Wallabies vs Wales - Docklands Stadium June 16

[Cardiffblue]

The real upside to winning this game (apart from securing the series) will be that Deans can take some chances in the final game. I'd like to see Pyle get a run against a quality test side, as well as Palmer and Morahan. Maybe a start for Hooper?

Might be getting ahead of yourself there

 

[Scotty]

more of a compromise to me, he offers a lot, but has clear weaknesses, a lot like Cooper to me.

I see this post as contradicting your earlier one:

I would prefer to see simply the best 22 go out each week for the Wobs.The challenge is that that decision will always be a controversial at times with a coach seeing more in one player than certain fans.

 

[fatprop]

I see this post as contradicting your earlier one:

Yep it sort of is, but 90% of players are a compromise.

Deans went for real "x" factor in attack over a more all round player. With no Beale, JOC (James O'Connor) or Cooper I sort of understand why.

 

[What2040]

best 22 should ALWAYS be picked for a test - otherwise bloody disrespectful to the other team and us, as supporters. Let fringies get their stripes in S15 and be bloody ready to go full bore when selected on merit in the Wallabys'

 

[No4918]

best 22 should ALWAYS be picked for a test - otherwise bloody disrespectful to the other team and us, as supporters. Let fringies get their stripes in S15 and be bloody ready to go full bore when selected on merit in the Wallabys'

Definitely agree. Vuna did ok bar a couple of defensive lapses but playing him in tests to aid his development should not be done.

 

[Slim 293]

If Vuna's attack was that good to forget his failings then I would understand.......

Obviously, Tomane would be there in his place if he wasn't injured, or Drew Mitchell if he wasn't injured...
But I still don't think Vuna has anymore attacking spark or x factor than Shipperley, Mogg, or Morahan.

 

[kronic]

Geez, the way some of you carry on about Vuna, you'd say you have a strange infatuation with him.

We've established his defensive decencies etc. move on.

Anyone believe this media "hype" that the Welsh will opt to play territory and hoist it all night long? Considering they don't really play like that at home, why would they under similar conditions.

 

[Athilnaur]

Some guys grow a leg playing tests, others don't.

Which is why Horne is in. He is a 100% player in tests. As is Ant, McCabe, and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). JOC (James O'Connor), Beale, Barnes, Cooper, Ioane, Mitchell, Genia, all these players give 100%.

They are match hardened and have proven ability to mix it with the best rugby players in rugby, and therefore always factor highly in any consideration for a team. To knock any one of them out won't be easy. Blooding players is crucial but it usually happens as a result of injury.

I don't believe for a second Deans put Vuna in to 'develop' him. I doubt he would be in if Tomane was fit. The way to convert opportunities into tries with our midfield is to have lightning wingers ready to pounce.

Right now we just don't have available a Mitchell, Cooper, JOC (James O'Connor) or Beale or clearly Vuna would not be in the 15 and would be unlikely to get a shot on the bench.

As an aside I'd just like to reiterate how much I liked AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback.

My mouth waters at the thought of our backline. In a few months we will all be debating furiously Cooper at 10 or not, does Cooper play 10/15 with Beale or play traditional 10 and let Beale do his thing. Will AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) play 13 or JOC (James O'Connor)? Thats a stir of course, but I see it potentially happening. Many debates to come!

Meanwhile Vuna has a shot. I think he will do well. I think Horne will do well. Simmons I am not so sold on, I hope he proves me wrong. For me he fails the 100% test.

 

[Sully]

Some guys grow a leg playing tests, others don't.

Which is why Horne is in.

????? Haven't noticed any difference! Got anything to back that up?

 

[Athilnaur]

Sure. At the RWC we saw Horne put 100% in.

Similarly he was right there on Saturday. I had no issues whatsoever with the amount of energy he put in, he was everywhere I expected him to be, and a few places I didn't, for example that turnover with Ant and Pat.

The only criticism I have seen of Horne's game was his failure to pass the ball for the try. That isn't a reflection on his ability to play to a test standard of commitment. At best he was unlucky due to an excellent tackle, at worst he was greedy.

 

[TOCC]

If Vuna's attack was that good to forget his failings then I would understand...

Obviously, Tomane would be there in his place if he wasn't injured, or Drew Mitchell if he wasn't injured.
But I still don't think Vuna has anymore attacking spark or x factor than Shipperley, Mogg, or Morahan.

Vuna offers more in physicality then Shipperly, Mogg or Morhan

 

[Scotty]

Vuna offers more in physicality then Shipperly, Mogg or Morhan

He barely even touches the opposition when defending!

 

[Garry Owen]

I would pick the same team, except for Moore coming back into the starting side to improve the front row.

Need to build some consistency from last week and mass changes won't be necessary.

Even if Beale is declared fit to play I would bring him off the bench and drop Harris.

If ther ever is a time to blood new players, now is the time. Even if we lost on Saturday, the international rugby media could write it off as experimental, "Depite last weeks win, Australia rang in the positional changes".

As it stands, if we run the same team and lose, what would the headlines read?

This happened four years ago....the love bubbles began.

 

[Garry Owen]

A key determinant of Wales 2 will be the degree to which Wales improves, and in what areas.

I recall how we rejoiced in the convincing defeat of England, Perth 2010. Their attack was rusty to say the least, and they looked like a team that would have difficulty improving quickly and in the right areas. Our rugby media lapped it up and future conquests of the old enemy were predicted as a given, Deans was praised as turning around the team not long after the just prior Scotland debacle.

Come Sydney, England had significantly improved its attack and played far more dynamically and cleverly. Australia was unsettled by this new pattern and arguably played less well than in Perth. And, particularly, England exposed deficiencies in Australia's lazy defense. Giteau's kicking was astray yet again, we lost.

It's highly unlikely that Gatland and Wales will stay at the Brisbane level of delivery. They're proud enough and good enough to improve upon the many problems in handling, forwards play and communication revealed last Saturday.

I expect the Welsh to slow our ruck ball down considerably more than last weeks effort. As the To-and-froms did after the Perth test in 2010. The Aussie coaches know it's coming, but will not have a contingency to stop it.

We'll do well to win it.

 

[Garry Owen]

So the people predicting disaster because of an unchanged side. Are you guys gonna eat your words if we win on Saturday?

I love your confidence, but time has eroded mine.

Head, heart?

 

[Groucho]

I expect the Welsh to slow our ruck ball down considerably more than last weeks effort. As the To-and-froms did after the Perth test in 2010. The Aussie coaches know it's coming, but will not have a contingency to stop it.

We'll do well to win it.

Why won't they have a plan to stop it?

 

[Richo]

I love your confidence, but time has eroded mine.

Head, heart?

I just think things have been pretty negative, given that we did win on Saturday. I'm not that confident about this week, but I do think if Wales was gonna snatch one it would have been the first.

 

[Joe Blow]

It has been a tough road for Wallaby supporters for the past 4 years. It is good to be up beat and positive going into a test but the lingering doubt remains. Which Wallabies are turning up today? A few good tests on the trot should help alleviate that problem.
I hope to see Vuna have the ball in his hands with a little space early on in this test. He is a pretty devastating open field runner and a good run or two will really boost his confidence.
Why was the Australian 22 named so early this week? It just gives the opposition a few extra days to get their stuff together.

 

[What2040]

should be lots of Wallabies (those not in the 22 ) returning to club fixtures this week - should be good for the clubs and supporters alike

 

[Tangawizi]

3 straight wins against the Welsh by 1-12. No reason to think that outcome will change on the weekend.

The Welsh players can talk it up all they like but they know in their hearts, we've got them covered...

Go the Wallabies!