RWC Pool C - Australia v Wales - 5AM 25 Sep AEST

[2 + 2]

Hope Georgia make a statement for 6 nations inclusion.

The Fijians are bound to have a game where they dont show up, hopefully Georgia can knock them off.

 

[Sword of Justice]

The problem with this site it's way too over-reactionary. We destroyed Georgia, mainly because we have IMO 2 of the best players in the world, at least tight 5 players. I tried telling everyone this but apparently people believe in James Slipper at TH and whilst Frost was excellent, he's a completely different player to Skelton in terms of skillset.

We were never going to win this and we aren't going to beat Wales either but when we have Skelton and Tupou fit... we can compete with the best.

The problem has been the complete fucking appalling management of the replacements. Why the fuck is Schoupp here instead of Gibbon or Sio? You cannot possibly tell me he puts us in a better chance to win than the others? He got destroyed in the last scrum. Would Sio have?

Why are we picking Pone and Tupou in the same squad when they're both so injury prone? We need a balance. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) (Harry Johnson-Holmes) would've done a better job, or at least Zane should've gotten more minutes in the previous matches.

Why can't we replace Skelton? Well this goes deeper, we should've had Meafou playing for us but we need the biggest like for like replacement to go behind our TH in the scrum. Neville? Why didn't we call-up Tom Staniforth? He's of the best TH locks in France. Massive scrummager and huge ruck shifter. I've defended him but Richie Arnold has been a failure.

How many fucking times do we need to get exposed by having a midget 7 at Test level the last 2 years it's going to sink in the game's moved on? I don't know if Gleeson is the answer but could we at least test it out? Kemeny? When's the last time we won a breakdown battle like Fiji did today albeit helped immensely by Brace.

And don't get me fucking started on the Gordon Carter disaster - gee who could've see this coming. It's like I almost predicted it to a tee except it wasn't supposed to happen against Fiji and now for all of Eddie's chat about backing the young gun he's fucking destroyed him.

Eddie's lost the plot but we all knew this.

That is all just rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

You single out Slipper for a match in which he was absolutely fine. If he'd not played TH then we'd have been smashed on that side instead of LH, zero sum game there.

Isn't HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) also quite injury prone? More semantics.

The Meafou thing happened years ago, no use getting angry about it now. Staniforth has never been close to being selected for the Wallabies and this coaching staff couldn't reasonably be expected to develop him in time for this world cup. Agree though the Richie thing is strange, though he had wraps on him just like Staniforth.

Gleeson has been tried for mixed results. I think he's a great player but I doubt he'd have made a massive difference against Fiji. Agree that the Kemeny selection in the squad is strange.

On Gordon, realistically before the weekend he looked far and away the best 10 in Gold this year. Your guy has played like shit for 7 years so not sure what you're advocating honestly. Pick not the form player? Pick the player that has proven himself to no longer be up to it?

The result on Monday perfectly reflects the quality of the competition and administration that the group of players have been developed in. Changing 13 players every few weeks hasn't worked yet and won't any time soon.

Also, on injuries, I think it's pretty clear that our horror run over the last 3 coaches is because they feel they have to do way more s&c in Wallaby camp than usual because they aren't fit enough. That's another factor of our administration and competition not being fit for purpose any more, which I'm sure you'd agree with.

 

[Slim 293]

The best part of Qwerty's rant is the introductory sentence...

The problem with this site it's way too over-reactionary..........

 

[Braveheart81]

That is all just rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

You single out Slipper for a match in which he was absolutely fine. If he'd not played TH then we'd have been smashed on that side instead of LH, zero sum game there.
.

He's not singling out Slipper. He's saying that he's nowhere near Taniela Tupou when fit and in form (he was one of our best players against Georgia).

Basically Skelton and Tupou are irreplaceable in this team. Players may slot in and play well but they don't replace what we're missing.

In Frost's case he had an excellent game but we really want him playing that well next to Skelton bossing the opposition forward pack. Arnold has been an undisciplined myth.

 

[rugbyAU]

Uelese concussed out for 12 days

 

[Sword of Justice]

He's not singling out Slipper. He's saying that he's nowhere near Taniela Tupou when fit and in form (he was one of our best players against Georgia).

Basically Skelton and Tupou are irreplaceable in this team. Players may slot in and play well but they don't replace what we're missing.

In Frost's case he had an excellent game but we really want him playing that well next to Skelton bossing the opposition forward pack. Arnold has been an undisciplined myth.

These aren't really the points I was making.

 

[Slim 293]

Uelese concussed out for 12 days

This shouldn't be funny, but...

 

[Tomthumb]

He's not singling out Slipper. He's saying that he's nowhere near Taniela Tupou when fit and in form (he was one of our best players against Georgia).

Basically Skelton and Tupou are irreplaceable in this team. Players may slot in and play well but they don't replace what we're missing.

In Frost's case he had an excellent game but we really want him playing that well next to Skelton bossing the opposition forward pack. Arnold has been an undisciplined myth.

If he is saying we cant win without Skelton and Tupou, why bother complaining about Matt Gibbon, Tom Staniforth and Harry Johnson-Holmes not being there

 

[Highlander35]

If Uelese is missing both remaining pool stage games he shouldn't be there anymore. The difference between him and Faessler in any potential quarter is not enough to justify remaining a man down for two must win games.

 

[Lorenzo]

If Uelese is missing both remaining pool stage games he shouldn't be there anymore. The difference between him and Faessler in any potential quarter is not enough to justify remaining a man down for two must win games.

he'll probably get appointed captain now

 

[KOB1987]

So if Eddie is to eat a bit of humble pie (unlikely) and accept that it's experience and not youthfulness we need to dispose of Wales in the required fashion, then we could be looking at something like the below (assuming no squad changes):

1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Faamausili
4. Frost
5. Philip
6. Leota/Hooper
7. McReight
8. Valetini
9. McDermott
10. Gordon/Donaldson *
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Foketi/Petaia ***
14. Nawaqanatiwase
15. Kellaway

16. Faessler
17. Slipper
18. Nongoorr
19. Arnold
20. Leota/Hooper
21. Gleeson
22. White **
23. Gordon/Donaldson

* Indifferent here, Gordon offers more creativity but Dono is a better goalkicker and has a big boot so could be a better fit for a boring 'grind them down' game plan
** I prefer IFL as a player currently but Nic's experience could be invaluable
*** depends on the 10 - Petaia with Gordon; Foketi with Donaldson

 

[Tomthumb]

1. Bell
2. Porecki
3. Fa'amasuli
4. Frost
5. Arnold
6. Hooper
7. Gleeson
8. Valetini
9. McDermott (c)
10. Gordon
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Kellaway
14. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase)
15. Donaldson

16. Faessler
17. Slipper
18. Nongorr
19. Philip
20. McReight
21. Kemeny
22. Fines-Leilewasa
23. Jorgenson

 

[rugbyAU]

If Uelese is missing both remaining pool stage games he shouldn't be there anymore. The difference between him and Faessler in any potential quarter is not enough to justify remaining a man down for two must win games.

Agree, but who else do we have?

 

[Highlander35]

Agree, but who else do we have?

Run with 2 hookers and suggest Schoupp is your 3rd (I think he was playing Hooker until the last 18 months?)

Call up one of Foley or Cooper, play Kellaway at fullback.

 

[Tomthumb]

Agree, but who else do we have?

Lonergan, Mafi, Pollard. Uelese is hardly thereon form

 

[Drew]

tout

That is all just rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

You single out Slipper for a match in which he was absolutely fine. If he'd not played TH then we'd have been smashed on that side instead of LH, zero sum game there.

Isn't HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) (Harry Johnson-Holmes) also quite injury prone? More semantics.

The Meafou thing happened years ago, no use getting angry about it now. Staniforth has never been close to being selected for the Wallabies and this coaching staff couldn't reasonably be expected to develop him in time for this world cup. Agree though the Richie thing is strange, though he had wraps on him just like Staniforth.

Gleeson has been tried for mixed results. I think he's a great player but I doubt he'd have made a massive difference against Fiji. Agree that the Kemeny selection in the squad is strange.

On Gordon, realistically before the weekend he looked far and away the best 10 in Gold this year. Your guy has played like shit for 7 years so not sure what you're advocating honestly. Pick not the form player? Pick the player that has proven himself to no longer be up to it?

The result on Monday perfectly reflects the quality of the competition and administration that the group of players have been developed in. Changing 13 players every few weeks hasn't worked yet and won't any time soon.

Also, on injuries, I think it's pretty clear that our horror run over the last 3 coaches is because they feel they have to do way more s&c in Wallaby camp than usual because they aren't fit enough. That's another factor of our administration and competition not being fit for purpose any more, which I'm sure you'd agree with.

fact is, we risked Bell by playing him for the entire match because we have 2 THPs that aren’t playing at present and had to use Slipper there instead and Eddie didn’t trust his third choice LHP. Sure, we can wait for Tupou to come good, he’s worth it. But Pone? We have Talaki and HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) touring with the BaaBaas right now, both fit and available.

 

[Pfitzy]

Uelese is hardly there on form

I struggle to get him into the top 5 hookers in the nation behind (in no particular order) Porecki, Lonergan, Faessler, Kaitu'u, and Pollard. Even Mafi at the Rebels is as good or better.

 

[Tomthumb]

tout

fact is, we risked Bell by playing him for the entire match because we have 2 THPs that aren’t playing at present and had to use Slipper there instead and Eddie didn’t trust his third choice LHP. Sure, we can wait for Tupou to come good, he’s worth it. But Pone? We have Talaki and HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) (Harry Johnson-Holmes) touring with the BaaBaas right now, both fit and available.

Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel

 

[Beer on the hill]

Stay off ice kids

Must try something new

 

[Braveheart81]

I think Bell played big minutes because he was one of our only dynamic forwards left. Slipper was clearly our second best prop available and it made sense for him to start so we maximised the minutes from our best available players.