Wallaby Outside Centre

[Tank]

Ok, I know it is quite a while to go before the International Season, but I am worried about our centres - and particularly Outside Centre.

Whilst we have some players who we (the collective we at GAGR - yes, presumptuous to speak about us all ) would mostly be ok with at IC, eg Barnes, Giteau, even TC or possibly JOC (James O'Connor), I think across the Board we would have some concerns about OC. I know I do.

Let's take a quick peak at the starting 13's for Aus Super teams last week.

Tapuai (Reds)
Cummins (Force)
Turner (Tahs)
L Mitchell (Rebs)

Hmmm... Not particularly inspiring for a Wallaby OC.

Add in AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) who would have been the Brums OC and you get the Wallaby incumbent - but unfortunatly, he is out of form and appears to have a lot on his mind (power, address, hairstyle etc). I was also disturbed to read this morning that there is some talk of him moving to FB this week or next.

Who else is a candidate: Chambers, Ioane, Cross, Horne, Inman, Mortlock. Have I missed anyone? Happy to add some in (please don't say Beale - he is becoming the World XV fullback so let's let him stay there hey)

Chambers is out of form, Ioane is not playing 13. Cross is Cross. Horne is made of glass. Inman is injured. Mortlock is old and slow.

Our incumbent got owned by Fruean. If he gets injured this year, who is his back up?

Centres to me are very important to winning a World Cup (and for games generally) and if you look back at cup winners, they have almost always had settled and balanced centre pairings. Horan and Little, Horan and Herbert, Tindall and Greenwood.

Sure you need more than centres, but I see this area a real problem for the Wobbs. I hope AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) recaptures the form we know and love. I hope Giteau starts playing 12 and stops crabbing. If he and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) start playing 12,13 at the Brums and get some form, I won't be as worried - but I think it is a big if.

Horne is certainly a massive talent but I am worried he will become the MMM of the backline.

Also, looking at our 2 main rivals this year SA and NZ, they certainly seem to have more (and better) options at OC.


Given an injury free run, JOC (James O'Connor) and Horne can be our next great centre pairing. Perhaps not this year though...

 

[Dumbledore]

JOC (James O'Connor) has to start, he simply has to.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) wil be our OC this year which I'm perfectly happy with. The fact that he got ragdolled by Fruean isn't that relevant, because he was playing in a side that were utterly hopeless - along with the fact that Fruean won't replace Smith for the ABs.

My backline would be:
Genia
Cooper
Mitchell
JOC (James O'Connor)
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Ioane
Beale

I think it will be the one we played against France last year though. Bieber to the wing, Digby benched and Sookface into 12.

 

[Dunnman]

Tom Carter in at Centre.

 

[Tank]

Just seen that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has indeed been moved to FB to cover for an injured McCabe.

I agree Dumbledore that a form AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at OC for the Wobbs is good - but for farks sake I hope McCabe comes back quickly and moves AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) back to 13...

Also agree that JOC (James O'Connor) would be a great 12 - but he has to play there I reckon.

 

[Newb]

inman looked great last year and i was hoping he'd build on that. didn't get much of a chance before his elbow took a wrong turn. but i still like him for the future.

 

[barbarian]

Barring injury I would put the house on our backline for the game against Ireland being:

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Barnes
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14. JOC (James O'Connor)
15. Beale

They are our best players. Form is largely irrelevant. The only spot in that backline that is possibly up for grabs is 12 and then the bench.

Debate over. Forwards are a much bigger concern in my eyes.

 

[waratahjesus]

Largely agreewith you barbs, have to say though. With JOC (James O'Connor) in the form he is, if it keeps up you have to look at Cooper. With dig by to come back onto a wing. Moving JOC (James O'Connor) in is an option and the fact he offers attack and defense only strengthens his case.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Agree with Barbs, but jeez you'd be sorely tempted to bring JOC (James O'Connor) in off the wing, wouldn't you?

 

[hench]

9. Will Genia
10. Berrick Barnes
11. Digby Ioane
12. James O'Bieber
13. Rob Horne
14. Drew Mitchell
15. Kurtly Beale

 

[El Gamba]

I wonder how Cameron Shephard would look at 13. I like him for size, strength, defence, ball skills, driving under the influence and more.

Long bow:
Genia
Cooper
Ioane
JOC (James O'Connor)/Barnes
Shephard
JOC (James O'Connor)/Mitchell
Beale

 

[Tank]

Barring injury ...

... They are our best players. Form is largely irrelevant. The only spot in that backline that is possibly up for grabs is 12 and then the bench.

Debate over. Forwards are a much bigger concern in my eyes.

C'mon Barbarian - what options do we have for 13 if AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) gets injured?

My bad for originally including a suggested backline (now deleted) as I really want some views from you knowledgeable folk on what our options are for 13 (and to a lesser extent, our centre pairing).

Of course forwards are a concern, but was hoping this thread could look at 13.

Help out a concerned brother

 

[Torn Hammy]

Horne, Inman and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). In that order for me.

 

[Godfrey]

I don't know how AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) can be one of best backs for the Wallabies at 13 two years in a row and people want to shift him?

Horne will need to get well above parity to shift AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) for me, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has done the hard work and proven himself. He's also an iconic player for this side who seems to fire and truly enjoy getting over the opposition in the big games.

The way the current Wallabies seem to go though is that when someone gets injured it's rare that a specialist is brought in to that position, it's often someone from the bench getting bumped up.

 

[Richard D. James]

Agree Godfrey, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is still the man. Our most consistent back over the last few years, he's done the time, been shifted all over the backline and proved he's a test player. He's earned the spot and it will take a massive performance from anyone who wants to take his place.

Plus, he loves scoring against the ABs, something we will need in the WC.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Agree with the mystification at not installing AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) as our number one outside centre. He's the incumbent, played well at test level there and has the runs on the board. It's up to the other blokes chasing to take the spot off him. Horne is the obvious choice as number 2 (and maybe number one), but we cannot rely on him at the moment -- he's not out on the paddock enough. The backup should be Diggers or Inman.

 

[DPK]

Geez O'Connor is hard to place in a backline. Such a utility.

 

[barbarian]

C'mon Barbarian - what options do we have for 13 if AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) gets injured?

My bad for originally including a suggested backline (now deleted) as I really want some views from you knowledgeable folk on what our options are for 13 (and to a lesser extent, our centre pairing).

Of course forwards are a concern, but was hoping this thread could look at 13.

Help out a concerned brother

If Horne is fit then he would slot in if AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is out. Considering how big an 'if' that is, then I would suggest Digby would be next in line after that. Then Inman. Then McCabe. Then Tah Man.

We have players that can cover the position and do a good job. I understand your concern as there isn't an obvious candidate at the moment. But I have a lot of faith that by the end of the season there will be a few good candidates around. Tighthead prop on the other hand...

 

[Richard D. James]

Palmer will be our scrummaging saviour!!!

 

[Slim 293]

Palmer should be TH.

Best scrummager of the candidates...

Deans can work on improving his workrate...

 

[Bullrush]

OK...as an AB supporter I'm not so fussed about what teh Wallabies do in their backline but as a rugby fan I'd like to see:

9: Genia - cos he's the incumbent. If Burgess had had better games against the Saders and Cheetahs I'd have picked him.

10. Beale - I know you guys all love him at 15 and he is awesome there but I believe he's not only the best 15 you have but also the best 10 if allowed to get time there. Yes, better than Cooper and Barnes. And if a guy is your best 15 and your best 10, you play him at 10 and put your next best at 15 - not the other way around. With the maturity he showed last year, I would have loved to have seen him here for the Tahs this season.

11. Mitchell - why not.

12. Barnes/Gits - I still think Gits has value in this position. He can run a hole when given the ball or can simply get skipped passed by 1st-five and so has less influence. I don't think many tackles get missed by him either.

13. Ioane - I don't think he has the gas for wing. But he's a powerful runner, can create space outside him and is a good defender.

14. JOC (James O'Connor) - the kid can sniff out the try-line...the biggest asset a winger needs in my mind. And he has to be in the mix here somewhere.

15. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - proven. This guy was considered the best fullback the Wobs had until injury pushed him to 13 and KB (Kurtley Beale) took that title. I like AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at FB - he reminds me of Mils in that he isn't pure speed but he can break a tackle, kick and pass well. He may even take better options than Mils (who I think is a bit greedy sometimes - gets try-line fever!!)

I'd have QC (Quade Cooper), Gerrard and someone else in the mix somewhere. A winger....Turner doesn't seem to be able to score tries where other winger might and so maybe a bolter,

I know most of you guys won't like it but I think this has the best balance of power and speed, of playing to a game plan and playing what's in front of you, of offense and defense.

It'll never happen though.