Drew Mitchell out of the World Cup
- Thread starter Swarley
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I think that is a little unfair on Mitchell and the Wallabies coaching staff and management.
Mitchell looked excellent prior to his injury and was definitely challenging to be part of the QF 22. I think he was just frightfully unlucky.
Mitchell looked excellent prior to his injury and was definitely challenging to be part of the QF 22. I think he was just frightfully unlucky.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
I'd put it more strongly, he was definitely one of our best two wingers - Ioane is the other. Properly selected, he would have run on in the QF with Beiber on the bench. On a cold wet day he tried to reach down and pick up the ball at full pace. It was everything operating at full pace and full stretch and a lesser player would have grubbered it and hoped to win the footrace. Same sort of bad luck that has put Carter and Steyn out, the tournament is poorer for it.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
...something he has doen time and time again but prior to being unable to run for weeks, unable to do weights for weeks....I love the bloke (and I tipped him years ago to anyone who'd listen) and you have to admire his mental toughness to be playing so well so quickly after a horrendous injury, but it shows how lacking in confidence in our depth the selectors were that they felt the need to take these risks: it may be that they were right to lack confidence in the depth and it may be that they took a calculated gamble by virtue of the short time to get people to NZ to replace.
When you compare the loss of Tim Gavin in 91 and Kearns in 99 and Darwin in 2003 we dont look like the same calibre of team as those sides were - and our results bear that out.
Probably nothing earth shattering in this - if I'd posted it prior to losing to Ireland I guess I'd be a genius.
ShtinaTina
Alex Ross (28)
Nope, ankle was the right, hammy was the left. Poor guy.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
would not have been able to do anything on either for weeks so theory intact
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
What's the difference? Doesn't seem to be any when you have someone like Jeremy Thrush training and doing contact work with the ABs. Completely unfair as NZ are the only team allowed this.
light
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Understandable too, the disappointment of having to go home early after all the months of recovery would make me want to get away from rugby for a while too. Obviously not keen on sitting on a beach in Fiji reflecting and would rather be amongst annoying Americans either watching a different sport or running around doing promo's.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
You do struggle a bit Gwerty, anyone can have a non member of team training with them. I am sure Wallabies, as would most teams, have used local players as opposition in some trainings. I remember watching Wales back in "87 training against local players.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
You sure about that? Warldrom had to train by himself until announced in the squad.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Positive mate, you can't bring players into country and allow them to train with squad until they are officially joined, but you can train with anyone from country of cup. All Blacks would train with Jeremy Thrush while in his region, but certainly wouldn't be able to have him travel around country with them. I believe they had Messam and Leonard while at Hamilton. It is usual practice.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I am sure it was within the regulations, however what I'm trying to say is that it's unfair to the other country's. NZ gets players have already been involved in the AB squad in the past to do opposed training with, yes the other countries might be able to get players as well but I'm sure they'd rather their own like what NZ gets.
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