RWC - Wallabies v Ireland - 17th September 2011

[fatprop]

Too right.

I really dont think us Irish should bother turning up for this one. Just remember guys...

http://youtu.be/1uTYLpbNUTs

and the Aus team that night was

Lachie Turner, Luke Morahan, Pat McCabe, Anthony Fainga'a, Rod Davies, Berrick Barnes (captain), Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson, Scott Higginbotham, Dean Mumm, Rob Simmons, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Fainga'a, Ben Daley

So two players from that side will starting on Saturday with another three on the bench

 

[BRIX]

Took an Australian in Paul Warwick to sink them too

Lachie Turner, Luke Morahan, Rod Davies, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson, Saia Fainga'a, Ben Daley in a starting XV makes me woozy

 

[Braveheart81]

I streamed that game on the net. It was atrocious.

I don't think I've ever seen worse conditions.

 

[barbarian]

David Pocock is in doubt for the game with a sore back.

The Wallabies' sole openside flanker at the World Cup, David Pocock, is in doubt for Australia's Group C clash with Ireland on Saturday night because of a sore back.

Pocock sat out today's captain's run at Eden Park and will be given until tomorrow to prove his fitness.

Coach Robbie Deans has few options to replace Pocock with specialists No.7s Beau Robinson and Matt Hodgson omitted from Australia's 30-man squad.

Force backrower Ben McCalman is the likely replacement with Waratahs No.8 Wycliff Palu moved to the bench.

 

[Braveheart81]

Wow. If Pocock doesn't play, Ben McCalman will have a massive responsibility.

 

[Joe Mac]

Why the f*ck did we leave Beau Robinson at home? This is a joke. I have lost confidence going into this game...

 

[Blue]

Wow. If Pocock doesn't play, Ben McCalman will have a massive responsibility.

This could bite Deans in the bum and leave big ugly tooth marks. Why on earth not bring two sevens where there is good chance that some games may be plated in shitty weather?

Ben could play a snorter but jeez that is a good Oirish back row.

 

[pete88]

I hear Nick Phipps is a cracking openside on his day.

 

[qwerty51]

I hope McCalman gets a chance, I rate him as an openside, very mobile and on the ball.

Don't expect us to win anyway.

 

[tigerland12]

I hope McCalman gets a chance, I rate him as an openside, very mobile and on the ball.

Don't expect us to win anyway.

He is not a fetcher though? In my view the main purpose of a 7 is to be a fetcher. I still am fuming that Beau Robinson was left at home. Good news is that Pococks injury isn't serious and it's only a group match. And no offence to the Irish, they don't strike fear into me, even with out Pocock.

 

[jay-c]

dont expect us to win?
thats a bold prediction

 

[Antony]

You get more lineout options and ball running with McCalman. Not that you need it with Elsom/Samo.

 

[jay-c]

i think its important to see that because of the wa the game is being refereed at the moment we are seeing less and less pilfers> pocock has been penalised like buggery this year>
i would have liked another fetcher, but can understand how in some games another bigger mobile 6 or 8 man type player playing seven brings huge benefits to the team
in a tight wc final the fetcher who steals ball but also gets penalised might not be worth the risk

 

[qwerty51]

He is not a fetcher though? In my view the main purpose of a 7 is to be a fetcher. I still am fuming that Beau Robinson was left at home. Good news is that Pococks injury isn't serious and it's only a group match. And no offence to the Irish, they don't strike fear into me, even with out Pocock.

ABs haven't had a fetcher for years and continue to not have one.

I am totally for a fetcher (and it's one of the reasons the ABs fail at WCs) and McCalman is able to perform that role if given it. He's an adaptable player, certainly not a Test standard #8 any more because of his weight.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

He is not a fetcher though? In my view the main purpose of a 7 is to be a fetcher. I still am fuming that Beau Robinson was left at home. Good news is that Pococks injury isn't serious and it's only a group match. And no offence to the Irish, they don't strike fear into me, even with out Pocock.

Deans has spoken often that he beleives the game is developing to the contrary, hence the backrow cover he has selected not having a specialist fetcher. From memory there's already a fair bit of discussion about that in the original Wallabies Selection thread. McCalman wouldn't be too out of place in the role regardless.

 

[Jnor]

Well at least if we don't play a fetcher, Ireland aren't doing so either.

I still rate Pocock as our most important player after Genia (gotta justify the man crush somehow) and really really don't want to see him out injured

 

[St Peter]

I'm not too concerned about Pocock, as I think he will play. A sore back? Rub a little deep heat on and voila, ready to rumble. Everyone knows its magical properties.

Don't forget that he will then have 2 weeks off to recuperate for the finals.

 

[RedsHappy]

Why the f*ck did we leave Beau Robinson at home? This is a joke.....

Couldn't agree more re BR, said so when he was left out. Never grasped the RD view 'fetcher not so important these days so we don't need another specialist 7' etc. Players like DP and BR are far more than fetchers in any event. Look at BR's many successful starts for the Reds: he slowed opposition ball brilliantly, led plenty of turnovers, was ruck mongrel on steroids (figuratively), supported other tight Reds' forwards really well, shoved off the best oppositions' forwards with routine success, his fast link play and ball running was/is arguably better than DP's. Neutral commentators in the S15 often classed him as amongst the very best back row forwards in the entire S15.

Give me Beau over McCalman as understudy for DP any day. Would have preferred this trade-off in squad than, say, the taking of Phipps to the WC.

 

[Ruggo]

We have some players who are very mobile and athletic around the breakdown and will cover the fetcher role well. Horwill and Elsom are good in this area. The game is evolving where more players have traditional openside flanker quallities.

 

[tigerland12]

Yeah I agree that the role of the 7 is changing, but just look at the value the fetcher still has (ieocock,Warburton,Brussouw). I still think it's highly beneficial to have one. McCalman will do fine, but if he was up against one of the previously mentioned opensides, he would struggle.