What's the point of the Samoa game?

[Tahfan]

Seriously what's the point of this game.

It cant be used to "blood" potential world cup opponents. We will learn less about anyone in a game like this then in the Super Rugby tournament.

It cant be about match practice. It's a week after the Super rugby grand final and Deans as good as said if the reds make that he probably wont play them.

The only thing I can see is potential squad players getting a run in the event some of the injured players do not come right for the world cup and Elsom gets a run. That aside Samoa @ an empty ANZ stadium? light it up gonna be a cracker *sigh*

 

[TheNextBigThing]

Slap a cap on Timani before world cup squads are finalised.

 

[matty_k]

Don't we play at least one of the Pacific teams each year? Besides that who else are we going to get to come to play a game against us? None of the other nations would want to because of the RWC. Why travel here (or here abouts) twice.

 

[tigerland12]

Slap a cap on Timani before world cup squads are finalised.

I hate to bring this up, but I really think he has been hyped up a bit too much. He had a great season but personally I think Simmons,Wykes,Vickerman are all ahead of him.

Prepares for backlash hahaha

Maybe this game is primarily for Samoa's benefit.....

 

[waratahjesus]

Samoa are playing warm up games for the world cup, so are we, the northern hemisphere sides sent traveling so it ads a run to help build combinations and keep players that won't have played in a month match fit.

Anz stadium has a contract with the ARU to host 2 games a year, it for fills that.

If it is an easy game and Samoa don't turn up to play as they will during the cup, then it will allow the wallabies to use some lines and plays they have been practicing in training during. Game and build toward the cup.

 

[TheNextBigThing]

I hate to bring this up, but I really think he has been hyped up a bit too much. He had a great season but personally I think Simmons,Wykes,Vickerman are all ahead of him.

I agree that's why you get him capped in a minnow game. He won't make the 22 for the 3N, so if he doesn't play against Samoa, he'll be eligible for Tonga in the RWC.

Give him a run this year so he'll be a Wallaby for life. Hence when he is a real contender he'll be available.

Also what part of Vickerman's 10 minutes of Rugby this year made you think he was at test level?

 

[cyclopath]

I hate to bring this up, but I really think he has been hyped up a bit too much. He had a great season but personally I think Simmons,Wykes,Vickerman are all ahead of him.

Prepares for backlash hahaha

Maybe this game is primarily for Samoa's benefit.....

I suspect you really don't hate to bring it up, or else you wouldn't have. I would think you were hoping for a response.
As for over-hyping, I see a certain irony in anyone raising that argument, in light of the recent few weeks of provincial posturing on these boards.
Of course it is mainly for Samoa's benefit, apart from the gate-takings, which is probably the great shame.

 

[tigerland12]

I agree that's why you get him capped in a minnow game. He won't make the 22 for the 3N, so if he doesn't play against Samoa, he'll be eligible for Tonga in the RWC.

Give him a run this year so he'll be a Wallaby for life. Hence when he is a real contender he'll be available.

Also what part of Vickerman's 10 minutes of Rugby this year made you think he was at test level?

Ahhh yes I understand your point of view, fair enough.

With Vickerman I think his experience ect is very valuable and he hadn't looked like he has lost anything except match fitness.
But I don't want to start a Lock discussion on the wrong thread.

 

[Sully]

The ARU made an commitment to the IRU to play a PI team every year or so if I remember correctly. It is part of development in the region. But I have been wrong before

 

[tigerland12]

I suspect you really don't hate to bring it up, or else you wouldn't have. I would think you were hoping for a response.
As for over-hyping, I see a certain irony in anyone raising that argument, in light of the recent few weeks of provincial posturing on these boards.
Of course it is mainly for Samoa's benefit, apart from the gate-takings, which is probably the great shame.

Yeh not hoping for a negative response, which is how yours comes off as. I was posting my opinion which is what this forum is for isn't it? Not sure why you assumed I was looking for an arguement. End of bickering.done.

 

[cyclopath]

Well, you did expect a backlash...

 

[Slim 293]

I agree that's why you get him capped in a minnow game. He won't make the 22 for the 3N, so if he doesn't play against Samoa, he'll be eligible for Tonga in the RWC.

Give him a run this year so he'll be a Wallaby for life. Hence when he is a real contender he'll be available.

Also what part of Vickerman's 10 minutes of Rugby this year made you think he was at test level?

Ummm... If he gets 'capped' for Australia, then he can't play for Tonga...

 

[TheNextBigThing]

yeah... that's the point.

read it again.

 

[Slim 293]

Seriously what's the point of this game.

It cant be used to "blood" potential world cup opponents. We will learn less about anyone in a game like this then in the Super Rugby tournament.

It cant be about match practice. It's a week after the Super rugby grand final and Deans as good as said if the reds make that he probably wont play them.

The only thing I can see is potential squad players getting a run in the event some of the injured players do not come right for the world cup and Elsom gets a run. That aside Samoa @ an empty ANZ stadium? light it up gonna be a cracker *sigh*

Then it only makes sense for the Reds to pull out of the Super Rugby finals... for the good of the Wallabies...

Right?

 

[Slim 293]

yeah... that's the point.

read it again.

I did... you say "that's why you get him capped in a minnow game", and then later state "he'll be eligible for Tonga".

Of course if one doesn't play one doesn't get "capped"...

 

[Slim 293]

Anyways, I thought the point of this match was for two teams of 15 players to come out against each other and play a game of rugby...

 

[TheNextBigThing]

If he doesn't play against Samoa, he'll be eligible for Tonga in the RWC.

Sorry I thought it was clear.

 

[drewprint]

It was.

 

[Groucho]

Anyways, I thought the point of this match was for two teams of 15 players to come out against each other and play a game of rugby...

Exactly. It's an international. All internationals are important. And this game is particularly important for Samoa. It doesn't need to have any 'point' apart from those things.

World rugby isn't quite yet organised to align with the training schedule of the tier one teams, thank God.

 

[vidiot]

From a completely selfish spectator point of view, if we only play 6N, 3N sides and RWCs we won't have much to watch after the end of the super season most years - even this year. Imagine if there were no Australian sides in the finals :

I'd imagine Dingo is happy getting the chance to put a wallaby side on the park to work with before the 3N starts.