Wallabies at the Rugby World Cup 2011

[Jnor]

Apparently Horne and McCabe should be good to go for the knockouts. Per Growden "Due to this encouraging development, the Wallabies will not be sending an SOS to Australia for a back-line replacement."

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/amber-light-for-horne-mccabe-lifts-wallabies-20110926-1ktnd.html

I hear Ant Fainga'a's good for the knockouts too.

Sorry, couldn't resist....

 

[fatprop]

Ben Alexander
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Berrick Barnes
Kurtley Beale
Luke Burgess
Quade Cooper
Rocky Elsom
Anthony Fainga'a
Saia Fainga'a
Will Genia
Scott Higginbotham
Robert Horne
James Horwill
Digby Ioane
Sekope Kepu
Salesi Ma'afu
Pat McCabe
Ben McCalman
Drew Mitchell
Stephen Moore
James O'Connor
Wycliff Palu
Nick Phipps
David Pocock
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Radike Samo
Nathan Sharpe
Rob Simmons
James Slipper
Dan Vickerman

Striked out = wounded
Bolded "selected"
So why aren't we sending guys home?

For Russia we need cattle

1 James Slipper
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau
3 Sekope Kepu
4 Nathan Sharpe
5 Rob Simmons
6 Scott Higginbotham
7 David Pocock
8 Radike Samo
9 Luke Burgess
10 Quade Cooper
11 Drew Mitchell
12 Berrick Barnes
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
14
15 James O'Connor

16 Saia Fainga'a
17 Salesi Ma'afu
18 Dan Vickerman
19 Ben McCalman
20 Nick Phipps
21
22

 

[08umema]

What I don't get is that we are keeping some players on the basis of 'should we make the semis'. We should be focusing on the game this week and then the quarter finals. What if the Russia game yields the same result as the USA game? A crushing win but also a handful of injuries. Just a concern in my eyes is all.

 

[cyclopath]

I'm guessing, if no back replacement is sent, then Higgers or Samo is to play in the backs? I agree it is a huge gamble to hold guys there who might be available for a semi final. We gotta get that far first.

 

[waratahjesus]

What I don't get is that we are keeping some players on the basis of 'should we make the semis'. We should be focusing on the game this week and then the quarter finals. What if the Russia game yields the same result as the USA game? A crushing win but also a handful of injuries. Just a concern in my eyes is all.

we live a 3 hour plane trip away, if we have 22 to take on russia we cant play as if there will be injuries, we just have to play. It will right itself, being a Tahs fan this year, the Wallabies injury run is nothing.

 

[Knuckles]

http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1516/ArticleID/4565/Default.aspx

Injury update.

 

[Braveheart81]

If only we had Matt Dunning in the squad. He had plenty of experience seagulling on the wing in his Super Rugby days.

With KB (Kurtley Beale) out, I guess our three options are to play Samo on the wing, Higginbotham in the centres or possibly put Phipps on the wing.

 

[08umema]

we live a 3 hour plane trip away, if we have 22 to take on russia we cant play as if there will be injuries, we just have to play. It will right itself, being a Tahs fan this year, the Wallabies injury run is nothing.

I was under the impression there are rules in place so as not to disadvantage teams from further away?
I could be wrong and will be happy if I am.

 

[waratahjesus]

I was under the impression there are rules in place so as not to disadvantage teams from further away?
I could be wrong and will be happy if I am.

there is, its 24 hours i think, longest flight.
but the fact is, we dont get jet lag or anything for getting there like the europeans do, we can send replacements on sunday and they can train from tuesday fresh as a daisy.

 

[cyclopath]

48 hours is the time. To make it fairer.

 

[Braveheart81]

An injury replacement isn't allowed to play for 48 hours following their naming.

Given that there is a week between matches, you have until about Wednesday to name a replacement and for them to be available for the weekend.

 

[08umema]

there is, its 24 hours i think, longest flight.
but the fact is, we dont get jet lag or anything for getting there like the europeans do, we can send replacements on sunday and they can train from tuesday fresh as a daisy.

That is true. I just hope that by holding onto Horne, that we make the semi's. If not it seems like a wasted opportunity to bring in some fresh legs.

 

[waratahjesus]

That is true. I just hope that by holding onto Horne, that we make the semi's. If not it seems like a wasted opportunity to bring in some fresh legs.

know what your saying, but if horne is the only back out, someone has to miss out on the quarter so is having someone else over there sitting out actually better being that you then have the option to bring Horne in or a third choice?

 

[#1 Tah]

Palu sent home. Surely Mad Robbie will bring in a 7?

 

[08umema]

know what your saying, but if horne is the only back out, someone has to miss out on the quarter so is having someone else over there sitting out actually better being that you then have the option to bring Horne in or a third choice?

Valid point and I will agree with you on it. Hopefully we just focus on Russia and then the QF's.
Ideas on Palu's replacement? Back up 7 or send someone who can cover 6/8. I am hoping Robbie sees his mistake and sends a cover 7!

 

[fatprop]

I think it is silly to keep a guy for the semis, that is one game too far away to me

 

[Braveheart81]

Aside from our issues against Russia where we might have to play Samo or Higginbotham in the backs, we get Ioane, Fainga'a, Beale and most likely McCabe back for the quarter finals.

What back replacement that would come over would have any chance of being in the 22 ahead of those players?

 

[fatprop]

Turner or Morahan should be brought over to me

 

[DPK]

Isn't Tapuai in the squad and available?

 

[MrTimms]

The only reason for erring on the side of caution with calling for a replacment is that once a player has been replaced they can't come back in. If Horne is replaced, but is going to come good and the replacement gets injured, that is the replacement and Horne unable to play again.