Rugby Championship 2012: Our Backline

[jollyswagman]

throwing my two cents in......

9. Genia​

10. Beale​

12. Barnes​

13. JOC (James O'Connor)​

11. Ioane 14. McCabe​

15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)​

Reasoning being we would have good options at first receiver on either side in general play & solid hard runners on the outside. I believe AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) should be in the side and is best utilized at the back under the high ball. IMHO, Beale is wasted at fullback as he doesn't receive the ball enough when on attack in general play. Yes, he may be the best fullback running around but he could also be the best fly half and I would argue that having the best fly half in the game will win you more than the having the best full back.

 

[jollyswagman]

Bench would be Cooper and Faainga if we are going with a 5/2 split. Does the game these days still necessitate having a specialist back-up half back?

 

[Athilnaur]

If both Cooper and Mitchell got back to peak form that would make for some very hard decisions, but like others I believe JOC (James O'Connor) should still be on for 80.

An on fire Cooper is so tempting. But please, no more defending at fullback.

If you do put Cooper at 10, that settles 12 in my view, you need McCabe in that channel to lock it down and assist in beefing up a 10 channel that will get bombarded.

But can Cooper recover his Reds 2011 type mojo and apply it appropriately in the face of the Boks and ABs? I think he can but maybe this year is too much.

Meanwhile Barnes star rises, and it is very hard to deny his level headed play at the test level eh?

 

[BarneySF]

Fotu at 12! Like he did in Franceland. Bend that farking line people.

 

[Scotty]

Barnes at 12 and 15?

Sorry it was another 'b' name I was thinking about. Old age and all.

 

[Scotty]

Like who? Just any "Not a Tah", which was the point since we can't consider Tah players.

I posted my backline in this thread (with a slight mistake). Just as many tahs as the current one, you'd be happy to see!

My example for a direct comparison (and what can be achieved with barnes and Cooper playing together) was the third place play off vs Wales. Before Cooper got injured it looked like he, with the help of Barnes was going to blow them apart. After he went off Barnes managed the game well to get a tight win, but the reduced attack meant that we were never going to run away with it.

In my opinion the barnes and cooper team gives us our best options.

Beale has only played a few games at 10 in the last few years - not sure he has proved enough for test rugby yet.

 

[fatprop]

I think Richard Graham was right (his comment in the GR&G podcast) in that JOC (James O'Connor)'s best spot is on the wing

He is still too selfish to play anywhere else, on the wing he can cause grief and be that second 15 I always like to see to work with Beale

Genia
Barnes
Ioane
McCabe
Horne (more attack threat than Ant, less selfish than AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at centre)
JOC (James O'Connor)
Beale

res

White
Faainga
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

I would prefer to see the sides structure be constant (no hiding of players in defence), with solid defensive options across the field, strong defence, line running and go forward in the centres, and strong back three counter attack.

 

[Scotty]

You are almost completely relying on your back three in counter attack for the attacking threat.

 

[fatprop]

You are almost completely relying on your back three in counter attack for the attacking threat.

Sort of, the reality is that most tries today come from counter.

As for set piece, having that back three as running options in around will cause grief without defensive weakness

 

[Lindommer]

9. Genia, White, Phipps

10. Barnes, Cooper, Beale, O'Connor (and Lealiifano in 2013)

12. McCabe, Barnes, O'Connor, Fainga'a

13. Horne, Ashley-Cooper, Fainga'a, McCabe, Tapuai, O'Connor

14. Ioane, Ashley-Cooper, O'Connor, McCabe, Tomane (let's assume Mitchell isn't a contender for 2012 and Vuna won't play for the Wallabies again this season particularly as more players become available).

15. Beale, Ashley-Cooper, O'Connor, Cooper

added, and put them in some sort of pecking order.

And let's not leave Aussie Mike out of the mix. His kicking skills may well be needed with a few injuries.

 

[Braveheart81]

In discussing our best backline, I didn't include halfback because Genia is pretty much unrivalled as far as the starting team goes.

I also didn't include Ioane because I had him as a walk up starter at 11.

 

[tigerland12]

Fainga'a/Horne/Tapuai/McCabe/Ashley-Cooper at outside center.

We are still trying to replace Mortlock by the looks of things!

 

[cyclopath]

I posted my backline in this thread (with a slight mistake). Just as many tahs as the current one, you'd be happy to see!

My example for a direct comparison (and what can be achieved with barnes and Cooper playing together) was the third place play off vs Wales. Before Cooper got injured it looked like he, with the help of Barnes was going to blow them apart. After he went off Barnes managed the game well to get a tight win, but the reduced attack meant that we were never going to run away with it.

In my opinion the barnes and cooper team gives us our best options.

Beale has only played a few games at 10 in the last few years - not sure he has proved enough for test rugby yet.

Scotty, I don't actually care how many Tahs, or any other play for the Wallabies - I want the best Test backline, which may not be the best Super rugby players thrown together in a blender.
You brought the number of Tahs into it, when someone had the temerity to say Foley was better under the high ball than Cooper, which really skewed the point. That was to what I was responding, the knee-jerk "too many Tahs" response.

 

[Scotty]

Scotty, I don't actually care how many Tahs, or any other play for the Wallabies - I want the best Test backline, which may not be the best Super rugby players thrown together in a blender.
You brought the number of Tahs into it, when someone had the temerity to say Foley was better under the high ball than Cooper, which really skewed the point. That was to what I was responding, the knee-jerk "too many Tahs" response.

I know you don't care. I'm just winding you up!

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

My example for a direct comparison (and what can be achieved with barnes and Cooper playing together) was the third place play off vs Wales. Before Cooper got injured it looked like he, with the help of Barnes was going to blow them apart. After he went off Barnes managed the game well to get a tight win, but the reduced attack meant that we were never going to run away with it.

In my opinion the barnes and cooper team gives us our best options.

Yep, I've maintained that since seeing Genia/Cooper/Barnes as the axis in the first England test back in 2010. There is a nice symmetry about what Cooper and Barnes bring in defence and attack. With Genia feeding them good ball and having the occasional dart around the ruck as well, it seems to work really well. Add Beale, Ioane and probably JOC (James O'Connor) in the mix and the opposition really have their hands full.

We also need to defend though and I like McCabe at 13, because not only can he truck the ball up when nothing's on, he is the very definition of lion hearted in defence (ref: QF against the Boks in 2011). Berrick is also very secure.

 

[Shiggins]

If everyone is fit and on form minus Lilo because he is out for the year I would go

Genia
cooper
Ione
JOC (James O'Connor)
Mcabe
Mitchell
Beale

Bench
Ant or barnse. It's very hard to decide.
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (covers alot of spots comming off the bench.

ATM I would go

Genia
Barnse ( depends on coopers forming the comming weeks)
Ione
JOC (James O'Connor)
mcabe
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Beal

Copper
Ant


Frustrating when if all was well we could have a backline of

Genia
LILO
Ione
JOC (James O'Connor)
Mcabe
Mitchell
Beal

Guys fighting for bench spots like. Barnse ,cooper, ant, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horne, vuna, joe. imagine it. We would look in superb shape.



Http://www.youtube.com/shiggins316

 

[Proud Pig]

Beale is the best full back in the world. Let him play there but he must play there both ways not just on attack and then move to the wing so we can hide Quade in defense. If we play QC (Quade Cooper) at 10 he must defend at 10 otherwise KB (Kurtley Beale) is wasted as probably his greatest strength is as a counter attack runner through the centre channels. He can only do that if defending at FB.

Saying that my backline would be as follows:

Genia
Barnes
Ioane
JOC (James O'Connor)
McCabe
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Beale

with Horne and White on the bench. We are well covered should we receive an injury given the number of players that can play multiple positions.

 

[Chauncey]

I realize we are discussing the back line for the upcoming championship, but the guy I really think could be our long term answer at 13 is Joe Tomane.

From what I have seen this year,I think he seems to offer huge potential ie good hands, great fend, big step, pace, size, very solid in defense and size / ability to bend the line. Something we have consistently lacked since Mortlock.
Tomane also seems to have a good read of the game unlike some others.

Worthy of serious consideration if he returns from the ankle injury as well as he finished

 

[BPC]

Barnes at 12 and 15?

Maybe he means Berrick at 12 and Archie at 15.

 

[fatprop]

I realize we are discussing the back line for the upcoming championship, but the guy I really think could be our long term answer at 13 is Joe Tomane.

From what I have seen this year,I think he seems to offer huge potential ie good hands, great fend, big step, pace, size, very solid in defense and size / ability to bend the line. Something we have consistently lacked since Mortlock.
Tomane also seems to have a good read of the game unlike some others.

Worthy of serious consideration if he returns from the ankle injury as well as he finished

Lets see him roll out there for the Brumbies for a season before we throw him there for the Wobs