The incumbent(s):
Richard Brown (WA): For a player that looks so made for test footy, it’s easy to forget he only made his debut in the last domestic test of last year. Brown has carried over his sterling 2008 form into 2009 and is one of the most important players for the Force. Industrious, robust and tough – qualities Australian rugby has cried out for in the Wallabies, perhaps since the days of Matt Cockbain and Phil Waugh (in his prime).
The likely candidates:
Wycliffe Palu (NSW): Another player who was in exception Super form last year. It was arguably his best year of test football as well. Injury has slowed his start to 2009, and whilst there have been glimpses of his best, Palu has not performed to the same level, consistently, as a either Coach Hickey or Coach Deans would have liked. Perhaps the Tahs poor attacking performances could be as a result of his less than dominant displays?
The Roughies:
Stephen Hoiles (ACT): OK, I’ll be honest. I had Leroy Houston here. Hangover from when I first drafted up these notes a couple of weeks ago. In reality it’s a two horse race between Palu and Brown. Houston’s now a Roughie to make the Reds team. As for Hoiles? Well he’s only just back from injury, and put in a half decent performance on the weekend (only playing half the game). He doesn’t have the physical presence of the other two, but has a certain nous they could fit into a fulling firing Wallaby team. Perhaps from the bench though.
What is Deans looking for?
The same thing he’s looking for from his wingers, work rate. And impact of course. Its why Hoiles, Houston and the others aren’t really options. Brown comes up trumps in the work rate column, whilst Palu makes the impact. That’s not to belittle the work Cliffey does around the field, as its an area he has clearly worked on and he’s almost unrecognisable from the player he was on debut 3 years ago.
Who is the answer?
Much will come down to the balance of the backrow. There are a number of ways Robbie can go here. Does he take a Force type approach with 3 pseudo opensides? It’s a different game than when we bemoaned the use of ‘dual flyers’ and George Smith could play wold class rugby with a 6 on his back. Throw in Brown at 8 and Pocock or Waugh at 7 and its an aggressive on the ball forward pack. A more traditional approach would keep a flyer at 7, a bit of size at 6 and a link man at 8. Either way, I suggest at this stage Brown may just have his flattened nose in front.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2513 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=2513">16 Comments
Good one Noddy.
Palu’s had a slow S14, but I’m hoping he does a George Smith and busts it open for the international season. Brown is a real talent.
The differences in style between these two is chalk and cheese, but the go forward that Palu can give from even the most static situations is hard to go past.
This depends on whose in 6.
If Elsom is in 6, Hoiles has a chance.
If he’s not its a two horse event, with a fully fit palu starting.
I wonder how MMM would play at 8, myself. Generally though, I agree with Noddy thats its either Brown or Palu, depending on the workrate/impact ratio required.
The only shortcoming those two have is that neither is a genuine third lineout option, which makes having a jumping 6 more important.
I would also like to see Madness have a go at 8. Off the back of the scrum he’d be dynamite.
Noddy – you haven’t included Rocky Elsom as a No 8 option. He is currently playing for Leinster as a No 8 and is having a huge season in that position. As discussed by others, it will also be about balance and lineout options. For mine, he’s a natural fit in that position as not only does he have Palu’s ‘go forward’ but additional ball skills and pace that the former doesn’t possess. That’s a positive especially at the back of the scrum where you are a conduit between forwards and backs frequently operating under pressure.
If you chose him at No 8 (he’s a lineout jumper as well), it’s a matter of deciding who would partner Smiffy on the flank. You may end up with the trio of Elsom, Smiff and Brown – with the latter operating as a No 6. Or better still, go for a bit more bulk, aggression and an additional jumping option and select Madness. In a beaten side, Madness has been playing some pretty good rugby and you just couldn’t leave him out – but I guess that depends on the 2nd row fit. If Horwill comes into a bit of form, I think a Sharpe/Horwill pairing would probably go around again. I really like the look of Caldwell too – he’s a real grafter and gives you workrate. I reckon he’s a pretty good scrummaging lock as well. I think Phil Waugh’s international days are numbered.
I really don’t get the hype with MMM. Admitedly I haven’t watched as many reds games as I would like, but he just seems ineffectual in the ones i have watched.
He doesn’t seem a particularly strong runner, often failing to gain the advantage line. No powerful leg drive.
I can’t comment on his workrate, which i’m sure must be quite good, but he doesn’t provide the go forward i would like to see. Or have I been turning a blind eye?
He just looks really akward, long limbs spraying everywhere with not much strength to hold his ground.
Lance, I don’t think it matters what number Elsom wears on his back, apart from the scrum its all the same anyway. Horwill needs to get back to ’08 form but he is returning from injury. I’d pick Brown over Palu at the moment because his workrate is super and his tackling incredible; Pocock and Palu to come off the bench? Wouldn’t mind seeing that and think that a wrecking ball sort of player like Palu would be effective coming on to bruise up some tired bodies. and the bench would be a good international apprenticeship for Pocock.
Well, I reckon Brown will at least have a go for the Barbars match, given Elsom will be on the other side.
Smith, Elsom and Hoiles would be a decent back row. Swap Hoiles for Cliffy and you’ve got power. Brown’s got both power and nouse, so for excitement factor:
Smith, Pocock, Brown (Pocock to the bench when Rocky returns).
Stu Andrews’s last blog post..A Lot Has Happened ..
Palu is head and shoulders above the rest. He is a freakishly dynamic athlete, a proven quality test player, and is easily the best ball carrying forward in Australia.
Brown seems best positioned to backup Palu. Not through form or ability, just by process of elimination. Hoiles doesn’t have the body, Houston the fitness.
Everything about Brown is ordinary, including his name. With Cliffy’s dodgy shoulder, we badly need Leroy Houston to shape up or someone else to emerge.
Who’s in 6?
I think once you knew who was playing blindside it would be easy to figure out the other loosies.
Could Brown play 6? He looks tallish so he could probably jump in the lineout. Then you get Smith in 7 and Palu 8 with any loose forward reserve on the bench.
Agreed, I would really like to see Brown in at 6 as well. Unless Elsom comes back, then i’d settle for him at 8.
Killer Backrow:
6-elsom/7-smith(pocock)/8-brown
Hoiles is just not physical enough to play a test against the AB’s, SA, Argentina (although I dont know the last time Aust played a full strength Puma side) or England.
For tests against other nations – esp the weakened touring NH touring sides – Hoiles would be fine. Then again, so would some S14 bench players in some cases.
As I said watching an early season Brumbies game “Its like having an extra halfback!”.
Cliffy for me, I reckon he scares the shit out of oppositions whereas Dick does not.
Cliffy is the best forward in terms of runs and metres gained, which is what you want your no 8 to be.
Hoiles would be a good bench player as he can cover 6 or 8 and is a genuine line-out option. Not sure if Dick is a line-out option…?
This would provide good balance assuming either Madness or Mummy is the starting no 6 as they can sub into lock should the need arise
We should bet on this. It is Palu by a million miles, unless he breaks. I hope Brown gets plenty of back-up time but Palu is the man. It doesn’t matter what kind of Rugby it is there is a need for a dominant short-range set-defence-smashing machine, and Palu is no1. (second is Elsom, third is a fit’n’firing Horwill, fourth is Gagger’s favorite little prop)
Smith-Palu-Elsom is the dream backrow, with Pocock on the bench and Brown or perhaps McMeniman a reserve. For the lineouts Smith is awesome at the back, Elsom jumps brilliantly and so do Sharpe and Horwill so that is strong enough (three awesome jumpers beats four average anyday). Besides they can actually lift Palu, it really isn’t that hard, especially not when your best mate is a 140kg benchpress bar (or do you think Sharpe is so much lighter?)
I think hoiles is the schmickest option at 8. Followed closey by Brown.
I have never been a huge fan of Cliff, but tahts because he is just a battering ram…that at internaitonal level can be nullified, its the extra dynamic brought to the game by a good skill set that can often be the different.
But, to be honest, at 8 it would depend on who you have at 6 and 7.
With a good link man at 6 or 7 you can afford to have a minima dimension 8 playing hard straight rugby. So Palu has his place.
I really consider a Hoiles brown Combination at 6 and 8 a good compliment for the Wallabies. However as you suggest, he lacks some agression at impact does dear old Hoiles. Which is surprising….other internaitonal 8’s such as Harinodorquay are fine with their phiscality and have similar frames and weights.
Then in c,arison Palu and say Ros So’oialo are simalr in size and stature, but Rod does have a more complete skill set.
its a tough one.
Palu to get the starting gig, but after a long hard think about who teh best 6 is.
Pingback: Gold - THE Aussie Rugby Blog for fans of Australia and the Wallabies