Aus vs NZ - 1st Test Sydney 17Aug2013
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Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
No forward in world rugby averages 5m per carry.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I think young Michael will be a tad busy with one All Black Captain to worry about that shit...
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I hate autocorrect ...
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I think we're in with a rough chance here and like the team selected. I'm a bit 50/50 on MMM at blindside, but Fardy on the bench excites me as lock/flanker cover. Going with To'omua as five-eighth is a reward for good form across the season and his combo with Lilo will be good I suspect. The back three are potentially very exciting.
The key will be the patterns of play. We've always had the personnel, but for too long they've been not selected, played out of position or given no discernable game plan. I'm hoping that Link has the right plan and has communicated it clearly and directly.
The key will be the patterns of play. We've always had the personnel, but for too long they've been not selected, played out of position or given no discernable game plan. I'm hoping that Link has the right plan and has communicated it clearly and directly.
nomis
Herbert Moran (7)
Yeah, that's what I think is part of the reason. Imagine it even late in the second half and we're struggling to break the line. What a perfect sub to bring on!
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Richie carrying some fat is a prime opportunity for Hooper.
wallabies 2015
Frank Row (1)
Wallabies pack show up, we have the backs to beat these blokes.
lewisr
Bill McLean (32)
"In the end, we're favouring some certain skills that we think will be handy for us at the start of the game.
"Quade's still there on the bench. It doesn't mean Quade's not going to be part of the game and not have a big role."
Some interesting stuff from Ewen. I don't think Quadey will be warming the bench for too long.
"Quade's still there on the bench. It doesn't mean Quade's not going to be part of the game and not have a big role."
Some interesting stuff from Ewen. I don't think Quadey will be warming the bench for too long.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I think it'll all depend on the flow of the game. If we need some attacking spark or something a bit different in attack, I don't think Link will hesitate to let QC (Quade Cooper) off the chain. I'm glad he's in the 23 and still think he has plenty to offer Australian rugby if he's in the right frame of mind.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
At least 50m per carry........... Right?
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
He'll probably come on with 30 to go as part of a change from a field position game to an attacking one. Link has picked plenty of kickers and lineout options so there's little doubt how the first part of the game will be played: attack their defensive lineout.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
MMM to go hammer and tongs for as long as he can with Fardy to do the same when he comes into the fray. Sio to team up with his Brumby front row mates early in the 2nd for a potentially stronger scrum.
To'omua to try and smash Cruden and test Nonu's crook ankle.
QC (Quade Cooper) and Kuridrani in the last 30 to try and open them up.
It may not all go to plan but it sure will be good to watch them give it a shot!
To'omua to try and smash Cruden and test Nonu's crook ankle.
QC (Quade Cooper) and Kuridrani in the last 30 to try and open them up.
It may not all go to plan but it sure will be good to watch them give it a shot!
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I've always loved it when the Wallabies take the physical confrontation up to the AB's. We've had some great mad dogs over the years who have relished the challenge (Finnegan, McCall, Coker, Scott-Young, Harrison et al) and I want us breeding a new litter of blokes with a bit of mongrel. You don't beat the Kiwis standing on your heels, you've got to match it with them in the collisions before doing any of the fancy stuff and I hope we can take that mind set into Saturday night.
To go off on a bit of a tangent, the announcement of the team and prior to that, the 30 man squad, has given the rugby public an update on where various players stand in the pecking order.
Benn Robinson has clearly gone down substantially. This one isn't even up for debate. He's gone from being our first picked prop to not being in the top 4. I expect he'll play tests during the Rugby Championship but it's a shock he's not playing the first one.
Hugh Pyle has been highly backed for a while and most people would be somewhere between angry and disappointed that he didn't make the 30 at the very least. Is it possible that he really doesn't stand out in training when up against the other locks? Super Rugby shows him as a standout player albeit as part of an average scrum.
Nick Phipps - Nic White has surpassed him which was certainly on the cards last year if White had not got injured. No one is overly surprised by this. I think the contest is close though; they both other a very different style of game with different upsides.
Dave Dennis and Ben McCalman have both dropped slightly but have largely been replaced by players that either weren't available or hadn't made a particularly strong case previously.
Kane Douglas has dropped down the list substantially as he was previously a starter. I certainly think we'll see him play tests in the RC in the next few weeks though. There are only three pure locks in the squad and he's one of them.
Hugh McMeniman is obviously right back in favour but this realistically only required a reasonable stretch of him being match fit and a test series coinciding. He's always been very capable.
Benn Robinson has clearly gone down substantially. This one isn't even up for debate. He's gone from being our first picked prop to not being in the top 4. I expect he'll play tests during the Rugby Championship but it's a shock he's not playing the first one.
Hugh Pyle has been highly backed for a while and most people would be somewhere between angry and disappointed that he didn't make the 30 at the very least. Is it possible that he really doesn't stand out in training when up against the other locks? Super Rugby shows him as a standout player albeit as part of an average scrum.
Nick Phipps - Nic White has surpassed him which was certainly on the cards last year if White had not got injured. No one is overly surprised by this. I think the contest is close though; they both other a very different style of game with different upsides.
Dave Dennis and Ben McCalman have both dropped slightly but have largely been replaced by players that either weren't available or hadn't made a particularly strong case previously.
Kane Douglas has dropped down the list substantially as he was previously a starter. I certainly think we'll see him play tests in the RC in the next few weeks though. There are only three pure locks in the squad and he's one of them.
Hugh McMeniman is obviously right back in favour but this realistically only required a reasonable stretch of him being match fit and a test series coinciding. He's always been very capable.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
It is a very physical pack with the exception of Simmons. Hopefully he will be inspired to go a little mad dog himself.
We absolutely need to lay down a physical challenge against all 3 RC opponents, particularly the Darkness.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Why do you say that, is Hansen meant to say he lies there at night wondering who will play for Wallabies. I would say exactly same thing as he said, it just like Link saying All Blacks under pressure because they are rebuilding. You guys really need to calm down and realise the coaches have to answer a reporters question some way. I know when I coached admitedly st awful lot lower level I always said to my team I didn't care who opposition played, we played our game!!
On game itself, I must admit to wondering about how Luatua will go, not as vigorous as Messam at breakdown, but another real good lineout option, though coming into team so late may negate that slightly. Really looking forward to the game, and appropiately nervous how it will go!!
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