Hypotheticals - 2013 Wallaby Positions

[tranquility]

I like your idea of Harris at 13 though. Stick 5 kgs of weight (the Pocock kind, not the Beale kind) on him and he could become close to what we are looking for, with the added benefit of great goal kicking.

Without being a wingy-wendy (as much as I can) I mooted this before this season for the Reds because I dont think Taps can play 13 or rather it wastes his skillset and it fell on deaf ears. I would really like to see if a center pairing of Taps and Harris would work at the Reds, although I think Harris is purely a 13 at Wallaby level at this stage.

 

[undercoverkiwi]

I tend to agree with this from Paul Cully. We just aren't big enough at the moment. Our wonder kids are only small wonder kids (Quade is big enough, but not good enough in contact). We need to find some big and strong up and comers to give us a more physical presence.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/a...-backline-size-is-exposed-20120830-253a8.html

Not sure I buy this. I think Cully's usually pretty good on his obervations but this is too simplistic. That Wallaby side he referred to with the big blokes in played at a time when defences weren't as strong and simply being bigger meant you had an automatic advantage. But now defences are stronger, and not being able to tackle a guy cause he's big is no longer an excuse. This is why I fail to get excited about the likes of Julian Savea who is a throwback to the days of Lomu and Sailor et al, when wings nowadays - and centres - need more guile to crack defences. A good defensive side will not be fazed by Savea lumbering at them.

Having big blokes is still useful for setting up midfield rucks across the advantage line - which is where guys like Roberts and McCabe are useful - but they also blunt a team's attack. Players that can create holes by drawing two defenders the way Cruden and Carter and Smith can, and put other players through are, IMO, more valuable.

By all means the Wallabies need to up-size their forwards, but I would say focus on your backs' existing strengths rather than mess with them.

 

[Intruder]

Hypothetically.

9. Genia
10. Lealilifano
11. Ioane
12. Inman (size, speed, strength)
13. JOC (James O'Connor)
14. Mitchell
15. Beale

• 100% agree on Inman - Tipped him to be the solution to our center problem however in a few years. Atm AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is the best option at 13.
• For mine Lealifano is our next best option at 10 if we are to challenge NZ.
• Rob Simmons has been ordinary this season Neville or Douglas deserve a spot instead.
• Likewise Radike great player of the past but it's time to blood some young talent.
• Mitchell for me must show some sort of return to form if his to be picked again in the starting XV

1st & 2nd XV

1. Robinson, Alexander
2. Moore, Charles
3. Kepu, Palmer
4. Horwill, Pyle
5. Timani, Simmons
6. Dennis, Schatz
7. Pocock, Gill
8. Palu, McCalman
9. Genia, White
10. Cooper, Barnes
11. Ioane, Cummins
12. McCabe, Tapuai
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Inman
14. JOC (James O'Connor), Moranhan
15. Beale, Foley

16. Polota-Nau, Fainga'a
17. Slipper, Ryan
18. Douglas, Neville / Jones
19. Hooper, Hodgeson
20. Higginbotham, Phipps
21. Lealifano, Horne / Fainga'a
22. Tomane, Mitchell

 

[qwerty51]

You cannot have Horwill and Timani as a lock combination

 

[Gagger]

mmm, not sure. Wasn't Horwill jumping and running the lineout at the Reds most recently?

As long as you've got 2 other solid jumpers as well like Dennis or Higgers?

 

[qwerty51]

Simmons runs the Reds lineouts doesn't he?

Timani didn't even jump once last game, he packs at lock but he's not a jumper. It worked fine because of Sharpe/Dennis/Higgers are all very good jumpers so you've still got 3 good options but with Horwill and Timani, you're really putting your lineout under pressure imo.

 

[Intruder]

You cannot have Horwill and Timani as a lock combination

I have confidence in Horwill's ability to control our lineout going forward. Also Timani has been regarded recently as our best scrummaging lock option and his performance last week shows us his development is on the right track.

 

[Gagger]

Simmons runs the Reds lineouts doesn't he?

Timani didn't even jump once last game, he packs at lock but he's not a jumper. It worked fine because of Sharpe/Dennis/Higgers are all very good jumpers so you've still got 3 good options but with Horwill and Timani, you're really putting your lineout under pressure imo.

Agree I'd feel far more comfortable with a specialist line-out lock, just not sure this combo is a "cannot"