Bledisloe #1 - AUS v NZL, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, August 8th

[Tomikin]

Based on an admittedly underwhelming EOYT?

Based on being the form winger in Oz for 3 years straight.. Eoyt he was back from a hamstring injury from 8 weeks out. Based on attack defence and skills.

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[Bullrush]

Based on being the form winger in Oz for 3 years straight.. Eoyt he was back from a hamstring injury from 8 weeks out. Based on attack defence and skills.

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In the last 3 years I would have picked Digby and JOC (James O'Connor) at wing over Speight at Test level.

 

[Groucho]

In the last 3 years I would have picked Digby and JOC (James O'Connor) at wing over Speight at Test level.

In the last three years, Digby and JOC (James O'Connor) have struggled to hold down starting positions in France. This year, JOC (James O'Connor) has failed to make an impact at the Reds, other than in the form of brainfarts. Of course you would have picked them for the Wallabies: you're a Kiwi.

 

[Marcelo]

With Hoopah this is my team:

1 Sio
2 Moore (c)
3 Holmes
4 Simmons
5 Skelton
6 Fardy
7 Pocock
8 McCalman
9 Phipps
10 Giteau
11 Tomane
12 Leali'ifano (To'omua needs rest)
13 Kuridrani
14 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
15 Folau

16 TPN
17 Smith (Slipper needs rest)
18 Kepu
19 Horwill
20 Hooper
21 White
22 Foley
23 Mitchell

 

[Dan54]

Ok for all the moaners, I personally think the judicial officer has got the Hooper sentence bang on!! Ok you not allowed to strike, but neither are you allowed to hold back players without the ball (and I would of smacked any bugger holding me back, or got smacked for doing it, and did too), so I think Hampton has used a bit of common sense, he has barred him from a match he was never going to play, so a bit like a conviction without sentence to me. If any of you really wanted to see him hung for that, piss of and watch some other sport. Hooper has now got a record, so in the case of something else happening he will probably not get so much leniency. Just seems fair to this kiwi. Oh and the posters who had a whinge about Hampton being a kiwi so not being impartial, I think you have been proved to be idiots too!!

 

[Braveheart81]

Great synopsis. Hooper got lucky that there is a week before the Bledisloe which combined with his clean record meant he got a one week suspension which doesn't see him missing a test.

If he'd had a prior suspension he would have missed the test match.

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[KOB1987]

There is many a precedent where a suspended player has claimed a club game they were never going to play in as one of their match bans. If hooper wasn't able to do the same there would have been an appeal, which he would have won.

What @Dan54 said. Case closed.

Bring on the game!


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[jollyswagman]

YEAH! What Dan54 said X 2!

Can we get back to discussing George Muthafucking Smith now?

 

[Dave Beat]

Like I said above, you can't confidently say that it was a push. You can't see the point of impact. That is your opinion, not fact.

But that's the other shit I get so sick of reading. But what about so and so that once did this thing to the other guy?!?! What about that??
By all means, have a whinge about inconsistencies in outcomes or non outcomes as the case may be of judicial hearings but that is an entirely seperate issue and doesn't make what Hooper did any more ok.

I don't think he should have got time, but i also understand your debate.

Hooper has a clean sheet, isn't a dirty player, and doesn't even provoke on the field. It looks like a seriously hard push to me and the inertia of the body swing around increase the power behind it. So i think it was a rack off leave me alone push - is it allowed is it not?

If it came from a player with form on the board, and a history sheet the penalty may have been slightly different, a little more severe.

The way it has played out - we now know if you do something like this you will get time. The severity of it comes down to players form and the incident, which i think is an outcome which is fair.

I think it was a push, everyone I've showed thinks the same, as for the fairy who took the dive - will we have to put up with his shit next super season?

 

[Dave Beat]

Very happy to know Hooper will be playing next Saturday. Cant wait to see a bit of Pooper late in the game. Pocock to start, Hooper off the bench.

I'm going - i would love that they both start.

 

[KOB1987]

So we get a squad announcement today - any idea what time, and how many players?

 

[Lindommer]

Thoughts on the selections for the two Bleds:

• Smith and Faulkner have been selected for the RWC squad, it's time to see how good they are as they'll both be required in England some time later this year. One gets a run from the bench the first week, the other the following week
• Slipper desperately needs some time in rehab. I'd risk giving him three weeks off to attend to his niggles.
• The backup second-rower spot needs to be sorted out. I'd have Horwill for one match and Mumm or Arnold the other.
• Higgers gets a final chance to see if he's up to test rugby. These two matches are a golden opportunity to tie down his spot in the RWC squad as the backup 6; I'd start him for one of the tests as BSF.
• DO NOT START HOOPER AND POCOCK TOGETHER FOR EITHER MATCH! We'll get murdered at the set piece.
• Palu should get a start at 8 for the second game to see if he's regained fitness.
• Leali'ifano's Super form this year warrants a start at 12, I'd have him there for both matches.
• Foley starts one match, Cooper the other.
• Is Genia up to a bench spot for either test?
• Speight's Super form warrants a start in at least one match.

The performances of Higginbotham, Leali'ifano and Speight against the ABs should clear up their selections, or not, in the RWC squad.

 

[zer0]

There is many a precedent where a suspended player has claimed a club game they were never going to play in as one of their match bans. If hooper wasn't able to do the same there would have been an appeal, which he would have won.

I, personally, don't care about the specifics of Hooper's case, but I do not like the using of lower grade matches to keep players available for test matches; as has been done here, and as was done with Andrew Hore (I think it was) a few years ago.

The best suggestion I read was to have bans applicable to the level they were given and above. Taking Hooper's case as an example, he could play as many times as he wanted for his club, but those matches would have no bearing on his ban which would apply only to test matches. Similarly, a player given a ban in Super Rugby would not be available for Super Rugby matches or test matches, but again, could turn out for his club as much as he wanted.

 

[daz]

273 posts, and for mine, it all boils down to this:

We have a coach who has picked his team. No excuses; no if, buts or fucking maybe's allowed. Win the fucking Bled, Wallabies.

That is all.

 

[Bullrush]

In the last three years, Digby and JOC (James O'Connor) have struggled to hold down starting positions in France. This year, JOC (James O'Connor) has failed to make an impact at the Reds, other than in the form of brainfarts. Of course you would have picked them for the Wallabies: you're a Kiwi.

I'm not saying that I would pick them today but 3 years ago, are you saying you would have taken Speight over Ioane.
My point is simply that Speight has, to date, proven nothing at Test level.

 

[KOB1987]

FWIW, the Aus today has 4 'selectors' - Dwyer, Connolly, Horan, Kafer - picking their side for the first Bled. Moore, Simmons, Pocock, Fardy, Kuridrani and Folau are in everyone's side. Horan is the only one that picks the Pooper to start. Kafer is the only one that has QC (Quade Cooper) anywhere and that's on the bench.

I don't know what planet Kafer has been on but he has Kane Douglas to start. Reportedly he will sign with the Reds today. I won't be surprised if he is named in an extended squad today but as he is only meant to recommence contact training next week if it's for anything more than to keep in the RWC calcs I'd surprised.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...k-to-face-blacks/story-e6frg7v6-1227463938752

 

[KOB1987]

This is the consensus starting XV (dead heats bracketed together):

1. Sio
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Skelton
5. Simmons
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8. McCalman
9. Phipps
10. Foley
11. Horne/Mitchell/Speight
12. To'omua/Giteau
13. Kuridrani
14. Ashley-Cooper
15. Folau

 

[Gagger]

273 posts, and for mine, it all boils down to this:

We have a coach who has picked his team. No excuses; no if, buts or fucking maybe's allowed. Win the fucking Bled, Wallabies.

That is all.

I prefer to boil it up

 

[Gagger]

• Higgers gets a final chance to see if he's up to test rugby. These two matches are a golden opportunity to tie down his spot in the RWC squad as the backup 6; I'd start him for one of the tests as BSF.

And the definition of madness is....

 

[Viking]

Thoughts on the selections for the two Bleds:

• Smith and Faulkner have been selected for the RWC squad, it's time to see how good they are as they'll both be required in England some time later this year. One gets a run from the bench the first week, the other the following week
• Slipper desperately needs some time in rehab. I'd risk giving him three weeks off to attend to his niggles.
• The backup second-rower spot needs to be sorted out. I'd have Horwill for one match and Mumm or Arnold the other.
• Higgers gets a final chance to see if he's up to test rugby. These two matches are a golden opportunity to tie down his spot in the RWC squad as the backup 6; I'd start him for one of the tests as BSF.
• DO NOT START HOOPER AND POCOCK TOGETHER FOR EITHER MATCH! We'll get murdered at the set piece.
• Palu should get a start at 8 for the second game to see if he's regained fitness.
• Leali'ifano's Super form this year warrants a start at 12, I'd have him there for both matches.
• Foley starts one match, Cooper the other.
• Is Genia up to a bench spot for either test?
• Speight's Super form warrants a start in at least one match.

The performances of Higginbotham, Leali'ifano and Speight against the ABs should clear up their selections, or not, in the RWC squad.

BUT if we start Horwill or Mumm at lock surely it will not affect the set-piece allowing us to start Hooper and Pocock.

They are the best 2 players in our entire team, I'd want them on the field for at least the first 60mins before you bring on Skelton.