Toomua retained over bad boy Cooper

[The InnFORCEr]

JIM MORTON

Last updated 12:33
22/08/2013

Under-fire Wallabies rookies Jesse Mogg and Matt Toomua have been retained in an unchanged backline for Saturday night's must-win Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks.

As expected, coach Ewen McKenzie kept faith with the Brumbies pair when naming his team on Thursday despite both falling short of expectations in last weekend's 47-29 loss to New Zealand in Sydney.

Israel Folau, who saw little ball in the six-tries-to-two loss, remains on the right wing and James O'Connor, who was caught out of position in defence, stays on the left wing.

The only change made to Australia's 23-man squad has been forced through injury to Hugh McMeniman (shoulder) with Scott Fardy making his run-on Test debut at blindside flanker and NSW lock Kane Douglas coming onto the bench.

"You can't fudge experience and I know this group learned a great deal from last week and will be much better for the experience on Saturday night," McKenzie said.

"We made a decision to reward players that were in-form and who we believed were capable of executing what we are trying to achieve as a group.

"That doesn't change overnight or following one losing result.

"It's always important to be conscious of finding a balance between selecting experience against youth but the only way to develop that experience is by providing opportunities to players and hoping they take them.

"Right now, I'm more concerned with how each individual responds to the defeat. We need to fix aspects of our performance but we will get better the more time we spend together.

"However, in saying that, you only get a finite number of chances at Test level so it's important that you don't let the moment pass.

That's been made very clear this week as has the expectation of the level of improvement we need from each player within the squad."

Wallabies: Jesse Mogg, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, James O'Connor, Matt Toomua, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Saia Fainga'a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...bad-boy-Cooper

[PeterM]

Would have liked to have seen HB on the left wing in place of JOC

[jono]

Would have liked to have seen HB on the left wing in place of JOC

This is going to open a can of worms, but JOC is a much better player than the HB.

Yes, last week he wasn't the best. But his aggression is just more than "run at them"
The HB is McCabe in a force jersey at the end of the day, but he plays on the wing.

JOC kicks better, he steps better and I think his defence is generally better than cummins.

There you all go.
Smote away
Posted via Mobile Device

[Alison]

There must be something in the air coz I agree with you there Jono!

JOC is a better player than the HB. I just think they should either have had both on the field - JOC at the back in place of Mogg and the HB on the wing - or JOC on the bench, Folau at FB and HB on the wing. HB could be replaced off the bench if not performing well.

[Elf1]

In my opinion I rate HB a better 13 than winger.

[shasta]

OK! Who has hacked Alison's account?
Come on fess up.

On another tangent; Where's Rex? I miss the abuse. RM dishes out plenty but the humour is sadly lacking.
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[brokendown gunfighter]

Rex spat the dummy when foley played a second string side against the Lions

the dummy was last seen somewhere in the great Australian bight

[jono]

Rex spat the dummy when foley played a second string side against the Lions

the dummy was last seen somewhere in the great Australian bight

Wasn't that one of those 22,000 rubber ducks?
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[Alison]

OK! Who has hacked Alison's account?
Come on fess up.

Posted via Mobile Device

I've recently been under the knife - it must be all the drugs they've been giving me!!

[Basha69]

Interesting article: http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/08/20...ersus-reality/

[brokendown gunfighter]

yeah,made very interesting reading

[SNOB]

A good read and some interesting facts. It does make me wonder if I had my beer goggles on again! I will no doubt have them on again this weekend.

[Macattack]

yes, very interesting and some great points. The only thing I disagree with is JOC's involvement in his second alleged try "let in". I understand what he is saying but I feel JOC should still have stayed out and demanded that the inside forwards got back in line quicker - I feel he made the decision to come back inside too quickly, eventually leading to his wing being undefended.

I found the analysis of Hooper's game most interesting, I was one who felt he had a good game, but I now doubt that (based on the stats displayed in thge article)

[palitu]

There you all go.
Smote away
Posted via Mobile Device

you're welcome...

[chibi]

The HB thing is very saddening, he was one of the best steppers and weavers on the IRB World Series when he was in the Aussie sevens team; he's lost that over the years he's been here.