Roar Guru
Joined February 2008
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With many South Africans hoping for an international coach to take over the reins, there is always a very strong drive to keep it…
I just came to the conclusion the Boks will fail horribly this weekend, and coming from me, that is a lo to sayt! Here…
Jiggles I know you rate Gill, so do I but Smith has been awesome.
Those penalties were marginal and 2 could have been let go if it was a less pedantic ref.
Waratahs vs Brumbies: Super Rugby live scores, blog
I feel for Douglas, clearly emotional (who blames him) at the start, I am sure he wanted to give it 120.
Mogg and Smith 1 Izzy and Hoops 0
I understand running the ball but doing in your 22 is madness, especially with Brumbies effective rushing defense.
Far from over, Cheiks has a way of getting the Tah boys growling at half time.
lots of guys trying to play for jerseys a little too much.
Waratahs vs Brumbies: Super Rugby live scores, blog
Agree but Phipps delivery is much much slower then Ginia, giving the 10 outside Ginia more time.
All will be answered soon, but I think you will find the first match at suncorp will be Cooper Ginia besides what all the journo’s think.
Wallaby backline options
So far I have to agree JOC is not a 10 though I am a big fan.
My question is, will he be better with a good 9 inside him? Cooper looked very ordinary without Ginia.
I suppose it depends on the game plan. Ginia – JOC could make a good combination with a hard running 13 like ACC.
I dont believe in this rumor about JOC nailing the 10 spot for Deans… but lets say its true, how much better would he be in a good backline, with Ginia inside him?
Please I am not having a go at Cooper (before I get blasted by reds fans)
Wallaby backline options
Pete you cant start Gill and Hooper and have another loosie on the bench.
In my mind 6 or 8 belongs to Higgers. Smith can cover all three spots so makes a good bench option.
So maybe 6 Higgers, 7 Hooper 8 Palu, Smith to cover all three. Makes the bench more versatile
Smith, Hooper battle for Wallabies jumper
Kippa id start Smith for his smarts/BMT and bench Hooper, Hoops running game will smash them late.
first 60 6. Higgers 7. Smith 8. Mowen… them some big boys, Higgers extra jumper and is in fine form.
Last 20 6. Smith 7. Hooper 8. Higgers (depending on bench Palu in 8, higgers stay at 6.)
Smith, Hooper battle for Wallabies jumper
Ben international form to date
1 Smith
2 Hooper
3 Gill
Smith, Hooper battle for Wallabies jumper
As soon as I saw the huddle my first thought was grubber – try.
Have done that a few times.
When I saw Saffy running cross field I thought it was on. Weird.
Cipriani and Kingi pulled a similar move not so long ago
Rebels vs Stormers – Super Rugby live scores, blog
Yeah Ryno like aplon trying to break Higgers leg…
Rebels vs Stormers – Super Rugby live scores, blog
If Pulver ran the ARU with the same knee jerk style in which Lordy writes articles the business will be in the gutter.
Izzy needs to want to play, him and his manager makes the choices for Izzy not Billy. Is this what the gold jersy has become, a way to snatch RL players?
The gold jersy should be above all, if Izzy does not commit he does not get one, its as simple as that. Izzy knows the deadline, he should of had his manager sow this up a week ago. If he is playing chicken with the head of the ARU then he needs to fail or a trend will start.
But I am sure this will end up being Dean’s fault.
Pulver must be firm in signing Folau
Agreed Adam, players with little playing time should not be picked and players out of position (unless they have experience in it) should not be moved.
Saying that brings me to another idea that will be hated by most but I wont go for Gill at 7 in the starting team. I think the BIL at least for the first game will commit serious numbers to the breakdown taking away Gills effectiveness, therefor ill go with Hooper for his ball running and tackling. Smith on the bench covering 3 positions in the forwards.
A Wallabies squad to face Gatland's 37 British and Irish Lions
Problem with playing Mogg and Cooper in the same line up is that Mogg is an excellent cover defender at 15 which means QC has to defend at 10, perhaps wing but it gets harder from there.
Without trying to start a QC marathon blog post, I think its fair to say he has the first game and if he is below par, Toomua is in.
A Wallabies squad to face Gatland's 37 British and Irish Lions
Melon I like the idea of George Smith on the bench, he covers all 3 back row spots, something Gill and Hooper cant do (or untested) With Beale, JOC and Smith on the bench you cover all but lock, prop and half back.
Its such a shame JOC has not been player in one spot for more then a season, he is an undoubted talent, probably the most talented in Australia but is wasted as a utility.
I think we have to assume, that at least a couple if these mentioned players might pick up injury. BUT for my part and they way it stands now, GS JOC and GS will be on the bench.
A Wallabies squad to face Gatland's 37 British and Irish Lions
Agree with Worlds Biggest you cant lose 7 of your own throws at international level, you will get nailed. Moore for me with TPN off the bench smashing tiring defence
A Wallabies squad to face Gatland's 37 British and Irish Lions
Not bad to many quality players out of position, the countries best 12 benched at 10? 🙂 Id like to see Pyle in on the bench at least. JOC can cover multiple spots from the bench freeing up for a 4-3 split (which will be needed against the Lions)
Full back has to be Mogg, if Izzy gets a green start so can Mogg even Toomua. Mogg will be my 15.
9. Ginia
10.Cooper
12. CLL
13. AAC
11. Digby
14. Izzy
15. Mogg
3 backs on the bench
JOC (cover 12, 11, 14)
Nick White
Beale (cover 10, 15)
That starting backline has fireworks written all over it. Mogg and Izzy playing lines off Ginia and Cooper with AAC and digby breaking the line and putting them into space.
First sign of Cooper getting international spooks and its in with Toomua.
A Wallabies squad to face Gatland's 37 British and Irish Lions
Zero evidence Kev? who is the troll, he is leading the comp on 14.
SPIRO: The Brumbies and Reds are bound for Super Rugby finals glory
Red Kev, you are starting to sound like the troll… a desperate one
SPIRO: The Brumbies and Reds are bound for Super Rugby finals glory
BS Kev, you cant simply make a statement like that…
Because you aren’t cutting him any slack – the mistakes Cooper makes are pounced on when exactly the same mistakes made by Toomua, Lealiifano, Genia and White are ignored.
Ginia 4 errors
CLL 9
Toomua 3
Cooper 14
Tackles
CLL 1 in 8 miss
Toomua 1 in 6
CQ 1in 3
No one is pouncing or picking on Cooper, he is simply flawed.
DEANS: It's up the ante time for Australian rugby
Again the Victim Kev, you will find I named my choice side and PeterK started an aggressive response “help defend Blooper” campaign. Why arnt you suggesting that to PeterK? I think I know why. Like I said you blokes will use any desperate angle to avoid facts, stats and other people opinions and then jump the horse and take the “everyone is allowed an opinion” high ground.
SPIRO: The Brumbies and Reds are bound for Super Rugby finals glory
Yes Dougal he has attempted 154 missing only 24 three more then cooper who only attempted 60 that makes Hooper a miss tackle in 5.7 attempts and Cooper a 1 in 3. So if you think Hooper is bad, Cooper is 3 times as bad.
SPIRO: The Brumbies and Reds are bound for Super Rugby finals glory
there you go again its not a hate compaign its the truth backed by facts and stats, don’t be a victim.
SPIRO: The Brumbies and Reds are bound for Super Rugby finals glory
I don’t believe that for one second, its an aspect of their game making 50/50 chances work, the close calls are part of their excitement (thought they are 10th in try scoring) game, there will always be misses opportunities, each team has them, the reds game plan always will have more. The Bulls have butchered 12 close tries, what does that say? I am sure other teams have similar stats.
If pace is off, if handling is off its a coaching issue. Reds have won a few really close games that could have gone the other way. They have also hand their share of Ref calls go their way.
Their game plan is too one dimensional and they are bring shut down in the 10 channel, The Cheetahs and the Stormers both learned from the Force. 13 rushes (faster then other players) up in defense closing off QC long pass while the rest of the backline close in on QC. He was standing miles back against the Stormers. The fact that McKenzie does not mix it up means the reds backline is shut down. This does not always work because of pure talent from QC. But even a weak defensive team like the Cheetahs can shut them down.
McKenzie is the reason QC is not in the Wallabies, not Deans. The Lions will shut Ginia/Cooper down, for the Lions the 10 channel will be seen as soft so all they have to do is rush the players around QC and close down his dynamic passing game. McKenzie needed to instruct Cooper to make more contact in his channel (which he can) He also needs to switch players in attach, if they keep closing cooper down at 10 let him run a couple of plays from 12, switching back inside to the forwards… Anything to keep them guessing but no… QC is first receiver on every attacking ball.
Look for rebels defense to rush up, especially Inman.
If the Rebels can defend like they did against the Tahs they will win. They have more ability to score tries
O'Connor to face Cooper in Super battle