Wallabies v France - June 14 Etihad Stadium

[Mr Wobbly]

Not sure that would have impacted his 2011 too much

Yeah well, he was sitting behind Yoda then.

 

[tic]

I've noticed on the Ticketmaster website that they are only selling seats in every second row at Etihad Stadium. That's a unique way to try and make the crowd look bigger than it is.

 

[BDA]

i would imagine that last week's entertaining performance, coupled with the fact that a few rebels players have been added to the 23, should increase the expected crowd by at least a few thousand.

 

[KevinO]

I've noticed on the Ticketmaster website that they are only selling seats in every second row at Etihad Stadium. That's a unique way to try and make the crowd look bigger than it is.

I have not bought a ticket yet, but I don't believe that the bottom level only has 61 seats left. ARU and Ticketmaster are playing games there.

 

[cyclopath]

i would imagine that last week's entertaining performance, coupled with the fact that a few rebels players have been added to the 23, should increase the expected crowd by at least a few thousand.

You'd think, and hope so.
Another performance like that might even get the crowbar into the recalcitrant Sydney crowds! We can hope.
France will be a tougher nut this week, I'm sure.

 

[Ash]

I seem to recall not too long ago an interview with Kepu where he said he'd been dropped from the Tahs starting line-up because he'd been putting too much emphasis on scrum training and his running/passing game had suffered for it.

If that really is the case I despair of us ever being a decent scrummaging nation. Did you see the pom THP? He couldn't even hold the ball for 2 seconds without dropping it. I'm surprised he didn't eat it when they gave it to him.

As soon as a hammered scrum costs them a few games, they will take it more seriously.

The Reds had an average scrum in 2011 that concentrated mainly on getting clean ball on their feed and they not only won the comp, but were pretty much the top team all year, so it shows you don't need a dominant scrum. But if you have a weak one, it makes it that much harder.

The way that Ryan has regressed this year it is worrying - he's been hammered by a few LHPs now this year in Super Rugby games.

It's also a shame for Robinson because it's likely going to cost him any chance of a Wallaby recall, right now he'd also likely be behind Smith in the LHP rankings.

I wonder how long it will be before someone asks Blades to work with certain Wallaby props at their provincial side?

I can see the appeal of Ryan, fantastic ball carrier and he has successfully anchored the Wallaby scrum on occasion before.

 

[BPC]

As soon as a hammered scrum costs them a few games, they will take it more seriously.

The Reds had an average scrum in 2011 that concentrated mainly on getting clean ball on their feed and they not only won the comp, but were pretty much the top team all year, so it shows you don't need a dominant scrum. But if you have a weak one, it makes it that much harder.

The way that Ryan has regressed this year it is worrying - he's been hammered by a few LHPs now this year in Super Rugby games.

It's also a shame for Robinson because it's likely going to cost him any chance of a Wallaby recall, right now he'd also likely be behind Smith in the LHP rankings.

I wonder how long it will be before someone asks Blades to work with certain Wallaby props at their provincial side?

I can see the appeal of Ryan, fantastic ball carrier and he has successfully anchored the Wallaby scrum on occasion before.

FatCat doesn't seem the same player since the removal of the power hit. He doesn't seem to have the same leverage/techniques he had when he could ride the hit and drive under the tighthead's chest, particularly tall tightheads like Smit. Slipper has moved forward over the last couple of years while Robinson has gone backwards. The lack of scrum coaching under Cheika hasn't offered Robinson the opportunity to revise his skills under the new regime.


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[Brumby Runner]

No surprises with the replacements in the starting lineup. Hope TPN can get the best part of 80 minutes again, but Charles deserves the last 10 - 15 minutes if we're going well. Last opportunity imo for Horwill to show something like his lost form. If he can't raise his game and Jones comes on and plays as he has done for the Rebels, he and Carter will see Kev drop out of the squad altogether. And then we also hav e Skelton in the wings (so to speak). Big opportunity for Ben McC to also show he has test match rugby in him. I'm not yet convinced and at this stage I think Higgers is a better option.

 

[Slim 293]

At this stage I don't think Higgers has shown that he's good enough to be a starter in test match rugby............

I've been a critic of McCalman in the past but he's really stepped it up this year and is a worthy replacement for Palu............

Definitely Horwill's last chance to stay in the 23 for the RC.............

Carter's injury is cruel timing, and Jones' form has been building steadily to the point where he's pushing for selection...............

 

[Scrubber2050]

Slim
absolutely agree with you in respect of Horwill. Fuck, its his 50th cap and that together with his recent performances and the young guns lining up behind him isn't enough motivation to be back at his best then so be it.

Really hope the Wallabies put the Frogs to the sword early and by heaps so that the benchies get a solid run.

Congrats to Charles and his first cap. What an inspiration to others

 

[Ignoto]

Definitely Horwill's last chance to stay in the 23 for the RC.....

I think that your jumping the gun there. Who's going to replace him just yet? Jones could be the next Mark Chisholm for all we know at this current moment of time and Skelton is still too unfit to play a full 80 minutes at international level (he can't even be considered as a sub just yet because what happens if Simmons/Carter goes down early? He's gotta play the entire match).

I'm reserving my judgment on who should be in the 23 until after this series and the completion of Super Rugby, as the RC is still a good 2 months away. Plenty of time for players in form to go out and time for players out of form to come into it.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think Skelton will play for the Wallabies long before he's consistently playing 80 minutes at any level. I don't think it will be in the third test unless there's another injury, but it will be this year.

I really don't think it will phase McKenzie. He'll know that he has Fardy who can slot into lock if needed.

 

[Slim 293]

I think that your jumping the gun there. Who's going to replace him just yet?

Carter has already replaced him...........

But with his injury Horwill has got 2 tests to show he's worth...........

If he dishes up more of the same from the past 2 years then he'll be riding the pine at best for the RC..........

There's already 2 guys in the squad in pretty good Soup form, and unfortunately experience only buys you so many extra opportunities.........

 

[Ignoto]

I think Skelton will play for the Wallabies long before he's consistently playing 80 minutes at any level. I don't think it will be in the third test unless there's another injury, but it will be this year.

I really don't think it will phase McKenzie. He'll know that he has Fardy who can slot into lock if needed.

I dunno, I don't think any coach would be a fan of any player not being able to finish the game. It adds another variable to the "what can go wrong" equation. Knowing Link picks his subs on how he wants to finish the game, he will undoubtedly not mind Skelton being in the 23, but you'll need a replacement to cover 6,8 and 4 (Fardy is a candidate, but if Palu goes off again, who's covering Fardy?

Carter has already replaced him.....

But with his injury Horwill has got 2 tests to show he's worth......

Carter has only replaced him in the starting team though, not the full 23. Jones and Skelton will need to work on their lineout calling if they want to replace Horwill completely.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Slim - you are a mind reader and absolutely correct IMHO

 

[Scrubber2050]

Skelton DOES NOT jump - bugger is too big too lift

 

[Braveheart81]

I dunno, I don't think any coach would be a fan of any player not being able to finish the game. It adds another variable to the "what can go wrong" equation. Knowing Link picks his subs on how he wants to finish the game, he will undoubtedly not mind Skelton being in the 23, but you'll need a replacement to cover 6,8 and 4 (Fardy is a candidate, but if Palu goes off again, who's covering Fardy?

It would be a concern for sure, but he'd also see the upside to selecting him (which is why he's in the squad in the first place).

If you took our first test team and put Skelton on the bench instead of Horwill and Carter went down in the first five minutes, Fardy goes to lock, McCalman come on to 6. If Fardy then gets injured, Skelton obviously has to come onto the field.

In any side, if you get two injuries in your starting 4-8 amongst players who would have played 80 minutes, you end up having to keep players on who you were planning to replace.

I think coaches select teams with some compromise between planned replacements and having injury cover. At the end of the day, I think all of them know that if they get too many injuries in a certain area, they're just going to have to make the best of the situation.

In the modern game where replacements are crucial and close games will often be decided by which team gets the most out of their bench, coaches will lean towards selecting for planned replacements to get the most out of the 80 minutes rather than the one game a year where everything goes pear shaped and multiple players have to leave the field early through injury.

 

[Slim 293]

Carter has only replaced him in the starting team though, not the full 23. Jones and Skelton will need to work on their lineout calling if they want to replace Horwill completely.

Horwill isn't a noted lineout caller though......

I've seen Link mention that he can do it, but I'm sure there's a few other guys there who could do it too............ whether they'd be any good or not.........

 

[Pfitzy]

To me that's like a hooker who never practised throwing....

 

[Train Without a Station]

Horwill isn't a noted lineout caller though..

I've seen Link mention that he can do it, but I'm sure there's a few other guys there who could do it too.... whether they'd be any good or not...

Horwill is the second best line out option in the current squad including Carter. He takes steals is a key target. He just happens to be the second best at the reds.