Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[Tex]

Can you point to any in particular? Especially any since the first 3 or 4 rounds? I think this is a massive furphy -- a bit like the "Quade can't tackle" business. For instance, Scott Allen went through each of the tries he supposedly let in against the Hurricanes and made clear that the worst he could be accused of was not making a better read on that crazy Savea juggling try, but even there he got wrongfooted by an odd bounce of the ball.

If your point was in relation to an established and experienced player it would hold more water, but Izzy is still learning the game. The tries i'm referring to were in the earlier rounds (don't get to see as many Tahs games in Melbourne). Furphy or not, the Lions wings have been excellent so far and would probably look at Izzy playing there with relish.

I'm certainly not hating on the guy and eagerly anticipate seeing him play in gold, but i'm cautious about putting him up against some of their more damaging runners. Start him from the bench in the first test and see how he goes.

 

[Athilnaur]

Robinson
Moore
Alexander
Simmons
Horwill
Mowen
Hooper
Palu
Genia
JOC (James O'Connor)
Cummins
McCabe
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Folau
Beale

Reserves Slipper, Saia, Kepu, Douglas, Gill, Phipps, Barnes, Tomane.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Reserves Slipper, Saia, Kepu, Douglas, Gill, Phipps, Barnes, Tomane.

You're missing a prop, Tomane is injured and with that reserve bench you'd hope to god Palu or Mowen don't go down early.

I'd say we're more likely to carry MMM or Dennis on the bench to cover both lock and the backrow if we are to carry a specialist 7 on the bench.

 

[Pfitzy]

Folau shouldn't be thrown on the wing because he hasn't played any bloody time there. Even an ex-prop like me knows that wing isn't as simple as standing there, adjusting your hair, while checking out the half back's arse and wishing it was shower time already with the other backs.

There is actually more to it than that!

Fullback generally sweeps in a manner to the league fullback, but wingers have to constantly change the depth of their position to deal with wide attack, deep kick, short kick, switch plays, blah blah fucking blah.

The reason Roff was a good wing was freakish talent, long experience watching wingers from fullback, and playing with guys like Tune and Burke - who he would never be able to displace from fullback anyway.

Folau could play wing, but it'd be a helluva risk at this point. If he was, I'd pick the other wing to be a second fullback and have us play a 13 man static line on defence


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I hate autocorrect ...

 

[Athilnaur]

You're missing a prop, Tomane is injured and with that reserve bench you'd hope to god Palu or Mowen don't go down early.

I'd say we're more likely to carry MMM or Dennis on the bench to cover both lock and the backrow if we are to carry a specialist 7 on the bench.

faircop, esp re Tomane brain fade, he'd have been in the starting if fit...

 

[Paradox]

IMO, going to be McCabe at 12 for the Ws with Lilo on the bench. Mowen to 6. McCabe Vs Horne - bit of a meh really. McCabe wins physicality stakes and has runs on the board for playing at 12 at test.

I'd back Folau for fullback with possibly (JOC (James O'Connor) or Beale) also in the back 3. He'd do the job and will catch everything. Beale might not catch those bombs.

 

[Athilnaur]

True Pfitzy, and Folau has played what, one game or part game at wing? Yet I'd play him there rather than Beale to Wing or Beale to 10, JOC (James O'Connor) to wing. His gamebreaking ability is too indispensable to bench imo.

 

[Unders Line]

This team listed may not be the best team to run against the Lions but I believe it will be the most exciting to watch from a spectator and keen rugby follower:

1. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. James Horwill
5. Robb Simmons
6. Dave Dennis
7. Liam Gill
8. Wycillf Palu
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Henry Speight
12. Christian Lealifano
13. Israel Folau
14. Digby Ioane
15. Adam Ashley Cooper

 

[Richo]

If your point was in relation to an established and experienced player it would hold more water, but Izzy is still learning the game. The tries i'm referring to were in the earlier rounds (don't get to see as many Tahs games in Melbourne). Furphy or not, the Lions wings have been excellent so far and would probably look at Izzy playing there with relish.

I'm certainly not hating on the guy and eagerly anticipate seeing him play in gold, but i'm cautious about putting him up against some of their more damaging runners. Start him from the bench in the first test and see how he goes.

It doesn't make sense to point to something that simply isn't true to argue against a player's selection. Folau is actually a very good defender, especially as a one on one tackler, and tends to read things quite well. There is better evidence of try-saving tackles than of defensive misreads over the last few months.

A better argument is that he has had very little time at wing and thus shouldn't start there.

 

[RoffsChoice]

13. Israel Folau
.........
15. Adam Ashley Cooper

Let's just leave the best 13 in Australia and one of the best in the world at 13. Similarly, let's not throw Folau from a (relatively) simple role to one of the hardest in the backline.

 

[Lindommer]

Waratahs would be much higher up the ladder if they had a ball playing number 12, Horne has improved out of sight with his balls skills but not up to test standard, especially against the Lions.

Twice Barnes has started at 12 when Horne's not injured (Rebels and Saders) and the Tahs lost both times. Rob's grown into a very handy inside centre this year.

 

[lewisr]

Twice Barnes has started at 12 when Horne's not injured (Rebels and Saders) and the Tahs lost both times. Rob's grown into a very handy inside centre this year.

And Deans' reply to that is play Pat McCabe. Logic.

 

[wamberal]

I support the coach. However, if Pat McCabe starts in the First Test, I will change my allegiance. I just cannot see that McCabe is anything other than a fairly competent Super Rugby player.

 

[Tomikin]

Maybe Deans has had a think with Wingers going down and will pull something like this

9.Genia 10.Beale. 11. OConnor 12 McCabe 13 ACC 14. Cummins 15 Barnes

Strong Midfield, all experienced puts O'Connor back on the wing where's his been brilliant and leaves Falou to come off the bench in debut same with Lio.

 

[Brumbieman]

Ok so the team seems to be firming up with Dennis and Horne released.

Robinson
Moore
Alexander
Horwill
Douglas (Dennis being released seems to indicate that Mowen is the preferred 6, and will therefore call the lineout).

Mowen
Hooper
Palu

Genia
Beiber

Folau
McCabe
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Cummins
Beale

Fainga'a
Slipper
Kepu
Simmons
McMeniman
Gill
Phiipps/Burgess
Barnes

 

[jimmydubs]

I keep hearing about Folau being an option on the wing. I don't see it and I think it is a particularly dangerous choice, as such the constant mention of Folau on the wing from pundit to professional is scary.

Should be better than Samo as a winger at least.

 

[Gnostic]

With respect to the arguments regarding the likely naming of Folau on the wing, it is the exact plan that I proposed about 3 weeks ago. It allows the two full back system to be run, perhaps even a left and right fullback system (which I personally like against a side which can play very conservatively.)

Whilst I would have preferred Mogg to either Barnes or Beale this is one selection which I can agree with Deans on. I see this system if not the individuals as the best system for a balanced game. Think Campese/Roebuck, Burke/Roff or Latham/Roff.

 

[BDA]

I see Izzy going great guns in the first test. I reckon the Poms might struggle to contain him.

If we can get some good attacking opportunities off set piece in the Lions 22 I wont be surprised to see him get over the chalk. He's a freakishly good finisher 10 metres from the line.

 

[Ruggo]

Ruggo, no argument from me, I would've love to've seen how the BILs handled Quade threading Horne et al through miniscule gaps, but he's not there. PLEASE, one and all, Cooper's not in the squad, can we discuss those who're in the 31 and what their strengths and weaknesses are and how we'd like them to perform.

I think what the Lions are going to throw at us is the massive question. I have said my piece on the issues and the improvements I think could happen in the backs so will leave that alone though the balance is a real concern for me.

The forwards is going to be a big guessing game. I think the Lions tight five is locked in. In my view as this.

1/ Corbisero
2/ Youngs
3/ Jones
4/ O'Connel
5/ Grey
19/ Parling

This back row could go anywhere. I wouldn't mind betting that Warberton or O'Brian will play 6. I would pick Gill in a heartbeat if this was the case. I suspect we will be looking for size and possibly be heading for an ambush. I know Palu gets the love on this site but Mowen just may be the better option at eight. Forget any thoughts of him as a potential lineout caller as it is just to much load for a debut player when he needs to be focussing on his game. MMM at six for me as this is where the Lineout calling could come from. In that event you could partner Douglas with Kev without disturbing the balance of the pack. Of the cattle we have in the squad the best pack in my opinion is.

1/ Fat Cat
2/ Moore
3/ Slipper
4/ Douglas
5/ Kev
6/ MMM
7/ Gill
8/ Mowen

In that pack I see a good balance of abbraisivness, work rate and mobility. The set piece should be stong and the lineout not neglected with four genuine Jumping options and a part time option in Gill plus it the inclusion of a test experienced caller.

 

[Scotty]

I see Izzy going great guns in the first test. I reckon the Poms might struggle to contain him.

If we can get some good attacking opportunities off set piece in the Lions 22 I wont be surprised to see him get over the chalk. He's a freakishly good finisher 10 metres from the line.

How do you expect him to get the ball with JOC (James O'Connor), McCabe and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) inside of him?

Deans will miss a trick if McCabe is named at 12. Three reasons - form, fitness and balance to the side.