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Wallabies Squad - the Link Era

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Lindommer

Lindommer

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Scoey said:
Considering we lost the Lions series on the back of missed kicks the selection of Harris is hardly a mystery.
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There're a couple of dead-eye dicks running around in Shute Shield ATM, but I certainly wouldn't pick them as their game's just not up to it. What we MUST do is get our first-choice players' kicking up to scratch, blokes like Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) didn't perform here against the BILs.

It's something the ARU should put some serious thought and resources into, a Skype conversation with Bram Stoker over in Safferland's clearly not working. The English and Welsh approach with Dave Alred and Neil Jenkins seems a much better path to take.
 
Ignoto

Ignoto

Greg Davis (50)
There seems to be more to this Horne exclusion than a simple "what more does he have to do".

I haven't been following Horne's contract situation, but has he committed to the Waratahs for next year? I've only come across the following about the progress of his contract and this was at the end of May

Coach Michael Cheika on Saturday said Horne was keen to remain at NSW and the Waratahs were doing everything they could to squeeze the 23-year-old under the salary cap.
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If he goes, though, Cheika has a ready-made replacement in Lance, a 22-year-old former Australian under-20s and sevens representative who won the Super Rugby title in his debut season with the Reds in 2011.
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http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8657755

Now, look at what Link specifically said:

“We’ve assessed each case on its own merits, but it’s important that we are, where possible, making investments in players that are going to provide value for Australian Rugby over the next few seasons.

“That was definitely a major consideration in selecting this training squad.
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It probably doesn't explain Kimlins inclusion, but being light in the 6 and 8 department probably makes him an exception. So perhaps Horne is off and Link and Co want to give the third-stringers a run for their money.

If he's re-signed recently forgive me, I'm all out of ideas
 
ACT Crusader

ACT Crusader

Jim Lenehan (48)
Wouldn't get too stuck in these 40 man squads. Just means there are extra tackle bag holders....

Over the next couple of weeks, Link will just throw out a few different experimental combinations just to have a look at.

The other thing with some of these players is that they're in the squad to mimic opposition patterns as best as possible.
 
No4918

No4918

John Hipwell (52)
Not too hard to see most of the 23. A couple of spots could go either way but I think it will be this.

Robinson
Moore
Slipper
MMM
Horwill
Kimlin
Gill
Mowen
Genia
Cooper
JOC (James O'Connor)
Lealiifano
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Tomane
Folau

TPN
Alexander
Kepu
Fardy
Hooper
White
Fainga'a
Mogg

Lack of a big number 8 is troublesome so an extra hard bastard or 2 in the forward pack. I think getting decimated by the Crusaders will have Link well aware how important the pack is.
Also, have not selected To'omua as I am not sure he is versatile enough for the bench, if Cooper gets hooked or injured I'd expect Lilo to step in.
 
Sir Arthur Higgins

Sir Arthur Higgins

Dick Tooth (41)
No4918 said:
Not too hard to see most of the 23. A couple of spots could go either way but I think it will be this.

Robinson
Moore
Slipper
MMM
Horwill
Kimlin
Gill
Mowen
Genia
Cooper
JOC (James O'Connor)
Lealiifano
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Tomane
Folau

TPN
Alexander
Kepu
Fardy
Hooper
White
Fainga'a
Mogg

Lack of a big number 8 is troublesome so an extra hard bastard or 2 in the forward pack. I think getting decimated by the Crusaders will have Link well aware how important the pack is.
Also, have not selected To'omua as I am not sure he is versatile enough for the bench, if Cooper gets hooked or injured I'd expect Lilo to step in.
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please no ant fainga'a in the 23
 
Sir Arthur Higgins

Sir Arthur Higgins

Dick Tooth (41)
Scoey said:
Considering we lost the Lions series on the back of missed kicks the selection of Harris is hardly a mystery. I'm not saying the rest of his game is up to it, but it's a 40 man squad FFS. I wouldn't scratch the old noggin too much if I were you.

I'm also amused by a few of the comments this morning about players in the 40 man squad being no where near Test material or no where near a 23 man match day list. I'll give you a tip. Being in a 40 man squad is still no where near the match day 23 or a test team. Some very good players will be cut before the first game. Fair to say the 'not up to it' ones will also.

It's an exciting squad and a great start. Go you good things go!
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i would suggest there were several other reasons why we lost the lions series. we lost one game on the back of missed kicks. we lost the final game for reasons completely unrelated to goal kicking and we won the middle game thanks to goal kicking.
 
Scoey

Scoey

Tony Shaw (54)
Sir Arthur Higgins said:
i would suggest there were several other reasons why we lost the lions series. we lost one game on the back of missed kicks. we lost the final game for reasons completely unrelated to goal kicking and we won the middle game thanks to goal kicking.
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Exactly. We lost the lions series due to missed kicks. Nail the kicks in game one and we've won the series. There are several other reasons why we lost game 3 though.
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Aside from 1 club rugby game where Harris kicked 12 from 12, it would seem to be a long time since Harris has been in excellent kicking form.

He has played very little this year, but his kicking in 2012 was pretty much average (I found stats suggesting 77% in Super Rugby).
 
Scoey

Scoey

Tony Shaw (54)
Braveheart81 said:
Aside from 1 club rugby game where Harris kicked 12 from 12, it would seem to be a long time since Harris has been in excellent kicking form.

He has played very little this year, but his kicking in 2012 was pretty much average (I found stats suggesting 77% in Super Rugby).
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I was surprised to see Mike's name in there and I don't think he will be in the 23, or probably not even the 30. But 77% in the 1st Lions Test would've won us the game easily. 50-60% would've won us that game.

Deans was caned for his lack of priority on a goal kicker. Link seems to have picked a goal kicker in a 40 man squad. Not sure what all the fuss is about is all.
 
P

Phil

Chris McKivat (8)
Scoey said:
I was surprised to see Mike's name in there and I don't think he will be in the 23, or probably not even the 30. But 77% in the 1st Lions Test would've won us the game easily. 50-60% would've won us that game.

Deans was caned for his lack of priority on a goal kicker. Link seems to have picked a goal kicker in a 40 man squad. Not sure what all the fuss is about is all.
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What's the point of having a goal kicker in a 40 man squad if he is going to get cut at the next stage?I really struggle to see why he is there.
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Scoey Do you sacrifice a bench spot that could have gone to a far superior player for a better kicker in case your first choice kicker gets knocked out in the first minute?

I agree with you that Harris is very likely to get cut from the initial squad when it is whittled down to 30.

My point was really that Harris would seemingly have been picked as a specialist goal kicker yet I think it has been a while since we've seen him being a fantastic goal kicker.

As an aside, like Leali'ifano, he also struggles with kicks much over 40m.

Whoever ends up being selected, we're likely to end up with a situation where clutch long range goal kicks are taken by someone who isn't the first choice kicker.

Even if Leali'ifano becomes a long term Wallaby 12 and kicker, this is a problem we're likely to have for a long time.
 
Scoey

Scoey

Tony Shaw (54)
Yeah I agree with all of the Braveheart81. Except for your point on his kicking form being down somehow makes him less of a specialist goal kicker. When Matty Wade's was dropping catches and missing stumpings he wasn't all of a sudden 'not a weeket keeper'. Oh hang on..... ;)

I joke of course, but will simply say, when you mention Mike Harris, people will think, goal kicker. A lot of this 40 man squad seems to be a bit of a PR exercise so why not pick a 'goal kicker' in most peoples eyes initially as well when that was one of the biggest criticisms through the Lions series? Makes sense to me but then again, I've been called an idiot on more than one occasion.
 
EatSleepDrinkRuck

EatSleepDrinkRuck

Larry Dwyer (12)
Remember earlier this week when Link announced something about resting players and putting in people who are fresh...

How many of the 40 players in there do you think made the cut because they aren't fresh back from injury/ regularly injured compared to guys who have just missed out.

Also, posing the selection question as Horne cf. Harris seems to be an artificial construction, one that we as fans are likely to make and not one that would have happened in the selection process. I think we should be contrasting Ant Faiinga with Horne.

Also, Mickey H is probably in the squad so they can have a few good kickers really get some time in with a specialist kicking coach.
 
scaraby

scaraby

Ron Walden (29)
Braveheart81 said:
I'm going to go in the other direction on Betham.

I think his development from where he was prior to the ITM Cup last year has been superb.

His handling is atrocious and is the biggest issue in his game.

His ability to break tackles and bend the line is very impressive though. He is nowhere near a Wallaby 23 right now but I think he could be there in a year or so if he keeps improving.
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Totally agree with his ability to break tackles and bend lines..but he's got to come out the other side with ball in hand and he just can't seem to do that at the mo.
 
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