Pumas vs Wallabies, 25th July 2015, Mendoza

[Slim 293]

There's 3 players in a rugby back row.........

 

[qwerty51]

McCalman or Palu - doesn't matter.

Both play tight, effective carriers and get through work.

 

[Slim 293]

And neither are great lineout jumpers..............

But then who are you pairing them with? Both could play in a back row with Fardy/Pocock............

Your initial statement is still utterly false, as proved on the weekend.

 

[Ash]

If you play Pocock and Hooper, then unfortunately you probably can't start Skelton. Then there's also the question of if you play them with Fardy, who is better in the lineout and over the ball but not carrying, or McCalman, who is a better carrier and a real 8, allowing both Pocock and Hooper to play at flanker. Not at easy decision to make. I am still undecided on what I'd do with the back row.

I would definitely rest Slipper, but unfortunately this doesn't seem possible now as Toby Smith wasn't on the plane.

The biggest thing I want to see is increased urgency and accuracy on our attacking breakdowns, and more competition on the defensive breakdowns.

With Gits out, To'omua will be at 12, and Cooper and Foley both in the 23. Unless Chieka opts for Beale on the bench, which is a possibility as Beale covers 12, wing, 15, at a pinch and To'omua covers 10. The other question is if Tomane or Mitchell replaces Horne, with the other to the bench.

 

[Groucho]

The good thing is that we will probably get to observe all these combinations in action over the coming weeks, like we saw Pooper together on the weekend. That's the beauty of having some depth. We (or at least Cheika) doesn't have to guess right first time then stick with it for the rest of the season if we win a game with combination A or combination B on the field at the time.

 

[Marcelo]

How nice to have some depth, I imagine that if Lilo plays against the Argies, he will play their best game ever. With the inclusion of Giteau, he has one foot out of the WC squad (Unfortunately) then he has to prove to the coaches that he deserves a place in the WC squad

 

[ACT Crusader]

Being 'dropped' at this stage is no big deal. The gameplan and combinations are evolving. Everyone with the possible exceptions of Moore and Folau will be dropped at some point.

Although I think Cooper will play all tests just to get him to that magic number of tests.....

 

[Marcelo]

The biggest thing I want to see is increased urgency and accuracy on our attacking breakdowns

That's the point, the big issue against Boks. It has nothing to do with the defensive system you use, drift or rush defense

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Some good points on here that some players were asked to play a style of game or combinations that means bit harsh to judge them on the one game

Which is why so important to try different combinations in tests as you can try different combo's at training but not the same

Hence, yes Higgers deserves another shot as was form 8 of Australian Super Rugby conference

Kepu had skelton behind him in the scrum so lets see how he goes with Horwill behind him.

The only player who definitely was exposed in my view was Skelton. I just think at this stage he is too much of a liability with key weaknesses in key areas - ie can't jump and can't scrummage. Work on improving that but at best bench role for mind.

Also TWAS what are the other proven locks we have not seen? As cupboard looks bare in terms of test match ready locks?

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Beale and Lifo.....both are potential bench options for RWC.

Beale because can cover 12 (not his best position in my view), 10, Wing, Fullback

Giteau covers 10, 12

Lifo, 10, 12

Great to personally see depth as all are quality players so for that we should be grateful that can have these debates on who should start as clearly pretty divergent views as all these players are in the mix

 

[Marcelo]

Beale because can cover 12 (not his best position in my view), 10, Wing, Fullback

If we have learned something with Ewen McKenzie it is that Beale can't play at 10

 

[dru]

@RugbyNutter. Skelton may have been exposed but not to the extent many were expecting. The line out hole got plugged for one. Also the scrum fails also happened on LH side with Slipper/Simmo in the gun sights (unexpected I know).

@Ash I would have agreed with you (shouldn't play Skelton if you have Pocock and Hooper on the field). But at least at this stage Cheika is saying "why not". IMO the game last weekend answering with "well there's too much for the tight five to_ _ _" And the words start seeming like they will have no impact on Cheika at that point, so I dribble out.

Everyone who thinks the starting selections were rubbish and the "B" team were what we need - Well you might be right. But I suspect it was a deliberate "Plan B" and that Cheika/Larkham are not in the slightest done with this "Plan A".

I'm liking it, the approach. And Im fascinated thinking about how this team is going to work out.

 

[A mutterer]

Beale and Lifo...both are potential bench options for RWC.

Beale because can cover 12 (not his best position in my view), 10, Wing, Fullback

Giteau covers 10, 12

Lifo, 10, 12

Great to personally see depth as all are quality players so for that we should be grateful that can have these debates on who should start as clearly pretty divergent views as all these players are in the mix

Bullshit. Beale cannot play 10.

Let's just squash that fallacy once and for all.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Also TWAS what are the other proven locks we have not seen? As cupboard looks bare in terms of test match ready locks?

And where does Kane Douglas fit into that? He's no more test match proven than Luke Jones, Adam Coleman and Rory Arnold.

 

[I like to watch]

Bullshit. Beale cannot play 10.

Let's just squash that fallacy once and for all.

I don't think he can play 12 or 15 at Test level either.
You swap KB (Kurtley Beale) for Izzie the other night & the Boks would have run away with it.
I would pick Mitchell ahead of KB (Kurtley Beale) at 15 if Izzie went down.
i don't have any confidence in KB (Kurtley Beale) being solid enough in D at 12 against the better Test teams.
In any event,I don't think he adds more than To'omua and/or Giteau there.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Beale and Lifo...both are potential bench options for RWC.

Beale because can cover 12 (not his best position in my view), 10, Wing, Fullback

Giteau covers 10, 12

Lifo, 10, 12

Great to personally see depth as all are quality players so for that we should be grateful that can have these debates on who should start as clearly pretty divergent views as all these players are in the mix

Neither Beale or Giteau can play 10 (Gits has finally realised this and Leali'ifano is a 10/12 that can play 15 has done at club and possibly NPC.

 

[Joe Blow]

With Cooper newly signed to the ARU without a Super contract will he remain eligible?
If so they have another year to get him up to 60 caps.
Hopefully Foley gets a run this week anyway. Cooper was hot and cold on the weekend again which is a real shame as he had a good opportunity to make the position his own.
With Gits, To'omua and Lilo now in the picture there is no good reason to carry both Cooper and Foley in any 23.

 

[KOB1987]

What is the story of everyone dropping Fardy? One game where things werent going his way and now he is out of the 23? He had the second most ruck involvements, most line out takes of the round and if I remember correctly he also snatched one steal.
I know he did not rack up huge stats but he is more use in defence than attack and we had the posession so that explains some of his bad stats.

I don't think anyone is 'dropping' him as such. I think it's more a combination of a desire to see Hooper and Pocock start together, and an expectation that McCalman is due for game time this week. In that scenario Fardy is good bench cover.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Aus up to 5th in the Rankings & will remain there unless they lose. If Arg win they'll overtake Fra for 7th, draw keeps them 8th.

 

[Pfitzy]

Bullshit. Beale cannot play 10.

Let's just squash that fallacy once and for all.

Its a shame his last outings there will be forever tainted by the fact Nic White wasn't putting the ball in front of him.