The Wallabies squad for this Saturday’s match against Wales is more balanced than last weeks. The inclusion of a third specialist second rower makes it a more traditional side.
However, some of Robbie Deans’ team selections still have me scratching my head.
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I’ll get the first one out of the way; those of you who have seen my posts will not be surprised that I cannot fathom why Ben Alexander has been retained over Dan Palmer. I’ve expressed my opinion on this before so won’t say much here.
I’d have given Kane Douglas the bench spot ahead of Rob Simmons. I think we have a pretty good idea what Simmons brings to the table. Given Nathan Sharpe and Dave Dennis are both capable of running the lineout, I think looking at another heavy lock should have been a priority.
This is particularly the case while there are concerns on Sitaleki Timani playing the full 80 minutes and given the pressure the scrum has been under in the last few weeks. Douglas’s large frame would have been useful.
The rest of the forwards I like. I’m always alert when Deans picks a 5-2 split on the bench, in the past (the 2009 Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park burns in the memory) he has picked extra forward reserves and then failed to use them. Deans has used his bench better in this series than he has in the past, I’ll be hoping he uses the bench well this weekend.
Normally I wouldn’t comment on the backs but the centre pairing in particular and the dropping of last week’s hero Mike Harris suggest to me there is a missed chance here. Pat McCabe and Rob Horne are not passing the ball and doing nothing to bring their wingers into the game.
Harris, apart from coming on to kick the post-siren match winner last week, has only been given one starting chance in the Scotland game. Given the conditions and Wallabies playing style in that match, he had little opportunity to show his wares.
Anthony Faingaa has also looked good in his cameo appearances, not least when he was instrumental in the final driving maul of the game.
Was that a deliberate error commending Digby Ioane for that play?
Putting Harris in 12 and Faingaa in 13 was a very viable option for this test. If Deans is committed to his 5-2 split, then one of McCabe or Horne would miss selection. Otherwise Michael Hooper as an extra openside would make way for both being kept on the bench.
Hooper’s selection is an interesting one, I think he is a fantastic player and it is good to see him getting blooded in the international arena. However, I wonder if the complaints that Deans failed to take a back up number 7 to the Rugby World Cup are now leading to him selecting an extra one in his match day 22.
David Pocock will play 80 minutes; he warrants it both given the style of player he is and as the captain. As such Hooper is really a luxury on the bench. If he is going to have an impact on the game then Hooper needs at least 20 minutes, I’ll be very interested to see when Deans brings him on this week.
I actually like the rest of the team. For me to have issue with the reserve prop, reserve second rower and the starting centre pairing is much less of a difference than I normally have with a Deans team.
Final comment has to be on Kurtley Beale’s return and Adam Ashley-Cooper switching to the wing for Cooper Vuna. Ignoring the off-field drama this to me is the sensible obvious selection decision.
There will be many opinions over whether the fact Beale was drinking while recovering from injury, or that he simply got himself in a state for the situation to arise is reason enough for suspension.
Without having full details it seems to me to be sensible to suspend the ARU disciplinary process until the courts have determined innocence or guilt in relation to the police charges.
If Beale is found innocent by the court should he still be suspended? If found guilty and punished by the court should the ARU have that information in mind when determining any sanction?
As I say, I think the team is largely correct with just a couple of selections opportunities missed. Unfortunately any experiment with the centreso and the tight five is now going to take place in the pressure cooker of the Rugby Championship.
I think Deans has probably managed about a B+ with the selection of this team.
Impending Doom
Guest
"Horne is the quicker and more penetrative runner." That actually made me laugh out loud, cheers for that. Pat Mccabe is a terrific sprinter with a fantastic passing game by that logic. Oh Oh and I suppose Cooper Vuna is a more devastating runner than Jonah Lomu?
Argyle
Roar Guru
I think A Fainga'a is the man for SBW. When SBW has played the Red's for Chiefs or Crusaders I don't re-call him making such a huge impact, as much as he does at test level that is. I agree that Horne looks better on stat's, which is important. However SBW will be such an important cog in the All Black attack and like Link McKenzie proved when Red's sent a good defender onto him and shut down his options around him.
SkinnyKid
Guest
jesus I should have proof read that....but you get the idea.
SkinnyKid
Guest
Mate I guess it hard when you half back is also a strike weapon. How often do you see WG making breaks that change a game when the opposition are getting tired? it pretty regular. Would be hard to take a bloke off when 'the break' is in the back of your mind. Also something that people have been incorrectly talk about was the Wills 'over use of the blind or him having a snipe' against Wales in test 2. Here's the thing, he was test and test the fringe which over time gave us space in the 3rd and 4th channel. This allowed him to release Barnes and Co into space with one of his bullet passes. I dont want to blow too much smoke up his ass but I dont thing I have see a scrum half that is also such an attacking weapon. Fiji had a bloke a few years back who was amazing but I cant remember his name. Played for them at the 2007 RWC. For mine he was the play of the comp.
jeznez
Roar Guru
SK, stick me behind you and it would look like he was on roller skates!
Johnno
Guest
skinny kid are you sure rodzilla big rodzilla was owned in french top 14 skinny.
SkinnyKid
Guest
I could move Rodney Blake....and that's saying somethng. The blokes been owned at every level and region of the game.
SkinnyKid
Guest
to be fair the coaches before him were just as bad if not worse at dropping people. How long was GG's stretch of poor form? 2 -3 years? How long were dunning and waugh given at test level after never being good enough for their slots.
Blue Blood
Guest
I agree with you whole heartedly. It is a bad look and I prefer to be proud of my Wallabies and support them without the distractions poor decisions have resulted in.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Alexander has had a low workrate this season, despite starting at LHP.
PeterK
Roar Guru
he didnt have 1 in the last wales game. Percentage wise Moore has about the same number of not straights
PeterK
Roar Guru
Agree with that I would like to see Pyle ahead of Dougla (replacing Simmons). He calls the lineouts for the rebels.
Kev I like the 5-2 split but only if your starting backs are able to play a number of positions if necessary. Last week we needed 3 backs on the bench because we did not have a plan b at fly half. Beale comes back in and now we no longer need the extra reserve back. I don't like the idea that we have a jack of all trade master of none in Lucas on the bench. And AAC is one of our few world class outside backs and you want to put him on the bench because that would fit nicely? He is too good to be wasted on the bench. Ideally AAC would be at 13 and Horne would be on the bench when we get Tomane or Mitchell back.
Let me re-iterate: He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law but he should be stood down having been arrested and charged with a crime IMHO. As i said he hasn't been stood down so he gets my support this weekend.
Jutsie
Guest
I think sometimes deans is too nice a bloke. He takes ages to drop blokes, mumm, baxter etc were all given umpteen chances. Even giteau was given as many chances as possible.
Mike
Guest
Well, I am sorry if I have misjudged you, or caused any offence. We could always go out, get drunk and look for some rugby star to start a fight with... :o)
Jutsie
Guest
Bang! Nothing like cold hard facts to prove preconceptions wrong. Good work werewolf. A finger and mccabe were just as one-dimensional in attack last year, so if we were to make a change I hardly think putting A finger at 13 would be any different. Others have said he is good at 12 because he is better there. Well im fine with that change for improvement is good, but replacing horne with AF at 13 is either same for same or a step back so I dont support this change. IMO the only change in the centres I'd support is if we were to revert back to the two playmakers at 10 and 12.
sittingbison
Guest
ahhhh...Mike, we have been discussing this aspect on several other threads over the past week or so, prior to him being charged. The position BRock put was also mine, I have not bothered to articulate it fully again as it has been done to death, the only difference now being that he has been charged instead of caught up in an incident (which was the bone of contention previously). FYI one of the problems articulated before that warranted him being stood down was being out on the sauce at 2am the night before the first Wales test while supposedly on rehab. Success in said test being the rather important for the futures of Deans and several Wallaby incumbent, who did not need that distraction. To anwser your question "why should the fact of a criminal prosecution mean that he cannot represent his country?", Mike if you have to ask this question nothing I can say can possibly answer you so I wont bother. Oh, and I for the life of me cant see how you have misconstrued what I have said as prejudging guilt. You are confused. I have said the judicial process is irrelevant.
Mr FOS, true AF played the last 6 games and had made 19 carries for 95metres. Horne's last 6 games in super rugby in comparison he'd carried 24 times for 221metres, (and scored 4 tries).
Mike
Guest
If it is "nothing to do with determining guilt or innocence." then why should the fact of a criminal prosecution mean that he cannot represent his country? When you look at it that way, your position has everything to do with pre-judging guilt or innocence. I agree with B-Rock's post on the thread "showing pride in the Wallaby jersey" - he makes a reasonable case for stand-down that doesn't involve pre-judging criminal guilt, unlike yours. Of course your opinion is as valid is mine - who suggested otherwise?