinations are all out the window.

We are coming off a terrible game at home, which says that surely the only way is up, but when you consider the Darkness also had a poor game by their standards, my question (in two parts) would be simply this:

If the Darkness play 10% better than at Sydney, how much do the Wallabies need to improve?

And given everything I have mentioned above, can they?


I love the Wallabies, and I will be supporting them this week as I always do. But the longer this goes on, the more I start to believe they don't love me in return.

Hope for a miracle, yes, but really, I think that light is a train.

 

[Muttonbird]

You're becoming offensive.

Ok, calm down. Leaving aside QC (Quade Cooper)'s and Pocock's motivation for playing the game for a moment, on the evidence from Bledisloe 1 David Pocock is playing closer and closer to the illegal line. He'll lose matches for the Wallabies if he doesn't re-evaluate his work at the breakdown. Refs are looking hard at Pocock now.

 

[waratahjesus]

The Aussies are paying $8.25 on a certain betting site for the win this weekend. That must be the widest odds on the Wallabies in history.

$7 yesterday was the largest odds ever offered for Aus in a game v new Zealand, $8.25 and growing are all new records.

 

[daz]

You might say the not being optimistic is un-Australian. And the pessimist are disgracing this great nation and rubbing our flag in the mud.

I hope that is tongue in cheek, Sully. If not, you appear to have given in to the most outrageous hyperbole.

 

[Sully]

I hope that is tongue in cheek, Sully. If not, you appear to have given in to the most outrageous hyperbole.

And I've been waiting hours for someone to reply.

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[I like to watch]

...
We have spent several weeks in camp (and 4 years in building), and after the first Bled game we have changed players and positions. No-one can blame RD for injuries, but the fact is it appears that the coaching staff still have no idea what a settled Wallaby squad looks like. Combinations are all out the window.

How many unforced changes?
He brings in QC (Quade Cooper) and moves BB to 12, which is exactly what his detractors were screaming for.And he drops KB (Kurtley Beale) (which no one has disagreed with)

 

[daz]

The issue to me is what happens is Genia goes down in the 5th minute

I see Phipps as way, way ahead of both Kingi and Frisby.

I would prefer to see Sheehan rolled out again before either of those two

I have watched Phipps at close range at every home game this year. He really does do some clever and composed work from time to time. Unfortunately, he is also very prone to knee-jerk actions without taking due care, or even understanding what is happening around his grid square.

Forget Kingi at test level, for now anyway. I can't comment on Frisby as I don't know his game well enough.

Sheehan lacks a certain flair, but his experience and composure is streets ahead of Phipps.

 

[Braveheart81]

These types of worshipping of QC (Quade Cooper) shit me. If he succeeds it's totally due to his ability.If he fails it is all down to RD.
Remember, why are the kiwi's baying for his blood? Did RD talk him up last year,or did QC (Quade Cooper) do all that by himself?
Let's hope QC (Quade Cooper) has a blinder, but if he has a shocker let's be honest with our appraisal.

Couldn't agree more.

There is so much hypocrisy in how various players in our team are treated on the forum. Some players are a protected species and can do no wrong. If they do something wrong, it is Robbie Deans (or someone else's) fault. Other players don't have a blinder and it is because they are a terrible player and should never play for the Wallabies again.

 

[Scott Allen]

I've had a look at some footage of Ben Alexander playing TH this year (I was surprised that he played 40% of his minutes at the Brumbies in 2012 at TH).

He has three main issues with his technique.

1. Sets up with his hips too high and when he engages he does not drive his hips down - he just moves forward;
2. Sets up with his feet too far back;
3. Has a tendency to open his chest up a little too much as he engages which gives the loosehead too much of an opportunity and therefore he goes up and over with his bind which means he binds on the arm of the loosehead.

Not sure if Nigel Owen is a stickler for #3 but if he is may see some penalties agianst BA.

Because of #1 he is too high on engage. Crockett is a tall loosehead and struggles to get low but with BA staying too high it will make it easier for Crocket.

Because of #2 he over extends on engage and his shoulders go down before he can chase his feet up. Because Crocket himself does not get low enough he doesn't provide much resistance to a tighthead that is going down. Crocket will likely start to hinge but if so it will be due to the downwards angle of BA and it's likely the penalty will go against him.

I expect we'll see a lot of collapses on the Alexander / Crockett side.

Hopefully Andrew Blades has been working on his feet in particular to minimise opportunities for penalties.

 

[Scott Allen]

The Aussies are paying $8.25 on a certain betting site for the win this weekend. That must be the widest odds on the Wallabies in history.

My son just got odds of $11.00 on the Wallabies at another major betting site. I told him it was still a waste of money!

 

[Swat]

How many unforced changes?
He brings in QC (Quade Cooper) and moves BB to 12, which is exactly what his detractors were screaming for.And he drops KB (Kurtley Beale) (which no one has disagreed with)

He brought in Quade because he can take it. He's the flyhalf the Wallabies deserve, but not the hero that Australia needs right now. He's a tweeting guardian, a protector of the bledisloe. The dark knight.

 

[daz]

And I've been waiting hours for someone to reply.

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I got your back.