Wallaby Squad Predictions 2010!
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Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Davies has the advantage in that the other Reds backs know how to create broken field opportunities either with a normal situation - or especially with turnover ball. Wingers can shine in those circumstances.
The other Oz backlines are not so adept at creating those opportunities or at using them; they nearly have to be slapped in the face with them before they realise there is a chance that is something different from running sideways into touch. It's an over the top generalisation but it suffices to say that wingers south of the Tweed don't have it so good.
Half the battle is for the flyhalf, or first receiver, to operate near the tackle line. Like matadors who are not afraid to go over the horns to plunge the sword in, there is risk in what they do if the timing isn't right, but the rewards are great. If the receiver has run near a gap in a flat situation he can make a long run as defenders are nearly past him when he gets the pill. Those runs create broken field opportunities behind enemy lines.
If defences have been bitten by that they can be shy in rushing up too much and so their tackle line retreats towards the gain line, which has other favourable consequences for attackers.
Other Oz teams make their moves so far back that defenders get bored waiting for them and they can read them like a comic book. Don't get me wrong: some of their moves are fancy and it's obvious that they have put in a lot of work; it's just that they are about 10 seconds too early. Much better is simpler stuff further forward.
Deans will factor in the likelihood of other wingers being able to do what Davies has done recently if they were playing for the Reds. They won't be quite as fast as Davies but they will be better footie players. Thus they will probably get precedence over him in big matches however well he plays this year; but time is on his side.
I have no problem with that; what I am afraid of is that Deans may not pair Cooper with Genia and thus forgo the play close to the tackle line.
But I digress - that has nothing to do with Davies.
The other Oz backlines are not so adept at creating those opportunities or at using them; they nearly have to be slapped in the face with them before they realise there is a chance that is something different from running sideways into touch. It's an over the top generalisation but it suffices to say that wingers south of the Tweed don't have it so good.
Half the battle is for the flyhalf, or first receiver, to operate near the tackle line. Like matadors who are not afraid to go over the horns to plunge the sword in, there is risk in what they do if the timing isn't right, but the rewards are great. If the receiver has run near a gap in a flat situation he can make a long run as defenders are nearly past him when he gets the pill. Those runs create broken field opportunities behind enemy lines.
If defences have been bitten by that they can be shy in rushing up too much and so their tackle line retreats towards the gain line, which has other favourable consequences for attackers.
Other Oz teams make their moves so far back that defenders get bored waiting for them and they can read them like a comic book. Don't get me wrong: some of their moves are fancy and it's obvious that they have put in a lot of work; it's just that they are about 10 seconds too early. Much better is simpler stuff further forward.
Deans will factor in the likelihood of other wingers being able to do what Davies has done recently if they were playing for the Reds. They won't be quite as fast as Davies but they will be better footie players. Thus they will probably get precedence over him in big matches however well he plays this year; but time is on his side.
I have no problem with that; what I am afraid of is that Deans may not pair Cooper with Genia and thus forgo the play close to the tackle line.
But I digress - that has nothing to do with Davies.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
fatprop said:
He is marked in Rugby? What? It isn't AFL or Soccer.
The very structure of the game of rugby union makes marking near impossible. You have so much flexibility to move around for work in attack and very little flexibility to move around in defense without creating holes. How would you mark someone?
I know you probably meant that more footage of him is dissected at training but if you run a good line in rugby it's a good line, whether they know you are going to run it or not. It's about putting them in a situation that they are powerless to stop not tricking them.
I suppose I'm only irritated because I keep hearing the commentators saying things along these lines but to me it just doesn't make an ounce of sense.
Not meaning to insult you Mr.Fatprop, you usually seem to be a knowledgeable poster and I'm sure you will now explain just why I'm wrong or how I misinterpreted.
A
AIDAN
Guest
Everyone seems to have Chambers in their team. surely there a number of backs ahead of him. he hasnt done that much to warrant a wallabies jersey
Reddy!
Bob Davidson (42)
What I love about Davies is that he is an out and out rugby winger, and suits Super rugby perfectly. As soon as Digby gave him the ball on the weekend, I knew it would be a try, too much pace. He doesn't shy away from the physical stuff either this season.
He won't play Wallabies, but he'll be in the Australian A team, I hope, just to continue his development. Chambers won't play Wallabies either (unless there is a large injury toll), but both are worthy for discussion because of their form and because they play with the future Wallaby half pairing.
He won't play Wallabies, but he'll be in the Australian A team, I hope, just to continue his development. Chambers won't play Wallabies either (unless there is a large injury toll), but both are worthy for discussion because of their form and because they play with the future Wallaby half pairing.
DPK
Peter Sullivan (51)
AD said:
Horne's probably done more, but he still has the injury stigma. Cross seems to be hitting some form very recently, but hasnt done enough this year. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is a clear option, but he might be in fullback. Chambers has to come into the picture at some point, even if he isnt picked.
13 and 15 are big problems.
cheezel
Bill Watson (15)
I'd personally go with a backline like so;
15: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14: Mitchell
13: Diggers
12: Gits
11: Hynes
10: Cooper
9: Genia
Backup team
15: JOC (James O'Connor)
14: Turner
13: Mortlock/Chambers
12: Barnes
11: The force winger with the mullet/perm (forgot his name)
10: Hangers
9: Burgess
15: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
14: Mitchell
13: Diggers
12: Gits
11: Hynes
10: Cooper
9: Genia
Backup team
15: JOC (James O'Connor)
14: Turner
13: Mortlock/Chambers
12: Barnes
11: The force winger with the mullet/perm (forgot his name)
10: Hangers
9: Burgess
T
TOCC
Guest
en_force_er said:
you are right, if a player runs a good line its incredibly difficult to mark him, however other teams can at least learn what to expect by studying the footage, and come game day they will know that Davies loves to run inside balls, or hr likes to pop up on the third or fourth phase. In which case they can better position themselves to be in a position to stop him.
However this is where variety comes into play, the Reds really have a abundance of it at the moment, they have the chips over the top, they play the long kicks to the corners, they attack the 5/8 channel, they truck it up and the can play it wide.
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
Im really not fussed about the wallabies wingers. For me none of them are complete stands outs but most of them should be able to get a decent job done. If it was NZ id pick Sivitatu or SA habana 100% of the time but for aus im not that fussed. Im more concerned about the centre pairings and fullback positions. Lets get that right first!
en_force_er said:
No insult, marked might not be the best word, but each team does lots of video work on their opposition these days. They have show a dosia of each player, what he does, which way he steps, what is his preferred kicking foot etc etc
Using Turner as an example, they now are well aware of his speed, but isn't great at breaking tackle in traffic, so they don't give him the outside lane and he generally has to come inside through traffic. etc etc
As players play more the video becomes more detailed and guys like Davies will find it more difficult to surprise.
Very true. If the guys inside are right, then the wingers won't matter so much. I would, in principle, like to see 1 real flyer in the 15 though, so that if outside breaks are created, there is someone who can finish well. If the breaks aren't there, you need the solid units more that can do more grunt work, and maybe drag a few defenders over the gain line. I reckon Turner and Mitchell would have looked much better on the end of the Qld backline.Seb V said:
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
cyclopath said:
Sure it would be nice for a winger to have ball skills but seriously do they even have to pass the ball that often? they are wingers for christ sake. Id pick the speed of habana, defence (how many bloody try savers has he made), Kick chase, finishing, footwork, over australias wingers with good ball skills any day!
A
AIDAN
Guest
DPK said:
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) for fullback while Horne should be a front runner for 13 and lets hope his injury problems are past. if the ARU had Gaz would he be picked for the wallabies before playing any super rugby?
S
Spook
Guest
AD said:
No, we have better players than Gasnier available.
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