Baa Baas V Wallabies

[PaarlBok]

When's the team going to be announced.

Mid day today.

 

[PaarlBok]

Blue; you think that Smit's future is at tight head? Are there plans for him to stay there after the EOYT?

If Smit gets a mortgage on your 3 jersey, I'm sure you Saffas could let us borrow a few tight heads for 10 or 20 years...

Havent watch the way the Aussies scrumwent against Wales. Smit past that test with flying colours. CJ's problem is that he plays in the NH. Myself back Snor for not picking that lot and rather use local players. If Smit show his worth in TH in 2009 we'll have two +e in the team, Bismarck in 2 and a good capt. Make sense?

 

[PaarlBok]

Barbarians ? 15 Percy Montgomery (SA), 14 Joe Rokocoko (NZ), 13 Rico Gear (NZ), 12 Jean de Villiers (SA), 11 Bryan Habana (SA), 10 Francois Steyn (SA), 9 Fourie du Preez (SA), 8 Schalk Burger (SA), 7 Richie McCaw (NZ), 6 Jerry Collins (NZ), 5 Johann Muller (SA), 4 Bakkies Botha (SA), 3 Census Johnston (Samoa), 2 John Smit (SA & captain), 1 Federico Pucciariello (Italy). Subs: 16 Mark Regan (England), 17 Rodney Blake (Australia), 18 Chris Jack (NZ), 19 Nick Koster (Western Province), 20 George Gregan (Australia), 21 Ollie Smith (England), 22 Shane Williams (Wales).

Coach ? Jake White

Assistant Coach ? Eddie Jones

 

[fatprop]

Everyone is injured, I am glad I am not paying to see this game

Mr Sheehan gets chance to shine for Wallabies against Barbarians

By Darren Walton
December 02, 2008

BRETT Sheehan received the call he'd been waiting five weeks for when asked to start at half-back for Australia in Thursday's (EDT) clash with the Barbarians at Wembley.

While coach Robbie Deans won't reveal his full line-up until Wednesday, he has told Sheehan to get set for his first appearance of the Wallabies' six-match spring tour.

Save for uncapped lock Peter Kimlin, who is expected to win a place on the bench, Sheehan is the only player in the 34-man squad not to have seen any action on tour.

"It's been a long, hard tour,'' Sheehan said.

"But to get an opportunity to start for Australia, I'm very proud and happy to be doing that and I'm looking forward to it. Can't wait to get out there.

"It will be special playing at Wembley, too. I hear it's a great stadium, so really looking forward to that.

"But, to be honest, I'm just really looking forward to playing some footy. It's been a fair lay-off for me.''
Competition: Fly to Hong Kong to see the Rugby Sevens

Sheehan hasn't played since Warringah's semi-final against Randwick in Sydney club rugby almost three months ago.

As third-string half-back behind NSW Waratahs teammate Luke Burgess and Queensland's Sam Cordingley, Sheehan has hardly even had a chance to hone his passing game on tour.

"I've been training at inside centre most of the time,'' he said.

The 29-year-old said it was important he remained upbeat even when continually being overlooked for selection in Europe.

"If you think about it too much and get down about it, it's going to be torture on you,'' he said.

"It's hard (missing out) because it's what you train for and it's been a long, hard two months of training getting ready and prepared to play.

"But I go into every week hoping that I'm going to be selected and you never know what make-up the team's going to be.''

Sheehan may well come go head-to-head with former Wallabies captain George Gregan, who has been named on the bench for the all-star Barbarians.

But the combative No.9 insisted the world's most-capped player wouldn't be a target for any special attention.

"No, no. Not at all,'' Sheehan said.

"Greges will be treated with the same respect as every other player. He's still a great player, so there'll be none of that.

"We'll just be going into the game thinking about our own game and playing how we want to play.''

With Matt Giteau (ankle, shoulder) and Stirling Mortlock (concussion) to miss the game through injury, Sheehan also offered to take on the goal-kicking responsibilities.

Deans, though, quickly rejected the offer.

"I want Sheeno to concentrate on his game,'' Deans said. "He'll be gutted.''

AAP

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

So Gits is out as well?

Cooper/O'Connor at 10/12? That combo is gonna be tested in defence...

 

[Scotty]

I don't think I like the match up of DeVilliers against JOC (James O'Connor) (particularly with Cooper, the wallabies worst defender on the inside of him)! I think we might see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) there instead? JOC (James O'Connor) can come on later in the game.

 

[Lindommer]

...I'd be ecstatic if Mumm, Pocock and Brown were our starting back row. To me this looks like our 6, 7 & 8 of the future, and I can't think of a better game to blood them in.

Looks like Smith's going to be captain. Let's hope my dream back row gets together some time in the second half.

Did I see Rodney Blake's name in the latest BaaBaas' team list? Que?

 

[Ash]

...I'd be ecstatic if Mumm, Pocock and Brown were our starting back row. To me this looks like our 6, 7 & 8 of the future, and I can't think of a better game to blood them in.

Looks like Smith's going to be captain. Let's hope my dream back row gets together some time in the second half.

Did I see Rodney Blake's name in the latest BaaBaas' team list? Que?

Indeed. That's from left field!

Would've been a kick to see him start at tighthead. Would like to see if he's just as fat and lazy as when he left.

Oh, we're going to lose by plenty I think. Anyone got any predictions?

 

[rugbywhisperer]

For those of you not old enough, two of the best ever games of Rugby, NZ v the Baa Baa's 1971 and Aust vs Baa Baas when Andrew Slacks team took the Grand slam and the Baa Baa's - great month that.

 

[Scarfman]

Can anyone name a better rugby side than this one? I don't care who wins, this is going to be amazing to watch.

 

[formeropenside]

I remain unconvinced that SA players are suited to BaaBaa's rugby, myself, and can't understand why there are so many of them in the side.

 

[PaarlBok]

Ja the wrong coach for the BaaBaas. Should have been the current Bok coach. :fishing waars Blue?

 

[naza]

I remain unconvinced that SA players are suited to BaaBaa's rugby, myself, and can't understand why there are so many of them in the side.

To match the inept Wallaby backs' obsession with up and unders.

 

[Cutter]

Wallabies team:

15. J O'Connor;
14. L Tuqiri,
13. R Cross,
12. A Ashley-Cooper,
11. D Ioane;
10. Q Cooper,
9. B Sheehan;
8. R Brown,
7. G Smith (c),
6. D Mumm,
5. H McMeniman,
4. M Chisholm,
3. M Dunning,
2. T Polota-Nau,
1. S Kepu.

Res:
16. A Freier,
17. B Alexander,
18. P Kimlin,
19. D Pocock,
20. L Burgess,
21. L Turner,
22. D Mitchell.

 

[Sully]

This could go very wrong! Or Wonderfully right.

 

[Spook]

I fear for our backline combos but am looking forward to JOC (James O'Connor) at 15. Our line out is going to be shite as will our scrum.

 

[RugbyReg]

Well we've played Mark Catchpole v the baabaas before and Toutai and Steve Kefu in the centres another time. So let's see.

Tis a damn good BBs team though.

 

[Lindommer]

Shame not to see Kimlin in the run on side. We need to see how good he is to bolster our second row stocks. Hope he gets a good run in the second half.

 

[Scotty]

Big pressure on QC (Quade Cooper) without Giteau outside to help him direct the traffic, made even worse with a non-inside centre at inside centre (although I agree with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s selection, not much other choice there).

It seems that Deans has picked an exciting team, with the new backline players probably best suited to a Baabaas game - JOC (James O'Connor), QC (Quade Cooper) & DI in particular.

 

[Gagger]

I?ve put the names in bold of who in those match ups I reckon will have the edge in terms of quality and form (no bold means equal). While there?s a fair bit of promise in the Wallaby line up, there?s a heap of experience in the BaaBaas. By my reckoning, in the run on 15 there are only two names that shade it for Australia and to many they?d be arguable.

On the up side I look forward to seeing some of the bright stars of the future like O?Connor and Cooper face a real test and (hopefully) show their stuff. On the down side this may never have a chance of happening if the scrum takes a mauling at the hands of Pucciarello (plays for Munster & Italy), Smit and Johnson (who got the better of Sheridan).

I?m looking forward to being at a great game tomorrow night, but I fear it?s going to be a tough lesson for a young Wallaby team.

15. James O?Connor vs Percy Montgomery (RSA)
14. Lote Tuqiri vs Bryan Habana (RSA)
13. Ryan Cross vs Rico Gear (NZ)
12. Adam Ashley-Cooper vs Jean De Villiers (RSA)
11. Digby Ioane vs Joe Rokocoko (NZ)
10. Quade Cooper vs Francois Steyn (RSA)
9. Brett Sheehan vs Fourie DuPreez (RSA)
8. Richard Brown vs Jerry Collins (NZ)
7. George Smith (Captain) vs Richie McCaw (NZ)
6. Dean Mumm vs Schalk Burger (RSA)
5. Hugh McMeniman vs Johann Muller (RSA)
4. Mark Chisholm vs Bakkies 'Baby Eater' Botha (RSA)
3. Matt Dunning vs Federico Pucciarello (ITA)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau vs John Smit Captain (RSA)
1. Sekope Kepu vs Census Johnson (Samoa)

Run on reserves:
16. Adam Freier vs Mark Regan (Pom)
17. Ben Alexander vs Rodney Blake (Aus)
18. Peter Kimlin vs Chris Jack (NZ)
19. David Pocock vs Nick Koster (Western Province)
20. Luke Burgess vs George Gregan (Aus)
21. Lachie Turner vs Ollie Smith (Eng)
22. Drew Mitchell vs Shane Williams (Wales)