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Rugby Championship 2012: Our Backline

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Scotty

David Codey (61)
Anyone else think that Horne was only just average again? Almost butchered another try!

Cooper to 10, Barnes to 12 and McCabe to 13 will be a lot better. If cooper isn't ready then fa'ainga deserves a shot over Horne.

I am tired of hearing about Horne's potential but seeing sub-par performances.
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
I have to agree with you there Scotty, Horne was lucky to get that try. Fainga should have started over him. I'm definitely keen to see a centre pairing of Barnes and McCabe. Not sure who should be flyhalf yet, Coopers defence is just too much of a weakness now and JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale's attack is getting very good so they might be better options.

Although Beale will have to stop throwing the miracle pass and stop chip kicking it.
 

emuarse

Chilla Wilson (44)
9 Mickey Mouse
10 Groucho Marx
11 Speedy Gonzales
12 The Phantom
13 Darth Vader
14 Homer Simpson
15 Tonto (The Lone Ranger is still injured - silver bullet poisoning)

Can anyone truly pick a better backline.
 

Groucho

Greg Davis (50)
When JOC (James O'Connor) Shows he can successfully shutdown Nonu or SBW then he can have the 12 jersey whenever he wants. Atm our best players to do this is only Barnes and McCabe.



He is quick but I have not once witnessed him use his speed. You can't fully blame the Tahs as he has had many Test opportunities already and unfotunately has not shown any great attacking ability. He is solid but he is no attacker.

Turner has an exceptional highlights reel of wonderful tries where he's used the full range of footballing abilities, including his speed. The problem is that he just doesn't do it instinctively. The best wingers will always try to beat the man, where Turner either kicks, or lamely runs into contact. He seems to have a confidence problem.
 

Groucho

Greg Davis (50)
Like many others here I vote Cooper out until he can defend in the ten channel. This year we have the luxury of options there and we should make the most of them.
 

jollyswagman

Ron Walden (29)
After watching all of the June tour matches (ABs & Aus) I just can't see the current backline being strong enough to get on top of NZ. I am all for having rock solid defense in the centers but if that comes at the cost of our midfield not being able to pass then I think we will still struggle. I lost count of th amount of opportunities that were blown last night by mid fielders not be able to find the support runner. Both Barnes and Beale attacked the line were always looking but most of the time the likes of Horne, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and McCabe were just hitting it up hard and looking for the reset......just a little too predictable and one-dimensional in my opinion.
 
T

TOCC

Guest
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. Barnes
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/McCabe
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Beale

A healthy mix of strong defense in the midfield and creativity on the flanks


Too bad the game is going to be won or lost in the forward pack though
 

Scotty

David Codey (61)
McCabe over AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) for mine. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) again ball hogged last night - he had gotten on the outside of his man and was coming up to a defender with two support players on the inside and he holds onto the ball and gets tackled.

The kind of opportunity that NZ turn into tries and we turn into getting tackled 45m out. Not good enough.
 

Joe Blow

John Hipwell (52)
9.Genia
10.Cooper(new improved tackling version)
11.Digby
12.BB
13.AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14.Mitchell/JOC (James O'Connor)
15.KB (Kurtley Beale)


20.White
21.McCabe
22.Mitchell/JOC (James O'Connor)

No doubt there will be some injuries that will come into play before or during TRC but this is a very exciting backline.
We saw from KB (Kurtley Beale) today that he often went one step too far in pushing a pass etc instead of recycling. Cooper often has the same problem.
But when they are on their game we have the ability to score tries....quickly.
 

Schadenfreude

John Solomon (38)
I have noticed Cooper seems a bit bigger and more physical since he's come back.

Am I the only one that thinks Cooper defends at fullback because he gets more opportunity to counter-attack from there?
 

Joe Blow

John Hipwell (52)
I have noticed Cooper seems a bit bigger and more physical since he's come back.

Am I the only one that thinks Cooper defends at fullback because he gets more opportunity to counter-attack from there?

That has to be part of it. He has done some incredible things from the back in the past couple of years. But he does need to fix up his defensive game if he is going to be a viable long-term Wallaby 10.
 

Richo

John Thornett (49)
I think it's pretty obvious that Cooper defends at 15 because he sucks at 10 and that the silver lining is that he can counter attack. This works fine at the Reds but is poor for the Wallabies because Beale is better counter-attacking, under the high ball, and in defense.

There is also less margin for error in Tests, which mean the line shuffles that are manageable at Super level are more likely to break down.
 

Schadenfreude

John Solomon (38)
I tend to think Link has done the math on this. That the majority all of the Reds tries last year were from counterattack. Having Cooper defending at 10 would mean most of those wouldn't happen.
 

Athilnaur

Arch Winning (36)
Too convoluted imo, would prefer Barnes at 12 and Cooper defending at 10 over Beale not at fb. In 2010 Beale was imo the best fb in rugby. Going into the cup arguably he still was, but for me the Cooper thing cramped his game. No doubt the kiwis all say Dagg, but that's not at all clear to me, he only started the job in the RWC, meanwhile Beale was injured and working around Cooper.
 

tigerland12

John Thornett (49)
9 Mickey Mouse
10 Groucho Marx
11 Speedy Gonzales
12 The Phantom
13 Darth Vader
14 Homer Simpson
15 Tonto (The Lone Ranger is still injured - silver bullet poisoning)

Can anyone truly pick a better backline.
I don't think old Darth would have the legs to play in the backline. That being said his great knowledge of the force and his defensive execution skills (ie:killing fuckers) would be valuable in the outside channels.
 
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