QLD Reds Announce O'Connor & Hunt

[Draggs]

White solid? Is there a different Australian Nic White that people watch?
Aus don't have one world class halfback at the moment. Genia hit a slump and now injured, and I think Nic and Nick are out of their depth. Aus have had questionable scrumhalf depth for a while. Sheehan and Valentine bounced around a fair bit, Holmes never reached the level expected (IRB young player curse...)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Sure, Mauro Bergamasco comes to mind.
They play fine at club level, but offer no threat at international level. Compare them to the likes of Smith, Care, Parra.
White has a poor pass, kicks with little thought. For a supposedly world class backline, scrumhalf is a choke point.

Ye and Lloyd Williams, Rhys Webb, Richie Rees and others ...

Those guys are class. Geina is world class, he's not been fit but when he puts on that Australian shirt its a different kettle of fish. He can cut teams apart.

 

[nzlizard]

Good to see JOC back, always rated him as one of the best potential wingers in the world, just couldn't get his head right.

He had an all round awesome game, was never a 10 and don't imagine he would make a good 12 either.

 

[Gavin]

White solid? Is there a different Australian Nic White that people watch?
Aus don't have one world class halfback at the moment. Genia hit a slump and now injured, and I think Nic and Nick are out of their depth. Aus have had questionable scrumhalf depth for a while. Sheehan and Valentine bounced around a fair bit, Holmes never reached the level expected (IRB young player curse...)

White is 24 and has 15 caps. 7 starting, 8 as sub. Are we talking about Nic White during the recent matches against NZ? Definitely in the 2nd test he was poor who not many Australian players put their hands up in Eden Park. He reminds me of French halfbacks who are great kickers and generals. When you potentially have magical and impulsive numbers 10s, I would prefer a solid halfback like White

 

[welshglory]

What australia needs is quick ball and players with instincts, White doesn't have any of those

 

[Gavin]

White reminds me of George Gregan but I would prefer Genia any day.

Back to the topic of JOC, he played really well tonight for Toulon. Played fullback and was impressive with everything he did. Can't wait to see him back in Gold.

 

[Darwin]

I don't think halfback is a massive issue for Australia to be honest. Genia has been a bit disappointing over these last few years (after being IMO the best 9 in world rugby c. 2010/2011), but is still fine at test level (when fit). White hasn't yet stepped up to the mark at test level, but is still young, and does have a good skillset and ability to put runners into the gap. I've never been a fan of Phipps but he has impressed this season for the Waratahs (and off the bench for the Wallabies).

Anyways... O'Connor. It is great news for Australia / the Reds that he is back. For me he is definitely a wing/fullback, and should be starting on the wing for the Wallabies at the next RWC (with Speight on the other wing). He is someone who thrives with room to move, and doesn't seem to be that good at making decisions under pressure (hence 10 doesn't suit him). Though he can be useful at 12 at Super Rugby level I don't think he has the physicality required at 12 at test level (and there is no point having making 10+ tackles per match when he could be better used elsewhere...).

I don't know much about Hunt to be honest apart for the fact he has an interesting first name...

 

[squirrel]

Matt Henjak could have been a decent half for aus if he wasn't such an arrogant ****

 

[Jaguares]

I don't know much about Hunt to be honest apart for the fact he has an interesting first name...

 

[Guilty]

I have been saying this for years now, our backline is not and has never been the reason behind Australia being unable to beat NZ consistently and reclaim the top spot in the world rankings. From #9 to #15 I think we have pretty clearly the second best backline in the world and there have been periods over the past 8 or so years where our backline has been even better than NZ's. The issue is the forward pack and specifically the tight five. The Australian game is one of expansive football and running rugby - it always has been and when we are able to play our game, the Wallabies are unstoppable. There is however one clear way to stop the Wallabies and that is to win the forward battle and control the ball therefore stopping the Wallabies from executing their preferred gameplan. This is exactly where we have struggled against the All Blacks and every single time the Wallabies lose it is because they lose the forward battle. Can anyone think of a game the Wallabies have lost when the backs get free flowing ball and forward momentum? Until we are able to put a strong tight five on the field, we will not regain the top spot. In my mind, our locks are the biggest problem which is why I would like to see Skelton, Carter and Jones get as much game time as possible this RC. Simmons is a powder puff and Horwill is past his prime. Slipper, Moore and Hooper (+ Pocock if he ever gets healthy which is a whole separate topic) are our only forward that perform at a world class standard. The All Blacks and Springboks do not have this problem.

I'm not sure if any national media is as hard against their side as the Australian media. Being second or third best in the world is frankly phenomenal for a country where rugby union is the 3rd or now even the 4th biggest football code in the country. However anything short of 1st is considered a disgrace here - that is the nature of our sporting culture I suppose. Also worth considering is that New Zealand, South Africa, England, Wales, Ireland and the USA have more people playing rugby union than Australia does. Most recently Will Genia and Quade Cooper have been on the receiving end of a lot of unwarranted criticism. When the Reds playmakers get clean ball, the Wallabies win. When their forward packs get crushed and Genia and Cooper are forced to make something off the back of a side going backwards, the criticism somehow falls on their shoulders. Quite unfair in my opinion and I believe McKenzie recognizes this which is why Genia and Cooper will be starting as soon as they are healthy. Have you noticed how our backline somehow shines every year they tour Europe? It's not because the backline is somehow getting better, it is because the Australian forward pack can handle European forwards in a manner they cannot deal with the very impressive All Back and Springbok packs and the Wallabies are therefore able to play their game.

This is the backline I am expecting to be available for the WC and it is at worst the second best backline in the world in my humble opinion.

9# Genia starting w/ Phipps available
10# Cooper starting w/ Foley available
11# O'Connor starting w/ Ioanne and Tomane available
12# Beale / Toomua / Godwin
13# AAC starting w/ Kuridrani available
14# Speight starting w/ Ioanne and Tomane available
15# Folau starting w/ Beale and Hunt available