Strange Australian Team announced

[rugbywriter]

15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Huia Edmonds, 1 Ben Alexander.
Subs: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Josh Valentine, 21 Drew Mitchell, 22 James O’Connor.

That's the Aussie team to play Fiji.

Firstly, it's great to see over-rated Barnes dropped. Very average player IMO. Also good to see Cooper at 10 with Giteau at 12. But there are some very strange decisions that I can't understand. Why is Beale playing fullback with Ashley-Cooper on the wing? Ashley-Cooper can be one of the best fullbacks in the world on his day. The Aussies need to stop shifting him around all the time or it will ruin his potential. Kurtley Beale just had a couple of good games at the end. Yes, I know he's still very young, but the guy won't last. Exact same thought for Rob Horne. Very disapointing to see guys that had a couple of good games making the national squad. However, the most shocking is Saia Faingaa on the bench. This guy was the worst hooker in the entire Super14. I could not believe how bad this guy is. He is beyond useless. Countless penalties and knock-ons, the fact that he is in the Australian set-up is an utter joke. Like most of the team though. Cooper/Giteau will be a fantastic fly-half/centre combo.

 

[Haysie]

Very interesting hearing a Saffer's take on many of our up and comers.
Personally I think that Saia Faingaa was one of the most energetic and hardworking hookers in the Super 14 this year and more than deserves his spot on the bench. You also may not have heard but we are in a slight No.2 crisis at the moment, which takes away nothing from the boys that are starting in this match, but may explain why you are surprised to see some previously unknown names there.

Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau in a 10-12 partnership? Finally!

Berrick Barnes - A very hard worker with a great personal ethic that was unfortunately stuck in a team that didn't play his style of game this year. I have no doubt he will make a great comeback soon enough.

Unfortunately I didn't see enough of Beale nor Horne this year to really appraise them either way. Hopefully they can spark some brilliance in a game that will be full of flair, no doubt.

Twodads is a great utility for the Wallabies and any team he plays in benefits from his experience all throughout the backline. Perhaps Drew Mitchell coming off the bench might slot into 11 and he can push back to fullback later on in the match?

 

[Charles]

Hope Fiji play well. I know some of the guys in the team. Caucau and Nalaga on the wings, MacDonalds FTW...

TOSO FIJI!!

 

[Gavin]

15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Huia Edmonds, 1 Ben Alexander.
Subs: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Josh Valentine, 21 Drew Mitchell, 22 James O'Connor.

That's the Aussie team to play Fiji.

Firstly, it's great to see over-rated Barnes dropped. Very average player IMO. Also good to see Cooper at 10 with Giteau at 12. But there are some very strange decisions that I can't understand. Why is Beale playing fullback with Ashley-Cooper on the wing? Ashley-Cooper can be one of the best fullbacks in the world on his day. The Aussies need to stop shifting him around all the time or it will ruin his potential. Kurtley Beale just had a couple of good games at the end. Yes, I know he's still very young, but the guy won't last. Exact same thought for Rob Horne. Very disapointing to see guys that had a couple of good games making the national squad. However, the most shocking is Saia Faingaa on the bench. This guy was the worst hooker in the entire Super14. I could not believe how bad this guy is. He is beyond useless. Countless penalties and knock-ons, the fact that he is in the Australian set-up is an utter joke. Like most of the team though. Cooper/Giteau will be a fantastic fly-half/centre combo.

How is it a strange team? The only reason Faingaa and Edmonds are in the team is because of injuries. Beale has been playing very well for the Waratahs at full-back and Horne has had another solid season. I am very happy with that Australian team, and most players are selected on form rather than merit.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Nothing too unexpected considering injuries to Moore, Robinson, Tatafu Whatever, Palu and Genia. Those are 5 starters out, sheesh!

What I can't understand is Cooper on the wing with Mitchell on the bench to make space for.... Horne? Not saying I can do better than Deans but surely Mitchell should get a start with Cooper at 13? He was great there last year and with Hynes, O'Connor and Beale (lively at the end of of the S14) who can cover at the back why fix something that ain't broke? More physicality? Not necessary; Aussies should play their own game if they want to beat NZ/SA.

 

[Wally]

I agree with what most of you boys are saying.

Cooper/Giteau partnership is great. Ashley-Cooper being shifted to the wing to accommodate Horne is strange. Play him in his best position at fullback or leave him on the bench as a utility. Wing is a waste of his talents. In saying that this game is against Fiji and I believe Deans just wants to test the water with Horne and Beale. They are both young and could be potentially great players for the Wallabies in the future, and strengthening national depth is no bad thing. If they have a bad game they will be gone for England. I would also like to see Drew Mitchell at wing in the future. Barnes is unlucky to miss out as I believe he is a class player but look at the competition for the play making positions in this country at the moment - Cooper, Giteau, Barnes and O'Connor. A lot of top countries would love to have even a quarter of the depth. And they are still young.

The forwards are going to be pretty shaky until we get back Moore, Tatafu, Robinson and Palu. That all Brumbies front row could really get molested at the hands of England, New Zealand and South Africa. Pretty devo Scott Higginbotham got injured too.

 

[nickdnz]

Finally an Aussy fly half who doesn't wear head gear...wait, he's a kiwi, never mind...

I like Beale at 15, but I can see why it would annoy people to see AAC moved around so much, especially since he is Australia's best fullback. Would like to see Beale either play in the centres where there is a need, or wing.

 

[rugbywriter]

Very interesting hearing a Saffer's take on many of our up and comers.
Personally I think that Saia Faingaa was one of the most energetic and hardworking hookers in the Super 14 this year and more than deserves his spot on the bench. You also may not have heard but we are in a slight No.2 crisis at the moment, which takes away nothing from the boys that are starting in this match, but may explain why you are surprised to see some previously unknown names there.

Yes, I realise you guys have a no. 2 crisis, but Saia Faingaa? You think he's a hard wroker? He conceded 7 penalties in the Super14. A hooker like Tiaan Liebenburg (who played two games more) only gave away 3. Saia Faingaa also has 17 counts of lost possession to his name. If you want bumbling fools in your national team I won;t complain though. Thats good for us Boks

 

[rugbywriter]

Yes, I realise you guys have a no. 2 crisis, but Saia Faingaa? You think he's a hard wroker? He conceded 7 penalties in the Super14. A hooker like Tiaan Liebenburg (who played two games more) only gave away 3. Saia Faingaa also has 17 counts of lost possession to his name. If you want bumbling fools in your national team I won;t complain though. Thats good for us Boks

I apologise, Faingaa only has 10 counts of lost possession.

 

[Quadecooper#1]

i think its a great team considering its a warm up and that there are many players out. Horne has a big chance to impress and i think hes a fantastic player, real good ball runner and runs good lines. you must remember he hasn't had the best opportunity this year, being injured didnt help but the main thing is that he was outside Burgess/Barnes/Carter i think most blokes would have struggled there yet he had some solid games.
AAC WILL be the big match fullback, beale off the bench, but its good that deans is giving him a start. Mitchell will be one of the wingers and the other will be Hynes or Ionie.
as for putting AAC at outside i dont know if deans would want to do that as he doesnt play as well there, if anything he might move Ionie there again.
i reckon Saia Fianga deserves a crack as well, if not him who else?
pretty excited at the prospect of Beale/ O'Connor/ Cooper/ Giteau in the same team (22) as the only way we would beat the Boks is to play attacking rugby.

 

[admartian]

I don't think it's that odd, considering Deans is probably just using this game as a litmus test for some combinations and pairings.

Finally an Aussy fly half who doesn't wear head gear...wait, he's a kiwi, never mind...

I like Beale at 15, but I can see why it would annoy people to see AAC moved around so much, especially since he is Australia's best fullback. Would like to see Beale either play in the centres where there is a need, or wing.

Not to mention James O'Connor (an All Black wannabe) and Dean Mumm.

Wallabies (All Blacks B), you're welcome.

 

[lance2010]

Would of put Ioane in at 13 and Mitchell and Hynes on the wings

 

[Hulk Hogan]

I can see Ioane being moved to 13 midway through the game to accommodate Mitchell on the wing, and to add extra pep against Caucau.

 

[rugbywriter]

I can see Ioane being moved to 13 midway through the game to accommodate Mitchell on the wing, and to add extra pep against Caucau.

Yeah but I still think it's super retarded of Fiji to put CauCau at centre. Oke hasn't played international rugby in 4 years and you play him out of position. Not smart. I'm still incredibly keen to see him in action.

 

[SecondRow04]

Yeah but I still think it's super retarded of Fiji to put CauCau at centre. Oke hasn't played international rugby in 4 years and you play him out of position. Not smart. I'm still incredibly keen to see him in action.

Hes been playing in the centre for Agen this season.

I am also looking forward to see what he can do on the international stage once again. Been watching his videos on youtube again the guy is such a freak

 

[tinchy17]

I thought Cooper had been banned!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I thought Cooper had been banned!

For 2 weeks.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought Cooper had been banned!

This threads from almost two months ago, he was only banned last week

 

[Duckdee]

I thought Cooper had been banned!

Look at the date of the OP...

 

[SelimNiai]

Look at the date of the OP...

And the fact that the OP himself has had an epic hissy and left us.