Wallabies team for next week?

[Richard D. James]

Anyone know when Hynes will be fit again?

 

[MrMouse]

When we were all picking the first Wallaby team of the year, among the most-selected players were Baxter and (to a lesser extent) Turner. I don't think a single person selected Brown or Chisholm.

We shouldn't adjust our own thinking to fall in line with Robbie's.

In that case Scarfie, you can take your pick of Turner at 13 or 14. He's been pretty dynamite for Eastwood at 13, and we all know he has the wares at 14.
I believe Baxter isn't back yet for Norths, so it would be difficult to pick him. Hodgo has to get a starting spot, and Mowen/Waugh as the bench back rower. I was right, he was wrong, and there's nothing I can do about it.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think we have to get Turner in there at some point. I would stick him on the wing or at fullback, rather than at outside centre though.

 

[Rugby Rat]

Genia
Anyone but Gitts
Someone fast
Barnes
Chambers
JOC (James O'Connor)
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

 

[MrMouse]

People have put up some interesting choices in the backs, and it seems the easiest area to tinker with. Personally I would go with:

9. Genia (but he needs to lift)
10. Barnes (Gits is not a 5/8. Say it with me. Gits is NOT a 5/8)
11. Mitchell
12. AFainga'a (give direct play a go)
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Turner
15. JOC (James O'Connor) (He's undersized but match fit)

20. Burgess
21. Giteau
22. Beale/Shepherd (fitness and conditions pending)

I'm sure someone will point out that my centres don't really pass much, but then can run hard, at gaps, and defend hard.

 

[Jnor]

TOM CARTER!!!!!!!11!11!!!1 Run-on at 13 and captain probably best bet I think.

If this amazing plan fails to get up then I'd suggest that our team from 1 to 22 was about the best on offer. they just need to not play like busted arses. The thing that makes me want to cry is the lack of consistency. Expecting to win against the ABs was a bit much but I would have been much happier if they'd made a good fist of it, played their hearts out and simply lost to the better team.

 

[Rugby Rat]

Chambers should get a run.

 

[DPK]

Chambers should get a run.

Injured, shoulder reco.

 

[ACT Crusader]

One thing I fail to understand has been why there is a need to all of Gits, Barnes, Beale, Rabbit, Qwade all in a 22. Those 5 should be competing for 3 spots, 4 max and the rest excess. Far too similar players IMO

I think the best backline for this week is

9. Genia
10. Giteau - don't see his experience being dropped at this stage, and definitely not whilst Qwade is out
11. Mitchell - played well. I actually blame Rocky for the Red Card. It was silly play, but silly shouldn't get you a yellow card if your aptain hasn't warned you.
12. A Finger - Barnes wasn't bad, but there was hardly any change of angles and at least this kid straightens
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - best centre in the squad, even with a fit Horne
14. Shep - Adds size, put him up against Rok and see how he goes
15. Rabbit - he's a fullback

20. Burgess - no one else is there?
21. Barnes - covers 1st and 2nd
22. Turner - Don't see the point of having Beale with JOC (James O'Connor) in the side and Turner is a better allround player that can sniff a try.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

ACT Crusader, that doesn't look too bad with the blokes available. I would actually like to see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) get an extended run at outside centre, as I think he's potentially the best player in that position we have. The only problem is the lack of a distributor at 12. I don't think you can have two big hard running centres on the paddock at the same time, because they tend not to pass enough to create space for those around them, which is why the Nonu and Smith pairing works well these days.

 

[truewallabyfan]

Instead of cameron sheppard has evry body forgot how good peter hynes was playing why isnt he being looked at to replace that stupid child of a player JAMES OCONNOR

 

[RugbyReg]

Instead of cameron sheppard has evry body forgot how good peter hynes was playing why isnt he being looked at to replace that stupid child of a player JAMES OCONNOR

injury probably.

 

[Rugby Rat]

Is Van Humphries fit ? Throw him in there for 40. That'd spark something.

 

[ACT Crusader]

ACT Crusader, that doesn't look too bad with the blokes available. I would actually like to see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) get an extended run at outside centre, as I think he's potentially the best player in that position we have. The only problem is the lack of a distributor at 12. I don't think you can have two big hard running centres on the paddock at the same time, because they tend not to pass enough to create space for those around them, which is why the Nonu and Smith pairing works well these days.

Would tend to agree in most cases, but with JOC (James O'Connor) at FB and not on the wing, you can have him inserting into the attacking line as a distributor, much like Mils has been used in the past.

Plus with the way Giteau plays you need runners and ball carriers (ie guys running off his shoulder etc), not distributors.

Finger and Chambers aren't your classic 12/13 pairing, but they were fairly effective with the guys around them. I think Finger and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could work better with those other guys I've mentioned.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

injury probably.

Yep out with a knee injury

 

[Aussie D]

BH,
Fainga'a does pass though. Remember the Wallaby success in the late 90's/early '00s was with two crashballing centres not noted for their passing. Having them there will hopefully stop the AB centres drifting wide (especially if they are straightening and Gits isn't crabbing too much) and open up space on the outside for O'Connor et al.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Are you thinking of Horan + Herbert or Grey + Herbert, AussieD? If the former, I would put Horan in the category of a distributor. Grey was definitely a crash-ball man though.

I saw a reasonable amount of Anthony this year and he had a very good season. I would have no problem with him being picked, but would prefer to see someone with more of a passing game outside him. The problem we've got is there is only one bloke who can play OC in the squad now and I'm not totally sure about the merit of that combination. Perhaps we do need to bring Turner back in, because he's least somewhat au fait with playing there.

The other option and the one that I favour is Barnes at 10 and Giteau back at 12. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at OC makes more sense in that context. Berrick gets one more shot at it before Cooper is back.

 

[Aussie D]

Both. Horan could pass but he was much better punching holes in the defence.

Maybe the coaching staff will look at bringing Inman into the squad to replace Horne in the event of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (hopefully won't happen) getting injured. Centre is a specialist defensive position and at test level you don't want a novice defending there.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Outside centre is IMHO a very challenging position to defend from and I agree we wouldn't want a newbie there. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) it has to be then. So the question is who to have around him. Giteau at 12 as I mentioned earlier, would be my choice.

And just to digress on the Horan question, he routinely busted holes in defences, but I wouldn't put it in the crash ball category. He frequently ran beautifully into space and was then able to bring others into the game by swift ball movement. In many ways he was the ideal 12: capable of doing the tough grafting stuff, quick on his feet and had great hands and vision to go with it. He's the best I've ever seen in that position. And he wasn't that big either.

 

[RugbyReg]

Is Van Humphries fit ? Throw him in there for 40. That'd spark something.

injured too