Rugby Championship 2012: Our forwards!

[Cutter]

I'm a fan, but Robinson's scrummaging form, or apparent form, is a worry. I say apparent form because there are a number of factors that determine the outcome in scrums. Is he injured, out of form or is there another explanation?

Alexander should be dropped from the squad. Palmer and Slipper are better options.

 

[Lindommer]

Watching the game live on Saturday I was concerned when the first scrum went down on Fat Cat's side, and Joubert moved to that side for every subsequent scrum. We all know FC's one of the world's best LHPs, so what went wrong? Injured? Out of form? I'd suggest the lock and flanker on his side weren't putting in. But credit to the Taffy THP, he'd made his mind up before the game he was going to severely test "the world's best LHP", and he did.

A stern test for Blades' coaching ability.

 

[Braveheart81]

TPN definitely had his worst game of the series, particularly in terms of the lineout. Moore also stuffed a throw when he came on so perhaps there were wider reaching lineout issues at play than just the throws.

Overall TPN had a good series though and has well and truly cemented himself amongst our best two hookers. I would probably start Moore in TRC but TPN is definitely there or thereabouts.

Robbo had a poor game and needs to improve. Barring his form completely falling apart in the next few weeks, I don't see him losing his LHP position. He is a class player and deserves to be there. One bad test doesn't warrant him being dropped. No one is banging down the door to take his place.

Palu clearly made too many errors on Saturday but he also did plenty of good things. I think our backrow in this series has looked better than it has in the last few years. We've finally got some size and physicality and they are all playing well. Even with the errors, Palu was still our best ball runner.

 

[tigerland12]

I think the Moore/Polota-Nau selection will come down to who we are playing. I know I'd prefer Moore against Argentina and South Africa's forward menaces. But Polota-Nau's dynamism is more valuable against the less forward orientated sides.

 

[fatprop]

Watching the game live on Saturday I was concerned when the first scrum went down on Fat Cat's side, and Joubert moved to that side for every subsequent scrum. We all know FC's one of the world's best LHPs, so what went wrong? Injured? Out of form? I'd suggest the lock and flanker on his side weren't putting in. But credit to the Taffy THP, he'd made his mind up before the game he was going to severely test "the world's best LHP", and he did.

A stern test for Blades' coaching ability.

Adam Jones is a very good prop, the Welsh have always been less straight forward scrummagers, they do all sorts of shenanigans

edit Robbo ain't the "the world's best LHP", that is just fanatasy

 

[vidiot]

TPN definitely had his worst game of the series, particularly in terms of the lineout. Moore also stuffed a throw when he came on so perhaps there were wider reaching lineout issues at play than just the throws.

The lineout shuffle may not have helped TPN. And it was noisy and hard to hear calls (including at scrum time with the crouch - touch)

Sharpe called himself a lot and and the six (Higgers/Dennis) a bit, but not Timani. (Or if he called Timani, he got nowhere near it).

For the most part that meant TPN was throwing to Sharpe at the back, probably entirely predictable when Wales were preparing during the week and setting up to compete.

 

[Scotty]

I certainly think the change of Simmons for Timani affect the lineout, and didn't really add much around the field in return.

 

[fatprop]

I certainly think the change of Simmons for Timani affect the lineout, and didn't really add much around the field in return.

for some reason they didn't throw to Timani all night, I would love to know why

 

[light]

Same team as last weekend but swap Moore and TPN, perhaps even Simmons and Timani. Pyle deserves a shot at some stage, Dennis should get a run-on against Argentina and maybe we should even consider starting Hooper at some point so Pocock doesn't get worn out/injured.

P.S agree regarding Alexander, he must go for either Slipper or Palmer.

 

[Proud Pig]

I agree with the calls for Alexander to be dropped. We cannot carry a prop because he is good in the loose.
A front rows job is in the tight, if you can't scrummage play on the wing.

 

[Scotty]

for some reason they didn't throw to Timani all night, I would love to know why

No one is strong enough to pick him up?

 

[Richo]

for some reason they didn't throw to Timani all night, I would love to know why

He has concrete hands.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think that the pack is reasonably settled at the minute and they are getting better week by week. The all-Tah front row makes sense and I would stick with it, with the possible exception of Moore coming in for TPN. That's a 50/50 call for mine.

In the second row it pretty much has to be Sharpe and Simmons for the moment, though like many others I want to see Hugh Pyle get a run.

In the back row the task is slightly harder, basically because we have more depth. Bam obviously picks himself, but 6 and 8 are still fairly competitive. Cliffy has played better than I expected and I reckon he'll start there until someone comes up and takes the spot from him. Higgers has done pretty well at 6, but I've been impressed with Dennis in the minutes he's been on the paddock. A big improver amongst Australian forwards this domestic season.

So in summary, I would have:

Cat
Taf/Moore (can't split them)
Kepu
Sharpie
Simmons
Dennis
Bam
Cliffy

at the moment on form.

 

[Brumbieman]

Robinson
Nau/Moore (horses for courses really)
Palmer/Kepu (depends on who we play as to who starts. Away against the Argies i'd be starting Palmer, eg)
Sharpe (sigh)
One of Simmons, Fardy, Carter or Pyle

Higgers
Bambam
Palu (sigh)

Moore/Nau
Kepu/Palmer
Simmons, Fardy, Carter or Pyle
Mowen/Dennis
Hooper

 

[fatprop]

Sharpe, Simmons & Timaini will be the locks

Fardy, Carter or Pyle won't be

 

[Scotty]

I think that the pack is reasonably settled at the minute and they are getting better week by week. The all-Tah front row makes sense and I would stick with it, with the possible exception of Moore coming in for TPN. That's a 50/50 call for mine.

In the second row it pretty much has to be Sharpe and Simmons for the moment, though like many others I want to see Hugh Pyle get a run.

In the back row the task is slightly harder, basically because we have more depth. Bam obviously picks himself, but 6 and 8 are still fairly competitive. Cliffy has played better than I expected and I reckon he'll start there until someone comes up and takes the spot from him. Higgers has done pretty well at 6, but I've been impressed with Dennis in the minutes he's been on the paddock. A big improver amongst Australian forwards this domestic season.

So in summary, I would have:

Cat
Taf/Moore (can't split them)
Kepu
Sharpie
Simmons
Dennis
Bam
Cliffy

at the moment on form.

If your 'on form' is super xv form then that would not be correct at all. If it is on test form it may be (although I fail to see how Palu and Dennis have been clearly better than higginbotham), but it isn't like anyone else has got a chance to stake a claim, is it?

Like I said, the tahs players have had a massive leg up from the scheduling and deans' reluctance to try and improve a winning team. I can't see how a player that hasn't been involved in the Wales series possibly has a chance to stake a claim in the next three rounds (apart from cooper and JOC (James O'Connor)), because clearly super form doesn't really matter too much for these selectors!

 

[tigerland12]

How anyone thinks Dennis is playing better then Higginbotham I'll never know

 

[barbarian]

Scotty I agree Higgers has been better than Dennis but not Palu. He was huge on Saturday and good the previous two weeks. Has established himself as our 8 for the rest of the year at least.

 

[disco]

Timani is fucking shit I can't believe he got a start over Pyle who is a genuine lock. Fuck our forwards were poor as a unit on Saturday, they've actually got worse since Scotland & Wales 1 when they actually dominated the opposition.

So basically the more time Deans spends with them the worse they get.

Fuck Deans off now anyone who starts Timani is a definite NZRU hatchet man.

 

[Scotty]

Scotty I agree Higgers has been better than Dennis but not Palu. He was huge on Saturday and good the previous two weeks. Has established himself as our 8 for the rest of the year at least.

Lost the pill 4 times. Unless you are referring to his size, I wouldnt describe his performance as 'huge'!