Tokyo Wallaby 22

[fatprop]

I think Digby will get an opportunity at 13 in the coming weeks.

 

[waratahjesus]

i wish JOC (James O'Connor) wasnt there at all, i dont find him safe in any position but understand he at least plays a couple.

i think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) should be at 13, he needs to be closer to the action.

 

[Cutter]

The TSF crowd are as confused as us at the dropping of Smith. It is Deans' biggest mistake since he arrived. Maybe naza's theory is right, but if so, why not just drop Giteau and get on with it. By the time the ABs scored their 2 tries (and during the period the Wobs supposedly gave up) Smith had already been dragged so I'm not sure how he can be blamed. As a reluctant captain and no. 8, he has really taken one for the team here.

 

[Scotty]

I'm more of the opinion that this is pretty much a dead rubber (yes I know, there are no dead rubbers between ABs and Walls, but this is the closest we could get to one). Deans is seeing what Pocock can do and offer, and will also have Smith on the bench, covering 8 and 7. No doubt Palu will not last the match out, and Smith will come into 8 with 20-30 to go. He will do better at 8 with only 30mins, rather than first having to play the first 50 at 7.

 

[Scarfman]

World's best 7 plays 8 off bench.

World's best 12 plays 10.

One of the world's best 13s plays 15.

Another one of the world's best 13s plays 11.

Lineout is one of the biggest problems, nothing changes.

A prop goes from Eastwood to Bledisloe.

A bunch of already-tried-and-failed combinations.

Completely retarded.

 

[louie]

i agree with you 100% scarfman.
Giteau needs to be put in place and told your playing 12. grow up.

 

[Scotty]

You are really angry, aren't you Scarfie?

You been hanging with Naza again?

 

[fatprop]

Smith ain't the worlds best 7
Gits isn't the the Worlds best 12
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) isn't one of the world's best 13s
Dunning is infinitely better than Pek Cowan

We ain't that good really

 

[RugbyReg]

Gits will spend enough time at 12 this game (and tour).

Smith will spend enough time starting this tour.

For mine? This is a dead rubber. the more time Pocock (future Wallaby skipper) can have against McAwe the better.

 

[Lee Grant]

'Smith dropped' is not a headline I thought I'd ever see. But the Wallabies simply did not show up in Wellington. I don't think its registered with people just what an utterly abysmal performance that was. I don't recall seeing a Wallaby side simply roll over like that since the huge away Bok loss in '97.

Exactly right this naz.

You are also right in saying that nobody is safe. Nobody should be and had Mortlock been fit I reckon he would have been lucky to start in the 1st XV also. Lucky, because we don't have a specialist fullback so that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could play 13; or lucky that Ioane wasn't match fit enough to play there (with Mitchell going to the wing). As fatprop indicates: Ioane could get his legs back in the next two tests; so Mortlock may find that there isn't a starting spot for him to return to.

As for dropping Giteau. That is a nice theory right up to he point when the first goal kick has to be made and you remember that Barnes is a 2nd string kicker only.

 

[Scarfman]

Smith ain't the worlds best 7 Disagree
Gits isn't the the Worlds best 12 Disagree
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) isn't one of the world's best 13s Disagree
Al Baxter is infinitely better than Dunning
Pek is a hooker now, doncha know?

We ain't that good really Disagree. Ranked 3 in the world, could be no. 1 in the world, should be with these players, just need a better approach to seelction and gameplan.

 

[Spook]

Unless Cross plays very well in the next few tests, Mortlock will be back. Ioane will remain on the wing as Oz needs size in the backline. If we had another big, tackle-busting winger Ioane would be a good chance for 13...but we don't :-(. If Cam Sheperd was available, this could have freed up Ioane as well to play 13 with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) going to the vacant wing.

No more midget back 3s again thanks.

 

[Biffo]

Smith ain't the worlds best 7
Gits isn't the the Worlds best 12
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) isn't one of the world's best 13s
Dunning is infinitely better than Pek Cowan

We ain't that good are very poor really

First four judgements immaculate. Fifth not strong enough.

 

[Biffo]

One of the world's best 13s plays 15.

Another one of the world's best 13s plays 11.

How would anyone know? Queensland form ain't international form.

 

[RugbyReg]

so is it the Japan RU's responsibilty to sell tickets etc? It would seem they haven't done their job and it would be a further blow to JON's influence of NZ and SANZAR. This was his baby and whilst the event would be guaranteed, playing it to a half empty stadium does noone any favours.

 

[Biffo]

so is it the Japan RU's responsibilty to sell tickets etc? It would seem they haven't done their job and it would be a further blow to JON's influence of NZ and SANZAR. This was his baby and whilst the event would be guaranteed, playing it to a half empty stadium does noone any favours.

???????

 

[Scotty]

How would anyone know? Queensland form ain't international form.

I think you meant to say Super 14 form is not international form. What does it matter which team he plays for, it matters more which teams he performs against.

 

[Scott Allen]

Smith ain't the worlds best 7 - not at the moment but if he's left at 7 with a #8 doing his job, he'll be back up there - Smith isn't the problem - the lack of a #8 is
Gits isn't the the Worlds best 12 - but if he's selected there and stays there, he will go back to the top of the #12's where he was before we started playing musical chairs
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) isn't one of the world's best 13s - agree
Dunning is infinitely better than Pek Cowan - yes but he's not better than Baxter - have no idea why Cowan is there (apart from being our 3rd hooker
We ain't that good really - agreed - we've got a long way to go - being number 3 in the world is an underachievment given the calibre of players we've got - it's time for the selection merry go round to stop and start building combinations

 

[fatprop]

Smith ain't the worlds best 7 - not at the moment but if he's left at 7 with a #8 doing his job, he'll be back up there - Smith isn't the problem - the lack of a #8 is
Gits isn't the the Worlds best 12 - but if he's selected there and stays there, he will go back to the top of the #12's where he was before we started playing musical chairs
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) isn't one of the world's best 13s - agree
Dunning is infinitely better than Pek Cowan - yes but he's not better than Baxter - have no idea why Cowan is there (apart from being our 3rd hooker
We ain't that good really - agreed - we've got a long way to go - being number 3 in the world is an underachievment given the calibre of players we've got - it's time for the selection merry go round to stop and start building combinations

I actually think we overacheive, considering the tight forward we have. Our engine room is currently a two stroke whilst the Boks have a V8 and the ABs a straight 6.

I tend to agree Gits could be a great 12 again, if we had a 10 that could be relied on to give him the space and opportunity he deserves.

 

[waratahjesus]

dead rubber v all blacks = win, lose or lose badly only real options, anything but losing badly will be seen as good.
england - injury hit up front and horribly out of form, a should win for the 3rd ranked team in the world
ireland - hardest game of the tour, anything respectable will be viewed as good
scotland - a must win
wales - boogy team, should win, probably wont, will be excused on past losses.
two mid week games - should win, if we dont will be excused on lack of depth in australian rugby due to the administration of the game not the players themselves.

all in all, i would say we can come out of this with two mid week wins and a win against scotland and deans will be able to spin it positivly, not a daunting tour at all!