I know I promised a clash of the ‘stache article this week, but I’m going to have to renege.
I think some of them have turned into beards or were shaved off. Only Scott Higginbotham and Nic White had what I’d clearly class as a moustache, but what magnificent specimens they have!
But to the actual rugby, where there were some good matches on the weekend. I was initially a little nonplussed in some positions, but after checking my notes and reviewing the stats this actually turned out to be one of the easier weeks to pick a team.
1. Pekahou Cowan
We start off with a newcomer to the team of the week for this season in Pekahou Cowan. He scrummed very well against his Reds counterparts and was a workhorse around the field with nine carries for 29 metres and nine tackles.
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
A bad week at the office for most Australian hookers. Nathan Charles tried his heart out and James Hanson went okay, but I’m going to give the guernseyto Polota-Nau. Not an exceptional performance, but he threw himself into everything as usual.
3. Ben Alexander
Others with a lot better knowledge of front row play have commented that Alexander seems rejuvenated this year. He has always been pretty good around the park but now that is the icing on the cake, the cake being some solid scrummaging against a fantastic Blues front row of Tony Woodcock and Charlie Faumuina. Props love cake analogies.
4. Hugh Pyle
All of our locks played well on the weekend. Scott Fardy was maybe a bit quieter than usual, Rob Simmons was his normal self, while Sam Wykes and Will Skelton both had pretty good games. Skelton made a lot of mistakes and is still very raw, but this sort of match is exactly what he needs for his development.
Hugh Pyle gets the nod again. Such a shame he is going to France next year.
5. James Horwill
James Horwill was gutted after the match. I know it was more emotional exhaustion than physical but if you look at his numbers, he had good reason for some physical exhaustion as well – 10 runs for 30 metres and 11 tackles.
Those figures are well ahead of any other lock on the weekend. It’s nice to see him finding some form coming into the second half of the season.
6. Angus Cottrell
Angus Cottrell is the No. 6 I really noticed on the weekend, and not always for the right reasons – he was yellow-carded, and the 10-minute period when he was off was the only time the Reds seemed dominant. Maybe that points to his influence when he was on.
Like all the Force forwards, he plays with such raw-boned ferocity. Surprisingly Sean McMahon and Jordan Smiler both had better stats than Cottrell, but the latter had more influence on his team getting the win.
7. Michael Hooper
Beau Robinson had it all over Matt Hodgson in the conference grudge match of the week. After the form Hodgson has been in, that surprised me. Robinson topped the tackle count for all Australian players on the weekend with 18, but despite these heroics he couldn’t drag his team over the line.
Michael Hooper only made seven tackles in comparison but ran the ball 10 times to Robinson’s four. It’s a tough call, but I’m giving it to Hooper for the quality of his game against a tough opponent on the other side of the Indian Ocean.
8. Ben McCalman
Ben McCalman was straight back into his groove of this season with 13 runs, one try and eight tackles. He’s another guy you could suggest that were it not for his contribution, the Western Force would likely not have won this one.
9. Nic White
Like Jesse Mogg and perhaps Quade Cooper of old, when Nic White gets it wrong, it all seems to go really pear-shaped. But when he gets it right, he’s a very, very good halfback.
I may have also given him bonus points for the moustache. Looks like he should be holding up a stagecoach.
10. Quade Cooper
Pretty clear cut this one. Cooper was by far the best 10 of the weekend and the stats back him up – the most carries, four defenders beaten (next most being one), four offloads, two try assists and more tackles than any other Aussie 10.
11. Robbie Coleman
While he didn’t make the most metres, Coleman made the most runs and bagged himself yet another try.
12. Pat McCabe
Kyle Godwin played one of his best games of the season with 12 runs and 15 tackles. McCabe made only six tackles in comparison and had the same number of runs but it was the quality of those runs that has won him this spot this weekend, as well as his passing game.
13. Ben Tapuai
It’s like a switch was thrown in Tapuai’s head a few weeks back because he has seemed a different player since. He’s very dangerous and elusive in attack, and made more tackles than both Adam Ashley-Cooper and Tevita Kuridrani.
14. Luke Morahan
Not much separating Morahan, Tomane or Davies this weekend, but I’ll give it to Morahan for scoring a try to help get the win over his old team.
15. Jesse Mogg
I mistakenly picked a New Zealander in this spot last week with Jason Woodward. This weekend I could easily have done the same with either Woodward or Jayden Hayward, both of whom had great games and bagged a try each as reward.
But it was Jesse Mogg who made the most runs, the most metres, beat the most defenders and had the most clean breaks, topping it off with a great kicking game. He made a big statement about deserving a Wallabies recall, and with Folau a certainty Mogg may be able to put his left boot to use from the right wing.
Hoges
Guest
Good response WNM. It all depends on what you count as important in balancing the team I wonder if all the people pumping for Foley object to Hooper being automatically selected in just about every media team about the Wallabies. He is undersized and generally gets thrown around by Sth African sides, whilst playing essentially like an inside centre or blind winger. BUT for the Waratahs, that works. They have found a way to win without a specialist "fetcher", like Pocock, Gill, Robinson, etc. Keep picking the team you see worthy...... I don't always agree but good to look at the game from another perspective.
jutsie
Guest
its funny that QC is rated because despite his error rate he is dangerous in attack and can create something out of nothing yet beale is criticised because despite his brilliance in attack he makes too many errors. I know its not a battle for the same position as beale is a better outside back (and possibly centre) than a 10 however in 2014 he has created a much larger amount of try scoring opportunities and whilst he has been targeted by bigger 12's and has not been dominant in the tackle i have not seen him fall of any tackles this year...unlike qc whose attempt on hayward was woeful and was like the QC of the bad old days. In addition neither of them have made many stupid errors/decisions this year like we have seen in PY (eg silly chip kicks/grubbers, kicks out on the full, dropped balls etc) so i honestly dont get why beale is copping shtick. I can understand people questioning his suitability to the 12 position as i too think he may be better in the back three but I do think he is one of the form backs in aus.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Ha ha, good on ya melon. Keep up the good work.
DJW
Guest
Yet BA gets dominated by Woodcock and makes team of the week..
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Although if Beale was a Red he would be awesome.
Kibz
Guest
Speight is not even eligible till later in the year. Tomane has a tendancy to rush up and lose his man on the outside. He is the last person i want out on the wing. I would back a trio of Beale at 11, Mogg at 14, and Izzy at 15; and give them the green light to counter off deep balls. That would be a sight. Beale's defense is decent out back, not as a 12 though. Izzy is improving his positioning as well, don't know how Mogg would go on the wing, but a year out to RWC this is the time to try these combinations.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
Sheesh this is a tough gig.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Higginbotham was generally praised for having a great game. You've gone with McCalman who really put in for the Force again, which is fair enough. You really should say why you've not gone for Higgers when he was so dynamic this round. Two intercepts? Set up try? Big hits? Running. Rucking. Not enough for you?
DMac
Guest
I thought Beale was very good on Saturday, and he won at least one motm award. I agree his error rate has been high but more so earlier in the season. He's set up an awful lot of tries though and imo has been key to the Tahs backline this year.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Who Needs Melon : maybe u need to look at super rugby in total and come up with a hairy team :)
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Mantis : That is the differnce between MIB/Boks v Wallabies. Irrespective of super form, MIB / Boks will play like tigers in tests. It is the other way around for OZ. for example last year Mogg was the standout full back, who managed a handfull of games at test level. on the other hand nonu who was shit and even got dropped played like possessed in tests :) maybe someone could analyse this anomaly, how players transfom their super form into tests . cheers
AndyS
Guest
Sounds like there might be another rash of it coming up around the globe.... http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2014/04/07/hard-line-taken-on-white-sport
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Combesy : from Planet Rugby " Hayward set to switch allegiances 07th April 2014 06:49 Western Force full-back Jayden Hayward is the latest New Zealander set to switch allegiances in a bid to play for Australia. The former Highlanders and Hurricanes stalwart has been one of the Western Force's best players since joining them last year. Hayward was the Perth-based franchise's hero when he scored a spectacular matchwinning try in Saturday's 32-29 victory over the Reds in Brisbane. He is currently in the second year of a three-year qualifying period as the Force's foreign development player, and wants to stay in Perth and play for the Wallabies after next year's World Cup. "I'd love to stay here," Hayward told AAP. "Everybody wants to play international rugby and if the opportunity arises then I wouldn't say no." Hayward isn't the only New Zealand full-back making a name for himself in Australia. Melbourne Rebels number 15 Jason Woodward has also caught the attention of Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie with some impressive performances. Woodward's fellow Rebels, flanker Scott Fuglistaller and prop Toby Smith, are also in the reckoning while Reds centre Mike Harris has already represented the Wallabies in 10 Tests thanks to his Australian-born grandmother. Hayward and Woodward would not start at full-back for the Wallabies, however, as the Waratahs' Israel Folau is the first-choice for the position but the selection landscape will be different after the World Cup when several Wallabies are set to head overseas. ""
Mantis
Roar Guru
Don't worry we have the Speight train coming in soon...
Mantis
Roar Guru
If you picked the ABs and Boks each week on form, Id back the Wallabies to beat them most weeks too
Mantis
Roar Guru
How have you not picked Toomua yet? Quade has his days, but no way has he been the best 10 majority of weeks.
Mantis
Roar Guru
I thought it would have been out of Chalres and Siliva
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Longbottom was very good.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
You could say that, although you'd be wrong.
The old man of rugby
Guest
Yes Beau Robinson had a good game - no issues with that. Robinson missed a crucial tackle that led to Haywoods winning try. Hodgson may not have appeared as dominant as in previous games but if you look closely -he: turned over the ball at crucial stages. made tackles at crucial stages( including one try saver) Kept the team motivated and positive till the end.