Tri Nations - AUS v SAF 23rd July 2011.

[PaarlBok]

The two Reds in the pack are very grunty.

Love your avator. You sure are one creative flippen PC nerd. :thumb Next time I'll ask you to create me a special one. Wonder what happened to the shaved Sheila that scratched that big Red ball?

 

[Groucho]

I didn't make that avatar, PaarlBok, I liberated it from a thread on Planet Rugby.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

One of the Reds great strengths this year was the breakdown. Their backrow was sensational and was ably supported by Horwill (who is a legitimate option at 6 by the way). So it makes sense to include at least 1-2 of their backrow in the test side.
Higgers and Samo. Add Pocock to that and you have a balanced backrow that will match any other in all aspects.

Couldn't agree more. Anyone who is advocating Pocock (who would be the first forward picked in anyone's side) should not be there is either trolling or generally taking the piss. There's always a few who can't help themselves.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I think with Hodgson and Higginbottom you get the best of both worlds of impact and blue collar. Hodgson has been in the set up before and Deans likes his versatility. I'm not surprised by his inclusion over others to be honest.

 

[OLDDOG]

love your avatar grouch !

 

[Manuel]

Selected Bok backline likes running (except for Steyn) and passing (except for Olivier). It should be a good game, if weather allows. The backrow looks weak; Johnson has never tackled or rucked in his life, and Rossouw is too old to cover him up. I think Pocock will win this one for the Wobs in the breakdown.

 

[Blue]

Australia by ten. Anything less will look pretty bad. South Africa A / B / 'Holding pattern' teams have never done well.

Regardless of weather the ks will play a fairly simple game plan. PdV is a glass half full kind of guy and will go into the match with an attitude of keeping the score low. Based on the Stormers game plan in the S15, Rassie Erasums is very conservative guy and will hardly encourage running rugby.

Look like rain so Steyn and Pienaar could play a big role which will make it close a close game.

 

[fatprop]

It is pissing down in Sydney, cold and very wet.

The forecast for Saturday is

Saturday - Showers - Min: 11°C Max: 17°C

 

[TOCC]

Indeed shitty weather at the moment, plays into south Africa's hands..
Did the Reds play in the rain at all throughout 2011?

 

[No4918]

Indeed shitty weather at the moment, plays into south Africa's hands..
Did the Reds play in the rain at all throughout 2011?

Cheifs maybe? I know it was wet but can't recall rain.

It did rain at Suncorp for about 15 mins before the Crusaders game, does that count?

 

[EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7]

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

Im starting to wonder if his age has come into it. He has played a full season of s15 and maybe they are keeping him fresh. It's the only explanation i have.

McCalman is a waste of space, he wasn't even out there against Samoa.

 

[EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7]

The more I think about it the better I feel about the backline that is being put out by the Wallabies this weekend. Yes the centres aren't to flashy but we have options all over the field and one of the huge improvements in Quade's game this year has be his ability to take the correct option. McCabe can crash the ball up and we all know how well AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) can run into a hole(remember the SA game at Suncorp in 09). Quade will hit them when he wants. Behind that line he will be able to hit Beale who will link well with JOC (James O'Connor) when that option is on and off his sholder will be his running back Diggers who will take the ball in traffic and make meters almost every time.

The forwards are more of an issue as I don't like the balance of the backrow. I would have liked Samo at 8 as he can provide go forward with ball in hand and pulls off some big hits that will set the standard for the game early on. McCalman while normally a busy player doesn't seem to have the impact I would like.
Elsom has been past it since his return from Dublin. I am so sick of him stopping or slowing down before contact. When playing for Leinster he would bust through the defensive line at will but he no longer offers this as part of his game.
Pocock I can not question as we need him but Hodgson wasn't up to it last week and if we need a back up 7 I would have liked to see Robinson get a run.
I have no issue with the locks. Simmons and Howill work really well together at the Reds and this will be a great test for them. Sharpe is still there to be injected if required and I don't see it as a reflection of his game last weekend that he is on the bench.
The front row just confuses me. OK Moore is the best hooker available but Kepu was going great at THP for the Tah's and they want him to play LHP. Alexander didn't have a great year at the Ponies playing LHP and they expect him to return to the heights of 09 when he was playing well a THP. The front row is a bit more complex than that. Guys need to have some consistency in where they play to maintain form. We really need Slipper back ASAP and I hope that Benn manages to recover in time for the RWC. As for the back up prop I am lost for words. I would have picked Weeks, Holmes or even Blake in the squad ahead of the rubbish that they have dished up. I hope that the guys here find some form but I wont hold my breath.

I have to agree with your thoughts. Yesterday i wasn't that impressed with the line up and then i looked at the s15 stats. Giteau is still up there even in a poor performing side. He should be on the bench. I would love to see more experience in this team. Experience wins you world cups. Look at the way England plays when Wilkinson comes off the bench (I know Giteau isn't in the same class) but he has been playing the guys who have been around for quite a while now.

Papers are saying he had a bad game on the w/e. But that was because of an underperforming pack IMO.

 

[Scotty]

Robinson should clearly be starting over Pocock...

Can you read?

Hodgson does not equal Pocock

There are only a couple of letters shared between the two names, I don't think it is that hard to tell the difference between them.

 

[RedsHappy]

Indeed shitty weather at the moment, plays into south Africa's hands..
Did the Reds play in the rain at all throughout 2011?

V Chiefs away, it was wet under foot and cold and intermittent light rain. And they handled the conditions v well, as assessed by all comms, incl NZ ones, and confirmed by a solid win.

 

[fatprop]

Pocock is an 80 minute player, you don't need a specialist openside on the bench because he won't be used.

You need bench backrowers who can cover multiple positions, Hodgson makes sense

 

[Scotty]

So Hodgson is there to cover 6 and 8? What does Higginbotham cover?

 

[Braveheart.]

Pocock is an 80 minute player, you don't need a specialist openside on the bench because he won't be used.

You need bench backrowers who can cover multiple positions, Hodgson makes sense

That logic doesn't quite stack up IMO. We've got Higginbotham on the bench too. Higgers covers 6 & 8. Why then do we need additional cover for 6 & 8 via a versatile 7?

Only if your anticipating subbing the captain???

 

[dobduff11]

What does Higginbotham cover?

13, keep up scotty

 

[Godfrey]

Hodgson is 6, 7, 8 and Higgers is 4, 5, 6, 8 and if it came to it probably wing.

 

[Ignoto]

Higgers is 4, 5, 6, 8 and if it came to it probably wing.

If you want those covered, you're better off with Samo (he's more a 4,5 than Higgers is). Plus that doesn't include why we have a back up second row then if Higgers can cover those as well?

You would be better off with Higgers and Samo on the bench (or Higgers and McCallum) if you wanted to cover the entire 4 - 8 position.