Wallabies Squad - the Link Era

[fatprop]

Ok, the sceptic in me wonders about all the Hugh Pyle love.

He seems to get rewarded for nice runs out wide, rather than cleaning out, supporting the ball carrier, poaching lineouts and dominant defence.

Am I missing something?

 

[wamberal]

McCalman played pretty well for the Force, I thought, as did Alcock.

 

[It is what it is]

Ok, the sceptic in me wonders about all the Hugh Pyle love.

He seems to get rewarded for nice runs out wide, rather than cleaning out, supporting the ball carrier, poaching lineouts and dominant defence.

Am I missing something?

Agree, he plays wide and loose and is not the 'on baller' lock we need against the AB's. There seems to be a sameness about a lot of the young fringe back 5 forwards Jones, Carter, Neville and Pyle. They are very different to Horwill, Fardy, Douglas and MMM.

 

[Braveheart81]

It will be interesting to see what happens during the Rugby Championship and EOYT with the fringe players everyone raves about.

Previously the invective has been that Deans is an idiot and any rational coach would pick players such as Pyle, White, Sio (and previously Mowen) etc.

The discussion over selections will be more interesting now that the coach is generally well liked, particularly amongst the fans who have historically been most critical over selections.

 

[wamberal]

I don't think any credible student of the game would have wanted to see Sio thrown in against the Loins. He is a great young talent, no doubt about it, maybe he should get a chance on the bench against the ABs if he goes well over the next couple of weeks (assuming that the Bumblies bumble their way to a win next week).

I am also a bit enthused about Salesi Manu, and Paul Alo-Emile.

 

[Slim 293]

I thought Sio was the one Brumbies player not to shame themselves on the weekend.........

Anyways, I don't think we'll see too many new faces in Link's squad.........

The team that ran out agains the Lions was a couple of amigos from being our best........

The big change will obviously be Cooper coming back in, and I would expect one or two Brumbies players being rewarded depending on how the finals play out........

 

[Zander]

Ok, the sceptic in me wonders about all the Hugh Pyle love.

He seems to get rewarded for nice runs out wide, rather than cleaning out, supporting the ball carrier, poaching lineouts and dominant defence.

Am I missing something?

No, he also can't defend a maul, every team targets the Rebels there.

 

[No4918]

Agree, he plays wide and loose and is not the 'on baller' lock we need against the AB's. There seems to be a sameness about a lot of the young fringe back 5 forwards Jones, Carter, Neville and Pyle. They are very different to Horwill, Fardy, Douglas and MMM.

Don't think Neville can be lumped with Pyle. He can go wide but in the game on the weekend he was excellent around the breakdown and repeatedly made the gain line close to the ruck. I see him as similar to Douglas while being a better runner and with ball in hand.

 

[fatprop]

Sio's promotion will depend on what Link does with Alexander methinks.

The game changer I think is the 2 reserve prop rule, something I don't think the Wobs worked well against the Lions

We don't need versatility as much and we can budget for 40 minutes if we have to.

So we can pick our best two THPs and out best two LHPs - and then budget their time depending on their ability to scrummage & fitness.

 

[Slim 293]

I would actually take Sio over Alexander as loosehead backup........

I think his scrummaging and his general impact around the field trumps him........

Not being a specialist might well harm Alexander's future moreso than that Lions' performance.........

 

[fatprop]

I would actually take Sio over Alexander as loosehead backup....

I think his scrummaging and his general impact around the field trumps him....

Not being a specialist might well harm Alexander's future moreso than that Lions' performance...

Slipper & Kepu @ THP?

Start with Fatcat & Slipper, finish with Sio & Kepu?

Alexander will pack down at THP all of next season for the first time, I think it will make or break him

 

[Slim 293]

To be fair on him, he's generally been pretty solid at TH for the Brumbies this year, and in the first two Lions' tests........

I don't think the last Lions' game should break his career, but Australia does need to move towards playing props whose scrummaging abilities are taken into greater account.........

 

[fatprop]

To be fair on him, he's generally been pretty solid at TH for the Brumbies this year, and in the first two Lions' tests....

I don't think the last Lions' game should break his career, but Australia does need to move towards playing props whose scrummaging abilities are taken into greater account...

Agreed, but he now has to decide which side he wants to play and stick to it.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think there could be a few more changes than some on this thread are predicting.

First, I don't see Link going with either Beale or JOC (James O'Connor) in the starting lineup, and perhaps not even in the squad until they smarten themselves up a whole lot.

I think Benny A will miss out on a starting place, probably dropping back to reserve THP. Scott Sio should come in as reserve LHP. Foolish to think that Benn Robbo will be dropped. Slipper to start at THP.

Probably no changes to the starting locks, but MMM and/or Pyle to come into the squad.

Gill will probably start at 7 with Hooper on the bench.

As soon as he proves his fitness, I expect Nic White to return to the squad. Matt To'omua to also come in as backup to Quade.

Centre pairing looks right. Wings to be Folau/Tomane and Honey Badger and FB to be Folau or Mogg. Cannot see Morahan coming in; next best probably Crawford on his form this year. Speight for the EOYT.

And I don't hold with the contention that we can't start debutants in the RC tests, even against the ABs. The Lions' tests affirmed that in form players are the best option when selected in their proper positions. So a starting lineup of :

Robbo, Moore, Slipper, Douglas, Horwill, Mowen, Gill, Palu, Genia, QC (Quade Cooper), HB, Lealiifano, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Folau, Mogg. That's 5 changes that I see. Reserves to be Saia, Sio, Benny A, MMM (if healthy), Hooper, White, To'omua, Tomane.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

It will be interesting to see what happens during the Rugby Championship and EOYT with the fringe players everyone raves about.

Previously the invective has been that Deans is an idiot and any rational coach would pick players such as Pyle, White, Sio (and previously Mowen) etc.

The discussion over selections will be more interesting now that the coach is generally well liked, particularly amongst the fans who have historically been most critical over selections.

My fear is the old careful what you wish for, it may come true.

Much of the Dingo criticism was about the tactics, game plan and use of the bench.

I am just hoping that Link can live up to some of the hype. We will all look a little silly if Link doesn't deliver the much anticipated turnaround.

I don't think he is the Messiah, but he is also not a naughty boy either.

 

[Bullrush]

And I don't hold with the contention that we can't start debutants in the RC tests, even against the ABs. The Lions' tests affirmed that in form players are the best option when selected in their proper positions.

Couldn't agree more.

I have heard so many times people saying things like

"I wouldn't start his first Test in a Bledisloe match in NZ"

or

"Wouldn't have his first Tests against the Lions" etc etc.

If a player is good enough, he's good enough. I'm sure if you went to the players themselves and asked if they were up to it they'd have found their mouthguards and be puting their 2nd boot on before you'd finished your sentence.

I know that it's not always the best way to start a new Test player but sometimes it is. I think if a guy has played his guts out and is considered to be good enough to play, play him. Who cares who the opposition is or what the occasion - that guy may end up being your match winner.....you just never know.

 

[Tomikin]

Cam Crawford definitely & I like Tom English at the Rebels, both big wirey blokes who play the basics well & can find the tryline. Both remind me of Joe Roff.

Really with the quality of wingers we have in Speight Tomane Izzy Cummins, O Connor, and fullbacks Beale, Mogg, Izzy. Good Super players but i just dont see them taking spots of more established players, or guys who have just started in the squads..

 

[Tomikin]

I'm interested to see how many Reds players Link will call up.

This... I hope he doesnt have his Red Coloured Glasses on, but Im guessing he will as he had his Reds tie on in his first presser

 

[Bullrush]

Why would you worry about those two if you have Folau, Speight, Tomane, Honey Bugger, Crawford etc to name a few

time to move on

I probably would take Drew Mitchell pre-2011 injury before all of these guys except maybe Folau.

Problem is it's now 2013 I guess......

 

[Brisbok]

Agree, he plays wide and loose and is not the 'on baller' lock we need against the AB's. There seems to be a sameness about a lot of the young fringe back 5 forwards Jones, Carter, Neville and Pyle. They are very different to Horwill, Fardy, Douglas and MMM.

This is an interesting attitude. In no way am I commenting on any players in particular at the moment, but it seems with the recent Wallaby selections there is a preference for two locks who play a very tight, physical type of game, with lineout organisation/jumping not a priority for either (as is highlighted by the fact that Mowen has been in charge of the lineout ).

In other countries there seems to always be a preference for one physical, hard-working lock, accompanied by one more athletic, lineout specialist lock who is given SOME leeway for playing a slightly looser type of game. Obviously the closer you can get to a hybrid of both roles, the better, but there definitely seems to be more of an expectation in other countries that at least one of the locks must be a lineout specialist.

Do you think the reason for this at the moment is that there is currently no standout athletic type lock? Or more so a priority that a lock is physical and makes significant impact at ruck/maul time over a specialist lineout lock who possibly gives away some points in the physical stakes?