If McCabe is selected at 12 for the Lions series then I agree with you, but if Tapuai plays 12 and Lealiifano misses out, I don't think that is a crazy or unfair selection.
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If McCabe is selected at 12 for the Lions series then I agree with you, but if Tapuai plays 12 and Lealiifano misses out, I don't think that is a crazy or unfair selection.
Disagree, the reasons Lilo hasn't been selected were initially his form just wasn't deserving enough (and went off the the ITM cup) and then when his form was good enough he was injured through the test series
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
I was referring to both Tapuai/Lealiifano being involved at some point. It's a 3 match series so I'm anticipating we will have to call on two inside/centers. McCabe getting in and displacing one of them may be closer to reality though.
Tapuai won't be happy that you're expecting him to be broken over the course of three games
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
We're talking about Lions selection not past selections.
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
It's going to
It's going to get very physical and they will be throwing some enormous human beings down his channel. Not even necessarily referring to injury, I'd like to see his load managed properly as well as everyone else's.Tapuai won't be happy that you're expecting him to be broken over the course of three games
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
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I really don't see a three test series as a case for managing workloads.
If a player is healthy and deserves to keep their spot in the side (and the team is either winning or playing well (preferably both)), they should retain it for all three tests.
Athilnaur
Arch Winning (36)
Yeah Emu my post was about who I think Deans will select, so hence McCabe as one of the shortlist, but I think form in the coming weeks will decide who plays 10 and 12. Not as sold on Taps personally, particularly given players like Roberts or Tuilagi and I suspect Deans has a similar (bias?) about inside centers and defense post Giteau.
A twist in the tail might be To'omua, cl, mccabe, with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback. Diggers JOC (James O'Connor) wing.
A twist in the tail might be To'omua, cl, mccabe, with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback. Diggers JOC (James O'Connor) wing.
USARugger
John Thornett (49)
It's a three test series sandwiched between two halves of a super rugby season which was preceded by a test season, etc. Managing the work of players (especially international players) is a year-round thing.
Also the whole Roberts/Tuilagi bash brothers for 240 minutes.
Also the whole Roberts/Tuilagi bash brothers for 240 minutes.
Barring injuries, I think you could carve in stone 9. Genia 11. Ioane 13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). I think the rest of the back positions are still up in the air to at least a reasonable degree.
You could get 1000-1 on Matt To'omua debuting at 10 against the Lions. Even at those odds you'd be crazy to take them.
Ok, must have been the "if we weren't stuck in the Twilight Zone for the past few years" part of your post the had me confused
Athilnaur
Arch Winning (36)
Yeah I said as much in my earlier post BH, the twist line was a bit of crystal ball gazing about Brumbies performance in coming weeks. If they decide to slot mccabe at 13 and the brumbies backline starts to rocknroll, suddenly To'omua comes into the frame.
I'll take your 1000-1 on him debuting, I think it is highly likely he'll get a bench spot.
I'll take your 1000-1 on him debuting, I think it is highly likely he'll get a bench spot.
I can't see that happening- it would be starting XV or bust as he just doesn't have the versatility. Of his rivals, Lilo can play 10, 12 and 15 at a stretch. Barnes can do the same. Cooper has played 12 at test level. Beale has played 10 and 15, JOC (James O'Connor) has played everywhere. There are too many versatile 10 options for To'omua to get a bench spot IMO.
I am still unconvinved that To'omua is good enough to debut and prosper against the Lions. Our 10 cupboard isn't exactly overflowing, but I don't think that a) we are that desperate and b) his form is radically better than Cooper and JOCs.
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USARugger
John Thornett (49)
Sorry about that, my fault.
thierry dusautoir
Alan Cameron (40)
I believe untill the last two years he was considered an a flyhalf,centre,wing and fullback and the brumbie use to list him as a utility on their website.
Edit: So only adds to the fact that he would be a very good selection as a utility
Athilnaur
Arch Winning (36)
Must say those are very good points Hugh, even more so if Deans decides to play a 6-2 bench. I do think it is compelling to have a form proper 10, and you can reverse the argument about JOC (James O'Connor) utility - he and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) give Deans some flexibility around who is on bench. I continue to think the 10, 12 and 15 spots are very much up for debate and form over the next 6 weeks. And I can also see To'omua and Foley continuing to grow in confidence rapidly over that time, while Beale and Cooper are under more scrutiny than ever.
I think the next two games will be big ones for Quade Cooper's hopes. He'll be under lots of pressure against the Chiefs and Brumbies and if he performs well he'll really push himself forward as a strong candidate for the 10 jersey.
If he makes mistakes under pressure, he could do his chances plenty of damage.
Not defending at 10 all the time for the Reds is going to continue to harm his chances. If he plays 10 for the Wallabies again, I think he will have to defend in the channel and won't be moved to fullback in defence.
If he makes mistakes under pressure, he could do his chances plenty of damage.
Not defending at 10 all the time for the Reds is going to continue to harm his chances. If he plays 10 for the Wallabies again, I think he will have to defend in the channel and won't be moved to fullback in defence.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Quade will really have to show that he's undoubtedly better than the other candidates to reclaim his test spot.........
I doubt Deans has forgotten about Quade's comments last year.........
Any slip ups and I don't doubt that Deans will go to someone like JOC (James O'Connor) for the 10 jersey.........
I still think we're going to see the return of Kurtley Beale to the Rebels in a few weeks time and him wear the 10 jersey in the first Lions test.
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