Australia v South Africa - Perth - 6 September 2014

[BDA]

I've got the feeling this could be the case too.

1. Slipper
2. Hansen
3. Kepu
4. Horwill
5. Fardy
6. Higgers
7. Hooper
8. Palu

16. TPN
17. Cowan
18. Alexander
19. Simmons
20. Skelton

That starting pack could be worth a look. Not sure about carrying Skelton and Simo on the bench. seems like overkill.

 

[cyclopath]

Re the scrums - Slipper seemed to be struggling at the end of the first and in the second. He was clearly suffering from something. They became clear because the scrum regained its composure once Cowan came on.

He got an injury in the first half and looked a bit ginger after that.
Cowan's performance was pretty good.

 

[KOB1987]

I've got the feeling this could be the case too.

1. Slipper
2. Hansen
3. Kepu
4. Horwill
5. Fardy
6. Higgers
7. Hooper
8. Palu

16. TPN
17. Cowan
18. Alexander
19. Simmons
20. Skelton

Finish the game with Cowan, TPN, Alexander, Simmons, Skelton, Fardy, Hooper, Higgers

I'm sold..

 

[something]

i like the idea of higgers to 6 and fardy into the second row.

 

[KOB1987]

OK so Link will no doubt read this and adhere to our professional advice..

what about the backs, leave the starting line-up the same, ditch Hodgo from the bench and who comes in, Betham or Tomane?

 

[Pfitzy]

Surely that represents at least a random figure picked by a White suppoert decrease in overall performance. I think he may have passed that one into the stands/

Fixed.

Let's go back to the facts: White on field = 0 (zip, zilch, nada) Wallaby tries. Phipps on field = 4 Wallaby tries.

The defence rests, yer honour.

All signs seem to point to Fardy moving to the 2nd row with Horwill. Higgers at 6, Skelton on the bench, Carter and Simmons out.

I can't see much alternative with Jones not called up.

Holy fucking shitballs.

Just in case I didn't make that clear:



HOLY.

FUCKING.

SHITBALLS.

There are some seriously short memories around here.

Please remind me and all of you madmen gagging on this particular phallic idiocy: how did our scrum go with Fardy in the second row against the ABs?

Go find some video if you like, or you can believe me when I say: like busted arse.

And you want to put this up against Argentina? Los Pumas? The guys whose starting tight five gave the ABs a royal fucking touch up?

You are driving me to religion. Clearly the rapture has arrived, and anyone who knows jack shit about rugby has already been taken to heaven, with only you clots and us decently capable sinners left here.

Jesus wept.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Part of me thinks Carter needs to be put out to pasture for the rest of the season. He is reminding me a lot of Horwill in 2013 which shouldn't be surprising, as he like James in 2013 missed games through injury, was rushed back underdone and struggled to impose himself.

But after seeing Skelton play NRC Id doubt we would gain any by replacing Carter with Skelton. In which case what do we do? Go to Jones who in his limited time looked the weakest of our 5 top locks?

 

[Colin Windon]

Skelton is taking some grief over one NRC game. We have seen his impact all season with the Tahs and against the French. The guy has game.

if you want a lineout technician he is not our man. If you want someone to bust it open after 50-60 minutes with 140 kegs of impact and a surprisingly deft passing game he is proven property. He should be in the mix.

I think Links game of dropping game breakers in at the 70 minute mark is a little late for them to settle and impact. Last night Beale at 70 almost looked like it was a desperation move.

Maybe it was genius but thank heavens it worked.

 

[Train Without a Station]

No it's not based on one game. It's based on a trend that has developed since his excellent test debut. The reds game is an example where he was well accounted for. His form in the finals wasn't at the same level and he (with limited opportunity to) didn't impose himself on the all blacks tests.

But even if it was, if you can't impose yourself on fringe super rugby players, how can you be expected to against test players.

 

[cyclopath]

Kudos for all the work..But what are you comparing this to? I recall seeing at least one poor Phipps pass that result in a lost try opportunity. Surely that represents at least a 20% decrease in overall performance. I think he may have passed that one into the stands/

Reduced compared to what? You're not making sense. Are you suggesting an error was 20% of his involvements?
Are you comparing this game to someone else in another? I wasn't.
I'll try and make it clear - I. Was. Looking. At. One. Player's. Performance. In. This. Game. And. Whether. It. Was. Poor. By. Any. Measurable. Data.
I get it, you have a vibe that he was poor, but to try and back it up with a "20%" figure plucked from who knows where does you no service.
Before I did it, I would have guessed the results would have been worse than I got, but not what I would have deemed "poor".
Sometimes, the process of analysing something is educational in itself.
I accept there is a set of people for whom Cooper cannot tackle, Alexander cannot scrum, TPN cannot throw, Palu is always lazy and so on, so I realise there will be those who cannot be convinced to rethink, no matter what data is presented to make a case.
So be it.

 

[KOB1987]

Please remind me and all of you madmen gagging on this particular phallic idiocy: how did our scrum go with Fardy in the second row against the ABs?

That was my immediate thought when the idea was thrown out there but the scrum going backwards then was probably more due to 1) Simmons being in the bin, 2) either Horne or no-one at flanker, and 3) limited or no training with that tight 5, than it was to Fardy being at lock.

Fardy plays lock for the Brumbies more than he does 6 and I think with Horwill as his partner it could work..

or we can just persist with Simmons & Carter and see how that turns out v Los Pumas..

 

[Slim 293]

I accept there is a set of people for whom Cooper cannot tackle, Alexander cannot scrum, TPN cannot throw, Palu is always lazy and so on, so I realise there will be those who cannot be convinced to rethink, no matter what data is presented to make a case.
So be it.

And appparently Fardy can't scrum either according to Pfitzy............

 

[Biffo]

I think Links game of dropping game breakers in at the 70 minute mark is a little late for them to settle and impact. Last night Beale at 70 almost looked like it was a desperation move.

Maybe it was genius but thank heavens it worked.

right on the 70 minute mark, my fellow watchers and i agreed that the only way left for the Wallabies to win was desperation. we thought that the only avenue left for desperation was to bring Beale on for To'omua and hope for some of the Foley/ Beale/ Folau magic. and so it came to pass (sic) with Hot Horne doing the needful on the end of the line.

it's hard to see the introduction of Beale at 72 minutes as anything other than "wtf do we have left?"

btw, did anyone notice that the Wallabies retired to the dressing room (or some other dark place) at half time? has there been any pronouncement on suspension/ abandonment of the on field HT stratagem?

 

[Biffo]

HOLY.

FUCKING.

SHITBALLS.

There are some seriously short memories around here.

Please remind me and all of you madmen gagging on this particular phallic idiocy: how did our scrum go with Fardy in the second row against the ABs?

Go find some video if you like, or you can believe me when I say: like busted arse.

And you want to put this up against Argentina? Los Pumas? The guys whose starting tight five gave the ABs a royal fucking touch up?

You are driving me to religion. Clearly the rapture has arrived, and anyone who knows jack shit about rugby has already been taken to heaven, with only you clots and us decently capable sinners left here.

Jesus wept.

Mate, right on the button.
let me reiterate.
right on the fcukking b-u-t-t-o-n.

 

[Pfitzy]

btw, did anyone notice that the Wallabies retired to the dressing room (or some other dark place) at half time? has there been any pronouncement on suspension/ abandonment of the on field HT stratagem?

Threat of rain the issue I think Biffo. Also a bit chilly for wet players in the wind.

 

[Lorenzo]

No it's not based on one game. It's based on a trend that has developed since his excellent test debut. The reds game is an example where he was well accounted for. His form in the finals wasn't at the same level and he (with limited opportunity to) didn't impose himself on the all blacks tests.

But even if it was, if you can't impose yourself on fringe super rugby players, how can you be expected to against test players.

It doesn't work like that. Higginbotham had a rubbish Super season according to most of this forum and now looks to claim a starting spot after making a positive impression as a substitute the last two matches. Kuridrani was considered 2nd best to AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as 13 after the Super season, but has not put a foot wrong as a starting Wallaby and now looks as solid as anyone.

It may not be logical, but there are guys that can step up despite not having a good year in Super just as there are guys that look like world beaters at Super level only to be rubbish at test level.

 

[Biffo]

Threat of rain the issue I think Biffo. Also a bit chilly for wet players in the wind.

that's what we suspected.
will be interesting to see what happens next week.

we may have also to record choice of hotels for the Wallabies as an indicator of the evolution of the new culture.

 

[Train Without a Station]

No worries. After being easily accounted for by Pat Laefa, Sam Jeffries, etc I'm sure he will just run straight through Bismark Du Plesis and Estebeth then

 

[Benaud]

It doesn't work like that. Higginbotham had a rubbish Super season according to most of this forum and now looks to claim a starting spot after making a positive impression as a substitute the last two matches. Kuridrani was considered 2nd best to AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as 13 after the Super season, but has not put a foot wrong as a starting Wallaby and now looks as solid as anyone.

It may not be logical, but there are guys that can step up despite not having a good year in Super just as there are guys that look like world beaters at Super level only to be rubbish at test level.

I reckon Jones has been dubiously thrown into that category. Best super rugby lock but his one test wasn't much chop so he's not up to it?

Haha enjoyed Pfitzy's post there. As mentioned earlier, I'm not big on the idea of Fardy at lock anymore either, but with Jones not called up it is either that or carry Carter again. I've stuck with Simmons in my preferred starting side all year but we've reached a point where I don't think even our most loyal Simmons fan TWAS could possibly justify his inclusion again. That was certainly a straw that finally broke the duck's back performance. The only other option is starting Skelton, but still need a benchy then.

I've got a feeling we'll see Fardy's head between some front row arses on Sat.

 

[wamberal]

Jones is not up to it. Maybe he will be, eventually, but he just not have the mongrel and physicality to be a success at the moment.


He does have some good attributes. He should go and play ITM Cup and learn how to get down and dirty.