Wallabies Watch

[Scotty]

JOC (James O'Connor) has been quality and was good against the Brums. He could justifiably be selected over Mogg. I wouldn't have Gill over Pocock just yet despite Gills very good form. Pocock dominated that game in Canberra in Rnd 1. When you watch Pocock live, you can really see how much chaos he causes when the opposition is trying to attack. He still possesses a significant physical edge over Gill and Hooper at the breakdown. Gill is a jackal but Pocock ruins more opposition ball (and jackals as well). Must be an absolute cvnt to play against

I suspect the reason Pocock shaded Gill in Canberra was mainly due to the Bumbies forwards dominating the contact area overall. Also Gill got penalised a few times for things that Pocock got away with (eg not supporting his own weight). Of course I'd still be picking Pocock for the wallabies, but in my opinion Gill has had a better start to the season.

 

[Braveheart81]

so this is really an anything goes thread - who should be in the wallabies on hair cut?

1.
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3.
4. Sam Wykes
5. Sitaleki Timani
6. Ed Quirk
7. Jordy Reid
8. Radike Samo
9. Nick Stirzaker
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. James O'Connor
13. Winston Stanley
14. Nick Cummins
15. Berrick Barnes

I can't think of any Aussie props with stupid haircuts.

 

[BDA]

I reckon Cottrell was the best Aussie 6 this round, he had a ripper of a game.

As for MMM, I was watching him and I wasn't blown away. He wouldn't be close to a Wallaby 22 at this point if I was selecting. His workrate was OK but he wasn't too dynamic with ball in hand. I'm yet to see the form that has people talking about him as the answer to the Wallaby's issues at 6.
.

I agree but heading in to this season i assumed it would take MMM some time to find form at super level. It must be difficult to go from Playing in Japan for several years back to the premier provincial comp in the world. I did, and still do, expect him to be in great form by the time the second half of the season arrives.

 

[Brumbieman]

He was belting Bulls forwards for fun last night though. Getting his workrate and fitness back up will take a few weeks, but he's still got that caveman aggression and will to just smash people.

 

[Brumbieman]

1.
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3.
4. Sam Wykes
5. Sitaleki Timani
6. Ed Quirk
7. Jordy Reid
8. Radike Samo
9. Nick Stirzaker
10. Quade Cooper
11. Digby Ioane
12. James O'Connor
13. Winston Stanley
14. Nick Cummins
15. Berrick Barnes

I can't think of any Aussie props with stupid haircuts.

Dan Palmer looks a bit like this guy atm:

Though I cant see any issue with Cooper's haircut atm? Its rather sensible for a gen-y rugby player!

 

[Braveheart81]

Though I cant see any issue with Cooper's haircut atm? Its rather sensible for a gen-y rugby player!

Nothing wrong right now, but he's had some shockers in the past. Digby fits the same category.

Same with JOC (James O'Connor). For the last two weeks he's back to normality.

 

[BDA]

In my view there is only a handful of guys that might be able to push there way into the extended squad this year on form alone. The Coaches will not want many fresh faces for the Lions tour, particularly when they blooded so many players last year. As I see it, Mogg, Mowen, MMM, Lilo, Rathbone, and Folau are the only players i could see joining the squad this year. MMM and Rathbone because they are proven test performers.

Lilo really would have been in the squad last year if not for injury so good form should see him in the squad this year.

Mogg and Mowen are both in cracking form (particularly Mogg who is probably the form player in the comp so far) and if they keep this up they'll need to be considered. Trouble is even if a guy like Mogg makes the squad, he'll most likely be an injury back up. Wing/Fullback is one of the few positions where there is a bottle neck of talent. Mowen I could see squeezing into the 22 because we lack quality 6/8s.

I'll include Folau because he too has proven BMT. Deans is clearly keeping an eye on him.

There's some other guys like Inman, Carter, Holmes, Hodgson and Fardy that are a long shot.

There are a few guys in the extended squad that might be able to push their way into the 22. The players that stand out the most are Dan Palmer and Paddy Ryan. On current form you'd have either ahead of Kepu on the bench.

 

[qwerty51]

9. Nick Stirzaker

That's not really fair, he doesn't have a choice

 

[Braveheart81]

That's not really fair, he doesn't have a choice

Sometimes life isn't fair, particularly when you're a ginger.

Sadly for him, Matt Henjak is no longer a Super Rugby player. He'd have been a walk up starter and possibly captain.

 

[JSRF10]

1.


I can't think of any Aussie props with stupid haircuts.

Is Matt Dunning not still sporting a very questionable mullet?

 

[Richo]

Is Matt Dunning not still sporting a very questionable mullet?

He's not really a prop, more of a field goal specialist.

 

[Dumbledore]

It seems you believe that he cannot improve. I'm not sure why that is.

I hope he will really grow this season, and be a far better player than what he is now by the time the EOYT rolls around. I'd certainly like to see an evasive/stepping component to his game. His defence is solid, and he has a decent rugby brain. He has a lot of potential.
.

I just feel like this is a discussion that happens every year around Inman. And it happens because he's a massive lump of a man who moves pretty well for his size. He's White Freuan - only less dynamic and with a better defensive workrate. He needs to work on his distribution, as well as his running lines. Too often he just ploughs into the man ahead of him rather than working into space. He might get there one day, but I don't see it.

 

[No.8]

At the moment just select the Brumbies team lol

 

[Dumbledore]

Beale gone for a month. Flyhalf spot wide open.

 

[No.8]

Beale gone for a month. Flyhalf spot wide open.

Whats up with Beale?

 

[Groucho]

I just feel like this is a discussion that happens every year around Inman. And it happens because he's a massive lump of a man who moves pretty well for his size. He's White Freuan - only less dynamic and with a better defensive workrate. He needs to work on his distribution, as well as his running lines. Too often he just ploughs into the man ahead of him rather than working into space. He might get there one day, but I don't see it.

As Kearnsey said: looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. Or was it Oscar Wilde?

 

[No4918]

Beale gone for a month. Flyhalf spot wide open.

JOC (James O'Connor) to 10 and Kingi 15?

 

[Dumbledore]

Whats up with Beale?

Broken hand.

Groucho - exactly.

No4918 - I'd rather see it the other way around. JOC (James O'Connor) was terrible for the Rebels at flyhalf last year. Tried to do too much himself, ran as much as he passed and we didn't go anywhere. I suspect Angus Roberts will slot straight in though.

 

[No.8]

Jesse Mogg is the best Full-Back in Australian rugby at the moment by a fair way....I honestly wouldnt even be looking at JOC (James O'Connor) at the moment.

 

[barbarian]

Jesse Mogg is the best Full-Back in Australian rugby at the moment by a fair way..I honestly wouldnt even be looking at JOC (James O'Connor) at the moment.

I disagree. I don't think Mogg is the complete package just yet. He is very fast and has scored a few nice tries, but I still rate JOC (James O'Connor) as a far superior player.

Mogg has significant potential, but he plays a fast and loose style that I'm not sure would convert to the cauldron of test rugby. And his defence is questionable- last season he missed 19 of 46 tackles attempted, for a success rate of just 59%. This season he has only attempted 4 of which he has missed 1. Compare that to JOC (James O'Connor) who in 2013 has a 100% from 12 attempts, and lastseason had 72% from 64 attempts (according to Foxsports).

I love watching Mogg, but I think he is still a fair way away from starting at 15 for the Wallabies.
.