Wallabies v Italy - 9 November

[fatprop]

Carter Gordon is more likely to add a difference to the way the team has been playing in attack. Whether that difference improves the outcome or not would have to be seen and that can only happen if he plays in some role.

Because of the precarious position of the Wallabies in the rankings, it is imperative that the best team is put on the field for this test. We don't want to exacerbate the risk of losing the 6 spot to Italy. As I said before the Japan test, the game we should have been targeting for resting players was against Ireland. A loss to Ireland will not jeopardise the ranking as much as a loss to Italy, because they (Ireland) rank so much higher than us and it is their home game.

Gordon's published ARU "highlights" show him kicking through, taking intercepts or taking the ball close to the line

He ain't the messiah

 

[Slim 293]

Is Quade Cooper's?

Not really, but his criticisms of Edmed weren’t even close to being that idiotic…

 

[Where's the beef]

OK so my backs are

Lonegan
CG
Iitau
JAS
Jorgo
Pietch
Kelleway

7 Tizzano
8 Wilso
6 Hooper

We need to find out where CG is at. Lonegan will run. EDmed and gordon on the bench
Lonegan to kick.

Pietch over potter because we need him in off his wing and getting us over the gain line.

Dungunu on bench. Edmed on Bench Gordo on bench.

This wont be as easy as people think. If tom Wright were in I move JAS to wing and bing flook in. But we need his creativity if he runs good lines and presents himself.

A good point shep made last night, and I don't really like him or hooper for that matter. Land on Sunday going against your rythms. They all were flat. Hopefully this week we see one pissed off wallaby.

 

[Where's the beef]

Guys forget the rankings. Accept that we will be 7th or 8th. So what.

We need to find a back up to Tom wright. Who is attacking
We need to find another ikitau. Hunter is not it.
We need to determine where / how to use dungunu. He is better than bench as a talent.
We need Jorgo to come and do hard work off his wing, precocious talent that he is.
We Need our PIGS to be PIGS.

This weekend is important.

 

[Where's the beef]

Not really, but his criticisms of Edmed weren’t even close to being that idiotic…

Quade is a muppet and bitter. He is like sonny bill. Supports his mates.

Edmed is my 10 that is available. I want to see CG play to see where he is at and what he can do. It is important that he gets time at test level.

 

[TSR]

Guys forget the rankings. Accept that we will be 7th or 8th. So what.

We need to find a back up to Tom wright. Who is attacking
We need to find another ikitau. Hunter is not it.
We need to determine where / how to use dungunu. He is better than bench as a talent.
We need Jorgo to come and do hard work off his wing, precocious talent that he is.
We Need our PIGS to be PIGS.

This weekend is important.

We need to win the game. Every other priority can take a back seat for the next couple of tests.

On that note I’m not convinced the best option for either Carter Gordon or the team in the immediate or longer term is to throw him into the hot seat this weekend. Bring him off the bench. Give him a chance to settle into it.

 

[dru]

Guys forget the rankings. Accept that we will be 7th or 8th. So what.

We need to find a back up to Tom wright. Who is attacking
We need to find another ikitau. Hunter is not it.
We need to determine where / how to use dunDaugunu. He is better than bench as a talent.
We need Jorgo to come and do hard work off his wing, precocious talent that he is.
We Need our PIGS to be PIGS.

This weekend is important.

I'd at least think about connecting those two thoughts. Not ideal but I reckon I'd be testing it in training.

Short of an opposition high ball game that targets Jorgo he is not going to get anymore ball if he stays in slot on the open-side wing. Not without shifts in gameplay (involving playmaking beyond #9) and a flyhalf who is given a shot at doing the job. The ball got closest to Jorgo from no-look tip-passes from the THP (both Tupou and AAA in either half), but ball handling with a swarming D killed both..

 

[Where's the beef]

We need to win the game. Every other priority can take a back seat for the next couple of tests.

On that note I’m not convinced the best option for either Carter Gordon or the team in the immediate or longer term is to throw him into the hot seat this weekend. Bring him off the bench. Give him a chance to settle into it.

Its a hard call. I want him on the field this weekend. Joe has a logic to starting less experienced players. I do hope he starts and is not tasked with closing the game.

Yes a win this weekend is important. I would like that and expect that. but it will be hard fought.

 

[TSR]

I'd at least think about connecting those two thoughts. Not ideal but I reckon I'd be testing it in training.

Short of an opposition high ball game that targets Jorgo he is not going to get anymore ball if he stays in slot on the open-side wing. Not without shifts in gameplay (involving playmaking beyond #9) and a flyhalf who is given a shot at doing the job. The ball got closest to Jorgo from no-look tip-passes from the THP (both Tupou and AAA in either half), but ball handling with a swarming D killed both..

If I recall correctly his one run came off a cut out from McReight.

I’d still like to see him at fullback but I assume Kellaway is being used there for his comms in defence (which is probably fair enough at this point).

 

[TSR]

Its a hard call. I want him on the field this weekend. Joe has a logic to starting less experienced players. I do hope he starts and is not tasked with closing the game.

Yes a win this weekend is important. I would like that and expect that. but it will be hard fought.

Not to use Edmed as the sacrificial lamb - but I’d rather they trust Gordon with 25 minutes to close out then throw him in up front and potentially he just becomes next in the firing line if we misfire.

I understand that Schmidt has pursued a strategy of designated starters and specialist finishers but I still think there is scope to use the bench to give players an easier intro.

 

[Rugby110]

Quade is a muppet and bitter. He is like sonny bill. Supports his mates.

Edmed is my 10 that is available. I want to see CG play to see where he is at and what he can do. It is important that he gets time at test level.

I would be inclined to respect Quade’s opinion, given his experience as a former international player who spent decades in the often debated No. 10 jersey. Quade also has spent time with Carter Gordon and others, and has said publicly that he regards Carter highly.
The fact that Rugby Australia paid out Carter’s NRL contract reinforces the significance of their intent with him. At 25, he is entering his prime, so throw him into the mix early and give him valuable minutes on the field. Every international squad needs three genuine fly-half options, and he should absolutely get runs on the board now. Tane Edmed, Tom Lynagh, Ben Donaldson and even James O’Connor need to show their worth and the coach will decide who is more suited to each game. But if Carter Gordon is the bigger investment, then he needs to prove his value over the next three games. I believe he will do exactly that. You would have to expect errors like every other option wearing that jersey but I would also expect a more attacking style of game.

 

[liquor box]

Surely we roll out our best 23 for this one, I’d like to see

Bell, Pollard, Tupou
Frost, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Hooper, Tizzano, Valetini
Gordon, Gordon
Ikitau, JAS
Potter, Jorgensen, Kellaway

Faessler, Ross, AA, Williams, Wilson, Lonergan, Stewart, Daungunu

But they may play around with the back row and give Nonggorr a go off the bench, not sure if Gordon can play huge minutes every test

GAGR points for the last match were as follows-
McReight - 47
Potter - 30
Tupou - 15
Williams - 8
Wilson - 5
Valetini - 2
Pollard - 1

In what world does our best 23 not have McReight?

 

[liquor box]

I don't think C Gordon is the messiah, but he has to be better than the two other options we have on tour

The NRL tattoos make him a naughty boy

 

[Tomthumb]

Not really, but his criticisms of Edmed weren’t even close to being that idiotic…

He said he didn’t belong on a Test field, and Edmed has done nothing but prove him right this far

Carter Gordon needs to start if we want any hope of winning this Test

 

[rugbyAU]

Edmed has to be Schmidt’s worse selection

 

[Rugby Head]

Edmed has to be Schmidt’s worse selection

Agreed but unfortunately we are not blessed for options. Would love to see Jack Deb given a go.

 

[molman]

Not to use Edmed as the sacrificial lamb - but I’d rather they trust Gordon with 25 minutes to close out then throw him in up front and potentially he just becomes next in the firing line if we misfire.

I understand that Schmidt has pursued a strategy of designated starters and specialist finishers but I still think there is scope to use the bench to give players an easier intro.

At the end of the day it'll be the coaches in camp who will have the best insight to where Carter really is at, not all us postulating from the sidelines, but there sure aint a big body of games to judge him off the last year or so. I'm also not sure this myopic focus on Edmed as the crux of our issues is entirely fair. There were a number of collective reasons for why things haven't panned out lately. There seems to be the ongoing thought that swapping the players like lego is going to solve things.

It would have been nice to have seen a parallel reality where Noah plays the Lions series and we're looking at Lynagh still in the mix for this end of year tour, but then maybe they wouldn't have gone as hard to bring Carter back in the fold.

 

[fatprop]

Edmed has to be Schmidt’s worse selection

I think it is last man standing, but I do wonder if Donno shit in his bed at some stage (but Donno keeps not being selected by Wob coaches (just possibly they know more than me))

 

[Braveheart81]

I would be inclined to respect Quade’s opinion, given his experience as a former international player who spent decades in the often debated No. 10 jersey.

He didn't really give his view as a former international player though. He tweeted as a fan after a test loss and then apologized later for his tweet.

I'd happily respect a well thought out opinion from him but this wasn't it.

 

[John S]

He said he didn’t belong on a Test field, and Edmed has done nothing but prove him right this far

Carter Gordon needs to start if we want any hope of winning this Test

Slim was also saying QC (Quade Cooper)'s opinion was not as idiotic as the guy I spoke to - who said Edmed was barely Super Rugby quality (which I have since retracted from the conversation)