Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[Reddy!]

Thanks Captain Obvious.

 

[Viking]

OK so its about half way through the season, For me, If deans picks on form, then we are going to see a new look wallabies team this year. There are so many questions to be asked!

What is going on with Barnes? will deans dropp him completely? IMO yes he should.

Cooper is looking the goods for flyhalf. But will deans think he's mature enough (especially after the trip)? IMO he's done enough to get the starting spot, If it was a world cup year id be a lot more hesitant tho.

Whos going to play inside centre, outside centre, fullback (SO many options!)?

12. Gits, JOC (James O'Connor), A. Fainga, Lealifano (if he was fit) Barnes.
13. Diggers, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Horne
15. Huxley, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Hynes, JOC (James O'Connor), Beale.

So far Genias def the goods, TPN for hooker, Robinson not at his best but still think he's in for sure, same with rocky.
Props and locks not sure about, Back-up hooker gunna be a fight between S. Fainga and Moore (Fainga has got my attention this year), Back-up Half back going to be tough too (is burgess up to it), Back-up number 8 after Palu also seems a big problem. Hodgson V Pocock is going to be interesting most likely pocock though.

 

[en_force_er]

Seb V,

I politely disagree about the Hookers. Saia has certainly picked up, and should be in the squad, but Moore and TPN are both all class. I say they should both be used in a horses for courses fashion (or at very least for the sake of having a fresh energetic player).

We have someone become blessed in the No.2 slot. Moore and TPN are both great Hookers but for completely different reasons.

 

[tranquility]

Moore's career is stagnating a little bit in my opinion. He was so good initially as a quick Hooker for the Reds - I just don't know any more. His set piece is still very good, but it seems to be very ineffective around the field these days. He is still ahead of Saia though, I would have thought.

 

[Sully]

I was watching Moore on the weekend and thought he was terrific! nearly up there with TPN

 

[Reddy!]

Either way it's great to have 3 decent hookers. In the past with only 2 hookers in the squad has been a problem, especially if one of them goes down. And Pek Cowan at hooker is such a bad experiment I don't wanna go there.

 

[tranquility]

To be fair Stephen has been a fantastic player for the Wallabies and if anything he can be relied upon as he is an incredibly consistent player. My only gripe is that he never stepped up to become that dynamic player that he had the potential to be as a youngster. He has shown it in patches - I remember a particular game in RSA where he was near the best player on the park and won almost all of his collisions, even picked up a try. I can't remember if Deans was coaching at the time or it might have even been John Connolly, someone will remember the game.

Anyway great player and still without a doubt the best set piece hooker in the country, however I wish he belted blokes a little more.

 

[CanadianRugby]

Don't I remember Moore having some big games against England not that long ago. Still seems to make plenty of meters with the ball, turns up in the right places. Certainly wouldn't mind have him as the back up.

Can't see Deans giving the 10 jersey to Cooper yet, you can still be a bit uncertain about his game. If his and Gits form continues as they are, it would be hard not to give Cooper the 10.

For me, 12 is the biggest problem. Gits, Barnes, JO'C, Faingaga all have questions about them. Might have to spend the Spring tours testing out combinations.

Diggers at 13, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15, Mitchell on 1 wing. Hynes or McCabe or someone on the other.

Stirlo not even in the conversation anymore, how sad.

 

[Spook]

Moore makes more tackles then TPN and misses less (stats prove this). Throws is more accurate as well. TPN is better at busting the line and making metres. Moore is quite a good ball player - people underrate his skills. Both have made about the same number of offloads.

TPN is the form hooker but Moore has been v good.

 

[cyclopath]

Don't I remember Moore having some big games against England not that long ago. Still seems to make plenty of meters with the ball, turns up in the right places. Certainly wouldn't mind have him as the back up.

Can't see Deans giving the 10 jersey to Cooper yet, you can still be a bit uncertain about his game. If his and Gits form continues as they are, it would be hard not to give Cooper the 10.

For me, 12 is the biggest problem. Gits, Barnes, JO'C, Faingaga all have questions about them. Might have to spend the Spring tours testing out combinations.

Diggers at 13, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15, Mitchell on 1 wing. Hynes or McCabe or someone on the other.

Stirlo not even in the conversation anymore, how sad.

I would have no problem with Gits at 12 - never have. I just don't want him at 10. Fainga'a is very solid back up at the moment, Barnes historically and JOC (James O'Connor) is coming up. I think it will be OK.

 

[cyclopath]

Moore makes more tackles then TPN and misses less (stats prove this). Throws is more accurate as well. TPN is better at busting the line and making metres. Moore is quite a good ball player - people underrate his skills. Both have made about the same number of offloads.

TPN is the form hooker but Moore has been v good.

But when TPN makes a big hit, 'tis a sight to behold! I do worry about the damage he does himself though!
At the end of the day, as I posted elsewhere, I would happily have either in my team. We are lucky.

 

[Spook]

Yep, he's a cannon ball. That was a great performance against the Boks - crocked himself though.

 

[CanadianRugby]

Moore makes more tackles then TPN and misses less (stats prove this). Throws is more accurate as well. TPN is better at busting the line and making metres. Moore is quite a good ball player - people underrate his skills. Both have made about the same number of offloads.

TPN is the form hooker but Moore has been v good.

Agreed. Every bit.

Except for the "stats prove this" part. Stats prove nothing. They are evil.

[/quote]
I would have no problem with Gits at 12 - never have. I just don't want him at 10. Fainga'a is very solid back up at the moment, Barnes historically and JOC (James O'Connor) is coming up. I think it will be OK.
[/quote]

Actually, I'm still someone who sees Gits at 10. If Gits still gets 10, then 12 looks a little more worrisome.

 

[Scotty]

I like the idea of having a hard running and tackling 12, ala Faainga, with a quick, ball playing 13. It makes me think of the Perth game last year, when Cooper came on and Giteau went to 12, but basically ranged wider in a 13 role.

Wouldn't mind seeing a backline similar to the following line up in one of the early tests:

9 Genia
10 Cooper
11 Ioane
12 Fa'ainga
13 Giteau
14 Mitchell
15 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Won't happen

No Shit. You don't say?

You might note that I wasn't predicting what would happen, I was saying I wouldn't mind seeing it.

Lindommer,

Think only 3 of those guys are real Qlders? Actually, the only one born there is Mitchell?

 

[fatprop]

Either way it's great to have 3 decent hookers. In the past with only 2 hookers in the squad has been a problem, especially if one of them goes down. And Pek Cowan at hooker is such a bad experiment I don't wanna go there.

If Cowan spends a year with the Rats as Hooker he will be fine, he isn't a decent LHP and it made sense to give him a chance at hooker, just not starting in the S14 - yet

 

[Gagger]

Yep, he's a cannon ball.

When he does them, those hits are gamechanging. Is there anyone else in the world tackling like that at the moment? Just watched two Bled tests from 2001 - not one hit came close.

I struggle with ignoring Squeekies set piece reliability, but those hits are gold dust....

 

[Spook]

Yep, he's a cannon ball.

When he does them, those hits are gamechanging. Is there anyone else in the world tackling like that at the moment? Just watched two Bled tests from 2001 - not one hit came close.

I struggle with ignoring Squeekies set piece reliability, but those hits are gold dust....

Would u start him for Oz? It's tempting.

 

[Scotty]

I would, and then just pull him if the lineout throw goes bad. When the lineout throwing is good, he is probably the best hooker in the world.

 

[Reddy!]

I would definitely start TPN, there is a good chance Robinson and Baxter will also be starting, so why try and break up that combination.

 

[Scotty]

I would definitely start TPN, there is a good chance Robinson and Baxter will also be starting, so why try and break up that combination.

Not that good a chance.