Bledisloe # 3 - Saturday 31st October, ANZ Stadium

[KOB1987]

I look at it from this perspective

- tight five no interest from league can’t cross over
- no7 probably too small for league
- no6 & 8 a chance of playing league
- halfback can’t remember too many converts either way in this space
- rest of the backline would attract varying degrees of interest to league

So I reckon only half the positions in a rugby team would be of interest to league.

So on these players yes it will be hard to compete with league and RA doesn’t have the money. So spend the money wisely spread it around and create a bigger pool to draw from. Betting the housekeeping money on one or two teenage rockstars who are still to play a senior game against men where they will not physically and athletically dominate to the same extent as they have done at schoolboy . I would want to observe how they react and respond to that challenge prior to paying some of the money that is talked about these days for kids who have only ever played in under age rugby or league teams.

I agree with most of that except for number 7 bit. Michael Hooper would be an awesome league hooker or halfback. Similarly Damien Cook would be a great number 7.

 

[tragic]

Depends if you see it as the win at all costs or playing for the future. If the later then question becomes is Noah the future 10 for the Wallabies? If so you potentially give him another run.

I'm not sure Hodge at 10 really excites me. After watching Maddocks play against the Argies yestrerday I do wonder if he'd ever be a prospect at 10.

Yeah I agree Hodge isn’t the answer at 10. But in the absence of a standout option at 15, his boot would be useful at the back and he’s solid under the high ball.
With a midfield that’s misfiring put him in the pocket in our half and kick it long and out.
Leave him at the back when we’re on attack in their half.
Worth a try.

 

[Derpus]

Here is some food for thought.

Mounga is only just now starting to put his stamp on test rugby. He is 26 and debuted for Crusaders in 2016.

Lolesio is 20 and only debuted in Super Rugby in 2020. He needs time.

I remember a young Aaron Cruden debuting at 10 for ABs in 2010 in Sydney and being hooked fairly early as he was poor. He developed into a quality test 10.

In hindsight I think an experienced 12 is the way to go. Easier said than done without To'omua though. He's not experienced in test rugby but Hamish Stewart I thought was excellent at 12 for Reds.

I'd also think about Naisarani at 8 and Wilson at 6. McReight looked good.

Daugunu should let his play do the talking - the talk during the week was weird.

For the ABs Smith Mounga, ALB best of the backs and Whitelock and Coles best of the forwards. Sotutu in his first start was very tidy. Some of the ABs bench were a huge step down from the players they replaced though - Perenara and Taylor.

Meh. When the trajectory has been a hard down for 5 years it's a little hard to swallow the 'just give em time' pill.

Shit's fucked yo.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

I'm not sure Hodge at 10 really excites me.

Amazed Aus would even consider it. Dont think he has the speed of thought/organisational acumen/tactical kicking for the position. Good sniping runner but that's not going to get you far in a bogsnot game of inches wrestle versus the anti-rugby NH sides. Handy for long range penalties vs those boring bastards though

 

[molman]

I look at it from this perspective

- tight five no interest from league can’t cross over
- no7 probably too small for league
- no6 & 8 a chance of playing league
- halfback can’t remember too many converts either way in this space
- rest of the backline would attract varying degrees of interest to league

So I reckon only half the positions in a rugby team would be of interest to league.

So on these players yes it will be hard to compete with league and RA doesn’t have the money. So spend the money wisely spread it around and create a bigger pool to draw from. Betting the housekeeping money on one or two teenage rockstars who are still to play a senior game against men where they will not physically and athletically dominate to the same extent as they have done at schoolboy . I would want to observe how they react and respond to that challenge prior to paying some of the money that is talked about these days for kids who have only ever played in under age rugby or league teams.

Problem is Rugby has it coming and going. Already a relatively smaller pool as far as sports go for Rugby in AU, so you are trying to lock down the young talent often on prospect, but then you keep loosing your middle and the late bloomers with more and more players moving offshore to play in England/Ireland/Wales/Japan/France and now even the US with the MLR. So if it isn't League locally, it's rugby abroad, or even worst kids just choosing to not play in the first place.


I love the Shute Shield, but even I'm not daft enough to see that as the pathway to the Wallabies. RA need to get their house in order around what the professional layer is going to be, how to shore up the finances and start to create some real competition for top stops.

 

[KOB1987]

Meh. When the trajectory has been a hard down for 5 years it's a little hard to swallow the 'just give em time' pill.

Shit's fucked yo.

Yeah not quite though. This current crop coming through are next level. Mostly they aren’t ready for test rugby, but they’ve beaten all in front of them at their own age group. The gap will narrow, how much is the unknown.

 

[shanky]

I would just like to see a Dirty Dozen experiment

Where we go to Long Bay and bust out a bunch of Bronson and Lee Marvin characters who get the job done. Just once.

A suicide mission, if you will.

 

[rugboy]

I look at it from this perspective

- tight five no interest from league can’t cross over
- no7 probably too small for league
- no6 & 8 a chance of playing league
- halfback can’t remember too many converts either way in this space
- rest of the backline would attract varying degrees of interest to league

So I reckon only half the positions in a rugby team would be of interest to league.

So on these players yes it will be hard to compete with league and RA doesn’t have the money. So spend the money wisely spread it around and create a bigger pool to draw from. Betting the housekeeping money on one or two teenage rockstars who are still to play a senior game against men where they will not physically and athletically dominate to the same extent as they have done at schoolboy . I would want to observe how they react and respond to that challenge prior to paying some of the money that is talked about these days for kids who have only ever played in under age rugby or league teams.

The odd tight 5 player would be a target. Angus Bell was chased by numerous NRL clubs as was Taniela Tupou
6 and 8 definitely. Big athletic players like Nelson Asofa or Will Harris are in demand. Even remember Max Girdler had significant interest.
Halfbacks convert to hookers with good passing off the deck and the darting runs. Although haven’t been too many targeted.

 

[rugboy]

Depends if you see it as the win at all costs or playing for the future. If the later then question becomes is Noah the future 10 for the Wallabies? If so you potentially give him another run.

I'm not sure Hodge at 10 really excites me. After watching Maddocks play against the Argies yestrerday I do wonder if he'd ever be a prospect at 10.

I remember Cheika once spoke about Maddocks having potential as a 10. Think he would need time in the role at super level but the skills are definitely there. That said, with consistency he is our best 15 going forward. I’d have him there next week.

 

[KOB1987]

I remember Cheika once spoke about Maddocks having potential as a 10. Think he would need time in the role at super level but the skills are definitely there. That said, with consistency he is our best 15 going forward. I’d have him there next week.

I reckon throw out the licquorice all sorts next week:

9. McDermott
10. Harrison
11. Koroibete
12. Lolesio
13. Petaia
14. Wright
15. Maddocks

Nothing to lose, and it is realistically forward looking.

 

[KOB1987]

Fuck, Sean Connery is dead

Edit: wrong thread, wrong forum, but I’ll leave it here anyway

 

[shanky]

Worth a try.

Dagunu is a liability, for all his talent.

You’re just not sure what colour card he’s going to give you each week. Wright should get a chance in a dead rubber.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I agree with most of that except for number 7 bit. Michael Hooper would be an awesome league hooker or halfback. Similarly Damien Cook would be a great number 7.

Hooker definitely, but halfback? Can’t see that. He’d probably make a good league lock

 

[KOB1987]

Hooker definitely, but halfback? Can’t see that. He’d probably make a good league lock

League hookers and halfbacks are virtually interchangeable. The league 5/8 is more like a union 9, but one that can play 10. Ricky Stewart as an example

 

[Slim 293]

10. Harrison

Wait, we hid the 20 year old debutant at fullback all night so we're going to run out with another 20 year old debutant that doesn't even have any Super Rugby form to speak of?

 

[TSR]

Meh. When the trajectory has been a hard down for 5 years it's a little hard to swallow the 'just give em time' pill.

It’s really not. You just appear to love to be negative.

Which is your right, but maybe you should choose not to watch anymore. I honestly think you should consider it. You appear not to enjoy rugby at any level, so why put yourself through it.

 

[TSR]

This is where I think Kafer sucks - Lolesio, and most other 10s - defends at the back all the time. And he’d know that.

I don’t understand why he trots stupid shit like that out.

The ABs gave us a lesson tonight and it was a tough night for a young kid whose been otherwise good all year, but let’s not muddy the water with this ‘he’s being hidden in defence’ bullshit.

 

[Up the Guts]

I don’t think the solution is to move Lolesio to 12. Simone made a couple of handling errors and a poor attempted grubber but, without looking at the stats, he appeared to defend the 12 channel well and he put Petaia away in the lead up to the try. I’d keep him and hope like hell JOC (James O'Connor) is back for 10.

 

[Up the Guts]

This is where I think Kafer sucks - Lolesio, and most other 10s - defends at the back all the time. And he’d know that.

I don’t understand why he trots stupid shit like that out.

The ABs gave us a lesson tonight and it was a tough night for a young kid whose been otherwise good all year, but let’s not muddy the water with this ‘he’s being hidden in defence’ bullshit.

Said something similar a few pages back. Also really annoyed me when Kafe talked about how Beauden would be defending deep and the ABs would plug the hole on Jordie’s wing while he was off so there would be space in behind. Then, when we kick for the space in behind and we don’t retain possession, he starts lecturing us about how we need to hold onto the ball and it was the wrong option. Pick one mate.

 

[TSR]

I just can’t see why we’d be putting a line through anyone after tonight.

Any/all of these guys may or may not go on to be quality test players - but tonight’s game isn’t a good litmus test for that.