AB v Japan, SQUAD getting gametime

[ruggerfan]

Isaia Toeava, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Victor Vito, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Sonny Bill Williams

[Geeves]

With McCaw and Mils Muliaina now out as well.  Kirwin should change his side to the one that took on France.

As lets face it any AB side with McCaw and Cater is only half as good. 

Go Japan for the biggets upset of the RWC.  Can I hear a 'C', can I hear a 'H', etc

Japan:

1. Naoki Kawamata, 2. Yusuke Aoki, 3. Nozomu Fujita, 4. Hitoshi Ono, 5. Toshizumi Kitagawa, 6. Itaru Taniguchi, 7. Michael Leitch, 8. Takashi Kikutani(c), 9. Atsushi Hiwasa, 10. Murray Williams, 11. Hirotoki Onozawa, 12. Yuta Imamura, 13. Koji Taira, 14. Takehisa Usuzuki, 15. Taihei Ueda

Replacements: 16. Hiroki Yuhara, 17. Kensuke Hatakeyama, 18. Yuji Kitagawa, 19. Sione Talikavili Vatuvei, 20. Tomoki Yoshida, 21. Shaun Webb, 22. Alisi Tupuailai

[ruggerfan]

Yeah that. With them only likely to play 3 more games, there's no reason to "save" any fuel in the tank. Seeing Tonga play Canada yesterday really brings home how much these teams lift when they play the Benchmark All Blacks, really is quite incredible. Still wouldn't give the Japs a snowball's chance in hell though. Droiiiimin' mate! And still no room for Zac! Poor bugger thought the coaches would be more forgiving than me.

[megweya]

2nd half - Slade to 15 and Weepu at 10?

If Slade is not up to being back-up 10, is there not another NZ-born fly-half more experienced at 1st 5/8?
(If I was in a trolling mood I mention someone whose name rhymes with super . . .)

Is this Henry preparing, like generals, for the last war and the lack of a 3rd fly-half on the bench?

There have been a few guys* who can genuinely play 9 & 10 - is Weepu one of them?

Fra: Yachvili definitely, maybe Parra
Eng: Austin Healey (and enough ego for the whole back-line)
Ben Foden played 9 for his previous club before fixing on 15, but maybe could fill-in at 10 in an emergency.

Ire: I don't think Mike Gibson ever played at 9 (though he did play everywhere else in the back line for Ire in the 60s/70s), but I have no doubt that he would have been able to do well enough there as cover in an international.
Aus: Mark Ella & Lynagh both seemed to have the all-round skills to be able to do so, but I don't know if they did. Presumably for Campo, the ego comment about Austin Healey also applies.

SA: Maybe Joost van de Westhasen could have done it?
NZ: Maybe Carlos ?

Cheers
Megweya

[Teach]

2nd half - Slade to 15 and Weepu at 10?

If Slade is not up to being back-up 10, is there not another NZ-born fly-half more experienced at 1st 5/8

Yes.. it is Nick Evans.  Who are you talking about? 

Cooper is only a part-timer at 5/8 - he spends half of every game at fullback hoping like stink that he won't have to make a tackle. 

Yes I think Weepu can genuinely play 9 and 10, and I am glad of it.
Remember we dipped out of 2003 with an injury to an irreplaceable 9, and in 2007 with an injury to an irreplaceable 10.

[megweya]

If it was possible to merge ROG's line-kicking with Cooper's flair, the outcome would be 2/3 of a perfect fly-half - just the tackling 1/3 would be missing.

[jules]

Weepu can certainly play the 10 as well as the 9, but he plays a different style (in both positions) in my mind.

He is much more likely to attack the line himself, or try little grubbers and short chip kicks. His fitness level is definitely an issue though, so I would rather he was on the bench, which makes even more sense if he was covering 9 and 10.

For me Weepu is the no. 3 on the half-back list though. I would be starting Ellis or Cowan, and having Slade on the bench to back up Carter.

Slade had a few hiccups against the Japanese speed bump, but generally I thought he and Ellis went pretty well.

Jules

[Hamish]

Weepu can certainly play the 10 as well as the 9, but he plays a different style (in both positions) in my mind.

He is much more likely to attack the line himself, or try little grubbers and short chip kicks. His fitness level is definitely an issue though, so I would rather he was on the bench, which makes even more sense if he was covering 9 and 10.

For me Weepu is the no. 3 on the half-back list though. I would be starting Ellis or Cowan, and having Slade on the bench to back up Carter.

Slade had a few hiccups against the Japanese speed bump, but generally I thought he and Ellis went pretty well.

Jules

South Island bias showing through much??
Weepu has to be the bench option covering 9 & 10....it just allows a lot more flexibility around your bench options then.....

[jules]

South Island bias showing through much??
Weepu has to be the bench option covering 9 & 10....it just allows a lot more flexibility around your bench options then.....

Bias? I prefer opinion, sounds less inflammatory.  

I have certainly watched more Canterbury/Crusaders rugby than the other regions so my opinion is based on what I have seen, not what I have heard.

Obviously my peeking order for the AB half-backs is wrong though, but given Piri is rated as the starter I am a bit surprised that Ellis has sneaked ahead of Cowan.

In any case, once the ball is kicked off then if the player is wearing the silver fern I'll be backing them!

Jules