[2013 TRC] New Zealand vs. Australia in Wellington (24/08/2013)

[Jaguares]

Wallabies: Jesse Mogg, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, James O'Connor, Matt Toomua, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Saia Fainga'a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani.

Jesse Mogg again???? I can't believe!!! Remember me, he will give a try again

 

[Jaguares]

just one injury forced change. Well they always say never change a .... side. oh wait.

I dunno, a number of players looked very uncomfortable individually.

I think dropping Falau to 15 and bringing in two actual wingers would have been a good option. Or JoC to 15 and bring in Cummins or someone else.

When Henry Speight is cleared to play:

15 Folau, 14 Henry Speight and 11 JOC

Meanwhile:

15 Folau, 14 Tomane and 11 JOC...

 

[nickdnz]

Don't know why so many are suprised with Tom Taylor's inclusion. He was selected as the next backup on the last EoYT - and hes been in All Blacks training camps. Slade did have 10 tests, but many of them were woeful against decent opposition. Regardless I personally would have gone with Slade. Taylor in my opinion is a very safe player but can't run a dangerous backline.

 

[Jaguares]

If Aussies are smart, they should attack Taylor's position. And if Hansen is smart, IMO he should build a tactic to defend the position of Taylor.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I think it's the right choice. Mogg is better all-round than Folau, who is lacking defensive skills to play full-back.

 

[ABs2011]

Don't know why so many are suprised with Tom Taylor's inclusion. He was selected as the next backup on the last EoYT - and hes been in All Blacks training camps. Slade did have 10 tests, but many of them were woeful against decent opposition. Regardless I personally would have gone with Slade. Taylor in my opinion is a very safe player but can't run a dangerous backline.

Hold on, are you sure Slade was avaiable/considered for last years end of year tour? I'm not sure he was due to breaking his leg earlier in the year.

Regardless the reason why it was a minor suprise simply comes down to experience (and possibly that the majority of rugby journalists were picking Slade as well). The AB selectors are known to play it safe and go with experience in key positions, especially in big games, RWC 2011 is a good example (Slade, Weepu and Donald). It is great to see they have confidence in what Taylor will bring though. A bit of a kick in the guts for Slade I imagine...

As per "Conrad Smiths" comments expect the Ozzies to rush up on Taylor and put as much pressure on him as they can. I'd say they will also run their big loosies at him hard and early. I imagine the ABs will be slighty more conservative this week as well. Wouldn't be suprised if we see Dagg and A Smith used as kicking options a bit more despite the class of Taylors kicking game (just to take the pressure off a bit). Looking forward to it!

 

[ABs2011]

I think it's the right choice. Mogg is better all-round than Folau, who is lacking defensive skills to play full-back.

Really? Usually the league boys bring pretty solid D - I havent watched enough of him in Union though to judge. Does he still struggle with positional play or something? His tackling is solid enough though I would have though. My biggest issue with Folau at 15 would be his kicking game, but even my grandma would have been better than Mogg last week, so I don't think they would lose anything with Folau at the back in that respect. The simple fact is the Ozzies will need to score tries to beat the ABs and therefore Folau needs to get in the game somehow. I applaud McKenzie for showing faith in his starting 15 but he will be off to a rocky start post Deans if there is not improvement this week.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Folau's positioning is the biggest issue. It's not as bad as it was at the start of Super Rugby, but I feel he's still not a Test-level full-back. Mogg and Folau are both 24 and have some years to develop still. For now, I'd pick Mogg over Folau at full-back any day of the week.

 

[ABs2011]

Folau's positioning is the biggest issue. It's not as bad as it was at the start of Super Rugby, but I feel he's still not a Test-level full-back. Mogg and Folau are both 24 and have some years to develop still. For now, I'd pick Mogg over Folau at full-back any day of the week.

Yeah OK, makes sense. Mogg was simply awful last week though so he is going to get dropped if he doesnt sort things out. Maybe O'Conner back to 15 if Folau aint up to it yet. Will wait and see how they go agains the ABs this week.

 

[sifplay]

When Henry Speight is cleared to play:15 Folau, 14 Henry Speight and 11 JOCMeanwhile:15 Folau, 14 Tomane and 11 JOC...

he's fijian, has played most of his pro rugby career in NZ with waikato, even his dad is a fijian politician. Speight will have to turn prostitute and the ARU pimp for him to wear a wallaby jersey, and both will lose face.

 

[ABs2011]

he's fijian, has played most of his pro rugby career in NZ with waikato, even his dad is a fijian politician. Speight will have to turn prostitute and the ARU pimp for him to wear a wallaby jersey, and both will lose face.

The tone of your post is unnecessary but more importantly you are clearly not up with the play - Speight will in all likelihood play for OZ pretty soon:
"A Fijian national, Speight spent the 2011 and 2012 season as the Brumbies foreign development player, but advances in his application for permanent residency to Australia have seen his status change to a domestic based player and he will be eligible for the Wallabies at the conclusion of 2013. "

 

[sifplay]

The tone of your post is unnecessary but more importantly you are clearly not up with the play - Speight will in all likelihood play for OZ pretty soon:
"A Fijian national, Speight spent the 2011 and 2012 season as the Brumbies foreign development player, but advances in his application for permanent residency to Australia have seen his status change to a domestic based player and he will be eligible for the Wallabies at the conclusion of 2013. "

What has a way to make place for a new foreign import got to do with he will play for Australia?

 

[ABs2011]

What has a way to make place for a new foreign import got to do with he will play for Australia?

Huh? He will be eligible for Australia at the conclusion of 2013.

 

[sifplay]

Huh? He will be eligible for Australia at the conclusion of 2013.

Eligible yes. Getting picked is another story.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Eligible yes. Getting picked is another story.

He'll be in there as soon as he's eligible.

 

[nickdnz]

What has a way to make place for a new foreign import got to do with he will play for Australia?

Well. He will play for Australia. He has already made that very clear. Why? presumably because he likes Australia. Either way he clearly has no intention to play for Fiji because otherwise he'd have done so instead of wait three years till he was eligable for Australia.

 

[sifplay]

Well. He will play for Australia. He has already made that very clear. Why? presumably because he likes Australia. Either way he clearly has no intention to play for Fiji because otherwise he'd have done so instead of wait three years till he was eligable for Australia.

Don't think he will play before 2014 or Australia willl pick him before that cause of the problems surrounding his family history. Especially if you consider what happened in the 2011 WC

 

[lynam1104]

Surprised that Taylor was preferred but it makes sense better goal kicking and defense shouldn't be an issue.

No surprises in the Wallabies, Mogg was bad but let the team settle and then we'll see.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Don't think he will play before 2014 or Australia willl pick him before that cause of the problems surrounding his family history. Especially if you consider what happened in the 2011 WC

Erm could you explain what's happened that would make him unlikely to be selected...? It seems that only you know.

 

[Jaguares]

he's fijian, has played most of his pro rugby career in NZ with waikato, even his dad is a fijian politician. Speight will have to turn prostitute and the ARU pimp for him to wear a wallaby jersey, and both will lose face.

I heard that he would be eligible for the November internationals, and the ARU told him to prepare for a possible call...