The Wallabies' chances

[TRF Mr Fish]

The problem is that Copper is no controller at international level and is better coming off the bench. Foley is the better starting 10 to try and control matches for the first 60-70. Chieka will more than likely go for Foley, with the Tah's connection.

Also, the problem with a Hooper at 7 Pocock at 6 combo is that it limits the Wallabies line out options. It's certainly a no go if Skelton were picked on the same line up. If Palu is at 8 then it only gives the Wallabies 3 jumpers and teams would read and steal Wallabies line out ball too easily. For me Fardy at 6 and Pocock at 7 is the way to go.

I expect the Wallabies to start the RWC as;

1. Slipper
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Carter
5. Simmons
6. Fardy
7. Pocock
8 . Palu
9. Phipps
10. Foley
11. JOC
12. Toomua
13. Kurindrani
14. Speight
15. Folau

I guess I'm posting from an NZ'rs perspective. Cooper et al may on average perform worse than Foley and co, but the Wallabies would need to play a very good game to beat the All Blacks, and I imagine the Coopers and the Beales have a higher chance of pulling something out of the bag. The lineup you proposed doesn't scare me at all, whereas I always worry that Cooper will showcase some of the magic he's (occasionally) capable of and surprise us.

 

[chippieolamus]

Let me rephrase it for you so you can unclench your anus...

I think Wales will beat England.

Much better

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I guess I'm posting from an NZ'rs perspective. Cooper et al may on average perform worse than Foley and co, but the Wallabies would need to play a very good game to beat the All Blacks, and I imagine the Coopers and the Beales have a higher chance of pulling something out of the bag. The lineup you proposed doesn't scare me at all, whereas I always worry that Cooper will showcase some of the magic he's (occasionally) capable of and surprise us.

But then the lineup is not meant to scare New Zealand, it needs to be good enough to get out of Pool A and preferably they will want to top it. Once teams reach the knockout stage, all bets are off, as it'll be like a different competition to the Pool stage: defence, kicking for penalties, lineouts and mauling will come to the fore. It's not to say Cooper and Beale would not be important impact players off the bench, just not as starters.

 

[austingtir]

By the time the WC comes around Will Skelton will be in the match 22 if not starting. Just in the last three weeks iv seen him knock out an AB prop then deal to another one while trying to tackle him and a AB halfback coming off second best. Him and Palu are nearly unstoppable as a one two. He probably cant do much else of any worth but thats all he needs to do imo.

I have never seen someone as damaging as this guy potentially is in the forwards before...


9 and 10 are the real issues for Australia.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

By the time the WC comes around Will Skelton will be in the match 22 if not starting. Just in the last three weeks iv seen him knock out an AB prop then deal to another one while trying to tackle him and a AB halfback coming off second best. Him and Palu are nearly unstoppable as a one two. He probably cant do much else of any worth but thats all he needs to do imo.

I have never seen someone as damaging as this guy potentially is in the forwards before...


9 and 10 are the real issues for Australia.

It's a match day squad 23 and has been since 2 props were required to cover the bench.

Skelton is an interesting prospect and The Wallabies do lack grunt in the lock department. If they start him he will only last 50 or so minutes, before running out of gas (he could barely lift his hand to acknowledge the crowd after coming off in his debut v France last year) and he will also limit the Wallabies line out options, as he is not a jumping option. Still, useful for tackling, clearing out rucks and his carrying abilities.

 

[TRF_heineken]

But then the lineup is not meant to scare New Zealand, it needs to be good enough to get out of Pool A and preferably they will want to top it. Once teams reach the knockout stage, all bets are off, as it'll be like a different competition to the Pool stage: defence, kicking for penalties, lineouts and mauling will come to the fore. It's not to say Cooper and Beale would not be important impact players off the bench, just not as starters.

But that approach should be used at all times, not just in the knockout stages. it's a World Cup, and teams play to win, not to score the most tries, or to play attractive rugby. It's all well and good if you play an expansive game, but it does bring more errors, and defensive lapses, and nowadays, any team possesses the skill to pounce on mistakes and punish the opposing team.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

But that approach should be used at all times, not just in the knockout stages. it's a World Cup, and teams play to win, not to score the most tries, or to play attractive rugby. It's all well and good if you play an expansive game, but it does bring more errors, and defensive lapses, and nowadays, any team possesses the skill to pounce on mistakes and punish the opposing team.

Bonus point system will be used in the pool stages for 4 or more tries scored and for losing by 7 or fewer points. That is going to make a big difference to the approach of teams in the pool stages compared to the knockout stages, especially in the two tight pools - A and D.

I think it'll be similar to the football WC we saw last year where the Group stages were far more entertaining than the win at all costs/too much on the line knock out stages.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Bonus point system will be used in the pool stages for 4 or more tries scored and for losing by 7 or fewer points. That is going to make a big difference to the approach of teams in the pool stages compared to the knockout stages, especially in the two tight pools - A and D.

I think it'll be similar to the football WC we saw last year where the Group stages were far more entertaining than the win at all costs/too much on the line knock out stages.

Would it really??

The bouns point system is currently used in the Super 15 tournament, and this year the teams have been focussing a lot more on defense, and grinding out a win. Sure the extra point for scoring 5 tries is a great incentive, but the focus still remains on winning first.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Would it really??

The bouns point system is currently used in the Super 15 tournament, and this year the teams have been focussing a lot more on defense, and grinding out a win. Sure the extra point for scoring 5 tries is a great incentive, but the focus still remains on winning first.

Yes, I do in the RWC pool stages; like they do in the Rugby Championship. The matches i have seen in the super 15, most teams will go for tries if they can. Plus I would say super 15 is different in that it is played across a 4-5 months. It's not like that in the RWC, when each team has 4 matches to qualify in the pool stages.

Of course, winning comes first, but you're telling me that Wales v Australia when they play and both teams know that they need a win and bonus point to qualify that it won't make a difference in the last half an hour of the game; when it's gloves off rugby?

 

[goodNumber10]

9 and 10 are the real issues for Australia.

Not really. Foley is good enough, the las from the rebels is a bolter, Cooper s regaining some genuine form before injury so i think they'll be fine for 10's. Phipps is a very good 9, if Genoa could only find his form again they'd have 2 of the top 3 on the world.

The issue as with last year is that they don't have the engine to inflict serious damage up front... Even with popo coming back to form they really really lack an effective 8 and ball carrying tight head.

 

[nickdnz]

Wycliffe Palu was pretty immense last game. Big carrier with a big engine. I wouldn't say Kepu was particularly bad at carrying either. Australia's scrum is probably in need of a fix up, but its never been a strength anyway.

I would argue Australia's second row is far more concerning. Rob Simmons and Sam Carter aren't world beaters by any stretch, Will Skelton is either very good or goes completely missing, while James Horwill is doing a fantastic job convincing everyone he is a total moron.

 

[TheSaffycen]

The Aussie pack is okay, Slipper-Moore-Kepu is competent enough around the park. In the scrum they will have a problem though, same at lineout. Skelton can't be lifted so you need Fardy, who I don't believe to be that good. The best balance for them is Skelton-Carter-Fardy-Pocock-Palu/Higs. Problem is that they would kind of rely on Pocock being at his best, as Palu and Fardy for the Aussies look poor. What I would like to see is Skelton-Carter-Hooper-Pocock-McCalman though the problem would be at lineout as only McCalman and Carter are proper options with Pocock and Hooper on desperate ball. So people who watch super rugby more could anyone say if Dave Dennis/ Higginbotham/ Horwill would be a good fit for them ? Because Skelton-Carter-Dennis-Pocock-McCalman could be a good back 5.

 

[goodNumber10]

Wycliffe Palu was pretty immense last game. Big carrier with a big engine. I wouldn't say Kepu was particularly bad at carrying either. Australia's scrum is probably in need of a fix up, but its never been a strength anyway.

I would argue Australia's second row is far more concerning. Rob Simmons and Sam Carter aren't world beaters by any stretch, Will Skelton is either very good or goes completely missing, while James Horwill is doing a fantastic job convincing everyone he is a total moron.

They should never have let Mowen go... People slag him off but he carried well, was a good lineout jumper and was a solid anchor in the backrow of the scrum - he could cover 6, 8 & lock bring the Dave work rate to all the positions - he was also very good at the wide game that the Aussies are looking to get.

He was probably only 2nd to Read on that when he left...

 

[Bada-Bing!]

They should never have let Mowen go... People slag him off but he carried well, was a good lineout jumper and was a solid anchor in the backrow of the scrum - he could cover 6, 8 & lock bring the Dave work rate to all the positions - he was also very good at the wide game that the Aussies are looking to get.

He was probably only 2nd to Read on that when he left...

Mowen left because he was peeved off how much the ARU was paying Folau. Unless the ARU were willing to pay Mowen the equivalent he was always going to go. Unfortunately the ARU are broke.

 

[91jmay]

Group is a difficult one, any of the three top teams could realistically finish 1,2,3. Don't see Aussies in disaster situation still got loads of top players but if I had to put money on it I would have them 3rd.

 

[goodNumber10]

Mowen left because he was peeved off how much the ARU was paying Folau. Unless the ARU were willing to pay Mowen the equivalent he was always going to go. Unfortunately the ARU are broke.

that doesn't change my point.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

that doesn't change my point.

Yeah it does, it means he wasn't committed to the Wallaby shirt even with a RWC coming and when he could have captained the team. He chose instead to take the money and his family; can't blame him on the latter front. It really wasn't up to the ARU to let him go or not, if they weren't or could not afford to pay Mowen what he was asking for without opening the floodgates to other players asking the same.

 

[goodNumber10]

Yeah it does, it means he wasn't committed to the Wallaby shirt even with a RWC coming and when he could have captained the team. He chose instead to take the money and his family; can't blame him on the latter front. It really wasn't up to the ARU to let him go or not, if they weren't or could not afford to pay Mowen what he was asking for without opening the floodgates to other players asking the same.

My point isn't about why he left, but about the impact he had on the team?

 

[Jaguares]

I would not underestimate the Wallabies, despite their problems at the tight-five they have some top class players and the WC are just 7 games. They remain a threat for me.

Mowen left because he was peeved off how much the ARU was paying Folau. Unless the ARU were willing to pay Mowen the equivalent he was always going to go. Unfortunately the ARU are broke.

The ARU's economic situation will improve:

http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-union/aus...ils-out-australian-rugby-20150215-13fnqs.html