Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!

[James Buchanan]

I think Eddie has fallen into a common trap for most sporting fans. He's equating potential with actual achievement.

His selections of Morahan and Houston both support this idea.

They both have the potential to be wallaby greats, but it won't be this year and it probably won't be by the World Cup.

 

[DPK]

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.

I disagree with your view that positional choices should be rigid, but only because with my view (Total Rugby? Like total football? Has someone "coined" this yet? :nta: ) you get the advantages of having (say) Giteau's strong attacking sense as a second playmaker with an option of switching to have a bullock at 12 with Giteau at 13.

But yeah, agree to disagree.

 

[wobbly]

Baxter, Burgess and Mitchell again confirmed tonight why they should be nowhere near a Wallaby jumper.

Douglas, Horne and Beale continue to impress.

 

[tranquility]

I agree wobbly.

 

[DPK]

Baxter, Burgess and Mitchell again confirmed tonight why they should be nowhere near a Wallaby jumper.

Douglas, Horne and Beale continue to impress.

He wasnt that bad, and he has been very solid this year. I'd have him starting.

 

[wobbly]

Mitchell - insipid in the tackle and shit kicker.

Why the fuck does Hickey designate him defensive kicker over Beale, Halangahu and Barnes?

 

[Viking]

for a hard running 12, if not A. fainga ever consider horne? he's got loads of potential.

 

[Viking]

hynes has been playing well, but from last years wallabies tests through to the use of the word "solid" above, is he going to score points from fullback for the team? or is he going to play a mistake free game that may or may not yield points?

He's prob not going to score points dramatically, but yes he wont make any mistakes. If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) plays 13, then IMO he's the only other option. JOC (James O'Connor) at fullback still scares me. I think JOC (James O'Connor) should be an impact player off the bench otherwise defensively their is too much to worry about. You can bet ur money the ABs will just keep giving JOC (James O'Connor) high balls, and then running through coopers channel. It would be a nightmare. Only other hope is Huxley or Shepard they are long shots tho.

 

[waratahjesus]

Baxter, Burgess and Mitchell again confirmed tonight why they should be nowhere near a Wallaby jumper.

Douglas, Horne and Beale continue to impress.

sorry, unless your playing iaone on the wing, mitchell is the best winger int he country by a mile at the moment, i dont really like the guy.

 

[waratahjesus]

hynes has been playing well, but from last years wallabies tests through to the use of the word "solid" above, is he going to score points from fullback for the team? or is he going to play a mistake free game that may or may not yield points?

He's prob not going to score points dramatically, but yes he wont make any mistakes. If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) plays 13, then IMO he's the only other option. JOC (James O'Connor) at fullback still scares me. I think JOC (James O'Connor) should be an impact player off the bench otherwise defensively their is too much to worry about. You can bet ur money the ABs will just keep giving JOC (James O'Connor) high balls, and then running through coopers channel. It would be a nightmare. Only other hope is Huxley or Shepard they are long shots tho.

i just prefer AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) joining the line than Hynes, i dont think we can win trophies with a safety first approach, and unless hynes mistake free games are going to give others opportunities then i would prefer him to be left out (not saying he isnt good) at the moment AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has to be fullback with Iaone at outside but if it will happen or not is another question.

agree totally on JOC (James O'Connor), i really hope the australian selectors dont blow there load over his potential, he has another two or three world cups left in him after next year, i just hope he develops rather than gets thrown in ahead of those how are already ahead of him.

 

[cyclopath]

Schmoo has had a bad game, but otherwise this year has been very good. His kicking is poor however, and they need to avoid him as that option.

 

[Spook]

Mitchell has been great this year and I thought he was ok tonight.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

i just prefer AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) joining the line than Hynes, i dont think we can win trophies with a safety first approach, and unless hynes mistake free games are going to give others opportunities then i would prefer him to be left out (not saying he isnt good) at the moment AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has to be fullback with Iaone at outside but if it will happen or not is another question.

agree totally on JOC (James O'Connor), i really hope the australian selectors dont blow there load over his potential, he has another two or three world cups left in him after next year, i just hope he develops rather than gets thrown in ahead of those how are already ahead of him.

Have you watched any Reds games this year bar v the Tahs? Hynes hasn't been going the "safety first approach", he's been running it more often than not and making yards.

 

[CanadianRugby]

Mitchell has been great this year and I thought he was ok tonight.

Completely disagree. His kicking was awful and he hardly beat anyone when he had the ball. Unfortuneately I'm with WJ, unless you have Ioane on the wing, Mitchell is the starting winger.

 

[waratahjesus]

i just prefer AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) joining the line than Hynes, i dont think we can win trophies with a safety first approach, and unless hynes mistake free games are going to give others opportunities then i would prefer him to be left out (not saying he isnt good) at the moment AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has to be fullback with Iaone at outside but if it will happen or not is another question.

agree totally on JOC (James O'Connor), i really hope the australian selectors dont blow there load over his potential, he has another two or three world cups left in him after next year, i just hope he develops rather than gets thrown in ahead of those how are already ahead of him.

Have you watched any Reds games this year bar v the Tahs? Hynes hasn't been going the "safety first approach", he's been running it more often than not and making yards.

ive watched reds games, and i agreed that hynes is good, as i said above, i think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a greater presence when joining the line than hynes. i asked the question is he going to score points or be mistake free as i feel AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is more likely to score points.

super rugby allows players more space than test matches and thats my worry as good as genia service is, i dont want quade to try to play a little faster and go back to mistake-a-holics territory

 

[Henry]

[/quote]

Completely disagree. His kicking was awful and he hardly beat anyone when he had the ball.
[/quote]

Hardly beat anyone? According to Foxsports he made twice as many tackle-busts as any crusader and the most for the Tahs with 8, Turner on 5.

 

[Spook]

Completely disagree. His kicking was awful and he hardly beat anyone when he had the ball.

Hardly beat anyone? According to Foxsports he made twice as many tackle-busts as any crusader and the most for the Tahs with 8, Turner on 5.

That sounds about right.

 

[cyclopath]

Absolutely - he kicked very poorly, but otherwise was OK and ran strongly when he had the ball (in no space), but the kicks really stand out. He has done more than enough this season to have a serious claim on 1 wing spot. Just get someone else to kick. 1 poor game out of 9 is not so bad.

 

[liquor box]

A Fainga needs to be picked, he is a stand out for the Reds each week, if you discount the "points scoring and setting up positions" in Cooper and Genia and start to look at who is doing the hard work he is always one of the best.


I am not too keen on players switching positions during the game, if you are not good enough to stay in your position for every second of the game then you dont have the skills required.

 

[cyclopath]

A Fainga needs to be picked, he is a stand out for the Reds each week, if you discount the "points scoring and setting up positions" in Cooper and Genia and start to look at who is doing the hard work he is always one of the best.


I am not too keen on players switching positions during the game, if you are not good enough to stay in your position for every second of the game then you dont have the skills required.

You make a good point - he is getting the job done well. And I agree about not swapping players all over the place. But the reality, I feel, is that Giteau and Barnes will be in the 22, and so Fainga'a will probably miss out. Although, I think a run in an early Test might not go astray.