Wallabies Watch
- Thread starter qwerty51
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I wouldn't make too many judgements on Lealiifano just yet - he played OK, put a beauty of a grubber through for Tomane and tackled well. He played good football at 10 last year prior to injury, has played good football this year at 12. A first outing with the 10/12 combo last night is just that, the first outing. Combos are important - ask Quade Cooper which 9 he wants next to him. I think it could gel, but they need to rethink the McCabe usage plan a bit to get some more variety.
I think the only thing you could say about Lealiifano last night is that he missed an opportunity to really press his cases to be the Wallaby 10 or 12.
I agree that he didn't go backwards much from the perspective that it was his first game at 10 for the season playing with McCabe who also had his first game for the season at 12 but he certainly didn't push himself forward.
Alexander certainly took some backwards steps with his poor discipline and a far from impressive performance in the scrum.
Dan Palmer was fairly ineffective and certainly the Brumbies scrum had an average night. It did get worse when Palmer came off which is one good sign for Palmer I guess.
Auelua did nothing for his chances with several turnovers and overall poor body height. His forward pack got smashed and arguably he needed to be the one to put his team on the front foot.
Mowen was reasonable but probably should have come off injured earlier. He was pretty ineffective for a fair amount of the match. Nowhere near the dominant displays he has put together so far this season.
Tomane was the only Wallaby candidate who really had a strong game and probably pushed his name a couple of rungs up the potential Wallaby winger ladder.
I agree that he didn't go backwards much from the perspective that it was his first game at 10 for the season playing with McCabe who also had his first game for the season at 12 but he certainly didn't push himself forward.
Alexander certainly took some backwards steps with his poor discipline and a far from impressive performance in the scrum.
Dan Palmer was fairly ineffective and certainly the Brumbies scrum had an average night. It did get worse when Palmer came off which is one good sign for Palmer I guess.
Auelua did nothing for his chances with several turnovers and overall poor body height. His forward pack got smashed and arguably he needed to be the one to put his team on the front foot.
Mowen was reasonable but probably should have come off injured earlier. He was pretty ineffective for a fair amount of the match. Nowhere near the dominant displays he has put together so far this season.
Tomane was the only Wallaby candidate who really had a strong game and probably pushed his name a couple of rungs up the potential Wallaby winger ladder.
thierry dusautoir
Alan Cameron (40)
i didnt think aulua played that badly. I just think when you have been serving such high calibre performances and then turn in just a regular run of the mill game people think its just a bad day.
But for arguments sake lets say it was a bad game from him, the kings still needed 3 tacklers every time to bring him down........any player who can do that on an 'off day' would make my wallabies team
But for arguments sake lets say it was a bad game from him, the kings still needed 3 tacklers every time to bring him down........any player who can do that on an 'off day' would make my wallabies team
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
I don't like it at all, but I really think you have nailed it.
I disagree.
I think the most likely backline if Barnes regains fitness and is in decent form before the series is:
Genia
Cooper
Ioane
Tapuai
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
JOC (James O'Connor)
Barnes
If we play three reserves I think we'll be looking at
White/Phipps (hopefully White)
Lealiifano/Beale (hopefully Lealo given Beale's indiscretions)
Mitchell/Mogg/Folau
I don't think we're going to go back to McCabe and I think Deans will be happy with the re-development of the Genia/Cooper combination at the Reds.
I think the most likely backline if Barnes regains fitness and is in decent form before the series is:
Genia
Cooper
Ioane
Tapuai
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
JOC (James O'Connor)
Barnes
If we play three reserves I think we'll be looking at
White/Phipps (hopefully White)
Lealiifano/Beale (hopefully Lealo given Beale's indiscretions)
Mitchell/Mogg/Folau
I don't think we're going to go back to McCabe and I think Deans will be happy with the re-development of the Genia/Cooper combination at the Reds.
Well, after the Kings game, I think it's exceedingly obvious that it doesn't matter who you have at 10 if you have a 12 that doesn't offer an ounce of creativity. The Brumbies looked as one-dimensional as the Wallabies in attack, and I think the reasons for that are clear. Cooper or To'omua or Lealiifano at 10 are all fine, but we need a player such as Taps, Godwin or Lealiifano at 12 as well. McCabe already has 19 caps too many.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
I like McCabe as a player, and he seems like a good team man, but we cannot beat the Lions with him at 12. We need good defense, for sure, and steadiness, but we also need some creativity. We will need all the creativity we can get, actually, we will not get many chances, and we must take them all.
No4918
John Hipwell (52)
Put my thoughts about McCabe and Lilo in the game read. Essentially i don't want either in those positions for the Wallabies. Lilo maybe on the EOYT but no way for the Lions.
Palmer is good at the set piece but not better that i would select him above the other options. Don't think he got over the advantage line once. Slipper would be my 3 with Moore and Robinson.
Palmer is good at the set piece but not better that i would select him above the other options. Don't think he got over the advantage line once. Slipper would be my 3 with Moore and Robinson.
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
the backline i would like to see form and fitness permitting
Genia
Cooper
Ioane
Leallifano
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
JOC (James O'Connor)
Mogg (Beale if he is playing again)
White, Tapuai, McCabe
this give lots of versatility and attacking ability without compromising defence.
i doubt very very much that this will be the team however
That's close to what I'd have, but I can't see what McCabe would offer from the bench. I'd prefer:
Cooper
Genia
Ioane
Tapuai
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
JOC (James O'Connor)
Mogg
White, Lealiifano, Tomane
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
deans is a big fan and will try to get him in somewhere. my thought was that he could offer wing, centre, fullback but more importantly could come on with the team in a winning position and close down a game, both offensively and in defence, similar to that which ant finger has done successfully for both the reds and the wobs in the past.
this makes the massive assumption that deans will use the bench in an intelligent fashion.
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
prepare for disappointment
Ruggo
Mark Ella (57)
Lilo is ready for Wallaby honors but he should be introduced through the bench.
Groucho
Greg Davis (50)
Yep, we won't beat the Lions by playing conservatively or a pressure game. We have to play a game they're not used to, one which is suited to our conditions. That means fast paced and attacking at the breakdown and in open play. We may still lose but at least we won't be playing into their hands.
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