I am writing this article because I’d like to see what Roarers’ input is on the Wallabies back-row and what combinations are possible.
If I have missed anyone that you think is in real contention for any of these positions, please tell me who and why.
Blindside – Higginbotham, Fardy, and McMahon
These are the only three who in my eyes have been fighting it out for the prestigious green and gold jersey with number 6 on the back. Scott Higginbotham is a great all round player and he brings great aggression to the game and that’s something the Wallabies lack.
Scott Fardy is consistent but never amazing. His lineouts a great and his work around the breakdown is excellent but he lacks speed which effectively makes him an average ball carrier.
Sean McMahon on the other hand is a mixture of the both. Out of all of them, McMahon is the best all-rounder. I would Higginbotham start and at half time or with 30 minutes to go, have McMahon come on fired up and ready to make the impact that is desperately needed out of bench players.
Openside flanker – Pocock, Gill and Hooper
All three of them are world-class players, with Dave Pocock being an absolute freak in the breakdown.
Hooper and his explosive speed and ability to break the line are always a threat for the opposition, and Gill is said to be the best all-rounder in the side.
I would select Pocock as he is up there as the best pilferer with likes of Richie McCaw and Sam Warburton.
Not only this, but Pocock is a strong ball carrier, although he is not as good as Hooper he is still strong in contact and has the strength to beat the first tackler.
Number 8 – Vaea, Butler and Palu
Out of these three, both Jarrad Butler and Ita Vaea are both uncapped whereas Wycliff Palu has over 50 appearances to his name. However, in the 2014 international games that Palu featured in, he did not bring to the table what he does at the Waratahs.
It seems to me that every time he plays for the Wallabies, he slacks off. I would love to see both Vaea and Bulter get a game in the Rugby Championship.
Vaea is an absolute beast of a man who always beats the first tackler. Butler is a young gun, at only 23 he still has his best years ahead of him.
Butler and Vaea’s form has been to good this season for Cheika to ignore.
I were to selecte the back-row I wish to see run for the Wallabies, it would be Higginbotham at blindside, Pocock at openside and Vaea at number 8.
Notable mentions:
– Matt Hodgson
– Lopeti Timani
– Colby Fainga’a
– Ben McCalman
– Jordy Reid
hasbeen flanker
Guest
Noah, great subject....one of my favourite topics! Some casual observations if I may - most (on this thread and others similar) seem to be agreeing these days that Hooper's style and form warrant a bench seat and run on against minnows (RWC) now that we can compare his play against top line 7's. Anyone who has taken the time to watch the Rebels rise will leave behind the memories of Higgers playing style as only loose. He has led well, tightened up his game when and where required or as some have noted, is able to play his style well with the tight five at the Rebels...and deserves to be in the mix somewhere. Palu seems to be polarizing - some who won't go past him and others who write him off. I hope Cliff is in the mix at least and not cruelled by injury. Pro's and cons with each of these combo's. nice to know we actually have at least 2 or 3 viable ones. Speaking of viability though, I am more concerned to know that we have same up front. Let's consider the real risk of injury toll pre-RWC for instance. Imagine the backrow options less say two injuries between now and RWC..........now, imagine our front row options if there are 2 injuries in the same period.... I'm not as pessimistic as Sheek but looking for that iceberg........
Loosey
Guest
I'd love to see a Pocock-Vaea-Fardy backrow, I think with that and Moore at Hooker, the continuity they'd bring from the Brumbies would be a huge positive. Skelton in the second row, Higginbotham and Palu off the bench and maybe Timani too, it will be a big, experienced side able to atleast match any in terms of physicality.
sheek
Roar Guru
.....And the stewards continued to fiddle with the deckchairs on the Titanic, debating over & over which deckchair should go where. No-one seemed to notice the slowly increasing list of the deck..... ;-)
Harry Jones
Expert
Robshaw has lifted his game and O'Brien is full bore mongrel. Dusatoir has earned respect from all true rugby fans.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Good valid points, you may be right. But if Higgers is No 8, he is a good jumper. Again Skelton is the wild card as back up line-out support for Higgers and Simmons. Surprisingly Skelton has been winning line-out ball at Super level, and even more surprisingly he is being lifted. Higgers is a good football talent. He can I believe change his game plan. Different to Beale and Hooper examples which require skills they don't excell at. However, as I said you may be right. Hence one test before the World Cup to assess. As Noah points out, there are many possible permeations. To leave the number two tackler in Super Rugby and best running Aussie forward in Super Rugby out of the team is a luxury we can't afford I believe. And if Pocock is captain, he should not be replaced by Hooper at critical stages in the second half. It is a delema.
Markus
Guest
'I believe direct comparisons to the Smith/Waugh era are not valid due to the different tight five, particularly Skelton’s mass' It could actually be comparatively worse than the Smith/Waugh combination for lineouts, which was done with two very strong lineout jumping locks in Sharpe and Harrison. 'Higgers would need to play it tight' That isn't really his game though. You may as well say 'Hooper would need to play stronger over ruck ball' or 'Beale would need to make dominant tackles in the centre channel'.
Clifto
Guest
Fardy for mine is one of my first picked, he gets through a mountain of work and has plenty of mongrel. Higgers seems to fade in and out and goes missing at crucial times. I'd struggle having him start at 6, bench at best.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
If you select 3 openside specialists in the RWC squad you are going to struggle.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The pack balance problem the Wallabies have is kind of impossible to fix; there isn't an eligible lock who is a strong carrier and international quality in the lineout. So it's a matter of where to be short handed: lineout, carriers of the ball, or presence over the ball. I'd say in the damp and cold of a NH winter, the set piece and breakdown are where the game will be won or lost. Timani / Pocock / Higginbotham with Fardy and McCalman on the bench I think (Fardy could go on at lock if the situation warrants it), but some might want a stronger ball runner on the bench. Could swap Fardy and Timani around if Skelton is starting, but the idea of Skelton starting makes my brain hurt.
Jameswm
Guest
Browny - I talked about back row balance because that's what the article was about. However you'd also see I assumed we had Skelton at lock, meaning we need a legitimate 2nd jumper in our back row (only Fardy or Higgers really).
Lostintokyo
Guest
Palu on the bench.
Daz
Guest
In the tough games Pocock has to be 7 otherwise we don't stand a chance. Cheika can flirt with his hybrid 7/12 in the don't matter/lesser games and he's good cover for back spots as well. We need an imposing pack with some aggression and some good aussie mongrel and never say die attitude and who will give other nations something to think about and who are not square pegs in round holes and can do the job they are supposed to do. So yeah Higginbotham, Palu, Timani Skelton et all are the type of forwards we need. It's a shame Jackpot can't play for Australia.
Lostintokyo
Guest
I have been hoping option two is given a shot by Cheika. Many disagree due to set piece concerns, particularly line out but also scrum. I believe direct comparisons to the Smith/Waugh era are not valid due to the different tight five, particularly Skelton's mass. Option two is the best tackling back three and best offensive as well. Higgers would need to play it tight. The set piece depends on how they combine as a pack and it would be worth a try during rugby championships.
Markus
Guest
The articles are about the flankers and flashy backs that is where the Wallabies strength and depth is, and the most discussion to be had. In comparison, if a discussion article was posted last year about the Wallabies front row it would propose Slipper Moore Kepu with not a single comment disagreeing. And a discussion this year would still be near full agreement with some possibly putting Sio over Slipper on his form pre-injury. This season does at least have some discussion on lock pairings as part of an overall balanced back 5, which does show that there is actually some competition there now.
Michael Essa
Roar Guru
I think this is a case of the grass is always greener mentality.. On the EOYT most commentators from up North were stating Hooper was the no 1 openside in the world.... O'brien has done very little at test level btw despite that he is an amazing talent. Dusatoir is past his best... robshaw... just no!
Harry Jones
Expert
O'Brien better than Hooper at test level. Maybe Dusatoir, too. Robshaw makes more of a dent at the ruck. Lobbe maybe, too.
Jameswm
Guest
McMahon is a massive option for the future, but not ahead of Hooper or Poey right now. Or Gill, but they're different styles of players.
PeterK
Roar Guru
The other option is Coleman / Arnold for Simmons at lock. You still get size and power.
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree Horwill is history , has not come close to his pre-injury form.
PeterK
Roar Guru
totally agree, a lot will clammer for Simmons though. IMO the option you put forward is good enough in lineouts and at least as good in scrums (Timani scrums as well as Simmons) but far better at the breakdown. The game is won or lost in the collisions more than anywhere else.