Hangers

[James Buchanan]

I disagree, i think a game against fiji should involve a few bolters such as horne or fainifo. Would be silly to put Gits, mortlock, barnes starting. Dont think halandahu deserves a start tho even against fiji, cooper should be the starting flyhalf to see how his defence goes. To'omua im not so sure about at 12 but should def come off the bench to fill in flyhalf, lealiifano i wouldnt mind seeing in a wallabies jersy.
Id have 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Digby 12. lealiifano 13. Horne 14. Fainifo 15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).. To'omua off the bench. This includes some regular starters as well as some players which still need to prove themselves. Should be a good game.

Given that Fiji will unlikely get their European players for the tour, probably a fair match.

Will also have the added bonus of locking in several of those players as Wallabies, if I were to be conniving.

 

[DPK]

I disagree, i think a game against fiji should involve a few bolters such as horne or fainifo. Would be silly to put Gits, mortlock, barnes starting. Dont think halandahu deserves a start tho even against fiji, cooper should be the starting flyhalf to see how his defence goes. To'omua im not so sure about at 12 but should def come off the bench to fill in flyhalf, lealiifano i wouldnt mind seeing in a wallabies jersy.
Id have 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Digby 12. lealiifano 13. Horne 14. Fainifo 15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).. To'omua off the bench. This includes some regular starters as well as some players which still need to prove themselves. Should be a good game.

Given that Fiji will unlikely get their European players for the tour, probably a fair match.

Will also have the added bonus of locking in several of those players as Wallabies, if I were to be conniving.

I agree Seb and Jimmy. I think it would be good to start Cooper in the 10 jersey. But who do you have on the bench? To'omua can cover 10 and 12 i guess, but i would be interested in putting Halangahu on the bench to give him a chance. I think there is a lot of undiscovered potential in Australia's flyhalf ranks.

I'm not completely blind- i can see that there are better flyhalfs than Halangahu. But if he never gets a go at the elite (test) level, we'll never see whether or not he can step up to another level.

 

[Scotty]

I think Lealiifano deserves a Wallaby spot before To'omua at this stage, but things might change by the end of the season. I wasn't suggesting putting all the experienced guys in there, but conversley we don't want to have all new or out of regular position guys either (eg Hynes). If you are going to put in some fringe players, then a) pick on form b) pick them next to experienced guys to see how they gel, and c) pick them in positions where we are lacking in depth.

The critical positions for me are 10 and 15, and possibly wing as well. I would pick something like:

Genia, Cooper, Ioane, Giteau, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Fainifo, Hynes

with Burgess, Lealiifano, Turner on the bench.

Obviously giving the bench a good run in the 2nd half.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

If hangers could kicklike Wilkinson maybe he could get a game with England

 

[DPK]

Beaming the thread up.

We're over halfway through the Super 14 season now. Have Hanger's chances at getting a crack at a Test spot changed?

 

[Reddy!]

I think he is still good for the a squad position. He'll definitely be playing Aus A. I have a feeling there will be quite a few inside backs in the squad this year, Fainga'a a smokey.

 

[Viking]

Dont think so. He's like a jack of all trades but specialist of none. "Good" at every aspect of the game that involves a flyhalf, but not spectacular in any. Whereas cooper has a special pass/offload/running game, Defence poor (well id say average now, still a few brain farts tho). Larkham also had a special pass/vision/ghosting through defence, average kicking. Hangers has nothing Great about his game, just all-round good. He would never be first pick, but he could be a back-up if others (cooper) got injured.

I do believe he will be the tah's flyhalf for years to come. And i hope he does too he deserves it. He is and will continue to be a great super 14/15 player. But will not be star international.

 

[cyclopath]

Seb V is pretty spot on. But that said, I would not worry so much about him at 10 in a Test, as he would do the stuff he has to do solidly. If the whole back line were the same, well, that's a problem. With game-breakers around him, such as Genia, Giteau (I'm assuming he will be there and get some form too!), Ioane etc... he would not be the weak link. Sure, I want Cooper's talent there, but realistically we may not always have it. Last year many clamoured for Barnes to be Test 10, but he is hardly spectacular either.
I doubt we would specifically lose a Test because Hangers was at 10. At the moment, I think he deserves to be in the running as back up.

 

[matty_k]

I think he is still good for the a squad position. He'll definitely be playing Aus A. I have a feeling there will be quite a few inside backs in the squad this year, Fainga'a a smokey.

I agree. He should be given a chance in the A's to see if he can step up. It would be good to know if he can for the World Cup.

 

[en_force_er]

Fainifo has always been right on the verge of a break out season but has never quite gotten there in my eyes. We have enough good outside backs already blooded and fighting for spots without blooding another just yet. Off to Aus A (Aus Barbarians) for him.

If you need to blood another outside back, and I suppose only good can come of it, surely McCabe would be your man. You'd be insane not to see this man's future starting potential. Combine this with his terrific utility properties off the bench and you'll be chugging along swimmingly with him in the squad.

 

[Viking]

Fainifo has always been right on the verge of a break out season but has never quite gotten there in my eyes. We have enough good outside backs already blooded and fighting for spots without blooding another just yet. Off to Aus A (Aus Barbarians) for him.

If you need to blood another outside back, and I suppose only good can come of it, surely McCabe would be your man. You'd be insane not to see this man's future starting potential. Combine this with his terrific utility properties off the bench and you'll be chugging along swimmingly with him in the squad.

I agree with your post, But i think our outside backs lack a lot of speed and flare. The Boks have Habana who can score from his own goal line with an inch of pace, and ABs have sivivatu who can step just about every player and break through some tackles to score a great individual try. Our backs at the moment do some ability to beat a man/set up a try/ finish off a try/defend well, but I dont think anyone in the australian team would be capable of scoring a try 90metres out. Tries like that dont happen often i know but its still nice to know that the threat is there, it keeps the opposition on there toes. Honestly i dont think the opposition worries too much about defending against our wingers (apart from Ioane whos bloody strong, but could be quicker for a winger). Im all for bloodying new outside back, especially wingers, Rod davies is my pick.

sorry bout the off topic.