Deans goes for proven combinations
Roar Guru By LeftArmSpinner, 9 Jun 2012 LeftArmSpinner is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Berrick Barnes, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
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The Wallabies selectors have been clever in selecting proven combinations for the first Wales Test match.
The dramatic circumstances of last Tuesday evening and the short turn around dictated that this is the best approach.
Last week after more than 284 comments on my articles naming the forwards and the backs for the Wales tour, we now have the Wallabies squad.
I made 22 selections. 14 were correct, 7 were wrong and one was the correct player but in the wrong position (Higginbotham).
Here is the final line-up:
1. Robinson
2. Polota Nau
3. Kepu
4. Simmons
5. Sharpe not Douglas
6. Higginbotham not Dennis
7. Pocock
8. Palu
9. Genia,
10. Barnes not Cooper, (Goal Kicker 2)
11. Ioane,
12. McCabe not Harris, (Goal Kicker 1)
13. Horne,
14. Tomane/vuna not Monahan,
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper not McCabe,
16. Moore
17. Alexander
18. Dennis not Pyle
19. Gill/Hooper
20. White not Phipps
21. Fainga’a
22. Harris not Foley
This is a must win Test match. Expect a no frills game plan from the Wallabies.
I expect that this team will seek to dominate the forwards. The best chance of this is the Waratahs pack. Like the Tahs or not, Michael Foley has presided over a dominant pack for several seasons. I worry whether Simmons has the weight to support the front row. If there is insufficient power coming through the second row, it will end in disaster.
McCabe at 12 is a no nonsense player. Barnes needs to under play his hand and allow the likes of Higginbotham (in the wider channel not the edge of the ruck), Sharpe, Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ioane and McCabe through the 12 channel, and supported Kepu and Robinson, by to get the team going forward with Pocock ensuring that there is fast phase ball.
If they can get into the Welsh 22, the forwards will take over and drive it to the line for 5 points.
The backs, as a backline, will not appear. As sad as this is, it will be a consequence of the selections and the lack of combinations between the players. Neither Barnes nor Adam Ashley-Cooper, two of the team’s spine, are in form in attack. Expecting scintillating play from them at this point of the season is naïve.
On an attacking continuum commencing with kicking through to practical go forward and on to Ella-like backline play, I expect practical go forward.
McCabe and Horne can blunt the Wales go forward. Adam Ashley-Cooper will defuse the high ball. Vuna will still be scratching his head as to why he was selected ahead of Monahan. If he can just keep awake in defence and make some yards in attack, I will be happy.
I have one concern: Barnes. He has clearly been very distressed by the Waratahs season. But, he has always played his best rugby in a Wallabies jersey. Deans is banking on this again. Berrick, take a deep breath, clear your head, relax into the game and maintain your concentration on the job in front of you, which is winning this game. Enjoy it.
The bench is strong. Moore and Alexander are experienced, in form, starting team players. Fainga’a is consistent, does the important things well and can lead from the front.
Hooper and Dennis will be jumping out of their skins to get out there. Harris could well decide the game with his goalkicking. White is auditioning for the part of Chris Whitaker in “The Benchwarmers.”
Robbie, use the bench fully.
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The Crowd Says (14) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Berrick Barnes, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
June 9th 2012 @ 9:08am
sixo_clock said | June 9th 2012 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Not enough new blood, not enough attack in the back line, Smith/McCabe has potential. Would like to see different locks like Pyle, Power, Fardy etc. Hooper over Higgers who it seems does his best work straining off the bench. TPN will find a way to hurt himself so prefer Moore with Hanson on the bench. A decent team still.
I want/we need Bambam and the forwards to get angry, do a bit of early pushing and shoving, throwing bodies back over the ruck to ensure we have a chance.
This is a big Test, the Welsh play determined Rugby, they are on a mission, only a fully committed side will stand fast.
June 9th 2012 @ 2:11pm
LeftArmSpinner said | June 9th 2012 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
Six, this is a danger match.and not onto be blooding lots of youngsters. Bring them through, ideally off the bench but not en masse.
This is exact opposite of what is required and what deans has done.
Who would you bring in to add attack in the back line?
TPN is there as part of the scrum, at short notice and short preparation.
Your final sentence seems at odds with your proposals above.
June 9th 2012 @ 3:37pm
sixo_clock said | June 9th 2012 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
The entire run-on side seems to be designed not to lose through adequate defence. I was hoping for at least the centres to be an established partnership. The challenge of a step up is more often grasped by youngsters as the Brumbies this year has proven. Locks like Fardy and Pyle have demonstrated they do like the tough yards whereas our locks so far have just managed to move the point of attack without breaching the gain line. This is a pedestrian team and one that needs an injection of energy. There are enough old heads to channel that zip. Complacency even for the so-called stars leads to mediocrity and I don’t expect anything at the moment but would love to be shown up.
June 9th 2012 @ 3:45pm
LeftArmSpinner said | June 9th 2012 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
six, i too am a big fardy fan. he has been a revelation for the Brumbies.. fardy is no youngster!!!! Pyle is. Sharpe will go fine. he is a very reliable player, even at his ripe old age. pyle’s time will come. Simmons is a good player, young and clever. He also has more experience in the big games and is in form.
pedestrian?? not sure how you get that. the zip is on the side line injured or having an altercation in a hotel!!!! Beale, Cooper and O’Connor are the zip. they are not replaceable from the current ranks in this or any other era. These injuries, together with the short turn around, dictate a different player group and hopefully a different playing style/tactics.
complacency???? where is there any of that????? I suspect that the wallabies are actually nervous rather than complacent.
June 10th 2012 @ 8:45am
sixo_clock said | June 10th 2012 @ 8:45am | Report comment
I have been shown up! But compared to the AB’s demolition of the Paddies it was not a powerful effort. The zip I was getting at was the support for the tackle, the breakdown, the energy and willingness to do the one-percent things that make life difficult for teams trying to build or relieve pressure. That doesn’t mean extreme youth, it means desire. Of course you noticed the difference when Hooper got involved.
June 9th 2012 @ 10:13am
Uncle Argyle said | June 9th 2012 @ 10:13am | Report comment
LAS,
After seeing the Waratah’s give up against Wellington I have my doubts. Where is the ‘Reward For Effort’ policy that Robbie espouses?
NSW have been ok in the forwards at times. However all games are won up front and NSW are not a winning combo so why do we expect it to win now?
This is largely yesterdays team. There are proven winning combinations in Australian Rugby that are not on display in this side. I understand the injury issue but seriously where are the points in this team?
Where is the proven defensive pattern? Where are the players who know Suncorp inside—out? This team is not a ‘team’, its a shotgun approach…lets hope we aim up.
June 9th 2012 @ 2:13pm
LeftArmSpinner said | June 9th 2012 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Uncle, the Tahs pack will win the set pieces, particularly the scrums. This is a platform to launch from. However, Barnes needs to use it!
June 9th 2012 @ 2:24pm
Uncle Argyle said | June 9th 2012 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
LAS,
my Waratah loving scribe. Its more than just scrums, line-outs and restarts. Its the collision and confrontation in 2nd, 3rd, 4th phase. Its the mental application and willingness not to drop you head and to keep going. None of that has been displayed by the Tah Pack collectively this season. Palu, TPN and Dennis all individually had good games against the Canes but they did not play as a pack.
Barnes needs more options than……McCabe, captain crash ball and Horne who can run a good angle but these are one trick ponies my friend who will get sussed out. Barnes needs players to run off him and give him options to use and others who can step up to 1st receiver in latter phases and that person will be……Bueller, Bueller…Fry?
LAS please make a point of getting in my face if I am wrong but seriously, I enjoy your read on the game but I for one can’t see it.
June 9th 2012 @ 4:04pm
LeftArmSpinner said | June 9th 2012 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Uncle, I completely agree but at this point in proceedings, you cant have it all.
remember, it is essentially the first game of the international season in the first year of the new four year cycle.
Give me a good scrum and a good breakdown through Pocock/Hooper and Higginbotham, they can compete with some good go forward through McCabe, Palu, Higginbotham, Kepu and Sharpe.
Unc, as a former back and a continued supporter of the backline play i grew up with, I would love to see sweeping backline play. its not the selected players could not play that style, its just that they don’t play that style at club, Super and now wallaby level.
I suspect that they train to play these moves but never roll them out in a game.
As for Barnes, as i was at pains to describe in a prior article, he delivered the final pass to Horne to score in the 16th minute against the Bulls. Barnes then put the cue in the rack and did not play another backline movement for the remaining 64 minutes……
Barnes has options: Ioane, Horne is a great line runner if he can remain fit and healthy, Vuna can run in attack, and then there is Higgers, Sharpe, Palu and Pocock. (AAC from 15, but he is so out of form and motivation, he is unlikely to be in the attack as he should be) surely, if that is enough ball runners. But the other players need to also be in motion to create doubt and confusion in the defenders minds…………..And that comes down to the passion an motivation to make that effort.
is that in your face enough!!! (LOL)
June 9th 2012 @ 12:23pm
Bigbaz said | June 9th 2012 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Having a strong scrum does not make it a stong pack.This is one of the Tahs main problems,there seems to be a belief that thats all a pack is about.
June 9th 2012 @ 2:17pm
LeftArmSpinner said | June 9th 2012 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
Bazza, I completely agree. But, from deans point of view, there are few options. He didn’t have the time to build a cohesive team with complex tactics. The next best thing is to put proven combinations together as a pastiche. He has done that. Most of the ingredients, individual ingredients are proven, just not as one cohesive rugby team.
The game plan needs to be simple. Simple is good in any game.
June 9th 2012 @ 2:34pm
Sam Taulelei said | June 9th 2012 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
LAS
I do find strange that Deans opted for Hooper and not a third lock on the bench. Dennis is obviously the fallback if Sharpe or Simmons get hurt or need to be substituted. However with Alexander on the bench to cover both propping positions, both players will depower the tight five if they have to both take the field. Dan Palmer would have been a better reserve option with Kepu’s ability to play both sides.
Apart from that, the pack selected by Deans is a good one and the best available.
The backs have little combination and that is a concern as first hit out’s are often rusty and lack rhythm.
June 9th 2012 @ 4:08pm
LeftArmSpinner said | June 9th 2012 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
Sam, me too. He sees Dennis as a lock, albeit on the small side. Genia and Barnes were at the reds together. but that is a few years ago.
With the backs, they have to keep it simple. simple is good.
June 9th 2012 @ 7:31pm
Mick said | June 9th 2012 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
Morahan not Monaghan.
I’m not sure Luke wouldn’t wanna be mixed up with Joel. Drunken antics with a dog, etc…
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