[2014 Mid-Year Test] Australia vs. France 07/06/14

[Bada-Bing!]

It's a grade 3 separation of the AC joint in his shoulder. That kind of injury will take at least 8 weeks to fully heal if he does not need an operation. Quade is out of the June series.

 

[Darwin]

Though it is never good to lose your 1st choice playmaker, I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing for Australia. At the moment they have all there eggs in the Quade Cooper basket - not the safest place to keep your eggs in my opinion Matt Toomua - Cooper's likely backup at 10 - has yet to start a test at first-five. He obviously needs a chance here before the next RWC, and this will be an ideal opportunity (and besides I rate Toomua higher than Cooper as test 10 in any case....).

 

[Tahman15]

Faarrrkkk, I was really hoping this was going to be the series where we were going to let the Cooper, Toomua combination flourish but it's not to be. This probably means McCabe to inside
centre but unless White starts at 9 we don't have a goal kicker so Lilo might start there. BTW @Darwin Toomua has started a test at flyhalf, he played the opening Bledisloe and the the next one. He obviously didn't set the world a light, in fact the main reason it got given to Cooper was that he just passed to the 12 all night without really doing much. He has improved this year and I think it will be interesting to see how he goes.

 

[Darwin]

Faarrrkkk, I was really hoping this was going to be the series where we were going to let the Cooper, Toomua combination flourish but it's not to be. This probably means McCabe to inside
centre but unless White starts at 9 we don't have a goal kicker so Lilo might start there. BTW @Darwin Toomua has started a test at flyhalf, he played the opening Bledisloe and the the next one. He obviously didn't set the world a light, in fact the main reason it got given to Cooper was that he just passed to the 12 all night without really doing much. He has improved this year and I think it will be interesting to see how he goes.

Oops my bad - forgot about those tests

As you say one of the biggest issues with Cooper gone will be goal-kicking. Personally I would use the Brumbies inside backs combinations White/Toomua/McCabe, but Lealiifano obviously comes into contention because of his goal-kicking ability...

 

[Big Ewis]

Faarrrkkk, I was really hoping this was going to be the series where we were going to let the Cooper, Toomua combination flourish but it's not to be. This probably means McCabe to inside
centre but unless White starts at 9 we don't have a goal kicker so Lilo might start there. BTW @Darwin Toomua has started a test at flyhalf, he played the opening Bledisloe and the the next one. He obviously didn't set the world a light, in fact the main reason it got given to Cooper was that he just passed to the 12 all night without really doing much. He has improved this year and I think it will be interesting to see how he goes.

really sorry for you guys. I keep repeating it but injuries/absences on either side is bad for everyone. I'm not even familiar with too many other Australian 10's, I just noticed now....huh....
Just when he was getting back to form big time, at least during the internationals, dunno about club atm...you guys will be no match for Michalak without a class 10.

 

[Tahman15]

Cooper's form for the Reds has been quite good considering the Reds are at the bottom of the table, their forwards are getting smashed, Genia's service has been rubbish plus his outside backs haven't been giving him many options. Cooper seems to have changed his mindset, he's been trying his guts out for the Reds and while this sometimes means he tries risky plays that don't come off there's no doubting his attitude. Ah well lets hope Toomua can fill the void.

 

[Big Ewis]

he definitely has had a much healthier approach, I've observed him, how he plays, his body language, on-the-field demeanor, and since his return to the team after the "toxic" episode, he looks way healthier, more positive and downright efficient, consequentially. Yeah I saw some pretty fkd up results from the Reds...they ain't doin too well are they...
Anyways: is there a chance Beale would play 10 again ?? I remember he did last time Australia visited Paris, and it didn't work out too well.

Also, and this is mostly lazy because I could check and refresh my memory, but what happened to Berrick Barnes ? Is he out of test Rugby completely now ?

 

[Darwin]

he definitely has had a much healthier approach, I've observed him, how he plays, his body language, on-the-field demeanor, and since his return to the team after the "toxic" episode, he looks way healthier, more positive and downright efficient, consequentially. Yeah I saw some pretty fkd up results from the Reds...they ain't doin too well are they...
Anyways: is there a chance Beale would play 10 again ?? I remember he did last time Australia visited Paris, and it didn't work out too well.

Also, and this is mostly lazy because I could check and refresh my memory, but what happened to Berrick Barnes ? Is he out of test Rugby completely now ?

Beale is possibly an option at 10, but I don't expect the selectors will pick him there. Matt Toomua is the most obvious choice (and the best choice in my opinion). His running game is nowhere as dangerous as many of the other Australian 10 options (Beale, Foley, Cooper) but he is a solid distributor, and by far the best defender. The other options are probably Lealiifano (who plays mainly at 12, but is more than capable at 10), and Bernard Foley (who has a good running/distribution game, but struggles to control the game in my opinion, and has a bit of a limited kicking game...).

Berrick Barnes plays for Panosonic Wild Knights in Japan, hence is ineligible for Wallabies selection.

 

[Tahman15]

Beale almost certainly wont play 10, he's been playing 12 all this year and he's been quite good there so he could be another option at 12. Toomua is a lot further up the pecking order and is just about a certainty for the 10 jersey now.

 

[Darwin]

Beale almost certainly wont play 10, he's been playing 12 all this year and he's been quite good there so he could be another option at 12. Toomua is a lot further up the pecking order and is just about a certainty for the 10 jersey now.

If Toomua is at 10 Beale may be a good option at 12. I don't really rate Beale at 12 (and I think 10. Cooper 12. Beale would be a disaster), but he could be quite effective paired with Toomua. They could interchange freely at first receiver, with Toomua able to provide the strong ball running option you often need at 12. My major concern with Beale at 12 would be his defense, but he could switch defensively with AAC (if he is starting on the wing). This would have two benifits - you would strengthen the midfield defense (as AAC is a strong defender), and Beale would be able to drop back and counter-attack (where he is at his best). Personally I wouldn't start Beale at 12, but there could be some interesting possibilities with him there....

 

[Tahman15]

I hadn't though of that. A Toomua/Beale partnership does have some merit plus the Wallabies have a kicker in Beale. As you've highlighted his defense is a problem and that could potentially be partly solved by playing him on the wing in defense. Though not many coaches at international level like to do that. It's ok at Super level but at test level it doesn't always work. IMO if he does play he will defend at 12 as Link kept Cooper defending at 10 even though he put him at fullback during super level. It's an interesting proposition and I'm sure McKenzie will consider it.

 

[Big Ewis]

Beale is possibly an option at 10, but I don't expect the selectors will pick him there. Matt Toomua is the most obvious choice (and the best choice in my opinion). His running game is nowhere as dangerous as many of the other Australian 10 options (Beale, Foley, Cooper) but he is a solid distributor, and by far the best defender. The other options are probably Lealiifano (who plays mainly at 12, but is more than capable at 10), and Bernard Foley (who has a good running/distribution game, but struggles to control the game in my opinion, and has a bit of a limited kicking game...).

Berrick Barnes plays for Panosonic Wild Knights in Japan, hence is ineligible for Wallabies selection.

cool, thanks man. I thought I hadn't seen Barnes in a whiiiiiiile, so he's in Japan aye....btw dude, are you a kiwi living in Australia ?

 

[Darwin]

cool, thanks man. I thought I hadn't seen Barnes in a whiiiiiiile, so he's in Japan aye....btw dude, are you a kiwi living in Australia ?

Indeed I am a kiwi living in Australia. Just like half the players in the Aussie Super Rugby sides

 

[Big Ewis]

Indeed I am a kiwi living in Australia. Just like half the players in the Aussie Super Rugby sides

Showing off blatantly on the very first occasion....*deep inhale* - aaaaaaahhhhhhhh, New Zealander, alright !

 

[Big Ewis]

 

[FrenchFan]

c nos joueurs qui sont completement cuits !!

 

[Big Ewis]

c nos joueurs qui sont completement cuits !!

oohhhhh, not so sure...

 

[FrenchFan]

c l'EDF des bras cassés..des mecs lessivés ou pas au niveau..3 branlées a rien

 

[Big Ewis]

c l'EDF des bras cassés..des mecs lessivés ou pas au niveau..3 branlées a rien

yes our guys are tired, but no they're not "not at the level". You think we'll get smashed 3 times, we'll just have to see about that. Last year we went to New freaking Zealand, and were in the very middle of our identity crisis right after the shhittiest 6N of our history, and we genuinely could've won Test 1, got beaten badly but not as bad as the score suggests in Test 2, and undermanned we resisted well in Test 3 again (until that last late try that inflated the score).
We're more focused now and if we consider our last match, against Ireland, and project a logical progression from that, even very small, we should be competitive and I'd predict 1 win for France, 1 tight test, and then a handsome win from the hosts.

 

[FrenchFan]

blablablaaaaaaaaaa

record a débattre : marquer plus d'1 essai qu'en NZ

pour l'EDF des pieds nickelés c po gagné !!!