Wallabies v Baabaas

[Gagger]

In that case, you want to check this out:

Wendell Sailor highlights rugby crisis
Article from: The Daily Telegraph

By Holly Byrnes, Media Reporter

June 02, 2009 12:00am

AND you thought rugby league had problems?

Channel 7 has exposed Australian rugby union's identity crisis after using current St George Illawarra star Wendell Sailor to help promote this weekend's Wallabies v Barbarians match.

The former Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Origin hero has been paid to return to his union colours, in a bid to sell the sport's showcase match this Saturday night.

In the confused TV commercial aired last night, Sailor appears in his ARL Kangaroos uniform, arguing with a duplicate of himself, wearing his old Wallabies kit, about the merits of each game.

With exiled NRL player Sonny Bill Williams promoted as the contest's returning villain, league rather than union personalities take centre stage.

But after being plagued by negative headlines in recent weeks, league bosses yesterday were flattered, if a little curious, at the use of their stars to sell the rival code.

"We certainly wouldn't use rugby union players to promote our game," NRL boss David Gallop said diplomatically.

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said the marketing direction was "certainly a little strange".

"It shows a lack of confidence in their own star players if they're using ours to promote their game."

The use of the ARL uniform and Sailor's appearance for a rival sport are both breaches under copyright and league by-laws, but Gallop said his code "would not jump up and down about it".

While Sailor has no deal with league broadcaster Channel 9, his appearance for Seven will also almost certainly peeve producers of Nine's The Footy Show, who have given the controversial player increasing air time in the absence of Matthew Johns.

From the master of rat cunning

 

[Lindommer]

You've failed to emphasise it IS The Daily Telegraph, Gagger. Their market is the great unwashed, it's not a serious newspaper.

 

[Gagger]

Where better to rouse the rabble and drum up some new business?

 

[Pfitzy]

"Sonny Bill is better than ever. Want proof? SFS, June 6, Wallabies v Barbarians"

Something like that...

 

[fatprop]

Every day this week there has been either a comment from a Wallaby about SBW or SBW about playing the Wallabies.

I wonder how much they are paying him for the appearance, I think it was mentioned Rocky is getting $25,000.

 

[Spook]

This is hilarious. The quote "AND you thought rugby league had problems?" attempts to bring union down to the gang banging, spit roasting, misogynistic and cowardly level of league at present. I find it amazing that David Gallop has enough time to make petty comments to the press about anything other than debauchery.

League has done itself massive damage at grass roots level. I thought my son may play union on Saturdays and League on Sundays in the great tradition of many rugby players from my neck of the woods (including yours truly) but I will now actively discourage him from having anything to do with League. The NRL is now an international embrassment and blokes like Fatty Vautin and the rest of his rabble should be hung, Mussolini-style, by their feet in Martin Place.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback, Tuquiri left right out!

The Qantas Wallabies team to play the Barbarians at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday 6 June (7.30pm kick off), is:


15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)*
14. Lachie Turner (Waratahs)*
13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, captain)
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
11. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)*
10. Matt Giteau (Brumbies)
9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)*
8. Richard Brown (Western Force)*
7. George Smith (Brumbies)*
6. Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)

Run on reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)*
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)*
18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs)*
19. David Pocock (Western Force)*
20. Josh Valentine (Western Force)
21. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)*
22. James O’Connor (Western Force)*

 

[barbarian]

That's a pretty good side, can't say I agree with dropping Lote but can definitely see the merits of Turner and Mitchell on the wings. The balance of the forwards looks pretty good- a great mix of hard men and ball-runners.

My only issue is that I have never rated AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as a genuine fullback, but I suppose there really is no-one else.

 

[Scarfman]

Hmm, not the side I'd have picked.

But who knows (in this day and age of rotation) whether some of this is just to have a look.

 

[Biffo]

An interesting side, with certainly an element of having a look. I like the pace on the wings which gives some real running power from the back. The big question to me is whether Ashley-Cooper will continue his ups and his team mates the not unders.

 

[Scotty]

He'd better bloody not. This is still the biggest doubt I've had over Dean's selection and game plan, lets hope it has changed.

 

[barbarian]

Hmm, not the side I'd have picked.

But who knows (in this day and age of rotation) whether some of this is just to have a look.

Really? Looks about full strength to me. The only question is Hodgson (to be replaced by Elsom), and the makeup of the back 3.

Glad they are finally playing an almost full strength side in a leadup match, instead of fucking around with SNK or Gerrard at 10.

 

[formeropenside]

The forward pack is a little short on lineout jumpers, for both offensive and defensive purposes. I suppose against the baabaas you can carry that kind of weakness, but its not the pack I would carry v SA.

Not a lot of outside back coverage either in one sense: Cooper is lucky to be on that reserve bench. I'd have had Rabbit as the reserve inside back, but I guess with Hynes out injured Tuqiri misses out due to lack of versatility. Maybe Tahu or Cross?

Then again, with Gasnier and SBW the mungos quotient is already met, so we dont need to pack the Wallabies with equal opportunity mungoes too.

 

[Sully]

Does Barnes count as a Mungo?

Is Palu injured?

 

[Biffo]

Does Barnes count as a Mungo?

Is Palu injured?

No.

Yes.

 

[disco]

I'm happy with that side except Cooper he's a twat, would have prefered Cross or Tahu on the bench.

If Hynes were fit I reckon Turner would have been on the bench & Cooper left out.

Good to see tuqiri dropped I'd leave him hanging until the French come along.

 

[Lee Grant]

Agreed about Tuqiri - as I said on some post: Turner deserved to be ahead of him on S14 form - not that the Baa-Baas selection is going to be chiseled out in stone to be the 3N team.

I expect all the others not named in the 22 will be in the Italy 22.

Horwill will play in every game up until the 3N team gets picked to get him up to speed. I hope they bring on Alexander at half time or before then to play THP, and with a strategic injury to Robinson, Baxter could come back on.

Even though this is not a test match Hodgson must be over the moon to have the gold jersey on his back.

 

[Biffo]

Even though this is not a test match Hodgson must be over the moon to have the gold jersey on his back.

Yes and I expect him to go well. He'll be a real Wallaby very soon.

 

[Aussie D]

As a Coastie it is wonderful to see one of my fellow brethren selected for the Wallabies, but as a Rammy I would have preferred he didn't come from those dirty rotten Avoca bastards..... We'll never hear the end of it..

 

[cyclopath]

I'd have picked JOC (James O'Connor) at 15, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on bench and probably Tuqiri ahead of Mitchell who to me still resembles something flakey. Otherwise pretty good I'd say, although like others not sure about Quade The Entertainer on the bench. Late season form would not seem to have justified it.