Bledisloe 2 2023 @ Dunedin 12:35PM Sat 5 Aug
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KOB1987
John Eales (66)
That sounds like Slipper and Pone covering THP, Bell & Schoupp covering LHP. Nonggorr & Lambert the back ups
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I'm Holloway's biggest fan but yeah he hasn't had the impact we'd of liked to see from him. Where do we go? Well I haven't seen anything from Leota to suggest he's better. We could put Hooper at 6 and play Gleeson at 7 (or Samu) but no way we can carry T Hooper and M Hooper or McReight. That's just giving up too much weight. T Hooper making 30 tackles says it all, he's too lightweight for 6 at Test level currently.
He seems completely out of the mix but shocked LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) didn't make the squad.
He seems completely out of the mix but shocked LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) didn't make the squad.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Weight matters less than fitness and execution
Tomthumb
Peter Fenwicke (45)
I hope they persist with Carter Gordon. The back line flows so well with him there, and those mistakes will go with a bit more experience I think. His kicking game certainly needs work, but he wasn’t helped by having a 9 that can’t kick, a 12 that can’t kick and a back 3 that can’t kick
at test level these days you simply need a 15 (and ideally wingers) that can control the back with their boot, along with a 9 that can control the ruck with their boot
Petaia has all the tools to be a great 15, he just needs some time there. Kellaway is solid, but isn’t the answer. I even think Donaldson would be a better option at 15 considering the way Eddie seems to want to play
1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Slipper
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. T Hooper
7. Gleeson
8. Valetini
9. Lonergan
10. Gordon
11. Koroibete
12. Foketi
13. Perese
14. Nawaqanitawase
15. Petaia
16. Faesler
17. Schoupp
18. Faamasuli
19. Philip
20. Leota
21. McDermott
22. Cooper
at test level these days you simply need a 15 (and ideally wingers) that can control the back with their boot, along with a 9 that can control the ruck with their boot
Petaia has all the tools to be a great 15, he just needs some time there. Kellaway is solid, but isn’t the answer. I even think Donaldson would be a better option at 15 considering the way Eddie seems to want to play
1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Slipper
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. T Hooper
7. Gleeson
8. Valetini
9. Lonergan
10. Gordon
11. Koroibete
12. Foketi
13. Perese
14. Nawaqanitawase
15. Petaia
16. Faesler
17. Schoupp
18. Faamasuli
19. Philip
20. Leota
21. McDermott
22. Cooper
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
I think Eddie will want to see what some other players can offer this week. Not expecting a massive shake up but he said that’s why he threw Tom Hooper in and I don’t see why he wouldn’t apply that to some other players. Eg Gleeson for Hooper, Leota for Holloway, Philip for Arnold. Probably slot Foketi in somewhere as well, maybe get another 25km into Kerevi’s legs and give him the game off.
Edit: you just beat me to it TT, similar thought process and I nearly even said Donaldson on the bench instead of Quade, but your thinking there might make more sense, I assume he’s your #23?
Edit: you just beat me to it TT, similar thought process and I nearly even said Donaldson on the bench instead of Quade, but your thinking there might make more sense, I assume he’s your #23?
dru
David Wilson (68)
Seriously, if Hooper had made only 8 tackles (per Holloway in the same game) you'd say "look at that! evidence Hooper is big enough to be a 6!"?
Hooper making 30 tackles is a firm statement that he is providing plenty at 7 and pretty much laid down his marker in terms of what EJ (Eddie Jones) may be looking for. It's a different game plan for sure but somehow I'm not thinking that he sees Hoopers tackle rate at open side as an error.
Bar the front row I don't see EJ (Eddie Jones) making too many changes in the pack. In deed with our props under pressure he may see some of the problems mitigated with he big pack strategy. There might be some further experiment, but I see the big pack thinking continuing.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Has Gleeson ever reached double digits for tackles attempted in a Super Rugby match?
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
v the Drua this season, just as an example.
Attachments
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
That does seem to be an exception to the norm, particularly with about 5 other forwards making 20+ tackles that game, and several others coming close…
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
It was certainly a game where a lot of tackles were made, but so was Saturday's. I only browsed a few games but there were others he made in the low teens as well. I wasn't being critical of Hooper, only that if Eddie wants to get a look at other players this weekend then Gleeson at 7 is an obvious one. I don't mind TT's suggestion of playing T Hooper at blindside with him and seeing how that combination fares.
Also, Gleeson hasn't really played at 7 so he would have a different brief to playing at 8, especially with eddie as the coach. Same with Tom - there is only 1 game prior to judge him as a 7, in the semi final and he was 16/19 that day.
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qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
But people want to move T Hooper to 6, yeah I'm sure that'll help the mauling.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
That could be a solid variation of the same players - Rob hasn't done a lot at the back of the scrum, his strengths are elsewhere.
Tomthumb
Peter Fenwicke (45)
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I mean Holloway looks 6-7kgs heavier but is well known as a good maul operator in attack and defence.
I don't think our maul was that bad, we should've had a penalty try and yellow. Would've changed the whole game.
Jason Ryan is a complete guru though, he's transformed them.
I don't think our maul was that bad, we should've had a penalty try and yellow. Would've changed the whole game.
Jason Ryan is a complete guru though, he's transformed them.