Roar Guru
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England stuttered in the Autumn internationals, and coach Stuart Lancaster needs to deliver tactically and also in terms of selection because there has been…
This week sees the final round of the Aviva Premiership before the playoffs begin. There is still a lot to play for: English players…
Inspired by Frank O'Keefe's fine article about underrated Wallaby players, I started to consider English players who were similarly viewed. Problematically, being one of…
Continuing my brief examination of the England World Cup training squad prior to the final squad selection, with a look at the second row.…
Over the next few weeks I thought I would offer a brief examination of the England World Cup training squad prior to the final…
This coming Saturday, Leinster and Northampton Saints are poised to meet in the 16th Heineken Cup final at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff. On the…
[caption id="attachment_25303" caption="France\'s Maxime Mermoz, left, is tackled by Wynand Olivier, center, and Heinrich Brussow of South Africa during their international rugby union match…
Following on from Bath and Gloucester, it is probably fair to say that Harlequins also had a troubled season last year. However new director…
The Aviva Premiership will kick off on 3rd September, and significantly, a change of sponsor parallels a change in attitude. Despite various media diversions…
That is a fair point, but I don’t see any viable alternatives and he doesn’t strike me as the sort of player who would let a few hard introductions get him down. Marcel Coetzee has performed well, and he is the same age. I don’t think Dennis was especially bad against NZ or anything like that, but will he improve significantly? Doubtful. Would Schatz be any worse? Doubtful again IMO. Just think it’s worth a crack.
Who should be in the Wallabies pack for Bledisloe 2?
I’m a big fan of Strauss too, but he does like to play out wide a bit too much IMO.
I think SA will overtake Australia this season. Anyway, I don’t know why Zavos is criticising the style of play when Australia went out to play a kicking brand last week…
Springboks need to dare to be great
I’d start with: Holmes, Moore, Slipper, Douglas, Sharpe, Schatz, Hooper, Mowen, with the bench consisting of TPN, Alexander (onl due to injury), Samo, Higginbotham.
Even though TPN is a great physical specimen, I see him more as an impact sub than Moore who is IMHO an excellent tight forward. The props basically pick themselves at this stage, although I believe Holmes is deserving of a start over Robinson right now.
Timani is another physical specimen, but I don’t think he has the mental attributes for such a big man. Could you imagine if Martin Johnson or Mick Galwey had been blessed with a body like his? Conversely, I am a fan of Douglas. I think he’s a unit and a good athlete.
The back row is probably the most contentious area of my selection. Dennis has a good work rate, but I think he isn’t physically capable of Test rugby – much like Keegan Daniel. Obviously not similar players, but both very good Super players, but no more IMHO. Hooper is the automatic replacement for Pocock (or is Gill?), and I would then choose Schatz and Mowen. Mowen is a good organiser and does his core duties very well IMO. I also think he’s a clever player. Schatz has a great bit of mongrel too him, and as much as I’m a fan of Higginbotham I see him purely as a 6, but not the type of 6 this Wallaby pack needs in NZ.
Who should be in the Wallabies pack for Bledisloe 2?
I think it’s been proven emphatically that Ranger and Fruean aren’t Test midfielders ATM. They struggle for consistency at Super level.
Deans be brutal, Genia be realistic
I think it’s tenuous logic that if SA start chucking the ball around they’ll be a great side, because IMO they still have weaknesses in key positions. A few minor tweaks here and there and they could be much improved IMO… just like Eddie Jones did in 2007. Personally I think Meyer will hinder the side, but with players like Bismarck (now injured), Alberts, Strauss etc it makes sense to use the pack ATM, especially at this juncture of his tenure. If Meyer builds depth and the Boks overtake Australia, which I think they’ll do, then this will be a comparatively positive start of a 4 year plan.
The Boks are capable of better rugby (in stylistic terms anyway), but even a player like Jaques Fourie struggled with his passing. They will never play rugby like the All Blacks, and yet look how they challenge the All Blacks. I think the Boks need an outside influence like they had with Jones, just like I think Australia could do with White coming on board as an aid.
I think Steyn at 15 would be ridiculous too. No pace, no history there and how would he combine with the back three?
Springboks need to dare to be great
I’d still disagree. Most Test 10s have an ability to play structured rugby – that’s just a natural adjunct of reaching that level of the game. All three players are very good attackers, and none of their respective nations play rugby like Australia has recently.
Barnes must go if Wallabies want to win
Don’t see how there can be room for disagreement? How could anybody describe Flood, Sexton and Laidlaw as no frills?
Barnes must go if Wallabies want to win
They’re totally different types of players. Just not comparable. Messam plays far tighter than Higginbotham does, and in any case, he played 6 with H’Botham at 8.
Deans be brutal, Genia be realistic
Not really. All three 10s listed above like to attack the line, and all three sides they play for do try and chuck the ball about.
Barnes must go if Wallabies want to win
Or somebody like Jake White who has tasted comparative (and brief) success with an Australia side. That said, I really don’t think it has anything to do with Deans not being Australian, as White shows. Australia have been successful in the past because they have been innovators. Deans has been outcoached badly. He is essentially a reactive rather than proactive coach and 5 years in and his side are still tactically confused, poorly selected and erratic.
Deans be brutal, Genia be realistic
Although somewhat off tangent, I read something quite interesting today in the UK Rugby World magazine. Craig Chalmers, former Scotland pivot, spent three weeks in Australia observing the Sydney Swans, the Sydney Roosters, the Canterbury Bulldogs, South Sydney and the Waratahs. This is what Chalmers said of the Waratahs:
‘the intensity of their session was poor and it showed what can happen when a side lacks leaders … there was a lack of strong personalities to drive things on. Berrick Barnes was vocal but few people helped each other; there was no camaraderie and they lacked the passion and intensity of the Swans and Roosters.’
Watching Wallabies is like deja vu
Toby Flood, Jon Sexton and Greg Laidlaw no frills? Bit of research perhaps…
Barnes must go if Wallabies want to win
I’d rather select a tight five that would do the basics better than move Pocock. Without Pocock at 7 I think Wales would have taken two Tests off of Australia recently. If Jake White/Laurie Fisher can make the Brumbies pack play aggressive rugby then there is no reason the Wallabies can’t do the same.
Wallabies second rate - changes needed
Playing Barnes at 12 is, IMO, the logical option. Deans seems unsure on how he wants to play, and the selection of both players provides an interesting balance. Barnes is a diluted Wilkinson, I think, and Australia will not beat NZ playing him at 10 with Faingaa at 12 with their current pack. There is just no threat there. With Cooper a 10 you have a player with the desire to attack, and Barnes could step in at 10 if necessary and he provides a secondary kicking option. That aside, it is ridiculous that 5 years in this discussion is still taking place. Groundhog Day used to be one of my favourite films too…
The Wallabies are playing the champs of world rugby. Bring on Quade!
Beale had a bad game, but then look at Ioane – another ‘X-factor’ player. And if those sorts of players don’t cut it against NZ why did Deans select Beale in the first instance?
The Wallabies are playing the champs of world rugby. Bring on Quade!
Hmmm… Some lazy stuff from Marshall there, and I notice he is more damning in his current article.
Marshall praises Wallabies coach Deans
There is no way that Pocock has the dynamism of Croft or Ferris or Alberts, and playing 6 is a totally different mindset. Australia would lose a lot in the lineout, and two 7s has been proven not to work before. The last few times England have played Australia, for example, Croft has absolutely dominated the Wallabies in the air. I’d also have Mowen at 8, and Holmes at LHP, but would never play Pocock at 7.
Wallabies second rate - changes needed
‘tremendous against England in the EOYT’
I love people with imgination.
All Blacks notch 27-19 win over Wallabies, grab Bledisloe Cup lead
Tbh, just another typical Wallabies under Dingo Deans performance. Really no different from so many recent encounters. He picked an ordinary side and an ordinary performance followed. Meh,
All Blacks notch 27-19 win over Wallabies, grab Bledisloe Cup lead
Pocock at 6 in opposition to Croft, Lydiate, Ferris, Alberts… Oh my….
Wallabies second rate - changes needed
Sure, I agree. I hope it doesn’t rain. If it was to be dry I think SA would really give Argentina a beating.
Rugby Championship: Springbok preview
England don’t really favour starting over the ball players at 7. The current captain, Robshaw, is basically a 6, but has developed into a 7. He and Tom Johnson had an excellent series against SA in respect of turning ball over. Dan Cole, the tighthead, has become a real threat at the ruck too, albeit he does give away a lot of penalties.
CAMPO: Barnes was the right choice ahead of Cooper
My thinking is that Deans might as well start building for the Lions tour and the next WC because he has been playing damage limitation games for too long now. Stuart Lancaster picked a young squad during the 6N and he had the opportunity to build on that in the recent Tests against SA. The Bledisloe is all but lost, so I say let the lads have a crack and play through the 4N to the end of year Tests. I understand what you’re saying, I just feel differently.
I’d even consider playing Mowen with Hooper on Saturday (were I coach) with Higginbotham at 8 just for the Brumbies combination and the fact that there are two good jumpers in there and two contrasting players at 6 and 8.
Who should be in the Wallabies pack for Bledisloe 2?