Wallabies 1-8, 16-19

[Reddy!]

Stuff Vickerman - hasn't played test rugby in 3 years by the time of the World Cup, let alone professional rugby. Simmons is my bet for the bench spot ahead of Mumm and Chisholm.

 

[MrMouse]

Certainly no more novel than that one of yours, MM.

A "switch hitting prop" eh? It just might work.

If I follow your logic, and I think I do being an old prop myself, it's easy to see how front rowers would get sullen and morose on a long tour, watching the local groupies make a bee line for the backs in night clubs.

As has often been noted, being a switch hitter doubles your chances on a Saturday night. Not only would the ambidextrous bench warmer have a good chance himself of getting a kill but his fellow props might be able to run off him.

Nothing else seems to work for us, so why not?

Haha love your work Bruce. Perhaps a bit of flirting with Castro would have softened him up. Perhaps that love tap on Sir Richie takes on a new meaning? So many places to go with that...

For the record, I did actually mean a prop who can play both loose- and tight-head positions capably at an international level. Hopefully no double entendres there!

 

[MrMouse]

Stuff Vickerman - hasn't played test rugby in 3 years by the time of the World Cup, let alone professional rugby. Simmons is my bet for the bench spot ahead of Mumm and Chisholm.

Reddy, you could well be spot on - but this is our dream 8 given form and fitness are no issue. If he weren't up to scratch, I'd back Simmons atm, but if he were I'd take him in a heartbeat.

 

[Bruce Ross]

A year from now, when the million-dollar-man has left our shores, we might get around to trying out the tight head who will make the position his own.

The likely replacement, Link, may be filthy on Lawrie now for going south but I don't think that will stand in the way of him putting the best front row on the park.

 

[RugbyFuture]

I think people are too conservative with forming front packs, even if you think my suggestions are novel or outrageous, I like to think I've seen these guys play now and am willing to front up if they're given a chance.

 

[MrMouse]

No doubt there's a strong chance that Weeks will be our THP at RWC15, and with four years development a front row of Slipper TPN Weeks could be quite frightening. It will be interesting to see how Weeks develops under McQueen, but I doubt he will make the necessary steps in the next twelve months to get ahead of Alexander, Baxter or Slipper. In Deans' wonderland he might be behind Ma'afu too.

 

[Bruce Ross]

No doubt there's a strong chance that Weeks will be our THP at RWC15, and with four years development a front row of Slipper TPN Weeks could be quite frightening. It will be interesting to see how Weeks develops under McQueen, but I doubt he will make the necessary steps in the next twelve months to get ahead of Alexander, Baxter or Slipper. In Deans' wonderland he might be behind Ma'afu too.

In Deans's wonderland he might be behind me.

I'm still waiting to hear the real story.

 

[RugbyFuture]

but if theres no doubt that Weeks will be the prop by then how come we're not blodding him up rather than the others, the others are around the same age and he has more experience at a higher level than some of the guys being used....

?

 

[Groucho]

but if theres no doubt that Weeks will be the prop by then how come we're not blodding him up rather than the others, the others are around the same age and he has more experience at a higher level than some of the guys being used....

?

MrMouse didn't say no doubt he will be the prop, but no doubt there is a strong chance.

 

[Groucho]

I think people are too conservative with forming front packs, even if you think my suggestions are novel or outrageous, I like to think I've seen these guys play now and am willing to front up if they're given a chance.

We've had to put up with a whole year of bloodings and experiments from Deans, RF, without having to put up with yours.

I, like many, am looking forward to simply being able to have our best pack on the the field next year, including our most important forward, Cliffy Palu.

 

[RugbyFuture]

i hate to tell you, but when experiments fail you just have to keep experimenting

Tradition is founded on innovation

 

[Scott Allen]

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Sharpe
5. Horwil
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Palu

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Vickerman
19. Hodgson

TPN will always be second choice hooker until he starts throwing consistently at lineouts. Moore clearly better in the set pieces and that is far more important than open field play.
Slipper looks like the goods and will be a real asset in the future but I expect Fat Cat to come back strongly next year, once fully fit. Also helps to have Slipper on the bench when he can play both sides.
Sharpe is the number 1 lock we have and will be picked first. Horwill is the best tight head lock we have by far. Vickerman will struggle to get back with limited time but there are no other quality options beside him.
Palu is the best backrow ball carrier we have by a long way.

 

[Groucho]

i hate to tell you, but when experiments fail you just have to keep experimenting

Tradition is founded on innovation

Not in this case. We have the power base of our scrum to return, whose absence was the reason we were forced to experiment.

Palu, Horwill, Nau and an in-form Robinson and Alexander, supported by a resurgent Moore and an emergent Slipper, will excuse us of the need to blood new players for a while.

 

[Slim 293]

hmmmm...

If at their best:

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Horwill
5. Sharpe
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Palu

16. TPN
17. Slipper
18. Kimlin (wild card pick... this spot could always fall back on anyone of Mumm, Chisholm or Slipper...)
19. Hodgson

 

[Groucho]

18. Kimlin

Deary me.

 

[Slim 293]

Deary me.

It's certainly not as ridiculous as the op saying Salvi will be in the Wallaby pack...

Kimlin had a blinder last year before injury... is a capped Wallaby... better than Chisholm... and Mumm isn't doing himself any favours...

But as I said - wilcard pick... I'd be happy to see him make the training squad...

Personally, I don't rate any of our locks that highly... including Sharpe and Horwill... they're all very flawed...

 

[qwerty51]

Hodgson is too ill-disciplined for mine. Could be very costly in a WC final.

If he gets rid of that part of his game, he's our bench back rower.

3 Locks should be Horwill, Sharpe & Vickerman - no one else is really close to those guys

 

[Joe Blow]

Slipper is a fast improving LH who can play TH at a pinch. Hopefully Alexander will gain strength and find form over the course of Super rugby next year but unfortunately he will probably be playing LH at the Brumbies.
The other options at TH are Maafu and Big Al. It's a shame Deans did not go with Baxter earlier in the year when fit as he probably would have been much better than Maafu.
!.Robinson
2.Moore
3.Alexander (if he plays TH at the Brumbies)/Baxter
4.Horwill
5. Sharpe
6.Elsom
7.Pocock
8,Palu

16.TPN
17.Slipper/Alexander
18.Vickerman/Simmons
19.Hodgson

 

[Lindommer]

Sharpe is the number 1 lock we have and will be picked first. Horwill is the best tight head lock we have by far. Vickerman will struggle to get back with limited time but there are no other quality options beside him.

The future of the Australian second row is Horwill, Simmons, Douglas and Kimlin, probably in that order. When they're all fit Vickerman's going to have to play bloody well to get ahead of Sharpe and that crowd.

 

[Ruggo]

Great to see we have some genuine competition in key positions when all our boys are fit. LHP is a stand out for me with Robinson, Slipper and Holmes all good Quallity. I like Alexander for THP but I beg the Brumbies to play him there this year. Lock stocks are healthy and we have some older players with a wealth of experience that could fill the gaps well if required. I like Hodgeson but heading into the RWC next year I would rather take Waugh as the back up to Pocock. His physical prescence and experience will be much more valuable. Palu is a must for number 8 but as we lack depth and a bigger bloke as a back up, I would consider Houston. Kefu, please get down to Ballymore and work with the lad. I beg you. Should we lose Rocky, we have options to cover him. A stand in captain would be a bigger issue here. Sharpe would be my man.