The Usual Suspects

[Scotty]

The same guys are not performing week in week out. These usual suspects are continuously costing us games:

Richard Brown - what can I say? Two dropped balls over the sideline setting the tone for the game. Another stupid penalty for coming in from the side that let to Du Preez try. He was probably close to another yellow card for that infringement. He has been found wanting in all aspects of play, and should not ever play for the Wallabies again. It is harsh, but he lacks the physicality, speed and intelligence required.

Matt Giteau - 4 average games in a row from one our supposed no. 1 players and the most crucial position on the paddock. No wonder we have also lost 4 in a row. At least he showed something when moved to 12. Should only ever be a fill in flyhalf - at the moment I'd prefer Barnes, Cooper and O'Connor to him at 10.

The wings - it doesn't matter who is there they either can't get involved or make game defining mistakes. This time it was Turner, last time it was Mitchell. I don't lump Hynes in there quite yet, but he hasn't done much good either.

 

[Scotty]

Luckily I think there is other options in these positions:

8 - Elsom, Palu and Smith would all be better options. Mumm or Higginbotham could play 6.

10 - Obviously Barnes to start with Cooper on the bench for when Barnes gets crocked and Giteau to 12

Wings - Give Hynes another shot. Draft Cummings and McLinden into the squad. McLinden particularly would link well with O'Connor (something that Turner vary rarely looks to do). Pray that Ioane stays fit next year.

Lastly - Stop moving Ashley-Cooper around. Start him at 13, and only move him if there is an injury during the game. He is our most likely line-breaker and needs to be kept in the same position to enable us to utilise this.

 

[louie]

Francis Fainifo would be a better option for wing.
Giteau is a twelve.
JOC (James O'Connor) isn't a 10. We must learn from the mistake of playing Giteau there. he like matt needs space.
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) shouldnt be moved again. i don't give a flying fuck if he can play everything. it ruins the team.

 

[Geronimo]

Wings - Give Hynes another shot. Draft Cummings and McLinden into the squad. McLinden particularly would link well with O'Connor (something that Turner vary rarely looks to do). Pray that Ioane stays fit next year.

I hope you are joking, McLinden..... Get agrip.. he is learning still!!!

 

[Reddy!]

The same guys are not performing week in week out. These usual suspects are continuously costing us games:

Richard Brown - what can I say? Two dropped balls over the sideline setting the tone for the game. Another stupid penalty for coming in from the side that let to Du Preez try. He was probably close to another yellow card for that infringement. He has been found wanting in all aspects of play, and should not ever play for the Wallabies again. It is harsh, but he lacks the physicality, speed and intelligence required.

Matt Giteau - 4 average games in a row from one our supposed no. 1 players and the most crucial position on the paddock. No wonder we have also lost 4 in a row. At least he showed something when moved to 12. Should only ever be a fill in flyhalf - at the moment I'd prefer Barnes, Cooper and O'Connor to him at 10.

The wings - it doesn't matter who is there they either can't get involved or make game defining mistakes. This time it was Turner, last time it was Mitchell. I don't lump Hynes in there quite yet, but he hasn't done much good either.

I think the main problem with our wings at the moment is not necessarily the players themselves, but the fact that they aren't being dished any ball and are playing to a negative game plan. While Giteau was at flyhalf, the backline was incredibly flat, the ball only moving between 1 or 2 hands and then crashed up forward with no real momentum.

I thought once Quade came on the field, he brought his excellent long passing game the was able to give the ball to these players out wide and our attack started to improve. Our attack started to become more creative which has been lacking in our loses so far. The Wallabies are playing very dull rugby at the moment and this is impacted on the ability for our wingers to make an impact of the game. You have to remember also that players like Mitchell, Turner and Hynes are more traditional wingers and do not make the same impact around the field as your Tuqiris and Ioanes.

 

[Spook]

Gits had a good game I thought. Pity about our scrum half. As Grumbles puts it:

The only players to show any form were flanker Rocky Elsom, as he was the solitary Wallaby to be an honest ball-runner, industrious prop Benn Robinson and two-try-scoring five-eighth Matt Giteau.

Deans should have been far more brutal, hooking several players, in particular halfback Luke Burgess, who had a horror stretch when he started throwing passes in every direction.

Giteau's playmaking role had turned into a nightmare. How could he show any consistency when his his halfback is unable to properly pass the ball to him?

Giteau was even forced to stand near Burgess but even the resulting short passes were absolutely crap.

Lachie Turner appears to lack the ability to beat a player and the physicality required for test rugby.

 

[RugbyReg]

The problem with the wingers is, as Hynes says, all they have to do is catch high balls.

I wouldn't trust McLinden, Franky F or even Ione to do that.

If we did have Diggers you'd play him at 13 and leave AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the wing.

A big strong winger like Luke Morahan might have been an option, if fit.

Cummins? Sure potentially, again if fit.

Mark Gerrard absolutely and Lote, if they were available.

Where's Cam Shepherd? A back 3 of he, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) would be better a option.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Wings - Give Hynes another shot. Draft Cummings and McLinden into the squad. McLinden particularly would link well with O'Connor (something that Turner vary rarely looks to do). Pray that Ioane stays fit next year.

I hope you are joking, McLinden..... Get agrip.. he is learning still!!!

Respectfully disagree Gman - I think McLinden has shown he has great potential and would fit in nicely - gees - he's about the only one who can break the line. I would prefer him at 15 but where would you put the new $600k p.a. boy O'Connor.

 

[Scarfman]

Mate, I reckon Schif would go well at 15. I always thought he was rock solid. How about Latho? How about Gerrard? How about Shep? All the best options have been dumped in favour of Mitchell (who is not a 15) and JOC (James O'Connor) (who is just too young).

 

[spectator]

Always thought Gerrard was stiffed in not getting more games at 15. Is Shep available or getting over one injury or another? That seems to be his biggest problem, staying on the paddock for any length of time.

The way I see it, fullback is a transition arrangement for JOC (James O'Connor), as he is the latest project and the 'next big thing'. Be interesting to see how things develop over the next few years as 12 is his best position, as it is for Giteau, and arguably Barnes.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is still a decent fullback option, but like many others I feel a bit sorry for him that he gets shuffled around so much.

As for the wingers..I thought Turner was a lot better last night than he has been, and showed his quick feet in the try he scored. With the right kind of ball and provision of space from his inside men, he looks to have the pace to be a good finisher.

For the most part, wingers are only as good as the backline inside them will let them be. Habana had been quiet for a long time until last night.

I would say Digby will nail down one wing spot when he returns.

 

[Scotty]

Luke Burgess - Has been given enough time and still has not consistently improved the area of his game that is his number one priority.


(I woke in a cold sweat last night with the fact he was left off the list).

 

[Scotty]

My reasoning behind McLinden, is that it is unlikely he would be any worse than Mitchell and Turner and he has the linking type skills that we need in the back three in order to counter attack from kicks.

You could see Deans' reaction when JOC (James O'Connor) had taken a kick on the left touch line, and threw a 25m pass to Turner, who with at least another 2 players in support across the field, just decided to tuck in under the arm and run it straight into the defenders. He doesn't appear to see anyone else in gold on that field.

Noddy is right, if Ioane was fit, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) would fit very well together in the back three. If Mortlock was fit a back three of Ioane, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) could be devastating and about 200% better than the current arrangement.

Louie - I'm not saying JOC (James O'Connor) is a 10. Just an example that I'd prefer almost anyone else to Giteau there at the moment. At least JOC (James O'Connor) brings a long passing game, which is probably only second to that of Coopers in the current squad.

 

[waratahjesus]

i dont think the problem is tucking the ball and having a go, the problem is, when someone does, no one goes with them, our support play is so flat, we need two people running together at least to create a little doubt, but we seem to wait until the ball carier has gone to ground before anyone moves forward to help!

 

[Scotty]

On a counter attack they should be looking to link with each other and get the ball wider. Turner doesn't look to do this.

 

[Cutter]

Gits had a good game I thought. Pity about our scrum half. As Grumbles puts it:

The only players to show any form were flanker Rocky Elsom, as he was the solitary Wallaby to be an honest ball-runner, industrious prop Benn Robinson and two-try-scoring five-eighth Matt Giteau.

Deans should have been far more brutal, hooking several players, in particular halfback Luke Burgess, who had a horror stretch when he started throwing passes in every direction.

Giteau's playmaking role had turned into a nightmare. How could he show any consistency when his his halfback is unable to properly pass the ball to him?

Giteau was even forced to stand near Burgess but even the resulting short passes were absolutely crap.

Lachie Turner appears to lack the ability to beat a player and the physicality required for test rugby.

Come on Spook, quoting Growden? Has the Scarf really sunk to that?

 

[Scotty]

Spook,

Giteau hasn't been good at all. Kicking out of hand has been average and last night so was goal kicking, and he seemed to be mostly responsible for the Boks second try. He always does one or two good runs per game - but he has to develop the remainder of his game in order for us to have a chance to win.

 

[Scarfman]

I just got this email from my father-in-law, lifelong 'wicks man, but don't hold that against him. I agree with him 95% (except that well-delivered long passes like Larkham's, into the perfect spot to run, have value).

Blind Freddie can see that Giteau is not a Number 10. (He’s also off his feed a bit at the moment.)

If you watched Warringah demolish Easts yesterday you would have seen a real Number 10 in the person of Easts’ To'omua. His prime (and instinctive) motive is to get his outside backs in positions where they can be effective. Someone needs to rid Giteau of the notion that it is his job at Number 10 (to the exclusion of everyone else) to run right through the opposition, every time (and often sideways, thus pushing his outside men over the sideline). Watch how To'omua mixes his game well; how he runs straight and delivers short and soft passes to his Number 12, at the right time. None of that vulnerable-to-intercepts-and-other-major-fuckups Rugby League long flat passing crap.

Giteau is good. Giteau is a Number 12.

Genia; Barnes; Giteau; Ashley-Cooper (away with Cross!); Hynes on one wing; Iago (or whatever his name is) or Fanaifo (or whatever his name is-Brumbies and Randwick) on the other wing; Turner at fullback (be gone the young bloke - Christian Cullen! Joke!).

But where are our dominating second-rowers going to come from? That’s where games can be won and lost.

 

[cheezel]

i dont think the problem is tucking the ball and having a go, the problem is, when someone does, no one goes with them, our support play is so flat, we need two people running together at least to create a little doubt, but we seem to wait until the ball carier has gone to ground before anyone moves forward to help!

Spot on, when someone does get a break no one else goes with him or the backs are running away from their support. Bar a small handfull of guys, we're too easy to tackle.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Very clever man that father in law of yours there scarfie - well other than that green stuff he gets off on.
I even like the idea of Turner at 15 instead of JOC (James O'Connor) -
This is the back line I would pick (when is Ione back, does anyone know?). if he is not available Shephers, Gerrard - anyone but Mitchell.

 

[Lindommer]

If I had a Randwick father-in-law I'd have to drown him.

One of the problems with picking Turner at full-back is he's not a good enough kicker. He did play there for Newington and schoolboy rep teams where kicking isn't as crucial as senior rugby but I wouldn't slot him in at 15 until his kicking improves. As he hangs around with Swans at Moore Park he should knuckle down and do the work to improve his kicking skills. If he can improve here I think Lachie has the potential to be a great full-back.