Tri Nations - AUS v SAF 23rd July 2011.

[fatprop]

No Giteau either...and in a 5-2 split! Phipps and Ant Fainga'a are the worst 5-2 split back options ever. What happens if Quade goes down? Or Beale?

.

What happens if Quade goes down? Beale to 10, JOC (James O'Connor) or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 15, Faainga to 13

What happens if Beale goes down? JOC (James O'Connor) or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 15, Faainga to 13

 

[Army_Gav]

What happens if Quade goes down? Beale to 10, JOC (James O'Connor) or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 15, Faainga to 13

What happens if Beale goes down? JOC (James O'Connor) or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 15, Faainga to 13

My preference of 10s: Cooper, Beale, Barnes, Higgers (can kick, see Samoa test?), Giteau

 

[What2040]

IMO Alexander very lucky - Baxter should be playing 3 at the very least in Tri-Nations

 

[slydare]

copy/paste from my comment on the front page article

I’m somewhat concerned about the Brumby presence in the side, purely from a team culture perspective.

I was immensely disappointed with their season. I felt they played like a bunch of softcocks right up until the Reds game, and then went missing again against the Tahs. That demonstrates poor attitude to me and I’m concerned that it follows them into camp.

I would have preferred that we started the season with a side based around those whose head is in the right space. I think getting that balance right is a big part of Link’s success with the Reds, and its a process that the Wallabies have to go through as well. I'd be keen to see the Brumbies connections (Elsom included) eased back in.

 

[Braveheart.]

McCabe has a distribution game, and can kick... He offers everything Fainga'a dies but more lethal in attack...

Pocock hasn't helped win his team a title either...

You're comparing McCabe to Pocock?

Whats the difference? One is un-arguably one of the best in his position in the world. The other has two caps.

 

[PaarlBok]

Wallabies by 50

 

[#1 Tah]

Once again, Turner would have been a better option than Fainga'a

 

[Godfrey]

Once again, Turner would have been a better option than Fainga'a

Fainga'a covers the centres, every other back covers the back 3. No need for Turner.

 

[Scotty]

Robinson must have plooes in the top three or four for the number one team this year. Hodgson probably polled at a simalar position for a team near the bottom. I think Robinson has had as good a year as hodgson if not better and misses out due to versatility only. Although with a 5-2 bench and pocock just coming back from injury Robinson might have been the way to go.

 

[PaarlBok]

SARugby

Three of the form South African players of the Vodacom Super Rugby season will make their international debuts against Australia on Saturday, following the announcement of the Springbok team in Sydney today.
Props Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger and looseforward Ashley Johnson were named by coach Peter de Villiers in the Springbok team to meet the Wallabies at the ANZ Stadium in the opening Castle Tri-Nations test.
The team is led by John Smit, in his 103rd Test, and contains four other Rugby World Cup winners in Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Danie Rossouw and Johan Muller. A sixth, CJ van der Linde, is on the bench as the replacement prop.
Heinrich Brüssow was not considered as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury.
Uncapped scrumhalf Charl McLeod was named on the bench. Three of the four potential new caps have appeared in non-Test Springbok matches; the exception is Dean Greyling.
“The new caps had outstanding Super Rugby seasons and this is an exciting opportunity for them,” said De Villiers. “They have been rewarded for their form and now it’s up to them.
“We have got some new combinations, but there is a lot of potential in this side and the players are hungry for this chance.”
Joint Super Rugby top try scorer, Bjorn Basson (nine tries), was named on one wing with Lwazi Mvovo – who was tied for second on the SA scoring log with six – was named on the other in a backline also featuring the pace and elusiveness of Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh.
The experienced trio of halfbacks Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn and inside centre Wynand Oliver complete the backline.
Lock Flip van der Merwe gets the chance to step out of his understudy role to the injured Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield while Vodacom Bulls pairing, Deon Stegmann and Danie Rossouw partner Johnson in the backrow.
South Africa v Australia, 23 July 2011 (ANZ Stadium, Sydney)
No Player Province Caps

15 Gio Aplon DHL Western Province 13
14 Bjorn Basson Vodacom Blue Bulls 4
13 Juan de Jongh DHL Western Province 6
12 Wynand Olivier Vodacom Blue Bulls 32
11 Lwazi Mvovo The Sharks 2
10 Morne Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 25
9 Ruan Pienaar Ulster 47
8 Ashley Johnson Toyota Free State Cheetahs -
7 Danie Rossouw Vodacom Blue Bulls 54
6 Deon Stegmann Vodacom Blue Bulls 4
5 Johann Muller Ulster 23
4 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 10
3 Werner Kruger Vodacom Blue Bulls -
2 John Smit (captain) The Sharks 102
1 Dean Greyling Vodacom Blue Bulls -

Replacements
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle Vodacom Blue Bulls 18
17 CJ van der Linde DHL Western Province 69
18 Alistair Hargreaves The Sharks 2
19 Jean Deysel The Sharks 1
20 Charl McLeod The Sharks -
21 Adrian Jacobs The Sharks 32
22 Patrick Lambie The Sharks 4

Match Facts
Saturday’s match will be the 72nd test between Australia and South Africa since the first meeting in 1933. The Springboks have won 41 tests, lost 29 and drawn one test in 2001.
South Africa’s record against Australia – Played 71; Won 41; Lost 29; Drawn 1; Points for 1 347; Points against 1 239; Tries for 164; Tries against 128; Average score 19-17.
South Africa’s Castle Tri-Nations record against Australia – Played 34; Won 17; Lost 16; Drawn 1; Points for 748; Points against 786; Tries for 70; Tries against 78. Average score 22-23
South Africa’s away record in the Tri-Nations against Australia – Played 17; Won 3; Lost 13; Drawn 1; Points for 255; Points against 440; Tries for 25; Tries against 46. Average score 15-26
South Africa’s record against Australia at this venue: Played 4; Lost 4; Points for 53; Points against 101; Tries for 4; Tries against 12; Average score 13-25.
MILESTONES AND RECORD WATCH
John Smit will extend his World record of most tests as a captain to 77.
John Smit will extend his Tri-Nations record of most tests as a captain to 29. Richie McCaw of New Zealand is 2nd on 25 tests as captain with George Gregan of Australia 3rd with 21 tests as captain.
John Smit will equal Victor Matfield’s career record of 22 caps against Australia.
John Smit needs one try to equal the Springbok record for most test tries as a hooker. James Dalton and Bismarck du Plessis are the current record holders with 5 tries each.
Morne Steyn needs 38 points in the tournament to equal Percy Montgomery’s career points record for a Springbok in the Tri-Nations of 210.
The following players will make their Tri-Nations debut: Lwazi Mvovo, Bjorn Basson, Ashley Johnson, Deon Stegmann, Werner Kruger and Dean Greyling and, should they be used as a substitute, Alistair Hargreaves, Jean Deysel, Charl McLeod and Patrick Lambie.

 

[No4918]

Higgers on the bench with Hodgson doesn't make sense. Both play 6 & 8 with Higgers in the better form. As back up for Pocock, Robinson has better form at 7.

McCalman must be on his last chance. A really good player but not the sort i want at 8 in a test side. Samo is incredibly unlucky.

McCabe should go ok but i'd prefer him at 13 if in the centres. Even better just swap him with OConnor.

 

[Fredfreduels]

Hodgson hasn't helped his team win a Super Rugby final, and doesn't have the physical impact a world class player like Beau does.

McCabe and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in the centres will starve the outside backs of any ball. Ant Fainga'a has a distribution game as well as stinging defence. If anything, I see the inclusion of McCabe and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as a way of making up for the light weights like McCalman and Hodgson in the forwards packs. Got to get over the advantage line somewhere...

Still have no idea where Samo is. Bizarre selections.

How can Robbie select a team without 22 reds players?

 

[chief]

Samo must/should be feeling incredibly unlucky. I think it's risky not playing with a back up 10 too. Playing just with Fainga'a as the sole back might not be the best idea.

 

[PaarlBok]

Shaun Pollock the ref on saturday?

 

[qwerty51]

Samo must/should be feeling incredibly unlucky. I think it's risky not playing with a back up 10 too. Playing just with Fainga'a as the sole back might not be the best idea.

Genia goes down = Phipps
Cooper goes down = O'Connor to 10, McCabe wing, Fainga'a centre
Ioane goes down = McCabe wing, Fainga'a centre
McCabe goes down = Fainga'a centre
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) goes down = Fainga'a centre
O'Connor goes down = McCabe wing, Fainga'a centre
Beale goes down = O'Connor 15, McCabe wing, Fainga'a centre
* goes down = Higginbotham wing

All covered. Get the feeling Samo isn't in Deans' WC plans, would've been in the team by now.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Forgot to add;

"X" goes down = Higgenbotham wing

next to all the above. ; )

 

[No4918]

How can Robbie select a team without 22 reds players?

Was everyone fit and ready i'd have more Tahs in a run on 15 than Reds. Brumbies are lucky to have 5 as Alexander and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) are playing as bad as they ever have. All i'm asking is a side get picked on FORM.

 

[Godfrey]

That probably is, partially, a reason for Higgers to be on the bench in a 5-2 split. If need be they can stick him on the wing and it wouldn't be as bad as, say, any other forward.

 

[drewprint]

Very, very, very disappointed that Samo isn't in the team. He is 10 times the player McCalman is.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I wouldn't say 10x, but he has had a great season and think he deserves a spot in the Wallaby line up at some stage.