Bledisloe III: Australia v New Zealand, 20/10/2012

[Draggs]

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (20-10-2012, 10:00 GMT)

​

Referee: C. Joubert

Assistant Referees: J. Peyper, L. van der Merwe; both

Television Match Official: M. Goddard

​

Wallabies team announced:
​

Australia: Mike Harris, Nick Cummins, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota Nau, James Slipper, Sitaleki Timani, Nathan Sharpe (c), Scott Higginbotham, Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu
Replacements: James Hanson, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/171288.html

James Hanson will take the position of injured Saia Fainga'a, and could make his Wallabies debut.

 

[Darwin]

http://www.espnscrum.com/australia/rugby/story/171133.html

Very surprised to see Drew Mitchell back, I thought he was supposed to have a lengthy layoff. Good to see him around, I hope they don't rush him into the team.
AAC back as well, but nothing with regards to O'Connor.

Something like this, perhaps?
Ashley-Cooper, Cummins, Tapuai, McCabe, Ioane, Beale, Phipps; Slipper, Polota-Nau, Alexander, Sharpe, Timani, Higginbotham, Hooper, Palu; Fainga'a, Douglas, Samo, Sheehan, Harris, Mitchell

I don't know the Robbie Deans factor, so this is just a wild guess. I'll admit, I really don't know how they will select the forwards, and the backs was based off previous patterns.
Australia are desperately lacking a good, settled inside back trio.

Good (for Australia) to see Palu back - they really need a find a way to keep him fit, as he a good international 8. I too am surprised to see Mitchell back so soon. I won't be surprised if he is rushed back into the starting lineup though, and will be even less surprised if he suffers a serious injury during the match......

Hard to predict what sort of team we will see. I think Robinson will be back at LH prop, as he made a good impact when he came off the bench vs Argentina. One of the main decisions they have is the makeup of their loose-forward trio - do they go big at 6 (Timani), stick with a more traditional 6 option (Dennis), trial dual opensides (with Hooper and Gill), or play Higginbotham (whatever he is classified as....)? At 8 they have to decide between Palu, Samo, and Higginbotham too. There are plenty of options in the backline too - I would expect Phipps, Beale, Ioane, and McCabe are locked in at 9, 10, 11 and 12, but the other backline positions are pretty open in my opinion.

 

[Draggs]

Really, where is Higginbotham best? I remember last season all Aussies complaining of his non-selection, and then they were calling for him to be dropped.
Ben Mowen seems to be flavour of the month now.

I'd like to see something like this: Beale, Ioane, AAC, Tapuai/McCabe, Shipperley, Harris, somebody that isn't Phipps.

 

[Darwin]

Really, where is Higginbotham best? I remember last season all Aussies complaining of his non-selection, and then they were calling for him to be dropped.
Ben Mowen seems to be flavour of the month now.

I'd like to see something like this: Beale, Ioane, AAC, Tapuai/McCabe, Shipperley, Harris, somebody that isn't Phipps.

Playing Super Rugby. He was hyped up as he looked great running in midfield / putting chip kicks through while standing on the wing during Super Rugby, but at test level you really need your forwards to be doing their primary jobs first and foremost. I've never been a fan of his, but I do think he has shown some improvement during the Rugby Championship, and probably had one of his best games I have seen him play (in terms of loose-forward play) in the final match versus Argentina. He certainly has all the skills to be a very good international player, he just needs to realize he is not a wing. Mowen is a good solid player, though is very much in the mold of Dave Dennis. I'm sure he will be criticized for 'not doing anything' if he does play test rugby, as people won't see him running with the ball on the wing Australia really need Palu fit and firing if they want a balanced loose-trio though - I think a Dennis/Hooper/Palu trio could be very effective at test level.

It took me a while to work out whether the backline you have listed was from 10-15 or 15-10 I assume it is from 15-10 (or 15-9 if we include 'someone who is not Phipps' tacked on the end)? I don't think Australia has many options apart from Phipps at 9 (with Genia, White, and I think Lucas out injured). Sheehan is ok, but I don't think he is any better than Phipps (and at 33 is hardly one for the future...). I would definitely stick with Beale at 10, as he has been one of the real standouts for Australia over recent weeks there (and has had some shockers at 15 recently). Though I think Tapuai is better suited to 12, I like the look of a McCabe/Tapuai midfield, so would give that another go. I too would go with Shipperly and Ioane on the wings, though I understand Ioane is in doubt with a knee injury, while I would slot AAC in at fullback (though I do think he is slightly better at 13). I would be very tempted to somehow find space for Harris as he is a far better goal-kicker than Beale, but I think he would a bit of a liability against the top teams (as I don't think he is a test quality player). There is certainly plenty to think about for Deans and co.....

As for the AB's, I don't expect many changes from the last test side (assuming everyone is fit). Mealamu could slot in ahead of Hore at hooker, while Romano could slot in ahead of Retallick at lock, though they are really 50:50 calls for me. Probably the only really selection issue in the backline is on the left wing where it is Gear or Savea, with both players currently looking in great form.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Going to pray for a miracle...

 

[madflyhalf]

I'd like to see more of McCabe & Tapuai in midfield (though Tapuai is not a 13, this could be a well balanced partnership), but also Tapuai and Ashley-Cooper!
But for now I can't see McCabe dropped, he is a pillar in Wallabies' backline... Maybe we're gonna see some experiment against Italy in november!

I'm surprised too seeing Mitchell there, hope he's fully fit as well as Palu!
And I hope the will remain fit for more than 60'!

I agree that Dennis - Hooper - Palu is a more balanced backrow, and on the bench I'd go with Higginbotham and Gill, hoping to see the latter getting his first test start in the next month!
Just a trial... Gill - Hooper - Palu, Higgers/Dennis and Samo as subs!

 

[nush]

with so many injured wallabies they might as well test a few different formations

 

[InsaneAsylum]

with so many injured wallabies they might as well test a few different formations

i would tend to agree, throw some younger players into the deep end, see if they swim.... may surprise a few.

 

[madflyhalf]

Ioane out injuried.

 

[Big Ewis]

NZ is going to want to set the example for the subsequent European Tour...they're gonna want toblow past Australia and score 20 tries and say "we can crush even SH teams muahahah"...and with such a run behind them, they can only feel more confident.
and it's redemption time for the Aussies at the same time too...AT HOME...and they've got a better side this time around.

I do believe of course there's still pressure going into this one for the AB's. They're expected to win every single test so...
At least the Aussies' roster is replenished a bit. God speed, men in gold !

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I think Mike Harris will start this game. Goalkicking may be the difference if Oz have any chance of winning, plus he had a good game against the Pumas.
Also, Palu is probably not fully fit, and his inclusion in the squad has more to do with following his evolution closer thinking of November (he's probably well physically, but he's the type of player who takes his time in finding form after an injury). The other two coming back form injury are unlikely to be in the 22 as well I think (Kepu and Mitchell).
And I think that Robinson coming off the bench worked a lot better than him starting. I think it'll be :

1. Slipper
2. TPN
3. Alexander
4. Timani
5. Sharpe
6. Higginbotham
7. Hooper
8. Samo
9. Phipps
10. Beale
11. AAC
12. McCabe
13. Tapuai
14. Shipperley
15. Harris

16. Fainga'a
17. Robinson
18. Simmons
19. Gill
20. Sheehan
21. Fainga'a
22. Cummins

 

[madflyhalf]

I agree on the 22! Maybe 5-2 split with Dennis there, and Fainga'a dropped, as I think Cummins can come in at wing, with AAC shifted to 13 or 15 if necessary.


Adam Ashley-Cooper should be scripted for a remake of A man for all seasons.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Yeah, I know. I prefer him at 13, but my logic is that Mitchell shouldn't be in the 22, and there shouldn't be two centres on the bench. Unless they call another winger, the only alternatives would be (always with Phipps, Beale, McCabe, Shipperley and Harris at 9, 10, 12, 14 and 15, and Sheehan at 20)
11. Cummins, 13. AAC, 21. Tapuai, 22. Fainga'a (so no back three player on the bench)
Or maybe play Harris at 12, Mc Cabe somewhere else...

OR..... for a 5/2 split, with only one of Fainga'a or Tapuai on the bench (+Sheehan), with AAC playing 13.

 

[Darwin]

Wallabies named:

Mike Harris, Nick Cummins, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Scott Higginbotham, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.

Palu rushed straight back into the starting lineup, and Mitchell rushed straight back onto the bench.... hmmmm....

 

[InsaneAsylum]

mitchell's ankle to explode three minutes after he takes the field. can't help being a pessimist

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Palu to break his hand as usual and Mitchell to break in no time... soild choices Deans.

 

[madflyhalf]

Saia Fainga'a broke his hand in training...

 

[admartian]

This game is being streamed for those outside AU and NZ that are keen to watch:
http://www.allblacks.com/news/20837...o-be-available-online-to-selected-territories

 

[Larksea]

All Blacks named tomorrow

I expect a predictable selection, even more so with Hansen not being involved I don't expect they will make many personal or tactical changes, something like:

1, Woodcock
2, Mealamu (start his 100th test)
3, Owen Franks
4, Romano
5, Whitelock
6, Messam
7, McCaw
8, Read
9, Smith *not ben smith
10, Carter *also not ben smith
11, Gear (reward for his impressive game against south africa)
12, Nonu
13, Conrad Smith
14, Jane
15, Dagg

16, Hore 17, Faumaina 18, Retalick 19, Vito 20, Weepu 21, Cruden 22, Ben Smith (yes Ben Smith)

This really is some side, it seems so settled and basically without weakness. Guys on the bench that would walk into the starting lineup in pretty much any other test team. Could say they have been lucky on the injury front but you could also say a lot of that stems from good player management and fitness base.

I also think it's a good time to give credit to Ian Foster, I think he was underrated as a chiefs coach and often seen as "under performing" in that role, I've always seen him as a good coach and good "people person" who maybe did not have the credentials to attract the players he needed to make the chiefs shine. I think his time there for me will be remembered for him never attracting or developing truly top class props, locks or 2nd fives for the chiefs - those positions were a long term weakness.

I think from what I've seen this year that the All Blacks back line really is just as good as anything we have seen in recent years under Smith, and it's not like he's just kept everything the same. There have been genuine changes made, and they seem to be scoring tries from first phase play which is not easy.

 

[Darwin]

^ Yep, that is the same lineup that I predict we will see. I'm hoping we see a bit of experimenting against Scotland and Italy - not a huge amount, just 2-3 changes a test to gives the likes of Cruden, Cane, Smith, A hooker, Faumuina etc a chance to start at test level.