Bledisloe #1 New Zealand vs Australia, August 7 2021

[Equalizer]

The All Blacks have the luxury of throwing in a few inexperienced guys to gain experience against a historically terrible Wallabies. This will be a two week blitzkrieg campaign by the AB's to retain the Bledisloe whilst at Fortress Eden. They can then enjoy the trip to Club Med Perth with the job done for what is approaching an almost two decade domination.

I hope the Rebel boys enjoyed the extra drinks. Hopefully we put in a blinding performance and they aren't required further.

 

[KiwiM]

Seems maybe Jordan's hammy still a bit tight, maybe why JB on bench ahead of him?

Confirmed by Fozzie. He could play if needed but they want to give him a full training week etc and not rush it.

 

[chiraag]

WALLABIES SIDE TO FACE ALL BLACKS
1. James Slipper (103 Tests)
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (12 Tests)
3. Allan Ala'alatoa (46 Tests)
4. Darcy Swain (3 Tests)
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (28 Tests)
6. Rob Valetini (7 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (108 Tests)
8. Harry Wilson (8 Tests)
9. Tate McDermott (5 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (5 Tests)
11. Andrew Kellaway (2 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (9 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (2 Tests)
14. Jordan Petaia (8 Tests)
15. Tom Banks (14 Tests)

Replacements
16. Jordan Uelese (13 Tests)
17. Angus Bell (6 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (28 Tests)
19. Matt Philip (12 Tests)
20. Fraser McReight (1 Test)
21. Jake Gordon (8 Tests)
22. Matt To’omua (57 Tests)
23. Reece Hodge (46 Tests)

 

[Dctarget]

WALLABIES SIDE TO FACE ALL BLACKS
1. James Slipper (103 Tests)
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (12 Tests)
3. Allan Ala'alatoa (46 Tests)
4. Darcy Swain (3 Tests)
5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (28 Tests)
6. Rob Valetini (7 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (108 Tests)
8. Harry Wilson (8 Tests)
9. Tate McDermott (5 Tests)
10. Noah Lolesio (5 Tests)
11. Andrew Kellaway (2 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (9 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (2 Tests)
14. Jordan Petaia (8 Tests)
15. Tom Banks (14 Tests)

Replacements
16. Jordan Uelese (13 Tests)
17. Angus Bell (6 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (28 Tests)
19. Matt Philip (12 Tests)
20. Fraser McReight (1 Test)
21. Jake Gordon (8 Tests)
22. Matt To’omua (57 Tests)
23. Reece Hodge (46 Tests)

Reece Hodge, with 46 caps, has more caps combined than that backline. Good to see Petaia back. Hope he gets through it.

Absolute clash of the titans with Ioane v Kellaway. Worth the ticket price alone. Jokes aside very keen to see what Andrew can do with a full game.

Interesting no Swinton and McReight is our only backrow reserve. Not quite the bomb squad.

 

[Dctarget]

Backline from 2019 QF loss:
9. Will Genia (109 Tests)
10. Christian Lealiifano (25 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (27 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (vc) (32 Tests)
13. Jordan Petaia (2 Tests)
14. Reece Hodge (38 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (91 Tests)

 

[Wilson]

Really like the back 3 of Kellaway, Petaia, Banks. Hopefully they all fire.

Also interesting to see McReight makes the bench, does anyone know if Swinton is still injured or did they decide to go with McReight ahead of him?

 

[Slim 293]

Surprised Swinton missed out completely........ with Naisarani out I thought we might've seen him paired with Valetini at 8.

Also surprised with Kellaway's inclusion, but I was hoping that Tom Wright might've received a shot at redemption.

Otherwise I think we're definitely going to front up in the scrum in the second half.

 

[Derpus]

Surprised Swinton missed out completely.... with Naisarani out I thought we might've seen him paired with Valetini at 8.

Also surprised with Kellaway's inclusion, but I was hoping that Tom Wright might've received a shot at redemption.

Otherwise I think we're definitely going to front up in the scrum in the second half.

Yeah I'd definitely prefer him on the bench over McReight. Don't see the benefit in two opensides.

 

[Dctarget]

Surprised Swinton missed out completely.... with Naisarani out I thought we might've seen him paired with Valetini at 8.

Also surprised with Kellaway's inclusion, but I was hoping that Tom Wright might've received a shot at redemption.

Otherwise I think we're definitely going to front up in the scrum in the second half.

I know I'm a Rebels fan, but you don't get a shot at redemption when you fucked it twice only a month ago. Wright has had more than enough opportunities. Kellaway is a very smart footballer. I joke about his size and lack of awe but he could really be something. I also assume Rennie sees something there.

 

[wamberal]

Right on the money TSR. Wright was an essential player last year for the Wallabies, and really only had one shocker, and now he is to be cast on the scrapheap. Very fickle lot indeed.

Wright did not have a shocker. He had a SHOCKER. I rate him pretty highly, and look forward to him getting another chance soon. But not in the First Test against the ABs at Eden Bloody Park, thanks.

 

[TSR]

Personally, I think this line-up is very lacking, even compared to most previous Wallabies 23's under Cheika.

I mean have a gander at this line-up that beat NZ two years earlier in Perth for comparison.

I mean it's not even that flash.. yet it's still considerably stronger than this current awfully green & inexperienced rabble.

1. Scott Sio
2. Tolu Latu
3. Allan Ala'alatoa
4. Izack Rodda
5. Rory Arnold
6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
7. Michael Hooper
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Nic White
10. Christian Leali'ifano
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. James O'Connor
14. Reece Hodge
15. Kurtley Beale

Reserves
16. Folau Fainga'a
17. James Slipper
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Adam Coleman
20. Luke Jones
21. Will Genia
22. Matt To'omua
23. Tom Banks

You don’t rate them???? Surprises me.

 

[KiwiM]

Personally, I think this line-up is very lacking, even compared to most previous Wallabies 23's under Cheika.

I mean have a gander at this line-up that beat NZ two years earlier in Perth for comparison.

Like, it's not even that flash - yet it's still considerably stronger than this current awfully green & inexperienced rabble..

I remember a lot of this sort of chat by people before Brisbane Bledisloe last year with Hodge at 10 for Wallabies......

 

[Dctarget]

Personally, I think this line-up is very lacking, even compared to most previous Wallabies 23's under Cheika.

I mean have a gander at this line-up that beat NZ two years earlier in Perth for comparison.

Like, it's not even that flash - yet it's still considerably stronger than this current awfully green & inexperienced rabble..

1. Scott Sio
2. Tolu Latu
3. Allan Ala'alatoa
4. Izack Rodda
5. Rory Arnold
6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
7. Michael Hooper
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Nic White
10. Christian Leali'ifano
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. James O'Connor
14. Reece Hodge
15. Kurtley Beale

Reserves
16. Folau Fainga'a
17. James Slipper
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Adam Coleman
20. Luke Jones
21. Will Genia
22. Matt To'omua
23. Tom Banks

I'd take our forward pack over that one, much better balance. And almost take our backline too. Love Leali'fano but he was past it and Lolesio is better every day of the week. Much rather Ikitau at 13 than O'Connor. Beale wasn't great then. Petaia is better than Hodge on the wing.

 

[rodha]

Actually.. scratch that Dctarget, I'm revising my original post.

 

[rodha]

Personally, I think this line-up is very lacking, even compared to most previous Wallabies 23's under Cheika.
I mean have a look at this 2019 Wallabies line-up (vs England) from only 2 seasons ago:

1. Scott Sio
2. Tolu Latu
3. Allan Ala'alatoa
4. Izack Rodda
5. Rory Arnold
6. David Pocock
7. Michael Hooper
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Nic White
10. Christian Leali'ifano
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Jordan Petaia
14. Reece Hodge
15. Kurtley Beale

Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga'a 17. James Slipper 18. Taniela Tupou 19. Adam Coleman 20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 21. Will Genia 22. Matt To'omua 23. James O'Connor.

Like, it's not even that flash - yet it's still considerably stronger than this current awfully green & inexperienced 23.

 

[Dctarget]

man, we get it. We have a lot of players unavailable. Don't know what you want us to say?

 

[Ignoto]

Like, it's not even that flash - yet it's still considerably stronger than this current awfully green & inexperienced 23.

It's almost like we're in a post RWC rebuild with a new generation of talent.

Honestly, I've got no idea what point you're trying to make?

 

[Pfitzy]

man, we get it. We have a lot of players unavailable. Don't know what you want us to say?

Probably just don't reply?

 

[TSR]

Personally, I think this line-up is very lacking, even compared to most previous Wallabies 23's under Cheika.
I mean have a look at this 2019 Wallabies line-up (vs England) from only 2 seasons ago:

1. Scott Sio
2. Tolu Latu
3. Allan Ala'alatoa
4. Izack Rodda
5. Rory Arnold
6. David Pocock
7. Michael Hooper
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Nic White
10. Christian Leali'ifano
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Jordan Petaia
14. Reece Hodge
15. Kurtley Beale

Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga'a 17. James Slipper 18. Taniela Tupou 19. Adam Coleman 20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 21. Will Genia 22. Matt To'omua 23. James O'Connor.

Like, it's not even that flash - yet it's still considerably stronger than this current awfully green & inexperienced 23.

Haha - that was quite good. Well played.

 

[rodha]

It's almost like we're in a post RWC rebuild with a new generation of talent.

Honestly, I've got no idea what point you're trying to make?

Erasmus turned around South Africa from 57-0 to WC champions within just 2 years after overhauling their selection criteria.

The Wallabies have far too much valuable experience & young talent playing overseas that aren't available for national selection.

If Australian Rugby & Dave Rennie want to be serious about actually contending with the top 4-5 sides come 2023, they need to make ALL foreign-based players right now automatically eligible to play for Australia, period.

Latu, McMahon, Kerevi, Cornelsen, Riley, Tomane, Gunter, Fardy, Skelton, Douglas, Arnold, Coleman, Hockings & Luke Morahan (for example, to name a few..) would all be of great value to a Wallabies 42-man squad right now.