Australia vs South Africa - Brisbane 7th Sept 2013

[Zander]

I thought Higginbotham dislocated his shoulder? That's 3 months max.

 

[Scotty]

Hi Lewisr. lets reframe the myth then. Can Quade be dominant in defense? Because if the answer is no, what plans / tactics are used in the event of heavy traffic in his defensive channel ? Do these plans undermine a different aspect to the Wallaby gameplan?

Since when does anyone pick a 10 because they are dominant in defense?

And also on a previous post of yours - since when does the opposition playing 10 man rugby require our 10 to make a lot of tackles - I don't think you understand the concept of 10 man rugby?

 

[Scotty]

I don't really see the controversy in starting Cooper over To'omua. First, Cooper was probably a bit unlucky not to get a shot at 10 from the start. Second, Link is two games into his Wallaby coaching career -- he should have some leeway to change things up a bit. Third, on what Link said then/now/whenever about Quade/To'omua/the bench -- he should have the right to change his mind or shift his valuation of performances and players.

Exactly.

I would even guess that this was his plan all along. It is rotation and testing combinations not a dropping of To'omua.

 

[Dan54]

Sorry Dmac I couldn't read your post, found the reference to the Wallabies as Wobs too grating. No doubt it is the paranoia in me thinking it smacks of cocky kiwis calling the Wallabies Wobblies.

We Aussies are never cocky. Except when we win sport. Which I suppose is, historically, quite a lot.

Yep Ath, but to be fair to Dmac he is posting on a RUGBY forum, not a general sports one

 

[KOB1987]

According to the Oz Schatz is set to replace Fardy in the starting XV:




The fuck?

The only justification for that would be if it was thought Mowen was weak at 8, as none of the other back 5 play there regularly..still, I'd rather McCalman's experience there in a game against the Boks..happy to see Fardy come off the bench though, if only purely because he will have a huge impact!! He should be starting though, it's all pretty odd.

 

[emuarse]

So Brett Harris in the Australian writes:

The possible Wallabies team:

15: Israel Folau, 14: Nick Cummins, 13: Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12: Christian Lealiifano, 11: James O'Connor, 10: Quade Cooper, 9: Will Genia, 8: Jake Schatz, 7: Michael Hooper, 6: Ben Mowen, 5: James Horwill (c), 4: Rob Simmons, 3: Ben Alexander, 2: Stephen Moore, 1: James Slipper. Reserves: 16: Saia Fainga'a, 17: Sekope Kepu, 18: Scott Sio, 19: Kane Douglas, 20: Scott Fardy, 21: Nic White, 22: Tevita Kuridrani, 23: Matt To'omua.

Assuming this is the team, then congrats to Jake Schatz for his inaugural test call up. He has been the quiet achiever in the Reds forward pack this year, and has just won the player's player of the year award there, the Pilecki Medal, as well as the most improved player award.
Surprisingly, Schatz compares in physical size closely to Kieran Read, at 109kg (KR 108kg) & 192cm (KR 193cm).
And before the fern munchers here exercise their digits on the keyboard, he's still only 23 to Read's 27, and will definitely improve with playing experience (how good was Read at 23?)
Link's selection of him is probably in that with Palu starting to fall apart two years out from the RWC, the Wallabies are in need of another specialist No 8 as well as Higginbotham (110kg, 195cm).

 

[KOB1987]

I was only thinking after my last post that with a bit of attrition coming our way with regards to the back row, some new talent coming through, and with the number 1 combination of 6. Higginbotham 7. Pocock 8. Palu out of play, there are no real stand outs so it's a good time to experiment and work towards 2015.

 

[No4918]

The inclusion of Shatz over Fardy makes sense if Link wants big impact from the bench.

 

[Scrubber2050]

WTF

 

[KOB1987]

it's only speculation by the journo, I wouldn't be surprised if Fardy stays there and Schatz is actually in for Mowen. Mowen hasn't done a great deal since the second Lions test (or was it the first one?).

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Stuff Jake Schatz (not really good luck to the young fella) but THE HONEY BADGER!!!!!!!!

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: FWD – Slipper, Moore, Kepu, Simmons, Horwill, Fardy, Hooper, Mowen

BACKS – Genia, Cooper, O’Connor, Leali’ifano, Ashley-Cooper, Cummins, Folau

BENCH – S. Fainga’a, Sio, Alexander, Douglas, Schatz, White, To'omua, Mogg

 

[Zander]

1. Slipper
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Horwill
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Mowen
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. O'Connor
12. Lealiifano
13. Ashley-Cooper
14. Cummins
15. Folau

16. Fainga'a
17. Sio
18. Alexander
19. Douglas
20. Schatz
21. White
22. To'omua
23. Mogg

 

[Ash]

Kruidrani dropped off the bench after failing to make an impact is no real surprise.

Mogg to the bench is also no surprise, with Cummins to the wing. Cummins will probably also be the back up 13.

I suspect that Kepu is there to attempt to stabilise the scrums.

Gill being dropped is maybe a bit of a surprise, but I think Link wants more size off the bench against the Saffas.

 

[Ash]

There seems to be a lot of optimism about the Wobs here (not surprisingly) but where do you think the Wobs have an advantage over the boks at the moment?

Not in set piece, fielding high ball, effective kicking from hand, giving away penalties (depending on whatever the ref had for lunch of course ) and on recent form basic catching and passing.

And yet most punters seem to think the boks have no chance because its at suncorp and they don't 'travel' well.

Serious question, just wher do the wobs have a match winning advantage?
I suspect the Wobs have a bigger 'reversal of form' mountain to climb than the boks do to win this one.

There's a few places we should be over them. I'd take our back three right now, especially with the inclusion of Kirchner. At this stage, I'd also take our ability to get the ball across the backs. I think that the first game vs the Argies was the exception as opposed to the norm, as I can't see Meyer playing anything other than a kicking based tactical game, particularly when you look at who is playing 10 for the Boks.

Games at Suncorp have traditionally allowed the Wallabies to play a more expansive game that the Boks have struggled to deal with. I suspect that the inclusion of Cooper that the Wallabies will play a more up tempo game.

The other area is getting over the ball at ruck time. The Boks will be in your face and confrontational at ruck time, but apart from Bismark don't really have anyone that has good technique over the ball, which seems to be something that Meyer doesn't value.

I would also back our lineout to be fine at this stage if Kruger starts. Scrums could go either way, depending if Kepu can hold his on. I'm unconcerned with the Saffa tightheads.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think these are some pretty good changes by Link.

Folau needed to move to fullback and if anything it's probably good for Mogg to be nursed into the Wallabies a bit more off the bench. I think if he'd started again and not had a good game then he'd be more likely to be jettisoned from the 23 altogether rather than retained on the bench. Everyone knows he has a lot to offer, but he needs a bit more time to bring those skills to the high pressure games.

Kuridrani getting dropped was a good move. He has made too many mistakes coming off the bench and unless he's going to make a big impact, you don't want to be replacing AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) just to give a reserve a run. Even when AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has a really quiet game (as he did in the second Bledisloe), his game is very close to error-free.

For all the South Africans complaining about Kirschner, I remember him having a pretty strong game against the Wallabies last year at Loftus.

 

[barbarian]

That is the most agreeable Wallaby 15 I have seen in a loooong time.

I am a bit excited about Saturday now, can't wait to see what that team can do!
.

 

[KOB1987]

My only query: who plays open side if we lose Hooper?

Maybe it's back to the good old days of left & right flankers, which wouldn't be a disaster against the Saffas if they persist with the 10 man game.

 

[KOB1987]

That is the most agreeable Wallaby 15 I have seen in a loooong time.

I am a bit excited about Saturday now, can't wait to see what that team can do!
.

I like it too and am making the trip from Central West NSW!!

 

[Richo]

Exactly.

I would even guess that this was his plan all along. It is rotation and testing combinations not a dropping of To'omua.

That's entirely possible.