Wallabies Trinations Squad

[tigerland12]

Don't worry, David 'Freak' Pocock will do all of Higginbothams work, infact he could do all the forwards ruck work if he wanted haha.

I think if higginbotham was selected you'd need someone like McCalman or Elsom to do his tough stuff while he runs out wide

 

[Dumbledore]

Anyone else read the new article on the front page comparing the blindside flanker candidates?

Confirms my suspicions that Higginbotham is not test level material because he avoids all the tough work.

The game against the Brumbies was a tough, physical encounter and he was nowhere to be seen all game.

We don't want to have another repeat of the 07 QF where the Wallaby forwards failed to show up to the breakdown.

Hopefully Elsom will get back to full fitness quickly.

Indeed, showed just how valuable Elsom really is. I was surprised at the numbers for Saffy, if we're looking to tighten up he'll come into consideration over the next couple of years I'd have though - this year is one too early though.

 

[qwerty51]

Indeed, showed just how valuable Elsom really is. I was surprised at the numbers for Saffy, if we're looking to tighten up he'll come into consideration over the next couple of years I'd have though - this year is one too early though.

Don't think so. Saffy is tackling too much, still in a league mentality. He needs to hit the rucks more often.

With Palu gone, TPN has to start imo.

 

[DPK]

Don't think so. Saffy is tackling too much, still in a league mentality. He needs to hit the rucks more often.

With Palu gone, TPN has to start imo.

Perfect foil for Alcock? We need another 6...

 

[TheNextBigThing]

Don't think so. Saffy is tackling too much, still in a league mentality. He needs to hit the rucks more often.

Ummm... what? Read the stats article on the front page. He hits the highest number of defensive breakdowns out of any Australian blindside.

 

[Ruggo]

Are we stereotyping players to much without acknowledging that they are playing too coaches instructions? It is a fair question. When sighting a players percieved strenghts/weaknesses I think we need to consider the team dynamic as a whole.

Hyperthetically speaking, this is the Wallaby tight five.

1/ Robinson
2/ Moore
3/ Slipper
4/ Sharpe
5/ Horwill

Who would you pick in the back row too foil and balance out the pack as a whole and why?

 

[BDA]

My problem with Saffy is he is probably 1 year off test selection. He's great but he still has a high penalty count. I think he should be included next year.

Guys, having watched the Brumbies over the last few weeks, I love what I'm seeing from McCabe at 12 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has really started to gain some momentum. What are your thoughts on a wallaby centre pairing of McCabe (12) and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (13)???? That would provide us with a good defensive midfield, something we are going to need with Cooper at 10.

 

[cyclopath]

My problem with Saffy is he is probably 1 year off test selection. He's great but he still has a high penalty count. I think he should be included next year.

Guys, having watched the Brumbies over the last few weeks, I love what I'm seeing from McCabe at 12 and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has really started to gain some momentum. What are your thoughts on a wallaby centre pairing of McCabe (12) and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (13)???? That would provide us with a good defensive midfield, something we are going to need with Cooper at 10.

You need one of the 12 and 13 to pass - and both those guys, while very good at getting across the gain line, are not great at setting the next man up. Players like SBW and Nonu, for example, do that well. I don't think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and McCabe are "different" enough to play together there.

 

[light]

I think if you have a 10 with defensive deficiencies(such as cooper) who is inevitably going to defend from the back then the 12 needs to be a playmaker as well. Just so if there are quick turnovers and pilfers our backline is set up and don't need to wait for the 10 to join in. Obviously the inside centre would need to be quite a good defender. I'd go with first choice Barnes and just anticipate that he won't play the 80mins/will get injured and have Giteau backing him up on the bench

 

[jay-c]

i dont think barnes is gunna get a shot, a real shame- but with limited places in a wc squad i dont think you can take such a liability into a knockout tournament.
i really hope his situation improves over the next couple of months.
with drew back id love oconner to take inside
without drew oconner on the wing and a fainga takes inside for me.
git can cover left right out. bench i guess> but hes gotta understand cooper is the man now, gits trying to tell him what to do hasnt worked in the past and wont work now.

 

[Gnostic]

Don't think so. Saffy is tackling too much, still in a league mentality. He needs to hit the rucks more often.

With Palu gone, TPN has to start imo.

If he doesn't tackle who is going to, L. Mitchell, Vuna, Cips? There are so many holes in that Rebels midfield and wings somebody has to plug them. If Saffy hadn't been so exceptional in defence this year they would have conceded so much more.

 

[Gnostic]

My prefered pack is:-

1. Robo
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Sharpe
5. Horwill
6. Mowen
7. Pocock
8. McCalman

Bench:-5:2
16. TPN
17. Kepu
18. Simmons
19. Dennis
20. Hodgeson

Bench 4:3
16. TPN
17. Kepu
18. Simmons
19. Hodgeson

 

[BDA]

light, if Cooper switches to fullback in defence for the wallabies, wont that mean Beale will come up into the line. There's your playmaker/counter attacker. I just feel with OConnor, Beale and Cooper on the field we already have enough attacking flair. We could end up with too many chiefs and not enough indians.

 

[Slim 293]

My prefered pack is:-

1. Robo
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Sharpe
5. Horwill
6. Mowen
7. Pocock
8. McCalman

Bench:-5:2
16. TPN
17. Kepu
18. Simmons
19. Dennis
20. Hodgeson

Bench 4:3
16. TPN
17. Kepu
18. Simmons
19. Hodgeson

That would be my team too, but with Elsom starting at 6 when fit and Mowen dropping back to 6/8 cover.

Personally, I would prefer the 4/3 bench split as Burgess can add some spark with 10-15 minutes to go like he did last year.

 

[tigerland12]

Not sure why Mowen and Dennis are being mentioned, there is no chance they'll play this year.

1-Robinson
2-Moore
3-Slipper
4-Sharpe
5-Horwill
6-Elsom
7-Pocock
8-McCalman

16-Polota-Nau
17-Kepu
18-Simmons
19-Higginbotham/Hodgson (depending on if you want cover for Pocock or not)

 

[Gnostic]

Because Tiger as the Stats show, and a brief watching of the games, Mowen and Dennis play a much tighter game that Higgenbum and what do you think will be required in test matches against the top sides? It won't be a 6 standing on the wing or in the centres.

On a similar note it will be a big reason why Adam Thompson may well struggle to get an AB start this year, against the Tahs and in so many games this year where they haven't dominated in the pigs he was on the wing or at 13.

 

[Slim 293]

We've already got enough good ball carriers in the team, and that seems to be Higginbotham's schtick...

We need a 6 who will make the tackles and commit to the breakdown, as well as being a lineout option...

 

[JimboJoe1006]

Because Tiger as the Stats show, and a brief watching of the games, Mowen and Dennis play a much tighter game that Higgenbum and what do you think will be required in test matches against the top sides? It won't be a 6 standing on the wing or in the centres.

On a similar note it will be a big reason why Adam Thompson may well struggle to get an AB start this year, against the Tahs and in so many games this year where they haven't dominated in the pigs he was on the wing or at 13.

Great analysis Gnostic! Agree with your selections 100%.

 

[tigerland12]

Because Tiger as the Stats show, and a brief watching of the games, Mowen and Dennis play a much tighter game that Higgenbum and what do you think will be required in test matches against the top sides? It won't be a 6 standing on the wing or in the centres.

I understand where you are coming from but under that logic I would pick Jarrod Saffy and Richard Brown over those two. Higginbotham adds that extra dynacism (is that a word?) and without Palu for a while, we need that extra athleticism in the backrow.

I think the same goes for Radike Samo, he adds that extra impact (big tackles/runs) that Mowen and Dennis don't seem to have.

Having said that though, I think both Mowen and Dennis will get opportunities in years to come, just not right now.

 

[stusker]

The Queensland bias on this bored is palpable.

Sekope Kepu, with the possible exceptions of R Samo and TPN, is the best performed OZ forward in the Super tournament this year. He is also one of the best performed scrummagers.

On the other hand, Slipper has been ordinary. Not poor, but not great.