The Wallabies use of 13

[Slim 293]

I think Beale is starting to sew up the fullback spot.
Will be interesting to see where AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) goes when Chambers and Horne are fit.
Ill also be interested to see if Chambers is up to test rugby when he does get his chance.

Beale is playing well at the moment... but he's still struggling under the high ball and his defence is not the best...

If he can work on these two aspects of his game I'll be happy for him to stay but I think it's AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s position...

 

[DPK]

Why not move AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to wing? People want him at 13, and I can understand that; he's one of our most physically damaging backs. But from the wing, he can be part of the kick defense setup and can move one in to run the 13 channel in attack.

It's like the way Cooper and Giteau switch between first and second reciever.

 

[DPK]

Gentlemen, I believe we have found the winger to replace O'Connor...

14. Nicole Beck

 

[cyclopath]

Ouch! Makes up for the rather lame attempt by 15 just before...

 

[dobduff11]

Nice hit

Did anyone notice gits' sister wears the same scrum cap as him haha

DPK who would you have as the centre/winger to alternate with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Digby?

 

[DPK]

Ouch! Makes up for the rather lame attempt by 15 just before...

Seems to be a theme with Aussie fullbacks.

Dobby, I reckon Digby would be a good choice, but I'd also like to see Horne get his great offloading game working at the test level.

I think in a perfect future (ie Lions tour 2013) we would have:
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12. Fainga'a
13. Horne
14. Ioane
15. Beale

 

[dobduff11]

Perfect future for me would be

9.Genia
10.Cooper
11. Situati
12. JOC (James O'Connor)
13. Horne
14. Digby
15. Beale

20. Turner
21. To'omua
22. Toua / Tapuai / Morahan

 

[Slim 293]

Why not move AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to wing? People want him at 13, and I can understand that; he's one of our most physically damaging backs. But from the wing, he can be part of the kick defense setup and can move one in to run the 13 channel in attack.

It's like the way Cooper and Giteau switch between first and second reciever.

I think with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback and Mitchell and Ioane as the wingers we have an amazing potential for counter attack...

Everyone is praising Beale for his recent play but he still has problems competing for the high balls and with his defence... and these are two areas we know that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is solid...

 

[Newb]

I think with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback and Mitchell and Ioane as the wingers we have an amazing potential for counter attack...

Everyone is praising Beale for his recent play but he still has problems competing for the high balls and with his defence... and these are two areas we know that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is solid...

it's a trade off certainly. beale brings his creativity and can actually pass which is nice. can we just splice the two together in some kind of transformation chamber?

 

[#1 Tah]

The Back line that wins the 2015/9 world cup will be

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Davies
12. Liliafano/Barnes
13. Horne
14. Turner
15. Beale

20. Burgess/McKibben
21. Barnes/Toomoua
22. JOC (James O'Connor)

 

[Joe Blow]

There was some very good talent in the U20s backline. I'm sure we will see some of that come through in the next 3-4 years.

 

[Scarfman]

I think we're being a bit tough on AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) here. Sure, give Chambers some game time when he's fit, but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is custom-built for the role we're talking about.

What's interesting to me is that the 12. Nonu 13. Smith combination works pretty well. When I first saw it, I thought it was a terrible combination. But having the power at 12 and the skills at 13 works if that's the way you set up your moves.

Which brings us back to running plays. The real question is - what kind of plays make best use of 12. Giteau 13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)? As Austin has demonstrated, it's not sending Gits into the teeth of the Bok back row.

 

[Hawko]

Beale is playing well at the moment... but he's still struggling under the high ball and his defence is not the best...

If he can work on these two aspects of his game I'll be happy for him to stay but I think it's AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s position...

As posted elsewhere, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) had an absolute shocker of a game last Saturday and bombed two certain tries due to poor skills. Maybe he is a better defender and catcher but he has no other technique than crash-ball when attacking and kicks poorly in general play. He never passes (maybe because he never has the ball in both hands) and has no vision to know when to draw and pass when running the ball back. The only reason he is being promoted as a great fullback is his tackling and high-ball skills. That's because the Wallabies have been playing so poorly that we think that these two skills are essential to prevent us being creamed in every game and it doesn't matter that he is so limited in attack.

Its a bit like the old Roger Gould vs Glen Ella for Wallaby fullback discussion except that Gould could kick well.

 

[Slim 293]

As posted elsewhere, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) had an absolute shocker of a game last Saturday and bombed two certain tries due to poor skills. Maybe he is a better defender and catcher but he has no other technique than crash-ball when attacking and kicks poorly in general play. He never passes (maybe because he never has the ball in both hands) and has no vision to know when to draw and pass when running the ball back. The only reason he is being promoted as a great fullback is his tackling and high-ball skills. That's because the Wallabies have been playing so poorly that we think that these two skills are essential to prevent us being creamed in every game and it doesn't matter that he is so limited in attack.

Its a bit like the old Roger Gould vs Glen Ella for Wallaby fullback discussion except that Gould could kick well.

Two certain tries now?

I can only recall one possible try which was prevented by a pretty good tackle from the SA halfback...

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is not just a 'crash ball runner'... he's anything but really...

His counter attacking from the back is second to none as he runs great lines and finds the gaps to make good metres...

The idea that he doesn't or can't pass is just a myth...

His kicking is servicable... not great, but not bad either...

 

[cyclopath]

Slim 293 - I don't think it is that much of a myth that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) can't or won't pass. Of course it is not absolute, but his "instinct" is to go left and attempt the right fend, and most times takes the tackle. I honestly cannot recall him setting up another player in recent matches. He has passed a couple of times, but when he does, he does not "advantage" the player he is passing to.
I think he is a big talent, but somebody really needs to work with him to get some more variety in his game. When he makes the half-break, look for the next player more often.

 

[Gnostic]

What has made AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) stand out is his consistency. The problem at 13 IMO is not the individuals we have there but the play from 10 and 12. Giteau isn't offering much from 12 and hence Cooper cuts straight to 13 allowing the defence to slide straight onto the 13 or Giteau crabs into the 13 channel.

That being said whoever is in 13 needs to cut back and run the scissors angle a few times as well and provide some options also. It keeps coming back to the malaise we see in the whole Wallaby backline, inidivduals make all the play and there is little of no teamwork to create a break.

Look at the try from the ABs that saw Nonu take the ball midfield and take a soft tackle to set up the quick ruck. The Boks were attracted to the ruck but the ball was moved very quickly (still a long way behind the advantage line) and this gave a two man overlap which gave an immediate try. There was no barge over the advantage line, no big hit up. It was just a very good intelligent move that we used to associate with the Wallabies backline.

 

[Joe Blow]

I think we're being a bit tough on AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) here. Sure, give Chambers some game time when he's fit, but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is custom-built for the role we're talking about.

What's interesting to me is that the 12. Nonu 13. Smith combination works pretty well. When I first saw it, I thought it was a terrible combination. But having the power at 12 and the skills at 13 works if that's the way you set up your moves.

Which brings us back to running plays. The real question is - what kind of plays make best use of 12. Giteau 13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)? As Austin has demonstrated, it's not sending Gits into the teeth of the Bok back row.

Morty was so successful when he went to 13 because he would run on an angle at the hole and Bernie Larkham would hit him every time.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) needs to run at the holes and change the angle and Cooper will hit him. Right now it is all a bit predictable but AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has the same skill set as Morty. He's very strong in the tackle, has an excellent fend and is a staunch defender. He just needs to use the top 2 inches and find the holes.

 

[disco]

Two certain tries now?

I can only recall one possible try which was prevented by a pretty good tackle from the SA halfback...

He also over ran a JOC (James O'Connor) pass out wide, it's annoying that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) had a shocker considering that never happens & the players that run hot & cold (Castrol players) all ran pretty hot last week.

 

[Newb]

i've been one to doubt AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s passing game a lot, but he showed a lot of improvement tonight. nothing was out of bernie's book but he made the right decisions and set up the supporters well for scores. that's all i ask. hopefully he keeps it up.

 

[Reddy!]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) had a terrific game - good runs, kept the ball moving through the hands to the wingers, great defence.