Bledisloe 1 - Wallabies vs All Blacks, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 8:05pm

[RebelYell]

I still reckon Horne a great option for a 6/2 split.

 

[Viking]

Let's say our backline is:

9. Genia, 10. Foley, 11. DHP/Mitchell, 12. Giteau, 13. Kuridrani/Kerevi 14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), 15. Folau

22. Phipps, 23. ???

If you only have the two back reserves, it creates a big potential shuffle if there is an injury.

Let's say 23 is To'omua. He covers 10/12. If 13 or one of the back three goes down, who plays there? It probably means To'omua on the wing because anything else is a big reshuffle. You could potentially move Foley to fullback and To'omua or Giteau to 10 but moving your 10 due to an injury elsewhere is a pretty big reshuffle.

If 23 is Kerevi you could say that he covers 12, 13, 14. Giteau becomes your reserve 10, and DHP/Mitchell/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) your reserve fullback.

That could be a decent option in this scenario.

Cheika will not shift Foley at 10, don't we remember when he brought QC (Quade Cooper) on the wing and keeping Foley at 10 instead of re-shuffling the backline. And this was in a game when Foley was really struggling to have any sort of impact.

 

[KOB1987]

^^^^the video on that article would appear to have TK in the B team. Kerevi or Folau at 13?

 

[Braveheart81]

Cheika will not shift Foley at 10, don't we remember when he brought QC (Quade Cooper) on the wing and keeping Foley at 10 instead of re-shuffling the backline. And this was in a game when Foley was really struggling to have any sort of impact.

Yes, I agree that won't happen.

^^^^the video on that article would appear to have TK in the B team. Kerevi or Folau at 13?

In the Foxsports article where they are standing in the huddle? That must be an old video because it includes Holmes and Naiyaravoro.

 

[KOB1987]

OH OK, my bad

 

[Simon.]

Let's say our backline is:

9. Genia, 10. Foley, 11. DHP/Mitchell, 12. Giteau, 13. Kuridrani/Kerevi 14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), 15. Folau

22. Phipps, 23. ???

If you only have the two back reserves, it creates a big potential shuffle if there is an injury.

Let's say 23 is To'omua. He covers 10/12. If 13 or one of the back three goes down, who plays there? It probably means To'omua on the wing because anything else is a big reshuffle. You could potentially move Foley to fullback and To'omua or Giteau to 10 but moving your 10 due to an injury elsewhere is a pretty big reshuffle.

If 23 is Kerevi you could say that he covers 12, 13, 14. Giteau becomes your reserve 10, and DHP/Mitchell/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) your reserve fullback.

That could be a decent option in this scenario.

If you are going 6/2 you need a true utility back in the 23 jersey IMO. Much as I love Kerevi I wouldn't be putting him at 23 in a 6/2 bench as he is not a utility. Even To'omua doesn't really cover the outside backs positions.

With Beale and Hunt both out of contention the obvious player for my mind is Hodge. Cooper would be another option with his recent experience at fullback for Toulon, depending on the makeup of the rest of the backline.

 

[Braveheart81]

If you are going 6/2 you need a true utility back in the 23 jersey IMO. Much as I love Kerevi I wouldn't be putting him at 23 in a 6/2 bench as he is not a utility. Even To'omua doesn't really cover the outside backs positions.

With Beale and Hunt both out of contention the obvious player for my mind is Hodge. Cooper would be another option with his recent experience at fullback for Toulon, depending on the makeup of the rest of the backline.

If you'd pick Kerevi above Hodge for 12 or 13 though then I don't see why you'd pick Hodge because he can also play 15. In my scenario you'd probably have DHP on one win so he'd be your reserve fullback.

Both of them are out of position on the wing but it's doable.

Hodge wouldn't be brought on at 10 so the fact that he can play there a bit of a moot point in my opinion.

All that said, I think Cheika will go for a regular 5:3 bench. The 6:2 bench limits your tactical replacements if you're looking at someone being a finisher (i.e. Cooper from the Foxsports article) rather than having 6 backs you expect to play the whole game and one player as injury cover for them.

 

[Viking]

Can Git's comfortably last 80mins? I thought he was struggling at the RWC.

I'd imagine if he started they would earmark a replacement to replace him with 20/30mins to go. Most likely To'omua.

Worst case scenario is that he does play 80min, but the clear intention from Cheika is that he should be replaced if it's possible.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I will be very disappointed if DHP doesn't make the starting side. Clearly the best domestic option for one of the wing spots and a strong player at the back to asist Folau. Mitchell probably should miss out owing to so little recent game time.

The bench is a quandary. Mitchell can cover wing allowing AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to cover 15 and 13, or DHP to move to 15. But I think it would need to be a 5/3 split to get Dru onto the bench. Personally, I think it will be a No 9, To'omua and one of Kerevi or Mitchell, but it would also be a shame if Kerevi misses out.

 

[Viking]

Bench will be a 6:3 split.

Starters:
9. Phipps
10. Foley
12. Gits

Bench
21. Genia
22. Cooper
23. To'omua

Straight swap all players with 30mins to go and Cheika gets a good look who's gunna hold their positions for the rest of the season.

I should be a coach

 

[No4918]

Bench will be a 6:3 split.

Starters:
9. Phipps
10. Foley
12. Gits

Bench
21. Genia
22. Cooper
23. To'omua

Straight swap all players with 30mins to go and Cheika gets a good look who's gunna hold their positions for the rest of the season.

I should be a coach

If only you could count, a 5:3 split may be more likely. Don't quit your day job.

 

[emuarse]

To change the subject, did anybody notice that Matthew Burke picked Giteau at 10 in his team in the Hurled?

That means that Giteau won't be playing at 10 then?

 

[emuarse]

Let's say our backline is:

9. Genia, 10. Foley, 11. DHP/Mitchell, 12. Giteau, 13. Kuridrani/Kerevi 14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), 15. Folau

22. Phipps, 23. ???

If you only have the two back reserves, it creates a big potential shuffle if there is an injury.

Let's say 23 is To'omua. He covers 10/12. If 13 or one of the back three goes down, who plays there? It probably means To'omua on the wing because anything else is a big reshuffle. You could potentially move Foley to fullback and To'omua or Giteau to 10 but moving your 10 due to an injury elsewhere is a pretty big reshuffle.

If 23 is Kerevi you could say that he covers 12, 13, 14. Giteau becomes your reserve 10, and DHP/Mitchell/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) your reserve fullback.

That could be a decent option in this scenario.

On your selected back line, I'd say probably QC (Quade Cooper) on the pine. He can certainly play 10, 12, 15, and if 13 is injured then AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could move in one and QC (Quade Cooper) on the wing.

 

[Simon.]

If you'd pick Kerevi above Hodge for 12 or 13 though then I don't see why you'd pick Hodge because he can also play 15. In my scenario you'd probably have DHP on one win so he'd be your reserve fullback.

Both of them are out of position on the wing but it's doable.

Hodge wouldn't be brought on at 10 so the fact that he can play there a bit of a moot point in my opinion.

All that said, I think Cheika will go for a regular 5:3 bench. The 6:2 bench limits your tactical replacements if you're looking at someone being a finisher (i.e. Cooper from the Foxsports article) rather than having 6 backs you expect to play the whole game and one player as injury cover for them.

It's not just that Hodge can play 15, but that being able to play 15 gives better cover across the outside backs. With his two positions being 12 and 15 (which are the two most specialist playmaking/kicking positions outside the halves) he pretty much covers the full backline, whereas Kerevi doesn't. I feel that someone who can play 15 well is better equipped to cover the depth role of a winger - wingers should be able to field kicks, contest attacking kicks and to kick themselves, which is not something Kerevi is used to. Especially against the All Blacks who are likely to pepper us with kicks.

So in this particular instance of Hodge vs Kerevi, Kerevi has the edge at 13 but all other positions I give the edge to Hodge. When you've only got one spare back spot, Hodge is the clear choice IMO.

There are certainly ways you can work it so that Kerevi does fit on a 6/2 bench but it does require more extensive re-shuffling of positions and combinations. I firmly believe it's best to limit shuffling to the minimum necessary.

That's all just my personal preference, though. Inexplicably, Cheika has once again forgotten to consult me on the issue.

 

[Purce]

Thoughts on a:

9. Genia
10. Foley
11. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12. Giteau
13. Falou
14. Mitchell /Horne if Mitchell not fit
15. DHP

or:
13. Kerevi
14. DHP
15. Falou

RES:
Phipps, To'omua, Horne

 

[Slim 293]

All indications point to Folau being at fullback...........

 

[Slim 293]

It's not just that Hodge can play 15, but that being able to play 15 gives better cover across the outside backs. With his two positions being 12 and 15 (which are the two most specialist playmaking/kicking positions outside the halves) he pretty much covers the full backline, whereas Kerevi doesn't. I feel that someone who can play 15 well is better equipped to cover the depth role of a winger - wingers should be able to field kicks, contest attacking kicks and to kick themselves, which is not something Kerevi is used to. Especially against the All Blacks who are likely to pepper us with kicks.

So in this particular instance of Hodge vs Kerevi, Kerevi has the edge at 13 but all other positions I give the edge to Hodge. When you've only got one spare back spot, Hodge is the clear choice IMO.

There are certainly ways you can work it so that Kerevi does fit on a 6/2 bench but it does require more extensive re-shuffling of positions and combinations. I firmly believe it's best to limit shuffling to the minimum necessary.

That's all just my personal preference, though. Inexplicably, Cheika has once again forgotten to consult me on the issue.

I doubt we'll see Hodge in the 23 with Giteau, To'omua, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Mitchell, DHP all the more likely to feature...........

 

[Viking]

It's not just that Hodge can play 15, but that being able to play 15 gives better cover across the outside backs. With his two positions being 12 and 15 (which are the two most specialist playmaking/kicking positions outside the halves) he pretty much covers the full backline, whereas Kerevi doesn't. I feel that someone who can play 15 well is better equipped to cover the depth role of a winger - wingers should be able to field kicks, contest attacking kicks and to kick themselves, which is not something Kerevi is used to. Especially against the All Blacks who are likely to pepper us with kicks.

So in this particular instance of Hodge vs Kerevi, Kerevi has the edge at 13 but all other positions I give the edge to Hodge. When you've only got one spare back spot, Hodge is the clear choice IMO.

There are certainly ways you can work it so that Kerevi does fit on a 6/2 bench but it does require more extensive re-shuffling of positions and combinations. I firmly believe it's best to limit shuffling to the minimum necessary.

That's all just my personal preference, though. Inexplicably, Cheika has once again forgotten to consult me on the issue.

Nah If Foley goes down you got Gits/Hodge running the backline... sorry but that's game over!

 

[fatprop]

Bench will be a 6:3 split.

Starters:
9. Phipps
10. Foley
12. Gits

Bench
21. Genia
22. Cooper
23. To'omua

Straight swap all players with 30mins to go and Cheika gets a good look who's gunna hold their positions for the rest of the season.

I should be a coach

You don't want two inside backs on the bench

 

[Viking]

You don't want two inside backs on the bench

When you got players on the field with the adaptability of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) who can play wing,centre, fullack. DHP: wing, fullback , Folau: Centre/wing/fullback. Cooper can also cover fullback.

Two inside backs works just fine.