'13 WC | Group A | Australia 28-20 England | Cardiff

[Springs]

I think a cakewalk is the last thing the Aussies needed. Most of the Australians in the side are coasting on reputations, and with no real 'big' matches remaining now, there is no pressure on Sheens to make any tough decisions. They'll coast to the final, whilst England/New Zealand will have to take the hard road and be much better off for it, imo.

The front row is especially troubling - Tamou and Scott are so far from the 2012 models it isn't funny. Fifita is in excellent form though. Is there even any other props in the squad?

Speaking of which, why do coaches suddenly hate specialist front rowers?

That's true. We saw how badly Australia did without a big game for weeks last night, by the time of the final it will have been a month before a solid hit out.

 

[adamkungl]

Tamou was pathetic, pretty much like the majority of his 2013 NRL campaign.

I think Tate should get put onto the wing, drop Morris and bring in Jennings.

Really?

Surely you'd have Hayne over Tate in that case.. or any case, ever. Tate can eat a dick, Hayne is a genius.

 

[Son of Minto]

Tates been the best winger by f**king far the last two Origin series. Youre dumb.

 

[Sujskiez]

Tates been the best winger by f**king far the last two Origin series. Youre dumb.

Put any winger in a queensland team and they would do well but that doesn't mean that winger is better than hayne. As most queenslanders say if there was any blue player that would make the queensland side and that would be hayne so if hayne did play for queensland i doubt tate would be any where near the winger spot for queensland unless hayne gets injured

 

[Joely01]

I know we won, but I really hope that was a wake up call to Sheens last night, we were very very ordinary.
If it wasn't for JT stepping up we would have lost.

There were a few players that really stood out to me, that I think sheens needs to look at.

Inglis needs to get more involved, he isn't a centre anymore, it's time to make the call sheensy on either Slater or Inglis at the back, I'd personally go with Inglis.

Tate was ordinary, the NRL website gave him a rating of 7, I don't know what game they were watching... I'd give him a 4. I'd put Jennings in for him.

Boyd, I didn't even realize he was on the field till he scored a typical Boyd try where he did nothing, he is a winger and should be right up there with hit-ups to take the work load off the forwards, he does nothing and offers nothing to the team. I'd put Hayne in for him.

Cronk, thought he went ok, he does a lot of the organising and kicking to free up JT which plays into JTs game very well and opens him up. I think Cronks performance last night shows he is still a better player then Cherry-Evans.

Thaiday was horrible, like Boyd didn't realize he was playing till Sammy knocked him out. Which probably did the Aussies a favor and let them put someone on to make an impact. I'd have Lewis start in this position.


As people have said the Aussies won't get challenged till the final now, I just hope Sheens has now realized some of these players who are picked on reputation are actually start to way the side down, which is starting to affect the style of football we play.

 

[Nugget10]

I know we won, but I really hope that was a wake up call to Sheens last night, we were very very ordinary.
If it wasn't for JT stepping up we would have lost.

There were a few players that really stood out to me, that I think sheens needs to look at.

Inglis needs to get more involved, he isn't a centre anymore, it's time to make the call sheensy on either Slater or Inglis at the back, I'd personally go with Inglis.

Tate was ordinary, the NRL website gave him a rating of 7, I don't know what game they were watching... I'd give him a 4. I'd put Jennings in for him.

Boyd, I didn't even realize he was on the field till he scored a typical Boyd try where he did nothing, he is a winger and should be right up there with hit-ups to take the work load off the forwards, he does nothing and offers nothing to the team. I'd put Hayne in for him.

Cronk, thought he went ok, he does a lot of the organising and kicking to free up JT which plays into JTs game very well and opens him up. I think Cronks performance last night shows he is still a better player then Cherry-Evans.

Thaiday was horrible, like Boyd didn't realize he was playing till Sammy knocked him out. Which probably did the Aussies a favor and let them put someone on to make an impact. I'd have Lewis start in this position.


As people have said the Aussies won't get challenged till the final now, I just hope Sheens has now realized some of these players who are picked on reputation are actually start to way the side down, which is starting to affect the style of football we play.

I agree with everything but Cronk. Cronk is so predictable, he runs at the defensive line at a 45 degree angle than hits a backrower with a short ball. Everybody knows what he's doing that there's usually Two defenders waiting to hit the hole runner. With DCE there taking the right options we would have put 50 on the poms

 

[Joely01]

I agree with everything but Cronk. Cronk is so predictable, he runs at the defensive line at a 45 degree angle than hits a backrower with a short ball. Everybody knows what he's doing that there's usually Two defenders waiting to hit the hole runner. With DCE there taking the right options we would have put 50 on the poms

Cronk is the calming influence the side needs I reckon.
But I guess we will see DCE play this week as Sheens said the players that didn't play will get a go.

I don't think DCE will be as good for JT as Cronk is, but that's just personal opinion.

 

[RedVee]

Good game I thought. I assume England will have O'Loughlin and Graham in next game for Big Sammy. Btw I hope he doesn't get more than a week - Tests should rank higher points than a club match; personally don't care if he gets suspended or not, games over - move on.
Looking forward to England - Fiji, Aust - Fiji and later England - NZ. Feeling sorry for Ireland, my son was astounded that their reward for a good 2008 RLWC campaign is a place in Group A....

 

[Nerd]

I think Tamou has managed to play his way out of the team.

Swap Parker and Lewis for Bird and Thaiday and I'm happy. Both are being selected on reputation and not on form.

Farrah is a wasted bench spot and should be replaced by an impact player like Papali or if Sheens wants a back up for an injured half/hooker stick DCE in there instead.

 

[no name]

Tates been the best winger by f**king far the last two Origin series. Youre dumb.

Derp

 

[Joker's Wild]

I think Tamou has managed to play his way out of the team.

Swap Parker and Lewis for Bird and Thaiday and I'm happy. Both are being selected on reputation and not on form.

Farrah is a wasted bench spot and should be replaced by an impact player like Papali or if Sheens wants a back up for an injured half/hooker stick DCE in there instead.

I disagree with this. Lewis was fantastic coming off the bench against a fatigued English pack. His speed off the line making metres suits coming into the game later.

 

[Pierced Soul]

Lewis was fantastic coming off the bench against a fatigued English pack. His speed off the line making metres suits coming into the game later.

he did the same for nsw a few years back. came on with fast legs and caused all sorts of trouble for qld's ruck

he does provide an impact, it depends what imapct you want him to have. if you put bird on the bench you can just tell him to go out there and try and cause havoc for 20mins which could also create a momentum shift

good to see bird hasnt left the milking in australia. even with my blurry internet stream (where i couldnt identify individual players on the wide shots) as soon as i saw an aussie go down with their arms thrown back like they'd been shot i knew it would be bird

 

[Captain Apollo]

The front row is especially troubling - Tamou and Scott are so far from the 2012 models it isn't funny. Fifita is in excellent form though. Is there even any other props in the squad?

Speaking of which, why do coaches suddenly hate specialist front rowers?

Mainly as coaches are enamoured of certain players so they pick their team and shoe horn players into positions. They took Gallen and Myles with a view of them being both second rowers and front rowers.

Also I don't see DCE as a "utlity" player at all. I'm sorry he latys halfback for Manly, what other position has he played again? None that I'm aware of. Picking him on the bench would, like Farah, be pointless. Luke Lewis is the only genuine utility in the squad. It might be better to use him on the bench in bring in Pappali or Cordner to start in the backrow in his place. Lewis has played in the halves, three quarters and backrow at first grade level if memory serves, hence he can cover for an injury if required.

Further I don't see why DCE should come into the starting side for Cronk. Cronk deserves the halfback's job in my opionion.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Yeah Im not getting all the Cronk hate TBH. The bloke is a winner and has experience and combinations with the vast majority of the side. Changing him out with DCE just because there is a perception that we need more spark is a little short sighted.

The whole team was rusty and they have blown most of that away now. The speed and execution difference between the first 20min and the last 20min was pretty significant.

Thaiday getting the arse would probably be my only real change

 

[Meth]

Great to see Tamou's career continuing to slide downwards.

 

[tangalife]

You aussies should be playing Myles instead of Tamou, Hayne instead of Morris or Boyd and DCE on the bench.

Would be interesting to see how Inglis would go at fullback with Slater on a wing, and then you can even fit Jennings in.

 

[Joker's Wild]

TBH I have no issue with Boyd or Morris keeping their spots. Tate can go and Hayne can play right centre