Roar Forum: What changes should the Wallabies make for Bledisloe 2?

Yep well said

I agree with all of this Crash Ball

Pick a team and stick with it for more than one game at a time (barring injuries). Pick a coach with adaptable game plans. Pick a backline with strong defenders and keep them in their specialist positions so you’re not having to rely on Nathan Grey devising all sorts of crazy out-of-position defensive patterns running back and forth to cover for your weak defenders. Like the ABs, we should have mentored and nurtured young guys like Chance Peni, Curtis Rona, RHP etc so by the time they’re needed, they’re ready for Test level. Timani should have been mentored by now to be the next Willie O or Toutai Kefi, he’s big enough. And bring back Matt Toomua to show the smaller blokes that you can learn to love making bone crunching tackles. There’s nothing else to tackling than just committing to doing it and learning to love it. I love Fardy’s passion and mongrel but he sealed his fate criticizing the ARU some months ago, and is going anyway so no point in bringing him back. I think it’s fairly unanimous that Cheika and Grey need to go. Keep Ledesma and Byrne. Their responses to Lynagh’s comments compared to Cheika’s said it all. Cheika doesn’t have the temperament or the intellect and when you’re up against the likes of Hansen, Jones, Gatland and Schmidt, pure passion with a single minded game plan ain’t ever going to cut it. We really have a huge problem with flyhalf at the moment. Many of you have suggested Beale at 15, but I’d move him to 10. He’s well and truly got the ability and vision and kicking skills that Foley lacks and I’d have Cooper on the bench. So with nothing left to lose and one eye on the future I’d go with: 1. Sio 2. TPN 3. Alaalatoa 4. Arnold 5. Coleman 6. RHP (Fardy would be my pick but he’s gone) 7. Hooper 8. Timani 9. Genia 10. Beale (captain) 11. Speight 12. Hodge 13. Kuridrani 14. Folau 15. DHP 16. Jordan Uelese 17. Kepu 18. S. Carter 19. Higginbotham 20. McMahon 21. Powell 22. Q. Cooper 23. Tom Banks I’d also have Naivalu, Koroibete and Karmichael Hunt in the mix. The more I thought about this team, the more I realise there is actually a lot of potential depth in Australia, but not the mentoring or the coaching, or development of basic skills. Why haven’t we been studying the ABs recipe over and over and over? Hopefully Kafer’s new appointment might sort things out within a few years…after RWC.

My Team Sio Polota-Nau Alaalatoa Arnold Coleman McMahon Hooper Timani Phipps/Genia 50/50 Beale Speight Hodge Kuridrani Folau Haylett-Petty

Grey gets the job because he's from NSW, no other reason. Cheika has no idea other than his allegiance to NSW. It is seen in the team selections. It's gunna be a long year,because I think the Boks will deal with the Wallabys and the Pumas will fancy there chances. The end of year tour will have the NH teams rubbing there hands together.

Is Ned's daddy one of the NSW / E(A)RU back rooms boys?

I'll say it again: Hanigan will be retained. I'll put $100 on Hanigan being in the 6 jersey. The new Dean Mumm. Hey, both Waratahs. Anyone else see the trend?? Mark my words. He'll be in jersey 6 in Dunedin

I'll say it again: Every Waratah player will be retained. Waratah love affair continues while every other players the squad is used to hold the tackle bags. I repeat: every Waratah player will start Bledisloe Cup Test 2. Do I say it again? I'll put $100 on Hanigan being in the 6 jersey. The new Dean Mumm. Hey, both Waratahs. Anyone else see the trend??

MO, if you're talking about McMahon competing with Hooper and Hardwick for the starting 7 jersey (rather that taking up the 6 or 8), I'm with you. Dropping Hanigan forthwith is a no-brainer.

They were both rubbish

I didn't watch a lot of the game (missed the first 60mins), partly due to other engagements, partly because I had my doubts about selections before the game. All was confirmed by what occurred. When the coach states Super Rugby form is of no value, you know there are some issues with his head and his plans. When you then see a team that finished 15th get 9 players in the match day 23, then there are red flags all over the place. My changes would be as follows: Swap the following (bench for starters): Moore for Polota-Nau. Polota-Nau's aggression will be useful at the start. Moore will add value after 60mins. Hanigan for Timani and play him at 8 with McMahon at 6. Timani has the badly needed aggression. Rona for Hodge. Hodge has the form and defensive skills. Kuridrani to outside centre. Why he was left out in an important test is mind-blowing. He is the form backline player right now. Then swap out the following for the match day 23: Drop Simmons for Carter. Carter is all heart and was a diabolical dropping from the squad. Simmons' form this year is atrocious as is Douglas who is also in teh squad but I don't want to see him on the field based on his 2014 form (Cheika's reason for keeping him in the squad over Carter). Drop Kerevi for Koroibete. Koroibete is more seasoned, even if it was in league, and certainly has the defensive skills. That's it! The rest stay the same. The next game is indoors so hopefully, with a bit more mongrel in the starting 15 and weather not a factor, we can pressure them in to mistakes as the Lions did.

CB2 I believe that based on past performances as an openside that McMahon is up to test match rugby. He also seems to have sufficient power when playing super rugby. I may be wrong as his good games have been against second tier opposition and at 7 not a more power position like 6 or 8. McMahon was pretty innocuous last night and did have to tackle low. I have not seen any such power from Hanigan ever so if I am dropping one I drop Hanigan. It did look to me though that the guys didn't have the physical presence to stop the ABs but magically Timani did.

To be more competitive, lets minimize the problem of shifting/inter-changing players position in defense by having Kurtley Beal @ 10 as better option based on current stocks and talent. Also put a real 7 to ensure complete 8 men forward packs the entire 80 minutes instead of playing 7 men. I believe this is the best 15 to start. And God Almighty help us if we continue with brand name selection and playing players out off position approach. 1.Scott Sio 2.Tatafu Polota Nau 3.Sekope Kepu 4.Adam Korczyk/Kane Douglas/Rory Arnold 5.Adam Coleman 6.Rob Simmons 7.Sean McMahon 8.Lopeti Timani 9.Will Genia 10.Kurtley Beal 11.Curtis Rona/ Marika Koroibete 12.Samu Keravi/Reece Hodge 13.Tevita Kurandrani 14.Henry Speight 15.Dane Haylett-Petty

humiliation!!! AGAIN schoolboys know the answer. its a game of 80 minutes and if you "hold the pill the other team cannot score" Every wallaby needs to have 3 days a week work as a brickies labourer, too, wrapping the wallabies up in cotton wool is not the answer. Very easy to lay blame at the players feet and Yes , the players need to be held accountable for their poor efforts. First thing, the culture of elitism within the Wallabies is a cancer that needs to be eradicated. on sunday, i did not hear 1 radio station report the wallabies result. its an International!!!!! Definately, the ARU public relations and marketing team need to be shown the door monday The ARU board and management have to be replaced. OR paid ONLY when our team peforms well. ( not get close but dominate for 80 minutes and win) ARU get back to the grass roots, you are a disgrace Chek, i love ya mate, but i believe its time for consistency in the team. There has not been consistency in selections for a long time now. You and your team have to reignite the players passion for the game and pride in the jersey. As supporters , we want to see respect for being a wallaby. I dont know the answer but i definately know other codes are leaving us behind and are taking their supporters on their successful journey. Suggestion only, the whole bench from last saturday is straight to the starting side with the exception of Timani who should be gone. I think Will G , unfortunately is gone. Kerevi and Rona gone Hanigan gone The rest, have a good look in the mirror. bring on the house of pain and GO YOU WALLABIES

Has anyone considered that the current Coach is the Worst one ever. He is full of yap but unfortunately can't walk the talk. Dump him quickly!!.

Absolutely TWAS. And why not include Fardy if you consider a departing McMahon? Higgers should be there and will actually present a well balanced back row with Hooper at 7 and Timani at 8. Cheika did not try out this combination in June when he had the chance in a stubbornly self destructive display of selecting. The two 6 ft back row plus a lightweight junior is never going to work, particularly if Pocock is not one of the 6 footers. Stop trying to force the players in your squad to play Cheika ball and design a game plan around the talents at your disposal.

Send out an SOS ....to Pocock.......

Yes....Gill has been playing O/S........ start with timani at 8........McMahon at 6.. Phipps 9 Hodge 12......Kurandrani.....13......14 Folau.....Beale 15

Oh, and there was another Speight 'miss' when the ABs ran straight through the wall of thin air that SHOULD have been Kerevi. It led to a try, but the commentators saw it right and refused to blame Speight, though - statistically - Speight missed and Kerevi got a free pass. Rugby is more than stats. Speight should stick to his knitting on the wing rather than attempt to cover the defensive frailties of his inside men and fullback - he's stats would look so much better! Personally, I'd rather a player who, even when he's off the play and it's not his responsibility, still tries his hardest to get there.

Fair enough Guru PeterK, we may just have to agree to disagree on that one. I clearly saw 2 tackles Speight 'missed' that he shouldn't have had to make because our covering fullback - the Golden Haired Folau - simply wasn't covering. Speight literally marked up on his man, but had to move in to tackle the extra man. He did miss it, because he was watching two men and picked it up late. Yet what is a fullback for, defensively? Can't quite see how that's Speight's positioning error, or tactical error. Maybe that's how Folau keeps his missed tackles so low? If you aren't there to make the tackle, you can't 'miss' it, but veteran rugby people know the defensive role of a fullback, and most also realise that Folau seldom fulfills it.