[2013 EOYT] Australia

[Jaguares]

Supposedly Henry Speight could be selected for Wallabies for these Autumn Internationals but he isn't on the squad.

What happened?? Political Problems? as suggested by some people here. Or just Ewen McKenzie didn't choose him?

Wallabies Squad - Autumn Internationals:

Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, James Slipper, Saia Fainga'a, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kane Douglas, James Horwill (captain), Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani, Dave Dennis, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Ben Mowen, Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Matt Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mike Harris, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali'ifano, Nick Cummins, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Joe Tomane, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley.

Injured: David Pocock, Kurtley Beale, Anthony Fainga'a, Kyle Goodwin, Scott Higginbotham, Hugh McMeniman, Jesse Mogg and Hugh Pyle.

 

[ratsapprentice]

One or both of:

a) He cannot be named in a Wallabies selection until he is actually eligible. i.e. he may have been chosen to come on the tour, but they cannot announce it until he is officially qualified (the earliest date I have heard is Oct 26)

b) He is not considered eligible by the IRB until sometime next year. I've heard a lot of different dates ranging from before this years AI's, to sometime between the 2nd and 3rd test and even not until mid-2014.

 

[Draggs]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/r...tour-opportunity/story-fnibc972-1226738521824

The Australian Rugby Union has been told by the International Rugby Board that the earliest the Brumbies player could become eligible is the week of the final tour Test against Wales in Cardiff on November 30.

 

[Chikwa]

Supposedly Henry Speight could be selected for Wallabies for these Autumn Internationals but he isn't on the squad.

What happened?? Political Problems? as suggested by some people here. Or just Ewen McKenzie didn't choose him?

Wallabies Squad - Autumn Internationals:

Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, James Slipper, Saia Fainga'a, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kane Douglas, James Horwill (captain), Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani, Dave Dennis, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Ben Mowen, Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Matt Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mike Harris, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali'ifano, Nick Cummins, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Joe Tomane, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley.

Injured: Kurtley Beale, Anthony Fainga'a, Kyle Goodwin, Scott Higginbotham, Hugh McMeniman, Jesse Mogg and Hugh Pyle.

Where is Digby Ioane? He is a dangerous runner ,lethal finisher and good defender.

 

[nickdnz]

Where is Digby Ioane? He is a dangerous runner ,lethal finisher and good defender.

Paris with Stade Francais.

 

[Chikwa]

Paris with Stade Francais.

What a big loss to Australian rugby.

 

[RyotoTheDragon]

What a big loss to Australian rugby.

I agree. The current state of Aus rugby is pretty poor. I mean they had so much potential in their backline in 2010 and had they stayed on track they would be a very competitive team.

 

[Jaguares]

I agree. The current state of Aus rugby is pretty poor. I mean they had so much potential in their backline in 2010 and had they stayed on track they would be a very competitive team.

Well, Wallabies problems aren't the backline, their problems are their first row and scrum. They need a stronger prop like Zirakashvili, they have many good backs. For example, Digby Ioane will be replaced soon by Henry Speight, who's a great player.

They have many good backs like: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Christian Leali'ifano, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani...

 

[ABs2011]

Well, Wallabies problems aren't the backline, their problems are their first row and scrum. They need a stronger prop like Zirakashvili, they have many good backs. For example, Digby Ioane will be replaced soon by Henry Speight, who's a great player.

They have many good backs like: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Christian Leali'ifano, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani...

Mate, the wallabies have problems all over the park. Their tight five is arguably the biggest issue, but their backs are an issue as well.

Really depends on how you define good. Your "Good" might get you wins over Argentina and an OK record v the NH teams but by my definition of "good" the OZ backs are far from it.

Out of the names you mention I would say 3 of them are good, none are great and the rest are pretty average!! Not what is required to compete at the very top level.

Point is - their backs are a problem as well!!

 

[Chikwa]

Mate, the wallabies have problems all over the park. Their tight five is arguably the biggest issue, but their backs are an issue as well.

Really depends on how you define good. Your "Good" might get you wins over Argentina and an OK record v the NH teams but by my definition of "good" the OZ backs are far from it.

Out of the names you mention I would say 3 of them are good, none are great and the rest are pretty average!! Not what is required to compete at the very top level.

Point is - their backs are a problem as well!!

World Cup quarter final the Aussies beat the springboks who typically blamed their loss on the ref. When do the boks really admit defeat? Even in their recent loss at Ellis Park the excuses are coming in.If they didn't have to chase 4 tries they would have won . If Bryan Habana wasn't injured..,, anyway back to the Aussies .Jack white took the Brumbies to the Super 14 final by beating the bulls in Pretoria.No mean feat to achieve.This shows us that rugby in australia is alive and well.They still have good players who are lacking confidence.Super Rugby is not test rugby but you select your national team from the super 15 sides.Meaning the Aussies have the talent to compete.I truly believe it is a coaching issue.If Jake White had been given the job as Aussie coach we would have seen a highly competitive Aussie team.At the moment Ewan Mackenzie seems lost as to what to do!

 

[nickdnz]

World Cup quarter final the Aussies beat the springboks who typically blamed their loss on the ref. When do the boks really admit defeat? Even in their recent loss at Ellis Park the excuses are coming in.If they didn't have to chase 4 tries they would have won . If Bryan Habana wasn't injured..,, anyway back to the Aussies .Jack white took the Brumbies to the Super 14 final by beating the bulls in Pretoria.No mean feat to achieve.This shows us that rugby in australia is alive and well.They still have good players who are lacking confidence.Super Rugby is not test rugby but you select your national team from the super 15 sides.Meaning the Aussies have the talent to compete.I truly believe it is a coaching issue.If Jake White had been given the job as Aussie coach we would have seen a highly competitive Aussie team.At the moment Ewan Mackenzie seems lost as to what to do!

Where did this come from...?

 

[Chikwa]

Where did this come from...?

Scroll up you ll see a debate between AB 2011 and Conrad about whether the Aussie players are really good enough?Is their weakness just the tight five or are the backs also not good enough to compete with the springboks and all blacks.

 

[ABs2011]

World Cup quarter final the Aussies beat the springboks who typically blamed their loss on the ref. When do the boks really admit defeat? Even in their recent loss at Ellis Park the excuses are coming in.If they didn't have to chase 4 tries they would have won . If Bryan Habana wasn't injured..,, anyway back to the Aussies .Jack white took the Brumbies to the Super 14 final by beating the bulls in Pretoria.No mean feat to achieve.This shows us that rugby in australia is alive and well.They still have good players who are lacking confidence.Super Rugby is not test rugby but you select your national team from the super 15 sides.Meaning the Aussies have the talent to compete.I truly believe it is a coaching issue.If Jake White had been given the job as Aussie coach we would have seen a highly competitive Aussie team.At the moment Ewan Mackenzie seems lost as to what to do!

To be honest I;m a bit confused as to where to even start with this.

1) I thought SA and the SA supporters took the Ellis Park result very well.
2) I think they have a right to feel aggrieved at the ref in the RWC
3) I;m not sure the (1) or (2) are very relevant at all in terms of the current state of OZ rugby.
4) I agree coaching is an issue in OZ rugby and Jake White was the better option to take over from Deans
5) OZ rugby is NOT alive and well - apart from what I've mentioned already in terms of their on field issues, the OZ players are now having to take pay cuts to sort out the off field financial issues as well. OZ are in big trouble mate and it goes right from the forwards to the backs to the coaches to how the game is being managed in general. Sad but true...

 

[TRF_heineken]

To be honest I;m a bit confused as to where to even start with this.

1) I thought SA and the SA supporters took the Ellis Park result very well.
2) I think they have a right to feel aggrieved at the ref in the RWC
3) I;m not sure the (1) or (2) are very relevant at all in terms of the current state of OZ rugby.
4) I agree coaching is an issue in OZ rugby and Jake White was the better option to take over from Deans
5) OZ rugby is NOT alive and well - apart from what I've mentioned already in terms of their on field issues, the OZ players are now having to take pay cuts to sort out the off field financial issues as well. OZ are in big trouble mate and it goes right from the forwards to the backs to the coaches to how the game is being managed in general. Sad but true...

Couldn't have said this any better. I think Chikwa needs to read the posts of all the threads before making dumb comments. And he should learn punctuation... I got a headache from reading his post

 

[ABs2011]

Couldn't have said this any better. I think Chikwa needs to read the posts of all the threads before making dumb comments. And he should learn punctuation... I got a headache from reading his post

Thanks mate - I'm not one to comment on punctuation though, mine's a joke, as is my spelling

 

[Jaguares]

Mate, the wallabies have problems all over the park. Their tight five is arguably the biggest issue, but their backs are an issue as well.

Really depends on how you define good. Your "Good" might get you wins over Argentina and an OK record v the NH teams but by my definition of "good" the OZ backs are far from it.

Out of the names you mention I would say 3 of them are good, none are great and the rest are pretty average!! Not what is required to compete at the very top level.

Point is - their backs are a problem as well!!

Well, Henry Speight is one of the best wings of Super Rugby and the Aussies will soon have it on their team:



If I were Ewen McKenzie wouldn't worry too much in the backline, the main problem is the first row and the scrum. In the backline they have great players. In the second and third row too, players like: James Horwill, Sitaleki Timani, David Pocock, Michael Hooper and Scott Higginbotham.

Cheers

 

[Chikwa]

Thanks mate - I'm not one to comment on punctuation though, mine's a joke, as is my spelling

@Conrad Dumb! Really I thought the whole purpose of this blog was for us to enjoy our love of rugby.Even if you fundamentally disagree with an opinion,Your response should be measured and enjoyed by the recipient.As opposed to being brash and offensive.I will never comment on your blogs again.

 

[ABs2011]

@Conrad Dumb! Really I thought the whole purpose of this blog was for us to enjoy our love of rugby.Even if you fundamentally disagree with an opinion,Your response should be measured and enjoyed by the recipient.As opposed to being brash and offensive.I will never comment on your blogs again.

Hi Chikwa, I'm not sure if that post was directed at me? If so, apologies if you took offense to anything I said. I stand by my original posts though; The ozzies are in trouble right across the park and through to the back room. Conrad seems to rate them, I can not understand why as it is clear to me the OZ team are the worst they have been for some time.

As for Speight, I'm not sure where all they Hype comes from. I watched him for several years playing in the NZ ITM cup, he was OK but hardly pushed for a Super Rugby contract. His shift to OZ has been a good one for him as he got him self a starting spot and has played well by all accounts. In saying that, he is hardly a world class winger, certainly no Habana, Smith, Savvea, Jane, Williams....the list goes on....His success in part, IMHO, is a product of how weak the Ozzies are at the moment. He will likely start for the OZ team when he becomes eligible, but he won't make much difference.

 

[ABs2011]

Well, Henry Speight is one of the best wings of Super Rugby and the Aussies will soon have it on their team:



If I were Ewen McKenzie wouldn't worry too much in the backline, the main problem is the first row and the scrum. In the backline they have great players. In the second and third row too, players like: James Horwill, Sitaleki Timani, David Pocock, Michael Hooper and Scott Higginbotham.

Cheers

Who do you consider "great" in the OZ backline?

Because to me, if they are "great" they should be able to sit comfortably with the following current NZ and SA players:

Dan Carter
Jean de Villiers
Conrad Smith
Ben Smith
Brian Habana

 

[Jaguares]

Who do you consider "great" in the OZ backline?

Because to me, if they are "great" they should be able to sit comfortably with the following current NZ and SA players:

Dan Carter
Jean de Villiers
Conrad Smith
Ben Smith
Brian Habana

Great great aussie backs for me:

Will Genia, Israel Folau and Digby Ioane.

Will Genia is the best halfback around the world, for me. Better than Aaron Smith and Francois Hougaard or Ruan Pienaar. He won Super Rugby and Tri Nations in 2011. Israel Folau was one of the best NRL players and now is one of the best Rugby Union backs.
He demonstrated making tries against British Lions, All Blacks and The Pumas in his first year in Rugby Union. He has 7 tries in 9 games with Wallabies.

And Digby, well he's in France now but Henry Speight is almost as good as him.

Do you think that players like: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali'ifano, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, or even James O'Connor (out) they aren't a good backline? Without being the best backline in the world, they are better than almost all the backlines of the NH.

Cheers