Brett McKay and Ryan O’Connell are biding their time on the bench in episode 36 of the Cheap Seats podcast.
In this episode, Ryan asks cricket-inducing questions, while Brett attempts to speak with what sounds like corks up his nose.
Episode 36 talking points:
#AskTheCheapSeats featuring Benji vs Brett on the sidelines
Super Rugby: the Benji Marshall experiment comes to an abrupt end for the Blues, the wacky disparity between the conferences, the return of the Crusaders and the smart tippers who knew it, Australian derby lotto, and Brett’s off-the-cuff Wallaby XV
NRL: something is obstructing referees’ thinking, the strange world of Channel Nine on Twitter, the Bulldogs’ unusual piece of history, Wests Tigers’ rise giving Mick Potter surprising job security, and Stewart-gate appears over
The now-famous token wraps of AFL and the A-League, including the Good Friday football debate and the Central Coast Mariners’ horror schedule
The Worst Case Scenarios for this week, in which the boys look abroad
Get us on Twitter at @CheapSeatsPod and use the tag #AskTheCheapSeats.
Question -
A fair bit of chatter this week around the 'poaching' of players at International level in Rugby Union and potential solutions to the issue.
How would you go about addressing this issue if of course you think there is an issue to deal with?
Also, will Brett McKay be spotted in a Dris-abone again this season and will it be his own?
As a first choice Wallabies I think you could be right under Ewen with the exception of Slipper being a dead cert imo until Sio proves himself but...
Like Ive said before, these guys like Jones, Longbottom, Skelton, English, Sio and a few others will get their opportunities early in the season if they are in the frame.
Ewen will want consistency heading into the WC but he will also want his best players as part of that consistency. He wont wait to expose some of these players to the eoyt when he is safer and greater advantaged by seeing how they do at home against Arg, France and also against NZ.
He made a mistake last year by thrusting a whole bunch of players into a team with a new coach, new style and with their confience rocked. They took a while to recover.
I can see him wanting to expose these guys to France but in a smart way and not like a bull at a gate. I think his idea from last year hasnt changed but the method will change.
There will be no wait for the eoyt for players Ewen sees as WC candidates.
So although that is the team you would back as your best and safest team to win a game I think there will be a few surprises early.
Dont be surprised if a few players you wouldnt expect get picked.
Pretty much the same, at this stage, mate.
Though I would have Fardy on the bench, with Higgers at 6, and Palu at 8.
I'd also go with Beale and AAC in the centres, but that's because I'm a one-eyed Tahs fan.
Agreed I was more taking about the bench. Other considerations for me is that possibly shuffle AAC to the bench in and bringing in tomane on the wing. So we are playing specialist wingers ?
Pretty spot on team Brett.
For me it will be
Slipper
Moore
Alexander
Simmons
Horwill
Fardy
Hooper
Higgers/Palu
Genia
Cooper
Cummins
Toomua
Kuridrani
AAC
Folau
TPN/Charles
Sio
Kepu
Douglas/jones
Higgers/fardy
White
McCabe
Beale
Thoughts?
Dru, I've stuck with them for the moment because it's been difficult to seen any sustained form to topple them. Plenty of other have been good in parts, but Simmons and Horwill have probably been at the same level all season, wherever that level might be..
Buk, my thoughts of Benji playing 5th tackle rugby league on a rugby field wasn't far off what he said himself, too:
"I was probably still trying to play league with 14 other rugby players..."
True, I still remember the laughs that Wendell used to supply when he first turned out for the Reds.
This probably should highlight a) how lucky other franchises were to miss out on Benji and b) how amazing Israel's conversion/talent.
Genia must be close to bench sitting. Not sure the Qld locks are actually the form locks though probable selection anyway. If they don't the door is open for Moore as Captain.
I'd put AAC on the bench too.
Sorry mate, combination of man flu, Easter and school holidays didn't allow me the freedom to come up with something decent. Will do better I promise!
A few comments from you guys on my own stuff wouldn't go amiss either ;)
Digby
Roar Guru
Question - A fair bit of chatter this week around the 'poaching' of players at International level in Rugby Union and potential solutions to the issue. How would you go about addressing this issue if of course you think there is an issue to deal with? Also, will Brett McKay be spotted in a Dris-abone again this season and will it be his own?
Tane Mahuta
Guest
As a first choice Wallabies I think you could be right under Ewen with the exception of Slipper being a dead cert imo until Sio proves himself but... Like Ive said before, these guys like Jones, Longbottom, Skelton, English, Sio and a few others will get their opportunities early in the season if they are in the frame. Ewen will want consistency heading into the WC but he will also want his best players as part of that consistency. He wont wait to expose some of these players to the eoyt when he is safer and greater advantaged by seeing how they do at home against Arg, France and also against NZ. He made a mistake last year by thrusting a whole bunch of players into a team with a new coach, new style and with their confience rocked. They took a while to recover. I can see him wanting to expose these guys to France but in a smart way and not like a bull at a gate. I think his idea from last year hasnt changed but the method will change. There will be no wait for the eoyt for players Ewen sees as WC candidates. So although that is the team you would back as your best and safest team to win a game I think there will be a few surprises early. Dont be surprised if a few players you wouldnt expect get picked.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Moore wont captain the Wallabies. Hooper will.
soapit
Guest
seemed to not be that way for nathan blacklock, peter ryan, etc.
Scrumpoacher
Guest
No Macalman anyone?
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Pretty much the same, at this stage, mate. Though I would have Fardy on the bench, with Higgers at 6, and Palu at 8. I'd also go with Beale and AAC in the centres, but that's because I'm a one-eyed Tahs fan.
Combesy
Roar Guru
Ryan what's your pick for the wallabies 23 man team to face France in June? Any notable differences to Brett's or mine
Combesy
Roar Guru
Agreed I was more taking about the bench. Other considerations for me is that possibly shuffle AAC to the bench in and bringing in tomane on the wing. So we are playing specialist wingers ?
Brett McKay
Expert
ha yeah, fair enough...
Brett McKay
Expert
considering our only real difference is Sio or Slipper, it's fair to say I'm pretty much in agreement!
Brett McKay
Expert
I keep telling you.....
Combesy
Roar Guru
Pretty spot on team Brett. For me it will be Slipper Moore Alexander Simmons Horwill Fardy Hooper Higgers/Palu Genia Cooper Cummins Toomua Kuridrani AAC Folau TPN/Charles Sio Kepu Douglas/jones Higgers/fardy White McCabe Beale Thoughts?
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
You're amazing Brett.
Brett McKay
Expert
Dru, I've stuck with them for the moment because it's been difficult to seen any sustained form to topple them. Plenty of other have been good in parts, but Simmons and Horwill have probably been at the same level all season, wherever that level might be..
Brett McKay
Expert
Buk, my thoughts of Benji playing 5th tackle rugby league on a rugby field wasn't far off what he said himself, too: "I was probably still trying to play league with 14 other rugby players..."
AJ
Guest
True, I still remember the laughs that Wendell used to supply when he first turned out for the Reds. This probably should highlight a) how lucky other franchises were to miss out on Benji and b) how amazing Israel's conversion/talent.
Buk
Guest
Benji starting in S15 "like debuting a convert to league in state of origin" pretty much sums it up
Dru
Guest
Genia must be close to bench sitting. Not sure the Qld locks are actually the form locks though probable selection anyway. If they don't the door is open for Moore as Captain. I'd put AAC on the bench too.
Digby
Roar Guru
Slipper, Moore, Longbottam Fardy,Horwill Hooper,Higgenbotham,Palu Genia,Cooper Macabe,Kurindrani Cummins,AAC Folau Sio,TPN,Kepu,Jones,Hodgson,White,Toomua,Beale
Digby
Roar Guru
Sorry mate, combination of man flu, Easter and school holidays didn't allow me the freedom to come up with something decent. Will do better I promise! A few comments from you guys on my own stuff wouldn't go amiss either ;)