Wallabies: Latest Injuries and selection for Test 3

[Paradox]

They have a lot of improvements in them. No doubt about it. Hooper needs to do a better job at clearing out. He's extremely effective with his ball-carrying with 30 mins to go. Looks a great bench option and super sub.

 

[jollyswagman]

Some facts about George that you cannot ignore.

110 Wallaby Caps

He is the second most capped Wallaby forward behind Nathan Sharpe.

The second most capped flanker in rugby union behind Richie McCaw.

He holds the world record as the youngest player to have played 100 test matches at 29 years and 4 days.

You want to talk about a cool operator - a calm head - a rudder to steer the ship - all that S**T.....well you won't find anyone more qualified than George. But that's just my humble opinion.

 

[Paradox]

Forecast for Sydney?

 

[Braveheart81]

Some facts about George that you cannot ignore.

110 Wallaby Caps

He is the second most capped Wallaby forward behind Nathan Sharpe.

The second most capped flanker in rugby union behind Richie McCaw.

He holds the world record as the youngest player to have played 100 test matches at 29 years and 4 days.

You want to talk about a cool operator - a calm head - a rudder to steer the ship - all that S**T...well you won't find anyone more qualified than George. But that's just my humble opinion.

I think the most relevant fact right now is that George Smith suffered a grade 2 medial ligament tear in the second half of May, spent a couple of weeks in a knee brace hobbling around unable to train and hasn't played since then.

None of his illustrious history will count for much if he isn't quite up to full fitness.

 

[fatprop]

Forecast for Sydney?

Saturday
Mostly sunny
Min: 8°C Max: 17°C
UV: -

Showers clearing on Tuesday hopefully

 

[vidiot]

Some facts about George that you cannot ignore.

110 Wallaby Caps

He is the second most capped Wallaby forward behind Nathan Sharpe.

The second most capped flanker in rugby union behind Richie McCaw.

Thats a lot of caps. But does he know what time the Hungry Jacks breakfast menu turns over?

We should bring back Sharpie when Horwill is rubbed out. More caps, and he certainly plays a position we need someone with caps.

 

[fatprop]

Some facts about George that you cannot ignore.

110 Wallaby Caps

He is the second most capped Wallaby forward behind Nathan Sharpe.

The second most capped flanker in rugby union behind Richie McCaw.

He holds the world record as the youngest player to have played 100 test matches at 29 years and 4 days.

You want to talk about a cool operator - a calm head - a rudder to steer the ship - all that S**T...well you won't find anyone more qualified than George. But that's just my humble opinion.

I don't see him being selected unless because of an injury

Hooper and Gill are doing enough to not justify the risk of playing a guy who just hasn't played enough lately.

It would have been different if he didn't get wounded at the wrong time, but he did and he won't

 

[KOB1987]

won't be surprised if Dingo switches Beale & JOC (James O'Connor)..it's not disruptive and even he has to concede that the cohesion wasn't there with JOC (James O'Connor) at 10, he's not an effective distributor..except for the crucial nice pass to AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to score!

 

[disco]

Would we not be falling into the same trap that we have been caught in before by bringing in someone fresh off a serious injury? i would love to see kimlin in the 23. He was massive against the dirt track lions side the other week and is pretty fit & fresh.

MMM has played 80 minutes for the Force before being in camp Wallaby for the last two weeks I'm sure he'd be right to go.

 

[jollyswagman]

I don't want to drag the debate on about George but I will say that I don't disagree with all of your reasons why he shouldn't or won't be picked next week. They are all valid points but in essence I think the risk is worth the reward. I also think RD will surprise us all and pick him on the bench at the expense of Gill. What seemed to work well last night was Palu had a solid game and when subbed the trio of Mowen, Gill & Hooper looked tidy. I can't recall when Palu came off but next week I expect George to take the place of Gill and see out the game - maybe at 8 with Mowen staying at 6.

Also, I don't think George would have been bought into camp if he wasn't going to get a look in. Maybe he is not 100% and I agree he might be less than match-fit but you would think he would be good for 20 at least - even on one leg. I think RD is keeping George like you would sit on an Ace - he is just waiting for the right time to inject him. Maybe Robbie too believes he is only good for 20 also and wants to use that time in the last 20 next week. It will definitely be an interesting one to watch.

Lastly, as a romantic in the sense of sporting fairy tales, this needs to happen. He needs to be out there. I want to see him play a part in the series win next week. I want to see him in the jersey again. In Robbie's own words, you need to take the little opportunities when they present themselves.....selecting George is his opportunity.

 

[Hoolly Doolly]

Hooper is everywhere but cannot impose himself on the breakdown. Gill and Smith will give us much more against a quickly improving Warburton.
In the backs?.

yep agree. not phased whoever starts out of the 2. One thing I noticed early was Hooper getting penalized twice for not releasing. His running is his strength but last night he got wrapped up easily by the lions defense and didn't release as a consequence. Lions also always look to wrap the wallabies in contact and win the maul. He did ok in defense from what I perceived but that's all I noticed from his game. He was invisible contesting at the breakdown and as mentioned earlier wasn't very effective clearing out the rucks.

 

[Bessa]

Some facts about George that you cannot ignore.

110 Wallaby Caps

He is the second most capped Wallaby forward behind Nathan Sharpe.

The second most capped flanker in rugby union behind Richie McCaw.

He holds the world record as the youngest player to have played 100 test matches at 29 years and 4 days.

You want to talk about a cool operator - a calm head - a rudder to steer the ship - all that S**T...well you won't find anyone more qualified than George. But that's just my humble opinion.

By this logic, we should also pick the player who has played 101 test matches for Australia, won a grand slam, won a world cup Bledisloe Cups, has scored over 60 tries for the Wallabies, and is one of the most influential players Australia has ever produced. David Campese.

 

[TOCC]

I thought Gill should have started and Hooper come on in the last 10 rather then what happened last night....

Wallabies lost a lot of the control at the breakdown that they held last week, this was not completely due to Hooper starting over Gill but it was definitely a factor..

The role of an open side is not only to steal the opposition ball but protect their own, Gill is better at both IMO.

I'm not convinced that George Smith should be brought in, with his iniury layoff he is a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment, not sure the risk is worth the reward when we already have Gill and Hooper.

 

[Paradox]

Smith can also play 6, 7 and 8

 

[Paradox]

Just watching game again. Seriously, can JOC (James O'Connor) stand any deeper in attack?

 

[TOCC]

W

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Just watching game again. Seriously, can JOC (James O'Connor) stand any deeper in attack?

Yeah, but only if he's a 15- or pays for tickets behind the sticks


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[jollyswagman]

By this logic, we should also pick the player who has played 101 test matches for Australia, won a grand slam, won a world cup Bledisloe Cups, has scored over 60 tries for the Wallabies, and is one of the most influential players Australia has ever produced. David Campese.

Yes, exactly right though I wasn't aware Campo had come out of retirement and played any Super rugby this year.

Probably should have ignored this one - sorry.

 

[Pusser]

By this logic, we should also pick the player who has played 101 test matches for Australia, won a grand slam, won a world cup Bledisloe Cups, has scored over 60 tries for the Wallabies, and is one of the most influential players Australia has ever produced. David Campese.

Not sure about the cool head- he and Marto combined to lose a Lions series in what really was one of the top five brain explosions.


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[IronAwe]

I dunno about Beale at 10. I think simply swapping Christian and JOC (James O'Connor) would make a huge difference, with minimum disruption to game plan and training etc.
If Horwill goes I will be really sad. He genuinely deserves to play that last game, not just because we need him, but because he has busted his arse with two almighty efforts in the first two games. Who to replace him with? Tough question, no one will give us what we lose with Horwill.