Australia v England @ Twickers 17 Nov 2012

[Jets]

I'm expecting pretty much the same team to play as last week and we'll manage a draw or a narrow win/loss.

Here is the team I'd like to see named.

1. Robinson - No other option really
2. Moore - Thought he was good once he came on
3. Alexander - Kepu didn't work
4. Douglas - Was ok
5. Sharpe - Please don't use him as a ball runner
6. Samo - Was good when he came on
7. Pocock - Need him to smash rucks
8. Palu - Thought he was ok
9. Sheehan - has to be better than Phipps
10. Beale - Needs to be told to attack more
11. Ioane - Will give Beale an option in his pocket
12. Tapuai - Needs to be closer to the play
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - Can run good lines
14. Cummins - Was good on the weekend and deserves to keep his spot
15. McCabe - Will run the ball back and may find some space

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Kepu - Needs to be much better at scrum and around the field
19. Timani - covers lock and 6
20. Hooper - use his running game when the opposition are tired
21. Phipps - because there is no one else. Only put him on if Sheehan dies
22. Barnes - If the game needs to be closed out he can kick all day
23. Mitchell - Is a try scorer and adds some value in attack

I would also like to see an end to the pick and goes. Have the forward runners attack 2 wide of the ruck and hit the man running not someone standing still.
The backs need to try moves off first phase every time. Something simple like a switch or a second man play. At least then the opposition have to work something out. At the moment they just tackle whoever Beale passes to.
Our scrum needs to improve and get on the front foot. Be aggressive at scrum time rather than try and hold their ground.
Beale can kick at goal. Harris is only in for his kicking and can't catch a contested kick so should be dropped. He's a 12 and shouldn't be played at 15.
England are ripe for the picking. If we go out with an attacking mindset from the get go we will blow them off the park. If the Wallabies loose this game then Deans should be dumped. It is an embarrassment that he has coached the Wallabies for more games than anyone else.

 

[Scotty]

I am going to label Adam Ashley-Cooper as the myth of this Australian team. He seems almost untouchable, despite poor performances at both Wallaby and Super level.

There was once instance on the weekend where he tracked back to take a kick, with 2-3 chasers in front of him. He looked to his left to see an unmarked Harris, and further an unmarked Cummins. Rather than pass the ball he decided to take it into contact where he was outnumbered, and we were lucky to retain possession. He turned a likely 20m running gain (through Harris and Cummins) to a risk of losing the ball and being under pressure by France being able to break away.

This is happening way too much. All evidence points to him being a selfish player, and we can not afford selfish players if we are to improve our team performance. I say drop him immediately until he proves he can play the team game.

PS He also had 7 runs for 35m. Pretty low average for a winger.

 

[JJJ]

I'm also in favour of 6. Timani 7. Hooper 8. Palu with Pocock on the bench. If I knew Pocock is up to form I'd start him at 7 and have Hooper on the bench to run at tired bodies around the 60 min mark. But the poms will just rumble the ball up and pile numbers at the breakdown, like they usually do against us. Not even the inimitable G. Smith could pilfer much against that. Better to throw some big bodies their way early on, counterruck and maybe even maul the bastards.

My guess is that playing 2 fetchers would work best when you have the backs to take advantage of a high-speed game. We don't.

 

[Cutoutpass]

G'day, been lurking for a long time, first time posting.
I'm cautiously optimistic about this game, England are talking about putting a cricket score on us. Hopefully, we respond to that in the same way the French responded to us doing it.
I think a few changes need to be made, firstly, I'd get Dennis off, he's had a shot, it hasn't worked, send him back to Super Rugby for him to work his way back.
I know everyone is talking about the positives and negatives of playing Pocock and Hooper together, but I don't want Pocock to start, he needs to come back via the bench. I've been impressed with the new players enough to say that the injured players need to work their way back into the squad.
So I'd start Gill at 6, he's impressed me. I know that leaves our lineout short, but I don't think Timani should play 6.
Also, Ioane to 11, Cummins to 14, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13, Tapuai to 12. I hate letting McCabe go, cause he's a champion player, but I don't think he's what we need at 12. Sheehan to 9, Phipps to bench.
I know that's huge disruption to the backline, but seeing as there were no working combinations in Paris, and the unit has no semblance of unity, I think its the best option.
If Sharpe wasn't captain I'd say swap him with Timani.
Don't know enough about the dark arts of scrummaging to mess with the props, but something has to change there.

 

[Richo]

Keep Simmons and drop Dennis with Pocock to start. Gotta feel for Simmons. Gets criticised for being soft and comes out and puts the biggest hit on the side made all game. It was no worse than one earlier in the game. It's my view that he went back into his shell after the incident. If he gets his head right he could make a very good combo with Horwill and Douglas

Upending players isn't hard, it's dumb. He was bloody lucky not to put us a man down. Maybe he did go into his shell afterward, but he was also bloody lazy for a bloke who'd been sitting on the pine all game. He did his usual loitering on the wrong side of the ruck and had very little impact. He might be good one day, but if he doesn't improve substantially his spot should be given to one of the other young, performing locks in Super Rugby.

 

[Jets]

G'day, been lurking for a long time, first time posting.
I'm cautiously optimistic about this game, England are talking about putting a cricket score on us. Hopefully, we respond to that in the same way the French responded to us doing it.
I think a few changes need to be made, firstly, I'd get Dennis off, he's had a shot, it hasn't worked, send him back to Super Rugby for him to work his way back.
I know everyone is talking about the positives and negatives of playing Pocock and Hooper together, but I don't want Pocock to start, he needs to come back via the bench. I've been impressed with the new players enough to say that the injured players need to work their way back into the squad.
So I'd start Gill at 6, he's impressed me. I know that leaves our lineout short, but I don't think Timani should play 6.
Also, Ioane to 11, Cummins to 14, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13, Tapuai to 12. I hate letting McCabe go, cause he's a champion player, but I don't think he's what we need at 12. Sheehan to 9, Phipps to bench.
I know that's huge disruption to the backline, but seeing as there were no working combinations in Paris, and the unit has no semblance of unity, I think its the best option.
If Sharpe wasn't captain I'd say swap him with Timani.
Don't know enough about the dark arts of scrummaging to mess with the props, but something has to change there.

Welcome Cutoutpass. I too have cause to be optimistic in regards to this game, unfortunately off the back of the English and not our good form.Not sure about Gill at 6 but it's worth a shot as Dennis isn't showing his Super form from the start of the year.

 

[It is what it is]

We very rarely put 2 good or bad performances together in succession......Wallabies by 10.

 

[The Rant]

I got a thousand GAGR dollars that phipps starts...

BTW - How good would fantasy one-to-one betting on this site be...

 

[Sully]

I've no problem with Phipps starting. But if he's going crap replace him!

 

[Dan54]

I wouldn't write off Wallabies this week, I tend to think that Poms could go into game thinking perhaps their scrum will win it for them, and we all know the French won the game in more than just the scrum. I wish I could give some sage advice on how the Wallabies will win the game, but if I did I would be an international coach, so I will just say I quite hopeful they will play a sight better than last week.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I wouldn't write off Wallabies this week, I tend to think that Poms could go into game thinking perhaps their scrum will win it for them, and we all know the French won the game in more than just the scrum. I wish I could give some sage advice on how the Wallabies will win the game, but if I did I would be an international coach, so I will just say I quite hopeful they will play a sight better than last week.

Not sure that we have our backs yet sufficiently against the wall to pull out one of those bizarre, impossible victories we like to sprinkle in amongst the bizarre inexplicable losses.
My tip is that if we win it will be the result of sheer grit and nothing to do with innovative play - but that's just a hunch.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ But we can win it. ABE.

 

[troxler]

If we only win one match on this tour let it be against the poms!!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^^^IMHO, That result would be a pass mark for the tour.

I am a balanced man. Post-Colonial chips on both shoulders, Rugby and Cricket. ABE.

 

[Roundawhile]

^^^^^IMHO, That result would be a pass mark for the tour.

I am a balanced man. Post-Colonial chips on both shoulders, Rugby and Cricket. ABE.

OK HJ I have to ask - ABE?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Anyone But England.

I'd barack for Outer Mongolia in the World Masters Tiddlywinks over the Soap Dodgers.

 

[Bowside]

I'm pretty sure we drop to 5th in the rankings if we lose this one. Which would see us in the same pool as NZ in 2015. What a total cluster fuck this season has been. I never thought it would get this bad for the wallabies.

 

[The Rant]

I'm pretty sure we drop to 5th in the rankings if we lose this one. Which would see us in the same pool as NZ in 2015. What a total cluster fuck this season has been. I never thought it would get this bad for the wallabies.

Um - is that correct - 1st plays 5th in the pools?? I would have thought 1st and 8th would be seeded in the same pool. Otherwise it's better to be 4th.

 

[matty_k]

I'm pretty sure it would mean a greater chance of meeting NZ before the final.

 

[Bowside]

Um - is that correct - 1st plays 5th in the pools?? I would have thought 1st and 8th would be seeded in the same pool. Otherwise it's better to be 4th.

My mistake. Still would see us up against either South africa, England, France or even argentina in the pools. And as matty said a greater chance of meeting NZ in the quarters.