You are a photographer, right?

Dianna Snape: http://diannasnape.com.au/cms-aerial/me ... .phps#next

[edit: that's not where I got access from but it is the source]


1732 × 1155 (3x larger), 483KB
Type: JPG
Date: 1 May 2010
Camera: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Settings: 1/350s, f/5.6, ISO 800
Focal length: 54mm (54mm for 35mm film)
Flash usage: No flash
Exposure bias: 0 EV

Right, but Junior has been downloading the best photos he can find on the net to print and get autographed, and a lovely job he has done too.

That's a nice shot, I use a 5D Mark II, interesting that was taken with a FL of only 54mm.

Oz to win 34 - 23.

Ah, just realised you wanted the rugby photo. I had the cityscape on the mind for some reason.

It came from here, but I think the OZ papers (e.g. SMH, had more)...

Wales can win this test IF they keep hold of the ball, kick out of hand properly, not to the ozzy backs
But most important, don't moan about the oz forwards lying all over the ruck ball and then complain about it.

You cannot wait for the ref to blow if you think a hand is in the ruck or lazy fucking oz forwards are in no rush to move, its called gamesmanship being street wise or cheating to some.

But its what the SH do well and we need to adapt, the Welsh forwards need to clear out the ruck area to present quick ball, if we do this then we have the backs to do some damage.

I would start with Tupric and Ian Evans and and Hook at 10, we cannot go that far behind in this test and have to stay with the pace keep the score down and we're in with a shout.

We played awfull last week but there was enough to suggest we can win.

Beale back training with the Wallabies in Melbourne.

Obviously not playing this Saturday, but might be a shot for Sydney...

Imagine if we'd had Beale playing outside Genia last week?













[/furious masturbation]

A second playmaker outside Genia will make all the difference.

Yep, we need Beale and JOC back quite badly. Cooper too, although to a lesser extent.

What's the story with JOC? Is he back when the soup resumes?

Think so. Was first thought to be about a 6-week job when he did it, which was about seven weeks ago now. He went for scans a couple of weeks back and it hadn't progressed quite as fast as they'd hoped so they're holding him back an extra couple of weeks. Should be right for the Supe.

The intriguing thing about Cooper is he plays a lower tempo game - it's like chess, with those long passes. Irresistible when on song, and releases the outside backs, but quite different.

Kurtley will have the headstart if he plays against Wales in Sydney, but it's going to be interesting with all three back playing Supe in two-and-a-bit weeks. From there it's only seven weeks to the first Bledisloe in TRC.

All three have to be in the 22 in some capacity for mine. Even if Cooper still hasn't learnt how to tackle, he's too valuable to leave out.

Agreed. They'll probably only have another 3 or 4 serious games each between now and then, though. Not a lot to go off.

I do love how it's only SH forwards who act illegally at the breakdown....

People will scoff, but Kurtley's a natural 10 and Quade's a natural 15. Like in the schoolboys.

I won't. I brought it up a month or so back, after Beale tore things up at 10 against the Bulls.

They should be starting Delve, see. He already adapted and knows what's up, down here.

Coopers real value is his passing game and vision. He needs to be at 10.
KB and JOC are little more flexible and can play anywhere from 10 to 15.
KB is probably the best fullback in the world right now(IMHO), and he should start there.
JOC on the wing or at 12 or on the bench depending on the opposition.

When all 3( and Genia) are fit the Wallabies become a very different beast for the opposition to tackle.

Never said all SH forwards do things dodgy worldwide all push the rules, Wales need to adapt and quick.

The complicating factor might be what happens at the Rebels. They might play 10 KB and 15 JOC.


---
Anyway, back to the game at hand - and the one being played out in the press. According to the Terrograph, Rob Horne is perhaps not a certainty to play anyway, along with Kepu. Due to niggles.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6393462367

Deans seems to place a lot of store in mana. He selects on loyalty which can be a good thing, but on the flip side it sometimes looks playing favourites. Maybe this is his way of dropping players while saving face, almost Asian-style. [/tinfoil]

We could do, however at the Rebels I would like to see this:

9 Kingi/Phipps
10 Beale
11 Vuna
12 JOC
13 Inman
14 Mitchell
15 Gerrard

Or if Mortlock is playing then this:

9 Kingi/Phipps
10 Beale
11 Vuna
12 Mortlock
13 Inman
14 Gerrard
15 JOC

That is no problem.
Look at how AAC slotted back into fullback on the weekend. It will not hurt Beale to play 5/8 as he will be Coopers back-up.

Coopers passing game is unrivaled and it just gives us such a potent attack if he is dropping those passes onto the chests of JOC, Beale, Ioane, Mitchell and co. coming at pace.
I don't think Cooper could start/play at test level anywhere else but 10. He drops back to 15 in defence/for counter attack as it is and he and Beale could be interchangeable.

A good friend of mine in Melbourne who I will catch up with on this trip is a professional photographer as well.

Turns out he knows Dianna Snape, they used to have studios in the same building in Chapel Street, St Kilda.

Warburton to 8. Tipuric at 7.

Let's see how Pocock handles TWO jackals.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18421641

Delve didn't seem to set the world on fire against the Brumbies, although I'd like to see his bulk there to sit on Palu as much as possible. One big lump at 8 with two flyers at 6 and 7 would be nice.

I reckon we need the fliers. This game will be played at a high tempo. Although Warburton wasn't exactly flying last time. I hope he has regained some fitness now.

It's laughable to leave L'Idiot out, so no Delve ripping up trees = Delve getting splinters in his arse instead.

My backrow
8 R Jones
7 Tips
6 Lid
War cannot be risked the breakdown is an area we must compete to stand any chance of victory.

Great shout.

I'd like to see this given a try as well, though there's no certainty it'd be better than the reverse. One significant draw back is that Cooper and Genia already have a combination Beale and Genia do not.

The problem of undroppable captains. It's plagued us for years, whereby we'd pick a captain who's form would dip, and then we're stuck picking him because no coach as the balls to drop the man who he made captain.

We all know the backrow should be the one above, with Jones, Tipuric and Lydiate...and trying to shoehorn THE BREADMAN in at 8 simply won't work, he simply doesn't have the carrying capacity if even a decent 8, let alone an international one which is required here.

That's not to mention that this would also be running a little white flag up as we're basically saying we require two 7's on the pitch to counteract their one.

Stupid idea all round.

Agree with bear, this is last chance saloon lose this and we could be looking at a whitewash, we cannot hope war or priest finds their form changes are needed, if we get our kicking and breakdown balance right the return of North, I see no reason why we can't win.

Tupric is playing much better than War, and is the form of his life, War is there on reputation only and captain, We have to roll the dice.

We were ALWAYS looking at a whitewash. People have allowed themselves to get carried away.


I said from the start that even winning a SINGLE GAME would be an historic achievement. In our entire history we have only beaten Oz away ONCE! And that was in 1969. The only other win we have against any SH country in the SH was against Oz in 1987.



If we win any of these games, in any fashion, it will be absolutely massive. One of our greatest achievements.


That's the cold, hard reality.

Don't think I'm getting carried away, I remember when tours like this were 50 point hammerings.
So we have moved on, we have a realistic chance of victory not a fancifull one.

We need to tours like this to keep chiping away at the level we need to reach.

Has Gatland arrived yet?

Irrespective, Wales have always been naturally conservative under his tenure. We will not drop Warburton, nor will we play him at eight. Changes will be kept to a minimum. Continuity will prevail over form. Evolution not revolution. All very sensible. All a bit boring. Also a bit dangerous - we've talked about competition for places, this is an ideal opportunity to prove it. Failure to do so could result in disharmony.

We got outplayed in that last game. We couldn't handle the dynamism, speed and tempo. Aus did to us what we have been doing to others for the past year or so. They are like an enhanced version of us, in a way. They did to us what we wanted to do to them.

Again, I think we can win a game. And I have a sneaky suspicion it will be this second test. (Having said that, I thought we'd win the first one...).

But ANY kind of single victory would still be a step forward.

Warburton at 8.