Wales v Australia

[Shaggy]

Traditionally after an important/break through win the Wallabies are very poor the next weekend. They can not afford to let this happen if they plan to beat the Welsh. If the above side is correct I assume there is a number of Welsh players out injured (I think I remember reading something to this effect anyway...) but they are still good enough to beat us if we play poorly. As good as the win against the All Blacks was, we had played them 3 times already in the last few months, so we knew exactly what to espect form them, and there was the motivation factor of the previous 10 losses. The Wallabies will not be able to call on either of these factors against the Welsh so it will be a tougher challange in that respect. I'm looking forward to seeing some consistancy from the Wallabies and would love to see them lead the entire game to prove to themselves that they can hold onto a lead.

I agree with what you've said in regard to the Wallabies being able to string a couple of wins together ... they have had trouble backing up one win with another, and I guess that's the next thing that they need to address ... I guess JOC would have been spending quite a bit of time practicing goal kicking, and forwards a lot of time on the scrum machine (two other areas of concern) should be a great match

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

He's a trick: Put Hook in the 15 shirt, the play him in the centres with, say, Harries at Fullback or bring on Czekaj in the first couple of minutes. Austrailia won't see a threat in midfield, then BAM!

Also, any sign of the Aussie team? Hopefully they've all been on a golf buggy holiday or something.

 

[dullonien]

I'm praying that Hook doesn't start at Fullback! Doesn't make sense to pick him at fullback over Czekaj, Harries or Prydie who have all played there this season, when Hook hasn't at all! He's also got a cracking partnership with Bishop going on atm, and he's been lighting up the Ospreys midfield all season too. Personally I'd have 12. Hook 13. Bishop 14. Harries 15.Czekaj with Shanklin and Brew on the bench.

Wouldn't say Hook's been 'lighting up the Ospreys midfield all season'. He was out for the begining of it, then had a few average games by his standard. I don't think he's fully recovered from his operation, but he's getting there quickly.

Why is starting positions so important. Why would it be so hard for Hook to stand in the centre / 10 spot during attacking moves? In some way, playing fullback gives him free reign to evaluate the defense and pick exactly where he enters the line. As long as Bishop and Shanklin run good running angles it could, or maybe should work well. Hook is certainly the best all round option at fullback, as he's got a great boot, something all the other options lack (Prydie aside). Can't see any reason why players shouldn't be able to switch positions depending on attacking or defensive plays, especially fullback considering a fullback always joins the line on offense anyway.

 

[Thingimubob]

Wouldn't say Hook's been 'lighting up the Ospreys midfield all season'. He was out for the begining of it, then had a few average games by his standard. I don't think he's fully recovered from his operation, but he's getting there quickly.

Why is starting positions so important. Why would it be so hard for Hook to stand in the centre / 10 spot during attacking moves? In some way, playing fullback gives him free reign to evaluate the defense and pick exactly where he enters the line. As long as Bishop and Shanklin run good running angles it could, or maybe should work well. Hook is certainly the best all round option at fullback, as he's got a great boot, something all the other options lack (Prydie aside). Can't see any reason why players shouldn't be able to switch positions depending on attacking or defensive plays, especially fullback considering a fullback always joins the line on offense anyway.

Guess you have a point there, but still he offers that extra spark that a Bishop - Shanklin partnership just doesn't. Just seems to me like this was an experiment that was tried last year and just didn't really work.

 

[Draggs]

Hopefully they've all been on a golf buggy holiday or something.

So that's where Andy Powell is these days.

People claiming to be 'in the know' say that this is the squad.

1 Gethin Jenkins
2 Matthew Rees (C)
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Jonathan Thomas
9. Mike Phillips
10. Stephen Jones
11. Shane Williams
12. Andrew Bishop
13. Tom Shanklin
14. Will Harries
15. James Hook

16. Huw Bennett
17. Paul James
18. Deiniol Jones
19. Martyn Williams
20. Richie Rees
21. Dan Biggar
22. Chris Czekaj

 

[TRF_Cymro]

So that's where Andy Powell is these days.

People claiming to be 'in the know' say that this is the squad.

1 Gethin Jenkins
2 Matthew Rees (C)
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Jonathan Thomas
9. Mike Phillips
10. Stephen Jones
11. Shane Williams
12. Andrew Bishop
13. Tom Shanklin
14. Will Harries
15. James Hook

16. Huw Bennett
17. Paul James
18. Deiniol Jones
19. Martyn Williams
20. Richie Rees
21. Dan Biggar
22. Chris Czekaj

Its likely, and for me its a poor selection. It also looks like the roof will be open and a game of kicking will be on the cards.

Aled Brew has been released back to the Dragons for this weekend's game.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales team to face Australia in Cardiff on Saturday, November 6:

James Hook; Will Harries, Tom Shanklin, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees (c), Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Jonathan Thomas

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Paul James, Deiniol Jones, Martyn Williams, Richie Rees, Dan Biggar, Chris Czekaj

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Looks like the people in the know really were in the know

I don't think that's too bad of a team.
World class front row (/tight 5, I really rate Davies, and on occasion Wyn-Jones)
Backrow is good, good mix of young and old (though Warburton is going to get shown up by Pocock that's going to happen to every openside this month - even happened to McCaw last week)
Philips, Jones and Williams are Philips, Jones and Williams (Philips needs to pull his socks up though) - wouldn't have had Shankly in an ideal world but with the injuries and the such he's the best choice, and Hook is a good fullback (though not his best position)
Would've had Brew over Harries
Czekaj is a good replacement (wouldn't start him but he's good) - Rees is a good replacement for Philips as well, if he has a mare. Lets just hope Stephen Jones has an extra wheatabix in the morning so doesn't have to come off after 60 or anything

Though i won't be watching it as it happens, I look forward to seeing this match, think Wales may cause an upset (or at least come very close to it)

 

[Thingimubob]

bugger...
that is all

 

[dullonien]

Well that 606 member really does have some reliable sources, 2 days in advance, not bad!

I don't think it's a bad squad. Front 5 is at full strength, well the starting 5 are anyway! I'm gonna look forward to see how the backrow goes. I personally think it's a good combination, although I'm not a big fan of JT at 8. If we have any chance of matching or at least dealing with Pocock I think we had to try Warburton. Bring Martyn Williams on if the game opens up towards the end. Lydiate is the form 6, and although he's unexperienced I think he's got a better chance of creating an impact on the team this time than he did on his debut.

The backline will heavily depend on the back three roaming around the pitch and coming into the line, as Shane Williams did in 08 against the Wallabies. Harries showed in the second test against NZ that he's also willing to come inside looking for work and injecting some pace and creativity in midfield. Defensively hopefully not much will make it through a midfield of Phillips, Jones, Bishop and Shanklin!

Gotta say that the back three could be lethal on the counter!

The bench is a little weak in places, and that's got alot to do with the injures we've sustained. Loosing two centres + another moved to fullback + another dancing is always gonna be tough to cover. Still though, Shanklin is not a poor player by a long way, he's gonna be chomping at the bit to proove that he's still got it at international level. Bishop won't let anyone down and his offence has been improving steadily.

 

[Shaggy]

Here's the Wallabies team

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/deans-stays-with-winning-team-20101104-17ft4.html

Deans stays with winning team
David Beniuk, Cardiff
November 5, 2010
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans has stuck with the players who did the job against the All Blacks, naming an unchanged side for the Test against Wales at Millennium Stadium early Sunday, Melbourne time.

Deans has emphasised the need for continuity in selection after injury and suspension had made it difficult to field the same side for consecutive matches.

The breakthrough 26-24 win over New Zealand was a massive boost for the Australians, who are now starting to believe the attack-at-all-costs path they have gone down is paying off.

The biggest change for the Wallabies for the clash with the Dragons will be in the goalkicking department, with 20-year-old winger James O'Connor, who coolly slotted a winning conversion in Hong Kong, taking the duties from Matt Giteau.

Despite Deans and the selectors keeping the faith, consistency is the key for Australia, which hasn't had back-to-back wins since July.

Several players are auditioning for a World Cup spot on this tour with Wallabies such as Digby Ioane, James Horwill, Wycliff Palu and Rob Horne on the injured list.

The battle for positions at lock is particularly crucial with Dan Vickerman returning to the fold next year and Horwill on the mend.

Mark Chisholm, who will again partner World Cup certainty Nathan Sharpe in the starting second row, Dean Mumm, Van Humphries and youngster Rob Simmons are vying for back-up positions in the Wallabies' set-up.

AAP

AUSTRALIA: Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt), Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Res: Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Lachie Turner.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

The battle of the front five for me will be key. I think thats where Wales are slightly ahead of the the Australia front five, but what is behind that is quite a scary prospect.

 

[Shaggy]

The battle of the front five for me will be key. I think thats where Wales are slightly ahead of the the Australia front five, but what is behind that is quite a scary prospect.

Yep, it will be interesting to see what happens at Scrum time ... you Welsh also have a good set of backs that can create and finish tries, and your goal kickers don't miss too many either

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Yep, it will be interesting to see what happens at Scrum time ... you Welsh also have a good set of backs that can create and finish tries, and your goal kickers don't miss too many either

What the backs lack is creativity with both Shanklin and Bishop similar type of players. Bishop is the quiet bloke that just goes around doing whats needed and at times is often unnoticed. Harris and Williams has pace and Stephen Jones can control the game. What Wales is lacking is a long distance goalkicker, Jones is solid within 40m anything further we seem to struggle with. Can Hook kick that far? If so then lets get him kicking.

 

[Shaggy]

What the backs lack is creativity with both Shanklin and Bishop similar type of players. Bishop is the quiet bloke that just goes around doing whats needed and at times is often unnoticed. Harris and Williams has pace and Stephen Jones can control the game. What Wales is lacking is a long distance goalkicker, Jones is solid within 40m anything further we seem to struggle with. Can Hook kick that far? If so then lets get him kicking.

Doesn't Shane Williams kick long range ... I think it was him taking the long range shots against the All Blacks when they toured this year

I think if the welsh can shut down Genia and Cooper, not kick the ball to Beale, and exploit Coopers poor defense, they are in with a good chance in this one ... a few penalties for scrum infringements wouldn't hurt either

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Doesn't Shane Williams kick long range ... I think it was him taking the long range shots against the All Blacks when they toured this year

That would have been Lee Halfpenny!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It was probably Halfpenny kicking Wales' long range efforts over the summer

Didn't Hook do some of the longer range penalties on the Lions tour? I imagine he'll do the same with Wales with Halfpenny missing

 

[Shaggy]

That would have been Lee Halfpenny!

Yup, thanks guys ... my bad ... he's not in the squad I see, so I guess he's one of the many on the injured list

 

[dullonien]

Yup, Halfpenny injured. Hook's a decent long range kicker, not on the same level as Halfpenny, but he'll probably take the kickign duties between 45 and 55 metres (though he's not that effective over 50).

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I've seen Hook slot 'em over from about 55 metres. Which is always quite handy.

Bishop and Shanklin are awesome defenders, so I think, actually, that's exactly what we need for when they're attacking. Bring Hook in at 12 when Wales are in the 22, but espechialy when Austrailia lack a Nonu or Roberts, I can't see much getting through provided Harries can transfur his Dragons form to Wales.

Just a random little thing I was thinking about earlier today (Sitting on the wing in a team with two crash-ball centres does this two you), how many tries each member of the squad has scored this season so far-
Front Row: 1 (Rees)
Locks: 3 (Davies x2, AWJ)
Back Row: 1 (JT)
Half-Backs: 1 (Stephen Jones)
Centres: 1 (Bish, although Shanks scored 3 tries during friendlies)
Back Three: 7 (Harries x4, Shane x3)

That's 14 tries in total. Richie Rees, Dan Biggar and Chris Czekaj have all scored one try each and are all on the bench, so it could be bumped up to 17.