Wallabies v Lions, 19 July Suncorp

[Wobblies2027]

Some strange synergies to the 2013 team named:
- First start at Flyhalf for Lynagh (JOC (James O'Connor) 2013)
- Debutant at Blindside in CDC (Mowen 2013)
- NRL convert in Sua'alli (Folau 2013)

2013 team for reference

Forwards

Benn Robinson

Stephen Moore

Ben Alexander

Kane Douglas

James Horwill (c)

Ben Mowen

Michael Hooper

Wycliff Palu

Backs

Will Genia

James O'Connor

Digby Ioane

Pat McCabe

Adam Ashley-Cooper

Israel Folau

Berrick Barnes

Bench

Saia Fainga'a

James Slipper

Sekope Kepu

Rob Simmons

Liam Gill

Nick Phipps

Kurtley Beale

Jesse Mogg

 

[Tomthumb]

Really don't like Bell on the bench, he's wasted there. He's our best loosehead by a country mile, he's a 60 min plus player and outside of Harry Wilson who's going to be carrying the ball into contact?

 

[Major Tom]

Robertson at THP baffles me.

 

[Tomthumb]

It points to a plan built on speed in the last quarter. I'd say the play is to mix it up with McDermott's snipes and Donaldson's boot to get the Lions back in their territory and putting pressure on the breakdown, which they've hardly excelled at.

We need to get the the last quarter first. All this planning for the last 20 minutes will mean bupkis if they are down by 25 points at the 60 minute mark

 

[Derpus]

True - on the positive side if we ever get into a position to use them that is a very dangerous 11-15.

 

[Derpus]

SMH article suggests Skelton is injured

 

[Yoda]

Gotta feel for Donaldson and McDermott. Donaldson has sat behind Lolesio for 30 Tests of mediocrity and now has a bloke who has been injured and not played for over a month jumping him. Then Tate has played fantastic and gets snubbed by a guy, again who hasn't played for over 5 weeks. On top of that Gordon and Lynagh have never played together and Lynagh is playing his first run on Test! I'm suspecting Joe has given Gordon and Lynagh the series to start, win lose or draw. In Joe we trust. Do we?

 

[Super Hooper]

Fellas, I wish I could be positive but I think we're completely fucked. If we're within two scores I'll be impressed.

It is what it is. You don't have 4 of your strongest ball carriers in the last years: Valetini, Skelton, Kerevi, Koroibete and even Gleeson. You have few strong ball carriers, meanwhile the Lions are plagued with physical players who gain meters easily.

It's like David vs Goliath. At the end of the day, rugby remains as a predominantly physical sport. Apparently Joe's idea is to combat strength with speed.

 

[Yoda]

Really don't like Bell on the bench, he's wasted there. He's our best loosehead by a country mile, he's a 60 min plus player and outside of Harry Wilson who's going to be carrying the ball into contact?

Tom. Some baffling decisions by Schmidt.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Gotta feel for Donaldson and McDermott. Donaldson has sat behind Lolesio for 30 Tests of mediocrity and now has a bloke who has been injured and not played for over a month jumping him. Then Tate has played fantastic and gets snubbed by a guy, again who hasn't played for over 5 weeks. On top of that Gordon and Lynagh have never played together and Lynagh is playing his first run on Test! I'm suspecting Joe has given Gordon and Lynagh the series to start, win lose or draw. In Joe we trust. Do we?

I’m not one to blindly trust coaches but at the end of the day is there any point in Joe rolling out status quo if there is no real chance of that working?

He has a selection decision to make in the halves of 2 real contenders per position and if he thinks one matches his desired game style more than it seems a no brainer to me. They aren’t similar players in either position.

 

[Slim 293]

SMH article suggests Skelton is injured

I shouldn't have gone for Doran's early draft...

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Gotta feel for Donaldson and McDermott. Donaldson has sat behind Lolesio for 30 Tests of mediocrity and now has a bloke who has been injured and not played for over a month jumping him. Then Tate has played fantastic and gets snubbed by a guy, again who hasn't played for over 5 weeks. On top of that Gordon and Lynagh have never played together and Lynagh is playing his first run on Test! I'm suspecting Joe has given Gordon and Lynagh the series to start, win lose or draw. In Joe we trust. Do we?

No option is really that good though are they? I think he's gone with the best kicking 10 available and with the 9 Schmidt has shown his preference for Gordon since he took the job. Tate has had more then a fair chance to state a case to own it. 40 odd Tests and 5 years around the Wallabies. He has tremendous assets but also flaws that we all see. He can best serve the Wallabies off the bench with his speed.

 

[Major Tom]

It’s not the size itself that’s the issue. It’s the size combined with the lack of athleticism

He’s the least athletic player on that list by a considerable margin

He does what Noah does but better I would say.
He’s not as quick as Donno but kicks as far and more precisely and I reckon his defence is better or at least as good as.
You rate the “athleticism” aspect too much when it comes to flyhalves. We just need someone who can distribute effectively, kick us out of trouble and nail pen goals. He can do that.

 

[LeCheese]

SMH article suggests Skelton is injured

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Gotta feel for Donaldson and McDermott. Donaldson has sat behind Lolesio for 30 Tests of mediocrity and now has a bloke who has been injured and not played for over a month jumping him. Then Tate has played fantastic and gets snubbed by a guy, again who hasn't played for over 5 weeks. On top of that Gordon and Lynagh have never played together and Lynagh is playing his first run on Test! I'm suspecting Joe has given Gordon and Lynagh the series to start, win lose or draw. In Joe we trust. Do we?

Fair or unfairly I think Schmidt views Tate as more of a niche finishing 9 who can come on against tired legs and break a game open. Unfortunately for Tate he does that so well that he might be stuck there lol.

 

[dru]

No option is really that good though are they? I think he's gone with the best kicking 10 available and with the 9 Schmidt has shown his preference for Gordon since he took the job. Tate has had more then a fair chance to state a case to own it. 40 odd Tests and 5 years around the Wallabies. He has tremendous assets but also flaws that we all see. He can best serve the Wallabies off the bench with his speed.

That is not explaining the combinations. Surely you'd then start Donaldson with Gordon, and bring Tate and Tom on together?

 

[Running_rugby_1954]

Tizzano is so good. But why is he on the bench? Are we really going to win the game with two fetchers?

 

[Derpus]

Is it the case that Valetini, Skelton and Gleeson all made it through a full season of first team duties at club level without significant injury and then picked up training injuries with the Wallabies?

 

[Major Tom]

Is it the case that Valetini, Skelton and Gleeson all made it through a full season of first team duties at club level without significant injury and then picked up training injuries with the Wallabies?

Yeah, I'm so glad we rested them at different times...

 

[Ignoto]

Is it the case that Valetini, Skelton and Gleeson all made it through a full season of first team duties at club level without significant injury and then picked up training injuries with the Wallabies?

It's all that rain we've had!!!!!!