France v Australia

[RugbyReg]

QUEENSLANDER!!!!!!


oops, I mean. Good looking team. Think we are in with a show.

 

[Braveheart81]

In other news, they completely ballsed up the spelling of Leali'ifano.

 

[Brumby Runner]

So who's the new Brumbies signing for half next year?

Nick White - been told to nick off if he continues with his aimless box kicks.

Seriously, I think Seb was talking in terms of the Wallabies backline. Nic will be the Brumbies main No 9 whenever fit. The backup is Dowsett who had some reasonable games last year but I think went backwards a bit in the NRC. After that, Powell who was one of the U20s No 9s this year, and I think has a load of potential. One of the best passing games I've seen from any halfback.

 

[Dctarget]

An average of 36 caps per player. Not too shabby, though the backs are largely supported by AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). Slipper at age 25 already has 60 caps, I'm pretty excited to see another 60 caps from him.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Think there has a loss of opportunity with these selections, but the bench could still have some changes I suppose.

I wouldn't want to change the team much for this test, but I would have liked to see both Jones and Speight get a start. Can't see Henry being on the bench as a specialist winger, so probably won't get to see him at all, maybe whole EOYT and that would be a shame. Also, looks like Cheika has settled on Foley at 10 and Lealiifano at 12, so one of Cooper/To'omua look like missing out on game time for the rest of the tour. Again, a shame. Hopefully, Jones gets a run off the bench in place of Skelton.

 

[Lee Grant]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has played 100+ tests and folks are still debating if he's any good by suggesting that he should be dropped.

When he retires the myth of his poor play will be continued by the same people.

But I honestly think that this guy and that is better they might say - but they've been saying it for year after year and he still gets picked.

Maybe our coaches since he made his debut haven't been the smartest guys in the room but I will back their opinion as a group more than critics of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as a group.

.

 

[Highlander35]

Slipper will end up with a ridiculous amount of caps, given he could have another 2 cycles left.

 

[Dctarget]

8 of this weekend's XV were also named to start in the last game against France (21/06/14) in the June tests.

4 of this weekend's XV were named for the previous fixture before the June tests, opening game of the EOYT tour of 2012.
(3 of these 4 also played in the 21/06/14 match).

Can anyone name the 8 or 4?

 

[qwerty51]

Good change, not that Horwill deserves it but Carter was poor and there needs to be accountability.

8 last match were Slipper, Kepu, Simmons, Hooper, Foley, Kuridrani, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Folau
4 in 2012 were Kepu, Hooper, Phipps, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

 

[Braveheart81]

8 of this weekend's XV were also named to start in the last game against France (21/06/14) in the June tests.

4 of this weekend's XV were named for the previous fixture before the June tests, opening game of the EOYT tour of 2012.
(3 of these 4 also played in the 21/06/14 match).

Can anyone name the 8 or 4?

8 - Slipper, Kepu, Simmons, Hooper, Foley, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Kuridrani, Folau

4 - Simmons, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Hooper, Phipps

Edit: Qwerty beat me to it!

 

[Dumbledore]

Hopefully Jones makes the bench at least. Will have been a complete waste bringing him on tour otherwise.

 

[hammertimethere]

Good side, we should probably assume that Higgers is either not yet ready or was touch and go for this week and is being held back for the Ireland game.

Reserves not named indicates that Cheik is still deciding how to approach that end of things, with a developmental focus, a tactical focus or a mix.

If he decides to use the French test (what appears on paper to be our easiest of the next 3 games) to give one or two opportunities to guys with potential then I'd say we'd be looking at
16. Hanson
17. Faulkner
18. Alexander (because who else?)
19. Skelton
20. Jones (McMahon adequately covers 7)
21. Genia
22. Cooper
23. Speight

If he is looking to take a more moderate approach to the bench I'd say we might see
16. Hanson
17. Robinson
18. Alexander
19. Skelton
20. Carter
21. Genia
22. Cooper
23. Horne
He may even include Hodgson at the expense of Carter (which I think he might) or Cooper in a 6/2.

Backline for now looks settled and threatening

 

[Lee Grant]

Slipper will end up with a ridiculous amount of caps, given he could have another 2 cycles left.

One of our best players for sure and let's hope he stays healthy and in form.

Our locks have been poor and Carter has disappointed me after his fine debut.

Who would have thought not long ago that our starting props would be better than our starting locks?

And Simmo, who is retained, gave up another bonehead penalty last week - you could see it before the ref blew his whistle. It's just as well that he is the lineout sergeant otherwise he may have been dropped.

They have to get early up into the guts of a maul as it starts and paw their way through, not do the Australian crawl around the edges. If they circle they are virtually telling the referee that they want to be penalised, because they make it easy for him to spot them; yet they put a hurt look on their faces for the TV cameras when they are pinged.

Not that Horwill exudes massive confidence in that area - but Cheika knows he will be auditioning for the Top 14 coaches for future employment and will expect a fine performance.

If there's anything more than a left-footed kicker that Cheika will be looking for when Super Rugby starts next year, it will be fresh blood for the second row.
.

 

[chiraag]

Good looking team. I like the return of Horwill - he seems to be returning to some form of late and has increased his workrate. Could definitely be having more impact, but the signs are positive.

Given this is our "easiest" game on tour, and the starting side is settled, I'd like to see a bench of:

16. Mann-Rea
17. Robbo
18. Faulkner
19. Jones
20. Hodgson
21. Genia
22. Godwin
23. Speight

 

[ForceFan]

1. James Slipper (Queensland Reds- 60 Tests)
2. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds – 33 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs – 49 Tests)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds – 57 Tests)
5. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds – 47 Tests)
6. Sean McMahon (Melbourne Rebels – 1 Test)
7. Michael Hooper (c - NSW Waratahs – 39 Tests)
8. Ben McCalman (Western Force – 35 Tests)
9. Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs – 25 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs – 15 Tests)
11. Joe Tomane (ACT Brumbies – 13 Tests)
12. Christian Leali’ifano (ACT Brumbies – 15 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (ACT Brumbies – 18 Tests)
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs – 101 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs – 26 Tests)

Reserves TBC.

McMahon the luckiest bloke in the squad after last week's showing.

 

[Lee Grant]

McMahon the luckiest bloke in the squad after last week's showing.

He didn't set the world on fire did he? Dropping him was easier but Cheika gave him a second chance.

Good for him.

.

 

[Tomikin]

Is it just me, or does there seem like an incredible amount of support for Hunt to be in the Wallaby back line for the RWC without having him seen any play at test level, let alone Super 15 level or even NRC level for the last few years.

I get the whole, "he is our saviour" at the Reds and I hope he helps them go really well in 2015 along with some gun signings of JOC (James O'Connor) and Thomspson (I personally am looking forward to the Jacpot V AT battle) - but to see the number (and it is collectively quite large now) of people who are already putting him in their Wallaby run-on back line is amazing.

That is quite apart from the fact that we meant to be discussing who will be in the team for Saturday night I might add before the Mods castigate me for going OT.

Same people said the same about Izzy. Hunt was better at league and better at AFL he maybe better at Union as well.

If all our players are fit and firing though I dont think he makes the starting 15. Could possiably Jarg a squad spot if he has a steller year

 

[brokendown]

hope Faulkner gets a decent run off the bench.ATM he has a test cap without packing down in a scrum!

 

[qwerty51]

I'm not sure Hunt was a better league player than Izzy? Based on what exactly? But Izzy was never going to be a good AFL player, the guy like most PIs, is built for power running with physical contact - not endurance.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Seems like Horwill has got the run-on opprtunity (as predicted by yours truly). he has worked for it and got it because the "incumbant" Carter has just not locked down the spot with great performances.

I agree with the selection of McMahon. Whist his performance last week was not so good it would dent his confidence to get dropped this week. Kid is a great prospect - lets nurture him for another few games

 

[Scrubber2050]

I'm not sure Hunt was a better league player than Izzy? Based on what exactly? But Izzy was never going to be a good AFL player, the guy like most PIs, is built for power running with physical contact - not endurance.

Who gives a flying F--K about who was the better Leaguie, or AFL player.

Izzy has gone pretty well at our game. Time and history will show if Hunt can do the same and as quickly