Wallabies Trinations Squad

[tigerland12]

Daley has the best work rate of any front rower in the country (even the whole Super Rugby), if one of our looseheads got injured I would have no problems bringing him into the squad.

Edit: Palmer wasn't at scrum camp, so I doubt he'll be anywhere in the Wallaby picture

 

[TOCC]

There was a fair bit of a injury crisis back when Fainga'a, Daley and Maafu were all chosen to start, it's not as though they were chosen ahead of Robinson, Alexander etc etc

 

[fatprop]

Daley wasnt and isn't a great scrummager but his work around the park is incredible. I'd take him over equal or marginally better scrummagers. Of course there are a lot of props who are well ahead of him.

It is like suggesting a girl has a good personality..........

 

[rugbysmartarse]

My concern about our forwards going into the RWC is that certain options being hevily touted can play a bit too wide and loose, and we give up too much at the breakdown (especially against the kiwis and boks). This is my main concern with Higgers at 6. I know we will have a good hard working tight 5, especially if we go with moore over TPN, and Simmons/Sharpe/Vicks as locks, but I think we may be getting ahead of ourselves to start playing our back row too wide in support of an attack that never comes as we get turned over on first/second phase ball.

 

[Scotty]

Dual opensides?

I almost suggested it, but would be concerned about the lineout. Unless a Samo or Horwill was 8.

Other option could be Pocock/Hodgson starting combo. Pretty much dual opensides, but both are big guys.

 

[fatprop]

It would depend who is the 8, if it was Samo, it could work, McCalman - less so.

You need three proper options at lineout

 

[Groucho]

I almost suggested it, but would be concerned about the lineout. Unless a Samo or Horwill was 8.

Other option could be Pocock/Hodgson starting combo. Pretty much dual opensides, but both are big guys.

Horse for courses, I think. It could be a good option against less physical opponents. We'd run the risk of being a bit too light against sides like the New Zealand Rugby Team and the Poms - there is a crucial 5-10kg between Hodgson and Elsom, depending which cheat sheet you read.

 

[tigerland12]

I think it would be a bit too risky to start with dual opensides. Plus Elsom is probably one of Australia's best line out jumpers. Later in the game though bringing on Hodgson would work perfectly.

 

[ChargerWA]

It would depend who is the 8, if it was Samo, it could work, McCalman - less so.

You need three proper options at lineout

McCalman is a genuine line out option, Force have played him at lock quite a bit, but I don't think he brings the grunt that Samo does to the pack.

 

[Skippy]

If Elsom isn't fit I could see Deans experimenting with Pocock at 7 and playing either Hodgson or Robinson at 6 as dual opensiders. This would however require an industrious player at 8. The reason I can see this being tried is that it would be different to playing Waugh and Smith - Pocock and co are all 'bigger' (or appear to be), the game now is really won or lost at the breakdown and having two opensiders wold nulify McCaw hopefully. Assuming Alexander and Sharpe are playing along with Samo at 8... we'd have enough ball carrier to not require one at 6. In saying that, Pocock/Hodgson and Robinson are no slouch as ball carriers.

Having two opensider would allow us to play really expansively without having to position a 6 outwide seagulling until the ball comes his way and requires him to get involved to ensure continuity.

I don't think it will happen and I'm not sure I would go with it... but I can see Deans potentially experimenting with it if Elsom is fit. Sadly... and this will rile those one eyed Reds supporters this means Higgers isn't an option.

 

[GC]

Higgers is playing exactly the way Link wants him too. The Reds have two props and a hooker that play like backrowers at the breakdown and aren't potplants like many frontrowers. Notice that the Reds are in the grand final? If Deans were going to experiment, he wouldn't go for a short 6. He would ask Higgers to play a tight game, which he may well be highly capable of if instructed.

Hodgo is a great backup 7, but he isn't a 10th the bull runner that Higgers is.

There is no way we should be considering dual 7s. Hopefully Elsom will be fully fit and there'll be no experimentation anyway.

 

[Sully]

I believe Elsom is our best 6 and we should be sweating on his fitness not worrying about playing dual fetchers.

 

[Skippy]

Higgers is playing exactly the way Link wants him too. The Reds have two props and a hooker that play like backrowers at the breakdown and aren't potplants like many frontrowers. Notice that the Reds are in the grand final?

Maybe because Link has a game plan and a forward pack that's fairly well balanced to suit their style and 'cover' for having Higgers wide. Maybe....thats the only way Higgers can play or the 'best' way he can play and he isn't capable of playing tight (or not to the level required or for 80 minutes)?

 

[GC]

Maybe because Link has a game plan and a forward pack that's fairly well balanced to suit their style and 'cover' for having Higgers wide. Maybe....thats the only way Higgers can play or the 'best' way he can play and he isn't capable of playing tight (or not to the level required or for 80 minutes)?

Does Link strike you as the kind of coach who'd continually pick a player who is incapable of implementing his plan? If he wanted a 6 playing tight he would have a 6 playing tight. Clearly that's not the case.

 

[Skippy]

Yeah I know... thats' why I'm saying mate. He wants a wide running backrower in his game plan and Higgers fills that role in his game plan. The point is... if he wanted to play a game time where the 6 plays tighter... maybe Higgers wouldn't be selected. Becuse that's not utilising his best abilities and perhaps because Higgers is not capable of playing tight to the standard required... over 80 minutes.

 

[Blue]

Daley has the best work rate of any front rower in the country (even the whole Super Rugby), if one of our looseheads got injured I would have no problems bringing him into the squad.

Edit: Palmer wasn't at scrum camp, so I doubt he'll be anywhere in the Wallaby picture

No prop touches Crockett for work rate. And he can scrum too.

Daley would be a great international prop if he could figure out how to scrum. (Not fishing, he may never play tests again).

 

[Blue]

McCalman is a genuine line out option, Force have played him at lock quite a bit, but I don't think he brings the grunt that Samo does to the pack.

Samo appears to not be a major lineout target for the Reds. Why?

 

[tigerland12]

No prop touches Crockett for work rate. And he can scrum too.

Daley would be a great international prop if he could figure out how to scrum. (Not fishing, he may never play tests again).

Ahhh yes knew I was forgetting someone, Crockett should be the AB's loosehead this year.

I think Daley will, he is still young and his scrummaging will only improve.

 

[Groucho]

Does Link strike you as the kind of coach who'd continually pick a player who is incapable of implementing his plan? If he wanted a 6 playing tight he would have a 6 playing tight. Clearly that's not the case.

On the contrary, one of the reasons Link has been so successful with the Reds has been in tailoring his game plan to the unique skills of his players. He's talked openly about doing so with Quade, who wouldn't be able to play a Jonny Wilkinson role no matter how much Link asked him too. Higgers may not be suited to a tight role. That wouldn't stop link picking him in a loose one.

 

[TSR]

Ahhh yes knew I was forgetting someone, Crockett should be the AB's loosehead this year.

I think Daley will, he is still young and his scrummaging will only improve.

I think part of Tigerland's earlier comment implied options for the Wallabies if we have several injuries (sorry - I replied to the wrong comment - but I'm sure you know which one I am referring to)- similiar to last year (if I am putting words in your mouth Tigerland - feel free to correct me). At the moment Slipper & Kepu are both injured. Alexander has his own scrumming problems. Robinson would surely by first LH picked and I agree that Daley's scrumming is well below par and needs to improve before being given another shot. But what if Slipper and Kepu remain out and Robinson gets injured. I would go with Alexander, but the fact is he is struggling in scrums as well and (IMO) Daley is superior around the park. Deans stated last year that he was prepared to struggle through in the scrums if it meant the Wallabies could maintain their expansive game.

Here's hoping it doesn't happen - as A Qld fan I would actually rather Daley be told he has to lift his game in the scrums to earn another shot. Also, as a front rower I hate watching our scrum getting smashed. But, in the event that we had an injury crisis I am not convinced that Daley would be the worst option we could choose.