Smith boned?

[Gagger]

George Smith on outer as Robbie Deans sharpens axe

* By Jon Geddes
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 EST 2009 Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 EST 2009



WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans is poised to dramatically revamp his Test side for their opening spring tour game against the All Blacks - and champion back-rower George Smith could be a high-profile casualty.

When the squad trained in two distinct teams at Victoria Barracks yesterday, Smith, who captained Australia at No.8 in their last Test against the All Blacks in Wellington, was running with what was clearly the second team.

Western Force forward David Pocock was again openside flanker in the top side with Wycliff Palu back at No.8.

While Deans has made sweeping changes to his side through the year and moved on several senior stars, the demotion of Smith would mark the biggest single selection gamble of his time as Wallabies coach. The dynamic Brumbies flanker is a two-time winner of the John Eales Medal and this year became just the 10th player in history to play 100 Tests.

Pocock has played just 11 Tests and started in only three of them. In other apparent changes for Tokyo, Adam Ashley-Cooper replaces James O'Connor at fullback and winger Digby Ioane returns from a season-long injury for Lachie Turner.

The likely shake-up came with the bad news that centre Stirling Mortlock will miss the first two Tests, against New Zealand and England, with to a torn calf. He will stay behind to receive further treatment when the squad flies out on Saturday and is expected to play against Ireland.

Deans did his best to downplay the significance of yesterday's sides, saying there had been no discussions about formulating the Test team.

"Obviously we ran two teams so that everyone gets some experience of the role play - but if you are asking is that the selection for Gloucester and Tokyo: no, it's not,'' Deans said. "But you can surmise what you like.''

Whether Deans has separate strategies for the dead-rubber Tokyo stopover and the Grand Slam month remains to be seen. If Smith starts on the bench against the All Blacks on October 31, he would likely captain Australia in their tour match with Gloucester three days later.

Deans said no replacement would be called up for Mortlock, who had been penciled in to play against the All Blacks after knee surgery.

"The expectation is he will join us on the 8th [November] and at that stage he will be good to go in terms of training and playing,'' Deans said.

Who's at 13 in this scenario - Cross?

 

[BillyWebb]

Same question that immediately sprang to mind for me - is Cross the 13 then?

On the Smith issue... I rate Pocock as the best opensider in Aussie rugby at the moment.
If you go along with that theory, then I guess the question is whether you want a linking ball-player at 8, or a beast of a guy that will give you go-forward.

And then it's a case of deciding what backrow looks more balanced:

Elsom, Pocock, Palu vs Elsom, Pocock, Smith.... :nta:

 

[Gagger]

On the Smith issue... I rate Pocock as the best opensider in Aussie rugby at the moment.
If you go along with that theory, then I guess the question is whether you want a linking ball-player at 8, or a beast of a guy that will give you go-forward.

Well the answer your question is pretty clear - the Smith at 8 experiment failed yet again this year.

There's a little talked-about moment in the embarrassment at Wellingon, but it was when both Pocock and Smith got driven back 5m when taking the ball up in the opening minutes. Rest of the team went "oh shit", ABs went "oh yeah", and it set the tone for the rest of the night.

Wouldn't have happened with Big Cliffy on the ball.

 

[BillyWebb]

Fair point Gagger.

But Smith really isn't a crasher, and shouldn't be used in that role.... Mind you, Elsom hasn't been making his customary hard yards of late. Could be easier for Smith to stay at 8 if Elsom gets fully fit / recovered and takes up that task..?

 

[Gagger]

Agree with your point on Smith not being a basher and I reckon you've gotta have two guys who can make the hard yards in the back row

 

[Cutter]

Smith has consitently been one of our better players this year. He isnt a natural 8 and dropping him based on a poor performance at 8 playing in a well beaten pack would be harsh. He would still be one of the first players picked in my team. Robinson, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Smith then start asking questions.

 

[Spook]

Very interesting. I'm definitely not in the Smith at 8 camp. Oz has always needed a big meaty number 8 on the positive side of 110kgs. Possibly because our tight 5 don't carry the ball that well. As for Smith losing the 7 jersey, it's probably unfair but Deans has got to give blokes like Pocock game time. We all know what Smith (and Waugh) can offer. Pocock is the future.

Deans is building a lot of competition in nearly each position. Very good stuff IMO.

 

[chief]

Smith has been the performing #7 in world rugby disregarding his last game. Where he was playing at number 8. He has constantly kept the Wallabies in the hunt. I think its stupid that he would get rid of him for Pocock. Although a good player he really doesn't have much on Smith

 

[waratahjesus]

compared to smith, pocock is average at best, we keep getting told he is the future but when the time comes and smith isnt around, having pocock as our first choice isnt going to lead to glory times, the guys dream is to play for south africa, he has said it three times to the media this year, we dont need him, send him home!

 

[Blue]

I find it completely befuddling that people can rate Pocock over Smith as Australia's best 7.

In fact, it's ridiculous.

Pocock has been average in tests and I canlt recall him making any notable impact. Smith on the other hand was forced to play out of position.

I canlt help but think there is more to this decision than what we see on the field.

 

[mark_s]

I suspect it is to give Smith a bit of a rest and I think he will be back for the 1st grand slam game unless Pocock has a blinder

 

[TOCC]

Pocock has a lot of potential, but he is not to the level of George Smith yet, not even close..

 

[Newb]

I suspect it is to give Smith a bit of a rest and I think he will be back for the 1st grand slam game unless Pocock has a blinder

i'm thinking the same too. seems few players have been in as many tests consecutively as smith lately. he's either best on pitch or captain or both so the man never gets a rest and is hardly injured either. most others in the side have either been dropped on form, benched on form, or injured. pretty sure he'll be back and this is just a one-off kind of thing. tokyo is far from a mid-week dirt tracker, but they AB's do already have the hardware.

 

[Ash]

Agree with the giving Smith a rest camp and agree with Spook that giving Pocock more experience can only be a good thing.

Assuming that Smith is rested, who would you prefer - Pocock, young, with lots of potential and a few decent seasons of S14, or the known quantity but old Waugh? I'd take Pocock every time.

I would like to see Smith and Pocock rotated at 7 on this tour.

 

[Scotty]

I think that is what we will see, Ash.

 

[waratahjesus]

Agree with the giving Smith a rest camp and agree with Spook that giving Pocock more experience can only be a good thing.

Assuming that Smith is rested, who would you prefer - Pocock, young, with lots of potential and a few decent seasons of S14, or the known quantity but old Waugh? I'd take Pocock every time.

I would like to see Smith and Pocock rotated at 7 on this tour.

agree with you, but with twenty minutes to go and the game in the balance i would prefer waugh out there to pocock everytime!

 

[Scarfman]

It has GOT to be for the rest.

He is miles ahead of Pocock as a 7. As Blue says - it's a ridiculous proposition to move Pocock ahead of Smith in the pecking order.

 

[fatprop]

Smith does need to understand he is under pressure and that he needs to get at it. He is still our best option, but Pocock is very special, he is very very effective; in the S14 he made 200 tackles and only missed 7.

 

[waratahjesus]

smith isnt under pressure though. he is miles and miles ahead of pocock when it comes to actually making an impact. Pocock rarely turns games. smith has an ability in games to play bad and well, although he rarely has bad days. he makes a constant contribution which is something i think pocock really needs to work on if he is going to have half the career. i still dont see what others see in pocock, he is a solid player but he seems to be between phil waugh and smith, he doesnt do as much as smith and he isnt as confrontational as waugh. he seems to be in a no mans land and needs to decide what his game is and execute it to greater impact.

 

[fatprop]

smith isnt under pressure though. he is miles and miles ahead of pocock when it comes to actually making an impact. Pocock rarely turns games. smith has an ability in games to play bad and well, although he rarely has bad days. he makes a constant contribution which is something i think pocock really needs to work on if he is going to have half the career. i still dont see what others see in pocock, he is a solid player but he seems to be between phil waugh and smith, he doesnt do as much as smith and he isnt as confrontational as waugh. he seems to be in a no mans land and needs to decide what his game is and execute it to greater impact.

I think he is closer to Brussow due to his defensive workload, his workrate is higher than Waughs and he is more effective. His pilfer stats are lower for the Force, but that is partly down to the Force running 3 opensides