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Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

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Viking

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
fatprop said:
Nah, a couple games show potential, consistency earns a Wallaby Jersey, both Vaea & Timani are not there yet
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I agree. Although impact has it's merits too. If you picked solely on consistency then McCalman would be the number 8 every year.

But I'd prefer Higgers at 8 for his impact, all-round skills, experience, and solid super xv season.
 
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The_Brown_Hornet

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
USARugger said:
Fucking useless seagulls. Would never work against the Boks.

Maybe it's much more about the balance of the pack as a whole and the mismatch an athletic 8 with an offloading game can create in wider channels is a proven tactic used by multiple teams in world rugby.

The entire "fronting up" concept is just mind-numbingly out of touch with modern rugby if we're talking about throwing 8 forwards at their pack. If we do that, we've already lost the test anyway.
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I definitely see a need for a big ball runner in the back row. It could be the 8 or it could be the blindside, doesn't matter, so long as the other bases are covered. I do have a preference for the pack's perpetual motion machine being at eight though. Ideally, IMHO, you want them to be able to carry the ball up consistently in attack, offload in contact, provide cover in defence, support the ball carrier and be a line out option. Higgers could be that guy and McCalman mostly does it. Cliffy is a different player in that he works in close quarters and not in the wider channels. Then again Hooper does more of the ball running for the Tahs and therefore it works in their structure.

I think if we're going to have Pocock at 7, Fardy at 6 I'd like Higgers or McCalman at 8 to balance it out. If Hooper plays 7, I like Jones at 6 and Cliffy at 8.
 
Brumby Runner

Brumby Runner

Jason Little (69)
The_Brown_Hornet said:
I definitely see a need for a big ball runner in the back row. It could be the 8 or it could be the blindside, doesn't matter, so long as the other bases are covered. I do have a preference for the pack's perpetual motion machine being at eight though. Ideally, IMHO, you want them to be able to carry the ball up consistently in attack, offload in contact, provide cover in defence, support the ball carrier and be a line out option. Higgers could be that guy and McCalman mostly does it. Cliffy is a different player in that he works in close quarters and not in the wider channels. Then again Hooper does more of the ball running for the Tahs and therefore it works in their structure.

I think if we're going to have Pocock at 7, Fardy at 6 I'd like Higgers or McCalman at 8 to balance it out. If Hooper plays 7, I like Jones at 6 and Cliffy at 8.
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Ben McCalman is not a big ball runner. He is damn near perpetual motion but with ball in hand has very little impact. The big ball runners are Palu and Vaea in close and Higgers out wide. The biggest hitters in defense are Palu and Vaea. The best line out jumper is Higgers. I don't see a role for Ben McC in the Wallabies so long as each of the others is available.

I see the backrow being either Fardy, Pocock and Higgers, or Fardy, Hooper and Palu for balance of skills. Luke Jones will either replace Simmons in the second row, or be cover on the bench imo.
 
KOB1987

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
Seb V said:
I agree. Although impact has it's merits too. If you picked solely on consistency then McCalman would be the number 8 every year.

But I'd prefer Higgers at 8 for his impact, all-round skills, experience, and solid super xv season.
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McCalman is on the improve if anything so your first paragraph may actually come to fruition. Vaea could well become his understudy next year.
 
Viking

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
barbarian said:
This was true about 3 years ago, but he was one of our best runners on the EOYT and consistently good with slow, messy ball in a shit Force side. He has just as much impact as Higgers and Palu IMO.
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Not 3 years ago, more like 1 year ago. Like you said his last EOYT he was solid all round but prior the that he lacked impact. So he's had one solid Test season and a couple questionable ones.

Also, has he stepped up against the ABs and Boks yet?
 
ACT Crusader

ACT Crusader

Jim Lenehan (48)
I'd be taking/starting McCalman ahead of Palu. McCalman has impressed IMO, he plays quite similar to Read in the way that he runs the ball. May not have the deft offload game, but he has really upped his aggression and plays with a bit of edge to him.

It's a shame he plays for a very inconsistent Super team.
 
Viking

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
fatprop said:
We couldn't put a side out if we used that as the rule, he is a bloody good unit who does a shed load of quality work, every week
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There's a difference between quality work at Super XV level and Test level. His "quality work" has only translated to Test level most recently.


barbarian said:
Yes, his first ever Bled back in 2010 at ANZ. Set up a great try off the back of the scrum to JOC (James O'Connor).
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One good play doesn't make you a good Test player, take Beale for an example. As solid as McCalman is he still has a bit to go to be considered a quality Test 8. He's sitting in that grey area of average-to-solid. That's my opinion of him.

Don't get me wrong he is a great player but I think he needs this season to cement himself and remove all doubt. He just doesn't have enough great Test's under his belt yet.

Although the same can be said about all our number 8's.
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Henry Speight is suspended for the first two Rugby Championship games and then will be available for the third match against New Zealand.

He is available after Saturday 25 July.

It will be interesting to see if he's included in the initial Rugby Championship squad or whether he only joins once his suspension is ending.
 
The_Brown_Hornet

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
Brumby Runner said:
Ben McCalman is not a big ball runner. He is damn near perpetual motion but with ball in hand has very little impact. The big ball runners are Palu and Vaea in close and Higgers out wide. The biggest hitters in defense are Palu and Vaea. The best line out jumper is Higgers. I don't see a role for Ben McC in the Wallabies so long as each of the others is available.

I see the backrow being either Fardy, Pocock and Higgers, or Fardy, Hooper and Palu for balance of skills. Luke Jones will either replace Simmons in the second row, or be cover on the bench imo.
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In the EOYT last tear we saw him become a good to very good ball runner. I'm not going to argue that he's at the level of Vermeulen or Read yet, but he's definitely worth persisting with for the time being. If his game continues to improve like it has then I would have him in the category of big ball runner. That said, it depends on the game plan and the balance of the back row.
 
fatprop

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Seb V said:
There's a difference between quality work at Super XV level and Test level. His "quality work" has only translated to Test level most recently.
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That is how becoming a test player happens for most, it takes time
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Maybe someone should start a change.org petition pleading the case for Wallaby fans to be able to reminisce over former glories through bringing back George Smith again?
 
Dave Beat

Dave Beat

Paul McLean (56)
Braveheart81 said:
Maybe someone should start a change.org petition pleading the case for Wallaby fans to be able to reminisce over former glories through bringing back George Smith again?
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Maybe it could start with him playing this weekend for Manly, as a warm up for the Rugby Championships and take it from there.

If form warrants it I'd pick him, it'd be based on form.
All i know - back in 2013 he surprised me.
 
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