Come Saturday night I was in the precarious position of relying on the Waratahs to provide the shining light for Australian Super Rugby fans over the weekend. I wasn’t holding my breath.
Like Phil Kearns said, often an early try can be the worst thing for a team and it looked for half the game like that was the case and my hopes would be dashed. But unbelievably they stole victory from the jaws of defeat and as a result many of them have won their way into the team below.
Here is my team of the week for Round 12 of the 2014 Super Rugby season.
1. Benn Robinson
The Waratahs scrum did struggle at times. In fact I think the Rebels scrum probably performed best against a heavy Sharks pack. But Benn – who hasn’t featured previously in this series of articles – had his best game of the season.
Pretty fair involvement around the park which is not something I’ve often said about gentle Benn.
2. Stephen Moore
As I commented during the week, this is one of only two positions in the Wallaby squad that is never up for debate and Squeaky showed why again on the weekend. A real nuisance at the breakdown as usual and ran 77 metres. Next best among Aussie hookers was four metres from Saia Fainga’a.
3. Ben Alexander
Yes, after months of Super Rugby and props rising and falling, I’ve ended up picking the two Bens in a team. Ben ran almost one hundred metres and that’s a stat a winger would be happy with.
4. Scott Fardy
I thought the two best Aussie locks on the weekend were James Horwill and Luke Jones but they both played at 5. If I’m picking a 4, I will go for Scott. He didn’t have his best game but a little better than Cadeyrn Neville and Rob Simmons.
5. James Horwill
Each week I try to ensure I judge guys like Will Genia and Horwill against their peers as opposed to the level I know they are capable of. This week I thought Horwill was back up around that level.
Luke Jones was again good and indeed had more carries for a lot more metres than Horwill but James more than doubled him in the tackle count. Sam Carter and Kane Douglas were solid but it’s great to see the former Wallaby captain coming good.
6. Dave Dennis
Second week in a row I’ve selected Dave Dennis after panning him but his numbers are just too compelling alongside the other blindsides this week.
Twelve carries including a try at the end of a strong albeit short run plus 14 tackles. Only Hooper and Phipps had more tackles of all the Australian players this round. Credit where it’s due.
7. Michael Hooper
I thought Liam Gill had a good first game back but Hooper was again compelling. Topped the Aussie tackle count and a good number of runs and metres. While Dave Dennis won his way into this team this week, I’m still at one with the chorus calling for Hooper to be made captain.
8. Jake Schatz
In a field that includes Cliff Palu, Scott Higginbotham and Ben Mowen, what’s Schatz done to win himself this spot? Well he had more carries than any other Australian player (20) and a pretty respectable 11 tackles, missing none.
9. Nick Phipps
I thought Will Genia was a lot better this week and Nic White was his usual bustling self but Phipps takes the honours. Tackled his heart out against some big, running Hurricane players and pretty good getting to the breakdown and clearing quickly.
10. Bernard Foley
As the only winning Australian team this weekend, it’s perhaps no surprise that I’m picking more than the usual number of Waratahs. I thought Foley was much more impressive than in the previous few weeks.
Partly I think that might have been because of Beale who seemed to not overplay his hand so much and to my eye was trying consciously to straighten and offload earlier.
I really think Foley could develop into a very fine flyhalf. It would be very interesting to see how he went in a more structured team like the Brumbies.
11. Rob Horne
I’m a big fan of Robbie Coleman and I thought he went pretty well again on the weekend. The New Zealand commentators had a few good things to say about him which is always a good sign in my books.
But Rob Horne continues to impress. He scored one try and missed what was in the end a very difficult chance to score a try another. He runs himself out of room at times which perhaps shows a relative lack of experience on the wing but he goes looking for the ball and tackles with abandon.
12. Kurtley Beale
Another I panned last week but really lifted his game this week. I’m sure the coaching staff had a word to him as you could almost see him telling himself to run straight and curb the crazy stuff. Not only did Kurtley look better but the whole team did.
Mitch Inman also played well again and justified my calls for him to be in the Wallaby squad.
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
Tevita Kuridrani was good, Ben Tapuai made some good runs but Adam Ashley-Cooper was better.
14. Joseph Tomane
Matt Carraro has some claim to this spot this week. He made more tackles than Joe, beat more defenders and scored a try. But Joe had more than double the number of carries and I just think looks more dangerous and had a better all-round game than Matt.
15. Israel Folau
Unexpectedly tough call on fullback this week. If he was eligible I would probably have picked Jason Woodward who is almost always impressive. Mike Harris and Jesse Mogg look a lot better on the stats sheet than they did to the naked eye.
While Folau was again held quiet, he was pretty solid at the back, fielded a few tricky high balls and gets the nod again from me.
So there you have it. A vastly different look team to previous efforts. Also a lot more enjoyable to compile than most of the rugby viewing on the weekend.
Jagman
Guest
Thanks for that Brett. I'd become so confused over the years as everyone assumed that 5 was THL but I saw Sharpe in the 5 jersey year after year and for the Waratahs Timani wore the 4 in the THL position. I assumed it was NSW/Qld thing but that doesn't make sense with Sharpe being a Qlder so I have a new theory. The senior or most capped lock gets the senior number. This works for Douglas as 5, Sharpe, Horwill, Carter and even Jones over Neville. What do you think?
Kibz
Guest
Charles, or Hanson. TPN cannot make the squad when he cannot get basic throws to jumpers. Plus the fact that i didn't notice a huge difference when Latu came on speaks volumes.
Boomeranga
Guest
Woodward should never play for Australia. There has to be line. Does anyone really believe he sees any grandeur in playing for us that wouldn't disappear if NZ came calling? There are ridiculous numbers of kiwis here, and some probably actually love it. I don't want the others.
Crazy Horse
Guest
No argument at Izzy has a lot of potential but his performance on Saturday wasn't that brilliant.
jameswm
Guest
There was nothing wrong with the pass from Izzy. It was more a question of whether he should have passed it or not. Teams back their skill level these days. If it was to a back who could have cleared it, it could have worked. Not sure what he expected Cliffy to do. Still, Izzy's a fast learner. He's still learning the game.
Crazy Horse
Guest
Moore, Fardy and Hooper no brainers. I couldn't pick Izzy this week. He was pretty ordinary with his major contribution being to gift the opposition a try with a shocking pass in goal when he should have put it on the boot or touched it down. Woodward was easily the best 15 this weekend although as noted he is not eligible for wallabies. Beale was a lot better in attack and interfered a lot less with his 10 amd 13s games. I agree that the coaching staff must have had a free and frank discussion with him during e week. He is still a liability in defence though. I thought McCabe was better even though he didn't get a full game so his stats were down. I would have picked Stirzaker at 9. A great game in a losing side. One to watch for the future. Speaking of stars of the future, keep an eye out for the Australain Under 20s vice captain Luke Burton in the Force games over the next couple of weeks where he'll hopefully debut at 10, probably off the bench. He has travelled to South Africa with the team.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Agree Charles should be the reserve wallaby hooker
Paul
Guest
I don't see the blame on Folau for that pass. He was not in a good spot to kick, didn't have room, so he shovelled it on to a man who was unmarked. A split second after he passes Folau gets smashed. Had Palu caught it which he'd do 99% of the time he could have punched it up across the line and allow for another set up and clear. Or at the very least get tackled in and result in a 5m scrum, which would be all Folau could guarentee. Slightly lower percentage to risk a pass, but most people would have made the pass and try live a little longer. Especially given the "running rugby" model the Tahs are trying to live by.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Yeah overall pretty good selections a bit down this week from your 10 out of 10 for previous week selections, I suppose you have to throw a couple of qlders in to silence the mob. Tough gig
Chan WEE
Guest
@ Harry : I thought Schatz played well , but Gill was poor.
Chan WEE
Guest
@ Who Needs Melon : yes Mccabe , becoz Mogg is not a fullback. he is good against average teams but going against a class act like Dagg, he looks like a schoolboy. Tom Taylor could have played at fullback for Saders better than Mogg. why have not people learnt from last season test matches ??? i dont blame Folau for not having a fullback's game. in Leagur rugger the fullback does not encounter the kind of pressure in union. simp-le reason being there is far less kicking in league. tactical kicking and kick-response in an art. look at Wille Le Raux , a wonder on the wing but poor at fullback. Most SA fans hated Kirtchner before. Look at Beale when he has to play at 15. remember Barnes and JOC? whether ur good or bad it stands out for people to see.
Chan WEE
Guest
@ Rollaway7 " agree on Woodward he has the goods, I think he is the second best 15 in Aus. " actually he is the best in his position among OZ super sides. just that it will be a few years before he can play for OZ :) quite a few foreigners this season shining in thier positions ; Toby Smith, Jack Potgeiter, Alby Mathewson, Tamati Ellison + Woodward.
Chan WEE
Guest
No Folau, no MOgg, try Mccabe. when u play against a clasa act like DAgg u need to know "fullback play". at least Mccabe does not look like a deer in headlights :)
Chan WEE
Guest
difference between Horwill ans Simmons was the 3 penalties. else both did simillar things. for a test player simmons looked stupid: he was warned forgrabbing at line out , only to repeat it within 10-15 minutes. this is where individuals need to take responsibility. every player's discipline affect the team.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Oops, forgot about the Highlanders. Fekitoa in for C.Smith. B.Smith in for TNW
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Id have McCabe at FB. NZ 15. 1) Woodcock 2) Coles 3) Toomaga-Allen 4) Tuipulotu 5) Whitelock 6) Kaino (he played 8 I know) 7) McCaw (Started in the 6 jumper) 8) Vito 9) Hall 10) Hickey 11) Visinia 12) Nonu (Marshall) 13) Smith 14) Halai 15) TNW
Brett McKay
Expert
Jagman, Douglas in 5 certainly packed at THL for the Tahs on the weekend (Potgeiter wore 4), and ditto the Brumbies, where Sam Carter wears 5 and packs behind Ben Alexander on the TH side. Also, my understanding is like Sharpe, Horwill just prefers to wear 5 regardless which side he's playing
jameswm
Roar Guru
Palu was playing VERY well earlier in the season. Do you really want Hooper AND Higgers starting? McCalman would have to fill in at 7 if Hooper injured. Remember the last WC?
Jagman
Guest
WNM you do know that different australian sides use the lock jerseys to determine different positions. The old 4=LHL 5=THL is very Queensland. In NSW 4 is usually THL and it seems most other aus teams follow this model. That's why you jones competing with horwill though I bet Neville packed on the right hand side of the Rebels scrum. The Wallabies by the way are only now following the Qld version since Sharpe's retirement. If you remember he was always 5 and packed on the left. Now horwill is the veteran lock and I guess he has chosen the Qld way of having 5 on the right.
Rollaway7
Guest
Cooper does this all the time and still gets picked by most.