Wallabies V Ireland, Brisbane

[Sully]

As I see it what we are lacking is one or two heavy runners to bend the line. ATM the only player resembling the is Sharpe. In the recent past we have had a Hooker and/or #8 and/or a out Centre who could do that. The last 2 games we have gone in without that and on saturday we paid for it. So perhaps Housten is an option although he doesn't seem to play that way. Chambers could do it but I believe I heard he was injured. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) can bend the line but his inability to promote other players combined with his lack of desire to pass makes him very predictable.
In short I believe our biggest problem is the lack of a heavy hitter.

As for our second row although I am not happy with Mumm so far I believe he is a long way ahead of Chisholm who I hope to never see again in Wallaby colours.

 

[tranquility]

Fair point.

But that exact skill is a rare commodity in Australian rugby at this precise moment. If we ponder for a second it becomes clear that we only have a handful of these players spread out amongst all four (five) franchises. By my count; TPN, Palu, Higginbotham, Digby, Chambers, Sharpe (reluctantly), AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would be the front runners. However a more out of the box solution to the gain line paradox would be A. Finger. The man is not as large as the other candidates but he would have to be one of the most industrious players currently in Australia. Injury aside, I'm not sure how you slide him into the current Australian team, but he is a possible solution.

In summary, Australian rugby needs more bruisers.

 

[Groucho]

Tri nations shmi nations. Does anyone actually think we have a chance of winning it?

No chance, we're missing some of our most influential players:

Robinson, Moore, Nau, Alexander, Horwill, Palu, Genia, Ioane... it just doesn't seem to get better.

 

[SportsTragic]

Only picking blokes in current squad I'd go with: 15-AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), 14-Hynes, 13-Horne, 12-Barnes(VC), 11-Mitchell, 10-Cooper, 9-Burgess, 8-Elsom(C), 7-Pocock, 6-Hodgson, 5-Sharpe, 4-Simmons, 3-Slipper, 2-Fainga'a, 1-Daley, 16-Edmonds, 17-Weeks, 18 Cowan, 19-Douglas, 20-McCallman, 21-Giteau(play HB if Burgess injured), 22-O'Connor. BUT I'M expecting Deans & Co to pick same 8 starting forwards, backline same except for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) & Burgess for Ioane & Genia, & same bench with Hynes & Valentine added. PRAYING after this test they pick a new squad of 30 for the TriNations, & that they swallow their pride & include Baxter.

 

[MrMouse]

Tri nations shmi nations. Does anyone actually think we have a chance of winning it?

Not really, no.

Picking from within the squad, I'd have a go at:
15 Hynes
14 Turner
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12 Horne
11 Mitchell
10 Quade
9 Burgo

8 Elsom
7 Pocock
6 Hodgson
5 Sharpe
4 Mumm
3 Slipper
2 Fainga'a
1 Daley

16 Edmonds
17 Weeks (itching to go outside the squad but will refrain.)
18 Douglas
19 McCalman
20 Brown/Hoiles
21 Giteau (covering 9, 10, 12)
22 JOC (James O'Connor)

Naza quotes Dwyer as saying "Where are the Harry’s, Foley and Blades’s? Giffin, Kefu? Gregan, Larkam, Roff, Tune or Burkes of 1999?” " well, I would point to Robinson, Polota-Nau, Alexander. Sharpe (Horwill), Palu. Genia, ? , Ioane, Mitchell, ? There's only two/three holes there in key personnel. I know Cooper is dynamite but he's never going to be the player, or style of player, that Larkham was. None of our fullbacks stand out. Otherwise, our first choice players are quite strong. Much as I agree with Bob's overarching point, the problem is that we can't cobble together that "winning" side 12 months out and as such we're neglecting the development of the "filler" without old heads to teach them.

 

[RugbyReg]

picking an alternative team picked on S14 form, tough nuttedness and ability to make an impact:

15 Hynes
14 Mitchell
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12 Fainga'a
11 Turner
10 Quade
9 Burgo
8 Rocky
7 Pocock
6 Dennis
5 Samo
4 Douglas
3 Fairbrother
2 Hardman
1 Tilse.

 

[RugbyReg]

picking an alternative team picked on S14 form, tough nuttedness and ability to make an impact:

15 Hynes
14 Mitchell
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12 Fainga'a
11 Turner
10 Quade
9 Burgo
8 Rocky
7 Pocock
6 Dennis
5 Samo
4 Douglas
3 Fairbrother
2 Hardman
1 Tilse.

 

[Langthorne]

No Van Humphries?

 

[mark_s]

I would only make injury enforced changes for this game. Burgess in for Genia and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) for Ioane. The causes of our loss on the weekend were more mental rather than physical and I don’t know if Deans know how to solve this.

 

[fatprop]

I am still pissed off with the attitude from Saturday, too many not up to it and/or just going through the motions (which is worse IMHO), i would pick something like this;

15 Hynes
14 Turner
13 Chambers
12 Faainga
11 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
10 Quade
9 Burgess
8 Rocky
7 Pocock
6 Hodgson
5 Simmons
4 Douglas
3 Baxter
2 Faainga
1 Fairbrother

16 Charles
17 Slipper
18 Sharpe
19 McCalman
20 Valentine
21 Giteau
22 O'Conner

Hynes at 15 because he attacks first, Turner because he works hard chasing kicks and getting back to give the 15 support. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) for Digby' blindside role Chambers & Faainga in the centres to fix up the shocking defense. A front row that will offer stability at the set piece and two hungry direct athletic locks

The backrow still concerns me we are missing a tough, hard working bastard 6 or 8 with Palu & Higgenbottom wounded.

 

[DPK]

Chambers and Faainga are injured, arent they?

 

[TheTruth]

I would only make injury enforced changes for this game. Burgess in for Genia and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) for Ioane. The causes of our loss on the weekend were more mental rather than physical and I don’t know if Deans know how to solve this.

The primary cause of our loss was the shitty kicking well one shitty kick from in front of the posts. Cannot believe more has not been said about that. Read in paper that Robbie is perservering with Gits as kicker. Our backs who played so well against England in Perth were terrible - JOC (James O'Connor) ran too far on at least 2 occasions and shitty pass to the sideline - forwards improved (well front row and Rocky anyway) - at least scrummed as a group and niot as meercats. Funny thing from many of the posts on other threads is that the Wallabies poor performances eminate from only the front row/forwards. Bloody hell the backs were hopeless and then there was that kick - My 10 year old would have slotted that. Look forward to the return of Ben A. and Ben R. - we will win every scrum and we will win all games by 40 and there can be no excuses. Yeah right !!!

 

[mark_s]

The primary cause of our loss was the shitty kicking well one shitty kick from in front of the posts. Cannot believe more has not been said about that. Read in paper that Robbie is perservering with Gits as kicker. Our backs who played so well against England in Perth were terrible - JOC (James O'Connor) ran too far on at least 2 occasions and shitty pass to the sideline - forwards improved (well front row and Rocky anyway) - at least scrummed as a group and niot as meercats. Funny thing from many of the posts on other threads is that the Wallabies poor performances eminate from only the front row/forwards. Bloody hell the backs were hopeless and then there was that kick - My 10 year old would have slotted that. Look forward to the return of Ben A. and Ben R. - we will win every scrum and we will win all games by 40 and there can be no excuses. Yeah right !!!

Aint that the truth! Boom tish. I see your first statement as being a subset of mine as concentration/nerves can be the only reason why Giteau would miss that kick. My thoughts about retaining the same team is to see how they bounce back and try and get some continuity, confidence, combinations and hunger into this squad. Constant chopping and changing will benefit no one and we will probably do just as much damage as good. See the NSW state of origin team as exhibit A.

Deans and Co then then have a full review post the ireland test and change the squad make up as needed.

On a slightly different note, I read today that Genia injured himself in the 1st 10 mins on the weekend. WTF did he stay on the field for the last 70 mins?

 

[tallboy]

Elsom to 8, Hodgson to 6 does rob us of a little height but seriously, I would value commitment to the breakdown and overall workrate over Brown's size anyday. Brown got given a real opportunity with Palu's injury and has done nothing with it. In an age where every breakdown, every tackle, every statistic is scrutinised how can the laziness of some of our forwards be so often overlooked?
Time to give something else a shot before the Tri Nations.

 

[RedsHappy]

I am still pissed off with the attitude from Saturday, too many not up to it and/or just going through the motions (which is worse IMHO), i would pick something like this;

15 Hynes
14 Turner
13 Chambers
12 Faainga
11 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
10 Quade
9 Burgess
8 Rocky
7 Pocock
6 Hodgson
5 Simmons
4 Douglas
3 Baxter
2 Faainga
1 Fairbrother

16 Charles
17 Slipper
18 Sharpe
19 McCalman
20 Valentine
21 Giteau
22 O'Conner

Hynes at 15 because he attacks first, Turner because he works hard chasing kicks and getting back to give the 15 support. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) for Digby' blindside role Chambers & Faainga in the centres to fix up the shocking defense. A front row that will offer stability at the set piece and two hungry direct athletic locks

The backrow still concerns me we are missing a tough, hard working bastard 6 or 8 with Palu & Higgenbottom wounded.

Fatprop, and others saying similar things:

IMO (as a less-than-seasoned player-picker), your intent in this selection is 100% what's needed.

Surely we can all accept that the June internationals and those largely appalling BaaBaas games have so far been as near rock-bottom (for Australian rugby pride) as is imaginable.

As Deans has said, he wants to experiment and take risks. OK baby, let's start some new experiments and team dynamics off as the ones so far in 2010 haven't all worked too brilliantly.

Let's really shake the team right up, and some of the damnable player inconsistency. Let's see if we can create something much better, and take some risks...it's now almost a case of what is there to lose pre the Tris? If we had a small win against Ireland with some major team reconstruction, the benefits could be lasting.

 

[chief]

Okay, to contradict what I had agreed with earlier this is my team.

1. Daley
2. Fainga'a
3. Slipper
4. Sharpe
5. Chisholm
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Hodgson
9. Burgess
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Hynes
15. JOC (James O'Connor)

I think the back 3 needs to be stronger runners, players who run the ball firm and hard and JOC (James O'Connor) can be there because he is so illusive. His shitty game last week will be made up for this week.

 

[TheTruth]

Not really, no.

Picking from within the squad, I'd have a go at:
15 Hynes
14 Turner
13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12 Horne
11 Mitchell
10 Quade
9 Burgo

8 Elsom
7 Pocock
6 Hodgson
5 Sharpe
4 Mumm
3 Slipper
2 Fainga'a
1 Daley

16 Edmonds
17 Weeks (itching to go outside the squad but will refrain.)
18 Douglas
19 McCalman
20 Brown/Hoiles
21 Giteau (covering 9, 10, 12)
22 JOC (James O'Connor)

Naza quotes Dwyer as saying "Where are the Harry’s, Foley and Blades’s? Giffin, Kefu? Gregan, Larkam, Roff, Tune or Burkes of 1999?” " well, I would point to Robinson, Polota-Nau, Alexander. Sharpe (Horwill), Palu. Genia, ? , Ioane, Mitchell, ? There's only two/three holes there in key personnel. I know Cooper is dynamite but he's never going to be the player, or style of player, that Larkham was. None of our fullbacks stand out. Otherwise, our first choice players are quite strong. Much as I agree with Bob's overarching point, the problem is that we can't cobble together that "winning" side 12 months out and as such we're neglecting the development of the "filler" without old heads to teach them.

Agree with Rocky, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Slipper and JOC (James O'Connor) on bench (performance on Sat smacked of schoolboy stuff - running too much - not advancing ball to a player in a better position) - Trouble with Weeks on bench is that he has shown can only play at THP and I think Daley only LHP. Slipper can play either so maybe a good move. Either that or Slipper on bench to cover both LHP/THP and start Daley at LHP and Weeks at THP.

Trouble is we ARE ALL GUESSING but suppose that is the fun of the site

 

[Reddy!]

So who is going to this game?

 

[wobbly]

“Where are the Daley, Kearns and McKenzies? Where are the Eales, McCalls, Ofahengaues? Farr-Jones, Lynagh, Horan and Little? from 1991.” “Where are the Harry’s, Foley and Blades’s? Giffin, Kefu? Gregan, Larkam, Roff, Tune or Burkes of 1999?” There are very few comparisons.

Ben A, Benn R and TPN would handy comparisons for Daley, Kearns and McKenzies / Harry’s, Foley and Blades’s.

Genia, Cooper, Ioane, JOC (James O'Connor) are handy comparisons as well. Higgers and either Douglas or Simmons could be as well.

Remember there's also comparions to be made of Burke, Eales and others being injured a year out from 99 RWC.

Unfortunately I think our competitors, namely SA & NZ (albeit debateably) are vastly stronger at present than prior to our previous World Cup victories.

2015 is much more likely for the Wobs, particularly with the forward talent coming through the U20's and a couple of more hardened seasons on our current crop of 21-25 year olds.

 

[MrTimms]

Okay, to contradict what I had agreed with earlier this is my team.

1. Daley
2. Fainga'a
3. Slipper
4. Sharpe
5. Chisholm
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Hodgson
9. Burgess
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. Hynes
15. JOC (James O'Connor)

I think the back 3 needs to be stronger runners, players who run the ball firm and hard and JOC (James O'Connor) can be there because he is so illusive. His shitty game last week will be made up for this week.

I agree with that backrow. but Chis is a waste of a great physique, just not effective.

I say AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is not a centre, he should be used as a straight swap to Digby's wing or a fullback, with hynsey filling the other spot. JO'C can go to the bench, he has similar utility value as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

I also think Horne needs to stay, if anything his biggest problem is the centre pairing, he needs a straight no-frills player at 12 to act as the foil to his style of play (he plays outside carter at NSW), so a Faiangaa or even t.smith or similar type player would work. I think we get a little hung up on the second playmaker to remember is it a centre pairing, and horne and Gits don't work as well as someone else would.