RWC Wallabies v USA - 23 September

[kiap]

TPN in some doubt now...

Wallabies suffer another injury scare
Darren Walton, AAP September 22, 2011, 4:30 pm

The Wallabies have suffered another injury scare, with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau taking a tumble at Thursday's captain's run in Wellington.

Polota-Nau finished the session with ice on his knee but the Wallabies are confident he'll be fine to tackle the United States in their Rugby World Cup pool match on Friday night.

With Saia Fainga'a out with the flu, reserve Stephen Moore is the only back-up hooker available to the Wallabies should Polota-Nau'sknee blow up overnight.

With five of their 30-man squad not considered for selection this week, and skipper James Horwill resting his battered shoulder, the Wallabies have been at pains to play down their injury troubles.

Prop Ben Alexander said the ice pack applied to Polota-Nau's knee was merely precautionary.

But it is hard to truly know the extent of the damage, if in fact there is any beyond wear and tear, because training sessions are held behind closed doors except for the first 15-minute warm-up period.

The Wallabies have also been confident this tournament that flanker David Pocock (back) and winger James O'Connor (hamstring) would be able to play in matches despite missing training sessions - and neither was able to back up.
If Polota-Nau succumbs to his apparent injury either before or during Friday night's match, Moore - who missed the weekend loss to Ireland with a gastro illness - would take over and one of the other front-rowers would presumably be on standby as a stop-gap hooker.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/wo...318141/wallabies-suffer-another-injury-scare/

 

[Lee Grant]

The great man..........Lee Grant...........likes Horne at 12

That'll do me

I showed my missus that and she nearly pissed herself laughing.

I have mentioned that Horne played 12 for NSW Schools for a couple of years, to accommodate players who were specialist 13s. The first year it was Rowan Kellam and the second, Cameron Mitchell. He was quite brilliant in the role but he's hardly ever played there since; so playing there all of a sudden in a RWC is going to be a big ask.

 

[biggsy]

TPN in some doubt now...

Wallabies suffer another injury scare
Darren Walton, AAP September 22, 2011, 4:30 pm

The Wallabies have suffered another injury scare, with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau taking a tumble at Thursday's captain's run in Wellington.

Polota-Nau finished the session with ice on his knee but the Wallabies are confident he'll be fine to tackle the United States in their Rugby World Cup pool match on Friday night.

With Saia Fainga'a out with the flu, reserve Stephen Moore is the only back-up hooker available to the Wallabies should Polota-Nau'sknee blow up overnight.

Potato went down, never seen that before... uh, Yes I have most games for the Tahs..... Not a big of him, even more so when he forgot to hook at last weeks game.
Shame Saia has the flew

 

[Tangawizi]

We need to send a statement tonight that we're still a force in this World Cup. Our forwards better belt the living daylights out of the USA at the rucks tonight.

That's what I want to see - good go forward, plenty of quick ball and plenty of tries. Weather has been absolutely perfect in Wellington today. Sunny and only very light breezes although they have picked up a bit as the day has gone on. Still, there's no wet weather excuses for poor handling/performance tonight.

Go the Wallabies!

 

[Tangawizi]

Oh - and I went into the Rugby World Cup superstore about an hour ago, only to be greeted with by a huge line of Kiwis buying USA cap/scarves and flags at the last minute....

Also there's a couple of rather attractive young blonde american dressed up in Red, White & blue go-go dancer outfits. Look out for them on the tv, I'm sure the cameraman will find them.

 

[Salad Fingers]

Also there's a couple of rather attractive young blonde american dressed up in Red, White & blue go-go dancer outfits. Look out for them on the tv, I'm sure the cameraman will find them.

I'mm make sure I record this for future activities involving Mrs Palmer and her five daughters....

 

[Lee Grant]

I have mentioned that Horne played 12 for NSW Schools for a couple of years, to accommodate players who were specialist 13s. The first year it was Rowan Kellam and the second, Cameron Mitchell. He was quite brilliant in the role but he's hardly ever played there since; so playing there all of a sudden in a RWC is going to be a big ask.

It begs the question as to why he is playing there and not his normal position of 13. It is also strange why AF is playing 13 when his best position in Super Rugby is 12 IMO.

Not doubt others have asked the same since the team was announced. Could it be some belated experiment? Surely not.

 

[Ruggo]

Could end up just being numbers on their backs.

 

[vidiot]

It begs the question as to why he is playing there and not his normal position of 13. It is also strange why AF is playing 13 when his best position in Super Rugby is 12 IMO.

Not doubt others have asked the same since the team was announced. Could it be some belated experiment? Surely not.

At least neither are at tighthead. Yet.

It would appear pointless for any subterfuge over who is at 12 and 13, and the media may have even noticed if Horne was running at 13 at training. Can't help but think some variation at 12 would be more challenging for opposition defenders, for all that McCabe puts 110% into hitting the ball up.

Is it really just that McCabe is battered from Sat and needs a break, and using Horne at 12 keeps the backline as close as possible to the current settled combination while giving him one?

 

[light]

I'm hoping Horne has a blinder, the midfield channel gives me nightmares. These nightmares would be somewhat temporarily banished if Horne plays well.

If what I'm thinking is correct LG, Horne will be the defensive 12, and probably attacking 13. Fainga'a inside Cooper worked very well in attack and the Reds connection could prove vital in this worldcup. Horne on the other hand doesn't have much experience attacking with Cooper and thus playing him as 13 in attack makes more sense, he can be more direct in his runs and Ant has a good short passing game, something that someone like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) lacks. Not only this, but Horne has pace to burn so would make sense to play him at 13 so he can get on the outside of players and use his supporting winger more than Ant perhaps would. In defence I'm assuming AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is defending at 10 with Horne outside him at 12 and Ant at 13, makes the midfield look a lot stronger.

 

[Athilnaur]

I've been pondering this Lee. My read is this. The only player Deans considers that the best alternate to McCabe is Horne (strong defense, able to play straight attack, potentially more) and it was always his plan to play Horne vs USA, Russia to rest McCabe and give Horne a chance to potentially step up.

Re 13 I think Ant is the backup to AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is needed on wing so, Ant is in.

I would expect Horne to have another 80 v Russia, again at 12 unless issues see him move to 13 and McCabe back to 12.

Come the QF, McCabe 12, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 13, O'Connor, Ioane, Beale, with Burgess, Horne, Drew to bench assuming a 4/3 bench. A 5/2 bench I'd guess Burgess/Drew but a nagging ponder of Burgess/BB.

 

[Lee Enfield]

Barnes should be the Wallaby 12. He is good in defence and is a nice foil and alternative to Cooper, and provides the Wallabies with a different form of attack to what Cooper offers. His tactical kicking game is what the Wallabies are missing and what Cooper needs outside of him. I see no reason why we shouldn't trial Horne at 13, we know what AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and A.Fainga'a offer in this position, and he might go alright.

But really, for my mind the backline is easy to pick. Genia, Cooper, Ioane, Barnes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), O'Connor, Beale.

 

[Torn Hammy]

I can't understand why Horne is at 12. When fit he is the best 13 in terms of giving his outside man time and space with his pass and channel running. He has no experience at 12 and no game time with Cooper. And why have your most accident prone player running bash ball. Madness.

 

[Bowside]

I wonder if we will ever see:

9.Genia
10. Cooper
11. Digby
12. Horne
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Shmoo
15. Beale

Burgess and JOC (James O'Connor) on the bench. (and either Barnes, Fainga'a or McCabe if we play the 4/3)

Size, speed, creativity and balance, only problem is goal kicking. It could fail horribly but it would be interesting to see how it goes especially with some front foot ball.

 

[Gagger]

So the big question is, will the US be able to back up from yesterday and execute again?

 

[AngrySeahorse]

A montage earlier before the game on Fox showed us losing to Eng, Fra, then recently the Irish - WAY TO PUT ME IN A GOOD MOOD FOR THE GAME FOX! Anyhow, anything less than 50+ from the Wallabies would be not good enough in my book.

 

[light]

100-0 and I'll be happy. No tries conceded, no stupid penalties near the posts. Respect your opposition, don't get complacent.

 

[minorbird]

Fantastic start :/

 

[AngrySeahorse]

The Yanks are up quick off the line.

 

[minorbird]

Fantastic to see Cooper blaming his team mates for him dropping the ball...here we go again :/