Bledisloe IV 2010 Hong Kong
- Thread starter Hugh Jarse
- Start date
- Status
Ok, enough about the Dark Lords, what about the Men of Gold.
What do we think is the best team to take on the ABs and break this 10 match streak.
15 Beale - no doubt
14 Turner - should hold his spot from the last game?
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - no doubt, if only for the reason that there is no one else.
12 Barnes - this is my call, I wonder what Deans's will be? At the moment what does Gits do better? Barnes kicks better, tackles better, goal kicks better and probably takes on the line better, and passes better. Gits has the experience though. Will Deans make the call? Should he?
11 JOC (James O'Connor) - I can't see him being replaced at this stage. I'd stick with him too. Mitchell has been too hot and cold this year, and I don't think Hynes has played enough footy to get the spot. Is Morahan a bolter? A big call.
10 Quade - no doubt isn't he? Unless Robbie is finally fed up with his defensive frailties, but I suspect not.
9 Genia - is there a chance Genia will get dropped for his indifferent recent showings? Can't see it myself particularly as Burgo's passing at clubland was, at times, awful.
8 McCalman - no doubt surely?
7 Pocock - no doubt.
6 Rocky - no doubt.
5 Sharpe - no doubt.
4 Chisholm - assuming he's fit he'll be picked won't he? Can't see Deans reverting back to Mumm again or giving Simmons the jump. If Chis is injured, I assume Mumm will be back.
3 Alexander - will Ma'afu hold his spot and is Alexander fit enough? Part of me thinks that Alexander starts and just goes until he can't go no more. Then Slipper comes on.
2 Moore - no doubt.
1 Robinson - no doubt.
16 Fainga'a - over Edmonds I would expect.
17 Slipper - for his versatility. Unless Ma'afu starts with Benny A on the bench.
18 Mumm - if Chis starts. Otherwise Simmons I guess, unless Higgers sneaks there
19 Hodgson - although I suspect Brown might start there and, again, Higgers might be an option.
20 Burgess - no doubt if Genia starts
21 Giteau - or Barnes if Gits starts
22 Mitchell - or JOC (James O'Connor) or Hynes.
What do we think is the best team to take on the ABs and break this 10 match streak.
15 Beale - no doubt
14 Turner - should hold his spot from the last game?
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - no doubt, if only for the reason that there is no one else.
12 Barnes - this is my call, I wonder what Deans's will be? At the moment what does Gits do better? Barnes kicks better, tackles better, goal kicks better and probably takes on the line better, and passes better. Gits has the experience though. Will Deans make the call? Should he?
11 JOC (James O'Connor) - I can't see him being replaced at this stage. I'd stick with him too. Mitchell has been too hot and cold this year, and I don't think Hynes has played enough footy to get the spot. Is Morahan a bolter? A big call.
10 Quade - no doubt isn't he? Unless Robbie is finally fed up with his defensive frailties, but I suspect not.
9 Genia - is there a chance Genia will get dropped for his indifferent recent showings? Can't see it myself particularly as Burgo's passing at clubland was, at times, awful.
8 McCalman - no doubt surely?
7 Pocock - no doubt.
6 Rocky - no doubt.
5 Sharpe - no doubt.
4 Chisholm - assuming he's fit he'll be picked won't he? Can't see Deans reverting back to Mumm again or giving Simmons the jump. If Chis is injured, I assume Mumm will be back.
3 Alexander - will Ma'afu hold his spot and is Alexander fit enough? Part of me thinks that Alexander starts and just goes until he can't go no more. Then Slipper comes on.
2 Moore - no doubt.
1 Robinson - no doubt.
16 Fainga'a - over Edmonds I would expect.
17 Slipper - for his versatility. Unless Ma'afu starts with Benny A on the bench.
18 Mumm - if Chis starts. Otherwise Simmons I guess, unless Higgers sneaks there
19 Hodgson - although I suspect Brown might start there and, again, Higgers might be an option.
20 Burgess - no doubt if Genia starts
21 Giteau - or Barnes if Gits starts
22 Mitchell - or JOC (James O'Connor) or Hynes.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Turner definitely.
Morahan would be more than a big call: he's had an ordinary year and is on tour for development. He probably wouldn't start in a Reds 15. I'd pick Mitchell over JOC (James O'Connor), primarily because he knows where to stand in attack and defence.
Barnes, definitely.
Chis probably has to start.
I can't see Deans starting Alexander. Unlike us, he doesn't see Ma'food as a liability so why should he take the risk?
Morahan would be more than a big call: he's had an ordinary year and is on tour for development. He probably wouldn't start in a Reds 15. I'd pick Mitchell over JOC (James O'Connor), primarily because he knows where to stand in attack and defence.
Barnes, definitely.
Chis probably has to start.
I can't see Deans starting Alexander. Unlike us, he doesn't see Ma'food as a liability so why should he take the risk?
yep, you're right about Mozza, but that Ma'food thing. LOVE IT. Haven't seen it before. One of yours?
disco
Chilla Wilson (44)
If Deans really wants to make a statement to this touring squad then dropping Giteau would be a good start, Barnes has always played better against the AB's than Giteau anyway.
If we were playing the Boks I'd start Giteau as he loves carving them up but he always goes missing against the AB's.
If we are going to see any bolters in HK it will be Rod Davies more so than Morahan, Deans has a hard on for Davies.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Wow that is quite a backline
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
I think Reg is very close to Dingo's team except Giteau will be in the run-on.
In terms of the team that should play I think Barnes over Giteau is a no-brainer. Barnes to kick with Beale taking the long range shots, Cooper third choice.
Mitchell to replace JOC (James O'Connor) so we have a winger who knows where to stand in defence. Mitchell is also a more attacking runner than JOC (James O'Connor), though probably not as elusive.
Alexander over Ma'afu is a no-brainer. Slipper to stay on the bench because he can handle both sides. BR will have to play 80, BA to go till he drops to be replaced by Slipper.
Because we always fade so badly in the forwards, I would go with a 5/2 bench and start bringing on forward replacements at about the 50 minute mark. The bench I would play would be Fainga'a, Slipper, Mumm, Hodgson and Higgers in the forwards and Burgess and JOC (James O'Connor) in the backs. JOC (James O'Connor) covers every position except 7 and 13 and if we get a swag of injuries then Burgess goes onto one wing, where he would not disgrace himself. 13 cover is Turner.
In terms of the team that should play I think Barnes over Giteau is a no-brainer. Barnes to kick with Beale taking the long range shots, Cooper third choice.
Mitchell to replace JOC (James O'Connor) so we have a winger who knows where to stand in defence. Mitchell is also a more attacking runner than JOC (James O'Connor), though probably not as elusive.
Alexander over Ma'afu is a no-brainer. Slipper to stay on the bench because he can handle both sides. BR will have to play 80, BA to go till he drops to be replaced by Slipper.
Because we always fade so badly in the forwards, I would go with a 5/2 bench and start bringing on forward replacements at about the 50 minute mark. The bench I would play would be Fainga'a, Slipper, Mumm, Hodgson and Higgers in the forwards and Burgess and JOC (James O'Connor) in the backs. JOC (James O'Connor) covers every position except 7 and 13 and if we get a swag of injuries then Burgess goes onto one wing, where he would not disgrace himself. 13 cover is Turner.
Langthorne
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Higginbotham is a maybe for mid week matches at best. Wallaby starter - no way. On the bench - unlikely, but two injuries would make him a maybe.
The guy has potential, but realistically, he has not had that much game time of late, and when he was playing he was quite hit and miss. Give him a chance during the tour but please not against the ABs.
The guy has potential, but realistically, he has not had that much game time of late, and when he was playing he was quite hit and miss. Give him a chance during the tour but please not against the ABs.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
I think there will be too much of a break between our last game and this one for us to win it. Wallabies are traditionally poor starters after a rest, and have proven so in the last two years for the June tests and the 4th Bled.
My team:
1 Robinson
2 Moore
3 Alexander
4 Chisholm
5 Sharpe
6 Elsom
7 Pocock
8 McCalman
9 Genia
10 Cooper
11 Mitchell
12 Barnes
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14 Turner
15 Beale
16 Finger
17 Slipper
18 Simmons
19 Hogdson
20 Burgess
21 Giteau
22 JOC (James O'Connor)
Some notes:
- Time to give the QC (Quade Cooper) and Barnes combo another chance. I also like the defense combo of Barnes and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).
- JOC (James O'Connor) will make a great super sub off the bench. I'm tempted though to run with a 5/2 split and turf Giteau all together
- In a 5/2 it might be worthwhile bringing in another prop, as Alexander's match fitness might be a little suspect
- McCalman deserves the starting 8 spot after his previous game, as does Turner on the wing
- More experimentation can happen in the next game (eg Higgers, A Finger, Hynes etc)
My team:
1 Robinson
2 Moore
3 Alexander
4 Chisholm
5 Sharpe
6 Elsom
7 Pocock
8 McCalman
9 Genia
10 Cooper
11 Mitchell
12 Barnes
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14 Turner
15 Beale
16 Finger
17 Slipper
18 Simmons
19 Hogdson
20 Burgess
21 Giteau
22 JOC (James O'Connor)
Some notes:
- Time to give the QC (Quade Cooper) and Barnes combo another chance. I also like the defense combo of Barnes and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).
- JOC (James O'Connor) will make a great super sub off the bench. I'm tempted though to run with a 5/2 split and turf Giteau all together
- In a 5/2 it might be worthwhile bringing in another prop, as Alexander's match fitness might be a little suspect
- McCalman deserves the starting 8 spot after his previous game, as does Turner on the wing
- More experimentation can happen in the next game (eg Higgers, A Finger, Hynes etc)
Scotty
David Codey (61)
I should have just agreed with you (except for Higgers) instead of writing my whole team out!
(Unfortunately an indication we don't have many other options)
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
I would like to see him tested. I think McCalman deffinatly deserves to keep the run on 8 jersey on the back of his form. All I am saying is trying to enter the mind of Robbie Deans, I would not be suprised to see Higgers get the spot. He was the man that he wanted and McCalman on that base got his break with a bit of luck through Higger back injury before the Pretoria test.
M
Mainlander
Guest
The only fly in the ointment is Dan is under an injury cloud and the talk is if he isn't fit they'll draft an extra 1st into the squad just for HK. My guess would be Donald starts and Slade gets called in for bench cover.
to beat NZ at least once would have been a pass mark, or part way to it. So he MUST win this test.
As for the other 4 games, I wanna win all but a pass mark would be three wins.
But more importantly its about what we see in those games.
Like a solid set piece.
Discipline.
Forward go forward and impact at the ruck and maul.
Assertive back play, running straight, with purpose and some sort of plan.
Quade tackling.
Gits dropped.
As for the other 4 games, I wanna win all but a pass mark would be three wins.
But more importantly its about what we see in those games.
Like a solid set piece.
Discipline.
Forward go forward and impact at the ruck and maul.
Assertive back play, running straight, with purpose and some sort of plan.
Quade tackling.
Gits dropped.
- Status