Wallabies Squad - the Link Era

[Braveheart81]

To'omua has played 12 outside Holmes when he's been on for the Brumbies - maybe that's the backup?

If there are 3 back reserves then I'd say that is a good chance of happening.

If there are only two, it probably has to be someone more versatile like JOC (James O'Connor).

 

[Sparky]

Is Ben tapaui injured or just over looked? Surely he will come into consideration?

 

[Braveheart81]

Is Ben tapaui injured or just over looked? Surely he will come into consideration?

Someone said that McKenzie is not replacing Fainga'a in the squad on the basis that he is reducing the squad to 30 players anyway.

 

[lewisr]

He was just overlooked. Apparently he was dealing with some niggly injuries though and just wasnt fit/ in form towards the end of the season. Hopefully ehs back by next year

 

[Groucho]

This 'fatalistic' theorem re Kiwi dominance and, related, our immovably lowered chances of doing as well in elite rugby is flawed - though it's always had adherents here and no doubt always will, particularly in times, as now, of mediocrity and bad losses via the Wallabies' performances.

Let me offer one of many possible counters: if Australia was intrinsically poorer in rugby players, and coaching's role was solely one of marginal potential improvements only as we suffered fatalistically from the inferiority of our input stocks into the elite game level, the following would not be true:

From late 2009 in the case of the Reds, and from late 2011 in the case of Brumbies, two groups of allegedly 'no hoper' elite Australian rugby squads that had prior suffered appalling seasons of losses and fan disillusionment were within the short space of 18-24 months transformed into S15 winning or Finalist calibre teams. This was/is essentially down to coaching competencies much upgraded. And not just head coaches; as important were the Fishers, the McKays, the Fowlers, the Larkhams, and related S&C specialists. Cheika is showing the early, potential signs that he may achieve a massive improvement in the Tahs' chances of victory in 2014-15.

The truth is that excellence in sporting outcomes at the highest levels requires a combination of adequate talent and superb 'culture' management and technical coaching within elite playing squads.

Look carefully and you will find that the bigger problem in Australian rugby is not the quasi-Darwinian notion that that we have less capacity to generate the better species of player by the age of say 18-20, but rather that our elite level managerial and coaching competencies in general have not been nearly good enough and accordingly the quite high calibre of players we have consistently generated are thrust into the hands of inferior business leaders and technical coaching specialists. It's our generally poor standards of leadership that are the heart of the matter. Once and when we fix that problem with the right people solutions, our players perform exceptionally well and hold their own against the very best.

That's a great post, RedsHappy , and I agree. That's why I think the Dimness are "generally" better. It's within our grasp to catch up, but we have to be equal or better at every level.

 

[hammertimethere]

Anot

hammertimethere sounds a bit like one 'pat mccabe'....

I respect the hell out of him too, just don't particularly want him as a 1st choice wallaby

 

[barbarian]

So what do we make of tonight in terms of Wallaby selection?

High pressure rugby, akin to a Bledisloe.

Scott Sio would be really pushing Ben Robinson, he is a star. Thought Ben Mowen and Lilo were also good, and Kimlin was solid. Benny Alexander also very good, has he redeemed himself after Sydney??

I like Fardy but he does give away a lot of penalties. Think it was 3 tonight. But made a great pilfer and ran hard all night.

A bit worried by Mogg and White, didn't really step up when the pressure was on. Still both have had great seasons, but I don't think either did their Wallaby hopes much good tonight. I miss Nic White's running game, and I think that might hurt him when it comes to picking a bench scrummie.
.

 

[cyclopath]

So what do we make of tonight in terms of Wallaby selection?

High pressure rugby, akin to a Bledisloe.

Scott Sio would be really pushing Ben Robinson, he is a star. Thought Ben Mowen and Lilo were also good, and Kimlin was solid. Benny Alexander also very good, has he redeemed himself after Sydney??

I like Fardy but he does give away a lot of penalties. Think it was 3 tonight. But made a great pilfer and ran hard all night.

A bit worried by Mogg and White, didn't really step up when the pressure was on. Still both have had great seasons, but I don't think either did their Wallaby hopes much good tonight. I miss Nic White's running game, and I think that might hurt him when it comes to picking a bench scrummie.
.

Agree with most of that.
Mogg and White have been very good at times this year, but both had relatively poor games tonight - mainly in decision making and kicking. I think both have done enough to be in the squad mix.
Sio has got to be ahead at LHP at the moment - just playing so well. Mowen was very good. Ben Alexander was good, but I still worry about scrum time in a Test, but yes, he was much better.

 

[Scotty]

So what do we make of tonight in terms of Wallaby selection?

High pressure rugby, akin to a Bledisloe.

Scott Sio would be really pushing Ben Robinson, he is a star. Thought Ben Mowen and Lilo were also good, and Kimlin was solid. Benny Alexander also very good, has he redeemed himself after Sydney??

I like Fardy but he does give away a lot of penalties. Think it was 3 tonight. But made a great pilfer and ran hard all night.

A bit worried by Mogg and White, didn't really step up when the pressure was on. Still both have had great seasons, but I don't think either did their Wallaby hopes much good tonight. I miss Nic White's running game, and I think that might hurt him when it comes to picking a bench scrummie.
.

Sio and Lilo were great. Fardy also good.

To'omua was very quiet, Mogg and White average. (Mistakes and slow delivery stunted the brumbies).

I disagree about Mowen. Thought he was pretty poor. Very bad a clearing the back of the scrum and lacking in physicality in his running.

 

[Dumbledore]

White was dreadful tonight. Should have been dragged at about the 50 minute mark. Deserves his spot in the squad for his season, but he doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. His passing and decision making were very, very, average. Was taking an age to clear from the breakdown as well.

I really like everything Fardy brings to a team. Get him in there somewhere.

Sio should be starting. Who cares about age and experience, he's simply playing too well to be ignored at the moment.

Lilo was very good, even if you ignore his goalkicking which was outstanding. Lock him in for the 12 jersey.

Mogg was pretty good, those two kicks - the one that went out, and the one that didn't - were absolute shockers though. Didn't stand up when the pressure was on. Like White though, deserves to be in the mix based on his entire season.

I didn't really notice To'omua much. I get the underplaying your hand side of things, and he did defend very well, but he didn't exactly impose himself on the game.

 

[No4918]

Baabaa & Cyclo, agree with a lot of what you have both said.

-Would defintely have Sio on the bench with either Kepu or Alexander.
-Kimlin will probably be 6, a safer option than MMM. Going to be very interesting to see what happens with Pyle, Fardy and MMM. Depending on the gameplan i can see them all with a chance.
-I am kind of worried about Moore. Gets through the work but seems less effective than the last couple of seasons.
-Folau to play 15 with JOC (James O'Connor) on one wing, couple of options for the other and would not be surprised to see Cummins get the first go.
- Mogg and White did not do themselves many favours, hopefully Link has plans to better utilise Moggs running.

 

[Zander]

Fardy over Carter. Both give away penalties but Carter's are just dumb.

 

[cyclopath]

Fardy over Carter. Both give away penalties but Carter's are just dumb.

Yeah, I kinda thought that tonight too. I like Fardy a bit more.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Fardy over Carter. Both give away penalties but Carter's are just dumb.

I agree Fardy over Carter, but I think you are being overly harsh on Sam. He has a massive workload for a lock; hardly a ruck that he misses. It is no wonder that he will give away a few penalties. I remember only one from tonight's game where he was pinged for failing to roll away but the ref's call was very quick and the ball had come out to the hb anyway. Didn't really have any impact on the game had it been allowed to continue.

Sam is very much in the mould of Simmons imo but much more effective. Have a look at any game photos of rucks and mauls and invariably you will see Sam in the thick of things. He does a hell of a lot of work that goes unnoticed by many, but thankfully not Jake or Laurie.

 

[Zander]

I wasn't downplaying Sam at all, he's very good. He did some ridiculous flops tonight however.

 

[Moono75]

The biggest problem with Wallaby selctions are that no one shines so bright that they guarantee they must be picked. I want to see a team picked based on who is the best player at that position....not who is the next best rugby player and lets make sure they get shoe horned into the team and fitted into a postion. Pick the best team over the best team of rugby players.

 

[Groucho]

So what do we make of tonight in terms of Wallaby selection?

High pressure rugby, akin to a Bledisloe.

Scott Sio would be really pushing Ben Robinson, he is a star. Thought Ben Mowen and Lilo were also good, and Kimlin was solid. Benny Alexander also very good, has he redeemed himself after Sydney??

I like Fardy but he does give away a lot of penalties. Think it was 3 tonight. But made a great pilfer and ran hard all night.

A bit worried by Mogg and White, didn't really step up when the pressure was on. Still both have had great seasons, but I don't think either did their Wallaby hopes much good tonight. I miss Nic White's running game, and I think that might hurt him when it comes to picking a bench scrummie.
.

The Brumbies were very tired tonight. They did a grueling schedule to get to the final, then led it until they ran out of gas. I'd cut their players some slack.

Having said that I'm not at all convinced by Mogg. Great when put into space but seriously lacking in physicality. Some way to go yet.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Not finding touch from a PK is almost inexcusable.

Mogg will benefit from being in Camp Wallaby, but he is probably not ready for a Match day position in the 23.

 

[Joe Blow]

Kimlin had an average game tonight, his first in a while that was not outstanding. It was a massive effort by all to get up for the final and they almost pulled it off. As Groucho wrote, they should all be cut some slack after their schedule over the past 3 weeks.
Sio was a standout and I thought Fardy and Carter were both solid. Moore too. I disagree with those who feel he is not as effective as he has been in the past . To'omua was quiet in attack but excellent in defense.
Lilo was also very good but I feel between he and To'omua they lack the spark to create breaks and tries. The Chiefs defended them easily.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Agree on Sio to start at LHP (based on performance) but Robbo has been the teflon man the lsat couple of years. Don't think Sio will start but should be definitely the bench reserve.- think we'll see ;
1. Robbo
2. Moore
3. slipper

Reserve props
Sio
kepu
Reserve Hooker: Finger - TPN injured yet again but don't reckon he would be McKenzie's choice because of lack of work around paddock

Can Sio also play THP ?