Wallaby Watch 2014

[BDA]

Personally I see McCalman as more of a 6 than a classic 8. Good work rate, but less effective with ball in hand than Palu and Higgers.

 

[qwerty51]

It'll be interesting, I think if Skelton makes his way onto the bench Higgers could find himself on the bench over McCalman due to his lineout work.

 

[Gnostic]

Personally I see McCalman as more of a 6 than a classic 8. Good work rate, but less effective with ball in hand than Palu and Higgers.

More of a 6 not as effective with ball in hand - like who? Willie O, Finnegan, (Cockbain I'll grant you but he was there for lineout and defensive aggro), Daniel Manu, Illie Tabua, Elsom. All bar Cockbain were noted ball runners and all bar Elsom feared defenders. I think McCalman is about as close to a Elsom (in form prior to Ireland) replacement as there is in Oz.

 

[Slim 293]

Alexander
Moore
Skipper
Horwill
Simmons
Fardy
Hooper
Palu
Genia
Foley
Cummins
Beale
Krindrani
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Folau
Charles
Sio
Kepu
Jones
Higgers
White
To'omua
Mccabe

First, people are talking about dropping Hooper for Hodgson..........

And now To'omua?

We're entering a crazy time.........

 

[BDA]

hm i do like skipper as starting tighthead tho

 

[cyclopath]

hm i do like skipper as starting tighthead tho

Just when Alexander apparently gets better at scrumming at THP, and Slipper is consistent at LHP, we switch Alexander to LHP and put some rookie called Skipper in the team.

 

[Tomikin]

Just when Alexander apparently gets better at scrumming at THP, and Slipper is consistent at LHP, we switch Alexander to LHP and put some rookie called Skipper in the team.

He could be a good Captain with that name..

Sent from my HTC_0P6A1 using Tapatalk

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

First, people are talking about dropping Hooper for Hodgson....

And now To'omua?

We're entering a crazy time...

To'omua would be my 10 hands down.

 

[Joe Blow]

McCalman is nowhere near Elsom at his best. Elsom possesed a sensational running game, which admittedly dried up somewhat after his stint in Europe, and was much more effective at the breakdown. His line out work was better than McCalmans as well.
I too would question the impact, or lack thereof, that both Mac and Hodgo have had at test level. For mine both Gill and maybe Cottrell would have been better choices. With Jones and Fardy there we may not have needed one of those two at all.

 

[KevinO]

To'omua would be my 10 hands down.

Than what was that crazy line up you posted? You put the mortgage on France or something?

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

what i think the line up will be.

i really think To'omua is the best 10. higgers will get the bench for his versatility and ability to break open play

 

[Highlander35]

Completely for poops and giggles, I put together a Brum-bahs vs Tah-bahs game, assuming everyone was fully fit. Probably a little Rebels Biased, but meh.

 

[Scotty]

There's been a fair bit of noise in the media over the last week about a rift in the Wallabies that was caused over player payments last year and it sounds like it still lingers in the squad to a degree. From all reports it seems that that is where any issue lies, rather than over the whole Dublin 6 episode.

For those that don't know what I'm talking about, the players have an agreement that all players are paid equally on tours lasting 14 days or more regardless of who plays. For tours less than that, players vote on the issue.

The Rugby Championship tour of South Africa and Argentina last year lasted 12 days and the players voted on whether they would get paid based on matches or split everything equally.

The players who voted against splitting the money equally weren't very popular amongst their teammates.

Here's one of the stories http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport.../story-fnii0ksb-1226930518238?from=public_rss

A little birdy has told me that Moore often if not always votes against splitting equally. Apparently even when one time he was the only person in the squad to vote that way.

This is what I have been alluding to with reference to him never being selected as captain.

 

[Slim 293]

Maybe there should be no place for this kind of rubbish hearsay?

 

[Slim 293]

In other news, apparently Longbottom wasn't considered because he's about to join Saracens........ paywall, but there's enough in the first paragraph:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...ottom-cuts-ties/story-e6frg7o6-1226932364190#

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie told The Australianlast night he became aware a week ago that Longbottom had committed to London club Saracens and, in line with the policy of not choosing overseas-bound players that cost NSW Waratahs lock Kane Douglas and Brumbies number eight Ben Mowen places in the Wallabies squad to play France, crossed the 28-year-old frontrower off his selection list.

 

[Scotty]

Does it concern you that it is true?

This is a very credible source not 'rubbish heresay'.

 

[Slim 293]

What's more concerning is your complete misunderstanding of the term "hearsay", and how you're using it to smear a player's character...........

 

[qwerty51]

Well I don't understand why those payments should be split equally, if I had to vote I'd give it a no. Match payment is a match payment.. I believe they already get living expenses paid for on tour.

 

[Slim 293]

Personally, I don't particularly care either way....... but I completely agree with Gnostic:

That is a system fraught with pitfalls. I don't know who the fool was that agreed to that as a formal process? Why set up something that has provides such an assured source of division?

 

[Slim 293]

Apparently John Connolly nearly made Stephen Moore captain in 2007 (the rest of it in from a Canberra Times scope):

Former Test coach John Connolly is adamant ACT Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore "ticks all the boxes" to be the new Wallabies captain, revealing he almost made Moore Australia's captain for the 2007 World Cup.


Moore is the front-runner for the Wallabies captaincy job as coach Ewen McKenzie plans to replace outgoing leader Ben Mowen in the three Test series against France next month.

NSW Waratahs star Michael Hooper and Queensland duo Will Genia and James Horwill are also in contention, but 91-Test stalwart Moore is tipped to be anointed skipper when the Test squad assembles on Sunday.

Connolly described Moore's manner as "John Eales-ish" and said his experience made him the perfect candidate to take the reins.

In fact, Connolly said he almost opted for a then 22-year-old Moore instead of Brumbies and Wallabies great Stirling Mortlock to lead Australia's World Cup campaign seven years ago.

"Stirling got the job, but Stephen Moore and Matt Giteau were right in contention. It was a very close call and Stephen Moore ticks all the boxes as captain for me," Connolly said.

"I think it would be a massive ask for a young guy like Hooper to take over now. I like Genia as a captain, but with how Queensland is going makes it hard for him and Horwill.

"I'd be very surprised if Stephen Moore wasn't the Wallabies captain. It would be a big step for Hooper. Hooper's time will come, but I think Moore is clearly the best option."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/stephen-moores-time-has-come-as-wallabies-captain-john-connolly-20140526-zro8e.html#ixzz32phoAczg