Yeah, what we don't know is how he his body (and mind) is handling the physicality of test match rugby. This is a long series of week on week test matches
England v Australia, Saturday 3 December
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Yeah, what we don't know is how he his body (and mind) is handling the physicality of test match rugby. This is a long series of week on week test matches
Except you are wrong about the "little impact" bit, Hooper's workrate in immense, he leads the defensive line, kick chases and is our most effective forward ball runner with a massive motor.
We are running a defensive structure where Hooper shoots in defence to turn the attack in close. We don't compete every ruck, but fan out most of the time. We let Pocock play to his strengths in close and Hooper's wider hign workrate play compliments that
Teflon .............................................. seriously?
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
The English pack would also be licking their lips watching film of his body height in contact against Ireland.
I think resting/benching him for this one was likely the right move, all things considered.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
1962 & 2009, both times to NZ. There was also a draw in '62.
EDIT: also 1969 tour of SA.
That is more about not playing some teams, four times in a year than Aus's quality.
If we played the ABs 4 four times each year, every year the stats would be much, much higher (or the current england side or the english side or 2001/2/3 etc etc)
T
TOCC
Guest
Losing to England 4 times in a year is certainly a reflection of the Wallabies quality, especially when some of those games were there to win, or games where the game plan and selections were clearly off the mark
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
FWIW I reckon 95% of kiwis will be going for you blokes on Sunday morning 'cos (a) we can't stand England, (b) we sorta kinda like you guys but don't like to admit it, and mostly (c) we don't want the poms taking "our" record off us when we've only just set it.
Wallabies by a Foley DG well into extra time
Wallabies by a Foley DG well into extra time
FWIW I reckon 95% of kiwis will be going for you blokes on Sunday morning 'cos (a) we can't stand England, (b) we sorta kinda like you guys but don't like to admit it, and mostly (c) we don't want the poms taking "our" record off us when we've only just set it.
Wallabies by a Foley DG well into extra time
and vice versa, I am happy to cheer on the AB's against everyone except the wobs.
Against the wobs, they are cheating, evil bastards
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
Honestly it's probably a pinch of that but more a reflection on the strongest pommy side in what, 13 years?
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Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
The sage
Vay Wilson (31)
Agreed on that.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Even so FP, I'd personally prefer only one of Poey and Hooper in the starting side with the other on the bench, and after reading the efforts that Ireland put into combatting Poey last week, he would be my starter.
The bigger problem to me in this side is the selection of McMahon on the bench. Cheika won't be likely to replace either of Hooper or Pocock, so we'll finish with 3 No 7s on the field at the same time. We will be over-run at scrum time and maybe shot down in the lineout.
I can see why Mumm is on the bench, though I don't like it at all. He is the backup lineout caller if something happens to Rob Simmons. So that's a given, but allowing for that I think it would be better to go with a 6:2 split on the bench so that we can have options to keep up some intensity in the forward pack if Mumm is not required at any stage.
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
He seems to have brought a strong culture and the players look confident.
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A mutterer
Chilla Wilson (44)
Well maybe he should have bit the bullet and played for the tahs?
The chances of both Simmons and Douglas being able to keep their intensity up for 80 minute is just not reality and Mumm gives us the flexibility to cover 6 & lock.
Hooper and Pocock are 80 minute players, you budget for them to go the distance.
I expect Douglas (at the moment, at peak Douglas, he is an 80 minute unit as well) and Timani to both run out of puff and be replaced. I really don't think losing a few kgs when a tiring Timani is replaced with a fresh McMahaon will affect scrummaging at all.
Lineouts?, they have been pretty effective since we picked up the pace and play 5 or 6 each time.
Twoilms
Trevor Allan (34)
Man, you can see why Cheika has dropped the finishers rhetoric. That is one piss-weak bench. Robertson, Latu and Frisby should be no where near that team. They all have potential to be decent but damn man they are not high impact players to be bringing on at the ass end of a tight test. No Taf, Beale or To'omua etc. Bout the only player of that lot i'd back to have impact is McMahon but by all accounts hes half crocked.
Twoilms
Trevor Allan (34)
None of that.
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
I'm not familiar with English domestic rugby but the pommy bench doesn't look too flash either.
We are in transition, and our bench each week highlights this.
Actually I reckon the bench is probably the best way to look at a teams real chances in most games in the modern game
Just slot in the whole bench into the starting side and whether it is comparable or a massive drop off.
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