Australia - World Cup 2015 Discussion Thread

[smartcooky]

Only two hookers and only two halfbacks. Very risky

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Only two hookers and only two halfbacks. Very risky

My thoughts exactly. The squad looks unbalanced to me.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Only two hookers and only two halfbacks. Very risky

And that one hooker is just one knock to the head away from retirement...

On the Scrumhalf part, I can understand only taking 2. Because Matt Giteau can be their 3rd Scrumhalf as he has played there before. But I don't understand why would they take Phipps ahead of White. White reminds me of Gregan in that he is always hustling the opposition. Frustrating the opposition is sometimes necessary in tight matches.

 

[austingtir]

And that one hooker is just one knock to the head away from retirement...

On the Scrumhalf part, I can understand only taking 2. Because Matt Giteau can be their 3rd Scrumhalf as he has played there before. But I don't understand why would they take Phipps ahead of White. White reminds me of Gregan in that he is always hustling the opposition. Frustrating the opposition is sometimes necessary in tight matches.

I dont understand why they'd take Genia. He's been utterly useless.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

so I guess you guys have written us off already then

 

[Mcfadden]

Not by a long shot. The Aussies have plenty of world class players. Pocock is a freak, and the backline is lethal. Just thinking you might be leaving yourselves a bit thin in places. Basically, you should never take any opposition for granted!

 

[TRF_heineken]

so I guess you guys have written us off already then

I will never write off the Wobblies at World Cups. They are one of the teams that thrive in knockout games. They have shown that they are capable of beating the best sides in the world.

All I'm saying is that it's a risky move to take only 2 players in key positions especially because of the physical matches they will have in their pool.

 

[General Tah]

Not happy with a few choices.
Phipps. Good bloke but shouldnt be there
Quade. Dick of a bloke and shouldnt be there.
Willing to give Genia a shot though.

 

[CaliRa1]

Never been a fan of Phipps and most probably never will be
Genia a world class top 3 Scrum Halve talent when healthy
White is a great impact player so I'd have taken him ahead of Phipps any year let alone a world cup year

Quade most skilful player in Oz (Maybe the world) but consistency and morale issues make him look ordinary most times and he doesn't seem to be liked much by opposition players (Maybe some of his own as well) I know he isn't favoured by a number of Wallabies supporters… I hope Larkham will teach him how to play with more consistency and help him develop into the top 3 world class talent he possesses…

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I actually strongly agree with the lineout woes insane asylum. I think even with fardy we Will struggle at lineout time if skelton is a starter.
We need pocock to start for his ball fetching qualities. Hooper isn't close to his level in that area and that is something we need to beat the likes of the All Blacks.
Maybe Fardy, Pocock and Higginbotham are our back three until those subs come on that you mentioned.

And 'Conrad Smith', there you go. That's something I must have missed, but good on him.

Cheers guys

Definitely agree with your loose forward combo… Hooper is a beast of a tackler and at the breakdowns but he's a little undersized to be utilised in line outs and mauls… Pocock scored 3 tries against the Chiefs this year from rolling mauls so he definitely gets the start IMO… Loved seeing Hooper and Pocock on the field together in Sydney against the ABs… Worked wonders to slow the ball down for NZ… Don't know why they deviated from that game plan in Auckland… I think they took a page out of the Springboks book with that plan having watched that game I saw how Brussow Louw and Burger were able to effect the quick ball… But Higginbotham Fardy Pocock definitely the strongest combo against any team not named the All Blacks…

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I actually strongly agree with the lineout woes insane asylum. I think even with fardy we Will struggle at lineout time if skelton is a starter.
We need pocock to start for his ball fetching qualities. Hooper isn't close to his level in that area and that is something we need to beat the likes of the All Blacks.
Maybe Fardy, Pocock and Higginbotham are our back three until those subs come on that you mentioned.

And 'Conrad Smith', there you go. That's something I must have missed, but good on him.

Cheers guys

Definitely agree with your loose forward combo… Hooper is a beast of a tackler and at the breakdowns but he's a little undersized to be utilised in line outs and mauls… Pocock scored 3 tries against the Chiefs this year from rolling mauls so he definitely gets the start IMO… Loved seeing Hooper and Pocock on the field together in Sydney against the ABs… Worked wonders to slow the ball down for NZ… Don't know why they deviated from that game plan in Auckland… I think they took a page out of the Springboks book with that plan having watched that game I saw how Brussow Louw and Burger were able to effect the quick ball… But Higginbotham Fardy Pocock definitely the strongest combo against any team not named the All Blacks…

 

[Bada-Bing!]

And that one hooker is just one knock to the head away from retirement...

Exactly!

On the Scrumhalf part, I can understand only taking 2. Because Matt Giteau can be their 3rd Scrumhalf as he has played there before. But I don't understand why would they take Phipps ahead of White. White reminds me of Gregan in that he is always hustling the opposition. Frustrating the opposition is sometimes necessary in tight matches.

Here's what G&GR had to say on the Giteau covering scrum-half:

The plan is now for Matt Giteau to cover at 9. Emphasis on "cover". It really shouldn't be forgotten that apart from a bit of time there prior to the 2007 World Cup and a handful of minutes this winter, Matt actually doesn't have much experience in the 9 shirt at all, especially at test level.

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so I guess you guys have written us off already then

Not written off exactly, but I think England and Wales will feel a bit more confident after seeing that squad.

I also think Cheika's thinking regarding taking two line-out orientated locks a bit strange per BBC:

"Maybe he was a bit further away at the start of the Rugby Championship, but the balance of the team that we wanted required just the two line-out orientated locks and we have that."

 

[goodNumber10]

Scot Allen:

Cheika has lost plot in only selecting two hookers for Wallabies. Inclusion of Palu a joke. Douglas over Horwill very strange. McMahon WTF??

https://twitter.com/ScottA_/status/634536909008674816

My Wallabies RWC 31 - 17 forwards: Slipper,Sio,Kepu,Holmes,Smith/Moore(c),TPN,Hanson/Simm,Horwill,Skelton,Carter/Fardy,Hoop,Mumm/Pock,McCalm

https://twitter.com/ScottA_/status/633925597912133632

My Wallabies RWC 31 - 14 backs: Genia,Phipps,White/Cooper,Foley/Toomua,Kuridrani,Giteau,AAC/Folau,Mitchell,Horne,Speight,Beale

https://twitter.com/ScottA_/status/633926057528201216

I find 2 hookers and 2 half back a massive risk. i think White can feel a little hard done by, I would have taken him over Genia.

Cooper is a mistake imho, Foley and Giteau as 10 and should have taken Lealifiano as 12.

 

[CaliRa1]

2 Hookers definitely a major risk given both are not getting younger which means recovery time is longer
Don't mind 2 Half Backs as Giteau is a cover Half only… The 3rd Half Back gets scrub minutes anyway… And McKenzies style of not using an interchange Half Back seems to have carried over to Cheika… The Half Backs you take in this case though must be very disciplined… I DO NOT like PHIPPS as a 2nd option Half Back… White is much more effective but is also streaky … Phipps is more consistent (as he consistently plays crap IMO) Genia is the #1 Half Back in Oz…
Cooper best option alongside Genia & is the more talented of he & Foley… I wouldn't give Giteau too many roles… He is versatile but is most effective at 12… Toomua & Beale also viable options but also more effective elsewhere… Toomua at 12 cover for Giteau and Beale at 12 13 & 15 or Super Interchange…

 

[The Jones Boy]

Horwill look like he was back to his rugged best in the RWC.
I am surprised Cheika has left the experienced campaigner behind because he does have a bit of mongrel in him and you need that in the pack.
Ah well, I guess if there's an injury he will be on the plane.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Horwill look like he was back to his rugged best in the RWC.
I am surprised Cheika has left the experienced campaigner behind because he does have a bit of mongrel in him and you need that in the pack.
Ah well, I guess if there's an injury he will be on the plane.

Really?

I thought he was a bit of a hazard for the team. He gets sin-binned a lot. Maybe Cheika thought so too and decided to rather select guys whose discipline is a bit better.

 

[goodNumber10]

Horwill look like he was back to his rugged best in the RWC.
I am surprised Cheika has left the experienced campaigner behind because he does have a bit of mongrel in him and you need that in the pack.
Ah well, I guess if there's an injury he will be on the plane.

don't forget Horwill will be in London anyway, as he'll be joining up with Quins.

Nic White will be in Montpellier.

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Really?

I thought he was a bit of a hazard for the team. He gets sin-binned a lot. Maybe Cheika thought so too and decided to rather select guys whose discipline is a bit better.

he's been excellent as an impact sub for the Wallabies - brought power to the game in the last 20.

 

[smartcooky]

Maybe Cheika thought so too and decided to rather select guys whose discipline is a bit better.

That'll be why he selected Quade Cooper, Will Skelton and Kurtley Beale then!

 

[CaliRa1]

Really?

I thought he was a bit of a hazard for the team. He gets sin-binned a lot. Maybe Cheika thought so too and decided to rather select guys whose discipline is a bit better.

When your taking 3 or 4 specialist locks with no cover locks in the loose forwards you go for more disciplined locks but when you take 4 with a cover in Fardy then I think you take a risk with a player with mongrel
The biggest risk is not taking 1 at all

 

[Gavin]

What is it 60caps for Australia then you can be selected if you go overseas? After the World Cup this would mean Genia and Cooper would be eligibly

 

[TRF_heineken]

That'll be why he selected Quade Cooper, Will Skelton and Kurtley Beale then!

haha!

Quade - Not just NZ wants to boo him... So he's going for the crowds
Kurtley - We all know he likes to party in the NH... So he's going to increase the revenue for the Alcohol Consumption.
Skelton - yeah, he's just a freak...

 

[CaliRa1]

Shock Selection
Douglas Phipps Tomane & Horne

Shock Omission
White Hanson Higginbotham & Horwill

Guess Cheika couldn't take too many QLD based players considering how bad their season was
Would have had the QLD starting tight 5, ex-Cpt Higginbotham & starting Halves