This years Wallabies backline

[Wally]

The way I see it you are both wrong.

Barnes: Played poorly at inside centre for most of the season but is starting to hit his straps at flyhalf. Still has a bit of work to do if he wants to be considered in front of Cooper on form.

Cooper: One of the form flyhalves of the competition. Has been quiet the last couple of weeks and was outplayed by a brilliant Matt Giteau. Has the advantage of an established partnership with the incumbent Wallaby halfback. Will fight with Barnes for the no. 10 jersey.

Giteau: Starting inside centre.

Faingaa: One of the best defenders in the competition with a high workrate and runs good lines in attack. Will make the Wallaby squad and is a chance for the bench.

Ioane: One of the form outside backs in Australia and will play either outside centre or wing for the Wallabies.

Ashley-Cooper: In decent form and will fight with Hynes for fullback.

Hynes: See above.

Mitchell: Decent finisher and will most likely grab one of the wing spots.

Huxley: No one is picking him because he's played about two games in three years, is old and has little or no Test match experience.

Davies: Lots of potential and will make the Wallaby squad injuries permitting. Is a chance to force his way into the 22 if he plays well for the Barbarians.

All in all it boads well for Australia. Here's the team:

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. Ioane
14. Hynes/Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper/Hynes

There is no point playing Ashley-Cooper out of position at centre. I know Ioane has spent most of the season at wing but he does fill the 13 roll beautifully. Granted the Wallabies need to establish a specialist outside centre. I'm hoping this will be Chambers but he's still raw. Throw him in for the Barbarians and see how he goes.

 

[Quadecooper#1]

The way I see it you are both wrong.

Barnes: Played poorly at inside centre for most of the season but is starting to hit his straps at flyhalf. Still has a bit of work to do if he wants to be considered in front of Cooper on form.

Cooper: One of the form flyhalves of the competition. Has been quiet the last couple of weeks and was outplayed by a brilliant Matt Giteau. Has the advantage of an established partnership with the incumbent Wallaby halfback. Will fight with Barnes for the no. 10 jersey.

Giteau: Starting inside centre.

Faingaa: One of the best defenders in the competition with a high workrate and runs good lines in attack. Will make the Wallaby squad and is a chance for the bench.

Ioane: One of the form outside backs in Australia and will play either outside centre or wing for the Wallabies.

Ashley-Cooper: In decent form and will fight with Hynes for fullback.

Hynes: See above.

Mitchell: Decent finisher and will most likely grab one of the wing spots.

Huxley: No one is picking him because he's played about two games in three years, is old and has little or no Test match experience.

Davies: Lots of potential and will make the Wallaby squad injuries permitting. Is a chance to force his way into the 22 if he plays well for the Barbarians.

All in all it boads well for Australia. Here's the team:

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. Ioane
14. Hynes/Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper/Hynes

There is no point playing Ashley-Cooper out of position at centre. I know Ioane has spent most of the season at wing but he does fill the 13 roll beautifully. Granted the Wallabies need to establish a specialist outside centre. I'm hoping this will be Chambers but he's still raw. Throw him in for the Barbarians and see how he goes.

well said, you've summed it up pretty well there wally.
as for cooper struggling under pressure, he certainly did in his first few years but after the spring tour he has matured a bit and played consistently well this year. you can't say that he wasn't under pressure coming up against the bulls or the stormers. it might sound biased because of my name but he has had a fantastic super 14.

 

[Quadecooper#1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFwTpifA_b4
watch what happens at the 30 odd second mark!

 

[nickdnz]

I'd say Quade Cooper is one of the most talented fly halves around. He reminds me of an in-form Carlos Spencer. Still there are area's (alot like Spencer) which he has to work on such as goal kicking and consistancy.

 

[Versus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFwTpifA_b4
watch what happens at the 30 odd second mark!

13. Highlanders 13 3 10 0 297 397 -100 6 18

-cough-

Yeah, so what we were saying is because you seem to not have a screw fully tightened let alone one screw loose is that Quade Cooper is brilliant, but when he is put under pressure by say, I don't know, the Brumbies? He crumbles.

Nice work there kiddo.

 

[nickdnz]

13. Highlanders 13 3 10 0 297 397 -100 6 18

-cough-

Yeah, so what we were saying is because you seem to not have a screw fully tightened let alone one screw loose is that Quade Cooper is brilliant, but when he is put under pressure by say, I don't know, the Brumbies? He crumbles.

Nice work there kiddo.

Really, we're patronising people now?

I think Versus needs to have a screw in general, too bad the personality gets in the way, aye Versus?

Maybe get your agent to sort that one out for ya?

 

[ranger]

13. Highlanders 13 3 10 0 297 397 -100 6 18

-cough-

Yeah, so what we were saying is because you seem to not have a screw fully tightened let alone one screw loose is that Quade Cooper is brilliant, but when he is put under pressure by say, I don't know, the Brumbies? He crumbles.

Nice work there kiddo.

That was a magnificent piece of skill, regardless of who it was against.

Stop being such a cock versus.

 

[Haysie]

Really, we're patronising people now?

I think Versus needs to have a screw in general, too bad the personality gets in the way, aye Versus?

Maybe get your agent to sort that one out for ya?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

OH DEAR GOD!

I didn't need to see that while eating my breakfast

 

[lynam1104]

that looks like it hurt

 

[Prestwick]

Oh bloody hell...Haysie!!!

 

[deeboxx1]

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. A.Fanigga
14. Davies
15. Beale


Gone for the best 9/10 partnership in super rugby Giteau at 12 bacause of doubts over cooper's kicking, didint select Barnes because he's been inconsistent this year i dont doubt his ability but his coach needs to make up his mind if hes a 12 or a 10 personally he's a 10 very similar to Stephen Larkham, anthony fanigga at 13 solid season and in a backline with so many individually brilliant players offers the option to straighting up the line, Mitchell is a certainty for the wing, speed, try scoring, good boot and solid defence would go as far to say he's the most complete winger in world rugby maybe not the best but the most complete, rod davies on the other wing because man can he shift he's got the gas to burn any winger and works well coming into the line from anywhere, Beale at full back phenomenal end to the season can score and great defense, Huxley is another option as is ashley cooper and Hynes for wing or full back.

 

[Quadecooper#1]

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. Giteau
13. A.Fanigga
14. Davies
15. Beale


Gone for the best 9/10 partnership in super rugby Giteau at 12 bacause of doubts over cooper's kicking, didint select Barnes because he's been inconsistent this year i dont doubt his ability but his coach needs to make up his mind if hes a 12 or a 10 personally he's a 10 very similar to Stephen Larkham, anthony fanigga at 13 solid season and in a backline with so many individually brilliant players offers the option to straighting up the line, Mitchell is a certainty for the wing, speed, try scoring, good boot and solid defence would go as far to say he's the most complete winger in world rugby maybe not the best but the most complete, rod davies on the other wing because man can he shift he's got the gas to burn any winger and works well coming into the line from anywhere, Beale at full back phenomenal end to the season can score and great defense, Huxley is another option as is ashley cooper and Hynes for wing or full back.

Anthony Fainga at outside centre? he's an inside centre and played there all year. and its a completely different position than inside centre. also i dont think barnes is anything like larkham, larkham was a running five eight and would give the ball at the line, barnes has turned into more of a kicking five eight with good defence.

 

[deeboxx1]

Faniga Like nonu for New Zealand (who's a winger) would adapt to outside centre, i play centre and can play either outside or inside both positions are fairly similar with the only diffrences in defense, thats like sayin a left winger can only play on the left! Barnes can run with the ball mate he's got a good turn of pace!

 

[Quadecooper#1]

yeah its true he could adapt, i know you may think there isnt that much difference but you cant just throw him in there at international level without giving him time to get used to it. im a five eight so you probs have more of an idea then but it would take a lot of work coz it is probably the hardest spot in terms of defence. hes a solid player and reminds me a bit of nathen grey with his solid defence and ball running. yeah sure he could be turned into a great outside centre for australia as you want a bloke that can crash it up at outside but i think it would be asking a bit this year. anywho good point about his turn of pace its not that he hasnt got the skills he just chooses to play defensively (could be because thats what hickey wants). will be interesting to see what team deans picks for the first few tests. he will try a few different combinations.

 

[deeboxx1]

Definatly would take work for him to adapt it could be a gamble that would never work i seem to remember bryan habana playing centre against wales a few years back and he was just awful he jus looked lost, its something ah wouldnt try in the tri nations its jus another option, u are correct tho he is playin mega defensive and is totally being outshone by quade cooper who has jus been insane this year.

 

[lance2010]

9.Genia
10.Cooper
11.C.Shephard
12.Giteau
13.Ioane
14.Mitchell
15.Ashley-Cooper

20.Burgess
21.Barnes
22.O'Connor

This backline will be all good Toss up between Quade and Barnes but Cooper's been playing too good not to give him a crack.i put C.Shepard in there he a good player.

 

[ainsy]

15.Beale
14.Turner
13.O'Connor
12.Giteau
11.Mitchell
10.Cooper
9.Genia

 

[Itsatry]

With Giteau at 12 and Cooper at 10, the Wallabies will be deadly.