My little rant (Giteau)

[chief]

All this talk about Giteau being the guaranteed Flyhalf for the Wallabies is nothing short of pissing me off. John O'Neil fronted an ARU ceremony today demanding results from the Australian Wallaby team. But it seems from the first look of Robbie Deans indications that Australia will not progress any further than we did last year. Australia was stuck with a mediocre back line who didn't perform at the best of occasions. They failed to score tries and the like. They had a forward pack where the Wallaby front row, and George Smith simply lead from the front and carried about the other 4 team members responsibility's.

This year, 3 of 4 Aussie teams have made the Super 14 top half of the ladder. With the Force beating two of those top teams.

Now from these indications Matt Giteau deserves the first crack at Flyhalf. Matt Giteau you say. He has performed decently in two of the 13 games his team has played this season. Had any other player performed that like, they would be fighting for a bench spot. In fact in one of those games Giteau wasn't even playing at Flyhalf. Now we have players coming out with their modest support for Matt Giteau. I don't like to play the blame game, but one would wonder had Matt Giteau performed his duties consistently that there could be more silverware at ARU HQ. But no. Matt Giteau was the basis for the "Real Madrid Brumbies." Who I like many of us Rugby fans, predicted top glory this season. But enough about Giteau, we've all had our crack at him, and I'm sure he doesn't mean to be as bad as he has been.

Now to Robbie Deans, next year being a RWC year, shouldn't he be picking the best team on form. The BEST team. I like many of you Aussie fans, want Australia to win the Bledisloe Cup, its getting a bit dusty over in All Black land trophy cabinet. How do we win it back? By picking the best performing team. I want to win the Rugby World Cup in NZ, because I know we have the player base to win it. I want this from the Wallabies, and I want that from the Wallabies, but let's face it without the best team we are not going to get this and that.

Please Robbie, pick the best team. Pick Cooper at Flyhalf or Inside Centre. Pick Hodgson at Number 8. Pick AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in his best performing position (we shall find out in a matter of time) and pick Rocky at his more dominant position of #6. Pick Drew Mitchell on the wing. Pick Anthony Faainga in the squad. And please pick the best leader to lead the Wallabies. That Robbie is up to you.

The ball's in your court Robbie.

 

[Biffo]

Re: My little rant

"All this talk about Giteau being the guaranteed Flyhalf for the Wallabies ..."

Please provide a reference to such talk. I have not seen or heard any statement even claiming that Giteau is the guaranteed 5/8 for the Wallabies. Guaranteed by whom?

 

[Scarfman]

Re: My little rant

"Scarfman, Gagger, Noddy, and biffo are reading this topic."

Wow, that's the dream team right there. And biffo, too.

I reckon you could write that out again in about 10 words: No Gits at 10 please plus Ant Fanger in the mix.

 

[George]

Re: My little rant

Would love to see Mr A Finger in the gold jersey!!!! :yay

 

[Biffo]

Re: My little rant

"Scarfman, Gagger, Noddy, and biffo are reading this topic."

Wow, that's the dream team right there. And biffo, too.

Very droll, Scarfy, very droll.

 

[PaarlBok]

Re: My little rant

Jerre, you lot should thank your lucky stars you dont have Eral Rose. Stop moaning, I'll take Giteau anyday.

 

[Gagger]

Re: My little rant

Chief, if bored you'll be able to see my form Aussie S14 side of 2010 in a post Noddy is putting together for the blog, so you'll see I agree with a lot of what you've said as far as in form players goes.

When it comes to managing an international squad in a journey towards the RWC, I reckon there are a few other considerations though, which puts me in two minds about selections.

One of the biggest is continuity. Lock-stock dumping of the Wallaby midfield (Barnes and Gits) tears up two years of work that Deans has been putting into these guys. I'm as frustrated as anyone as to what it's yielded so far, but to give them both the heave-ho on average S14 seasons feels a little premature. It would suck a hell of a lot of caps out of the back line.

Does that matter? To some extent I reckon it does. QLD has had a pressure-free ride this year (who expected anything?). That won't be the case in the 3Ns and won't be at the RWC. They say having been there and experienced it before means a lot. They also say class is permanent, form is temporary. Do we shift in whoever has a good 2011 S14 season? Gits was thought by many as THE best 10 in the world in 2008.

In saying all this it's not that I think either Gits or Barnes have slated themselves as shoo-ins, and I have concerns about the impact especially Gits has at 10.

What I think/hope is that Dingo will feather in players like Cooper from the bench, giving him more experience and a shot. No doubt we'll be looking at injuries as well. This could look like the 'same old' to start with, but not end that way.

 

[PaarlBok]

Re: My little rant

+1 Gagger (a new trick I learn here). Rugby supporters should stop thinking about a international rugby team of 15 players and start looking at 30 or even 45 these days with the amount of rugby these players play. OK you lot dont have a CC extra load of rugby but I'll have two quality players for one position anyday iso compairing.

 

[liquor box]

Re: My little rant

Now to Robbie Deans, next year being a RWC year, shouldn't he be picking the best team on form. The BEST team. I like many of you Aussie fans, want Australia to win the Bledisloe Cup, its getting a bit dusty over in All Black land trophy cabinet. How do we win it back? By picking the best performing team. I want to win the Rugby World Cup in NZ, because I know we have the player base to win it. I want this from the Wallabies, and I want that from the Wallabies, but let's face it without the best team we are not going to get this and that.

I agreed until that point, the question is which would you prefer to win, the Bledisloe, 3N or World Cup?

If you are choosing the World Cup as the most important then you should be picking who you think will be in form next year as you want to perfect these combinations.

If you want to win this season then you select on current form, no Gits and A Fainga'a at inside. This is really dependant on a second ball playing mentality or a hard running mentality.

Sadly I think the money being paid to Gits is the primary reason he will continue to be selected, the ARU want some value for his bank balance.

 

[Langthorne]

Re: My little rant

Please Robbie, pick the best team. Pick Cooper at Flyhalf or Inside Centre. Pick Hodgson at Number 8. Pick AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in his best performing position (we shall find out in a matter of time) and pick Rocky at his more dominant position of #6. Pick Drew Mitchell on the wing. Pick Anthony Faainga in the squad. And please pick the best leader to lead the Wallabies.

Winning is a habit I would like to see the Wallabies develop sooner rather than later. I agree that the best available team should be playing in every test, with the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup being the priority. There are a few midweek and non tri nations tests coming up, and an EOYT, (and no doubt some injuries) so player development will happen in due course.

Like Paarlbok says, get a group of 40+ players together and see how they train/gel/develop as with the number of tests going on, an extended squad will be needed.

As much as like like A Fainga'a's powerful running and tackling I wouldn't put him into the Wallaby 1st XV (and therefore not the 22 as he is not versatile enough for the bench). I would be very happy to see him in the midweek run on side though.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will be in the team, probably at 15.

The 10 - 12 positions will be filled by Barnes, Cooper and Giteau (2 starters and one on the bench). I think Giteau is most comfortable at 12 (and he is a strong ball runner and defender), Cooper best at 10, and with Barnes I'm still undecided where he plays best. Fortunately all three are in form at the business end of the season.

Drew Mitchell would have to be a shoe in for a wing starting spot.

With Palu injured I think Elsom would be the best available option at 8, and if there is any problem with his handling at the back of the scrum (unlikely as he has great hands) the Wallabies could adopt the Waratahs' 'scrum rotation policy'. That would give us a Hodgson, Pocock, Elsom 6-7-8. Waugh would have to be the next option for 7 after Pocock, and is a great leader, but might not be versatile enough for the bench spot.

As for leadership, it may be prudent to keep Elsom as captain as removing him may couteract any benefit the new captain might bring.

 

[Blue]

Re: My little rant

As for the Quade debate I just hope Deans has one ball to pick him at 10 in the warm up test and then another ball to keep him there if he does well.

The naysayers talk about his defensive liability which is an issue but it can be worked on.

Same goes for Beale at 15.

One hopes Deans goes for the form selections in these early tests.

 

[#1 Tah]

Re: My little rant

As for the Quade debate I just hope Deans has one ball to pick him at 10 in the warm up test and then another ball to keep him there if he does well.

The naysayers talk about his defensive liability which is an issue but it can be worked on.

Same goes for Beale at 15.

One hopes Deans goes for the form selections in these early tests.

in gaol?

 

[DPK]

Re: My little rant

As for the Quade debate I just hope Deans has one ball to pick him at 10 in the warm up test and then another ball to keep him there if he does well.

The naysayers talk about his defensive liability which is an issue but it can be worked on.

Same goes for Beale at 15.

One hopes Deans goes for the form selections in these early tests.

in gaol?

Good form!

 

[Rugby Rat]

Re: My little rant

Gitts is a great ten ....


For 65 minutes. Pity it's an 80 minute game. Cooper on the bench to come on for the last 15.

Maybe the other way around yet I'm happy to go with Gitts for the first Tri nations test for 60 - 65 minutes.

Haven't won anything since 2001 tho... Maybe all that money cursed us.

 

[Geeves]

Re: My little rant

Taking on the above comments Giteau is a 12 and not a 10. He just doesn't get the space he needs to work in at international level against the major powers at 10 and hence he crabs sideways which eventually leaves the OC or wing to straighten. Once again if go back to the discussions about a hard hitting IC then Giteau is not the choice at 12 as he ghosts through the line and doesn't charge through it. In regards to A. Finger the kid has potential but internationals are another huge step up. I agree with running him though the mid -week games and if performing well give him a bench spot and run him for the last 20. I'd run Barnes at 10 as he can operate in the space on offer. The question is do you want Cooper or Barnes starting. My preference is set combinations and always will be so with Genia at half-back I nod towards Cooper but Barnes offers a lot at 10 as well.

In regards to who gets selected decisions have to be made early as this year as the combinations have set early to get the wallabies ready for RWC 2011. So the sooner the experiments start on who plays where the better. Bring on the internationals and lets see what Deans is thinking.

 

[Scotty]

Re: My little rant

Cooper has more potential to break down opposition defenses at 10 than the other two, because he plays the ball on or near the advantage line, the other two play way too deep. Of course the opposition would be happy to try and break down Cooper's defense as well.

We can't afford both Cooper and Beale in the starting line up, as Cooper will have to be hidden at times. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would be the best guy to swap him with in defense.

 

[cyclopath]

Re: My little rant

Looking at Aus 10s this season.
Cooper - always goes hard at the line from reasonably flat, throws good, fast, flat ball and puts players in holes. Looks bloody good.
Barnes (MarkII) - last few games for the Tahs - flatter, more direct, attacking the gain line, using cut-out options well, getting Tahs backline on front foot. Looks pretty good. Barnes (Mark I) - deep, static, ineffective, sooky!
Gits - deep, sideways crabbing, lots of aimless kicking, makes some breaks himself by running sideways and stepping, puts very few players in gaps. BUT, when at 2nd receiver tactical kicking is better, lateral movement more likely to create indecision from defenders. More effective.
To'omua - not enough opportunity, but see Barnes (Mark II).
Cooper and To'omua are the future at 10, Barnes could be good, Gits could be very, very good at 12 , with a GOOD 10 inside him.

 

[Scotty]

Re: My little rant

I just have a concern that if Giteau plays outside Cooper, who is going to straighten the attack?

I would be naming Giteau at 12 with either AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Chambers/Horne at 13, but run a lot of plays with Giteau at outside, and the 13 running straight/inside.

 

[Reddy!]

Re: My little rant

I'm not too concerned about Coopers defence, it's got better and will continue to do so. His attitude is great, just his technique sometimes is a bit lazy - which can be fixed. Defence is half attitude anyway these days.

Cooper did make a try saving tackle on the weekend, don't fret.

 

[Scarfman]

Re: My little rant

That comment ^ is so stupid I'm tempted to make it the first post I ever delete on the grounds that it made me want to attack the compter.

Think before you type, son. "Attitude is great. He's just lazy." No worries there, then. He is a half-hearted tackler and it's a problem. Yes, he is getting better, but there's no need to make excuses for him.