What I'd like to see this weekend is a license for them to cut loose a bit more. Get the go forward, of course, but put a bit more pace on the game and show some adventure. This doesn't mean basketball rugby, but our default option should be to run the ball when it's on.
It was very poorly executed and there was a complete lack of up and unders which I think are an essential element of a kicking and territory based game plan.I think Link will give them a License to thrill especially considering the context. He would have copped a fair bit of shit for last weeks style (even though I think it was necessary) and will want the boys to put in a show.
I'm saving this post for posterity.Yep I stand corrected.
If you look a few posts up you'll have your answer.Anyone heard anything about McCabe?
Injured his shoulder in the last tackle of the game and got up very, very gingerly. Anyone heard anything more?
Last week was an exercise in no risk, safety first rugby to win the series. It made sense to start with Horwill and with a grind in mind it made sense to give Jones, a work horse, the first shot on the bench. But I don't think that means Jones is ahead of Skelton in the pecking order as some people have suggested. Out of Carter/Skelton/Horwill/Jones each offer something different. Carter was chosen as a workhorse and proved he is worthy of playing that role for the wallabies. Skelton was chosen for his physicality and will have to show whether he can bring that at test level. I expect he will. Horwill was considered our best for so long because he offers a combination of those attributes (workrate / physicality). He doesn't seem to be quite as physical these days (although he has his moments) so Skelton's stock rise as a result.
Not yet sure where Jones fits into the picture. I know some people are saying he would be considered simo's back up, but I'd probably say Horwill is Simo's back up at this stage.
Also for those upset that Hodgson didn't get a run, it was never necessary for us to have a back-up 7 for this series and Hodgson would have know from day 1 that Link didn't intend to use him. Hodgson was brought into the squad for long term reasons, as he will at some stage be used during the year (possibly not until the EOYT tho) and needs to know the ins and outs of the team if he is required.
Anyone heard anything about McCabe?
Injured his shoulder in the last tackle of the game and got up very, very gingerly. Anyone heard anything more?
I think another reason Jones was in the squad was if Fardy got injured then there were two different options for no. 6: Jones, who is a straight out workhorse and Higgers as a wider-running attacker. That gave Link and co. two options depending on what game plan the French were playing and what the state of the series was.
dan palmer is retired, permanently, not ever playing again,Very good looking Wallabies 23; certainly no WTF selections from a bygone era.
Still have that nagging feeling at the back of my end that we should bring Dan Palmer back from France to fix our current scrummaging woes. Can the ARU stump up the 1mil p.a. top-up to make it happen?
There is always one guy who doesn't get the joke.
H calls them snack packsI know! $1 million is ridiculous. Surely we could get Palmer to sign for, like, $250k and a weekly meat tray.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the pack against the Argies in 2012 was bigger with Timani at 6That has to be close to the biggest pack we've ever fielded. Hooper letting the side down a bit in that regard, but I guess him being there is a lot of why Ewen feels free to pick the big boys.