Spring Tour: Australia v Wales -2nd Test. (16/06/2012 10:00GMT)

[Draggs]

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne (16/06/2012, 10:00 GMT)

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Television Match Official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

[TABLE="class: cms_table_grid, width: 360, align: center"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="align: center"]Australia[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Wales[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Adam Ashley-Cooper[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Leigh Halfpenny[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cooper Vuna[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Alex Cuthbert[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rob Horne[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Jonathan Davies[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pat McCabe[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Ashley Beck[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Digby Ioane[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]George North[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Berrick Barnes[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Rhys Priestland[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Will Genia[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Mike Phillips[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wycliff Palu[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Ryan Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]David Pocock (c)[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Sam Warburton (c)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scott Higginbotham[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Dan Lydiate[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nathan Sharpe[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Alun Wyn Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rob Simmons[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Bradley Davies[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sekope Kepu[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Adam Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tatafu Polota-Nau[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Matthew Rees[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Benn Robinson[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Gethin Jenkins[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stephen Moore[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Richard Hibbard[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ben Alexander[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Paul James[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dave Dennis[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Luke Charteris[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Michael Hooper[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Justin Tipuric[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nic White[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Rhys Webb[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Anthony Fainga'a[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]James Hook[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mike Harris[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Scott Williams[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
​

 

[Draggs]

Eze! I did a vBookie!

 

[Darwin]

Eze! I did a vBookie!

I'm having trouble finding the words to convey how proud I am of you Draggs

Interesting to see no changes in the Australian team. I would have preferred to have seen Moore starting at hooker over Polota-Nau, but I do see the advantage of sticking with an all Waratahs front row. Not convinced about Vuna's defensive ability on the wing: I would have preferred the less explosive (but more reliable) Shipperly, or the speed of Morahan. I still think it is a mistake not to include genuine lock cover on the bench, especially considering Wales are going to be reinforced in the locking department this week (Evans is meant to be back isn't he?).

 

[Draggs]

I'm having trouble finding the words to convey how proud I am of you Draggs

Interesting to see no changes in the Australian team. I would have preferred to have seen Moore starting at hooker over Polota-Nau, but I do see the advantage of sticking with an all Waratahs front row. Not convinced about Vuna's defensive ability on the wing: I would have preferred the less explosive (but more reliable) Shipperly, or the speed of Morahan. I still think it is a mistake not to include genuine lock cover on the bench, especially considering Wales are going to be reinforced in the locking department this week (Evans is meant to be back isn't he?).

My sig says how I feel.
Moore is a more reliable player than Polota-Nau. Vuna wasn't really put under too much pressure, but did show his frailties when North had a burst down the wing before he went off.
I would start Ian Evans and AWJ, with Bradley on the bench.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I am so proud of Draggsy, my apprentice. After all his hard work, all the training, he managed to make the vBookie himself!


Now go make me proud by doing the other match threads

 

[Darwin]

Have you heard what the chances are of North playing this weekend? If he is out, who do you think will start on the wing in his place? I would hope they would pick a genuine wing (Robinson or Brew) rather than picking Hook or Williams at fullback and shifting Halfpenny to the wing....

I am so proud of Draggsy, my apprentice. After all his hard work, all the training, he managed to make the vBookie himself!
Now go make me proud by doing the other match threads

Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.

 

[bushytop]

Have you heard what the chances are of North playing this weekend? If he is out, who do you think will start on the wing in his place? I would hope they would pick a genuine wing (Robinson or Brew) rather than picking Hook or Williams at fullback and shifting Halfpenny to the wing....

It's a bit up in the air at the moment due to Priestlands frailties in the first test and the fact that Hooky had a decent run out at 10 against the brumbies, so Howleys got some decisions to make.

In an ideal world I would go with the same backline as the 1st test apart from Beck for Williams. Let's just hope North is fit eh?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.

 

[Darwin]

What a stunning looking pair. I must say, Draggs looks like a very handsome man in this photo.....

 

[bushytop]

Know its not gonna happen (as he's not been part of the squad for years & hasn't quite performed on the odd occasion he has featured) but I'd love to see Delve get a couple of starts this weekend and next. A big barn storming number 8 (as well as him being a great leader) seems like the missing link for Wales right now, also feel Toby might be more effective as an impact sub, at least in the short term.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

I wonder if Wales will start Delve after he played 50 minutes v the brumbies last night? would be good to see another rebel in the mix!

 

[Thingimubob]

I wonder if Wales will start Delve after he played 50 minutes v the brumbies last night? would be good to see another rebel in the mix!

Doubt he'll start ahead of Ryan Jones, but would not be at all surprised to see him come off the bench at some point.

 

[Draggs]

How was Delve? From what I gather his name wasn't called too much, but he could have been doing the unseen work.
I'll get on the other match threads very soon, just wanted to get this one done before I had to work on a few other things.
Now I have to vBookie all S15 threads...

 

[Zed]

I think Wales are the only one of the NH teams that is going to win any tests this winter. And the 2nd test is their best shot. They win that and the 3rd test is anyones.

 

[Zed]

I wonder if Wales will start Delve after he played 50 minutes v the brumbies last night? would be good to see another rebel in the mix!

Yeah he's done really well for the rebels.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Press conference this morning: George & Scotty are going to be fit, Wales are looking at starting Tipuric and Warren Gatland's flying over as we speak. All good as far as I'm concerned.

 

[GarethEWilliams]

I would definitely prefer to see Beck given a go at inside centre, gives us a bit more flair. As for Hook, no way at full back, in for Priestland? Mmmmmmmm. If North is not fit I would look at Robinson, bit of a gamble, but why not, look how far the other youngsters have come.

I hear Warburton will be going to number 8, with Tup's at 7. I am not to worried at this, but maybe Ryan deserves his chance, and I would definitely like the see Delve in somewhere, always rated him

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Ryan is not really an 8 anymore, he's most effective at 6 but would easily do a job at 8. Warburton going there is an interesting one seeing as he has past experience playing there. I think you got to give Hook a go at 10 because Preistland has been dire.

 

[psychic duck]

Ryan is not really an 8 anymore, he's most effective at 6 but would easily do a job at 8. Warburton going there is an interesting one seeing as he has past experience playing there. I think you got to give Hook a go at 10 because Preistland has been dire.

I agree with you here Cymro. Tipuric has been very good for the past 12 months and deserves a chance. Warburton played 8 for the U20's didn't he? With Faletau out, Warburton at 8 would be worth an experiment, and if it goes well then there are even more extra back row options for Wales in the future, if it doesn't go well then no matter and Ryan Jones can come on from the bench. Wouldn't mind seeing Delve given a chance either.

As for the half backs, both Phillips and Priestland were poor and the pair as a unit failed to supply the outside backs with good quick ball. Hook should go to 10 (hopefully now Halfpenny kicks it could take the pressure off him slightly from some previous occasions he's played 10), and I would drop Phillips, but not sure whether Webb or Lloyd Williams are ready to be first choice though.

I think Wales are the only one of the NH teams that is going to win any tests this winter. And the 2nd test is their best shot. They win that and the 3rd test is anyones.

So you don't think watered down France will beat the even more watered down Argentina?

or Italy will win a match against Canada or USA?

 

[madflyhalf]

Maybe it was the jetlag and the trip, but Wales looked lazy and very tired in all previous match, even when the almost came back... It seems all those handling errors were consequence of a side that came short in that moment, and the 3 loose forward were outplayed by Wallabies counterparts, if so, I don't know why not giving to Delve a chance in the starting XV, surely he is fresher than others are.

I really like to see him there!