Wallabies 31 Man Squad

[Richo]

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.

I reckon you have to have 5 props and 3 hookers, not so sure about the other two since some back rowers are flexible (Dennis) and could be the lock cover off the bench if necessary. That means you can have a trained up line out. A similar logic applies to prop and hooker. As Scott said on the podcast, you really need that third hooker to have thrown the ball in some line outs.

On the lock front, though, I wonder if picking Timani doesn't necessitate taking another lock. He's not even remotely a line out option.

(BTW, Ash, I don't want to beat this dead Cooper horse, but my comment about him that you quoted in your long post was making the same point about perception that you talked about. I've posted a number of times about the oddities of perception when it comes to Quade and agree with what you wrote. I just think that some people are as blindly positive as others are blindly negative. Neither attitude is helpful, IMO. I'm glad that JOC (James O'Connor) doesn't get subjected to the same kind of ridiculous scrutiny and over-analysis and it would be great if Cooper didn't either.)

 

[something]

I'm not having a crack at the Badger, and I agree that his post-match chats are a breath of fresh air, but does anyone else get the feeling he is playing on that a bit? The interview after the Force game seemed very, very contrived.

Almost like he had a bet with himself on how many outback-speak analogies he could come up with.

Yeah mate when he said that 'sweating like a gypsy with a mortgage' line you could see he was trying not to laugh. i like how he is taking a more comedic approach to the post game interviews. Atleast it's not 'oh yeh boys gone done good, ahhh need to work more in the D, urghh make the ah, one on one tackles rah rah rah'

 

[Penguin]

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

Nor is he a certain starter.

 

[biggsy]

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

Folau got picked with Lack of Experience.... But I Reckon Sautia will be around a lot longer then Folau so he will get his chance...

 

[Richo]

There is no way CFS will be picked. He's a great talent, but he's only recently cracked the regular starting side for the Reds. If he keeps playing like this, he'll be a bolter for the EOYT. Even then, indications are that we'll be taking a smaller squad with less tourists so injuries might be the only way he gets a shot. The future is bright, however.

I think a major factor in Folau being picked was his career experience -- Origins, Kangaroos, etc. -- which suggests that he doesn't crack under pressure.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

I think on form Godwin will get alook in before CFS. If McCabe isnt fit when the secret 6 is named i would love to see Godwin there the experiance would be great for the young bloke.

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[Sully]

Perhaps we could open up a new Forum titled "Quade Cooper: Best thing since Jesus or worst things since Hitler?"

Did someone mention Hitler!

 

[Richo]

In a post directly after one mentioning Godwin. Spooky.

 

[Ash]

I think on form Godwin will get alook in before CFS. If McCabe isnt fit when the secret 6 is named i would love to see Godwin there the experiance would be great for the young bloke.

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Unfortunately, there's no way Godwin will get picked, regardless of McCabe's injury. Godwin would only cover 12, and there's already three 12s selected, and JOC (James O'Connor) can cover there too. 13 is the spot that needs more cover, and probably 10 and 15 too, hence why I think Deans wants Beale so badly (not to mention the great player Beale is when on form).

Deans will probably think that McCabe can cover 13. If McCabe isn't fit to cover 13, I would guess that Deans would go to A. Finger next, as Horne and A. Finger are the only remaining 13s with test experience. Unfortunately, Horne hasn't played 13 this year, and A. Finger hasn't been great at 13.

 

[lewisr]

Far out every time I read A. Finger or S. Finger I have a good laugh. The Twins are on their way to Europe next year arent they?

 

[Pfitzy]

I honestly would have preferred QC (Quade Cooper) to JOC (James O'Connor) at 10, because quite frankly the Rebels didn't look that great with Rabbit at 10. The concern I have is JOC (James O'Connor) takes on too much but maybe that is a lack of experience around him in Melbourne. Deans has stated his reasons, now he lives or dies on that. But I suspect he'll be in the next 6, and JOC (James O'Connor) has been getting injured of late...

Anyway, I agree with others about the double set of back rowers. I almost get the feeling that Palu is there only for a lack of other big units half way into form. It's always nice to have a big bopper in there but his injury history is a worry, and I don't think he's been compelling, just solid.

 

[Richo]

Higgers didn't exactly impress at 8 last year, which might be part of Deans thinking. And Palu has had some of his best games against NH sides, including on last year's EOYT.

 

[gel]

"That might be part of Deans thinking..."

"That's probably what Deans is thinking..."

"What Deans is probably thinking is..."

this is probably what the players say as well after he has finished speaking.

 

[lewisr]

Anyway, I agree with others about the double set of back rowers. I almost get the feeling that Palu is there only for a lack of other big units half way into form. It's always nice to have a big bopper in there but his injury history is a worry, and I don't think he's been compelling, just solid.

Do you think he really lives up to his size though? I feel like he never really is the enormous, hard running, big bopping 8 that he appears to be...

 

[Budgie]

I was surprised to see Cooper missing from the squad.

He has been playing well this year despite not playing too good against Cheaters.

O'Comner is more of a risk at 10. His Defence close in is as bad as cooper.

Maybe Deans will be playing Barnes at 10.

I still think Quade may be able to force his way back into the Wallabies.

 

[Scotty]

My guess at the first match 23:

1 Robbo
2 Moore
3 Alexander
4 Simmons
5 Horwill
6 Mowen
7 Hooper
8 Palu
9 Genia
10 JOC (James O'Connor)
11 Ioane
12 Horne
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14 Cummins
15 Barnes

16 Finger
17 Kepu
18 Slipper
19 Timani
20 Higgers
21 Gill
22 White
23 Folau

 

[Scotty]

We are going to be badly underdone leading into the first test. No warm up matches and two playmakers without enough rugby under their belt.

The odds are against a wallaby win in Brisbane.

 

[Dave Beat]

We are going to be badly underdone leading into the first test. No warm up matches and two playmakers without enough rugby under their belt.

The odds are against a wallaby win in Brisbane.

And Scotty no combinations, how manly tests have Genia, JOC (James O'Connor), started together, how many tests (or games) have JOC (James O'Connor) and Horne started together, Cummins again no combination, and Ione feeds off QC (Quade Cooper) how does he go off JOC (James O'Connor).

However forwards are as expected

 

[Pfitzy]

Let's hope they're fast learners. Lions will have cut their teeth on our provincial sides several times and Gatland knows what he wants already I suspect: Wales B

 

[Scotty]

A few things regarding Deans and Cooper have just occurred to me:

1. If Deans thinks Cooper is behind Taps form slump, why didn't he pick Taps?

2. If Deans believes having a 10 that is too involved hurts the playmaking ability of your 12 and thus has opted for JOC (James O'Connor), why in all likelihood is Deans going to go for a non playmaking 12 in Horne but a playmaking 15?

3. If Deans thinks playmaking is important outside of 10, why did he match Cooper with McCabe, A Finger and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as the centres and fullback in the World Cup semi?