Veteran Waratah centre Adam Ashley-Cooper has won more Wallaby caps than the entire Rebels starting line-up for Friday night’s Super Rugby clash at AAMI Stadium.
But in the opening round last week,the Rebels beat the Crusaders in Christchurch 20-10, crossing for two tries to one. It was no mean feat either, as the Rebels had never won a Super Rugby clash overseas let alone against the mighty Crusaders at home.
On the debit side, reigning champions the Waratahs were left embarrassed with a 25-13 defeat by the Force, who scored four tries to two. It was the Perth-based franchise’s first opening round success in their 10-year history.
So on paper, the Rebels are better prepared than the Waratahs for Friday night. But rugby is played on a field that is a maximum 140 metres long, and 70 metres wide, and the Waratahs are bristling with internationals.
Ashley-Cooper’s 104 Wallaby caps dwarf the Rebels’ 85 Wallaby caps in their entire starting line-up. Total up the Waratahs’ starting line-up Wallaby caps, and it’s a massive 531 to 85.
And the gap would be even greater had Wycliff Palu, with 51 Wallaby caps, not been replaced by Stephen Hoiles with 16 caps.
Palu injured himself at training during the week, just another example of how fragile the number 8 is – rugby’s injury-prone answer to cricketers Michael Clarke and Shane Watson.
The entire Waratah pack are internationals, with front rowers Benn Robinson (72), Tatafu Polota-Nau (50) and Sekope Kepu (78) totalling exactly 200 Wallaby caps to the Rebels’ two from prop Laurie Weeks.
But let’s see who dominates the scrums tonight.
The Waratah locks Dave Dennis (18) and Will Skelton (8) cover Luke Jones’ three caps. While in the backrow, Michael Hooper (42) and Hoiles (16) together with Jacques Potgieter’s three Springbok caps, outweigh the Rebels’ Scott Higginbotham’s 30 caps and Sean McMahon’s three.
The Rebel backs Luke Burgess (37), Dom Shipperley (3) and Mike Harris (7) should be well and truly outgunned by the Waratahs backs – Nick Phipps (28), Brendan Foley (18), Kurtley Beale (49), Ashley-Cooper (104), Rob Horne (25) and Israel Folau (29), with Fijian winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, in only his second Super Rugby appearance, the only non-international in the Waratahs’ starting line-up.
Phipps has been quoted as saying the large Wallaby contingent in the Waratahs line-up had a late start to the season, given extra time off after the spring tour to the northern hemisphere.
Weak excuse.
Pride and passion are on the line on Friday night for the men in blue. Last week, apart from Rob Horne and to a lesser extent Israel Folau, the rest of the Waratahs ran onto the field in first gear, and never got out of it.
Bring it on tonight.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Michael Hooper played 33 Matches in 2014 I believe. 16 Super Rugby matches, 3 Super rugby finals and 14 test matches. He started every one of these and I believe played close to 80 minutes in all In 2013 he played 16 Super Rugby matches and 15 test matches for 31 matches. He started all but 1 of these to my knowledge, and again played close to 80 minutes in all. In 2012 he played 16 Super Rugby matches I believe and played 15 test matches for 31 matches, starting 9 of these I believe. That's over 90 matches of Super Rugby or higher level in 3 consecutive seasons. Phipps, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Israel Folau would be very similar (though only 60 games in 2 years for Folau). Do not even try to compare McMahon playing NRC and 7s to this. He did not even play every game for the Rebels in 2014.
Browny
Roar Rookie
Without actually look up the numbers and doing the math, my guess is that McMahon probably played about the same if not more: 13 S15 games plus 8 NRC plus 4 EOYT plus 5 U20 comes in at 30 games plus a the Comm. games and Gold Coast sevens probably equates to ballpark of 28-32 games depending on how much time he spent on the bench and how many 7s games they played at the two tournements. He looked really fresh in the trials and stepped up a notch last week. Maybe just put it down to youth or he's one of those guys that recovers really well post-match.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You have to consider that Adam Ashley-Cooper, Michael Hooper, Nick Phipps, Israel Folau and Jacques Potgeiter have all played close to 30 games of rugby per season, for the last 2 or 3 seasons though. I'm not really interested in hearing any complaints from Waratahs supporters, but to compare one player, whose load has been basically 8 additional matches in 2014 to these guys is unfair.
pm
Guest
Agree mate - you have only got to look a young McMahon last year. Started out with Gold Coast Sevens leading into the pre season with the Rebels before 2014 series - 13 Super Rugby Games - 5 under 20 World Championship games in NZ - Commonwealth Games - 7 or 8 NRC games - EOYT including the Barbarians and 3 Starting caps for the Wallabies. He seems to be turning up okay.
Browny
Roar Rookie
"I expect the Rebels will utilize the place kicking of Mike Harris to keep the scoreboard ticking over of the Tah’s infringe within range. How may times to Angus Gardner blow the whistle last week?" That's another interesting point. The Rebels back 5 will be hunting the ball at the breakdown pretty ferociously to try and get penalties for Harris to add to the scoreboard. I imagine they'll also be trying to avoid going into mauls because of the size difference in the packs.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I remember last year before the Rebels trial, Cheika worked his players hard as he wanted to see if they could, and how they would handle, playing under fatigue. They lost the trial, and people jumped all over it. With limited preparation and Cheika saying prior to the match he would have loved another trial, perhaps he was doing the same, but this time in a Super game. Maybe not a great move, and perhaps a little disrespectful to the Force, but the trophy isn't won in Feb. By the end of last year the Tahs were close to the fittest team in the comp. Finishing games very well. Im pretty happy to trust Cheika's judgement, and don't understand where the "how he treats the players shows that he never played at Test level" comes from.
Browny
Roar Rookie
"He ghosts a bit like Bernie, to my eyes at least" That's one big ghost, Stray Gator. The fact that he can kick the ball 50m off one step is something that really works in his advantage. Can they try and get Sexton's kicking coach to come over and work with him? It'd be interesting to see see Big Jack have a run with Kerevi at 12 and Kuridrani at 13 and maybe Tomane, Speight and Folau as a back 3, just for the size alone... wouldn't want to be defending those guys running at you...
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Yep, reckon so. He ghosts a bit like Bernie, to my eyes at least.
Shop
Roar Guru
Looks like DL's article has been trumped by the KH incident.
jameswm
Guest
OK good stuff. I was hoping Debre would get the full season at 10. Big boy, massive boot, good in contact, can also put someone through a gap. Could redefine the position a bit.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I'm expecting the Tahs to show up tonight and put in a far better performance. The Rebels will be very tough to knock over. This will be another close game between these teams. Tahs must get a win.
AliasAlias
Guest
I think you're right about the half backs. Phipps can't pass to save himself but he puts in the work of two men around the ground. Burgess' pass isn't much better but he can go missing at times.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Yep, sure is. If and when he's fit, Debre is the first choice 10 for 2015. He was explicitly told that by Dumper in late 2014. So, no surprises all round.
taylorman
Roar Guru
yes they were... all that and it still took a 5 meter penalty to win it. The rest is irrelevant isn't it? Did they win it? yes Did they deserve it? absolutely. Were they lucky? again...absolutely.
Sam
Guest
It's called a premiership hangover, when self assurance and self confidence overstep the fine line into over confidence. I'd like the Rebels to win. The measure of NSW will be how they respond.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I'm not necessarily agreeing with it being a disadvantage though nor am I agreeing that having more Wallabies is automatically a massive advantage, regardless of there being a couple who vacationed a bit longer. I think the W's add up to about 20% on top of any of the sxv sides in Oz, NZ about 30 and SA about 15-20 or so. Even thats a generalisation and applying that sort of 'trend' to one specific match is ludicrous anyway- cheap shots- either way. The Force were better on the day, whether they are better over the season will sort that talk out.
RT
Guest
Uses the same rehab guy as Pocock?
jameswm
Guest
And Pocock too? Did you mean seen, or sawn?
jameswm
Guest
Is Debre starting? If the Tahs slide in defence, Foley will be taking Inman. Tahs are small at 10 and 12, except that Horne often defends at 12, and the guy doesn't miss many tackles.
jameswm
Guest
So the Tahs have forwards who aren't confrontational? Guys like TPN, Skelton, Kepu and - dare I say - Potgieter?