Dwyer's Wisdom

[Spook]

Dwyer said his view that George Smith should be recalled to start at No.7 against England at Twickenham was confirmed after watching the Tokyo Test again yesterday.

"If I know anything at all about the game of rugby, George Smith is a better player at this stage than David Pocock,'' he said on his website bobdwyerrugby.com. "He is not a patch on George at the tackle contest, there is no comparison.''

Dywer also believes that Drew Mitchell or Lachie Turner wouldbe better options at fullback than James O'Connor. "Our kicking game from fullback in general play and clearing the ball near our line was atrocious and probably cost us more than anything,'' Dwyer said.

Dwyer said that on the plus side, the Wallabies did not kick the ball as much against the All Blacks and got more players to the tackle contest.

"On the minus side I couldn't see any way we were going to win the game - we were never dominant in any area that was going to give us a win,'' he said.

Amen to that brother...although I thought Pocock was ok. It's time to unleash Smith against the Poms.

 

[Scarfman]

Deans is a genius and has a plan that no-one else can see.

OR

Deans has lost the plot and is too stubborn to acknowledge what everyone else is seeing.


Pick one.

 

[Spook]

I believe in Deans. His goal is to win the 2011 world cup and I think he's doing well in building depth. However, I think he needs to give certain players like JOC (James O'Connor) a rest.

 

[junior]

Deans is a genius and has a plan that no-one else can see.

OR

Deans has lost the plot and is too stubborn to acknowledge what everyone else is seeing.


Pick one.

Judging by his time with the ABs, I'm picking option b.

 

[waratahjesus]

he hasnt lost the plot at all, he only has the one game plan, so the fact we dont have the players to achieve it means were fucked!

 

[RugbyReg]

part of me thinks he may be taking it easy on the team in terms of multiple game plans etc. A lot of new faces in the squad, so he's just forming combos etc. 2010 and 2011 should see him developing this further to see some legitimate Wallaby game plans and objectives.


...


I hope

 

[Geronimo]

I just hope his game plan doesn't include O'Connor until he grows up

 

[Scarfman]

But why is he building for 2011? I would like to win the Grand Slam, thanks very much. I'm pretty bloody keen on the Bledisloe, too.

 

[Geronimo]

I'm with you on that. Seems to me some would be happy to lose everything in between as long as they win the world cup. Not me. You can lose one game......see you later WC!!! Win the games in between!!!

 

[RugbyReg]

100% agree scarfman, sometimes I think the World Cup is a bad thing or our sport.

 

[naza]

I'd suggest Bob is way off the mark. I know folks on here love nothing more than posting their Wallaby XV week after week. Like it'd make a difference. We have systemic problems that cannot simply be solved with a couple of backline reshuffles.

Also, can't say I agree with his suggestions. George Smith of 2009 hasn't been the Smith of old. Too much bullshit in his game - seagulling, grubber kicks, pushing the pass, plus a tendency to let other blokes make the tackle so he can save himself for the pilfer. Putting him on the bench is the kick up the arse he needs.

Fullback is a problem for us but neither Mitchell nor Turner have taken their chances.

 

[Scarfman]

???

Can't win, don't try? Not quite the ANZAC spirit, naza.

Deans is making obvious and critical errors. Like you, if you think Pocock is better than Smith, or JOC (James O'Connor) better than Mitchell.

You hate the Spin It Wide club. No worries, I'm with you. I also hate the "Go For Youth" crowd that you hear from every time we lose. Go back and check my posts - I was "stick with these blokes, we'll get there" and so on.

Pek Cowan is our new hooker for fuck's sake! Spot the deliberate error!

 

[Mojoman]

I agree with Dwyer. I always worry when Smith is first or second to the breakdown because you know there is a v.good chance he's either going to pinch it or get a penalty. Pocock @ this stage of career just isn't as good. Good on Deans for putting him into a pressure filled environment. Pocock seemed to handle himself well BUT..he's not as dangerous as Smith is.

As for JOC (James O'Connor), I think Deans was right to bench him. He only got a reprieve when Barnes got injured. He played better on Sat night but only because he's been absolute shite previously. He obviously has talent, otherwise he wouldn't be in the Wallabies but he's overrated IMO.

 

[waratahjesus]

i think we just need to dump the entire 35 man squad or whatever it is now, in an isolated community on a hard ground in the middle of no where, they can sleep in a demountable and every second day play a new country team who can get payed a thousand dollars for every point they score.

leve them there for about two months and hopefully they can toughen the f up!

 

[Scarfman]

Well, if you count Argentina as an isolated comunity, that's pretty much what Link did with the Waratahs.

 

[waratahjesus]

and i would argue it worked, maybe skipping the tri nations next year and making every wallaby play a full season of club rugby might do the trick!

 

[Biffo]

and i would argue it worked, maybe skipping the tri nations next year and making every wallaby play a full season of club rugby might do the trick!

Provided they were paid only as club players. Continue to pay what they are paid now and they would let down their mates in the clubs.

 

[naza]

???

Can't win, don't try? Not quite the ANZAC spirit, naza.

Deans is making obvious and critical errors. Like you, if you think Pocock is better than Smith, or JOC (James O'Connor) better than Mitchell.

Do we really need another 'if i was coach, i'd pick so & so' thread ? I suspect some prefer to pretend we have world class talent being slighted, rather than face up to our ills.

I'd much rather hear from Bob Dwyer the coach than Bob Dwyer the selector. Sure he bemoans our lack of Vickerman but I prefer his insights as to where our cattle need to improve.

The Wallabies at last provided numbers at the tackle contest. It has taken them the complete season to understand this priority and now their coaching staff can move forward to the execution of the quality technique required to be effective. We were way too high, had no leg-drive and seemingly no interest in getting past the ball, to provide quality possession for the attack. It’s no surprise then that we rarely looked like threatening the All Black defence.

..the Wallaby backs lacked fluency. They seem incapable of maintaining any depth or shape, big problems for a group that doesn’t display loads of passing accuracy. Centres frequently over-run the fly-half; wingers frequently over-run the centres.

We’ve at last found someone who can provide a quality kick chase of a quality restart, but it seems a bit tough if Digby Ioane has to do it on both sides of the pitch. How hard can this possibly be anyway

I love Bob. And I love that he's as frustrated as we are.

 

[Cutter]

Ok, facing up to our ills.

1. We dont have three consistently test class locks.
2. Our hookers are great in the scrum and loose but can't throw straight.
3. We don't have a test class 6.
4. We don't have a consistently test class 8.
5. We don't have a test class 10.
6. We only have one test class winger (Ioane).
7. We don't have a test class fullback.

By test class, I mean someone who can assert themselves against the Boks and ABs.

The players who have, in my opinion, played to a level where they are deserving of their spots are:

1. Robinson
3. Alexander
7. Smith
9. Genia
12. Barnes, Giteau
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Ioane

There are our weaknesses. 5 forwards and 3 backs. Given we can't conjure adequate replacements out of thin air, the next best option is to reorganise what we have into the strongest possible combination.

Moore and TPN are very good hookers but they need to consistently throw straight. In all other respects, they are the equal of Du Plessis.

Horwill is a shadow of the player I hoped he would become. Chisolm and Mumm are good S14 players but not test players. Elsom is a good provincial player who has yet to consistently perform against the Boks and ABs. He has had plenty of chances to do so. Palu can be great but only one game in five.

We don't have a 10. Barnes may develop into one but Giteau isnt one. Hynes, Mitchell and Turner are not test class. Again, they are ok against the weaker nations but don't cut it against the big boys. JOC (James O'Connor) is too young. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is not a fullback. Shepherd is inconsistent and seems to play his best rugby for the Force on the wing.

 

[waratahjesus]

Ok, facing up to our ills.

1. We dont have three consistently test class locks.
2. Our hookers are great in the scrum and loose but can't throw straight.
3. We don't have a test class 6.
4. We don't have a consistently test class 8.
5. We don't have a test class 10.
6. We only have one test class winger (Ioane).
7. We don't have a test class fullback.

By test class, I mean someone who can assert themselves against the Boks and ABs.

The players who have, in my opinion, played to a level where they are deserving of their spots are:

1. Robinson
3. Alexander
7. Smith
9. Genia
12. Barnes, Giteau
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Ioane

There are our weaknesses. 5 forwards and 3 backs. Given we can't conjure adequate replacements out of thin air, the next best option is to reorganise what we have into the strongest possible combination.

Moore and TPN are very good hookers but they need to consistently throw straight. In all other respects, they are the equal of Du Plessis.

Horwill is a shadow of the player I hoped he would become. Chisolm and Mumm are good S14 players but not test players. Elsom is a good provincial player who has yet to consistently perform against the Boks and ABs. He has had plenty of chances to do so. Palu can be great but only one game in five.

We don't have a 10. Barnes may develop into one but Giteau isnt one. Hynes, Mitchell and Turner are not test class. Again, they are ok against the weaker nations but don't cut it against the big boys. JOC (James O'Connor) is too young. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is not a fullback. Shepherd is inconsistent and seems to play his best rugby for the Force on the wing.

i would argue that rocky is a world cup six, think your being a bit harsh there. i would also argue that the 'palu' doesnt show up brigade really only pay attention to the likes of players who throw there arms around or mug for cameras, cos the guy does alot of hard work and releives alot of pressure, he constantly has the ball when were going backwards off scrums or runs right into three or four guys, palu lays an excellent platform and allows players like rocky to get a roll on and break advantage lines, problem is, everytime someone like palu, and other take the ball up the wallabies all stand around like a 5th grade team in 4th division and wait for the player to go to ground and present the ball, if we had a couple of blokes driving right up his arse he would make another ten metres and we would get a roll on. his size and value to the team are huge, dick brown and co arnt half the player he is and smith belongs at seven while pocock and JOC (James O'Connor) and the rest of the 'future' go learn the game were they cant cost us it!