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Australia by a blowout (15+)
Australia comfortably (8-14)
Australia in a close one (1-7)
Draw
Ireland in a close one (1-7)
Ireland comfortably (8-14)
Ireland by a blowout (15+)
Maybe we just might be looking at a Force filled Wallabies at Subiaco after all!
from Greg Growden, SMH.
Even if the Wallabies enjoy a second lopsided victory over England in Melbourne tomorrow night, the Australian Test pack will undergo another major overhaul - including an entirely new front row - for next weekend's international against Ireland in Perth.
The Wallabies selectors are seriously considering playing Guy Shepherdson as the tight-head prop and Al Baxter on the loose-head side, with Tai McIsaac, overlooked for the Melbourne Test, expected to return to the hooking position. A back row-revamp is also anticipated.
Wallabies coach John Connolly has stressed that before the Tri Nations series begins next month, he wants to intensify the competition among the front-rowers in a bid to improve the squad by giving at least four of his props an opportunity to start, as well as providing the three hookers - McIsaac, Adam Freier and Jeremy Paul - with enough game time so he can work out his pecking order.
Connolly is concerned about the balance of the Test back row, which has increased its stocks of lineout jumpers to four but is lacking an additional "running No.8". That is why Western Force No.8 Scott Fava may find himself in the mix for the Perth international.
Baxter was extremely close to taking over the Test loose-head prop spot tomorrow night, but after Connolly watched a video replay of the first-Test victory, Greg Holmes earned a reprieve. Instead, Baxter will remain on the bench in Melbourne.
"We were tempted to be more experimental this week but several players put their hands up in last week's Test and deserved another game," Connolly said yesterday.
Rocky Elsom, who remains at No.8 this weekend, was also in line to be rested but injury to breakaway Daniel Heenan has kept the Sydney Test man-of-the-match in the line-up.
The demotion of Test captain George Gregan to the reserves bench for the first time since 1996 is confirmation that Connolly is using the early Tests as a way of keeping the squad members on edge and ensuring as many players under his helm are familiar with the rigours of international football. It also emphasises Connolly is still some way off from determining what exactly is his preferred Test line-up. He argues he does not want to be left guessing, and wants be able to use form as guide.
What Connolly is seeking is a vast improvement from the team's lacklustre first-Test performance against an opposition that was well off the pace.
"I would hope the Wallabies improve considerably this week," Connolly said. "I was talking to John Eales the other day, and he was saying that during his 10 years with the Wallabies only once can he remember the team starting off well in the first Test of the season. So you have to expect improvements.
"In Sydney we were quite happy with our lineouts and our counter rucking at the breakdown. But we didn't control the ball terribly well in the backs, where we were instead pushing the pass. The scrum is also an ongoing process."
Working on the right attacking style that suits the Australian back line is also an continuing process. Wallabies backs coach Scott Johnson yesterday admitted that devising the right formula to bring the best out of a talented bunch would take time.
"We have to find a style that suits us," Johnson said. "We have to be comfortable with our philosophy and the way we want to play. With that, you look at the personnel and the personalities. You have to find something that suits both the team and what we represent. That's what we are in the midst of trying to find out.
"We have some talented athletes, and we're just tinkering with different things. Out of that you get entertainment. You can't play something which is alien to people. We're not attempting to do it. We're trying to work with innate skills and personalities. In my favour is that we have players with a lot of experience and it includes World Cup winners and World Cup finalists. I'm also not averse from learning off them either."
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Righto, with the Second Test completed and injuries considered, whack up your Subiaco 22 man squad if you dare. This is who you would pick, not who you think Knuckles will pick, no brownie points for "closest to the pin" (or Knuckles!).
Burgs' Subiaco XV:
1. Holmes
2. McIsaac
3. Blake (if fit, otherwise Shepherdson)
4. Sharpe
5. Vickerman
6. Chisholm (want another look at him there)
7. Waugh (needs more match time)
8. Fava (yeah yeah, Force goggles on but he deserves a start and even SMH have mentioned posssible!)
9. Gregan (was really dissapointed with Cordingley's game, so much build up, so little performance)
10. Larkham
11. Rathbone (as Waugh, needs more match time and happy memories at Subi!)
12. Staniforth (yep, Force goggles again but he was the form Aus #12 at S14 seasons end and is Home ground)
13. Mortlock
14. Tuqiri
15. Latham
16. Shepherdson (or Robinson if Blake unfit. Baxter remains and embaressment to the jersey)
17. Paul (JP offers great experience while the Front Row is still developing)
18. Kanaar (if only to show him what he's going to miss...who me vindictive?)
19. Smith (Palu didn't do enough and Smith would be a second half wrecking ball after Waugh has weathered the first half storm)
20. Valentine (let him play, Cordingley offered nothing that Gregan can't offer and is now a known quantity)
21. Rogers (two matches at #12, two very average performances, been there, done that, back to the bench)
22. Shepherd (but unless injuries, get him on for Latham at 60 mins)
Unlucky: Gerrard, but would be back very soon. Palu, needs more time but so does Chisholm. Norton-Knight, undecided on him but he needs a run soon.
DCM: Baxter....
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Burgs is just hurling out the caps. Must have picked up a box full cheap
Shepherdson and Robinson would be the only two debuts, better now than in the 3N!
What, so no other takers?
Must be more closet selectors out there than just me?
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
1. Holmes
2. Paul
3. Blake (Bennnn R if Blake injured)
4. Sharpe
5. Vickerman
6. Smith
7. Waugh
8. Elsom
9. Cordingley (was his first week back from injury - was so promising in s14)
10. Larkham
11. Hewatt (you're not the only one with Goggles.. and worth a shot after top point scorer two years running in super rugby)
12. Norton-Knight
13. Mortlock
14. Tuqiri
15. Latham
16. Bennn R (or Shepherdson if Blake unfit)
17. McIssac
18. Kanaar (can go in at 6 and smith to come off)
19. Palu
20. Valentine (Gregan too slow, time to build depth now)
21. Rogers (but get him on at 60 mins for Latham unless injuries)
22. Staniforth (on at 50 mins for Hewatt)
Ok so this is who I would pick based on form from the first two tests.
1. Holmes
2. Paul
3. Shepherdson (Blake has been ruled out)
4. Sharpe
5. Vickerman
6. Smith
7. Heenan
8. Elsom
9. Gregan
10. Larkham
11. Tuqiri
12. Staniforth (would have liked him there for the first 2 tests)
13. Mortlock
14. Gerrard
15. Latham
16. Robinson
17. McIsaac
18. Waugh
19. Palu
20. Cordingly
21. Rathbone
22. Rogers
1. Burgs
2. Frontrow
3. Redbull
4. Niggle
5. Rugbyfan
6. The InnForcer
7. Happy
8. LarryNJ
9. Coach
10. Moses
11. Exile
12. TEF
13. Flamethrower
14. Sagearian
15. Shaunmarn
Come on guys give us a chance.
haha nice one.. though maybe move Sagerian into 12 - that'll give us a solid 'Tahs 5/8th to inside-centre combination to put you Force boys into some space![]()
With a team like that you need to find another 40 to sit on the bench.Maybe 20 ambulance as well![]()
Originally Posted by Flat-top
I like! I've beefed up a bit more than when I played so I might well be able to help out in the centres when the opposition is starting to tire.
...Assuming I've lasted more than 20 minutes.
My arse has a "Niggle"![]()
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Interesting concept, flat top, have you got a contract on wheelchairs and defibralating machines, `cause they will be on standby if your chosen team ran on any playing field.....
My team of choice, and remember i am a front rower, would be...
1. Holmes
2. Tai
3. Shepardson
4. Sharpe
5. Vickerman
6. Waugh
7. Smith
8. Elsom
The rest of the team doesn`t matter, as they are finishers for the hard work that the forwards put in...![]()
However, i would have Burg`s mate Baxter on the bench, and only ever from the bench. I agree about him not being up to scratch, but sooner or later he will come good, but once Blake is back, banish him and then Blake would be the first choice prop
I defended him since '03 frontrow, saying pretty much the same thing "sooner or later" etc.
I have now seen the error of my ways.
He's a joke.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
You should probably see a doctor about that Burgs...Originally Posted by Burgs