Wallabies Squad - the Link Era

[No4918]

I would expect he is bought in as a hooker. 3 in the squad in case of injury will be pretty important. McKenzie has said that is an area of little depth but did not expect that it was so bad.

 

[Ash]

Hanson was injured at the end of the S15 season, Anae was covering hooker on the bench (but still coming on at LHP, generally). Can't confirm about Hanson's current status, but willing to bet he is still injured.

Huge list of injuryed hookers at the moment, it's really a case of last man standing being brought in. Anae, Siliva and Ulugia were maybe the ones considered, but Ulugia is off overseas, leaving Anae (third choice at the Reds who is a better LHP these days) and Siliva. I probably would have gone with Siliva if you just wanted a straight out hooker, but Anae is maybe slightly more developed, plays LHP very well, and Link is familiar with him. Either way, he's cover only until TPN is back.

Funny thing about Anae is that I now rate him as the number 1 Reds LHP, and hope he starts there next year.

 

[Pfitzy]

Yeah but "best LHP at Reds" is a pretty low bar.

 

[Slim 293]

Kimlin and TPN out of the RC with injury. Ouch.

Balls.........

 

[Scoey]

Could it be that Anae would most replicate the types of opposing props the ABs might throw at us for opposed scrummaging in terms of dimensions? I have no idea, just asking the question.

 

[Braveheart81]

Could it be that Anae would most replicate the types of opposing props the ABs might throw at us for opposed scrummaging in terms of dimensions? I have no idea, just asking the question.

Based on how many hookers are out injured (I hadn't realised Hanson was still injured), it would seem he's definitely the third string hooker in the squad.

I'd be surprised if he gets to pack at LHP over the next couple of days before the squad is whittled down because there are already several props ahead of him from the initial squad.

 

[scaraby]

I think Barnes has turned out to be a bit of a myth.
The number of times he kicked down someone throat,with no chasers was just too regular,for someone with a rep for being a good kicker/game manager.
Nice guy though.

when he got it wrong it tended to be a trajectory thing. He would tend to kick drop punts too high and the ball was almost back spinning. The result is generally less distance and too much air time so the defence can get to the ball easier. Also when the ball pitches it sits up and is easier to pick up on the fly. When he kicked well he was flatter and punchier and the ball skids forward and finds the turf more as the opposition can't get to it in time. Mogg does this really well and Folaus trajectory is almost perfect. Box kicks and mid field bombs are just throwing the ball away BTW.

 

[Lee Grant]

But could Sio play both sides? If not, then I think he should get the LH in front of Robinson. Robinson is very good but Sio was the form prop of the S15.

If Sio could play both sides I'd actually demote him to the bench and start with Alexander (or Slipper) because of their physicality and all round play. If the scrum was dominated, like happened in the third Lions, then Sio could come on early at TH.

Fardy number 4. Between him, Kimlin, Moore, Smith and Alexander (and Mowen), I can't remember any time that a scrum half got as clean ball from the ruck as White had. They gave away penalties in the process

I can recall only one game where Sio started at THP - and that includes his school rep games (in which he also played no.8). That game was for the ACT when they played Wales in that 2012 mid-week match.

Years ago when the French got dispensation to use 23 players (including six front-rowers) in their matchday teams, they started using two specialist LHPs and THPs whenever they could. The prop who could play on both sides of the scrum became less valuable.

As the 23 player roster was approved for other competitions, including test matches, the teams involved followed suit as much as they could in the transition.

In other words: matchday props will be chosen as specialists LHPs or specialist THPs more often than before, and coaches will take the risk of both no. 1s, or both no.3s, getting injured in the same game, because it is unusual.

Versatile THPs líke Slipper or Alexander will still have add-on value, but it will be discounted sharply. And perhaps in the future, that margin will disappear to a negative if their THP only scrummaging ability is marked down as younger THP rivals emerge.

Sio should be thought of as a LHP only; his strength after the initial hit (or push, as it will become) will serve his teams well in denying "right shoulder" to the opposition when they need it, or wheeling the scrum legally when required.

If there is any talk about Sio swapping positions I would suggest that he be trained as a hooker, a position where he has trained in, at least. He could become the natural successor to Stephen Moore.


On Fardy: As a Rats fan I was over the moon when he was picked for the Oz squad, and so would have been his Mum and Dad, who I talked with on the matter before the Brumbies game in Sydney.

But one thing that McKenzie wouldn't like about his play is the riskiness. I haven't looked up how many penalties he gave away in the Super season because I don't know where to look, but it seemed that he was pinged, or should have been, many times (and the same goes for his 2nd row partner Carter.)

But the lad has done well. I was blowing his trumpet as a Super smokey before he got into the Force squad years ago, but he couldn't get on the park, after.

I wish he had.
.

 

[Ash]

Yeah but "best LHP at Reds" is a pretty low bar.

Pfitzy, drop the trolling and chip on your shoulder, please, and actually try to give a real comment about Anae's performances this year rather than a pointless cheap shot.

I find this kind of petty comment to be poor form.

 

[Braveheart81]

On Fardy: As a Rats fan I was over the moon when he was picked for the Oz squad, and so would have been his Mum and Dad, who I talked with on the matter before the Brumbies game in Sydney.

But one thing that McKenzie wouldn't like about his play is the riskiness. I haven't looked up how many penalties he gave away in the Super season because I don't know where to look, but it seemed that he was pinged, or should have been, many times (and the same goes for his 2nd row partner Carter.)

This is something I've really noticed in recent weeks too.

According to rugbystats.com.au, he gave away 2 penalties in the final, 4 penalties in the semi-final and 2 penalties in the qualifying final against the Cheetahs.

I realise that is the style of game that he and the Brumbies play, but overall, he really needs to work on reducing this.

 

[Slim 293]

Fardy has been up there for pilfers the past two seasons, but unlike a wiser openside he needs to learn when to take his hands off.........

He's got the Brumbies out of trouble on a number of occasions with his breakdown work, but like against the Bulls he does risk giving away a few too.........

I don't think he's been as much of a penalty magnet as Mowen or Carter though........ I could be wrong, but I think the past couple of weeks have probably exaggerated his stats........

Regardless of all that, I'd probably have him starting at 6, particularly with Kimlin now out........

 

[thierry dusautoir]

I think its the product of the style the brumbies play. As noted in previous comments and threads a lot of his forward partners are guilty of similar charges.

Not to mention the brumbies as a team had a higher than average penalty count.....it was one of the most talked about aspects of their game going into the finals.

EDIT: Triple like to the above comment

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think with guys like Fardy you sort of take the rough with the smooth. He has an aggressive style and you need a couple of blokes like that in your pack (i.e. blokes with a bit of mongrel), but at test level where points are scarce picking ones moments would be key.

 

[Ash]

I struggle to find someone other than Fardy I'd choose to start at blindside in the Wallabies squad right now.

In our pack, the locking partner for Horwill and blindside (or number 8, whichever Mowen isn't playing) are some of the hardest positions to choose, primarily because no one test experienced player has really put their hand up.

I think that Fardy, on this years' and previous years' form, deserves to be there. Question is, at lock, blindside, or bench? I'd pick blindside currently. You can mount a case for easing him in through the bench though, as Fardy gives locking and blindside off the bench.

 

[Slim 293]

He would've been handy against the Lions as he's a one-man maul destroyer.........

 

[thierry dusautoir]

I think what we could now see is something along the lines of

4. MMM
5. Horwill
6. Fardy
7. Gill/Hooper
8. Mowen

However for arguments sake i will throw the hats of Douglas, Pyle & Schatz into the ring

 

[Braveheart81]

I'd probably go with this forward pack for the first test:

Robbo, Moore, Slipper
Horwill, Douglas
Fardy, Mowen, Gill

Sio, Kepu, Fainga'a, MMM, Hooper.

If we were to play 6 forward reserves, then I'd potentially add Simmons and either Dennis or McCalman instead of MMM.

I'd prefer MMM to Dennis or McCalman but the side I have listed would struggle at number 8 if Mowen got injured. I guess you could keep MMM as your reserve lock instead of Simmons as another option with a 6 man forward bench.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

I'd probably go with this forward pack for the first test:

Robbo, Moore, Slipper
Horwill, Douglas
Fardy, Mowen, Gill

Sio, Kepu, Fainga'a, MMM, Hooper.

If we were to play 6 forward reserves, then I'd potentially add Simmons and either Dennis or McCalman instead of MMM.

I'd prefer MMM to Dennis or McCalman but the side I have listed would struggle at number 8 if Mowen got injured. I guess you could keep MMM as your reserve lock instead of Simmons as another option with a 6 man forward bench.

Your probably not far off the money with your pack as when we think about the type of pack link has used over the years he has always seemed to prefer tradesmen like tight five, with each person in his backrow taking on a specific role.

In my opinion however i think an all brumbs frontrow is the ticket but maybe slipper at 3

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

How about:

Robbo, Moore, Slipper
Horwill, Pyle
Fardy, Mowen, Hooper

 

[Braveheart81]

In my opinion however i think an all brumbs frontrow is the ticket but maybe slipper at 3

Sio's form has been outstanding but I'll be really surprised if McKenzie ditches Robinson from the starting side. Robinson also had his best year in the last few and is easily our most experienced prop (particularly if Alexander misses out).

Unless using the new scrummaging laws at training shows something dramatic in terms of Robinson struggling, I think McKenzie will bank on the experience.