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Joined June 2015
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Rugby Union & cricket tragic but will cheer on NSW & Aussie teams in any sport!
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Do most of the Wallabies players, coaches, & management seem a bit detached form reality? The team has lost all 4 Tests in ’16, conceding over 30 points in 3 of those games, but the one on one tackling & defensive positional play can be “easily fixed”?? IMO the biggest problem is continually picking players that have been out of form in the Super Rugby & Tests this year & a shake up in team selections is needed. The team I’d pick for Wellington from the selected Wallaby squad is: 1 Slipper (does more work around the park than Sio), 2 Hanson (the form Aussie hooker of Super Rugby), 3 Kepu (only ’cause Holmes isn’t in the squad), 4 Douglas (not 100% match fit but but a better option than Skelton), 5 Mumm (lineout improved when he came on – couldn’t have got much worse! – & workrate & effectiveness was OK), 6 Timani (adds a power forward to the team & a better lineout option than McCalman), 7 Hooper (poor game but form good in 2016 Tests & Super Rugby gives him another chance), 8 Pocock (& Captain), 9 Genia, 10 Cooper (still not sure about him but at least a better kicking game than Foley), 11 Ashley Cooper, 12 Tomua (if fit)/Hodge (his Super Rugby form is too good to ignore any longer), 13 Serevi (same as Hodge), 14 Mitchell (Haylett-Petty is outta position & his defensive reads have been woeful), 15 Folau 16 Polatu-Nau (in better form then Moore), 17 Sio, 18 Ala’alatoa, 19 Coleman (same as hodge & Serevi), 20, Fardy/Simmons (pick you favourite), 21 Phipps (also a reserve winger now!), 22 Hodge/Foley (Foley only ’cause there’s not other options in the squad to cover 10), 23 Haylett-Petty (comes on at fullback & others players shifted to accommodate this). Apologies for any spelling errors. Will point out I am a Watatahs & NSW Country member & supporter, but Wallabies supporter 1st so no biased choices (I think!).
Wallabies' defensive woes are an easy fix says Grey
The only queries I have on this team is the Captaincy & the bench. Moore showed in the June Tests that he’s not up to it consistently (& is only on the field for 50-55 minutes) – Pocock is the man for me. Fardy & Mumm both cover 4 & 6, & are similar style of players- Timani woulda been my pick over Mumm as he could cover 5, 6, & 8, & is more of a power/impact player. Also thought Ala’alatoa was a LHP – Robertson is inexperienced in pro Rugby but at least he plays THP & went OK in Super Rugby when given the opportunity. Need to add that I’m a Waratah & NSW Country Eagles Member/supporter & am aware that some on here will think that makes me slightly biased.
Wallabies team to play All Blacks: Ben McCalman to start at blindside flanker
I woulda taken Boyce instead of NCL, & have him & Zampa put pressure on each other for the 1 starting spot. Woulda also taken Lyon instead of Agar & have him in the XI – but that’s a different conversation.
Why the hell isn't Cameron Boyce going to India?
A Bowler just wouldn’t be able to bowl in a cricket batting helmet. Brett Lee suggested on the commentary last night that a soft headgear, like a boxer’s, would be possible. I’d also suggest the Rugby heargear as an option. I feel something needs to made available to bowlers in the modern, professional game before a tragedy occurs.
Helmets for bowlers would be overprotective
I too have played most Rugby positions very badly in lower grades, as well as coaching/selecting for 25 years, & will argue each players skill sets & team balance can determine positional changes for players. For example Jonah Lomu played NZ Under 20’s as a Number 8, but in senior rugby his coaches felt (correctly as it turned out) he had the skills & ability to make a handly winger. It has to be considered on a case be case basis. I do agree that some of Cheika’s calls aren’t working, but Pocock at Number 8 isn’t 1 of them. At the mo we don’t have many proven Test quality performs, but we do have 3 opensides, so somehow have to fit all 3 in the matchday 23.
Australia must stop selecting players out of position