Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[RugbyReg]

Nod, I think Ma'afu has outperformed Weeks (whom I rate) and the Brumbies scrum has been stronger than the Reds. Are you selecting Weeks on potential?

Both players are good in the loose. Weeks has made slightly more Runs but Ma'afu has broken more tackles. Ma'afu has made slightly more tackles than Weeks but most importantly his side of the scrum has held up against all opposition loose heads. I don't think Weeks has looked as comfortable.

Apart from that, pretty good.

that's all valid. Perhaps he still has that stigma about him (for me personally) of illdiscipline. I just feel that Weeks seems a bit more of a leader of men and I think that's a valuable commodity up front. Also, Weeks has now done it for two seasons. He was rookie of the year remember, and he's backed it up again this year. That consistency is important for mine. I still feel Maafu is feeling his way a bit.

You've obviously gone through the stats a bit. I've just done the same and my stats don't seem the same as your stats. Regardless, they never tell the full story.

 

[Ash]

Mitchell spent a bit over half the season at the Reds at outside centre a few years back. Did a decent job there, too.

Hynes has been looking dangerous when running the ball back from around his own 40m to halfway line, some of which have led to points and he has scored a few tries as well. He is not a freaky unpredictable talent though like a Latham or a JOC (James O'Connor) or a Beale might be. But Hynes and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) are probably the best two options at fullback right now.

 

[tranquility]

Eddie Jones Thoughts

*******************************************

Will Genia, not Rocky Elsom, should be Wallabies captain, Eddie Jones says

By Eddie Jones
Former Brumbies, Queensland Reds amd Wallabies coach
April 10, 2010

The more I watch the rise of Queensland Reds halfback Will Genia, the more I am convinced that he should be named Wallabies captain ahead of Rocky Elsom for the June Tests.

He looks a natural leader to me, and Rocky, as great as he is as a player, is not.

This is not aimed at tearing Rocky down. He's an individual, a player who performs best when worrying about himself.

There's nothing wrong with that mindset. The Wallabies need their powerful flanker to play at his best, and I'd suggest he'd be happy unencumbered and performing at his optimum.

I'm looking into a crystal ball of sorts. I can definitely imagine Genia lifting the Webb Ellis Cup at the 2015 World Cup with 60 caps to his name. Get him started as captain now.

The Reds clearly look to have found another gear in the five games since Genia took over as Queensland captain.

He has good rapport with his troops, and he commands that respect where he just has to flash a sharp look to a player after a mistake and the player responds.

That's on top of the fact the Queensland halfback is challenging South Africa's Fourie du Preez as the best No.9 in world rugby.

Former Wallabies captain George Gregan was being truthful, not modest, when he commented recently that Genia and du Preez had taken halfback play to a different level.

The Genia-as-captain question is definitely worth discussion by Australia coach Robbie Deans, ad Genia would certainly be leading the Form XV if the Wallabies were to run out in a Test match today.

I'd select seven Reds players on form in such a team.

In the front row, I'd go with the New South Wales Waratahs combination of Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Al Baxter.

Young Waratahs lock Kane Douglas is 2.01m, tough and looks like a Test player in the making at just 20. I'd pick him beside Nathan Sharpe in the second row.

The best blindside flanker in Australia at the moment is young Scott Higginbotham. He has good aerial skills and a good work rate, a modern Matt Cockbain.

With George Smith now retired from Test rugby and Dave Pocock struggling to be effective under the new law interpretations, I would go left-field for an open-side flanker who can carry the ball, tackle and jump in the lineout. Elsom would be my No.7.

The raw ability that Leroy Houston showed as a kid on the 2005 Wallabies tour has taken a while to surface, but we are now seeing Leroy playing to his ability. If he can improve his defence, he will play for the Wallabies.

Quade Cooper and Genia are clearly fly-half and halfback.

Matt Giteau is in at inside centre, while Digby Ioane is the best fit at outside centre. He dents the line like no other No.13 in the Super 14.

We need a big winger, so Luke Morahan takes one spot. Peter Hynes would be the other, while James O'Connor is far and away the best fullback with his instinctive running.

In summary, his XV.

1. Benn
2. TPN
2. Bax
4. Sharpe
5. Douglas
6. Higgin
7. Rocky
8. Leroy
9. Genia
10. Quade
11. Morahan
12. Gits
13. Digby
14. Hynes
15. JOC (James O'Connor)

 

[Godfrey]

Sounds like a side that will definitely get picked.

 

[Lee Grant]

Genia for captain is a good idea and somehow I don't think that Rocky would mind a whole lot.

I can remember one criticism of Rocky's captaincy. At Murrayfield on the EOYT the Scotland scrum was crap without Euan Murray at THP and the scrummie was delaying the put-in all the time as Gregan had to do for so many years. Like Gregan, he took value off the other scrum.

IMO Rocky should have stepped up to the plate on the matter. Someone like John Smit would have, as would have Sharpe at the Force and Waugh at the Tahs. I don't know that Genia would do that kind of thing, come to think of it.

We need a good captain who can work on the referee.

Maybe we should get Genia to watch tapes of Smit in action.

 

[DPK]

In summary, his XV.

1. Benn
2. TPN
2. Bax
4. Sharpe
5. Douglas
6. Higgin
7. Rocky
8. Leroy
9. Genia
10. Quade
11. Morahan
12. Gits
13. Digby
14. Hynes
15. JOC (James O'Connor)

No.

 

[Reddy!]

In summary, his XV.

1. Benn
2. TPN
2. Bax
4. Sharpe
5. Douglas
6. Higgin
7. Rocky
8. Leroy
9. Genia
10. Quade
11. Morahan
12. Gits
13. Digby
14. Hynes
15. JOC (James O'Connor)

No.

Haha yeh discredits his whole article doesn't it? Although I still think Leroy has some potentials, needs to put a season together first.

 

[Biffo]

Eddie Jones Thoughts

With .... Dave Pocock struggling to be effective under the new law interpretations,

That is a curious thought. Curious indeed.

 

[wobbly]

Eddie's on the whacky backy again.

 

[tranquility]

ha ha. I truly think he has a wonderful rugby mind - but I also think he just likes opening his trap and getting a bit of 'what the?' appeal going.

 

[Scotty]

I think we need to try a backline with a bigger, stronger running 12 than the likes of Giteau or Barnes.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could do this job, or Fa'ainga could have a shot. I don't want JOC (James O'Connor) at 12 - I think his long term position is 10.

I am more and more liking the idea of Giteau lining up at 13 in attack.

 

[Reddy!]

Eddie Jones Thoughts

With .... Dave Pocock struggling to be effective under the new law interpretations,

That is a curious thought. Curious indeed.

haha yeh I reckon, he's played about 3 games? haha Jones is an idiot. Pocock played really today btw...

 

[Reddy!]

I think we need to try a backline with a bigger, stronger running 12 than the likes of Giteau or Barnes.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could do this job, or Fa'ainga could have a shot. I don't want JOC (James O'Connor) at 12 - I think his long term position is 10.

I am more and more liking the idea of Giteau lining up at 13 in attack.

It's a real pity AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) never plays in the centres during the Super 14. I think you have to go with what is proven though, and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has been hot and cold at 12 for the Wallabies.

 

[cyclopath]

In summary, his XV.

1. Benn
2. TPN
2. Bax
4. Sharpe
5. Douglas
6. Higgin
7. Rocky
8. Leroy
9. Genia
10. Quade
11. Morahan
12. Gits
13. Digby
14. Hynes
15. JOC (James O'Connor)

No.

Haha yeh discredits his whole article doesn't it? Although I still think Leroy has some potentials, needs to put a season together first.

Potential...it's all over the place. Leroy is so far short of his at the moment. What is Eddie smoking?
I don't think we need a crash-baller at 12 - Gits with the added space would be just fine, and a bigger guy at 13. Plus Gits is more useful with kicking.

 

[DPK]

If they're going to switch positions like Deans talked about Barnes/Giteau and Cooper/Giteau, it doesnt really matter whether you have Giteau at 12 or 13. Well, maybe for whoever hands out the jerseys at the start of the game.

 

[cyclopath]

If they're going to switch positions like Deans talked about Barnes/Giteau and Cooper/Giteau, it doesnt really matter whether you have Giteau at 12 or 13. Well, maybe for whoever hands out the jerseys at the start of the game.

It does matter. 13 is a position that requires something different in defense I think, and I would prefer not to chop and change guys in and out of it. By all means have 10 and 12 doing the do-si-do all night, but 13 needs to be a stable organiser of the defensive line.

 

[matty_k]

Maybe Eddie is still getting funding from SARU and is trying to sabotage from the inside.

 

[tranquility]

You simply cannot play Giteau at 13. He is so creative in close which creates the space for the bigger men out wide. He also quite simply could not defend in that channel. However he could be the soloution to our heartache at 15. He has all the attributes; good kicking game, excellent broken field runner, highly creative, good low tackler etc.

However he obviously should start the season at 12 and we can go from there.

Further digressing but to my eye under the current interpretations a hard running more conventional 12 seems very effective. I don't think that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is the man for the 12 role, but he could certainly be the man for 13. Horne is also blossoming at 13. I think we should leave Digby on the wing, but he could play there at at pinch as well.

I truly believe that A Finger would not be a bad option for the Wallabies at 12, but perhaps I am jumping the gun.

A back line like this could be very effective.

Genia, Quade
Finger, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)/Horne
Digby, Giteau, Hynes/Morahan

I think Morahan is Australia's version of Zac Guildford and has all the potential and natural ingredients to be in the top echelon of wingers in world rugby.

Barnes is well off the pace for mind and doesn't deserve a mention.

 

[DPK]

If they're going to switch positions like Deans talked about Barnes/Giteau and Cooper/Giteau, it doesnt really matter whether you have Giteau at 12 or 13. Well, maybe for whoever hands out the jerseys at the start of the game.

It does matter. 13 is a position that requires something different in defense I think, and I would prefer not to chop and change guys in and out of it. By all means have 10 and 12 doing the do-si-do all night, but 13 needs to be a stable organiser of the defensive line.

...so pick the best defensive organiser and when the game switches to defense, instruct him to move into 13. For instance, have Giteau at 13 with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) running hard ball at 12 in attack, then switch them in defense.

 

[cyclopath]

Each to their own. I think Giteau as a second playmaker at 12, with AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) or Ioane at 13 is better. Cooper has such a good long pass he can hit anything so the big guy doesn't need to be at 12. Agree to disagree.