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

[Scotty]

Too bad Morahan didn't have a better year, someone of his size and speed could be extremely useful right now

He had a pretty good second half. Sorted his defence out and was difficult to bring down when he had the ball. I see him as a fullback or wing though.

Along with tapuai he is one guy I still see as being a future long term wallaby. Size, skill and pace. Not to mention still very young.

 

[Scotty]

Here is my XV.

1. Slipper
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Timani
5. Sharpe
6. Higgers
7. Hooper
8. Samo
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ships
12. Barnes
13. Cummins
14. Ioane
15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

I am still a fan of the Cooper-Barnes nexus at 10/12, they just kicked too much fucking ball.

Samo has added some real punch off the bench, so he needs to start. Higgers isn't an 8.

Cummins needs to be tried at 13, Horne/Fainga'a have been solid but not sure that's enough.

Beale is not right, and should be sent back to clubland to get his shit together.
.

I like cummins but see him as a little limited and a stop gap only. If we are going to bring a player into the centre why not use a guy who has the potential to be a long term wallaby? A guy that most of us agree has strength, skill and pace - a combination that is lacking in most other contenders.

Tapuai in for Barnes.

 

[Scotty]

At this stage Harris would also be an option at 12 so he can take over the kicking.

 

[tigerland12]

At this stage Harris would also be an option at 12 so he can take over the kicking.

Harris was in great form at the back end of the season after the Wales series. Not just goal-kicking wise, people forget he is actually a very strong ball runner and defender.

 

[barbarian]

I am skeptical about Tapuai's fitness.

At the very least he should come off the bench first.
.

 

[Braveheart81]

I still don't see Barnes getting dropped. He'll either remain at 12 if Cooper is fit or move back to 10 if Cooper is injured.

 

[Richo]

Yes agreed. However if the yardstick for measuring someone is whether or not they played amazingly or brilliantly, how does Horne ever get a run?

What I mean is that when being GOOD at many positions is what gets AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) shuffled. Horne is a specialist. With the injuries to Mitchell and JOC (James O'Connor), Deans chucks AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the wing. With Beale out of form, he goes to 15. He's a better 13 than Horne, but because he plays other positions better than other replacement options (or at least has proven experience in those positions), he gets moved a lot. I think if he had set the world on fire at 13 (which he did not, he was just consistently good) he would have had a better chance of staying there.

 

[Jets]

I am skeptical about Tapuai's fitness.

At the very least he should come off the bench first.
.

He's going well at club level in Brisbane.

 

[Bowside]

If the shmoo is out will deans go with Shipperly or Cummins?

Shipperly had the better season, but cummins was on the end of a very ordinary backline.

Ofcourse the possibility remains they might both come into the fold if our centres are dumped.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

9. Genia
10 Cooper/JOC (James O'Connor)
11 Digby
12 Barnes
13 Cummins
14 Shipperly
15 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

20 Phipps/White
21 Fainga/Horne
22 Beale

 

[Scotty]

I dont like the swapping and changing of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) either. Can't help but feel he would be one of the best 13's in the world if he were actually given some consistent time in the position

It would be nice to have a 13 that passes more than once every two games though. We need to look for someone with the team skills of Conrad Smith - if he was playing on the weekend the ABs would have won by a lot more.

 

[scaraby]

What about Mcabe at 12 and JOC (James O'Connor) at 13....you have a bash option,cut out option or a bash and short ball option. Keeps JOC (James O'Connor) in game he would create a heap of space for Digby and his defence is first class. Also gives you a potent extended blindside play.

 

[Scotty]

Could work, but we would like to see JOC (James O'Connor) play there at super level first!

 

[Bowside]

I think by playing JOC (James O'Connor) at 13 you kill his short kicking game (chips and tactical, not grubbers), which is one of the things he does really well.

In reality the numbers on the back dont really matter that much when the backline is split into two with cooper on one side and JOC (James O'Connor) on the other.

I think once beale regains fitness he should always play on the same side as JOC (James O'Connor) as they seem to link better.

Cooper on the other hand links better when working with digby, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and the forwards. I'd like to see hooper linking more with cooper as I think he could play a similar role to what Beau Robinson played for the reds in 2011.

 

[What2040]

How can a supposed champion footballer (and a back to boot) lose that much fitness - IMO KB (Kurtley Beale) was overweight and sluggish up to about 18months ago - then he lost weight and thereby gained that brilliant speed and confidence and he swept all before him. Now he is overweight again (have a squiz at his face), slower (than he was), has lost confidence (maybe he had been reading too much of journos saying how great he was).

There is no doubt that KB (Kurtley Beale) is a huge talent but ONLY when fit, fast and confident. Australia needs that X at the back but KB (Kurtley Beale) needs to be shown the door, play club rugby, regain fitness and confidence and then if he is the best - regain that 15 spot.

 

[Dumbledore]

Look at the state of him, absolutely disgraceful. Needs to have some playing-weight clause in his contract. How does expect to be good at rugby when he looks like a dumpling?

 

[Brisbok]

Look at the state of him, absolutely disgraceful. Needs to have some playing-weight clause in his contract. How does expect to be good at rugby when he looks like a dumpling?

Hair looks good though.

 

[What2040]

maybe should move up to 1,2 or 3

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Ill prob get shot down for saying this, But does anyone think the Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) issues could stem from their move to the Rebels. This is not having ago at the club its self but the environment in which they live.

Kurtley has been injured a lot this year and in and out of form along with his now weight issues and JOC (James O'Connor) has been injured for most of the year. Could this be from outside distraction they may face from being part of the Melbourne "Social scene" resulting in lack of quality training? And maybe as a result of the massive pay packet they feel they dont need to train as hard as everyone else as they "know" they are the best?

Just a thought.

 

[Loki74]

Ill prob get shot down for saying this, But does anyone think the Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) issues could stem from their move to the Rebels. This is not having ago at the club its self but the environment in which they live.

Kurtley has been injured a lot this year and in and out of form along with his now weight issues and JOC (James O'Connor) has been injured for most of the year. Could this be from outside distraction they may face from being part of the Melbourne "Social scene" resulting in lack of quality training? And maybe as a result of the massive pay packet they feel they dont need to train as hard as everyone else as they "know" they are the best?

Just a thought.

Well you have to understand that playing for the rebels is not just about the game, it is about the JOC (James O'Connor) or Beale brand...