T
tranquility
Guest
God Slipper is going to wrack up some caps if he continues at this rate.
Wallabies V Boks Loftus Versfeld Pretoria 28/08/2010
- Thread starter Gnostic
- Start date
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Blue
Andrew Slack (58)
The balance is different with Smith in the mix. In Brisbane, Burger was on his ownsome because Kanko was not getting into the rucks. If you look at Soccer City, the Boks were committing more bodies to the ruck and they countered McCaw very effectively doing just that (Flip vd Merwe got there amazingly quick which surprised me, so I can see why he has been retained). I suspect Pocock will pinch a few but he won't have the field day he had in Bris. He simply did not get hit at the ruck in Brisbane. The Bok tactics will be to blast him off the call. They will miss a few but we gain in physicality in open play.
As for Spies, well as a Bulls man I have made peace with the fact that he should be no more than a Super rugby player. Duane Vermeulen would be scary behind Burger and Smith.
H
Hartman
Guest
Schalk won IRB Player of the Year in 2004 (I think) as an openside. I'm pretty sure he is capable of playing a traditional openside role. As Blue said, Kanko is not a blindside flanker. The backrow balance would look very nice with a more rounded 8 such as Vermuelen, as Spies is a pure ball carrier and, as many have said, is not very effective at test level. I've never been a huge Vermuelen fan despite being a WP/Stormers fan, but now that people mention it I think he might have the goods. Still, I think they should just stick to the team they have now (Spies is not a liability by any means and is certainly not what's wrong with the side at the moment) and maybe bring Vermuelen in for a run in the end of year internationals.
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
Spot on Gags, my biggest worry and one you can mark if the Bokke lose this weekend.
The biggest reason I wat Bismarck In the team. Without a fecther flanker he is the closest we have to do the duties of poaching, counter ruck and be a monster with ball in hand. Hope Smit will do this on saturday.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Maafu should have been replaced by Weekes, but given that he's not there I would start with Slipper and keep Maafu in the wings till the 45 minute mark and then bring Slipper back at 70 minutes for Robinson
Brown should be on the bench for two reasons: firstly he is totally ineffective at 8, despite trying his guts out and secondly he is the back-up 7 and should come on fresh if Pocock is injured.
Higgers should start at 8 to see how he goes at the next level and to provide impact and good speed for the veldt.
We should go with a 5:2 split for playing at altitude and by the end of the game all seven should be on the pitch. Players destined to be subbed should know beforehand what is planned so they can run themselves out in their allotted time. I would replace Burgess with McCalman, who has impressed over the last couple of months. If Genia is injured Giteau stands in. (The biggest risk here is that Genia has another shocker or his knee has not recovered.)
That won't be the selection though, I am predicting Cooper for Fainga'a as the only change Deans will make.
Scarfman
Knitter of the Scarf
For a second there I thought you were suggesting 10. Giteau 12. Cooper. Still, with Mad Robbie you never know. As I understand it, he picks the backline by putting the names of all his favourite players in a bag, and drawing one out for each position. For 15 we've got ... James O'Connor! Congratulations son.
I'm predicting that poor old Matty Hodgson ransacks Brown's locker looking for the pictures of Robbie he's got. Then Weekes and Baxter can have a scrummaging competition on Bondi Beach to discover Australia's most ripped-off prop.
Shall I keep going? Where's Gnostic when I need him?
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Looks like the prediction I made in the OP is pretty correct, not withstanding Deans blowing smoke up the collectives arses of the media (only the gullible ones who'll print any and all his dribble) saying that Cooper wasn't guarenteed of getting back in the starting side. Like the incumbents had performed so well they deserved to keep their spots.
I should have been more precise - I meant he is a very poor fetcher (style of openside). And even if he was in 2004, 6 years is a fair while ago to stay with the pace.
You didn't get totally raped in pilfer turnovers last week, but that's because McCaw isn't playing a pure fetcher role anymore either; partly age related, partly new laws related I suspect. But in rewatching the game this week I saw plenty of opportunities where a fetcher would have been all over it.
I do agree that Smith helps your situation though as he is just pure class. And if you had a decent ball runner/hitter at 8, it would help the balance a lot. I don't think Kanko would add much.
At the end of the day I think you're sorely missing Broussow, but you don't need me to tell you that.
#1 Tah
Chilla Wilson (44)
So fake an injury?
DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
Also partly because whatever role he's playing right now he's in some fine fucking form
H
Hartman
Guest
Very true, he is the epitome of what a modern hooker should be.
Thomond78
Colin Windon (37)
On the back-row; Smith has to be there, and as blindside. Burger has to be in the mix as well, because he's playing excellent rugby.
I am coming around to the idea of him at eight, from what I saw. He'd be playing more as a 7.5 than a classic 8, but it would be well worth a try on the EOYT.
I am coming around to the idea of him at eight, from what I saw. He'd be playing more as a 7.5 than a classic 8, but it would be well worth a try on the EOYT.
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
Schalkie played 8 all his schoolboy career. If you have him and Brussouw in the trio they both pack down all over the place but you'll have two fantastic players playing to the action. Schalks ball handling have been pretty good in the last year. Earlier he tried to bash over players but this year he pass a lot and handling was outstanding. At WP he and Vermeulen makes a great combo. Duanne is one hell of a defender and you throw in Louw and Schalk and they are pretty a handfull.
Reddy!
Bob Davidson (42)
Don't worry Scarfy I'm here for you - I'll never leave your side again.
James O'Connor won't be fullback - he is the best winger in Australia according to Deans.
Blue
Andrew Slack (58)
I really hope they try this on EOYT at least. Brussow packs at 8 on defense for most of the Cheetah scrums. Schalk has the skills. Really think Juan, Brussow, Schalk could work very nicely. Combine that with Flip at 4 and Bismarck back and suddenly the pack looks strong but very mobile.
But what the fuck do I know.
MajorlyRagerly
Trevor Allan (34)
Hence, he'll probably be picked at prop.
Bokke back row of Smith, Burger & Brussow would be sensational. Smith is a a player I always forget about for some reason until I see him play to be reminded just how good he is.
Suspect the Wobs are going to really miss Palu & TPN in this match - I think it will be very tough & physical.
Lance Free
Arch Winning (36)
Test team named.
Only change to run-on side is Cooper.
Reserves include Higginbotham, McCalman & A Fainga'a. Simmons dropped.
Wallabies: Kurtley Beale; James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Fainga'a, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Fainga'a.
Only change to run-on side is Cooper.
Reserves include Higginbotham, McCalman & A Fainga'a. Simmons dropped.
Wallabies: Kurtley Beale; James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Fainga'a, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Fainga'a.
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