Who's sick of rotation in the AB squad, and why was Carter not allowed to practise with the match ball?

Question

Who's sick of rotation in the AB squad, and why was Carter not allowed to practise with the match ball?

Answer 1

It's a balancing act.  You cant throw your "A" team out there all the time.  If you do, then the other players are not getting any game time.

What happens if he did put the best team out against Romania and Hayman breaks a leg?  He'd be massacred for having the best (IMO) player in the world on the field in an absolutely meaningless game with a possible QF against France a week later.

If he had put the A team out all the time then Hayman's replacement would go into a QF game with no significant game time since back in the Tri Nations.

Also, you run the risk of players being disappointed by not playing.  Personally I think this is why Piri Weepu was left behind.  I think the coaches knew he isn't the kind of person to just QUIETLY take a back seat if he wasn't chosen as #1 by the end of the pool stage.  It is too long a tournament to have your team chemistry eaten away from inside.... right Ireland?

I doubt you will see much, if any, rotation once the pool games are over.  The only changes will be at hooker (depending on opposition) and at Centre/Fullback.  Mils is our best at both spots so it will come down to who Smith and Henry think is better... MacDonald or Smith.

Oh, and on the bench.  I am hoping Lauaki gets in there and rips some teams to pieces off the bench!

Answer 2

Yep, I'm sick of the rotational policy bandied about at this RWC. I thought the reason behind it all was to build player depth in all positions, they've had four years to build on it and the depth is their, why do they persist.

In saying that I'll back our bench over anyone elses.

Heres hoping the A team turn up in the Q/finals onwards.

Answer 3

There was always going to be significant changes made from one game to the next in the pool stage of the World Cup.

My concern is that there has been no consistency given to any combinations.

For example, our best midfeild pairing (Mauger + Muiliana) should have played in the Italy and Scotland games and our reserve pairing (McAlister and Smith) in the Portugal and Romania games.

I realise injuries have an effect here and it's not always possible, but this should have been the goal right through the build up during the tri-nations and home test series. Instead all we saw was lucky dip as to who was paired with who.

Answer 4

I`m beginning to wonder why, these guys are making so many unforced basic errors,forward passes, dropped balls, knock ons, poor lineout play....maybe it`s all part of the rotation .....not enough time on the paddock together.Lifting weights in a gym isn`t playing games..

Didn`t know Carter was not allowed to practice with match ball....That`s news to me.

Answer 5

I think he should scrap the rotation policy against Romania, and put the so called 'A' team on. Todays perfromance was ordinary, and I feel this 'A' team needs time together to gel and build confidence and you can only do that by playing games.

Answer 6

Yes but they the coach still trolls out the same old one liners.  Places are up for grabs and no one has a definite strangle hold on there position and treat them mean keep them keen sort of thing.  Its boring, that's what every coach has said over the years or we want to develop a bigger player base, blah, blah, blah.  I guess the only real answer to that is if and when they win the Rugby World Cup.  Then it was worth it, then we will say brilliant strategy the man's has a rugby brain and so on.