Wallabies coach Robbie Deans talks to the team during the Wallabies Captain’s run in Sydney on Friday, July 25, 2008. AAP Image/Jenny Evans
The Wallaby team that Robbie Deans has announced to play Italy at Melbourne on Saturday night has been called “a radically experimental team.” I’d be more inclined to say that Deans is cautiously trying out a few players in slightly different positions with a view to the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad.
Another consideration is to give other players some experience in positions that are not at risk (first five-eighths, second five-eights, centre, the props, second row), so that when the inevitable injuries occur, the quality of the cover is known.
For some time I’ve been advocating looking at George Smith as a Toutai Kefu-type of number 8. One reason for this is that the openside flanker position is a sort of kamikaze type of role that exposes the player to continual injuries.
The case of Richie McCaw is an example of this.
Smith has been fortunate in that he hasn’t suffered from injuries, but they are more likely if he plays in the number 7 jersey than in the number 8 jersey.
The Wallabies, moreover, have a very good young openside flanker in David Pocock. Pocock is 183cm, which makes him taller than Smith (180cm) and Phil Waugh (175cm).
If the experiment of the Pocock/Smith combination works, and with Rocky Elsom/Dean Mumm providing the third lineout jumper, the Wallabies would have a very creative, quick, skilful and hard-running backrow that would match even the Springboks (who will be much taller) in impact.
Playing Berrick Barnes at first five-eights and Quade Cooper at second five-eights is also interesting, and correct in my opinion. The Queensland Reds tended to use the two players the other way around, which was wrong.
But Cooper, like Carlos Spencer, a player he resembles a lot in style and skills, plays too often like a headless chook when given the frontline playmaking role. But at inside centre, with service from the steady Berrick Barnes, Cooper can challenge the fatties in the middle of the field after the first phase play.
Matt Giteau has played splendidly at first five-eighths in both the Wallabies matches this season. But, aside from a brilliant performance against England at Twickenham some years ago, he has rarely been dominant, in the Daniel Carter mould, at first five-eighths for the Wallabies.
Barnes plays more like the five-eighths that Deans likes.
He underplays his hand but sets up the outsides intelligently, kicks well and defends his inside channel very strongly against the charging opposition loose forwards.
Last season Nathan Sharpe was dropped from the Wallaby squad. He was brought back and has started in the first two games this season. But I can’t see him playing a big part in Deans’ 2011 RWC plans.
The search is on for a tall timber, jumping and scrummaging second-rower to partner James Horwill. Peter Kimlin seems to have the inside running. His performance on Saturday night will be closely observed, for future reference.
The intriguing omission is Lote Tuqiri, not only from the starting side but from the reserves as well. Deans has said that he wants everyone to get a game in the early-season Tests so we should see Tuqiri in the squad, at least, to play a fascinating Test against France.
Peter Hynes has been given a chance to make a claim for his wing position. He impressed this season for the Queensland Reds with his attack of the ball at kick-offs, and also his energy around the field.
The back-three of James O’Connor, Lachie Turner and Hynes has a Crusader look about it, with brilliance, skills and importantly (for Deans) hard work on and off the ball showing out.
Although this side is being called experimental, my guess is that most of the players in it will feature strongly in the RWC 2011 squad. There is, of course, something of Mrs Beetson and her rabbit pie recipe in this: “First, catch your rabbit.”
For this team to be the prototype of the 2011 RWC squad, it has to perform well against Italy, something that should not be taken for granted.
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
The Wallabies have leadership? When did that happen?
OldManEmu
Guest
Sam - I draw a huge distinction between understrength touring teams and experimental home teams. These people are our guests and should be polite. My mother would never let me wear a tracksuit to a persons home for dinnner.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
"(unless it’s just Cross with Giteau)." Means to say "Unless it's Barnes with Cross". That's a good 12-13 combination. Just off topic for a short instant. Am I alone in thinking that Berrick Barnes was Australia's best player last year until he got injured?
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Deans' selections are incredibly dangerous if you ask me. He's picked an inexperienced front-row. I like Polota-Nau, but his throw is terrible and the Wallabies line-out has fallen to shambles when he's played. He's picked an untried, untested, mid-field combination. I actually don't mind Ryan Cross at 13 as I didn't think Mortlock was that brilliant against Italy. But Copper at 12? It's just mindless experimentation. Barnes might make a better 10 than Giteau, but after Giteau has played 10 all year (and improved in some areas) maybe they should just stick with him. It's interesting though because while Barnes doesn't have the playmaking skills of Giteau, he seems to command the game more than Giteau. Barnes, to me, was Australia's best player against Italy. Much of what he did went unnoticed. I like James O'Connor a whole lot, but he got two tries on a platter and got MOTM, while Barnes did a lot of the unseen work. I REALLY LIKE POCOCK AT #7. This is especially since I didn't think Smith played very well against Italy. Smith made some errors that were just ill-diciplined. They weren't errors made by pressure. Often he did the hard work and then would do something silly. Australia will look better when Rocky comes back. I think there's an outside chance Australia will lose this game. I'm serious! I think Australia will win, but gosh why upset the side so much by interfering with the side so much. I can't understand changing the front row and the mid-field combination (unless it's just Cross with Giteau). Remember what happened when Deans last screwed around with the midfield against South Africa? Mortlock at 12 was a horrid failure and Tahu was unleashed wayyyy to early and was exploited... BADLY.
bennalong
Guest
OJ You ignore my point about lack of leadership. The AB's were directionless. George Smith will lead from the front and Barnes will be superior at pivot to Donald As individuals I thought the AB's would win. As a team they couldn't put it together. The scorn if you call it that was deserved. They didn't look as though they were giving their all for their country. More like jet lagged Chiefs. This Wallabies team weren't genius and this 'new' team will be tested up front on Saturday. But its Les Bleus that I'm looking foreward to the following week. Despite the soulless stadium and the quiet and restrained Sydney fans, we should be able to beat them. But you can't call Robbie spineless, can you?
Knives Out
Guest
'What I wanna know is why he’s playing that sort of a side a week before your first real Test of the season against France.' Swine flu?
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
What I wanna know is why he's playing that sort of a side a week before your first real Test of the season against France. That team he picked in Jo'berg last year certainly didn't help you win the Tri-Nations in Brisbane. The Wallabies may match-up better against France than the All Blacks do, and it'll be interesting to compare the three Tests, but do you really thinking that your pack is playing well or that he has exactly the right backline? I'm sure they'll beat Italy, and they may even score more than the Wallabies did last week, but if you compare this team to the All Black side that played France last weekend, I can't see how one is genuis and the other scorned. Some of the changes I think are worthwhile (Barnes and Pocock. Others seem like an attempt to keep Australian players in Australia.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Chris yes a grand slam tour is something to get excited about but if the Wallabies play experimental teams it diminishes the achievement. True Tah understand your point but hold off on proclaiming anyone a great redeemer until they achieve something.
Peter K
Guest
Sam - I do see a difference re rotation , B teams etc. When the SH teams do it they EXPECT to still win the game. At the minimum there will still be a real contest, not so with the NH B teams. The NH teams when they send a B team have no delusion of expecting to win the game. Their A team wins few when they tour as it is so let alone a B team.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
So would I. I just think when the program does return it should be expanded to play in a few more games or tournaments like the Churchill Cup or IRB Nation's Cup along side it previous comittment to the Pacific Nations Cup. Hopefully the Jnr AB's and Emerging Boks could run a similar program. As Tier 1 nations we should do alot more in the development of the targeted Tier 2 Nations like USA, Canada, Russia, Japan, Romania, the PI's, Georgia, Spain, Portugal and judging from their recent promotion into the top division of FIRA's U18 Euro Championships Germany and even Belgium in the Future.
TommyM
Guest
Don't forget that Deans has Giteau, Sharpe, Waugh, Moore, AAC and Benn Robinson on the bench to bring on en masse if it all gets too pear shaped...
True Tah
Guest
Sam T in respect of our views of Deans, you have to remember our two most recent coaches. Steady Eddie started with a full trophy cabinet and proceeded the lose the lot. I know there are a fair few Eddie supporters on here, but he didnt do much apart from overanalyze the game to death and had poor man management skills as well. John Connolly - well he was a caretake at best, but under him we bombed out at the quarter finals, I see the Reds are considering bringing him back into the fold, as usual the QRU is 20 years behind the time. Relative to these guys, Deans is the Great Redeemer of Australian Rugby.
AndyS
Guest
Mate, I'd just like to see an Australia A side again...
Working Class Rugger
Guest
I'd like to see a Australia A side to travel with the main squad and play 'tests' against the lesser emerging nations on a yearly basis. So whilst Australia play England,Ireland,Scotland and Wales the 'A' side could play Georgia, Russia, Romania Spain/ Portugal. Throw in a game against Canada and USA every 2nd or 3rd year.
Katipo
Guest
A 4 nation grand slam is great but I'd like to see someone try the 4 home nations plus France. That would be exciting. Or even a 6 nations "royal flush"?
Chris, syd - Aust
Guest
dosen't a grand slam tour even excite you a little Sam T? I can't wait!
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Genuine question and one that has been asked in another thread. Does anyone see any difference between "experimentation" with this selection and the criticisms levelled by JON and others about the relative strengths of touring sides from Europe in the past? It appears that Kiwis and Aussies take great umbrage at inbound tours featuring Nigel Nobodies and yet we explain our rotation policies away as player welfare and building depth. We obviously place greater value on the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup games much as Europe value their Six Nations tournament more. There are complaints about the damage to the credibility of international rugby tests by the impact of the world cup and yet by our own actions we are complicit in encouraging it's demise. Shall we all just come clean and admit that inbound June tours and outbound November tours are revenue generating exercises and nothing more. Results are meaningless and perhaps they would be better served as a competition for the likes of Australia A, Junior All Blacks and the English Saxons etc than the test teams.
AndyS
Guest
We don't have the luxury of outrage. We have no elite level competition or even 'A' program, so rotation is the only option for blooding players and building some depth. It is a risk, but it is the bed that was made for us.
onside
Guest
Bennalong I agree with fox.I had not read your contribution but the post by fox lead me to it. As a matter of interest it would be a great coaching feat if Deans managed to get Lote to play to a standard that reflected his paygrade.Lets hope Deans can do it.
fox
Guest
Bennalong, your take on the tuquiri situation is perhaps the most sensible I have read in any forum or newspaper for that matter. Spot on in my opinion.