Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[No4918]

I was happy to go along with the omission. The latest comments from Deans though are unacceptable. I fail to see why he would make them. The conversation would be better off focusing on those. Most people know why Cooper was left out and it similarly seems that Deans is losing the plot. FTA did very well at 12 in the first week there and again in an overall bad performance vs the Cheetahs, hardly evidence of the 10 being at fault. Would be interesting to get Tapuai feelings on them.

 

[Braveheart81]

Are their any opinions on who should be captain? I am a firm believer Horwill produces the goods but there are others saying Genia performs best with the (c) beside his name.

Horwill has to be captain.

Personally I think Genia has been doing a disservice to the Reds by pushing his opinion to Horwill too much this year. A couple of times of Horwill saying "fuck off, I'm the captain" would probably help the team.

 

[The Red Baron]

I would prefer Horwill as the skipper too.

Realistically, there could only be 2 potential captains in the squad: Horwill and Genia. Unless I missed someone?

 

[lewisr]

I would prefer Horwill as the skipper too.

Realistically, there could only be 2 potential captains in the squad: Horwill and Genia. Unless I missed someone?

Mowen? He seems to have a similar approach to Kev and they even look alike haha. But I undoubtedly think Horwill is the way to go. He has a calming influence over the team and occasionally gets a bit too passionate but this translates to a good ability to work over the ref.

Genia strikes me as getting a little too hot headed.

Braveheart81 I agree with what you said about Horwil telling Will to shut up haha

 

[No4918]

JOC (James O'Connor)? Hahahahahha

Has to be Horwill. Genia was 3rd inline behind Pocock after Horwill's injury.

 

[Dumbledore]

Big Jim Horwill sounds like a proper name for a captain to take on the Lions.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Mowen?

No. Simply put he doesn't have the requisite experience.

 

[Athilnaur]

So, if we do win the series with O'Connor at ten do we get to ridicule the naysayers? No, because it is a team sport for the most part, and even Quade can't win us - or lose us - the series.

I think the points made about how everyone looks for Quades errors is true, almost inevitable. Similarly if Cooper or Higginbotham were accused of foulplay in NZ it will come as no surprise to anyone it would a: be instant conviction by public b: be all over the papers. Its how we humans work, we leap to conclusions and say 'there! See!'

And that applies to a lot of the rhetoric on this board we need to get over.
1 McCabe/Horne/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Fainga'a can't pass,
2 Phipps can't play at all (what was Deans smoking?),
3 Mogg can't defend,
4 JOC (James O'Connor) isn't a ten,
5 Palmer is a potplant,
6 Alexander is a rubbish scrummager,
7 Berrick just kicks,
8 Gill is a pilferer, Hooper a linker who can't tackle
9 Genia is perfect
10 Horwill is perfect
11 Pocock is perfect
12 Moore is damn near perfect
13 Timani is a big lazy rock
14 Simmons is a penalty magnet
15 Folau is moneybill2
16 Mitchell is broken
17 Digby is losing his edge, (but still pretty perfect if he wasn't deserting)
18 TPN is a suicidal nut who can't throw (ok the first part is probably true, respect)
19 Deans is a rubbish coach who got lucky for all those years by having GOAT and GOAT2

We need to give these guys some space and some support, including Deans. And Quade. And Beale.

Edit sorry BB!

 

[BDA]

I love you quade cooper and your still the best 10 in my eyes. There is said it.

Aww what a touching moment.
Biggsy can I suggest perhaps change your profile pic from this

to this

 

[biggsy]

Aww what a touching moment.
Biggsy can I suggest perhaps change your profile pic from this View attachment 3564

to this View attachment 3563

Classic

I've still got my ghetto blaster some where to

 

[Shiggins]

What other country (and i think your comment reflects an ozzie view)in the world thinks that only being a 10 is a disqualifying characteristic for a 10?
We're not playing in the amazon where it might take 2 weeks to ship in a new 10.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What I am saying is that he is unlikely to get a spot on the bench. We always go for versatile backs in the bench besides half back.

 

[Bowside]

biggsy you make this thread worth reading.

 

[lewisr]

What I am saying is that he is unlikely to get a spot on the bench. We always go for versatile backs in the bench besides half back.

This is true but chances are we will have a starting 15 with a number of versatile backs on the field already. Maybe a specialist ten isnt such a bad idea?

 

[Bowside]

So, if we do win the series with O'Connor at ten do we get to ridicule the naysayers? No, because it is a team sport for the most part, and even Quade can't win us - or lose us - the series.

I think the points made about how everyone looks for Quades errors is true, almost inevitable. Similarly if Cooper or Higginbotham were accused of foulplay in NZ it will come as no surprise to anyone it would a: be instant conviction by public b: be all over the papers. Its how we humans work, we leap to conclusions and say 'there! See!'

And that applies to a lot of the rhetoric on this board we need to get over.
1 McCabe/Horne/AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Fainga'a can't pass,
2 Phipps can't play at all (what was Deans smoking?),
3 Mogg can't defend,
4 JOC (James O'Connor) isn't a ten,
5 Palmer is a potplant,
6 Alexander is a rubbish scrummager,
7 Berwick just kicks,
8 Gill is a pilferer, Hooper a linker who can't tackle
9 Genia is perfect
10 Horwill is perfect
11 Pocock is perfect
12 Moore is damn near perfect
13 Timani is a big lazy rock
14 Simmons is a penalty magnet
15 Folau is moneybill2
16 Mitchell is broken
17 Digby is losing his edge, (but still pretty perfect if he wasn't deserting)
18 TPN is a suicidal nut who can't throw (ok the first part is probably true, respect)
19 Deans is a rubbish coach who got lucky for all those years by having GOAT and GOAT2

We need to give these guys some space and some support, including Deans. And Quade. And Beale.

Whilst I find my self in agreement with most of the arguments you listed, it's also important to note that all of these blokes are better rugby players than I ever was. I dare say that is true for 99% of posters on this forum as well.

So they can have their time under the bright lights and I'll sit and watch and cheer. Hopefully I won't then get frustrated and take it out on my keyboard, but I'm only a man.

 

[Bowside]

P.S. I'm still not okay with no Quade Cooper in the squad.

 

[Gnostic]

If Folau plays wing and Barnes fullback, then you have two 15's, and also two playmakers in barnes and JOC (James O'Connor).

Still think Cooper would have been a better choice as IMO more 'play' would have been made.

Did you read those Blog pieces Bowside? If you did I think you may have missed one of the key points, and that is first and foremost the key positions such as 15 and 10 MUST be filled with specialist players who fill the core skill sets for those positions. If you have a look at those Blog articles I outlined what I believe to be the core skill sets for those positions (and BTW what I believe have been the key attributes of the most successful players in those positions for Australia), and I suggest that Barnes & JOC (James O'Connor) do not fill the core skill sets for 10 or 15.

This is in my view another case of Deans selecting his favourite players, and trying to fit in all his X factor players (or those he believes are such) on the field at once. This squad is just like every other side Deans has selected over the last 6 years, unbalanced and lacking in key areas, and that can be seen without a 22 being named.

As I said, I fully expected these selections and posted as much many weeks ago along with many other posters. Expecting it I may have been, but I don't have to like it and I will still hope against all reason that we will see a coherent and COMPLETE game plan, after all I am a Tahs supporter and have continued with them for far longer than Deans has been screwing the Wallabies.

 

[Athilnaur]

I will still hope against all reason that we will see a coherent and COMPLETE game plan, after all I am a Tahs supporter and have continued with them for far longer than Deans has been screwing the Wallabies.

Short of replacing Pulver Gnostic, i think you will be doomed to a frustrating time as a rugby fanatic, unless by sheer fleeting chance a coach happens upon your personal selection preferences and then executes games to your gameplan preferences, as historically very few coaches are completely candid about selections, let alone gameplans. Though Chieka does seem to be coming close! Well, assuming you agree with his gameplan at least.

 

[Ash]

So, Douglas may be out for a few weeks with concussion which may explain his non-selection. Otherwise, if Deans is waiting on MMM, then it appears that Deans regards Timani higher than Douglas, which confuses me based on how Douglas has played for the Wallabies last year, and how both Timani and Douglas have gone this year.

Anyway, with a squad of 31 to play a three game series at home, do you:
1. Have 5 props?
2. Have four locks?
3. Have 3 hookers?
4. Have 3 halfbacks?

And will Deans select all of the above? If not, why not? For a touring party, you normally would have one spare player in all of these specialist positions.

In my book, it's weird having 6 flankers for evening a touring team. Normally you'd take just 5.

If the above is the case, then to come into the squad will be a prop, hooker, lock, and 2 halfbacks, leaving room for just one other player. (Of course, this is all rubbish if Deans doesnt opt for prop, hooker, lock and halfback cover.)

What positions does Deans need covered, according to Deans speak?

Deans selected: 3 flyhalves according to Deans (JOC (James O'Connor), Barnes, Lealiifano), 3 inside centres (Horne, Lealiifano, Barnes), 1 outside centre (ACC, although there's Horne at a stretch, but I haven't heard anything from Deans confirming this), 4 wingers (Ioane, Tomane, JOC (James O'Connor) and Cummins) and 2 fullbacks (Folau, Barnes, who Deans mentioned explicitly, and JOC (James O'Connor), I guess, at a stretch).

If there is just one position left to choose, then if I was Deans it would be a 13, but there's no standout 13 lefts to be selected; A. Finger would be the next cab off the rank, and his form wasn't exactly great at 13.

From what Deans has said and how the backs are selected, I can't see him adding just a 10, or a 12, or a wing. Only remaining backs to therefore be selected must be able to play 15 or 13

I assume that Deans sees McCabe as a 13 (as well as 12), so if McCabe is fit then he would definitely be picked by Deans as a Deans favoutire, despite the number of inside centres already chosen. If one more additional outside back does make the squad, I would bet on it being Beale, who will likely (conveniently) be out of rehab in time.

 

[lewisr]

If there is just one position left to choose, then if I was Deans it would be a 13, but there's no standout 13 lefts to be selected; A. Finger would be the next cab off the rank, and his form wasn't exactly great at 13.

CFS is a late bolter for outside. Although I know he wont get picked due to lack of experience, hes a special player and hopefully we see him in the EOYT

 

[Gnostic]

Short of replacing Pulver Gnostic, i think you will be doomed to a frustrating time as a rugby fanatic, unless by sheer fleeting chance a coach happens upon your personal selection preferences and then executes games to your gameplan preferences, as historically very few coaches are completely candid about selections, let alone gameplans. Though Chieka does seem to be coming close! Well, assuming you agree with his gameplan at least.

I hope you weren't suggesting that I would be better off following another Sport Ath. I have been a Rugby Tragic far too long, and my long term attachment to the Waratahs has given me great tenacity to endure these dark times.

I don't think that replacing Pulver will be required. My personal selection preferences have nothing at all to do with my comments. I would indeed pick a different side to Deans, that is easy to see. I would however be happy to see a side selected that ticks all the skill set boxes in the key positions enabled to play a game plan that suits the players selected. That leaves it pretty wide open, with up to three and possible four options in many positions. It does however preclude some of Deans favourite selections. The biggest problem with Deans selection policies is that once the 22 is announced even a moderately skilled Rugby watcher can pick the broad game plan, if you want to term it as such. Deans has little in the way of subtlety in the games we have seen from him over the last few years. For example, the selection of McCabe at 12 in the RWC telegraphed to all what would happen in the mid field and it was easily countered with no plan B. Again we saw the same thing with Timani in the second row with the same outcome.

I will approach this situation as I did the Tahs from 1994 to 2013. I will write, discuss, blog, and post my genuine truthful critique of the situation