Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
The real worry is we have lost one of our tackling machines to be replaced with ...
Who else has been ruled out?
The real worry is we have lost one of our tackling machines to be replaced with ...
You should look up the stats.Who else has been ruled out?
You should look up the stats.
Why would you compare him to the backrow? He is one of our top tacklers and his completion rate is in the 90% range.
Shame, Timani and Simmons could have given Horwill a rest. Fardy might be the reserve lock at this rate.
Simmons out...
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/simmons-ruled-out-of-wallabies-test-20131031-2wi0g.html
Now, I was under the impression that Mowen had been calling the lineouts all year?
He was definitely running them under Deans during the Lions' series, and appeared to continue doing so under Link....
So, this line is bamboozling:
However, that might also just be lazy journalism from Jim Morton, as Georgina Robinson states:
Now that seems to indicate that Mowen and Simmons share the role, or that Simmons was the backup (obviously)...
I hardly see how having the best lineout operator in the country take sole control of the lineout is worrying, unless of course he's off the field like in Bled II when the lineout disintegrated (under Simmons' watch)...
It's only worrying if there's any truth in the idea that Horwill, who has never run a lineout, somehow needs to offer assistance...
Simmons has been a rock in defence and calls some of the lineouts, so his absence will put enormous pressure on Australia.
I expect a heavy workrate from our locks...
His completion rate is higher because he attempts less tackles:
Simmons: 48/53 (91%) 7 tests (518mins)
Horwill: 34/49 (69%) 5 tests (365mins)
Fardy 64/71 (90%) 5 tests (360 mins) *only played 9 mins in Bled I
Hooper 70/89 (79%) 7 tests (524 mins)
Mowen 65/83 (78%) 7 tests (533 mins)
Personally if Horwill is playing then he should also be captain
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Tom Youngs
3. Dan Cole
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Tom Wood
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Billy Vunipula
9. Lee Dickson
10. Owen Farrell
11. Marland Yarde
12. Billy Twelvetrees
13. Joel Tomkins
14. Chris Ashton
15. Mike Brown
16. Dylan Hartley
17. Joe Marler
18. David Wilson
19. David Attwood
20. Ben Morgan
21. Ben Youngs
22. Toby Flood
23. Ben Foden
English media have confirmed this is the team.