Your Countrys team for the 3N

[Hall]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Woldog @ Apr 12 2009, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Australia.

1. Dunning[/b]

I never normally say this but you've forced my hand; LOL!!!

 

[bobilycious]

1.Tony Woodcock
2.Keven Mealamu
3.John Afoa
4.Brad Thorn
5.Ali Williams
6.Adam Thomson
7.Richie McCaw
8.Rodney So'oialo
9.Brendon Leonard
10.Stephen Donald
11.Sitiveni Sivivatu
12.Ma'a Nonu
13.Richard Kahui
14.Joe Rokocoko
15.Mils Muliaina

16.Andrew Hore
17.Neemia Tialata
18.Anthony Boric
19.Liam Messam
20.Piri Weepu (covering first-five because we don't have any good back-up options)
21.Isaia Toeava
22.Lelia Masaga

I would put Tialata at 3 but it really annoys me how he manages to stuff up every backline move.
Kahui has been playing really well, so for me he has to get picked over Smith.

 

[Hall]

Even though I don't get to watch much Super 14 Rugby, Isaia Toeava has really impressed me and I reckon I'd pick him over Ma'a Nonu.

 

[bobilycious]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hall @ Apr 14 2009, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Even though I don't get to watch much Super 14 Rugby, Isaia Toeava has really impressed me and I reckon I'd pick him over Ma'a Nonu.[/b]

I would like to play him there too, but he doesn't play at 12 very often. He really needs to start specialising at a certain position soon.

 

[tommowins]

Just a couple of changes put in bold


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tommowins @ Apr 12 2009, 10:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Very good topic! I am naming mine without looking at any other teams listed above.

1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. Sommerville
4. Thorne
5. Williams
6. Thomson
7. McCaw
8. So'oialo
9. Leonard
10. Donald
11. Rokocoko
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. Sivivatu
15. Muliaina

16. Tialata
17. Hore
18. Boric
19. Read
20. Cowan
21. Kahui
22. Masaga[/b]

 

[ChiefsFan]

I like the idea of a Toeava/Kahui combination in the Centres, but I don't know if we'll see it.

 

[tommowins]

Well Nonu and Smith are 27 and 28 years old. They may be getting too old in a couple of years so we might see Kahui and Toeava eventually pair up.

 

[Fushitsusha]

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Shepherdson
4. Sharpe (sigh)
5. Horwill
6. Mumm (who else is left with Elsom gone? Maybe Chapman or McMenimum?)
7. Smith
8. Palu
9. Burgess
10. Giteau
11. Ioane (best backline player in Australia at the moment)
12. Barnes
13. Mortlock ©
14. Turner
15. Gerrard

16. Polata-Nau (still can't throw a straight lineout)
17. Alexander
18. McMeniman
19. Brown
20. Holmes
21. T. Smith
22. Mitchell

23. Freier (unless injured... then maybe Hardman?)
24. Baxter
25. Chapman? Kimlin? Chisholm if fit?
26. Waugh
27. Sheehan (anyone else left?)
28. O'Connor
29. Tuqiri
30. AAC? Hynes? Shepherd?


Australia is currently lacking lock/backrowers and halfbacks...

Ioane and Turner are by far the two best wingers in the country... Tuqiri cannot be given a start...

And if Timana Tahu is selected for the Wallabies squad then Robbie Deans should be shot out of a cannon into the sun, but not before 'Worst Coach Ever' is branded on his forehead...

 

[cyRil]

This isn't me picking a fight with Aussies, but looking at squads being purported it seems apparent that there really is a gap in class and depth of player pools between Oz and the other 2 SH countries.

 

[Hall]

I was just thinking that yesterday...

 

[cyRil]

It's because our minds are inextricably linked, Hall.
<strike>unless discussing the Lions back division</strike>

 

[Hall]

You weren't, by any chance, looking out of a window when the thought wandered into your mind, were you?

 

[cyRil]

Was rain pouring down your window pane too?!!

 

[Hall]

Ah, the similarity ends! It was a lovely day in County Durham yesterday.

I'd just gotten back from a bike ride and was nursing the wounds I sustained after flying over the front of my handlebars.

I think I had the S14 show on, that's why the Tri-Nations squads were on my mind.

 

[Nickdnz]

I like Toeava but I generally believe him to be a better fallback then a centre, and I prefer Mils and Cory Jane at fullback, so he may have to be a center, but I prefer Nonu and Smith as centres...he is a person who is hard to fit in anywhere as the AB backline is pretty good as it is.

 

[Fushitsusha]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Apr 14 2009, 03:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

This isn't me picking a fight with Aussies, but looking at squads being purported it seems apparent that there really is a gap in class and depth of player pools between Oz and the other 2 SH countries.[/b]

The Wallabies have some really strong players but just lack enough depth in certain positions... mainly tight head prop, locks, blindsie flanker, halfbacks and back-up hookers...

We've got two really good loose head props in Robinson and Alexander but really lack a powerful tighthead. Shepherdson and Baxter can do the job... but...

Stephen Moore is currently one of the best hookers in the world... behind him the only decent hooker in Australia is Polata-Nau who is awesome around the paddock, but he can't throw a lineout very well...

Australia's locks have been the biggest disappointment for me so far this year... Mumm has probably been consistently the best lock... but otherwise the performances of the other Aussie locks have been mixed...

With Elsom gone Australia is really lacking a world class blindside flanker... McMenimum has always been overrated in my book... Mumm could do well if we play Sharpe and Horwill in the second row... Chapman has been awesome for the Brumbies but has only played 3 games... Higginbotham has been both great and awful for the Reds...

Smith is an obvious choice for openside flanker... with McCaw injured he's the best in the southern hemisphere...

Palu has been pretty devastating for the Tahs but has also a yellow card magnet... but he was great for the Tahs last year and still lacked any real impact for the Wallabies... I'd probably start him anyways and have Brown on the bench as he's a very versatile backrow replacement...

In the halfback department we've got two young excellent prospects in Burgess and Holmes... if Deans persists with these two they'll be ready for the World Cup...

We're covered for flyhalves with Giteau and Barnes... Barnes likely to play inside centre...

However, if Deans wants a powerful ball running inside centre he can't further than Tyrone Smith... and of course O'Connor is another fine option there...

Mortlock will cover outside centre... no doubts there... always inspirational for the Wallabies... then you've got backups like Cross, Smith and Ashley-Cooper...

Digby Ioane has been one of the best wingers in the competition and must start for Australia... behind him I've no doubt that Lachie Turner is the next best winger in the country... both can create something out of nothing... Australia are pretty blessed with outside backs at the moment as we've also got Mitchell, Hynes, Tuqiri, Ashley-Cooper and Shepherd...

Fullback - Gerrard... no doubts there... then we've got guys like Shepherd, Mitchell or even Ashley-Cooper...



However, New Zealand are going to be tough to beat if they can incorporate the Chiefs' powerful backline display...

 

[Jer1cho]

1. Heinke vd Merwe
2. Bismark du Plessis
3. John Smit
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield
6. Heinrich Brussow
7. Pierre Spies
8. Ryan Kankowski

9. Fourie du Preez

10. Ruan Pienaar
11. Bryan Habana
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Jacques Fourie
14. JP Pieterson
15. Stephan Terreblanche

16. The Beast
17. Johan Muller
18. Schalk Burger
19. Rory Kockott
20. Morne Steyn
21. Francois Steyn
22. Chilliboy Rallapele

 

[Fa'atau82]

Well, if i had a choice.. Team Lomu!

1. Jonah Lomu
2. Jonah Lomu
3. Jonah Lomu
4. Jonah Lomu
5. Jonah Lomu
6. Jonah Lomu
7. Jonah Lomu
8. Jonah Lomu
9. Jonah Lomu
10. Jonah Lomu
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Jonah Lomu
13. Jonah Lomu
14. Jonah Lomu
15. Jonah Lomu

 

[Maccaweeny]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Apr 15 2009, 02:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

This isn't me picking a fight with Aussies, but looking at squads being purported it seems apparent that there really is a gap in class and depth of player pools between Oz and the other 2 SH countries.[/b]

We're a team down in the S 14 and don't have a bridging competition between club rugby like the Shute Shield and Super rugby. It shows at the moment in lack of depth in certain positions.

 

[QLD]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Apr 15 2009, 01:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

This isn't me picking a fight with Aussies, but looking at squads being purported it seems apparent that there really is a gap in class and depth of player pools between Oz and the other 2 SH countries.[/b]

RL and AFL are top dog in Aus mate.
Add soccer and cricket too, union is below the pecking order here
Quite amazing how competitive Australia still are in union.