[2014 EOYT] Wales vs Australia

[TheSaffycen]

Wasnt that long ago that pre-Illness Fruen and SBW were centre paired at the Crusaders. Both aren't quite as big as Roberts and North, but SBW is a class above both and Fruen was as powerful as anyone. So it's not like the Aussie boys will be up against something novel.

I'd also point out that the wallabies have been taking on these big boys one way or another for a few years now and haven't lost in 9 matches in spite of fielding a generally small back line, so I reckon they should be ok.

I still think Oz will win it was just about Kuridrani's carrying power. If Australia try to bash over the line with Kuridrani than I don't believe he will be as effective as he has in recent games, but if they use pace and precision to which we aren't use to in the NH than they should win.

 

[Jbobo]

Wasnt that long ago that pre-Illness Fruen and SBW were centre paired at the Crusaders. Both aren't quite as big as Roberts and North, but SBW is a class above both and Fruen was as powerful as anyone. So it's not like the Aussie boys will be up against something novel.

I'd also point out that the wallabies have been taking on these big boys one way or another for a few years now and haven't lost in 9 matches in spite of fielding a generally small back line, so I reckon they should be ok.

Fair point about the size. But he is not talking about Wales as a whole, he is stating that North can be a threat which he always is. Australia are/have been better than Wales by a smidge in pretty much all the past 9 games for sure. But if you look at North individually he has scored 5 tries against Australia since 2012 and 4 of those were in 2013, he's certainly not as manageable as you think.

 

[RoosTah]

He's a threat without a doubt, but I do think th Wallabies have quite a bit of amunition themselves now in that backline and actually have more size than they have had for years as well.

 

[Jaguares]

I don't agree. Kepu and Slipper have proven to be competent props, where as the Welsh normally have a world class scrum. Kuridrani has been incredible this year but for sheer size he is 6ft5/102kgs which is big, North is 6ft4/109kgs and Roberts is 6ft4/110kgs !! How many times has Kuridrani been smaller than either of his opposite centres ? I still think he will be more than a handful for Wales but I think they can match him for physicallity and pace. North is much better on the wing but even at centre he is still a monumental ball carrier, who ups his game in a Wales shirt.

Kuridrani has not faced a couple of bigger centers but has faced top tacklers, and he always won many meters this year. The only team that could stop Kuridrani this year has been Argentina in Mendoza (Modesty aside) because Hourcade focused on him because he had has an outstanding game against Saffers before and Hourcade picked Horacio Agulla especially to stop Kuridrani. After no other team could stop him, not even ABs. I also think the best tackler in this game between centers is Toomua, at this moment. He's the smaller centre of the game but he has a good defense.

About Slipper and Kepu, they contained the Argie front row, and our front row has always been world class. Wallaby's problems in the scrum were when they left the field and entered their replacements. (Alexander and Robinson, especially Alexander, he's a former prop)

 

[Jbobo]

Aye, fair dinkum they will definitely hold their own and then some!

 

[Jaguares]

You're forgetting Henry Speight, Davie Rennie wanted this guy, the NZ coach most successful in recent years of Super Rugby, he said Speight could be an all black, and frankly he's right, he could be in the starting XV of NZ

 

[RoosTah]

Gotta say, just thinking about our back line, part of me would love to See:

9.Phipps
10. Foley
11. Folau
12. Toomua
13. Kurindrani
14. Speight
15.Cooper

Cooper's defence has gotten a lot better, and his kicking game is definitely better than Folau's. On top of that, at test level I always feel like Folau hasn't ever looked quite as good as when he first started last year as a winger.

 

[Jbobo]

Gotta say, just thinking about our back line, part of me would love to See:

9.Phipps
10. Foley
11. Folau
12. Toomua
13. Kurindrani
14. Speight
15.Cooper

Cooper's defence has gotten a lot better, and his kicking game is definitely better than Folau's. On top of that, at test level I always feel like Folau hasn't ever looked quite as good as when he first started last year as a winger.

That'd be an interesting selection, I can definitely see him as being a big threat joining the backline as a link between outside center and wing, although by moving him to 15 do you think the Aussie's might miss his creativity from hand and boot which he can offer from 10?

 

[RoosTah]

He's a great broken field runner, but yes, you'd lose a bit from his passing game at 15. The reason I suggest it is because Foley will almost certainly start at 10 due to Quade's limited game time. Putting him at FB would allow him to have an impact without pushing him too hard though

 

[Jaguares]

My Wallabies team:

1 Slipper
2 Hanson
3 Kepu
4 Carter
5 Horwill
6 Higginbotham
7 Hooper
8 McCalman
9 Phipps
10 Cooper
11 AAC
12 Toomua
13 Kuridrani
14 Speight
15 Folau

 

[TheSaffycen]

I'm not sure if higginbotham is fit for this game ? I would put in Mcmahon for him but apart from that I guess that will be the OZ lineup.

 

[goodNumber10]

Wobblies Team:

Australia:
I Folau;
A Ashley-Cooper,
T Kuridrani,
C Leali'ifano,
J Tomane;
B Foley,
N Phipps;
J Slipper,
S Fainga'a,
S Kepu,
S Carter,
R Simmons,
S McMahon,
M Hooper (capt),
B McCalman.

Replacements (from): J Hanson, T Faulkner, B Alexander, J Horwill, W Skelton, M Hodgson, W Genia, Q Cooper, R Horne.

they will beat Wales.

 

[squirrel]

No Speight, is he injured?

 

[TheSaffycen]

Simmons, Tomane and Leali'ifano are in ? Also one of Skelton or Horwill will be dropped I would guess. I don't mind Leali'ifano but I always thought he was there because of his goal kicking, so it worked with Cooper. Should be able to get the ball through the hands quick enough and after 70 mins they will probably hit the killer blow.

 

[goodNumber10]

Simmons, Tomane and Leali'ifano are in ? Also one of Skelton or Horwill will be dropped I would guess. I don't mind Leali'ifano but I always thought he was there because of his goal kicking, so it worked with Cooper. Should be able to get the ball through the hands quick enough and after 70 mins they will probably hit the killer blow.

Lealiifano is a very good attacking player, watch him in the 2013 super rugby for the Brumbies.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I really think McMahon could be a horrible player to play against for the next decade.

I'm a big fan of the traditional big-hitting workhorse blindsides, but even though McMahon is very dynamic, and quite small he's got the abrasiveness and naked aggression that I like to see from sixes.
Well done that man.

 

[goodNumber10]

@ratsapprentice I agree, i think he's excellent, and has the potential to be truly world class if he keeps on this trajectory.

 

[Jaguares]

I really think McMahon could be a horrible player to play against for the next decade.

I'm a big fan of the traditional big-hitting workhorse blindsides, but even though McMahon is very dynamic, and quite small he's got the abrasiveness and naked aggression that I like to see from sixes.
Well done that man.

His premiere with the Wallaby jersey was just outstanding. Few players impressed me so much in his first game at international level. He really has material to stand out and be one of the best in the world and he has just 20 years! He has too much time to learn.

Australia is an amazing creator of top class back rowers. I remeber 2 years ago when David Pocock was injured (2012), everyone thought that Aussies were lost but they showed a kid with only 20 years called Michael Hooper, and their performances were so good that Aussies forgot Pocock, now is the team's captain and is considered one of the best openside flankers in the world.

He has already won a John Eales medal, a Super Rugby ***le, he has almost 40 caps at international level and he has only 23 years old, he's still a child!

Watch out McMahon! He could achieve something similar

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Who the heck is T Falkner??

 

[TheSaffycen]

Lealiifano is a very good attacking player, watch him in the 2013 super rugby for the Brumbies.

He is a good attacking player for the Brumbies but does he really translate that onto the intl' level ? Like the way Alex Goode is good for Saracens and average for England, maybe I am talking crap though.
Anyway I think that Cooper should have started the game personally. Wales do rush up quite quickly in defence and I think he could have utilised his long range of pass to get on the outside. Still I think that Oz will win by 9