It will come down to doctors reports and fitness tests for a few, Mitchell looks on track "apparently" as well. They have all been in rehab camp and there will be some gambles
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It will come down to doctors reports and fitness tests for a few, Mitchell looks on track "apparently" as well. They have all been in rehab camp and there will be some gambles
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Picking a suspect player does not seem to carry many risks - apparently players who are genuinely injured can be substituted, even if the injury predates the tournament.
R
Richard D. James
Guest
A fit and firing Palu with Samo on the bench would be a massively powerful backrow. Pocock/Higgers/Palu then Pocock/Higgers/Samo, drool.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
So you'd throw a notoriously slow starter straight into a world cup when there are some credible alternatives?
"notoriously slow starter" dunno about that, he came out firing in the S15 this year, we are also a bit away from the tournament and there a number of pool games before it gets serious
If any of the guys covering 8 looked the business I would be less concerned.
Shit Higgers made two tackles and missing one; and two runs in 60 minutes.
http://www.rugbystats.com.au/matches/rugby/match10596.html
Compare that the week before where Macalman did 12 tackles, missing one and 6 runs in 56 minutes the week before and got panned .................
http://www.rugbystats.com.au/matches/rugby/match10595.html
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Cliffy is cooked for mine. At least Rocky has had some lead up games to get fit and Mitchell played a fair chunk of the season (though I still think he's a huge risk). TPN has the runs on the board this season too, so to speak. Cliffy doesn't have any of that behind him, so I don't see how we can select him now. It's a bloody shame, but every world cup campaign has its hard luck stories. Ask guys like Tim Gavin and Toutai Kefu.
mark_s
Chilla Wilson (44)
My issue with Palu is that chances are he will get crocked again before the end of the tournament even if fit going in, same with TPN for that matter. Either way we need an alternative - we have that in Moore but haven't quite got it sorted yet at 8. I would like to see Samo start at 8 in Brisbane, have Higgers come on after say 50mins and ideally have TPN come on around the same time for Moore.
C
chief
Guest
Apparently either Samo, McCalman or Palu will miss out. And I understand the predicament, knowing Deans he could very well drop Samo. But I still don't think it is wise to drop Australia's strongest S15 number 8 when the alternatives are a guy with a lot of talent ahead of him (McCalman) and a guy who can barely stay off his crutches (Palu). For me Samo should be included plus although Deans loves the "I have a young gun team" it really can't hurt with some experience. Samo who is 35 years old and has played for the Brumbies with success compared to a starting team who haven't won one major trophy until this year. You need some experience especially as Giteau seems to have been excluded from the starting side. For me when you need a proven performer you look no further than Samo who has form on his side. The others have talent but do they have what it takes, also Samo is pretty versatile.
As for Higginbotham I totally agree with TBH's point that he wasn't all that great. He definitely isn't a Number 8.
No doubt my Reds bias is shining lights throughout this post, and not for one second am I saying McCalman isn't fit for International Rugby. He's proven that he is indeed fit for it, but he's not going to have that IT factor which Samo and Palu provide. Particularly when we could be up against Read and Spies. I reckon leaving McCalman out will only make him better. As he has a lot of talent.
As for Higginbotham I totally agree with TBH's point that he wasn't all that great. He definitely isn't a Number 8.
No doubt my Reds bias is shining lights throughout this post, and not for one second am I saying McCalman isn't fit for International Rugby. He's proven that he is indeed fit for it, but he's not going to have that IT factor which Samo and Palu provide. Particularly when we could be up against Read and Spies. I reckon leaving McCalman out will only make him better. As he has a lot of talent.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
He came out firing in S15, but I thought you wanted to talk about test number 8s? Big difference to come out firing in a test match.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
We can swap him out if he isn't fit, but we can't swap him in if he is, therefore we should name him in the squad.
vidiot
John Solomon (38)
How easy is that? If you pick him and then say 'oh, he isn't fit' and then sub him out when he is no more or less fit this week than in a fortnight, it seems that naming sides on Thursday is no obstacle to replacing any player, and open to abuse.
Searsy
Herbert Moran (7)
I was thinking of all the number 8's that have played post Kefu and can think of 10 that have played in the last 10 years. I'm not sure how that compares to other positions but to me it seems like a lot. I think we have probably had a preferred number 8 for those periods but other have gotten a shot due to injury.
David Lyons
George Smith
Scott Fava
Radike Samo
Wycliff Palu
Rocky Elsom (if memory serves me correctly)
Stephen Hoiles
John Roe
Richard Brown
Scott Higginbotham
Out of the question, but out of curiosity, how is David Lyons travelling in the NH.
David Lyons
George Smith
Scott Fava
Radike Samo
Wycliff Palu
Rocky Elsom (if memory serves me correctly)
Stephen Hoiles
John Roe
Richard Brown
Scott Higginbotham
Out of the question, but out of curiosity, how is David Lyons travelling in the NH.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Searsy, that just highlights how good Kefu was and how really none of the players who have come after him weren't.
Cutter
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
We only have two 8s that provide the right balance to a backrow with Elsom and Pocock in it: Palu and Samo. Higginbotham is not an 8. He's demonstrated that for the Reds and now the Wallabies. It's a specialist position.
There are clearly too many backs and tight five players on these boards!
There are clearly too many backs and tight five players on these boards!
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Cutter, I've played all three positions in the back row! I think Higgers can play there, but needs to focus more on running closer to the ruck. I don't think the wide ranging game is that of a traditional 6 either. He's big enough, with good enough hands and a decent motor. I still think he's a better choice than Benny Mac at the moment.
G
gecko
Guest
I'd like to see both in the side, neither is upto 80 minutes for mine, so Palu on for Samo late in the game would keep the intensity up.
Just think of this in a test, 20 minutes to go its neck and neck and we sub in TPN for Moore, Palu for Samo, Higgenbotham for Elsom and Vickerman for Sharpe. Say goodbye to the late game fade.
K
Keithy
Guest
How can the selectors be thinking of picking Palu who hasn't even played club rugby let alone a test match. Macalman can play lock as well as backrow.
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