Australia v British & Irish Lions, 3rd Test (Sydney)

[Sully]

What do you mean KB (Kurtley Beale) to 10. He will be playing there most of the time already!

Yes he seems to be playing a hybrid flyhalf/fullback role. He is probably the only person in the country who can do it! And how good is his pass!


I am being sarcastic. Really I am!

 

[Zander]

Who has not finished the last two games

Was in doubt and came through like he was never injured. He doesn't get injured.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Was in doubt and came through like he was never injured. He doesn't get injured.

Can you please touch some wood immediately

 

[KOB1987]

I don't have an issue with using JOC (James O'Connor), Tomane or Folau at 13 in attack, but in defense it is a different matter.

which probably sheds a bit of light on the game plan..bring it on!

 

[Starch]

Straya- "I still wouldn't be surprised to see McCalman as the Simmons replacement"

Half agree-- maybe fully had it been MMM or Kimlin. In the last 10 mins of the first test, my memory has it that Simmons came on for the against-the-feed scrum on our 5m, and the scrum-screw penalty up their end that should have won it for us. Would be nervous to see equally important scrums at the end with McCalman in the second row

 

[Quick Hands]

Looking at it objectively, if we lose another we are still going to have 5 of O'Connor, Lilo, Folau, Beale, Tomane & Mogg on the field..plenty of attack there so it's going to be about filling the defensive hole..Smith in, Hooper to 7. Or if we are down by 7 or more with say 10 to go they'll want to run it so you'd bring Phipps on, Genia to 10 and push everyone out one.

At the end of the day it will depend on where we are at at the time!

The problem being it might only takes one lapse in defence or a mistake in attack from a reshuffled backline to lose the match and series. It's a big roll of the dice and could end in tears.

 

[fatprop]

Straya- "I still wouldn't be surprised to see McCalman as the Simmons replacement"

Half agree-- maybe fully had it been MMM or Kimlin. In the last 10 mins of the first test, my memory has it that Simmons came on for the against-the-feed scrum on our 5m, and the scrum-screw penalty up their end that should have won it for us. Would be nervous to see equally important scrums at the end with McCalman in the second row

McCalman, like Kimlin, Dennis & MMM, has played a lot of lock @ S15 level, and I think has finished tests there as well.

 

[Tex]

Am I the only one worried about Tuilagi - maybe overestimating his impact? Harking back to Eng-ABs game last year I spose. Really bothered me, even though he did fuck all in the game the week before.)

From what I've seen he's pretty one dimensional. An amazingly strong runner into contact who can offload (not at the SBW or Folau level, but still handy), but easily negated by slow ball and quick defensive line speed. I think he's a poor replacement for BOD on the bench, TBH.

And without taking too much from England's win over The Darkness, we shouldn't forget the ABs had spent the week leading up to the test getting over the norovirus that did the rounds.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Been thinking about the McCalman selection. so just humour me.

We know that Mowan sat out sessions during the week. Simmons is the only other lineout caller so that might be why he has been on the bench.

Also Douglas didn’t look that great last week, and Smith hast played for a long time.

Is deans hedging his bets by having Hooper Cover for Smith, McCalman as cover for Mowan (who might as a slight injury) and Palu (lets face it he is made of glass) but he cant drop Simmons because then the lineout would be stuffed.

We would all love to see MMM or Kimlin as a 4/6 cover to give us another back cover but that then might leave i exposed in the forwards.

Just trying to get into Deans thinking which we all know is a very hard thing to do.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Yesterday's leaked team is now official

 

[Tangawizi]

ARU will need to update this now. Hopefully, to George Smith - Wallabies Hero 2013.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Yes. His recent Super form has been good. Whether that form is better than Kimlin's is up for debate - I would say Kimlin has been a bit better, but its not a ridiculous selection.

People seem to forget that Kimlin absolutely tore the Lions apart at lineout and in the open for the Brumbies. And that was against Gray, Parling and Evans in the lineout, and O'Brien, Felatau and Lydiate in the back row. A lot of those are in the line up for this test.

Ben McC does not have that sort of form this year, nor whenever he played for the Wallabies in the past. Not a good selection imo.

 

[HSM]

Yeah OK, wrong word..similar skill set is what I was getting at. Point is, I'm sure they've got it covered..but I'm just a dumb forward, what would I know.

Haha no worries KOB, I'm a really dumb forward. But yeah I was thinking more of the defensive responsibilities of a 13 - quite a particular skill I would imagine.

 

[Quick Hands]

Just trying to get into Deans thinking which we all know is a very hard thing to do.

He seems to specialise in making the straightforward quite complex.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Has Tomane played 13 in super rugby? I haven't seen him there. It's the hardest position technically to defend in so Im not happy if we are talking schoolboy experience here.

I don't see JOC (James O'Connor) being shifted so if it is Tomane, then Mogg would just go to the wing I guess (luckily not norths wing!) - still out of position!

When Andrew Smith went down with injury in a S15 game, Henry Speight moved to 13 and Joe stayed on the wing. So I don't think Joe has played any No 13 this year.

I agree that if Joe goes to 13, Moggie should come on to the wing and Beale stays at 15. Least disruption, and I've seen Moggie play wing just as good as he plays 15.

 

[fatprop]

People seem to forget that Kimlin absolutely tore the Lions apart at lineout and in the open for the Brumbies. And that was against Gray, Parling and Evans in the lineout, and O'Brien, Felatau and Lydiate in the back row. A lot of those are in the line up for this test.

Ben McC does not have that sort of form this year, nor whenever he played for the Wallabies in the past. Not a good selection imo.

Being devil's advocate, but doesn't it all get down to the role Deans wants the replacement to do and balance?

I see Kimlin's attributes already covered by Mowen

I would guess McC has been selected to do the grunt work of a "tight 6", make safe metres in close, clean out accurately and tackle.

Assuming things go to plan

Douglas will be replaced by Simmons
Smith by Hooper
Palu by McC (Mowen moving to 8)

With the massive punt that no back gets injured and the deep hope that Faaingaa, Mogg and Phipps won't be needed

 

[Brumby Runner]

Looking at it objectively, if we lose another we are still going to have 5 of O'Connor, Lilo, Folau, Beale, Tomane & Mogg on the field..plenty of attack there so it's going to be about filling the defensive hole..Smith in, Hooper to 7. Or if we are down by 7 or more with say 10 to go they'll want to run it so you'd bring Phipps on, Genia to 10 and push everyone out one.

At the end of the day it will depend on where we are at at the time!

Never, ever want to see Genia playing 10 again. If he's on the field, he must stay at 9 where he is best in the world. If necessary, Phipps to wing where he has done ok in the past.

 

[Tex]

Just pray it's not on North's wing. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching North play, he's such an amazing athlete and appears to be a genuinely good bloke to boot.

Saturday can't come quick enough, it's as tense as the 2003 WC Final and 2006 Socceroos qualifier in Sydney. Heart and head are with the Wallabies this week. I'll be a shattered shell if they can't bring it home.

George Smiths inclusion adds a wonderful sub-plot to the greater drama. It's going to be a privilege to watch the old bull roll out in gold again. McCaw may get the plaudits as the best in his position, but it was Smith who revolutionised the role of the openside. I remember a point in the 2001 series in Melbourne when a rampaging Quinel off a long run up and was taken by Smith, who immediately pilfered the ball to our advantage. A brilliant player.

 

[Braveheart81]

People seem to forget that Kimlin absolutely tore the Lions apart at lineout and in the open for the Brumbies. And that was against Gray, Parling and Evans in the lineout, and O'Brien, Felatau and Lydiate in the back row. A lot of those are in the line up for this test.

Ben McC does not have that sort of form this year, nor whenever he played for the Wallabies in the past. Not a good selection imo.

Kimlin undoubtedly had an absolute blinder in the Brumbies game against the Lions. Whilst he has had an excellent season, using that one game purely as the benchmark for his form is also a bit misleading. He isn't that good every week.

For much of that game, the Lions hooker was Best who had an absolute shocker. Expecting someone who dominanted their lineout in that game to do the same against a much better performing hooker is also flawed.

I would have had no issue with Kimlin being selected but I figure the selection of McCalman is for the reliability he brings. I also only see him getting on the field if George Smith can't go 80 minutes.

I expect the first backrow substitution unless there is an injury is Hooper coming on for Palu and Mowen shifting to 8 (whether Smith shifts to 6 or Hooper plays there is somewhat unknown and probably not that relevant. Smith will be more focused on competing at the breakdown whichever position he is packing in the scrum).

Unless Smith is stuffed after 50 minutes and needs to be replaced by Hooper I expect we'll see both Hooper and Smith on the field at the same time. That will certainly be the plan.

 

[BPC]

I don't think it would be an issue if it was the correct decision, but in this case many people are up in arms because they feel (rightly IMO) that Gatland has made a spectacular fail in this selection call, and from what I've read it isn't just the Irish who feel this way

If the Lions lose, I am sure everyone in the Northern Hemisphere will blame it on dropping BOD, at least in part.