2012 Rugby Championship Round 3 Game 1 Australia vs South Africa - 8 Sep

[East Coast Aces]

I don't think Dennis over Higginbotham would be a good selection. Both have been playing shit, but I think Higgers running style and more importantly his line-out jumping are bit more vital then whatever it is Dennis does.

Careful what you say T12, Higgers isn't the most liked player on these threads from the NSW faithful. But I agree, Dennis is a myth. I'd rather see Mowen in the backrow with Higgers.

 

[Braveheart81]

Careful what you say T12, Higgers isn't the most liked player on these threads from the NSW faithful. But I agree, Dennis is a myth. I'd rather see Mowen in the backrow with Higgers.

That is such a load of crap. There is no NSW conspiracy against Higginbotham.

I disagree that Dennis is a myth. He had far greater impact throughout the Super Rugby season than Mowen. Both Dennis and Higginbotham were ineffective in the two tests against the All Blacks.

 

[fatprop]

Careful what you say T12, Higgers isn't the most liked player on these threads from the NSW faithful. But I agree, Dennis is a myth. I'd rather see Mowen in the backrow with Higgers.

Higgers' issue is his work rate and positioning, he just doesn't do enough of the 1%'ers. That can be covered for at S15 level where he has high workrate backrowers around him, but as I have said before, he needs to watch Keiren Reid clips endlessly. He has great natural skills, he just needs to use them in a better, more disciplined way.

Dennis? he is the opposite, he is an effective 6 who does the dog work a 6 needs to do, but he doesn't have that special something. (Like Mowan, but Mowan is less effective ball in hand at getting over the advantage line.)

 

[tigerland12]

I think either way we look at it, they are both really just the best of a bad bunch. We actually don't have a International level 6/8 (apart from Palu).

 

[Braveheart81]

I think the backrow will go better with Samo starting. Without Palu that is much better balance than effectively playing two 6s and a 7.

I think Higgers and Dennis are both international quality 6s. I just don't think they're in the same league as Read and Messam.

 

[Richo]

Careful what you say T12, Higgers isn't the most liked player on these threads from the NSW faithful. But I agree, Dennis is a myth. I'd rather see Mowen in the backrow with Higgers.

Why does everything have to come down to provincialism? Casual trolling really is a waste of all our time.

Anyway, I agree that we have much better balance with Samo at 8. The problem is that it'll be surprising if he manages any more than an effective 45-50 minutes. Hopefully he can set a much harder-hitting tone for when he needs to go off. If Higgers starts at 6, he should be able to build a bit of confidence playing in his more natural position.

 

[Braveheart81]

I'd even look to bring on Higgers before half time.

Tell Samo to give it everything for half an hour. Give Higgers 10 minutes before half time to give us some impetus leading into the break and then still be fresh for the second half.

 

[Richo]

I'd even look to bring on Higgers before half time.

Tell Samo to give it everything for half an hour. Give Higgers 10 minutes before half time to give us some impetus leading into the break and then still be fresh for the second half.

Yeah, it really depends on how Samo is doing, what the pace of the game is, etc. Robbie has a tendency not to be decisive with subs, unfortunately.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yeah, it really depends on how Samo is doing, what the pace of the game is, etc. Robbie has a tendency not to be decisive with subs, unfortunately.

Yep.

It's more of a "Crap. Samo's slowed to a jog. Let's give him 10 minutes to see if he catches his second wind."

 

[Lee Enfield]

From the scrum stuff i watched yesterday. (a whole 10 min session WOOO no wonder we suck at scrums.) The forward pack that Growden has would be correct as would the backs. Also good to see higgers have a shave and a hair cut had to look twice to remember what he looked like.

Was interesting to watch the scrum session. The one with Paddy TON and Slipper was destroying Robbo Moore and Alexander. even when they packed down a full 8v8 they still went backwards.

I know the yare young, but I still think having Slipper and Ryan starting is worth the gamble. They can't be any worse than Robinson and Alexander and who knows, they may go well.

 

[East Coast Aces]

Yeah, it really depends on how Samo is doing, what the pace of the game is, etc. Robbie has a tendency not to be decisive with subs, unfortunately.

Couldn't agree more with your criticism of Deans use of the bench. Seems everyone agrees you shouldnt have both Higgers and Samo on at the same time.

 

[fatprop]

I know the yare young, but I still think having Slipper and Ryan starting is worth the gamble. They can't be any worse than Robinson and Alexander and who knows, they may go well.

IT is only the Boks, we will do fine against them, they ain't the Franks bros & Woodcock

 

[Scotty]

We cant carry a fetcher on the bench IMO

20. Phipps
21. Tapuai
22. Horne

In case of injuries to the outside backs I expect AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to slide out and Horne come into 13

I think we might have to with Samo starting. Dennis to go to lock, Hooper to 6, Gill to 7. Depends on if we are going to kick or keep the ball in hand though.

18 Higgers
19 Gill
20 Phipps
21 Taps
22 Cummins (but it will be Horne who is selected)

 

[It is what it is]

IT is only the Boks, we will do fine against them, they ain't the Franks bros & Woodcock

Hold the phone and wait I suggest.
With no Palu, Horwill, Vickerman, Pocock or Elsom in our forwards, the Boks forwards will have their tails up thinking there's no one in the Wallaby pack who'll stand up to them.......stand by for bully boy tactics, including scrum time.

 

[Braveheart81]

With Dennis and Samo starting, I think we are more likely to have Simmons on the bench than Gill.

Of course we could go back to a 5/2 split and have Simmons and Gill on the bench.

 

[qwerty51]

Was interesting to watch the scrum session. The one with Paddy TON and Slipper was destroying Robbo Moore and Alexander. even when they packed down a full 8v8 they still went backwards.

That's not really surprising, in the Brumbies game at ANZ, TPN and Ryan destroyed Moore and Alexander.

 

[Scotty]

With Dennis and Samo starting, I think we are more likely to have Simmons on the bench than Gill.

Of course we could go back to a 5/2 split and have Simmons and Gill on the bench.

Why?

 

[Braveheart81]

I think Paddy Ryan is going to be a really excellent player. I see him becoming a bit like Dan Palmer but with more mobility and better ball running.

I think Benn Robinson will get back towards his best form too. It is still less than a year since he had a knee reconstruction. I think his scrummaging strength and general fitness will still improve a lot. I think he will be much better in 2013.

 

[Braveheart81]

With Dennis and Samo starting, I think we are more likely to have Simmons on the bench than Gill.

Of course we could go back to a 5/2 split and have Simmons and Gill on the bench.

Why?

My thinking is that a 4/3 bench comes down to either a lock or two backrowers. We're already going to have Higgers on the bench who will come on pretty early for Samo.

I initially thought that Simmons would provide better coverage for the two locks and Dennis than Gill for Hooper (who will only come off if injured) and Dennis.

Thinking about it further, my logic might have been a bit flawed.

 

[fatprop]

Hold the phone and wait I suggest.
With no Palu, Horwill, Vickerman, Pocock or Elsom in our forwards, the Boks forwards will have their tails up thinking there's no one in the Wallaby pack who'll stand up to them...stand by for bully boy tactics, including scrum time.

The Boks haven't scared us at scrum time for ages, Beast is only a problem if he is allowed to bore in on the hooker and Jannie du Plessis is no destructive THP. Around the field, well we will see, but the conversation was around scrummaging.