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I think we need to take Andrew's ruck entry stats into account when thinking about playing McMahon. If Hodgo and Horwill are left out of the team and Hooper and McMahon are in, then there is a very real possibility that we'll lose control of the breakdown completely (unless McMahon's attacking prowess was as a result of a coaching directive to play that way) The only way we can get away with a short-handed commitment to the breakdown is to ensure that the boys committing there are genuine hard workers who will get there early and carry their own weight when they get there. Looking at the stats of the BaaBaas, the contenders were Horwill (yes it DOES pain me to say that) Hodgo and McCalman. I think McCalman is a shoo in for 8, but the other two have an uphill battle for selection (Horwill could well be dropped so that Carter and Simmons can lock) I think you can't do it with both of those boys on the bench, Big Dog can't handle the welsh breakdown on his own and they might struggle with only two filling that role (ie Horwill or Hodgo on the bench)
Now McMahon should be pretty quick to the breakdown due to his sevens experience and should be pretty capable on his own for the same reason, but he seemed to be more interested in filling the line and cutting down space (which might also be a telltale of the sevens program) If he can play a game which fills both roles, then Hodgo is a bench player for sure.
Horwill has an even more interesting dilemma ahead of him. Sam Carter promises all the same things that he does, but in a younger body...you'd think it'd be an easy pick, but Carter isn't delivering and Horwill (apart from some laziness clearing the ruck at times) is....will the coaching panel look to the future or seek to win at all costs? Simmons holds the lineout together increasingly well these days, but is usually a bit of a passenger in the loose, punctuated by some stupid cheap shots I'd say his worth is about 50% but the fact is that Horwill is unlikely to replace him, since Simmons has been calling the aussie lineout for quite a while and Horwilll doesn't seem to have that skillset.
not to mention Skelton. I agree he's a monster, but I don't see enough effort from him yet and no amount of good hands or massive size will make up for a lazy lock. He needs to be able to hit the line hard and make a couple of metres after contact EVERY TIME he runs the ball. Add his silky hands to that mix and you'll have a long term, World Cup winning, Never say die player for Australia whose selection nobody will question.
It'll certainly be an interesting selection this week!
C'mon the
Andrew's ruck stats are about as accurate as his lineout stats.
Controversy corner
Thanks RM...always good to get your opinion.
The ruck stats I'll stand by (as I gather them myself) and happy to be shown to be incorrect.
As always stats need to be looked at in context as they rarely tell the entire story.
Similarly, opinions unsupported by stats are just that.
The lineout stats are from ESPN.
If you have a better source for game stats then happy to get the link.
Best job for skelton is in the line out to pick up the jumper and get him on his shoulders and walk him over the line as by the laws of rugby states you can't play a player in the air or his support player (( Worth a try bit like the long throw and the wierd tap and run in the baa baas game ))
Stats don't have any way of determining the quality of the ball won. If the backs have set up for a play and the intended jumper is missed and we fortuitously win the ball because it lobbed into an unsuspecting player who got scragged and turned over or we forfeited a scrum, it goes down as a "lineout win"
The set piece has been well below par. ESPN must be watching different test matches to me. The South Africans dominated our lineout so much we were terrified to kick the ball out and compete in this contest. We also resorted to a lot of quick lineouts from backs who hoofed it aimlessly downfield.......this turnover of possession also goes down as a "lineout win" even though we effectively turned the ball over without raising a sweat to the opposition.
The Allblacks also dominated our lineout.
Our lineout set piece is now as bad as our scrum. We used to be just toilet at scrums and have usually had a world class lineout. Now we are incompetent at both.
Do you have any stats that show lineouts won cleanly that resulted in effective and rapid movement of the ball to the backline resulting in gain line action? I really couldn't be farked doing stats
Controversy corner
You don't make any sense. You say we aren't winning lineouts cleanly and that we are incompetent on one hand and then on the other you are suggesting player selection that will weaken our scrum and our line-out.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
Wales name team to face Wallabies
Wales have named their side to face the Wallabies on Saturday, with juggernaut winger George North named in the centres.
Article Here
C'mon the
Paul James is in serious form, demolishing some french front rows ... so accompanied with Mr Hibbard & Gethin in reserve, should be a good day for the aussie scrum, regardless who get's the nod in the row.
Wales will hope Samson Lee plays better than the last time he played us. He was embarrassing for them last time.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Are the welsh running out of Jones as only 2 in the teams .. This would a record low for them \...
We might have to fill their gap by starting Luke Jones at 6.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.