Heads to Heads

[Biffo]

Apparently Wallaby selectors take special notice of head to head performances when the Australian S14 teams meet.

Now that the Australian teams have completed their games among themselves, are there any great pointers to Wallaby selections?

 

[Reddy!]

Giteau is a shoe in for fly half then.

 

[Spook]

We have to look at the Force as well.

 

[Pfitzy]

The problem with head-to-heads is that they're usually ordinary affairs with rare exceptions like last night.

The Waratahs beat every Australian side by 7 points or less. How much do you think that will count with the most recent derby also being the highest scoring?

 

[Biffo]

The problem with head-to-heads is that they're usually ordinary affairs with rare exceptions like last night.

The Waratahs beat every Australian side by 7 points or less. How much do you think that will count with the most recent derby also being the highest scoring?

I don't know. I am just wondering whether anyone can draw conclusions from the six games among our teams.

 

[Pfitzy]

I don't they should. Thing is we're not going to be playing other national sides with a style the same as our franchises tend towards. We need to pick the team that is fit, in the right positions, and can play as a group of blokes who are going to hate All Blacks, Springboks, etc.

 

[cyclopath]

I think Robbie et al would be smart enough to take into account the whole season, rather than being dazzled by a player having a mediocre year getting all juiced up over the chance to belt his possible Wallaby rival. There are standouts each year in this category. He wants players who will turn up 80% or more of the time, not a flash in the pan.
As NTA says, they are usually dour, ugly affairs with only an occasional spark. I think he would prefer to see how Gits played against possible 3N rivals, ditto Quade. How they play in adverse conditions; behind a non-dominant pack etc...
I think he would prefer to see Ben Alexander at THP rather than LHP (and the try-scoring would probably mean nothing to him). He'd probably like to see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in one position for a string of games - everyone already knows he has the "utility" tag well and truly covered.
In essence, I'm not sure these matches would have any greater bearing than others.

 

[matty_k]

I really would of thought performance against the OS teams would have been a far better indicator and then if you can't split two players look at the local derbies.

 

[Scotty]

We can say that Genia has the 9 spot sown up.

We can say that it is unlikely there will be many tight forwards from the Reds and Force in the Wallabies.

I don't think we can say that Giteau should be a starting Wallaby. I don't think we can say that Barnes will be a starting Wallaby.

I do think that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has shown he is starting, but who knows where?

 

[DPK]

Anyone doubt that Ben Alexander will be starting? I think he'd be the first one in.

 

[Blue]

Anyone doubt that Ben Alexander will be starting? I think he'd be the first one in.

That's been a given for some time...

The interesting thing will be who takes the bench prop spot. Will Deans keep Baxter in the mix? Who else on the bench?

The fact that Alexander has done so well in the S14 at LH is massive for the Wallabies. That sort of versatility is gold.

 

[DPK]

I think Cowan, Weeks, and Baxter will battle it out for the bench prop spot.

What about Hooker? S. Fainga'a shouldn't start this year, but when can we afford to have him on the bench? Polota-Nau / Moore is a good combination (who should start out of those two seems to be clearer, PN for mine).

 

[Spook]

The interesting thing will be who takes the bench prop spot. Will Deans keep Baxter in the mix? Who else on the bench?

This has me stumped. I would have said Kepu at the beginning of the season but he hasn't improved. Baxter is a no no.

 

[fatprop]

Giteau is a shoe in for fly half then.

So Gits looked good behind a dominant forward pack, surprise, surprise

 

[fatprop]

The interesting thing will be who takes the bench prop spot. Will Deans keep Baxter in the mix? Who else on the bench?

This has me stumped. I would have said Kepu at the beginning of the season but he hasn't improved. Baxter is a no no.

Assuming Alexander does THP, he can essentially be the designated prop that plays both sides of the 3 props picked, that would give Deans the option picking a specialist THP or LHP for the bench.

My bet is Weekes and Cowan will be rotated.

But if Alexander gets wounded it becomes interesting as the guys who play two sides well are thin on the ground at the moment as none are in form. (Dunning, Kepu, Fairbrother & Holmes I guess, my pick would be Fairbrother)