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

[aqua_duck]

Everyone saying jarryd Hayne seems to forget he missed 2/3rds of the season with various injuries. I'm amazed that there's not a single player from either of the grand final teams

 

[Tommy Smith]

Clearly Tate and Thaiday are MUCH better than the out of form Michael Jennings and Boyd Cordner.

How much longer will Thaiday be picked on past form?

NZ will win the RLWC because Sheens is playing it safe and is stuck in the (unsuccessful) past.

 

[aqua_duck]

Really Sheens should have got the cop after the 4 nations when his personal bias cost us the title with Tuqiri getting carved up

 

[Tommy Smith]

The sad thing for me is that representing Australia is no longer a privilege one has to earn. On the contrary a Kangaroos jersey is being treated as a right for some players which would take something catastrophic to lose.

I do believe the Australian cricket team followed the same path - whereby it was harder to get out of the team than in. Which of course led to certain players hanging around for too long.

I'm probably biased but I'm a massive Boyd Cordner fan. No occasion is too big for him. He's the best hole running backrower in the comp and also the 2nd rower of the year. He's well and truly on the up and can only get better.

So how is it that, quite frankly, he hasn't even been considered for a spot in the XVII? At what point will he earn the right to surpass one of the old guard in Thaiday, who, let's remind ourselves, isn't exactly part of an all-conquering era of dominance. Quite the opposite actually.

When you're the best, you still have to be ruthless - seeking to adapt, evolve and improve at all times to stay on top. This Australian team on the other hand is doing the opposite - stagnating and playing the safe hand (again, all the more humorous given it hasn't worked in major tournaments lately).

By all means stick with the likes of Slater, Boyd (who has a great partnership outside of Inglis) and Paul Gallen. But at the same time you have to know when to inject elite young talent at the top of their game. Fifita is one; but Cordner, Jennings and DCE (if you're playing a utility) are three more that should be there.

Rant over.

 

[Pierced Soul]

The sad thing for me is that representing Australia is no longer a privilege one has to earn. On the contrary a Kangaroos jersey is being treated as a right for some players which would take something catastrophic to lose..

it's been this way in a lot of sporting teams though with "incumbency". why do you think pearce is still nsw halfback (and will be for another 5 years cos the roosters won the comp)?

Tate is still a good player, he doesnt have the blinding speed of jennings, but he's hell of a competitor and goes looking for the ball which is something jennings still has to learn to do. I agree thaiday is a shadow of his former self - blame that on injuries and griffin. both thaiday and tate are right side players, pretty sure jennings and cordner are left side. does this play a part? most likely. should this be the only factor? of course not. but as i've said above sheens has stated he's going for experience and cordner has only the one rep game to his credit. he will undoubtedly be a mainstay in the future but right now he's gotta wait for his opportunity

 

[Tommy Smith]

All fair points, PS. Brent Tate is one of the best big game players I've seen so it'd unfair to question his selection too much.

As for Cordner, he can play either side including lock. Versatility was one of Robbo's main coaching points.

But yes, he did do a lot of his best work on the left.

 

[Parra Pride]

Why is anyone surprised Hayne isn't there? Could've told you from the moment the squad was announced it would be Morris and Boyd on the wings.

 

[some11]

What I want to see is Fifita and Parker play decent minutes, with those two on the field at the same time our go forward will be immense.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Anyone know the reasoning behind the England v Australia game being the first of the double header?


I would have thought Wales v Italy would go first.

Even though it's in Wales, I would expect more English fans at the game.

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

Tamou and Boyd should not be there.

The constant selection of that sook Boyd at this level is truly baffling and laughable - Tate is fine in the team but he should be playing wing to accomodate Jennings at centre.

 

[MrAnonymous]

Shit side.
won't be surprised if we lose.

 

[Canard]

Anyone know the reasoning behind the England v Australia game being the first of the double header?


I would have thought Wales v Italy would go first.

Even though it's in Wales, I would expect more English fans at the game.

So it can be broadcast back in Aus at a semi-decent time?

 

[Joely01]

Why is anyone surprised Hayne isn't there? Could've told you from the moment the squad was announced it would be Morris and Boyd on the wings.

Honestly what has Boyd shown at rep level to warrant selection everytime?

 

[Parra Pride]

Honestly what has Boyd shown at rep level to warrant selection everytime?

Look at the rest of the team, he just has to keep on doing what he's been doing all these years, finishing off their good work, and he'll be selected unless he is injured.

 

[typicalfan]

DCE is a specialist half. Useless on the bench other than to cover injury.

 

[typicalfan]

Well that explains why he's listed as a future Maroon then!

And he's played for the Junior Kangaroos.

He was available had Australia wanted him.

Didn't he play for PNG this year?

 

[ozbash]

pretty average 'roos team, poms by 5

 

[Captain Apollo]

Tate over Jennings is baffling. Tamou is an indictment on the Aussie front row atm ... NZ have a massive edge up front.

As for no Hayne, WTF? He's an absolute monster and should be first winger chosen in any side.

Good on Corey Parker though. Great selection.

The talk in the printed media the last two days was about the right centre spot as, when fit, Justin Hodges has usually been picked to play there. With him out injured they mentioned Jennings, Tate and one other (who's name escapoes me). as soon as I saw Tate's name I knew they'd pick him and their justification would be (a) he's more experienced at this level and (b) He's a specialist right side centre (Jennings usually plays on the left).

That said Darius Boyd on the wing over Jarryd Hayne? :crazy:

 

[rnb11]

you're all acting like this is a one off test. sheens has gone for experience and big game players to win an extremely important match. it's not the time to throw in inexperienced aus players like cherry evans, jennings, cordner and whoever else i've seen been bitched about on here.

boyd is a mainstay in any rep side, he is safe, strong defender and noone has a better combo with inglis than him. when's the last time he's missed a rep side? anyone who thought he wouldn't get selected obviously doesn't know much. he won't let anyone down, never has.

hayne and morris are equal imo, couldn't care less which one out of them gets selected but would prob prefer hayne.

tate over jennings is obvious, tate is a right side centre, he is loaded with experience, tough as nails, he's still quick and damaging, he's in good form, top defence and one of the best big game players.

agreed that i don't think we need farah or DCE on the bench but i think every single coach has one so lets not make a big deal out of it. as sheens said, farah has the ability to run the big english forwards rugged from dummy half while smith goes to lock, it's been done before and worked well, cherry evans will get his turn, once again club level means nothing at rep level.

thaiday might not be in the best form for the broncos but when's the last time he had a bad game for qld or aus? just look at game 1 this year. he knows how to lift, it's not all about club form when it comes to rep footy sometimes you have to go with the experience and pressure absorbing incumbents who have been there and done it time after time. the younger players are still there in the team and will get plenty of game time over the tournament, sheens is easing them in while he relies on his top, experienced players to do the job. by the time the final comes, cordner, DCE, jennings will have played a few games for aus and if they play well they could be in the final team.

most of you sound like 10 year olds who only look at the ladder or want your favourite players in the team. this right now is the best, safest and strongest team australia has, not one position apart from maybe sam burgess in the backrow does england have a better opposite player. support your f**king countrymen or piss off.

 

[Mig2006]

you're all acting like this is a one off test. sheens has gone for experience and big game players to win an extremely important match. it's not the time to throw in inexperienced aus players like cherry evans, jennings, cordner and whoever else i've seen been bitched about on here.

boyd is a mainstay in any rep side, he is safe, strong defender and noone has a better combo with inglis than him. when's the last time he's missed a rep side? anyone who thought he wouldn't get selected obviously doesn't know much. he won't let anyone down, never has.

hayne and morris are equal imo, couldn't care less which one out of them gets selected but would prob prefer hayne.

tate over jennings is obvious, tate is a right side centre, he is loaded with experience, tough as nails, he's still quick and damaging, he's in good form, top defence and one of the best big game players.

agreed that i don't think we need farah or DCE on the bench but i think every single coach has one so lets not make a big deal out of it. as sheens said, farah has the ability to run the big english forwards rugged from dummy half while smith goes to lock, it's been done before and worked well, cherry evans will get his turn, once again club level means nothing at rep level.

thaiday might not be in the best form for the broncos but when's the last time he had a bad game for qld or aus? just look at game 1 this year. he knows how to lift, it's not all about club form when it comes to rep footy sometimes you have to go with the experience and pressure absorbing incumbents who have been there and done it time after time. the younger players are still there in the team and will get plenty of game time over the tournament, sheens is easing them in while he relies on his top, experienced players to do the job. by the time the final comes, cordner, DCE, jennings will have played a few games for aus and if they play well they could be in the final team.

most of you sound like 10 year olds who only look at the ladder or want your favourite players in the team. this right now is the best, safest and strongest team australia has, not one position apart from maybe sam burgess in the backrow does england have a better opposite player. support your f**king countrymen or piss off.

Could not have said it better myself!

I would have liked to have seen Gallen start up front with Parker getting the 13 and big minutes - he just gets better the more he plays. Tamou and Fifita to come off the bench after Gal and Scott have ripped in for 20....