April Wallaby 30 Man Squad

[Ruggo]

Ant essentially plays as another backrower and Ant is probably better in defense, but I think McCabe is a better all-round footballer and more likely to do better in attack.

Both fantastic and all heart in my view. I think Ant has the more rounded skill set though. What you say plus he more of a distribution game. The best thing I think is both of these players won't let you down.

 

[Scotty]

What rubbish. The reason why the ABs are so good is that they don't hurl swathes of young debutantes into high-pressure games. They know that you have to balance youth and experience, form and proven ability at the top level.
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And they don't play their guys out of position. And they try do more than just defend with their centres.

 

[Scotty]

Ant essentially plays as another backrower and Ant is probably better in defense, but I think McCabe is a better all-round footballer and more likely to do better in attack.

Goodness me. 'McCabe' and 'All-round footballer' in the same sentence. Now I've heard it all!

 

[Scoey]

In terms of the debutants I selected I believe their ability/ form is superior to that of any of their more experienced counterparts. On a case by case

The thing with rookies is that you have no idea how they will react once the screws are tightened - no idea whatsoever. You say that Quade has been shown up at Test level, but what makes you think To'omua would be any better?
The other thing with rookies is that if they choke on debut then the experienced guys around then can help cover for them to a degree. If the guy standing beside the rookie and the guy at the back is equally caught in the headlights so to speak or simply struggles due to the added pressure from the first guy choking we're in serious fucking trouble! ;-)

The guys you've selected are quality. No doubt. But they ain't all gonna get blooded against the Lions and there's even a chance none of them will.

 

[fatprop]

Goodness me. 'McCabe' and 'All-round footballer' in the same sentence. Now I've heard it all!

as opposed to ant ..................... not Conrad Smith

 

[kiap]

George's June schedule looks like it is going to be clear.

I like this!

Smith closer to staying with Brumbies​

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DAVID BARBELER AND JIM MORTON: 15/04/2013​

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An extension to the Brumbies' loan of George Smith is closer to fruition after Jake White met with the champion flanker's Japanese club coaches - but it may not help the Wallabies.​

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The talks took place in Dunedin after Smith excelled again in the Brumbies' 31-19 Super Rugby victory over the Highlanders on Friday night. The 110-Test great's highlight reel included forcing a turnover that led to an early penalty goal and scoring a try off the back of a rolling maul before the break.​

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Coach White revealed the two Suntory Sungoliath coaches were receptive during the meeting. He said the club's No.1 concern was that Smith would be fresh for Suntory's season start on August 18.​

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"Don't forget they love the fact that Suntory get some mileage and Japanese rugby gets some mileage," White said. "So I'm sure if we find a way in which we can keep him fresh and give him enough time to play and make sure he's 100 per cent ready for their season ... I'm sure that they would look at accommodating us."​

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But it will be near impossible to keep Smith fresh if he starts all three Tests in the blockbuster series against the British and Irish Lions from June 22 to July 6 as well as playing in the Super Rugby finals. At present, Smith's last game for the Brumbies is against the Hurricanes on May 31. That leaves the June 7 clash with the Rebels and then the July 13 match against the Force as the only fixtures Smith is set to miss before the finals from July 19 to August 3.​

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Despite the pace-setting Brumbies' standing, White said it was still presumptuous to talk about extending their loan this early in the season.​

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Read More: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/8552953/Smith-closer-to-staying-with-Brumbies

 

[Slim 293]

I would be perfectly happy with Smith not playing for the Wallabies if that was the proviso for him staying on with the Brumbies for a bit longer..........

 

[thierry dusautoir]

But it's not like the ABs only pick on Super form. Ma'a Nonu regularly stinks it up at Super level, yet gets picked every year and then steps up, because he has done it before and they trust him to do it again. Same with Conrad Smith- never really outstanding at Super level, but steps up in Black. Tony Woodcock is also in the same boat.

Australia has a few players who are similar- genuine test players who are rarely in top form at Super level. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was one of them, but is having a great year this year. Benn Robinson is another.
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Nonu has only been the last two years but has been playing for shit teams but i concede him.

However throwing conrad smith in the same boat is pretty ludicrous, he is constantly the rock that keeps the hurricanes near parity with a lot of teams. His defence, organisation and general rucking are exemplary for a 13.

Just because he isn't scoring a plethora of tries doesn't mean he isn't outstanding, and you don't get super rugby player of the year (2012) by being some ordinary bum.

 

[Pete King]

The thing with rookies is that you have no idea how they will react once the screws are tightened - no idea whatsoever. You say that Quade has been shown up at Test level, but what makes you think To'omua would be any better?
The other thing with rookies is that if they choke on debut then the experienced guys around then can help cover for them to a degree. If the guy standing beside the rookie and the guy at the back is equally caught in the headlights so to speak or simply struggles due to the added pressure from the first guy choking we're in serious fucking trouble! ;-)

The guys you've selected are quality. No doubt. But they ain't all gonna get blooded against the Lions and there's even a chance none of them will.

In my opinion To'omua is better suited then quade due to the fact he is a far superior defender. Sure there is a chance of the rookies choking, there is also a pretty decent chnce of Barnes getting injured. I picked the side that I believe has the best chance of beating the all blacks. Players with a bit of X Factor like a Mogg/ Lilo over a Barnes mcabe mould. Id pay to see that backline everyday of the week.

 

[Groucho]

In my opinion To'omua is better suited then quade due to the fact he is a far superior defender. Sure there is a chance of the rookies choking, there is also a pretty decent chnce of Barnes getting injured. I picked the side that I believe has the best chance of beating the all blacks. Players with a bit of X Factor like a Mogg/ Lilo over a Barnes mcabe mould. Id pay to see that backline everyday of the week.

And you do. It's the Brumbies backline.

 

[Pete King]

genia, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Ioane, JOC (James O'Connor)?

 

[Scoey]

I picked the side that I believe has the best chance of beating the all blacks.

Fair enough. I thought your side was your pick to take on the Lions. Still not sure we'll see three rookies in our back line for the Rugby Championship but there's more chance of that than vs the Lions. ;-)

 

[Brumbieman]

Ant essentially plays as another backrower and Ant is probably better in defense, but I think McCabe is a better all-round footballer and more likely to do better in attack.

Fair enough.

 

[Paradox]

In my opinion To'omua is better suited then quade due to the fact he is a far superior defender. Sure there is a chance of the rookies choking, there is also a pretty decent chnce of Barnes getting injured. I picked the side that I believe has the best chance of beating the all blacks. Players with a bit of X Factor like a Mogg/ Lilo over a Barnes mcabe mould. Id pay to see that backline everyday of the week.

I have enjoyed seeing To'omua smash people this year. He will be a Wallaby at some stage. I DO however want to see Quade's long passes igniting the the Wallaby backline against the Lions. I suspect we won't see it though.

Andrew Slack wrote that he thought To'omua should have been in the 30 selected over the likes of Barnes and McCabe so you're not alone PK.

 

[lex]

"Coach White revealed the two Suntory Sungoliath coaches were receptive during the meeting. He said the club's No.1 concern was that Smith would be fresh for Suntory's season start on August 18."

Hmmm.....

"In business world, when you hear a Japanese say 前向きに考えます(We open our mind to it), 努力してみます (We’ll try our best), 考えておきます(We will think about it), 検討させていただきます(Please let us study it) or other similar phrases, he is rejecting you politely, trying not to hurt your feeling with a direct rejection. You should NOT call him next week and ask him about the progress of his study, because he will never do any study"

 

[terry j]

what do they say when they ARE actually considering the proposal?

 

[Pete King]

Fair enough. I thought your side was your pick to take on the Lions. Still not sure we'll see three rookies in our back line for the Rugby Championship but there's more chance of that than vs the Lions. ;-)

Its the side I'd pick for the lions but im not holding my breathe, Dingo will go for the side that Braveheart picked ..... actually come to think of it......couldnt be surely

 

[Brumbieman]

Just watching the Chiefs/Reds game from the weekend: After Cooper slotted that penalty around the 57min mark, the commentator remarked on how Cooper was leading the kick metres, points, offloads, linebreak assists and try-assists.

He then took a pretty blunt dig at Dingo, saying "It's remarkable how one coach can get SO much out of a player, and another coach is apparently not capable".


When Kiwi commentators start bitching about Deans and thinking he's shit, surely that's enough to get rid of him?

 

[qwerty51]

Not really

#6 in kick metres
#8 in points
#1 in offloads
=#9 in try assists
>#21 (not listed) in linebreak assists

and of course #1 in turnovers and probably #1 in charge down/intercepts if they recorded that.

 

[Sully]

Not really

#6 in kick metres
#8 in points
#1 in offloads
=#9 in try assists
>#21 (not listed) in linebreak assists

and of course #1 in turnovers and probably #1 in charge down/intercepts if they recorded that.

How did you find the match stats for the 57 minute?