Australia vs British and Irish Lions - 1st Test (Brisbane)

[Scotty]

I think this is a smokescreen article to be honest. The team will be more like:

1 Robinson
2 Moore
3 Alexander
4 Douglas
5 Horwill
6 Mowen
7 Hooper
8 Palu
9 Genia
10 JOC (James O'Connor)
11 Ioane
12 Lilo
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14 Folau
15 Barnes

Fa'aingaa, Kepu, Slipper, MMM, Gill, Phipps, McCabe, Beale

First the Brumby win, now the Wallaby team. If I was a betting man I'd be rich (this week anyway).

 

[Scotty]

In my humble opinion, I think there is zero chance of Folau being chosen on the wing, and If Fa'aingaa is our 2nd Best Hooker, then we will have big problems in that Department.

Ahem.

 

[Scotty]

That side is pretty good, should be more than enough to beat the Lions.

Bring it on you limey Brits!!!!

I'm sure the Irish would be very happy with you right now.

Good team, biggest concern must be fitness. There is a lot of underdone cattle:

Palu, Ioane, Barnes, Beale, McCabe possibly MMM on the bench.

 

[Scotty]

When Barnes doesn't play at 10 for Australia he seems to chime into first receiver an awful lot, actually a little too much for my liking. Would normally like him a bit wider and let the 10 take the ball first more, but with JOC (James O'Connor) at 10 this may work better, but it then sorts of waste Lelo at 12. Swings and roundabouts.

Even better option would be to sometimes swap Folau and Barnes in attack. Folau can come into the line in the 13 channel and get some offloads away.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Quietly confident of Wobs victory given the head to head comparison of the teams.

Well there was one before in the post above.

 

[Richo]

Word is the bench is:

Fainga'a
Slipper
Kepu
Simmons
Gill
Phipps
McCabe
Beale

Not too many surprises there, no MMM maybe but not sure his fitness levels.
.

Not sure about the balance here. It really puts paid to the lock/6 cover rationale in the selection of Dennis, MMM and Kimlin.

To my mind, it would have been better to just pick between Simmons and Douglas and then use the combo forward off the bench.

 

[Scotty]

I suspect that Deans views it more important to have a specialist lock as cover than a half lock, and that MMM wasn't deemed fit enough?

I agree with the selection, partially because it means we are very likely to see Gill and Hooper in combination, and I think this could be very damaging against the Lions.

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

i have just been reading an article, in which Shane Williams is rabbiting on about 2009, and how "we should have won", and "We worked hard and we believed we should have won that series. If we hadn't deserved that series it would be easier to take"... and on and on...

Now this is not exactly a 'science', but it did give me cause to consider what seems to be a particularly british mindset... As these Tours come round every 12 years, it is understandable to a degree, for players to reflect on past events - to a degree, but it seems to me the teams that come out of Britain are steeped in this tradition of living in the past, and not being in the present. It's not quite a 'seige' mentality - its more of a 'always hard done-by' mentality...

I hope the B&I Lions ARE sitting around talking about 2009, and I hope that the Welsh players ARE lying awake in their beds, thinking about the 8 straight losses - because when it comes to those critical moments in matches, and those periods of sustained pressure, this mindset can quickly convert into an "oh no, here we go again" mentality that can rush thru a team like a freight train...

(For different reasons, we have seen this freight train also run through a few AIG teams in World Cups, over the years)...

The Brumbies have shown the way - less flash, no bullshit, and steady, calculated, ruthless play...

It is important for australia to get out of the blocks with a first-up win, and to do that, they need to hit the lead early, and not play catch-up rugby. We will miss old heads like Pocock and Nathan Sharpe - but I think there is enough steady-mindedness in this wallaby side for them to squueze out an ugly win.

It should be a cracker.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I suspect that Deans views it more important to have a specialist lock as cover than a half lock, and that MMM wasn't deemed fit enough?

I agree with the selection, partially because it means we are very likely to see Gill and Hooper in combination, and I think this could be very damaging against the Lions.

I'd also like to see two 7's operating against a tiring B&I Lions team towards the end of the game for 20-25 minutes.

The bigger question is has Dingo remembered where the bench is, and which number to ring up to get the Wobs sideline staff to empty the bloody thing?

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

I'd also like to see two 7's operating against a tiring B&I Lions team towards the end of the game for 20-25 minutes.

The bigger question is has Dingo remembered where the bench is, and which number to ring up to get the Wobs sideline staff to empty the bloody thing?

Be careful what you wish for - I have watched far too many Super Rugby managers scew-up perfectly functioning combinations this year out of some muddle headed belief that fresher is bettter - only to see what combination, and what slim chance of victory they had, disintegrate before our very eyes.

Jake White had the right idea on Tuesday Night - if it ain't broke, let the bench sit there. (not to pretend it may have been different, had he a stronger bench).

post note: nevertheless Hugh, I too would like to see 2 number 7s operating for the last 20 or so... what we do need is one of our flankers to play a very wide game, and cover these constant overlaps...

 

[Zander]

Freshness is definitely not better. It takes a while to get into a game, reading the pace of it and getting into right positions. Sometimes being fresh means you over do it and end up making zero tackles or carries as you try to be everywhere.

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

stuart barnes thinks that JOC (James O'Connor) at number 10 is a mistake, and one that will lead to the Wallabies losing the first test. Based on that being His Opinion, I am going to jot it down as a Masterstroke. Now, all I need is for Clive Woodward to call for Folau to be selected on the Wing...

 

[ACT Crusader]

I'd also like to see two 7's operating against a tiring B&I Lions team towards the end of the game for 20-25 minutes.

The bigger question is has Dingo remembered where the bench is, and which number to ring up to get the Wobs sideline staff to empty the bloody thing?

I reckon OZ will need the extra pace in the loose as the Lions will want to play a high paced game with their own plethora of loose forwards.

 

[shannon]

Still hoping we play running rugby and Quade gets to start.

would be nice but shame we have a Kiwi who isn't trying to enforce an "Australian" brand of football. IN fact isn't trying to enforce any style of rugby other then that of a depleted inexperienced Waratahs team.

 

[ACT Crusader]

would be nice but shame we have a Kiwi who isn't trying to enforce an "Australian" brand of football. IN fact isn't trying to enforce any style of rugby other then that of a depleted inexperienced Waratahs team.

Ahhh yes the infamous "Australian" rugby of your fly half standing so deep and then crabbing sideways ala Giteau under Knuckles or could it be the constant recycle but make very little go forward ala Eddie Jones circa 2003-04 or I wonder if its the keep it under the jersey and tight as in what we saw under Aussie Bob.....

 

[ChargerWA]

Hello, ticketek. I have had two tickets stolen. Their numbers are ^^^

I think they recommend you don't put the numbers up anywhere public.

 

[BDA]

really? haha ..boned

 

[BDA]

Well thanks for ruining my fun ChargerWA

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^^ but potentially saving your legitimate seats from being invalidated as a consequence of the unscrupulous actions of parties unknown.

 

[gel]

I am really happy to see Lilo and Folau getting a gig - they really deserve this and I am amped to see them rip it up.

Whilst my excitement for the game is building, and certainly not being too surprised or disappointed by the team list leaked thus far, I find I am still a little uneasy about the lack of game fitness for quite a few of the wallabies, along with a number of them playing out of position and the bench doesn't really appear to be an "impact" type bench - more of a group of players that are starters. Still, I am sure those in charge know what they are doing - that's why they get paid the big bucks.

I must admit I may not have paid too much attention in the past, but is Douglas not typically a 5?