Wallabies selection question marks growing

I might be joining the dots a little bit here Damo but I don't entirely agree about the reserve backline comments. Definitely agree through a comp like the Super 15 that you need it. But let's face it if any RWC team loses their first choice 9 and 10 they will struggle. Can anyone remember an RWC winner who had their star backline player and a 9 or 10 injured and then went on to win the RWC? To me there will always be 3 or 4 guys in a backline who won't be critical and if they got injured you can cover them but not your key link men. Of course it's not impossible but don't think it's happened before in an RWC. So to me depth is important to achieve healthy competition for positions but it will make life very very hard should your 9 or 10 get injured through the RWC. And this goes for every nation in my opinion.

Awesome news, but it appears I wrote this article for nothing. Oh well, nevermind.

Bush - Whaddaya reckon re current batch of international 15s defensively?

I just read this article saying James O'Connor will start at 12. Deans just said he wouldnt play there every week. http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/western-force-star-james-oconnor-to-spend-time-at-inside-centre-for-wallabies-robbie-deans-says/story-e6frf55l-1226066938616

Rugby Diehard, "Remember while your back covering the team is playing 14 on 15, by rights there’s man not technically marked - maybe that’s why he went to League???!!" Yes and no. Remember the attacking side should be committing more to the ruck to secure the ball, so it evens out to some degree. Also fourteen (14) on fifteen (15) doesn't excuse linebreaks or tacklebusts, it simply means that there should be an overlap. Defending an overlap is much easier - you simply run to that corner and shut the attacker down. They have minimal space near touch. By contrast, defending a linebreak or tacklebust in the centre of the field is much, much harder. As to why Dally Messanger went to League, he played the game in Australia before League was introduced here. He didn't "go to League" or "defect" in the way modern players do. It is said that is "defection" in 1908 was the reason that the professional code (League) overtook the amateur one - he was worth the price of admission alone. "Don’t you reckon your opponent is much more likley to stuff it if you force his hand?" Generally. I was basically in agreement with you. Remember I only said "sometimes" it is a better option not too. Perhaps the answer is "rarely".

Yes Diehard I think JOC may be a good second choice 10. thank you to all respondents to my question above. the 'reserve grade' backline I think may be the most crucial point of difference between nations. It is all very well to have a red hot 15 (like the Tahs in 1st two rounds) but it is about what happens after a few tough battles that usually makes the difference. I would love to see that reserve backline train to get a better handle on selections. Maybe Deans will select a few wild cards for Samoa to blood some 'reserves'. There will be a couple of large no frills big tackle specialists picked in the squad as a contingency. Faiingaa may be one. Other than Mortlock I don't know who else we have that has been tested.

Bush - agree with most but I could always forgive a 15 who got chipped or genuinely beaten trying to force his opponent to make a decision, but not one who sat back and got caught stationary or moving laterally. Remember while your back covering the team is playing 14 on 15, by rights there's man not technically marked - maybe that's why he went to League???!! Don't you reckon your opponent is much more likley to stuff it if you force his hand?

Rugby Diehard, As a bloke who spent quite a bit of time at fullback I can confirm that - other than not being fat and slow - closing down the space between yourself and the linebreaker is generally the best option. The problem with watching Rugby Union on TV is that it is difficult to guage where the fullback is standing and thus to comment on whether he is out of position. Positioning is really the thing that makes a great fullback and the reason why it is a specialist position (in my opinion) rather than a spot that a winger can just take if required. The greatest fullbacks knew where to be and when to be there. Getting a feel for the opposition fly-halfs kicking habits and length, as well as communicating with your wingers is actually more difficult than it sounds. The one major issue with running up is that whilst it can cause the attacking player to commit to a direction, it also makes it easier for him to step you. Therefore if it's a bloke that you know can't step you (think Forwards), then moving up is definately the best option - especially as they're unlikely to kick. However, if the bloke is a speedy outside centre that is also more powerful than you (common) or a fly-half who you know will chip you, sometimes the best option is to leave a bit of space, forcing the attacker to come up with a course of action himself. At this stage you simply hope that they stuff it up or some reinforcements arrive. This final bit probably eludes to your comment about being "forgiven" for missing the tackle as it should have been made in the first place. To be honest, as an ex-fullback, that is exactly my opinion. It is not your fault. I'm not alone in this belief either - Dally Messanger, arguably the greatest Australian Rugby Union/League Player in history was a fullback and he was known for not making (sometimes deliberately) tackles if the attacker broke through due to poor first up defence. Remember, line breaks occur because other players failed to make an easier tackle, closer to the action, against a player who had less room and speed to move in than he does against the fullback. In theory any one-on-one between a fullback and a fast back in open play should be a no contest to the fast back - side-stepping a bloke in open territory should be bread and butter stuff. The fullback should only cop some of the blamed if they were out of position (and thus won't be there to even attempt the tackle anyway) or if they get run over making the tackle.

Good on you Chloe!!!!!! And I reckon you are pretty right about JOC. The trouble is with having Quade Cooper and JOC defensively at 10 and 12 even though QC spends most of his time at 15. If QC ewere injured I think JOC and Barnes are our 10 and 12.

I'd probably more call it say Attention in Defence Disorder. As an aside to this my biggest gripe at the moment is with all 15s defence. Whatever happened to a 15 who could nail everything round the boot laces AKA Matt Burke. Even when his pace and attacking flair had gone missing for the last few years of his career he could cover tackle like a bastard. A 15 who can tackle can save a lotta points. I don't care what anyone says there is no international 15 who plays the classic defensive game. The biggest mistake they all seem to make is not cutting down the time and space of the bloke running at you. A lot of the time it seems your 15 is forgiven for missing the final tackle as though their shouldn't have been a line break made in the first place. I played about half a dozen games at 15 (no it doesn't make me an expert) but the one thing I learnt (apart from being fat and slow makes you a crap attacking 15) is that the only way to deal with a line break is to cut down the attacking players time and space. It is bloody hard for someone to step you when you make them commit to a direction and run full tilt at them. By the way I am not suggesting we should not pick a 15 who is an awesome attacker I just think 15 defensive structure need s to be shown more focus.

"A.D.D." Anti-Defence Disorder?

Ioane is in the Aussie conferences top 10 for most missed tackles so maybe not him...

Agree with that wouldn't put him up for 12 at all if he couldn't tackle. What I mean is that he goes missing a bit - don't mean he is afraid of the contact. He definitely has the technique to actually make the tackle, just needs to keep switched on in defence as much as attack.

I honestly think James O'Connor would be great at 12. His tackling and defence has been great in the super rugby, not perfect at all but it's improved and with the force this season I don't think he's got the ball enough to show his full potential .. Cooper at 10 Iaone at 11? Faainga at 13 Beale or Shephard at 15 this is only my first year of following rugby so I don't know how they all play in international rugby though. (I'm so obsessed I'n my first year of following it that I'm flying from Adelaide to Brisbane with my family to watch bledisloe cup)

Gits hasn't got a good enough pass. The space that Genia gives Cooper at 10 in comparison is phenomenal. I'd say Phipps has the next best pass. Certainly it would be between him and Burgess for mine and suspect they'll be the three 9s in the squad. Gits does allow a 5/2 bench split though. Fortunately Genia is rarely injured so hopefully it won't matter!!

See above re: his tackling. I think you'll find he's pretty reliable when tackling straight on and certainly doesn't shirk it.

Whoops - left JOC out of my assessment. I think he can play 12 but not outside QC. JOC's defence is a bit wayward - supsect he has A.D.D.

You gotta play Barnes at 12 as he has to tackle for 2! and be able to play 10 when QC is back doing his 15 thing in defence. You can't not pick a guy because you are worried he might get injured. If he's best man for the job he gets picked and the rest is in the hands of the Rugby Gods. (Who, I might add now live at Lang Park after last Sunday arv). But Horne, AAC, Gerard and Giteau are all solid options. AS a Reds fan Faingaa only at 13 for me, love his game but not sure if it's an RWC winning standard. He surely wouldn't lose you one, but is that good enough in an RWC final? Mortlock no chance for mine. Harris great future but on which side of the Tasman and maybe not his time yet anyway.

He's good, but still a bit raw. ABs have better options at this stage, but may keep him in the squad as a "secret" weapon. My two cents.

Lucas has played himself into contention for the squad as a utility backup, but think he might get squeezed out by some more established players. That said, I love him for the Reds - one of those guys with less-than-perfect attributes (not extra tall, not extra big, not extra fast), but plays his heart out and delivers. Gotta love the Red fight in him.