Wallabies World Cup squad taking shape
Columnist By David Lord, 12 Jun 2011 David Lord is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- 2011 Rugby World Cup, David Pocock, robbie deans, Rocky Elsom, Rugby World Cup, Super Rugby, Super Rugby 2011, wallabies
126 Have your say
Australian Wallabies coach Robbie Deans (right) and team captain Rocky Elsom. AAP Image/Joe Castro
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans will keep his fingers crossed David Pocock, Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Will Genia, and Quade Cooper remain injury-free right through to the Rugby World Cup final on October 23.
Last night Deans had a first-hand look in Perth at Pocock, his next Wallaby skipper.
With incumbent Rocky Elsom’s on-going injuries posing a big question mark over his ability to even make the RWC, Deans had to be impressed.
Pocock took over the Force captaincy in the 24th minute when Nathan Sharpe hobbled off after falling awkwardly in a lineout and twisting his ankle.
The 23-year-old Pocock immediately became the force of the Force, leading from the front – his work-rate extraordinarily high, his ability to pinch Red possession, second to none.
But he was denied a deserved victory over the front-running Reds, when winger Don Shipperly scored in the corner with just two minutes left on the clock.
Quade Cooper converted from near touch for a 24-21 win, even though the Reds were dead-set lucky to score two converted tries against the run of play in the first half, that made a huge difference.
The first was a Cooper intercept and the fly-half scooted 75 metres to score. The second a scrum feed by the Force that rolled through the tunnel into the big hand of Reds’ blindside flanker Scott Higginbotham who ducked under a high Brett Sheehan tackle to run 20 metres untouched to touch down in the left-hand corner.
A fluky 14 points that kept the Reds on top of the table.
But nothing fluky about Kurtley Beale, he keeps winning man-of-the-match awards with his speed, his dancing feet, and deft kicking, setting up three of the Waratahs five tries in their 33-7 win over the Highlanders at the SFS.
Beale has become a regular excitement machine turning nothing into plenty, lifting spectators out of their seats in anticipation every time he touches the ball.
But it wasn’t a romp in the park as the scoreline suggests, the Waratahs had to work hard to stay in Super 15 contention against the Highlander’s 80-minute performance.
The table, with a round to go:
* Reds 62 points – with the Chiefs to play away.
* Stormers 58 – Cheetahs away.
* Crusaders 57 – Hurricanes at home.
* Blues 56 – Highlanders at home.
* Bulls 53 – Sharks at home.
* Sharks 53 – Bulls away.
* And the Waratahs 52 – with the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium.
On the credit side the draw favours the Waratahs providing they beat the Brumbies, with the loser of the Bulls-Sharks clash at Loftus bowing out of the top six.
In the event of a Loftus draw, the Bulls would qualify sixth with 10 wins to the Sharks nine and a draw.
But on the debit side the Waratahs’ massive injury toll worsened overnight.
Pre-game the toll stood at 11, joined by inside-centre Berrick Barnes after 35 minutes with yet another head injury, skipper-flanker Phil Waugh didn’t come out for the second half, No 8 Wycliff Palu lasted only 41 minutes, and prop Benn Robinson 57.
And even though punishing hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau courageously stayed on the paddock, he was limping for three-quarters of the game with a right leg injury.
No wonder the furrows on Waratahs coach Chris Hickey are getting deeper and deeper, but the same applies to Robbie Deans.
He’s already lost lock Mark Chisholm for the season, there’s still no sign of a return for winger Drew Mitchell, rehabbing his fractured ankle, nor Rocky Elsom, the extent of Sharpe’s ankle injury won’t be known until later today – and Reds winger Rod Davies left the field in agony with a shoulder-elbow injury.
Outside of the carnage the brilliant James O’Connor, who has been out of action for a fortnight with a shoulder injury, safely saw out the 80 minutes against the Reds.
As did Will Genia, and Quade Cooper, for the Reds.
The way the Super 15 is paning out, the Rugby World Cup could well be won by the last team standing.
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June 12th 2011 @ 10:18am
Glenn Condell said | June 12th 2011 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Cooper was the difference last night, making a last-gasp win possible with a bit of brilliance, as did Carter across the ditch. With Genia in form, O’Connor looking sharp on return and Beale stepping up to the levels he reached late last year, I am just hoping key forwards stay fit so that we have a platform for these guys to play. If Mitch recovers and AAC and Ioane stay fit, we have a backline capable of winning the Cup in style.
Good to see Vickerman back but it is hard to see Horwill and Sharpe shifted if they’re both fit. It’s the front row and back row starters that I can’t decide on. Moore’s solidity or Taf’s dynamism? I am leaning to Moore starting – how many games has Taf played this year where he wasn’t carrying some sort of injury after 20 or 30? Robinson’s propping partner is unclear too with some unexpectedly solid scrummaging from all our teams complicating the picture (in a good way) for Deans and co. Kepu for mine if fit, with Slipper on bench and Alexander hovering. Elsom will have to slot straight back into form to hold off Higginbotham and Samo and Hodgson.
Feeling for Berrick Barnes, it’s looking very Elton Flatley at the moment. His fade brings Giteau back into the picture. I have to say, although he is no chance for selection, that Halangahu had a very good defensive game last night. He has copped it for being a turnstile, but he tackled often and he tackled well, so good on him.
June 12th 2011 @ 10:18am
JTG said | June 12th 2011 @ 10:18am | Report comment
I Don’t think Robbie would be too worried about Mark Chisolm’s Injury, there would be at least 5 or 6 better player’s ahead of him.
June 12th 2011 @ 12:34pm
Spencer said | June 12th 2011 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Agree. mr Lord must have been in 2008 when he wrote that.
June 12th 2011 @ 8:50pm
Ben S said | June 12th 2011 @ 8:50pm | Report comment
Or in November 2010 when Chisholm started against England and then came off the bench against France.
June 12th 2011 @ 10:41am
wobbly said | June 12th 2011 @ 10:41am | Report comment
My Team:
15. Kurtley Beale
14. Digby Ioane
13. Adam Ashley Cooper
12. James O’Connor
11. Drew Mitchell
10. Quade Cooper
9, Will Genia
8. Redeke Samo
7. David Pocock
6. Scott Higgenbotham
5. James Horwill
4. Nathan Sharpe
3. James Slipper
2. Tatefe Palota-Nau
1. Ben Daley
Unbeatable!
June 12th 2011 @ 11:20am
Twickenham said | June 12th 2011 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Like your backline. I would run with that. Robbie will not pick O’Connor at 12 as he is too small for the extra defensive load. Unfortunately, if you have to defend outside Quade, your defensive workload doubles.
You can’t be serious about Slipper and Daley, surely ? The Reds scrum was on skates last night against the Force. Pick those 2 against an international standard scrum and it will be a disaster. Put them on ice for 2015. Robinson and Kepu are clearly the 2 best props in the country. Can’t argue with the rest on form.
June 12th 2011 @ 1:25pm
IronAwe said | June 12th 2011 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Deans did say that he thought O’Connor was too small for inside, but this is a lie. He’s played Giteau there numerous times and their height and weight are almost identical, so there is obviously another reason.
June 12th 2011 @ 7:36pm
Jerry said | June 12th 2011 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
He also played Aaron Mauger at 12 for the Crusaders, and when assistant coach of the AB’s. And Mauger’s not exactly Ma’a Nonu.
June 13th 2011 @ 12:18am
bennalong said | June 13th 2011 @ 12:18am | Report comment
But he IS an inch taller and 10 kg heavier than O’Connor
June 12th 2011 @ 6:21pm
jeznez said | June 12th 2011 @ 6:21pm | Report comment
Daley will get eaten by the Franks brothers – Robinson is one of the first picked for mine
June 12th 2011 @ 9:50pm
ronnie88 said | June 12th 2011 @ 9:50pm | Report comment
Daley played very well against the franks bro’s just last week! Certainly not eaten by them then and will go head to head again with them in the finals. Daley topped tackle and hit up count yet again and scrum held its own, he is making all the right moves at the business end of the season.
June 12th 2011 @ 10:03pm
Aware said | June 12th 2011 @ 10:03pm | Report comment
Are the Franks brothers really that great? If so, why did NZ try to get Carl Hayman back for the RWC?
June 13th 2011 @ 1:07am
jeznez said | June 13th 2011 @ 1:07am | Report comment
the Franks bros anchor the best scrum in Super Rugby – there isn’t a huge amount more they can do. They also tore the third best scrum the Waratahs apart when they played them. Daley gave away a scrum penalty against the Crusaders that cost his team the lead. He was lucky it was just three points – other referees would have yellow carded and/or awarded a penalty try
June 13th 2011 @ 10:02am
ronnie88 said | June 13th 2011 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Mate, if you had any clue at all what you are talking about that scrum penalty was a complete joke. It was one of the reds best scrums and daley got on top of his opposite and dominated and wheeled him around. In any event, plenty of the props give penalties away with different refs interpretations, even Slipper has been giving away alot of scrum penalties of late so are you going to abandon your blind support for him?
June 13th 2011 @ 1:12am
PeterK said | June 13th 2011 @ 1:12am | Report comment
ahh no. Crusaders scrum monstered the reds, Daley is not good enough in the scrum. I do agree he has a high and effective workrate around the field.
June 13th 2011 @ 8:32am
daryl said | June 13th 2011 @ 8:32am | Report comment
if Rocky is fit, you can’t leave him out. What about McCalman as well? and no way Daley and Slipper are the two best props, Benny Alexander and the dumpling Benn Robinson to start, with Kepu coming off the bench. Backline is all class though, I think Mark Gerrard should jag a bench spot due to his versatility.
June 13th 2011 @ 11:22am
jeznez said | June 13th 2011 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Ronnie, just because we have different opinions doesn’t mean I don’t have a clue. I believe it was a correct penalty Daley stood up, it wasn’t like he got under Franks and was driving him up and backwards, he stood up because he was under pressure and was correctly penalised. It is alright mate, we are allowed to disagree.
June 12th 2011 @ 11:00am
Behind Enemy Lines said | June 12th 2011 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Wallabies starting XV for the world cup (assuming all below are available).
1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Slipper
4. Horwill
5. Sharpe
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. Ioane
14. O’Connor
15. Beale
Wouldn’t be the team I would pick but Deans definitely has his favourites. The only possible difference here would be the inclusion of AAC who would slot in at 13. This is very likely if Mitchell isn’t fit in which case Ioane moves to the wing. Other standouts for me include Pat McCabe, Radike Samo, Scott Higginbotham and very obviously TPN. Hopefully they will have all done enough to make the reserves.
June 12th 2011 @ 3:54pm
PeterK said | June 12th 2011 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
I dont think Giteau is a favourite anymore. He was dropped to the bench last few games and the team really performed. AAC will be 13 and Ioane wing. The main issue is where will JoC play wing or 12. Whilst Mitchell is out I suspect JoC will be wing and Barnes 12 if fit. If Barnes is out then 12 is really up in the air. I would love to see Mccabe at 12 or wing swapping roles with JoC at 12 or wing.
June 13th 2011 @ 11:35am
taya said | June 13th 2011 @ 11:35am | Report comment
sorry but how can you possibly pick Matt G?
June 12th 2011 @ 11:07am
Aware said | June 12th 2011 @ 11:07am | Report comment
My team:
1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Baxter (surprising to some but name any other better performed tight head currently available)
4. Horwill
5. Sharpe
6. Elsom (c)
7. Pocock
8. Samo
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Mortlock (vc)
13. Ioane
14. O’Connor
15. Beale
June 12th 2011 @ 12:36pm
Spencer said | June 12th 2011 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Baxter. Hahahahahahaaa…ooohhhhhh. sad really!
June 12th 2011 @ 1:48pm
Crazy Horse said | June 12th 2011 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Baxter would nebe good if you have some way of capitalising on penalties awarded against the team for continually collapsing the scrum.
June 12th 2011 @ 1:26pm
Aware said | June 12th 2011 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Vickerman would be in for Sharpe or Horwill if he was ready. So would Palu. Palota-Nau would certainly be a back up for Moore and start against packs that have lesser scrums. Kepu or Fairbrother as back ups for Al and Robbo or Blake if he is fit. Higginbotham and Mumm for the locks. Giteau, Ashley-Cooper, Cross and Barnes reserves for the backs.
June 12th 2011 @ 6:20pm
jeznez said | June 12th 2011 @ 6:20pm | Report comment
Aware, why would you weaken the scrum against strong scrummaging teams? TPN is a stronger scrummager than Moore. I can see why you might prefer Moore against a strong lineout due to his superior throwing but he is not as strong as Taf at scrum time.
June 12th 2011 @ 8:51pm
PeterK said | June 12th 2011 @ 8:51pm | Report comment
TPN’s lineout has improved over the last 2 years. Looking at not straights this year his stats are the equal of Moores. I would not start Moore over TPN against any strong team.
June 12th 2011 @ 9:38pm
Aware said | June 12th 2011 @ 9:38pm | Report comment
I thought the Baxter-Moore-Robinson front row worked well tactically in England in 2008. It’s mainly the combination and chemistry but obviously TPN is very strong physically. Moore is also rated very highly internationally.
June 13th 2011 @ 1:12am
jeznez said | June 13th 2011 @ 1:12am | Report comment
I rate the hookers scrummaging by comparing how the scrum changes when their replacements come on. They are obscured so you can’t monitor technique the way you would for a prop. The difference to the Tahs when Ulugia or Fitzpatrick comes on – think of the Reds match where the Reds pack were on roller skates until TPN went off and then they had seven scrums on the line and were not able to push it over. The Brumbies scrum does not transform as much when Edmonds come on. Moore is a highly rated scrummager but the evidence that TPN moves scrums forward is compelling. I think that Robinson, TPN and Slipper with Moore and hopefully Kepu (Alexander if Kepu is still injured) is the best front row and reserves we can produce at the moment.
June 13th 2011 @ 8:38am
daryl said | June 13th 2011 @ 8:38am | Report comment
I am a Mortlock fan….but no.
June 12th 2011 @ 11:29am
ben said | June 12th 2011 @ 11:29am | Report comment
The lack of obvious choices in the centers is a big probelem for the wallabies. You can not have people playing out of position, especially for the WC. Ioane has been found out at 13. ACC has to be 13 as there really is no one else. as for 12 if Barnes is fit you can lock that in…..if he is not its an issue.JOC maybe, becasue he is going so well on the wing. He and Beale are a nightmare in the back 3.
my team
1. Robinson
2. TPN(he adds real starch over Moore)
3. Kepu(Better at scrum than Alexander, Slipper seems a year away)
4. Sharpe
5. Horwill
6. Elsom
7. Pocock
8. Palu (Size and Starch…McCalman off the bench)
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11.Ioane
12. Barnes
13. ACC
14 JOC
15. Beale
It is a team that could win the world cup.
June 12th 2011 @ 6:24pm
jeznez said | June 12th 2011 @ 6:24pm | Report comment
I think you are selling Slipper short – I think he hasn’t looked as good this year due to his fellow front row of Daley and Faingaa, when Slip is joined by Hanson and Holmes the Reds scrum looks better
June 12th 2011 @ 10:21pm
ronnie88 said | June 12th 2011 @ 10:21pm | Report comment
The loss of laurie weeks at tight head this year has been very apparent, the combo of daley, fainga, weeks last year was sensational – go the tripod,
June 12th 2011 @ 10:25pm
TD said | June 12th 2011 @ 10:25pm | Report comment
I think you are being very harsh on Daly, he is a power house around the ground and the Reds scrum has been going well this season. IMO the Reds scrum combo of last year, Daly Faingaa Weeks (The Tripod) worked better than this year so don’t know how you arrive at you critiicism of Daly and Faingaa.
June 12th 2011 @ 10:40pm
PeterK said | June 12th 2011 @ 10:40pm | Report comment
the Reds scrum has been competent in most games but in a significant number has gone backwards. Tahs, Bulls and Crusaders all smashed it, the Force even won the battle.
June 13th 2011 @ 1:14am
jeznez said | June 13th 2011 @ 1:14am | Report comment
Daley would have the highest work rate of all Aussie props around the park – his scrummaging is not in the same class as Robinson. Even Alexander who is out of form is ahead of him purely on scrummaging.
The tripod did work well last year but for some reason this year the Reds scrum only looks safe when Hanson and Holmes come on
June 13th 2011 @ 1:21am
PeterK said | June 13th 2011 @ 1:21am | Report comment
Agree Daley has the highest and most effective work rate. He plays in tight unlike seagulling Alexander.
However I easily rate Daley a better scrumager than Alexander. Brumbies scrum has been smashed by all and sundry.
June 13th 2011 @ 1:28am
jeznez said | June 13th 2011 @ 1:28am | Report comment
I guess I’m judging Alexander on prior deeds and assuming he can get back to that level, where as I’m not sure that Daley will get there unless he gets a lot stronger. Those tests against England last year showed that he was just not physically strong enough to keep his left shoulder up against a strong tighthead
June 13th 2011 @ 10:23am
ronnie88 said | June 13th 2011 @ 10:23am | Report comment
I’d say any team who wins the super 15 regular competition has a more than capable scrum. McKenzie then in your opinion has no idea then?
June 13th 2011 @ 11:11am
jeznez said | June 13th 2011 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Ronnie88, I’m a long suffering Tahs fan. For years I watched McKenzie present Dunning, Freier and Baxter as a super 15 front row. He had the gall while applying for the Wallabies job to say that he was the man to fix the job when he was providing the guys who were the problem.
June 13th 2011 @ 11:34am
PeterK said | June 13th 2011 @ 11:34am | Report comment
ronnie that is an illogical statement re because the Reds will probably finish 1st after the rounds that means they have to be more than capable in a particular area and then furthermore use that to justify that player being picked. Using that method you might as well say the whole Wallaby starting XV should be Reds.
The top team may still have an achilles heal, and in the Reds case it is the scrum. It has been pushed around a fair bit by the stronger scrums.
June 13th 2011 @ 12:28pm
ronnie88 said | June 13th 2011 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
No, not implying that, what i am sayimg is the best front row for the reds is daley, fainga, slipper, and that is the front row link has been using. Im simply agreeing with link and not agreeing with jznez
June 13th 2011 @ 2:38pm
jeznez said | June 13th 2011 @ 2:38pm | Report comment
Ronnie – the point I’m trying to make is that I don’t think two of those three are strong enough scrummagers. The fact that Link is picking them doesn’t make them strong scrummagers – the strongest parts of their game are actually what they offer in open play and in the break down. Daley makes plenty of hit ups, tackles and cleanouts while Saia almost always contributes a couple of breakdown steals. These are very valuable to the Reds and help them get quick breakdown ball which has been one of the keys of their play.
None of this changes my view that their scrummaging is not strong enough for contention at the next level up – the scrummaging questions they are squeaking by at the moment become a lot tougher when the Franks Bros get partnered with Woodcock, Hore/Mealamu and when the English come down. Slipper showed against NZ, England, Italy (once Castrogiovanni was made to stay square) and the French that he can hold up against the top scrums out there – Daley showed against England that he couldn’t.
Anyway opinions are like bottoms, everybody has one – I don’t think either of us is going to change the others mind.
June 13th 2011 @ 6:08pm
Singsling said | June 13th 2011 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
Jeznez, just want to clarify that when Daley played against England (probably the best scrum running around) he was 20yr and on debut and thrown in due to injury with a second string pack, hardly the best situation to begin your test career, so to judge him on that performance is a little unfair. He did however redeem himself in the following tests against England and Ireland.
I think due his first test against England everytime a Reds scrum goes backwards your assessment is that it is Daley’s fault which is also unfair. From the stats Slipper has conceded more scrum penalties than Daley this year yet he is rated the best TH in the country.
I rate Slipper and agree he is coming along nicely and deserves to be considered as the number 1 TH, but last year he was nutured by Deans getting 10-20 minutes at the end of each game rather than being thrown in against the best pack in an under strenghth Wallaby line up.
With Daley and Slipper the Reds will form a very good scrum over the coming years and will become one of the dominant scrums in S15.
June 13th 2011 @ 7:20pm
jeznez said | June 13th 2011 @ 7:20pm | Report comment
Singsling I agree that Slipper definitely got an easier initiation into the international set up. But then I think Maafu was unfairly dropped just as he started to improve, his last test was his best. Maafu however didn’t help himself by not taking his training to another level in the off season to try and crack a leading spot in the squad.
On the penalty front I have usually agreed with the referee on Daley’s penalties and been left scratching my head on Slippers as to what the referee saw – I’ve been similarly bemused by a number of the penalty calls against Benn Robinson. So although all three have been penalised in my head two have them been referee’s interpretation while one of them is the ability of the player.
I hope Daley’s scrummaging develops. The rest of his game this year has been sensational. Absolutely accept that I may be pre-judging him – would love him to prove me wrong because he obviously has a huge amount of heart as demonstrated by the way he plays.
The title of this post is “Wallabies World Cup Squad Taking Shape” given the limitations of a world cup squad and that you only realistically get to name four props I’m not sure he is ready. I’m not saying he never will be just I don’t think he is in the best four scrummagers in Australia right this minute and that I would not have confidence to pick him going into this RWC. I think the four are Benn Robinson, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu (if fit) and Ben Alexander if he can pull a skerrick of form out.
Anyway this is just opinion and I’m trying to be as clear and specific as I can –
I do not believe that Daley’s scrummaging is good enough right now to include him in the squad for this RWC. I’d love him to prove me wrong because that would mean we had another good loosehead and that will lift the standards all round.
June 12th 2011 @ 12:25pm
Damo said | June 12th 2011 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Ben, you are right the midfield is a question that does not have a clear answer.
I am hoping that Deans has a Plan to fast track a tough 12 ( perhaps a 13 as well) through the tri-nations.
The sides picked up above are all Okay First XV’s but we will need at least one cover for each and it may be the ‘reserve’ that is there for the crucial try or tackle in the crucial game.
These ‘ideal’ first 15 picks look good but it would be a dumb general who thought that he could win a dozen battles without casualties.
I want to know who is going to be blooded to cover Barnes at 12, AAC at 13, Cooper at 10 etc.
Barnes should have been blooded more before RWC finals in 07 in anticipation of Larkham’s injury( which was inevitable).
We wont have injuries as an excuse in a few months time.
I’d like to see Dellit, Faiinga, mcCabe and their like, in the mix and getting 3N game time. To those who think it’s too late to start bringing these boys through I would say better to do it in the 3N than in a WC final (as we did with Barnes in 07).
The second and third 15 will be called on in this test season of 3 tournaments.
Which is why NZ and SA deserve their favouritism.
Who will be the ‘reserve’ selections Robbie?
June 12th 2011 @ 1:51pm
Crazy Horse said | June 12th 2011 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
It should be Nick Cummins, who was in last years squad until injured at the training camp. He has had a blinder of a season and can play centres or wing.
Sam Wykes would have to be a contender as well, at least for the bench.
June 12th 2011 @ 2:32pm
johnny-boy said | June 12th 2011 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
I’ll toss in Pat McCabe as a possible bolter for 2nd five if AF is injured. Strong runner and defender.
June 13th 2011 @ 8:56am
daryl said | June 13th 2011 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Agree. Ant Faiinga should be there, huge in defence and doesnt lack in attack either. he has been there and done it before with the under 20s in 2006 (not the same level i know, but he would be playing against other players from those championships). McCabe is also a good prospect, but at times lacks vision, opting instead to pin the ears back and hit it up (i love nothing more then watching McCabe getting a 30m run up and hitting the line hard). Phipps should also have the bench halfback spot hands down. as for forwards, higginbotham will be unlucky not to start, but will make the bench due to his versatility in the backrow. this goes for McCalman too if he misses a starting spot.
June 12th 2011 @ 12:27pm
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels said | June 12th 2011 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
The elephant in the room is astounding!
It doesn’t matter how pissed the general public is with Giteau, he cannot be denied. Gits along with Moore have held the Brums together. Gits is our 12, whether Barnes is fit or not… he has been nothing short of the Gits of old.
June 12th 2011 @ 5:01pm
Damo said | June 12th 2011 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
Maybe scoundrel maybe Gits is in -but who is his cover?
June 13th 2011 @ 11:45am
taya said | June 13th 2011 @ 11:45am | Report comment
are you really serious – the elephant in the room? another backward step for Aust Rugby by selecting players of old…bad judgement call
June 12th 2011 @ 1:36pm
al sylvester said | June 12th 2011 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
Digby is a winger, not a centre…he has no instinct to set up outside him, just go himself, and he does that very well. He also knows how to look for work but the free ranging can only be from the wing. Out centre needs adherence to position.
O’connor knows how to set up and also how to run off others (like when he made Gitteau look so good at the force). His D is excellent. He is the 13 for the Wallabies. Give him a chance and it will be like discovering the natural position for Kurtley at fullback.
The understandings between Genia, Quade, O’Connor Beale Digby and Mitchell…hey thats almost the backline….would be an amplified Ella brothers. Give them 30% possession and the Cup is Australia’s.
June 12th 2011 @ 1:50pm
Cros said | June 12th 2011 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Agree, the centre combination is problematic.
I am not a fan, but I think Giteau has perhaps played his way back into the Inside Centre position, with either AAC or Pat McCade Outside. He has more experience there. Leave Ioane on the wing. O’Connor could be used to interchange with either of the back three, or with Giteau as required. Defenses have more to fear from O’Connor than Giteau, but with a heavy schedule looming, both will be called upon.
Always thought Giteau struggled to play second fiddle to Cooper, so will be interesting to see whether they can form any combination. The worry is the Wallabies don’t have a settled combination in the middle.
Elsom has not done enough to be in the run-on side. The success of the Reds means the inclusion of Higginbottom and Radike Samo at 8. These guys have the belief.
The Tahs frontrow should stay together. Kepu with Baxter on the bench.
Success will depend as much on the right selections and forming useful combinations early.