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Wallabies Watch

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Paradox

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We need a balance of the experienced and also guys who, whilst have maybe have no test experience, are playing superbly in Super rugby. I can't see why you can't have a few debutantes surrounded by experienced guys. For example, 10 Cooper 12 Lilo 13 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). Lilo has no test experience but has experience on either side. I would see the positions that absolutely require experience as being 2, 9, 10. Positions 7,8, 13, and one of the locks probably not as important but ideally would have experienced bodies as well. I think we can achieve that and inject new blood into some of the other positions. The Wallabies need more match winners. Last year we lacked those.
 
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Paradox

Guest
TOCC said:
I really don't see Palu and Fotu been in the 22 together, It will be one or the other.. But having both severely limits the flexibility of the bench.
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I think we could have the flexibility in the starting side to support them. We don't need two open sides in the 23. Smith, Gill and Hooper are all 80 minutes players - we just need one of them. On the bench we have 2 props, a hooker, Fotu (Covers 6/8) and a lock who can play 6 (3M). Even TPN on the bench could cover in the backrow if worst came to worst. I want to the Lions just tackling big blokes all day and I want them bashed dammit! :mad:
 
Scotty

Scotty

David Codey (61)
Just having big blokes against the Lions plays into their strength, not ours. We will win with a high tempo game, faster rucks and even set piece.

The balance in the forwards will be picking guys that can perform at the set piece while being mobile to get to breakdowns quickly.

Smith isn't just a 7, so he is your flexibility, and it could be argued that he can fill in for 6 and 8 better than most of the other non first choice options.
 
Scoey

Scoey

Tony Shaw (54)
The best example against rookies playing against the lions is the case of Higgers. He was one of the best 6's going around at Soup level but failed to fire at test level. That's the problem. Do you go with a guy that you know will do ok at test level or pick a rookie who you don't know can step up and potentially be found out. He could potentially kill it at test level also but. That's the dilemma.
 
Dave Beat

Dave Beat

Paul McLean (56)
Scoey said:
The best example against rookies playing against the lions is the case of Higgers. He was one of the best 6's going around at Soup level but failed to fire at test level. That's the problem. Do you go with a guy that you know will do ok at test level or pick a rookie who you don't know can step up and potentially be found out. He could potentially kill it at test level also but. That's the dilemma.
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= George Smith.
Couldnt help myself , but I know where you are coming from though
 
Joe Blow

Joe Blow

John Hipwell (52)
Starting Smith at 7 allows you to have another 7 on the bench as he can cover 6 and 8. He may be an 80 minute player but Palu is not.
We need to play an up tempo game, particularly late in the second half, and having a back row of say

Smith, Hooper, Mowen/Higgers
or
MMM, Gill, Smith

in the last 20 will really put a lot of pressure on a big british backrow.
 
Groucho

Groucho

Greg Davis (50)
Scotty said:
I disagree for a few reasons:

1. The game isn't going to open up
2. It will be a slugfest the whole time

I could see Palu starting, then Gill coming on for him. Gill could cause havoc at the breakdown, and Smith could then play a little wider to use his running and offload game.
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The Wallabies surely don't have to play it as a slugfest when in possession though? To do that would be to give the Loins their best chance of winning.
 
Groucho

Groucho

Greg Davis (50)
Train Without a Station said:
And I don't think anybody is advocating that. However there are a handful of uncapped options who clearly represent the best option. Players like Mogg and Mowen. Is it really ridiculous to have up to 5 debutants, when we really have maximum of 5 quality, proven big game players, at the expense of 5 of the remaining 10 who have really just been there, without offering too much for the period of 58% wins and 18% wins against the All Blacks?
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It's not ridiculous at all. I just wouldn't be picking a zero test Auelia over a 50 test Palu.
 
Tom Ando

Tom Ando

Fred Wood (13)
Joe Blow said:
Starting Smith at 7 allows you to have another 7 on the bench as he can cover 6 and 8. He may be an 80 minute player but Palu is not.
We need to play an up tempo game, particularly late in the second half, and having a back row of say

Smith, Hooper, Mowen/Higgers
or
MMM, Gill, Smith

in the last 20 will really put a lot of pressure on a big british backrow.
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Hasn't Deans traditionally only ever had a one "specialist 7" in the squad? Which means he will leave the other flankers out of the 23 man squad?
 
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Train Without a Station

Guest
Groucho said:
It's not ridiculous at all. I just wouldn't be picking a zero test Auelia over a 50 test Palu.
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Personally I wouldn't pick a bloke based on one good Super game, when he had played 50 odd tests without ever standing up to be counted against our best opposition, over a bloke who was destroying opposition every week in Super rugby. I'm not saying Fotu is doing that now. I'm just saying Palu should not be a locked in starter merely by virtue of test caps. His best rugby has been against mid-tier opposition.
 
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Train Without a Station

Guest
I'd argue that the home unions combined, will offer a bit more resistance than they manage individually though mate. They won't have the weak links like a Wales or an Ireland has. I'd say Scotland but haven't seen too many weak links against us recently unfortunately.
 
Tom Ando

Tom Ando

Fred Wood (13)
qwerty51 said:
Hold on sec, we're playing Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland. That's who Palu plays his best rugby against.
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back in 2010. Palu hasn't had much consistency. This is where selection always goes wrong. Players picked because they are a big name, or they played well 2 or 3 years ago. Please Deans, go with current form. Fotu in that case, must be 8. Have you seen him destroy saffa and kiwi players in super rugby? Not to forget his career in France where he was ruthless. This was what he was doing in 2010.
 
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Train Without a Station

Guest
I wouldn't say must. But I don't think Palu is so far ahead, Fotu should be disregarded as an option. Look at them equally, and pick who has performed the best come selection time.
 
Slim 293

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Palu deserves to start.......

What we're blessed with in having Fotu, is that this is the first time we've had an equal replacement for Palu........
 
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