Bledisloe #4 New Zealand vs Australia Nov 7 2020

[Brumby Runner]

Seb, think you'll find that Wright had the most or second most steals in SRAu. He is very effective jumping at 2 in the lineout.

 

[Brumby Runner]

But obviously Hooper should be dropped now for him. Apparently...

I would Cyclo, for the reasons I have stated. It might be that he suffers because the 6 and 8 can't jump effectively, but we have another 7 who does jump and is very effective at it. For Hooper, it is just the same as it was for Pocock over recent years - best in the position but loses out due to deficiencies in other players, ie no reasonable No 8 when Poey was selected there. No real difference.

I do see in a couple of years, probably post RWC23 that McReight will be in a position to replace Wright at 7, but we need to have lineout options in our 6 and 8 options for that to happen happily. Best chance of that happening might be for LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to revert to 6 if and when our younger locks start to come through.

Called long term planning.

 

[Braveheart81]

Wright played out of position in Bledisloe 2. He is a 7, not a 6 though passable there too at Super Rugby level. I don't think there would be a player anywhere who hasn't had the ball stripped from them by one of the NZ No 9s. Doubt it will happen again any time soon.

How does anything that happened in general play have to do with the number of his back?

This is such a bizarre premise that the general play that saw him not getting selected again would be different if he had a different jersey number.

Hooper is clearly our best 7 and has been among our best players in all three tests. I really can't see him being dropped.

 

[Joe Blow]

In my ideal world, KOB, Liam Wright would not only play 7 but would be captain.

Liam Wright would be no higher than 3rd in line to play 7 for the Wallabies, and that may be generous. You cannot be captain unless you are an automatic selection. Hooper is that at 7 right now, as captain or not. McReight may challenge him in the next few years but right now thats just what it is.

 

[eastman]

The 7 is rarely a jumper. The fact that Wilson and Naisarani aren't great jumpers are their own shortcomings, not Hooper's.

This is where I don't understand BR's absolutely doggedness- no open side breakaway in the world is selected for their line out ability.

 

[Viking]

This is where I don't understand BR's absolutely doggedness- no open side breakaway in the world is selected for their line out ability.

This was my first thought, but then I realized its 2020. Players are so dynamic and multi-faceted these days. I think it's far more important to find balance amongst the backrow. The "traditional" roles of each position are becoming less important and I believe its far more important to find that balance amongst the whole pack.

Not that I'm advocating for Hooper to be dropped for Wright. But BR has a point, let's say the form was pretty close between Hooper/Wright (which is obviously isn't), then I see no reason why he shouldn't get selected for his line-out ability.

Read at 8 comes to mind, traditionally 8's were never primary jumpers but it was one the biggest parts of his game. Why can't Wright do the same for the 7 position? I believe Steph De Tout (you know the world player of year) is also a solid line-out jumper.

 

[eastman]

PDST is also more of a 6 than a 7 as is the SA way but that is besides the point.

Absolutely agree; if the two were neck and neck you would definitely weigh up the line-out jumping ability, but as it stands we would be a weaker team with Wright on the field than Hooper.

 

[Dctarget]

Get Mowen down if he's not still drunk.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Obviously making a few changes won't fix what happened on Saturday but it is nice to speculate.

At a minimum I would like to see Tate start, Naisarani in, Samu on bench and Hosea getting some game time. The rest can stay the same.

 

[ACT Crusader]

For the AB's the major changed I'd make would be to give Cane a rest, Akira a go at blindside, and Jordan a run on the wing. I'd eschew a complete XV overhaul because A) I'd rather try and keep the pressure up on the young Wallabies outfit; and B) we have the Pumas match for that.

1. Moody
2. Coles
3. Tu'ungufasi
4. Tuipulotu
5. Whitelock (C)
6. A.Ioane
7. Papali'i
8. Sotutu
9. Smith
10. Mo'unga
11. Clarke
12. Goodhue
13. Lienert-Brown
14. Jordan
15. B.Barrett

16. Aumua
17. Hodgman
18. Lomax/Laulala
19. Vaa'i
20. Savea
21. Webber
22. Laumape
23. J.Barrett/R.Ioane

Aumua brought in because it seems Coles has stolen Taylors life essence, as he's been flat across the Bledisloe series while Old Man Coles has risen like Lazarus. I don't think S.Barrett has been that effective after his long injury layoff, so would look to give Vaa'i another run instead. Webber because I've had enough of Perenara's terrible passes.

Also a bench of Aumua, Savea, Laumape, and (potentially) R.Ioane could be a hell of a late match power punch.

If they rest Cane, I can’t see them leaving Savea out of the starting lineup. Savea is leader in this team and I can’t see them have a near rookie back row starting a test match. It doesn’t appear to be Foster’s approach.

I think Weber is a shot at being in the 23.

 

[Dctarget]

Neville called up to squad with injury cloud over LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto).

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I'd certainly like to see Samu back.

 

[Froggy]

So we have three choices to replace LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), being Simmons, Neville or Hosea. All have merit, but for mine I would start Simmons and have Hosea on the bench. Bring Samu onto the bench for McReight, and the rest of the pack unchanged. I am unconvinced by White, but it's probably not time for a change. If he put the effort he currently expends on yacking and baiting other players into making some f...ing tackles it would be a start. JOC (James O'Connor) definitely returns to 10, I would keep the centres as they are, Wright replaces Daugunu and DHP retains 15. Tate, Harrison and Hodge on the bench.

 

[Dctarget]

So we have three choices to replace LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), being Simmons, Neville or Hosea. All have merit, but for mine I would start Simmons and have Hosea on the bench. Bring Samu onto the bench for McReight, and the rest of the pack unchanged. I am unconvinced by White, but it's probably not time for a change. If he put the effort he currently expends on yacking and baiting other players into making some f.ing tackles it would be a start. JOC (James O'Connor) definitely returns to 10, I would keep the centres as they are, Wright replaces Daugunu and DHP retains 15. Tate, Harrison and Hodge on the bench.

Yeah I like all those changes except I'd keep Daugunu. It was only two games ago we were singing his praises as finally a destructive winger who can do it all against the ABs. Keep him in the set up, man's ceiling is high.

 

[eastman]

Koribete is proving to be a bit of a flat track bully- give Wright a turn- he won’t do any worse.

 

[Brumby Runner]

This is where I don't understand BR's absolutely doggedness- no open side breakaway in the world is selected for their line out ability.

Because they pick 6s and 8s who can jump effectively. We don't atm have that advantage. Samu can jump at No 2 and makes steals on oppositi90on ball, but apparently Rennie isn't enamored. Hanigan jumps (but did he even take a catch in either Bleds 2 and 3?) but he lacks physicality in his play otherwise. None of Valetini, Wilson or Naisarani jump effectively at all. Wright plays 7 but just happens to be the best lineout option among the potential backrowers.

 

[Joe Blow]

Because they pick 6s and 8s who can jump effectively. We don't atm have that advantage. Samu can jump at No 2 and makes steals on oppositi90on ball, but apparently Rennie isn't enamored. Hanigan jumps (but did he even take a catch in either Bleds 2 and 3?) but he lacks physicality in his play otherwise. None of Valetini, Wilson or Naisarani jump effectively at all. Wright plays 7 but just happens to be the best lineout option among the potential backrowers.

If you look at the A game against Argentina they threw successfully 3 times to Valetini at 2. He had a solid 20 minutes.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

So we have three choices to replace LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), being Simmons, Neville or Hosea. All have merit, but for mine I would start Simmons and have Hosea on the bench. Bring Samu onto the bench for McReight, and the rest of the pack unchanged. I am unconvinced by White, but it's probably not time for a change. If he put the effort he currently expends on yacking and baiting other players into making some f.ing tackles it would be a start. JOC (James O'Connor) definitely returns to 10, I would keep the centres as they are, Wright replaces Daugunu and DHP retains 15. Tate, Harrison and Hodge on the bench.

I think dropping daugunu and giving Wright a run makes sense.

I would drop Hanigan though and put Wilson at 6 and Samu at 8.

JOC (James O'Connor) definitely at 10 and would hunter at 12. I would drop irae and put maddocks on the bench with hodge.

 

[Viking]

I think dropping daugunu and giving Wright a run makes sense.

I would drop Hanigan though and put Wilson at 6 and Samu at 8.

JOC (James O'Connor) definitely at 10 and would hunter at 12. I would drop irae and put maddocks on the bench with hodge.

So you'd go back to the same backrow as Bled 1. Not sure Rennie will roundabout back to that, it was clearly missing something he wanted, he's more likely to keep trying out different combinations.

 

[Joe Blow]

Valetini at 6 with Samu on the bench?
Wright would come in in place of Daugunu not MK if it happens.