Scotland v Australia, Murrayfield, 5am 24 Nov 2013

[TOCC]

Seems a bit co-incidental that most players that were suspended are in the 23 while apart from Fardy the ones reprimanded were outside the 23?

Seems this happened last week - cynics might say there was going to be a change of team for Scotland anyway - pretty convenient game to suspend players from?

Assuming that they already knew the team lineup, you would expect that those listed in the 23 would have higher expectations in terms of drinking in the week prior to a test match.. Might be the reason that those who were reprimanded were mostly outside of the 23 match day squad and those suspended were inside the 23...

Not sure about Fardy though, he muggy have gone home earlier or something

 

[Viking]

Seems a bit co-incidental that most players that were suspended are in the 23 while apart from Fardy the ones reprimanded were outside the 23?

Seems this happened last week - cynics might say there was going to be a change of team for Scotland anyway - pretty convenient game to suspend players from?

Maybe the players who were outside if the 23 thought it was okay to drink since they weren't part of the starting team. Unfortunately that dragged a few of the starting players along with them.

 

[Viking]

TOCC you beat me too it haha.

So who's the wingers now? CFS will be 13. Is Betham in the country?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

So Dennis, Harris, Phipps, White, Foley, Douglas, Fardy, McCalman and Fainga'a were also reprimanded over the incident. Some of them will certainly have to play this weekend.

Might have to see Link and the bus driver strap their boots on just to fill out the numbers.

 

[Badger]

Shouldn't we have heard something about Kuridrani by now? Is there going to be a hearing?

Georgina Robinson tweeted that the hearing will be in London on Tuesday arvo local time.

Is Betham in the country?

He's not part of the touring squad.

 

[Bairdy]

SUSPENDED FOR SCOTLAND TEST
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Nick Cummins
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Benn Robinson
Liam Gill
SUSPENDED FOR WALES TEST
Paddy Ryan
WRITTEN WARNING
Dave Dennis
Kane Douglas
Saia Fainga'a
Bernard Foley
Nick Phipps
VERBAL WARNING
Scott Fardy
Mike Harris
Ben McCalman
Nic White

Based on the list, I would ascertain that, from the top down, are the repeat offenders, rather than the starting XV guys who were going to be 'rested for this Scotland test'.

Anywayyyy, the team Link will choose for this week will probably end up being something like:
1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Alexander 4. Simmons 5. Horwill 6. Fardy 7. Hooper 8. Mowen 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Tomane 12. To'omua 13. Kuridrani/CFS 14. CFS/Folau 15. Folau/Foley

16. Fainga'a 17. Kepu 18. Ryan 19. Timani 20. McCalman 21. White 22. Leali'ifano 23. Foley/Harris

 

[daz]

We are Scotland's bunny's, so perhaps we just wanted to have an excuse for our impending defeat.

 

[Forcefield]

Why not start Kepu and Fainga'a instead of Moore and Alexander?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Based on the list, I would ascertain that, from the top down, are the repeat offenders, rather than the starting XV guys who were going to be 'rested for this Scotland test'.

Anywayyyy, the team Link will choose for this week will probably end up being something like:
1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Alexander 4. Simmons 5. Horwill 6. Fardy 7. Hooper 8. Mowen 9. Genia 10. Cooper 11. Tomane 12. To'omua 13. Kuridrani/CFS 14. CFS/Folau 15. Folau/Foley

16. Fainga'a 17. Kepu 18. Ryan 19. Timani 20. McCalman 21. White 22. Leali'ifano 23. Foley/Harris

That front row effectively has three TH props. I would expect Slipper and Kepu to start with Alexander covering LH on the bench and Ryan TH.

Backs bench looking very light on at 13 and wings. Hopefully, Kuridrani is cleared to play.

 

[Hammeroid]

Hopefully Kuridrani escapes Suspension. I have a feeling he will. We need him

 

[tranquility]

Gill slipping up and missing this test through suspension is equivalently as stupid as Usman Khawaja missing the test in India because he didn't do his homework.

 

[Quick Hands]

The suspended players are all either very experienced or are settled members of the starting side except for Liam Gill. He's so close, what was he thinking?

This seems to settle the Hooper v Gill selection, for the remainder of the EOYT anyway.

 

[The Rock]

The suspended players are all either very experienced or are settled members of the starting side except for Liam Gill. He's so close, what was he thinking?

This seems to settle the Hooper v Gill selection, for the remainder of the EOYT anyway.

And its not just the NRL Boys getting into Trouble either. They all need to wake up to themselves, The Wallabies aren't exactly in the Shining Light with their performances but have been starting to get on a Roll with a couple of wins and then this happens. Glad Cooper wasn't involved.

 

[Ruggo]

Gill slipping up and missing this test through suspension is equivalently as stupid as Usman Khawaja missing the test in India because he didn't do his homework.

It probably takes the fella longer to kit up than the amount of game time he has been getting.

 

[wamberal]

I really despair about the mindset of these allegedly professional athletes.

The chance to play the game at this level is an honour that we all dreamed of as kids. Most of us made sacrifices for the game. The higher up the ladder, the more sacrifices are required.

When you are at the top of the tree, you give everything you have, every hour, every day, every week, to the game, the jersey, your team. Not your forking playing group - YOUR TEAM!

That's what New Zealanders do. Maybe that was Robbie's problem. He just could not get his mind around how soft and spoiled we are.

 

[Joe Blow]

Boys being boys. Ewen has let them know what he expects and has shown them that he will not put up with any crap.
Good on him.
Nothing to see here..........move along.

 

[lewisr]

Boys being boys. Ewen has let them know what he expects and has shown them that he will not put up with any crap.
Good on him.
Nothing to see here....move along.

Exactly. To be honest I think it's probably a bit harsh, and deliberately so by Link. He's just putting his foot down early but I'm sure he recognises what he'll let slip in the future. THese blokes are on a tour in Europe and they're entitled to some form of down time, but obviously took it a little too far.

I don't think it's really fair to berate them for not having enough pride in the jersey when Wallabies in the past have been known for trying to break the record for the most number of beers downed on a flight from Aus to Europe.

Good disciplinary decision by link, but nothing to get worked up about. THey're all top knotch guys who were clearly out an hour or twoo too late for Ewen's liking. Blokes being Blokes. move on and forget about it.

 

[en_force_er]

With professional athletes sleep, hydration and calories in-V-out is such a big deal, so those 5 or 6 extra beers can have an effect.

I can see why bad decisions can be made in the moment, they were aloud to have a beer (or so I gather) but just had too many, and that effects their performances in small ways. Maybe the story is a more solid line needs to be drawn? They probably knew they were overstepping it but did it because there was no solid line (just a guess).

So, whilst not a massive deal it's good that they got more than a stern glare.

 

[Brumbieman]

MY take is that


1. The lads having a few beers on tour and being done for it is maybe a little harsh.

However, I'd much rather Link get it wrong by being too harsh, than too lenient. Leniency gives you James O'Connor. What was his first incident, a food fight? I remember everyone saying 'he's just a kid let it go'........

So while the lads having a few beers in Coppers for some down time doesn't bother me a bit (as long as there are no incidents), if they were not supposed to be doing it then Link is spot on. Come down like a tonne of bricks, and everyone will remember it.

If you want to beat the best you have to BE the best, and NZ didn't get to where they ar by taking a lax approach to any un-authorised drinking while on a high pressure tour.

 

[emuarse]

Hopefully Kuridrani escapes Suspension. I have a feeling he will. We need him

Unfortunately, I can't see it.
There's no doubt he lifted above the horizontal - that's the element - and for that you get suspension.
The fact that the Wallabies management is contesting it (IMHO) is to minimize the suspension period so that Kurindrani plays against Wales.