Rugby Head
Ted Thorn (20)
Hodge has been available for selection, just hasn't got the call up.
2nd Test Wallabies v France 8pmTuesday 13th July,
- Thread starter emuarse
- Start date
Hodge has been available for selection, just hasn't got the call up.
Sheepie
Sydney Middleton (9)
Back on to the support thing. That and our poor kicking have my main bugbears with Australian rugby. Has been for over a decade now.
Adam Ashley-Cooper has always been one of my favourite players of the post-2000's era. He himself wasn't particularly spectacular at anything. His real skill is that he was ALWAYS there in support. Someone made a break? He was almost guaranteed to be there to provide protection in the breakdown if tackled or in the right position to recive an offload and go on to score. That's how he got most of his tries. Not his brilliance, just BEING THERE in support.
If you watch the Wallabies RWC winning games, or games where Aussie teams won Super Rugby, you'll see it. The team is ALWAYS there immediately in the breakdown. No delay. There's always multiple players jumping in to the breakdown immediately. Or if someone makes a break there's multiple offload options for that player.
If you watch the Crusaders, when someone makes a break. By the time they get to the line there's minimum 2 often up to 6 players all running off each others shoulders. All ready to receive an offload, or if a tackle happens ready to change their line and get in to the breakdown immediately. The number of non-set-move tries where there's a try scorer and then 6 players each off the next person's shoulder in a receiving position.
As I said above, it's an attitude problem. We see someone making a break, our players think "I can sneak a breather" when they should be thinking "he needs runners / support". It perpetuates Australian international level, Super Rugby level, Club level. It's something we need to work on at all levels. It's something we need to fix at all levels. We shouldn't be trying to teach it only at international level as it appears was happening in this Wallabies squad.
Adam Ashley-Cooper has always been one of my favourite players of the post-2000's era. He himself wasn't particularly spectacular at anything. His real skill is that he was ALWAYS there in support. Someone made a break? He was almost guaranteed to be there to provide protection in the breakdown if tackled or in the right position to recive an offload and go on to score. That's how he got most of his tries. Not his brilliance, just BEING THERE in support.
If you watch the Wallabies RWC winning games, or games where Aussie teams won Super Rugby, you'll see it. The team is ALWAYS there immediately in the breakdown. No delay. There's always multiple players jumping in to the breakdown immediately. Or if someone makes a break there's multiple offload options for that player.
If you watch the Crusaders, when someone makes a break. By the time they get to the line there's minimum 2 often up to 6 players all running off each others shoulders. All ready to receive an offload, or if a tackle happens ready to change their line and get in to the breakdown immediately. The number of non-set-move tries where there's a try scorer and then 6 players each off the next person's shoulder in a receiving position.
As I said above, it's an attitude problem. We see someone making a break, our players think "I can sneak a breather" when they should be thinking "he needs runners / support". It perpetuates Australian international level, Super Rugby level, Club level. It's something we need to work on at all levels. It's something we need to fix at all levels. We shouldn't be trying to teach it only at international level as it appears was happening in this Wallabies squad.
I thought Gordon was quite good last night (a massive improvement) , his issues were when the runners were too slow to reload and the lack of urgency in the kick chase, "contestable kicks" actually need to be contested
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Daugunu in for Wright is worth a shout. Who would have anticipated Wright being so shit? Something going on in his head perhaps. Or even just Kellaway, who i wouldn't have had any near the squad but seems a fairly safe option.
I think most of those other blokes you persist with. There was marginal improvement across the board I thought. Banks notably improved as the match wore on. Noah I thought actually had a pretty good game.
Valetini improved as well and got through a fair bit of work without any notable mistakes. He's not having the impact you'd hope such a giant human to have though.
I think it's safe to say the first game wasn't rust. This team has a long way to go and 'foot of the mountain' is 100% correct.
I think most of those other blokes you persist with. There was marginal improvement across the board I thought. Banks notably improved as the match wore on. Noah I thought actually had a pretty good game.
Valetini improved as well and got through a fair bit of work without any notable mistakes. He's not having the impact you'd hope such a giant human to have though.
I think it's safe to say the first game wasn't rust. This team has a long way to go and 'foot of the mountain' is 100% correct.
Sheepie
Sydney Middleton (9)
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
Wright suffers from an inability to find ways to inject himself into the game/get his hands on the ball early. From memory, Podcasts where Turuni, Drew Mitchell or Lote Tiquri have been on, they've all mentioned about getting involved in the game early to help adjust and settle the nerves.
From memory, it was right around when we were facing off to Caleb Clarke last year. Rather than starve Caleb of the ball, the kick off went straight to him without any pressure.
Wright should have been cutting more inside or sat off the hip of Lolesio/To'omua/Hunter for an inside ball and tried to mirror how Marika found ways to be busy.
Wright's handling of a bouncing ball a real issue for someone who has been put forward as a fullback.
I think Tupou starts but plays longer. He's clearly in our top 3 players and deserves to play most of the game, even if AAA is a good player.
I never thought I'd say this but Michael Wells has a hell of a work rate. Perhaps he's a legit test option. In fact I'd consider starting Wells at 8 and Swinton at 6 with Wilson or Valetini on the bench.
I loved the work of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) lately. His involvement is fantastic. Made great metres and topped the tackle count I believe. Philip looks injured - looked very uncomfortable running. I'd start Swain for him. Neville would be handy about now.
Tate deserves to start above Gordon who's passing was stilted and option taking poor.
I liked how To'omua mananged his way through the game but I too would like Paisami at 12 and Ikitau at 13. Daugunu for Wright.
Really keen to get Vunivalu back soon too.
I think Tupou starts but plays longer. He's clearly in our top 3 players and deserves to play most of the game, even if AAA is a good player.
I never thought I'd say this but Michael Wells has a hell of a work rate. Perhaps he's a legit test option. In fact I'd consider starting Wells at 8 and Swinton at 6 with Wilson or Valetini on the bench.
I loved the work of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) lately. His involvement is fantastic. Made great metres and topped the tackle count I believe. Philip looks injured - looked very uncomfortable running. I'd start Swain for him. Neville would be handy about now.
Tate deserves to start above Gordon who's passing was stilted and option taking poor.
I liked how To'omua mananged his way through the game but I too would like Paisami at 12 and Ikitau at 13. Daugunu for Wright.
Really keen to get Vunivalu back soon too.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Wonder if he suffers from being in Marika’s shadow. Tried to mirror Marika’s bonkers play style and overcompensates. Should stick to simple stuff.
eastman
John Solomon (38)
Chill Wright's not in form - he's a talent and will get there.
I think I would prefer Kellaway because he is more of that 14/15 hybrid and they have learnt not to kick to Marika so who ever is on the opposite wing is going to be catching a lot
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
It looks to me as though we really have to inject a bit of size into our forward selections. The last 15 or so minutes of the game were a bit scary, those huge French piggies looked bloody dangerous to me.
Our lineout was feeling the pressure. I would be really worried if I thought they were going to bring these behemoths on earlier.
Our lineout was feeling the pressure. I would be really worried if I thought they were going to bring these behemoths on earlier.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Macalou, the bloke they brought on in the final 20, I think number 21, stole our ball twice I think. Kane Douglas described him as the best line out jumper he’s ever played with. So he’s a bit of a special case I think.
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
Maybe this is me being fairly used to walking away from AAMI Park after a loss, but I was pretty happy with what I saw.
Exciting rugby, close game, big tackles and line breaks. Not sure what else you want on a Tuesday night?
Also very pleased to see a full house at a Wallabies game. It's been a few years between drinks!
Exciting rugby, close game, big tackles and line breaks. Not sure what else you want on a Tuesday night?
Also very pleased to see a full house at a Wallabies game. It's been a few years between drinks!
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
That doesn't make me feel better!!!
Tomikin
David Codey (61)
I felt like Jake and Slipper actually called for it, although I was watching live and didnt go back.
Massive maybe the wrong word, I agree. Nasty, immovable fluffybunnys is what I meant! But as I said above, the clean outs were mostly poor all night. And the French were quite happy to loiter just enough in the wrong spot to generally slow everything a bit more. Can't remember where we've seen that before.
Dusky W
Allen Oxlade (6)
I'd leave Valetini in over Wilson as I think he is a more complete player. Valetini can clean out and protect the ball at the breakdown and occasionally get a turnover. Wilson gets everywhere but struggles to be effective at the breakdown, too often missing the cleanout or losing his feet and flopping (see the turnover that led to Penaud's try in the 21st minute; and the one on our first attacking phase).
I like Swinton as the angry workhorse at 6 but is Wells a better option? I haven't watched enough of him to say he is up to test level but he seems to play smarter (less likely to get carded) and is faster.
Is Petaia back from injury? I thought he wasn't available until the RC. But yes, bring him in if he's fit.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I’d keep Valetini in, have him more involved infield earlier/maybe playing at 8 to see if he can have more involvements early on, despite the fact that he finished the game with some of the best attacking/defence stats in the pack…………. He put in some strong defensive work near our try line including tackling 3 consecutive French players in a row.
In saying that - playing wide he was first to a number of rucks in the first half and provided us with quick ball with some strong cleanouts, including back to back efforts on breaks from Koroibete and Paisami.
Still, want to see him hurting people midfield.
On a positive note - this group of 4 props we have are superb, and despite concerns over our lock stocks going into the series all 3 of them have performed well.
Overall many improved individual performances but just lacking in team cohesion/execution etc etc
In saying that - playing wide he was first to a number of rucks in the first half and provided us with quick ball with some strong cleanouts, including back to back efforts on breaks from Koroibete and Paisami.
Still, want to see him hurting people midfield.
On a positive note - this group of 4 props we have are superb, and despite concerns over our lock stocks going into the series all 3 of them have performed well.
Overall many improved individual performances but just lacking in team cohesion/execution etc etc
Tomikin
David Codey (61)
His been used in a really wide channel, He had made an impact when he was brought in closer to the action, I would actually think him and Wilson's role should be reversed.