End of Year Tour 2012

[Hawko]

3-0 against Wales, with Barnes MoTM in two of those games?

Barnes is our next best 10. Foley is miles behind. I'd have Harris ahead of him, Zack Holmes too.
.

And then there were the Bledisloe games.

 

[barbarian]

What, the one game where he played 10?

So you would prefer to play Bernard Foley ahead of Barnes based on one bad game against the ABs. OK.
.

 

[qwerty51]

Harris is ahead of Barnes for me now purely on goal kicking. It's that important.

 

[RoffsChoice]

I like the idea of Harris at 10 anyway.

 

[Penguin]

And then there were the Bledisloe games.

Luckily we won't be playing the ABs in Europe then eh?

 

[Slim 293]

I'm not sure is Speight is eligible just yet?

But if he was he'd have to be rushed straight into the starting XV.

 

[JJJ]

Harris is ahead of Barnes for me now purely on goal kicking. It's that important.

Yeah I'm warming up to the idea of someone who kicks so well. It was nice to watch a game where you're not thinking "50-50" when there's a bit of angle to the kick.

 

[SuperGrover]

Sidey has been released from the Force.

and picked up by the Rebels.

 

[Bowside]

I'm not sure is Speight is eligible just yet?

But if he was he'd have to be rushed straight into the starting XV.

Ill bite.

He'd be rushed into the starting XV after Digby, Shmoo, Shipperly, Cummins, Tomane, Morahan and probably also Turner.

....I'd pick him over Vuna but

 

[Lee Grant]

Usually we have an annual EOYT Bolters thread but we used so many players this year that it is unlikely that there will be too many new players.

On the other hand, because we used so many, some 2012 test players would fit the description of bolters.

And it depends on the match programme. In 2010 we took 36 on tour - 20 forwards and 16 backs, but how many games are we playing altogether in 2013? I'll assume that we are playing the same number of matches.

In the 2010 forwards there were 5 props. I would take Paddy Ryan as the 5th and am not sure about Palmer's injury status anyway. That's one bolter.

They took 3 hookers in 2010. Assuming Moore is fit I would take Hanson even if Fainga'a is fit to play. He'd be a kind of bolter.

There were 4 specialist locks plus Mumm, a lock/6. If Sitaleki is fit he will tour with Sharpe and Douglas and a decision would have to be made on Simmons. He's had a good run and I would leave him at home and take a punt on bolter Pyle.

For the Mumm role I would take Neville ahead of another bolter Luke Jones which may make some folks scratch their heads, but I thought he was superb in the 6 role for Manly at the end of the season - a different level of rugby I know. I would not have him at lock instead of Pyle though.

I would leave Samo at home, unless Higginbotham is suspended, and as a general 8/6 guy I would take another bolter, Lopeti Timani. Jake Schatz was called into the 4N squad and probably has a leg up, but it's my post.

Looking at the 2010 forwards and crossing out the ones to be replaced I come up with:

Slipper
Alexander
Robinson
Ma'afu Kepu
Daley Ryan

Moore
Fainga'a TPN*
Edmonds Hanson

Sharpe
Simmons S. Timani
Chisholm Douglas
Humphries Pyle

Mumm Neville

Higginbotham (Samo?)
Elsom Dennis

Pocock
Hodgson Hooper
McCutcheon Gill

McCalman Palu
Brown L.Timani

* Note: In 2010 TPN joined the tour after the NZ(Hong Kong), Wales and England tests.


No, I don't think it matters so much about the backs if the above guys do the job.
.

 

[Bairdy]

Besides from Slipper, do you think it will be Alexander or Kepu who would cover loosehead in the event Robinson gets injured? Seems like we have 3 specialist tightheads, which is my worry.

 

[topo]

Besides from Slipper, do you think it will be Alexander or Kepu who would cover loosehead in the event Robinson gets injured? Seems like we have 3 specialist tightheads, which is my worry.

I'd go Kepu. Benny A is going ok at TH struggles at LH.

 

[Slim 293]

Ill bite.

He'd be rushed into the starting XV after Digby, Shmoo, Shipperly, Cummins, Tomane, Morahan and probably also Turner.

..I'd pick him over Vuna but

Speight was the form Australian winger this year in Super Rugby.

Obviously Digby has one wing but I'd give him the other spot Ina heartbeat over all those other guys.

It's not like these guys have done anything wrong, but Speight was just electric. Top try scorer. Excellent defence. Secure under the high ball. Has the x factor we're lacking.

And Schmoo is coming back from injury with no form to show, and Tomane is injured.

Anyway, thats only If eligible.

 

[Lee Grant]

Anyway, thats only If eligible.

According to the Canberra Times, Speight completed his 3 year residency in August 2012.

Agree with your comments about him; I'd put him on the plane.
.

 

[Bowside]

I'm still not sold on Kepu. He is first choice because he scrummages better than Alexander and Slipper, but I reckon both of them offer significantly more around the park than him. Will be interesting to see what palmer bring to the table once he gets back to fitness.

 

[mudskipper]

Agree Henry Speight put him on the plane, best overall OZ Super Rugby winger this season... fast with blistering acceleration, good step, good hands, big and strong, very hard to stop in last 10m... Speight is a real weapon out wide...

 

[scaraby]

Pocock
Hodgson Hooper
McCutcheon Gill

McCalman Palu
Brown L.Timani
Without being too harsh on the cross outs who are Wallabies (so I bow before you all)....there seems to be some talent flowing through here.

 

[BDA]

I'm still not sold on Kepu. He is first choice because he scrummages better than Alexander and Slipper, but I reckon both of them offer significantly more around the park than him. Will be interesting to see what palmer bring to the table once he gets back to fitness.

Agree. But when I think NH teams I think less mobile forward packs. Teams like France and England always try to target the scrum against the Wallabies so when we can match them in that department it gives us a pyschological edge. I think Kepu is probably going to offer just as much around the field as most NH test props, perhaps more. In my view guys like Slipper/Alexander are more important when playing teams like the All Blacks, where you need a tight five that has a very high work rate and offer more than just set piece rugby. At the same time, there is an argument to say we should go with guys like Alexander/Slipper against the NH teams as it will give us a clear advantage in open play.

On a side note, I think it will be interesting to see what kind of front row the Lions choose next year. They'll no doubt go for scrummaging power, which may actually play into our hands. They should be looking for mobile props with high work rates.

 

[Jets]

I like the idea of Harris at 10 anyway.

He can't pass from left to right with the power and accuracy required at this level. He's a 12 who has done ok in 2 games at 15 without a huge amount of pressure put on him. I wouldn't want him to play 10 for the Wallabies.

 

[Manuel]

Slipper
Alexander
Robinson
Ma'afu Kepu
Daley Ryan

I'm still not sold on Kepu. He is first choice because he scrummages better than Alexander and Slipper, but I reckon both of them offer significantly more around the park than him. Will be interesting to see what palmer bring to the table once he gets back to fitness.

Besides from Slipper, do you think it will be Alexander or Kepu who would cover loosehead in the event Robinson gets injured? Seems like we have 3 specialist tightheads, which is my worry.

I'd go Kepu. Benny A is going ok at TH struggles at LH.

With the 23-player matchday sheets, most teams will be seleting 6 props (both France and Wales have, at least), I think, three specialists on each side. Five could do, but you'd need two specialists on each side and one who can play both.