Australia RWC Preview

[madflyhalf]

I forget Pek Cowan... Deans left him back for SA trip, but maybe he could be the right choice.

For Daley, I think they want 2 tighthead and 2 loosehead with one of them able to play on the other side of the scrum... Daley can only cover loosehead, dunno if he's the right man!

The issue about Samo is that he's played a lot as second row and he's a great option in the lineouts... as you said before, Palu struggled with injuries in these last 2 years and he really has only few minutes of rugby on his legs.
I don't think Deans could consider him anymore, unless he's fit and would be tested for Brisbane clash

 

[Darwin]

I forget Pek Cowan... Deans left him back for SA trip, but maybe he could be the right choice.

For Daley, I think they want 2 tighthead and 2 loosehead with one of them able to play on the other side of the scrum... Daley can only cover loosehead, dunno if he's the right man!

The issue about Samo is that he's played a lot as second row and he's a great option in the lineouts... as you said before, Palu struggled with injuries in these last 2 years and he really has only few minutes of rugby on his legs.
I don't think Deans could consider him anymore, unless he's fit and would be tested for Brisbane clash

Given Kepu, Alexander and Slipper are all capable of playing either side of the scrum, I don't think it really matters what the forth prop is (it would have been Robinson if he had been fit, who like Daley is a specialist loosehead). I think Daley will have more of a chance than Pek Cowan, as Cowan is only involved in Tri-nations squad at he moment due to Daley's injury. I understand Daley is back to full fitness now, so I think he does have a good chance of grabbing that 4th prop spot..

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau have both hinted on twitter that they haven't been included in the Aussie squad for the WC (the players were told today whether they made it)

 

[madflyhalf]

I've just read them!

drew_mitchell
The song of the day is; Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve..

giteau_rugby
Thank u ballboys, thank u linesman! That's it...


Feel sorry for Drew

 

[TRF_Cymro]

End of the line for Giteau?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Feel sorry for Drew

Ditto
He had a fitness test yesterday - I presume the news was something like "You're fit enough to play rugby again....but not enough for the WC"

 

[Wilkinson]

Outrageous! Giteau ought to be on the bench for crying out loud.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nah, when you think about it:

Better 10s in the squad: Cooper, Beale, O'Connor, Barnes
Better 12s in the squad: McCabe, Fainga'a, O'Connor, Barnes

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I would feel much more worried if the Oz backline had Giteau at second five than any of the other players in the squad. You could see he was sorely missed when Oz played NZ recently.

He's one of the few guys left with proper experience - someone to rally the troops. He's been there, done that, and I think it is an awful decision not to have him in the squad, if that's the case.

 

[madflyhalf]

Ditto
He had a fitness test yesterday - I presume the news was something like "You're fit enough to play rugby again....but not enough for the WC"

Yep!
That's exactly what I thought, even though I didn't know about his fitness test!

 

[ranger]

I would feel much more worried if the Oz backline had Giteau at second five than any of the other players in the squad. You could see he was sorely missed when Oz played NZ recently.

He's one of the few guys left with proper experience - someone to rally the troops. He's been there, done that, and I think it is an awful decision not to have him in the squad, if that's the case.

Maybe in 2005..

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

You'd be more worried by McCabe or Fainga?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I would much rather go up against current-form Giteau than Fainga'a

 

[Gavin]

Form can change in a matter of seconds, just depends on the rub of the green. This is why I am disappointed if Giteau is not included.

 

[JW.]

I think its such a shame Giteau isn't in the squad, always liked him. And he gives alot more options than anyone can in the Aussie squad, he can play anywhere in the backline. Really sad if this would be the end of his international carreer.

 

[JW.]

*Edit* isn't, should be if he isn't in the squad.

 

[Darwin]

Form can change in a matter of seconds, just depends on the rub of the green. This is why I am disappointed if Giteau is not included.

The problem is that he has been 'out of form' for about the last 3 years.... that suggests to me that it is not simply form issue, but rather that he is no longer good enough for test level.

 

[Gavin]

The problem is that he has been 'out of form' for about the last 3 years.... that suggests to me that it is not simply form issue, but rather that he is no longer good enough for test level.

I think also the way the other Australian players have played is a factor. The forwards of Australia have been no-where over the past few years (mainly due to the scrum), but now there is a strong(ish) base to attack from. Also Giteau was one of the best players for the Brumbies this year, even though they were awful.

 

[Darwin]

I think also the way the other Australian players have played is a factor. The forwards of Australia have been no-where over the past few years (mainly due to the scrum), but now there is a strong(ish) base to attack from. Also Giteau was one of the best players for the Brumbies this year, even though they were awful.

The Aussie forwards have been nowhere for the last 100 years, but Giteau still managed to play some good rugby for Aussie in the past despite being behind a retreating pack. He is the sort of player that likes to control the game himself, so certainly doesn't combine well with Quade Cooper who is the same sort of player.

 

[.me]

James Horwill is the Captain to the new team.