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Trying to make predictions now about who might have taken the biggest step forward to top the Australian conference would be akin to predicting the winner of this year’s federal election, after only one week of campaigning.
There is a lot of trench warfare yet to come that will decide these outcomes.
But after one weekend of rugby, which obviously did not include the Waratahs, who were the most outstanding individual players in each position?
Considering only the deeds of this weekend I’ve come up with ‘This weekend’s Wallabies’.
Roarers without stating the obvious, that its only one weekend of rugby involving only four of the five sides, would you agree with the following based solely on the weekend’s matches?
1. Ben Alexander: He scrummaged well, he carried strongly and he gets the nod mainly due to the fact he was the only loose head to last the 80min.
That, and the fact that there were no real standouts at loose-head this weekend.
2. Stephen Moore: Yet another strong performance from the Brumby hooker. His volume and efficiency of carries is invaluable but on this weekend his efforts at getting to loads of breakdowns was equally impressive.
Moore completely out played his opposite no, Faingaa, who should struggle to keep his place for the Reds next weekend ahead of James Hanson. Surely it is time.
3. James Slipper: A very solid 80min performance that was workman-like but not outstanding. He was the pick of an uninspiring array of tight-heads on show. Slipper didn’t disgrace himself at scrum time, he displayed a good work rate and carried well.
He also played the full 80 minutes, which is a good sign for the Wallabies who need their props to be fit and able to do more than just scrum, if indeed we wish to be expansive this year.
4. Hugh Pyle: Looks to have bulked up in the off-season, which helped him to dominate contacts like I’ve not seen before. Strangely despite having bulked up he looks a couple of yards quicker and looked good out wide. Even scored a good try in support. His line out work was faultless winning 3 on his own throw and stealing 1 from the opposition.
Arguably one of the most impressive performance from a ‘non Wallaby’ this weekend and with yet another Rob Simmons’ innocuous performance, Pyle is my early ‘wallaby bolter tip’ to lead the lineout post Nathan Sharpe.
5. Peter Kimlin: An excellent performance from the Brumby no 6 who of course is normally a lock. His performance included the most tackles for the Brumbies (15), which were all dominant contacts from what I witnessed. He also carried 7 times for 48 metres and did an amazing amount of work at the breakdown.
He gets the nod this weekend ahead of Fardy and Jones who were also relatively impressive when compared to the likes of Rob Simmons whom I think may have played. Although it was hard to tell.
6. Angus Cottrell: Remember this name. The unsung hero of the weekend, but for mine an obvious choice as the best blindside on show this weekend (if one considers Kimlin as an extra lock). Cottrell topped his side’s weekend’s tackle count with 17 tackles (0 misses), equal topped his side’s forward carry stats (13 carries for 51metres), and was the first to 11 ruck/mauls. He also made a line break and gave away only one penalty.
When compared to his opposite no, Higginbotham, who made just 6 tackles (2 misses), 2 carries for 8 metres, 3 penalties conceded, 2 turnovers conceded, and first only to 4 rucks/mauls, Cottrell completely outplayed the current automatic Wallaby pick at blindside.
On that note how many more occasions, should we Roarers accept Higginbotham’s incredibly poor work ethic only because every now and then he shows he can run fairly fast?
7. David Pocock: In his first game for the Brumbies, Pocock showed his class at the most crucial times which is why he is our best fetching, defensive open-side.
In attack, despite that he was seldom used to carry himself, Pocock’s work rate to get to wide breakdowns and secure recycled ball was something to behold. As was the before mentioned panther-like patience to bide his time and pounce to steal ball.
It is this game sense that makes him the wiser and therefore the better of the two similar style open-sides that were on show in the Brumbies v Reds match. Although one might argue Gill is not far behind. Fuglistaller’s 21 tackles for the Rebels was also worth an honourable mention, as was Alcock’s excellent all round game which sadly was nowhere to be seen last year for the Tahs.
With Hooper’s attacking game, it is impossible to argue that no 7 is a position that we do not have options.
8. Jake Schatz: Many will argue that Mowen should get the no ahead of Schatz and I would accept that but only if the reason argued is Mowen’s imperious display at line-out time. Otherwise Schatz made a ‘helluva’ lot more tackles, (12 to 5), he made 2 more carries (slightly less metres gained but all of Schatz carries were tight, whereas Mowen’s were not) and on top of this, Schatz was the first man to twice as many rucks/mauls (8 to 4).
9. Nic White: Controlled the game very well. He gets the nod for three reasons. Almost all of his decision-making was excellent, his kicking almost always accurate and purposeful, and really none of the others showed as much class as he did. Mathewson had a few good moments mind you, but he doesn’t count being from over the creek unfortunately.
10. Matt Toomua: I think everyone would agree that he can play better but his display on the weekend was still somewhat promising I suppose. This statement goes out to both Beale and Cooper, not Toomua, who gets the nod only because Beale missed 5 tackles and because Cooper only played for the final twenty minutes of the match in reality.
Sadly the New Zealander, Sam Christie, was probably the best fly half on show this weekend. Please, please give James O’Connor the no 10 shirt at the Rebels!
11. Alfie Mafi: The standout winger of the weekend. Has started the season where he left off last year. What is with the Force and uncompromising hard running wingers that don’t give an inch? I would not argue he is one to watch for the Wallaby selectors but good on him for a good performance!
12. Ben Tapuai: In his last match for the Wallabies, against Wales at the end of the Spring Tour, he had a defensive shocker that put a sour taste in the mouth of this roarer. But his 19 tackles against the Brumbies was a Pat McCabe like defensive performance that has certainly left an impression, not only in my opinion of him, but in the ribs of many a Brumby.
With little opportunity in attack, we should forgive him for his attacking anonymity in this game, because as we all know his attacking nous is undisputed! Lealiafano went okay, as did the impressive youngster Godwin for the Force.
13. Mitch Inman: Unspectacular but solid when it counted. This sums up Inman as a rugby player and probably what is required from no 13’s in the year 2013. He should personally be most proud of a match changing turn-over, which seems to be an increasingly important skill that a modern centre needs on his CV. On that note, this weekend once again showed that modern defences aiming to shut down anything two passes from the ruck, let alone the three it needs to get to the no 13, is working.
Indeed the classical centre is sadly becoming less significant. Yet somehow Brian O’Driscoll still seems to be dominating the Six Nations with classical play. Maybe the home nations’ insistence that O’Driscoll is the greatest ever is, dare I say, true?
14. Digby Ioane: Statistically the best winger of the weekend with most runs and run metres. It was still apparent that this man has hands like feet, unfortunately. I fear that despite the fact that he has the body of a ‘greek god’ he could potentially be a liability if his feet… ahem I mean… his hands let him down come June. I certainly hope not because he’s a certainty for the Wallabies. Or is he, says Israel Folau?
15. James O’Connor: Looked extremely sharp without ever really cutting loose. But his pass to put Kingi in for, what was a match-winning try, was probably worth the price of admission. Class, class, class! His kicking for distance was almost always very good also. He also shaved his head for cancer over the weekend.
Jesse Mogg was probably technically more impressive but fails to get in due to the horrible dropped ball he made at the end of some great lead up work by his team-mates.
I can’t but hope ‘JOC’ is going to have a bumper year and hopefully at no 10 not 15. Just swap jerseys with Beale and I think we are onto something.
Stats quoted are from rugbystats.com.au
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.