gold heart
Ted Fahey (11)
Group A is the fun Group ... Screw the group of death... Latest rankings have us at 2, England at 4, Wales at 5 and Fiji at 9.... Awesome. Poor ol paddies have slipped on a pot of gold down to 6.
The big question mark for me is how do you use Skelton. Presuming Pooper starts the game, do you really want to take either off the field? That potentially leaves you with line-out issues in the final 30 minutes.
I suppose they simply need to be very creative and for the hookers to nail their throws.
Of course all selections are dependent on players not being injured. I think it's easier to assume that Sio will be available to play prop than any other permutations at this stage.
I really don't mind who Cheika chooses at halfback. Phipps needs better protection as he'll be passing from the base of the ruck and every test this year has seen the reserve halfback look better than the starting one.
If Genia starts he needs to play up to the speed our breakdown work allows us to play at. If Phipps starts he needs to not try and play at a faster pace than our breakdown work is allowing us.
Also, one of Phipps or Genia might get injured which will mean giteau will have to cover for halfback. Additionally, either pocock or hooper might pick up a niggle which means we won't be able to field the pooper which could derail the whole campaign. On top of that TK might be out too which will mean AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will have to start at 13 and Horne will need to be in the 23 somewhere to cover if AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) gets hurt in the game. Not to mention if Izzy picks up a sniffle and KB (Kurtley Beale) has to start at fullback. Sheesh, what a shambles.
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Also, one of Phipps or Genia might get injured which will mean giteau will have to cover for halfback. Additionally, either pocock or hooper might pick up a niggle which means we won't be able to field the pooper which could derail the whole campaign. On top of that TK might be out too which will mean AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will have to start at 13 and Horne will need to be in the 23 somewhere to cover if AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) gets hurt in the game. Not to mention if Izzy picks up a sniffle and KB (Kurtley Beale) has to start at fullback. Sheesh, what a shambles.
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At least people don't seriously now expect Cooper to start.
Sanity finally prevailing
No I get the point but the 'unnecessary risk of only taking 2 hookers' argument has been done to death. The coaches had to select 31 players and it's always going to be a compromise. Rightly or wrongly our coaches made the decision that the most important factor was that the 15 key players ALL be rested completely for the Uruguay game. SO that was their compromise, and it was easier to find a test level prop that can play hooker than a hooker that can play prop. Especially considering that (presumably) James Slipper is the back up to your plan A.You miss the very important point @KOB. If one of the Hookers or half backs is injured in a manner that puts them out for one match, then someone who is otherwise a starting player gets relegated to the bench. This is not the same as an injury providing an opportunity for one of the bench players to get a start.
I do wonder if this is the conversation wed be having if Foley started against SA in the team's first game and then played NZ in Auckland, as well as playing out of position against Arg and USA.Foley has done enough to be our starting 10 with Cooper failing to impress in any of his opportunities......
This is definitely the most underwhelming set of halves Australia has ever taken into a RWC.
The Foley/Giteau 10-12 partnership has just not worked so far, and that we definitely need a more direct player such To'omua in inside centre.....
I don't buy into this talk that he's a "finisher"......
He was our best performing inside back throughout the RC, and we can't continue to be going sideways for the first hour of every match and chasing down deficits.
I would've liked to have seen Giteau given a shot in the 10 jersey at some point during the RC but it's too late now....
Foley has done enough to be our starting 10 with Cooper failing to impress in any of his opportunities......
This is definitely the most underwhelming set of halves Australia has ever taken into a RWC.
Possibly couldn't play too much of him because of the concussion riskI think Cheika has really missed a trick by not playing To'omua more. For me he is the clear standout 'test class' player in either 10 or 12, but needed more time to settle and gain confidence at 10 in particular.
Defense, field position and directness of attack are the key jobs of a 10-12 in winning a World Cup and out best pairing for this is To'omua and Giteau.
why is there so much hate for quade?
I do wonder if this is the conversation wed be having if Foley started against SA in the team's first game and then played NZ in Auckland, as well as playing out of position against Arg and USA.
Instead he got Argentina, USA and NZ at home.
In any case you can only play the hands dealt to you, and it would have been easy to not give QC (Quade Cooper) any chance at all to take the position (which he has failed to do)
Foley is the man.