Giteau - what the!!

[rugbywhisperer]

I think Kafe tonight has summed it all very well.
For too long Gits has been a sideways traveller, off loding way too soon as 10, bing on the wrong foot, and not attracting the defence.
This has not allowed his backs (for a couple of years) to set an attack as the defence has ample time to slide and cover whatever overlap may have been there.
Most peole on this form I think would agree, Gits in NOT a 10 in anymans thinkng and has actually lostwatever advantage he may have had at 12.
Seriously, I would not pick him on a starting Wallabies XV simply because of the negativeimpav=ct he has onan attack at 10 or 12.
Bench player yeas, but you cannot entrust him with the position of prime playmaker on what he has displayed in the past 2 years.

 

[Reddy!]

Is Barnes ahead of Giteau for the no.12 jersey?

 

[cyclopath]

I doubt it, Reddy. I'm sure the Wallaby hierarchy will keep Gits at 12, Barnes to be sort of 10/12 cover, as will Gits be if Cooper goes off - you know, Gits to 10, Barnes to 12. As long as Gits gets past his previously stated position on where he wants to play, or more to the point where he doesn't. He could do very, very well at 12, but would have been so much better there had he changed his style of play a little bit and a little earlier, as RW says.

 

[en_force_er]

I think, for at least the start of the test season, several factors have decided who will play the wallaby 10/12.

Barnes has been playing 12 all season whereas Gitts has been playing 10 (other than one game).
Gitts/Barnes both started the season very poorly but Berrick is steadily improving whereas Gitts is not.
Berrick has also played test 12 more recently than Gitts has and is a far better defender. Berrick is also a better leader.

Oh, obviously Quade will play 10 because of his good form.

This Cooper/Barnes 10/12 combo is not completely new, they have played together this way before. Yes yes, it was not particularly successful but then again neither was the Genia/Cooper combo that year.

Gitts should be given every chance to work his way back into the test team.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

I may be wrong but from what I recall, when Gits was running of Larkham he had roon, space to move.
If Gits runs off Cooper it may work out however I feel Gits has fallen into a hole where he doesn't know where to go so he takes acouple of forward steps and offloads, even at 12 he is stunting the attach by not taking on the opposiotin, running sideways, his body position is all sideways and he doesnt give the 13 room because the opposition has room to slide and cover.
He has lost his mojo. he is unable to create anything beciause of his very limited style of play.
His style works well up the age of 15/16 however S14 need s someting more dynamic from a 12 and a 10.
His play basically ensures the opposition defence has an overlap because he is wasting his position.

 

[Reddy!]

Yes. I think when thinking about the Wallaby team for this year you have to think about a side for the domestic tests and than the tri-nations. Deans will no doubt throw Cooper in at 10 to start off with and experiment with the centre combination and hopefully get it right by the end of the domestic tests. At the end of the day, Barnes or Giteau, we won't be complaining that we don't have any depth. One or the other is going to play 12, that much is all but certain. The bigger questions for the backline is where the freak do you play Hynes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Digby, O'Connor. Expect Deans to favour incumbencies for the first domestic tests, and then to experiment as necessary as I have already mentioned.

 

[the gambler]

I know most people think Cooper is a lay down misere to be the Wallabies 10 this year but based on what Deans said the other day I am not totally sure he is inked in just yet. His defence, while improving, is still a liability, as we saw with that feeble attempt on Bekker and I would not be surprised to see a Gits Barnes combo starting come the start of the Tri Nations. Personally I would go for Cooper but I have a feeling Deans may go a different way.

Of course there is a possibility Cooper wont be available.

 

[Reddy!]

I may be wrong but from what I recall, when Gits was running of Larkham he had roon, space to move.
If Gits runs off Cooper it may work out however I feel Gits has fallen into a hole where he doesn't know where to go so he takes acouple of forward steps and offloads, even at 12 he is stunting the attach by not taking on the opposiotin, running sideways, his body position is all sideways and he doesnt give the 13 room because the opposition has room to slide and cover.
He has lost his mojo. he is unable to create anything beciause of his very limited style of play.
His style works well up the age of 15/16 however S14 need s someting more dynamic from a 12 and a 10.
His play basically ensures the opposition defence has an overlap because he is wasting his position.

Yeh mate, it is going to be beneficial for him to focus on his running game, than trying to control a team. He needs to play to his strengths and I hope Deans can achieve this with him.

 

[Blue]

I know most people think Cooper is a lay down misere to be the Wallabies 10 this year but based on what Deans said the other day I am not totally sure he is inked in just yet. His defence, while improving, is still a liability, as we saw with that feeble attempt on Bekker and I would not be surprised to see a Gits Barnes combo starting come the start of the Tri Nations. Personally I would go for Cooper but I have a feeling Deans may go a different way.

Of course there is a possibility Cooper wont be available.

The Rugby Club panel seemed to share that view for the reason that Cooper won't have the space in test rugby and will hense be less effective. It will be madness not to give him a go though.

 

[Reddy!]

I know most people think Cooper is a lay down misere to be the Wallabies 10 this year but based on what Deans said the other day I am not totally sure he is inked in just yet. His defence, while improving, is still a liability, as we saw with that feeble attempt on Bekker and I would not be surprised to see a Gits Barnes combo starting come the start of the Tri Nations. Personally I would go for Cooper but I have a feeling Deans may go a different way.

Of course there is a possibility Cooper wont be available.

This was mentioned on the Rugby Club tonight. I think Cooper will get first shot at the 10 jersey in the domestic test, due to form and because there is less at stake. If he performs poorly, expect one of Barnes or Giteau, God bless us, to step back into the flyhalf role. What I don't want to see though, is Quade at 12!!! :angryfire:

It would be interesting to see if either Giteau or Barnes are made to play flyhalf for the Aus. Baa Baas against Cooper.

 

[Biffo]

It would be interesting to see if either Giteau or Barnes are made to play flyhalf for the Aus. Baa Baas against Cooper.

Am I missing something here? Is a Baa Baas v Wallabies game scheduled?

 

[rsea]

It would be interesting to see if either Giteau or Barnes are made to play flyhalf for the Aus. Baa Baas against Cooper.

Am I missing something here? Is a Baa Baas v Wallabies game scheduled?

Aust baas to be played on the central coast from memory

 

[Reddy!]

Fuck if I know, I thought people have been talking about it. Maybe I'm just totally misreading this entire forum. Somebody clear this up, because I hell as ain't checking myself!

 

[Reddy!]

It would be interesting to see if either Giteau or Barnes are made to play flyhalf for the Aus. Baa Baas against Cooper.

Am I missing something here? Is a Baa Baas v Wallabies game scheduled?

Aust baas to be played on the central coast from memory

So are they playing the Wallabies or Australia A?

 

[en_force_er]

It would be interesting to see if either Giteau or Barnes are made to play flyhalf for the Aus. Baa Baas against Cooper.

Am I missing something here? Is a Baa Baas v Wallabies game scheduled?

Aust baas to be played on the central coast from memory

So are they playing the Wallabies or Australia A?

The Aussie BaaBaas are being used exactly like Australia A would usually and are playing against England A twice whilst the Wobs Vs England.

A big Wallaby squad will be named (40 of them) and half will play for Aus Baabaas. Presumably after the Baabaa games most of them will be cut before the 3Ns.

 

[Viking]

Why are they calling it Aus Baa baa's if its only aus players. Why dont they just call them australia A like always.

 

[en_force_er]

Why are they calling it Aus Baa baa's if its only aus players. Why dont they just call them australia A like always.

What else would they call an Australian version of the Barbarians?

I think they don't have to pay them as much money if it's the Australian Barbarians, I think they are meant to elect to play for them rather than play from then under their ARU contracts like Australia A.

Don't quote me on this though.

 

[Spook]

Gits is still a better attacking player than Barnes at 12 despite his poor form and confidence. After Larkham retired, Gits was the only option at 10 until Cooper came along and proved he was the business (this year).

 

[Biffo]

If Giteau ... I note he's called Shiteau on another forum ... doesn't play, who kicks for goal?

 

[Spook]

If Giteau ... I note he's called Shiteau on another forum ... doesn't play, who kicks for goal?

Lots of average kickers, no stand outs.