vBookie: 2013 World Cup - Australia v USA
- Thread starter Junior11
- Start date
rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
But why play players out of position when there is no need ??
We have 2 very good natural centres in Tate and Jennings sitting on the sidelines...
Jennings would be in the top 5 centres in the world but instead Tim Sheens thinks it's brilliant to select Hayne there...
Hayne has scored 4 tries in 8 games on the wing for Australia, Why change it ??
This is an un-necessary change and while it may be alright against the USA I won't be confident of it working so well against NZ...
We have 2 very good natural centres in Tate and Jennings sitting on the sidelines...
Jennings would be in the top 5 centres in the world but instead Tim Sheens thinks it's brilliant to select Hayne there...
Hayne has scored 4 tries in 8 games on the wing for Australia, Why change it ??
This is an un-necessary change and while it may be alright against the USA I won't be confident of it working so well against NZ...
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Junior11
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Yeah I definitely wouldn't of made that decision, I would've had Tate or Jennings every day of the week. But whether Sheens just wants Tate rested and isn't happy with Jennings playing right centre or really wants Morris in the team, who knows the reasons behind it but now that Hayne is at centre I don't mind it, he's massive, a great defender and one of the best attacking players in the side, I don't think he'll look out position especially against the USA side. It'll be interesting to see if he stays there next week or not.
Onemangang
Todd Anderson
Whether Hayne playing centre works or not, having specialist centers sitting out of a W/C quarter final is a terrible coaching decision.
Junior11
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
3/4 of the centres are specialist left centres, playing them on the wrong side can be just as risky. And it's only against USA, I really don't see the big deal, Hayne's played there before and has all the skill to play there. We'll just have to wait and see how it turns out.
Onemangang
Todd Anderson
no matter who the opponent is, the form players in there positions should be selected, Jennings should be running in the centres.
Im predictings two Hayne specials, an arcing run to give the winger space then passing it forward and over the side line.
Im predictings two Hayne specials, an arcing run to give the winger space then passing it forward and over the side line.
rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Thurston hitting the mark at RLWC
By Liam FitzGibbon
AAP
5:02am Sat 16th November, 2013
A change in technique and a healthy dose of confidence have helped Johnathan Thurston maintain his brilliant goalkicking standards at the Rugby League World Cup.
Thurston's goalkicking in dreadful conditions has been one of the highlights of Australia's campaign and his form is likely to prove a huge asset in the tournament's knockout stages.
The North Queensland five-eighth returns from a week off to face the US in Saturday's quarter-final in Wrexham following a spectacular goalkicking display in his last match.
Thurston made several incredible sideline conversions in driving rain and strong winds in a 34-2 win over Fiji in St Helens a fortnight ago, with Kangaroos coach describing it as some of the best goalkicking he had seen.
The 30-year-old also kicked some crucial goals from out wide on a slippery Millennium Stadium surface in a tournament-opening 28-20 win over England.
Already known as one of the most inventive goalkickers in the game with his ability to hook the ball, Thurston said he'd had to make further adjustments to deal with the testing UK conditions.
"I've had to change my style a little bit," Thurston told AAP.
"On those softer grounds you can't plant your landing foot before you kick because it'll just come out underneath you.
"So you need to keep your momentum running through the ball as you're kicking it.
"It's been very tough goalkicking but I've been pretty happy with it."
Thurston boasts an NRL career conversion rate of 79.35 per cent but he has endured several form slumps with the boot throughout his career.
"There's obviously been times when I've struggled with it but I just feel really comfortable goalkicking," Thurston said.
"I'm really confident with how I'm striking the ball at the moment and I just need to keep practising and putting the hours into it."
Thurston, who worked with goalkicking greats Daryl Halligan and Hazem El Masri earlier in his career, should enjoy more favourable conditions against the Tomahawks in a match kicking off at 1pm local time (0000 Sunday AEDT).
http://www.nrl.com/thurston-hitting-the-mark-at-rlwc/tabid/10874/newsid/75408/default.aspx
- - - Updated - - -
Beer to flow if America upsets Australia in the rugby league World Cup playoff
NEW York will officially be awash with beer - and Australian lager at that - if the underdog American Tomahawks upset our Kangaroos in their World Cup playoff this weekend.
Manhattan bar owner Matt Astill, who was born in Sydney and played for the Manly Sea Eagles, has promised to provide free beer for an entire day if the US win their quarter-final in Wrexham tomorrow morning.
Not only does his midtown watering hole, The Australian, have Coopers on tap, it's also become a favourite for holidaying NRL coaches and players.
"So call this my chance to play John Singleton for a day,'' Astill told The Daily Telegraph last night. "No one expects America to win and I know they're long shots.
"But the Wiggles have sung about the boys, the New York Times has written an article . . . after 12 years here a day of free beer is the least I can do.''
Moving Stateside back in 2001, Astill helped establish the New York Knights league team and also shows NRL, Origin and Super League games at his bar.
"And you just never know,'' he said of the Cup quarter-final. "If the Tomahawks can withstand that first 20 minutes, they'll have their confidence up. And can you imagine the crowd support?
"They've got some good young guys coupled with NRL players like Clint Newton. So while no-one expects them to win, it's free drinks all day if they do.''
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...orld-cup-playoff/story-fni3fbgz-1226761323772
By Liam FitzGibbon
AAP
5:02am Sat 16th November, 2013
A change in technique and a healthy dose of confidence have helped Johnathan Thurston maintain his brilliant goalkicking standards at the Rugby League World Cup.
Thurston's goalkicking in dreadful conditions has been one of the highlights of Australia's campaign and his form is likely to prove a huge asset in the tournament's knockout stages.
The North Queensland five-eighth returns from a week off to face the US in Saturday's quarter-final in Wrexham following a spectacular goalkicking display in his last match.
Thurston made several incredible sideline conversions in driving rain and strong winds in a 34-2 win over Fiji in St Helens a fortnight ago, with Kangaroos coach describing it as some of the best goalkicking he had seen.
The 30-year-old also kicked some crucial goals from out wide on a slippery Millennium Stadium surface in a tournament-opening 28-20 win over England.
Already known as one of the most inventive goalkickers in the game with his ability to hook the ball, Thurston said he'd had to make further adjustments to deal with the testing UK conditions.
"I've had to change my style a little bit," Thurston told AAP.
"On those softer grounds you can't plant your landing foot before you kick because it'll just come out underneath you.
"So you need to keep your momentum running through the ball as you're kicking it.
"It's been very tough goalkicking but I've been pretty happy with it."
Thurston boasts an NRL career conversion rate of 79.35 per cent but he has endured several form slumps with the boot throughout his career.
"There's obviously been times when I've struggled with it but I just feel really comfortable goalkicking," Thurston said.
"I'm really confident with how I'm striking the ball at the moment and I just need to keep practising and putting the hours into it."
Thurston, who worked with goalkicking greats Daryl Halligan and Hazem El Masri earlier in his career, should enjoy more favourable conditions against the Tomahawks in a match kicking off at 1pm local time (0000 Sunday AEDT).
http://www.nrl.com/thurston-hitting-the-mark-at-rlwc/tabid/10874/newsid/75408/default.aspx
- - - Updated - - -
Beer to flow if America upsets Australia in the rugby league World Cup playoff
- NICK WALSHAW
- NEWS LIMITED
- NOVEMBER 16, 2013 12:00AM
NEW York will officially be awash with beer - and Australian lager at that - if the underdog American Tomahawks upset our Kangaroos in their World Cup playoff this weekend.
Manhattan bar owner Matt Astill, who was born in Sydney and played for the Manly Sea Eagles, has promised to provide free beer for an entire day if the US win their quarter-final in Wrexham tomorrow morning.
Not only does his midtown watering hole, The Australian, have Coopers on tap, it's also become a favourite for holidaying NRL coaches and players.
"So call this my chance to play John Singleton for a day,'' Astill told The Daily Telegraph last night. "No one expects America to win and I know they're long shots.
"But the Wiggles have sung about the boys, the New York Times has written an article . . . after 12 years here a day of free beer is the least I can do.''
Moving Stateside back in 2001, Astill helped establish the New York Knights league team and also shows NRL, Origin and Super League games at his bar.
"And you just never know,'' he said of the Cup quarter-final. "If the Tomahawks can withstand that first 20 minutes, they'll have their confidence up. And can you imagine the crowd support?
"They've got some good young guys coupled with NRL players like Clint Newton. So while no-one expects them to win, it's free drinks all day if they do.''
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...orld-cup-playoff/story-fni3fbgz-1226761323772
rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Australian coach Tim Sheens puts entire World Cup squad on notice ahead of final
TIM Sheens has warned his players complacency is their biggest danger heading into the sudden death stage of the World Cup - and no player, no matter how big their reputation, is above being dropped on the back of one bad game.
The Kangaroos aren't expected to have too much trouble against a United States team that is made up mostly of part-time footballers and who will take the field as $250-1 outsiders.
Sheens has already admitted boom halfback Daly Cherry-Evans is pushing Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston for a spot in the starting team - and while the coach has gone with experience for the game against the Tomahawks there are no guarantees that is the way it will stay.
"I have said to our guys Test matches are a season within itself," Sheens said."You don't play poorly in a Test match and get the next match.
"Many a player, Wally Lewis, Alfie Langer have been dropped in a Test match series when it becomes sudden death.
"There has been some great players sit on the sideline in previous series over the last 20 years."
"We can't be any different. This match this week might not be quite as intense as an England and Australia but it is still sudden death.
There will be plenty of focus to see how Jarryd Hayne goes at right centre after Australia dropped Brent Tate from the original 20-man squad that was named earlier in the week.
Sheens makes no secret of the fact he sees Tate as his best defensive option but Hayne definitely gives the team a more dangerous attacking edge.
Hayne was in awesome form leading up to State of Origin this year but after having a blinder in the opening game in Sydney he suffered a nasty hamstring injury days later that ruined the his season.
He only played a couple more games at the end of the year which was enough to get him a start at the World Cup and he has obviously done enough to impress Sheens to the point where Hayne is now leading that four-man race for the contentious right centre spot.
Tate's omission means he joins Michael Jennings and Josh Morris as casualties for the game against the Tomahawks, while Robbie Farah also wasn't named.
Sheens will have to cut two more players from the 19 named but he has until an hour before kick-off to do that.Sheens said a few people might be surprised with the line up he goes with.
"Everyone will have a different opinion but obviously I have got to go with what I think," he said."I think right at the moment the side that we start with will be close to it but there is not much between them.
"You are talking about a very good squad here. In fact, everyone one of these guys has played State of Origin this year.
"The whole 23 of them, 24 with Luke Lewis. You are talking about two Australian sides, NSW and Queensland, and there is always only ever a few points between them in the whole three games.
"It is equally difficult for me as it is NSW and Queensland selectors to decide how I filter that into one team and get it to work."
The Kangaroos haven't let in a try in their last two games after beating Fiji 34-2 and Ireland 50-0 and Sheens said Australia have no plans to go easy on the United States.
"You put your foot on them and you don't take it off," Sheens said.
"Not play to halftime and then release the foot and have an easy second half.
"We are not looking past this game. (The 13 who start) will be close to what I think is our best but that doesn't mean that other guys are out of the picture."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...e-ahead-of-final/story-fni3fbgz-1226761268546
- PAUL CRAWLEY IN MANCHESTER
- THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
- NOVEMBER 16, 2013 12:00AM
TIM Sheens has warned his players complacency is their biggest danger heading into the sudden death stage of the World Cup - and no player, no matter how big their reputation, is above being dropped on the back of one bad game.
The Kangaroos aren't expected to have too much trouble against a United States team that is made up mostly of part-time footballers and who will take the field as $250-1 outsiders.
Sheens has already admitted boom halfback Daly Cherry-Evans is pushing Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston for a spot in the starting team - and while the coach has gone with experience for the game against the Tomahawks there are no guarantees that is the way it will stay.
"I have said to our guys Test matches are a season within itself," Sheens said."You don't play poorly in a Test match and get the next match.
"Many a player, Wally Lewis, Alfie Langer have been dropped in a Test match series when it becomes sudden death.
"There has been some great players sit on the sideline in previous series over the last 20 years."
"We can't be any different. This match this week might not be quite as intense as an England and Australia but it is still sudden death.
There will be plenty of focus to see how Jarryd Hayne goes at right centre after Australia dropped Brent Tate from the original 20-man squad that was named earlier in the week.
Sheens makes no secret of the fact he sees Tate as his best defensive option but Hayne definitely gives the team a more dangerous attacking edge.
Hayne was in awesome form leading up to State of Origin this year but after having a blinder in the opening game in Sydney he suffered a nasty hamstring injury days later that ruined the his season.
He only played a couple more games at the end of the year which was enough to get him a start at the World Cup and he has obviously done enough to impress Sheens to the point where Hayne is now leading that four-man race for the contentious right centre spot.
Tate's omission means he joins Michael Jennings and Josh Morris as casualties for the game against the Tomahawks, while Robbie Farah also wasn't named.
Sheens will have to cut two more players from the 19 named but he has until an hour before kick-off to do that.Sheens said a few people might be surprised with the line up he goes with.
"Everyone will have a different opinion but obviously I have got to go with what I think," he said."I think right at the moment the side that we start with will be close to it but there is not much between them.
"You are talking about a very good squad here. In fact, everyone one of these guys has played State of Origin this year.
"The whole 23 of them, 24 with Luke Lewis. You are talking about two Australian sides, NSW and Queensland, and there is always only ever a few points between them in the whole three games.
"It is equally difficult for me as it is NSW and Queensland selectors to decide how I filter that into one team and get it to work."
The Kangaroos haven't let in a try in their last two games after beating Fiji 34-2 and Ireland 50-0 and Sheens said Australia have no plans to go easy on the United States.
"You put your foot on them and you don't take it off," Sheens said.
"Not play to halftime and then release the foot and have an easy second half.
"We are not looking past this game. (The 13 who start) will be close to what I think is our best but that doesn't mean that other guys are out of the picture."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...e-ahead-of-final/story-fni3fbgz-1226761268546
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Onemangang
Todd Anderson
you might have a point there? but while one was winning the comp the other was winning his second wooden spoon in a row.