Wallaby Team for Perth

The Wallaby team has been announced for the Rugby Championship match against the Springboks in Perth:

15 Beale
14 Shipperley
13 AAC
12 Barnes
11 Ioane
10 Cooper
9 Genia (c)

8 Samo
7 Hooper
6 Dennis
5 Sharpe
4 Timani
3 Alexander
2 Polota Nau
1 Robinson

Reserves:
16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Slipper, 18 Higginbotham, 19 Gill, 20 Phipps, 21 Harris, 22 A Fainga'a

So Kurtley gets a reprieve, Dom Shipperley debuts, Horne dropped, AAC back to centre, Higginbotham benched.
Stepen Moore becomes the Wallabies most capped hooker with 73 matches under his belt. Out... done his hamstring at training today
TPN's corked backside has recovered well apparently...

Saw enough of Shipperley with the Reds, hes got some pace.
About as good on attack as Oz can put together I reckon. Hooper needs a big one and with no specialist Bok 7 theres a door half open for him there. Samo wont last the full match so interesting Deans is using his impact at the front where it obviously has less impact.

Handy subs. Overall handy side I reckon. Will keep the boks running all day if they get front foot ball. Hooper is key to this match...

If that pack can achieve some sort of parity with the Boks and get the ball out the back cleanly and quickly, then yes there is some pace out wide. That's the tactic being bandied about this week.

As you say Taylor, much will depend on Hooper. Dennis needs to lift his game too and Samo must make an early impact before he starts to drop off.

In the backs, we'll need our halves to dazzle and not keep booting possession away. Surely Deans will have addressed that? Beale has rubbed a few of the other players up the wrong way (too casual and full of himself according to reports) so I think he needs to not only show some individual brilliance but also show the others that he is a team player.

I see my dear friend Taylorman has written off the Boks, only time will tell.

Maybe he's waiting for that X-factor, swagger, backs-against-the-wall fightback, fear of large marsupials reacting when poked by a stick?

I didn't have the heart to tell him... but those days seem to be gone this year. But there's always hope, right?

Well to be fair, American Idols have X-Factor, John travolta in Saturday Night Fever had swagger, Backs against the wall fight back can be anyone, Haven't seen any marsupials react when poked with a stick before.

Cue your icon!

(I just made that up by the way... poke a wallaby with a stick and you'll get no reaction)

Linebreaker wrote:Cue your icon!

(I just made that up by the way... poke a wallaby with a stick and you'll get no reaction)

Unless of course it is a stick of Dynamite.

In all seriousness, between the BOks and the Wallabies, both teams have been shyte so far, so it is hard to say what is going to happen on the weekend.

That's exactly how I feel too.

We could get walloped (or vice-verse) or it could be a closely fought, error ridden, bumbling across the line on the final whistle scrap-fest.

I think this match is going to be very much like throwing "stuff" through a fan for both teams. Some will stick, others won't.

Biltong wrote:In all seriousness, between the BOks and the Wallabies, both teams have been shyte so far, so it is hard to say what is going to happen on the weekend.

Yeah I think I have gone on a bit too much biltong, mostly out of boredom and the odd bid of frustration. In sitting back I think I've over rated oz and underated SA for this weekend. So happy to take the fall for that if I'm wrong.

Duane V and particularly Goosen will be good to watch. Still think if he gets on we'll all be watching the start of a truly great career. Reminds of Cruden in stature and style but an exceptional boot. Worth watching for his entrance alone I reckon..

LB...I'm stunned...you mean that good ol' ozzie swagger has desserted us this year?

Never...

@ Taylor.... snap!

Read something today about Meyer not allowing the players to use last year's RWC QF defeat as motivation.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/09/06/springboks-wary-of-inspired-wallabies/

Well I never... Biltong?!?

Linebreaker wrote:@ Taylor.... snap!

Read something today about Meyer not allowing the players to use last year's RWC QF defeat as motivation.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/09/06/springboks-wary-of-inspired-wallabies/

Well I never... Biltong?!?

He's heard a rumour Bryce Lawrence might be at the ground and doesn't want half the team racing into the stands for payback

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:@ Taylor.... snap!

Read something today about Meyer not allowing the players to use last year's RWC QF defeat as motivation.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/09/06/springboks-wary-of-inspired-wallabies/

Well I never... Biltong?!?

He's heard a rumour Bryce Lawrence might be at the ground and doesn't want half the team racing into the stands for payback

I'd like to see that, you go into a game like that with only one motivating factor.

"I'll show these feckers who's boss."

It is only human nature, what is he going to use as a motivating factor?


Err..... boys, I want you to forget about the RWC, think of your families, think of their anger and disappointment last year..............errr, no wait, think of yourselves, think of your disappointment last year......errr, no, think of me, think of the up and unders, think of the chase, don't commit numbers to the breakdown, don't attack the gain line........

Mate, another good reason to emigrate over here... just for the off chance of bumping into him in the hot dog queue.

Actually they're having a braai-BBQ (joint venture) in Perth somewhere beforehand...

ksssssssssssshhhhhhhh! Ouch!

"Sorry 'bout that mate... didn't see ya.."

Linebreaker wrote:Mate, another good reason to emigrate over here... just for the off chance of bumping into him in the hot dog queue.

Actually they're having a braai-BBQ (joint venture) in Perth somewhere beforehand...

ksssssssssssshhhhhhhh! Ouch!

"Sorry 'bout that mate... didn't see ya.."

I think the Braai was last night.

The only reason I'll emigrate to OZ is if they give me a grand job in Melbourne for 200 000 Aussie dollar.

Biltong wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:Mate, another good reason to emigrate over here... just for the off chance of bumping into him in the hot dog queue.

Actually they're having a braai-BBQ (joint venture) in Perth somewhere beforehand...

ksssssssssssshhhhhhhh! Ouch!

"Sorry 'bout that mate... didn't see ya.."

I think the Braai was last night.

The only reason I'll emigrate to OZ is if they give me a grand job in Melbourne for 200 000 Aussie dollar.

Funny you should say that Biltong, that's roughly my emigrate-to-Oz condition too. If you moved your lad would be a Wallaby front rower in no time flat

You can get that or more in WA Pilbara.

Only problem is the 50 degree heat but they'll FIFO you (fly-in, fly-out) to Perth... maybe from the east coast too.

Can you drive a dozer, know a little about OH&S or deal in commodities?

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:Mate, another good reason to emigrate over here... just for the off chance of bumping into him in the hot dog queue.

Actually they're having a braai-BBQ (joint venture) in Perth somewhere beforehand...

ksssssssssssshhhhhhhh! Ouch!

"Sorry 'bout that mate... didn't see ya.."

I think the Braai was last night.

The only reason I'll emigrate to OZ is if they give me a grand job in Melbourne for 200 000 Aussie dollar.

Funny you should say that Biltong, that's roughly my emigrate-to-Oz condition too. If you moved your lad would be a Wallaby front rower in no time flat

Perhpas I should contact John O'Neill then, eh?

Linebreaker wrote:You can get that or more in WA Pilbara.

Only problem is the 50 degree heat but they'll FIFO you (fly-in, fly-out) to Perth... maybe from the east coast too.

Can you drive a dozer, know a little about OH&S or deal in commodities?

My background is financial planning and commercial insurance.

Finally got your midfield back then. Aus should win well. Yes they couldn't get near the best team in the world but I doubt anyone could right now, all apart from Wales on their day of course.

I think it's stupid of Meyer to not allow his players to use the QF as motivation. If it gets the blood boiling then I'm all for it. The ABs have used the pain from past failures to beat a lot of teams. Any emotion that can be harnessed and used positively for the team is an asset.

The Aussie dollar's overvalued from what I've read/heard so best to cash in before it loses its lustre. Not that it will get to the level of the NZ peso...

Funny Bryce is at the braai. Wayne's got the apron on for the NZ Argie steak night

Bryce isn't AT the braai per say, he is BEING braaied.

Biltong wrote:Bryce isn't AT the braai per say, he is BEING braaied.

So which one of the Bokke will find the whistle?

Biltong wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:You can get that or more in WA Pilbara.

Only problem is the 50 degree heat but they'll FIFO you (fly-in, fly-out) to Perth... maybe from the east coast too.

Can you drive a dozer, know a little about OH&S or deal in commodities?

My background is financial planning and commercial insurance.

I just threw that last bit in as bait.

No, the Melbourne option would be the go. Or here... where most of the head offices are.

What's Shipperley like? Will he be a liability on the wing? Got to confess, I've never heard of him!

disneychilly wrote:

Biltong wrote:Bryce isn't AT the braai per say, he is BEING braaied.

So which one of the Bokke will find the whistle?

Easy way to find out, the one that doesn't let out a silent F...rt

bluestonevedder wrote:What's Shipperley like? Will he be a liability on the wing? Got to confess, I've never heard of him!

Fingers crossed he can hold his own. Shows no fear, solidly built and pretty quick too.

Stephen Moore has been ruled out due to a lower grade strain in his right hamstring.

http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=36376

TPN will start and Saia Fainga'a will come onto the bench.

Bugga. I like our first two hookers, but not so much what comes after that.

We have a genuine issue with strength and conditioning. I can't remember the last time we had a near full deck to pick from.

To date the Boks and Wallabies have had the worst of the injuries,and will finish the tournament with injured players coming back on stream.The Boks are unlikely to continue to miss as many goal kicks as they did a fortnight ago.
The Wallabies at some point will start firing there setpiece is nothing like as bad as is made out.The Boks after the first match may have written off the Pumas after the first match subconciusly.NEITHER side are fundamentally weak and home advantage usually means a home win.This one is too close to call but this weekend could decide the 4Ns.A AB win with a bonus point and a Bok loss would probably be enough to give them the title providing they win in Argentina.

I hadn't seen you posting lately emack. Was starting to wonder.

Agree the whole thing could be over this weekend, but think the Bokkie might still be in it come Sunday.

What I can't understand is why we continually play the boks in Perth. Aren't the geniuses at ARU HQ familiar with 'home ground advantage'? We reduce their travel time by 5 hours and increase our own by as much since most live on the east coast. We play them in a city with a large South African ex-pat population and to cap it all off we play them at a cavernous AFL ground where there's little to no atmosphere. Brilliant.

It might pay off one day FC. Perth seems to me a better chance than Melb, GC, GWS. Only three other clubs, plenty of cash and people from everywhere. I hope one day they become our evil mountain folk (taking over from Qld of course) and just send over a dozen new crazies each year.

Full Credit wrote:What I can't understand is why we continually play the boks in Perth. Aren't the geniuses at ARU HQ familiar with 'home ground advantage'? We reduce their travel time by 5 hours and increase our own by as much since most live on the east coast. We play them in a city with a large South African ex-pat population and to cap it all off we play them at a cavernous AFL ground where there's little to no atmosphere. Brilliant.

Also, the AFL Elimination final is on Sunday at the same ground and nearly everybody in Perth will be focused on the West Coast - North Melbourne match.

Full Credit wrote:What I can't understand is why we continually play the boks in Perth. Aren't the geniuses at ARU HQ familiar with 'home ground advantage'? We reduce their travel time by 5 hours and increase our own by as much since most live on the east coast. We play them in a city with a large South African ex-pat population and to cap it all off we play them at a cavernous AFL ground where there's little to no atmosphere. Brilliant.

It's all about the $

Yeah one day maybe Boomer. I've got nothing against Perth as such, just don't see why we have to play the boks there. I'm sure Argentina wouldn't be thrilled with an extra 5 hours travel but we could have played them there at the Force home ground (a proper rectangle) even if it holds less and got some atmosphere. It would have been nice to be 1-1 in the Bledisloe but as it stands now Brisbane only gets the dead rubber.

More $$$ with 84,000 spectators at the Olympic Stadium than only 43,000 at Subiaco, gowales. Massive advantage to play in either Sydney or Brisbane.

Would 84,000 show up for the Boks though?

gowales wrote:Would 84,000 show up for the Boks though?

I was at a Wallabies-Boks game when 77,000 showed up there.

They would make more coin bringing the Boks here, but I think it's a long term move which is good idea. We don't seem to make many at present.

I understand though FC. It'd be nice to send even the Blacks somewhere hostile just once so we could return some of their BS. Not much of anything friendly in Wagga, but our biggest grandstand only holds 300.

I'm just playing devil's advocate.
Brisbane, Sydney or even Melbourne would make much more sense. But they shouldn't really play more than a few games in the same stadiums right? You guys have already played NZ in Sydney and are playing them in Brisbane later on.

Since rugby fixture in the SH seems to be influenced a lot by the TV companies. Perhaps they wanted to capitalise on the closer time zone?

Forget Melbourne - AFL Finals. They could not give a toss about rugby union this time of year.
That would be like playing a crucial 6N match in Amsterdam when their football finals are on. Agree with FC... it's a silly move.

The most important thing is to maximise our chance of winning. Time difference is only 3 hours.

Oh well, at least I got that rant off my chest. I'm actually really looking forward to this game, I have no idea what to expect.

I think that's the general feeling. Two sides coming together after similar routes against the Nh then SH sides.

SA have played two staunch forward oriented sides in England/ Arg while Oz have faced the two sides at the other end of the spectrum that play an open game.

Just think by playing both the 6N and World champs oz have played at a relatively higher level to get to this point- despite the comparatively worse results.

Is it no coincidence that the 3N, W/champs and 6N champs all play an open wide game?

The now coming together of the two sides, different it many respects makes this a fascinating junction for this years test calendar, especially after the controversy of their last meeting last year.

Absolutely fascinating prospect!

I would suggest you watch the OZ vs Wales matches again, it was definitely not open rugby by either team.

I honestly am beginning to think you are holding on to cliches taylorman.

Yes the last comment about the three titles was an afterthought. I did rewatch the two NZ and SA matches and there was a significant difference in the pace of the game in terms of the width and ball movement. Thats to be expected given the two sides.

In any case I still think tomorrows match is the coming together of two largely separate standards of test rugby over the last few months- the SA/ Eng/ Arg/ French group and the NZ/ Ire/ Aus / Wales group.

But youre right Biltong, cant shut my mouth over this one...dunno why...nervous excitement... boredom between games...? You pick...it'll probably be right...

Come saturday we will know the answers,the Pumas are very forward orientated.Also wickedly difficult to break down so the try fest may well not happen.Nothing wrong with playing to your strengths,BUT selecting a one dimensional player in a key position.Maybe is a little foolish especially if better alternatives exist.

The thing is we have no idea what is going to happen.

The Boks had a dissappointing perfformance in Mendoza, but you must give credit to the ambush the pumas set for them, their forwards were all over the ball and their sheer numbers meant that the referee Walsh had a hard time deciding whether offences were committed at the breakdowns.

The positive for OZ and NZ is they have seen what is coming.

The Bok line out was not well executed at all. Bekker had a very poor game and Potgieter is simply just shyte.

Ignoring the Bok gameplan for a moment, their pack is totally disrupted and you literally only have Beast and Jannie there as experienced players, so it stands to reason that it is going to take time to gel and Meyer changing his locks and back row the whole time isn't helping. We haven't had any consistency of selections in the pack in the five tests we have plyed this year, and as we all know. Bckline no mTter their intensions will struggle when they don't get quick ball.

So first things first is to get the pack to perform this weekend, and that is where I think we will see a big turnaround.

It also stands to reason that Meyer will at some point have to introduce Lambie, Goosen and JPPietersen at some point.

Will the bok pack fire?

I think it will.

Our last two test matches against Oz were both losses, however the only reason we didn't win was lack of execution, odds says at some point it has to turn around, both matches we missed a handful of scoring opportunities due to the last pass not going to hand.