RWC: Pool C - Wallabies v Georgia, SdF Sunday 10th September 2am

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I don’t think we have that swinging room now. They are beating sides we lose to currently.

If we play to our potential we should do it comfortably. Problem is the Wallabies have only shown a glimpse of doing that in the last ABs game.

 

[Namerican]

Yes the Donaldson selection is likely going to go down as a wtf moment in history. I’m all for dropping a form player for a goal kicker - I get that part of it.

But given that goal kicker isn’t a very good one it just doesn’t make sense. He must be nailing them at training.

All we can hope is that Donaldson comes out and proves everyone wrong.

They had better goal kickers, better rugby players and better players at both goal kicking and playing rugby. And playing both 10/15.

But Jones went Donaldson.

 

[The Red Baron]

Decent enough side, couple of headscratchers but that comes with the territory with Eddie Jones.

Keen to see the boys on the paddock.

 

[todd4]

It would have been preferable for Donaldson to have had 12 months of Force polish before the World Cup.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Nah, Eddie’s been put to bed by the time the game from Perth starts.

 

[Dctarget]

Think it's pretty clear that Kellaway is Eddie's first choice fullback if Gordon's kicking sticks.

 

[Linerunner2023]

IT'S GEORGIA, stop pretending like its the all-blacks.

Jones mentioned he picked his very team available so going off that Donaldson is picked
Maybe also highlighting jones is loosing confidence in gorden allready?
maybe lack of another 10? Dare I say it but starts bringing another conversation into play which will stir the haters

 

[dusk]

I don’t think we have that swinging room now. They are beating sides we lose to currently.

If we play to our potential we should do it comfortably. Problem is the Wallabies have only shown a glimpse of doing that in the last ABs game.

But people cried when we only had one specialist kicker in the last match, Eddie fixes this with arguably the 'best' solution in a pool of shit solutions, aka moving Donaldson to 15. If we can compete with France with Koro and Kerevi out, we sure as hell can do it against Georgia with/without Kellaway. It's not like he needs to prove himself or gain anymore experience

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Good point. It screams no confidence for me. We are winning this by any means.

I also think without a good kicker (not convinced Donaldson is) we are inviting teams to go nuts at the breakdown and push it as we won’t be going up by 3s inside their half. Not an ideal situation with a young 10 if he’s getting shit ball or an offside defence.

 

[KOB1987]

I think it's safe to assume that Eddie's attitude to selections are different for a round 1 pool game v Georgia compared with a semi final against a top 4 side. Relax peoples.

 

[Joe Blow]

My take on Kellaway/Donaldson in the No 15 jersey from Eddie Jones' point of view is that Jones sees Kellaway as consistent, reliable, and that this is as good a time to rest him for the following reasons. (But that he is the number one choice as fullback is a given).
With Donaldson, Jones is gambling that he will assimilate into the position with the other players around him in a game that the Wallabies should win, & win convincingly. Donaldson is really there for covering the No 10, both in this game & from on the bench in the future. He might well swap positions occasionally with Gordon from time to time during this game.
I would also suggest he will be fullback against Portugal, or even flyhalf to give Gordon a rest, which would probably mean Kellaway playing every game from here on .
Basically Donaldson has to serve as the reserve goal kicker. And no one else in the squad has experience at flyhalf ( which still baffles me)

And therein lies the issue with not selecting a second specialist 10. Lolesio, Foley, Cooper, Hodge, O’Connor…….whoever, it doesn’t matter. Someone who can play 10 at test level and kick goals reasonably well.

 

[Joe Blow]

Goal kicking does win test matches, particularly tight ones. These days there are usually none tighter or more under pressure than World Cup knock out games(assuming we get that far). Choosing a squad without a single established test kicker is just………..I don’t fucking know, but whatever it is, it is neither smart or part of a genius plan. Not in the real rugby world anyway.
Selecting Donaldson and discarding Kellaway completely in order to back up your mediocre goal kicker makes even less sense. If you are not kicking goals then at least look to win in increments of 5 against the likes of Georgia.

It’s only Georgia I hear some shout. Well, we are 0-5 and Georgia are no longer the easy beats of the past. We need a good win.

 

[Ignoto]

I dont know what all the fuss is about. Kellaway would be there if he or anyone in that backline was capable of kicking at the posts.

Just highlights how one dimensional our backline options are when you compare us to other nations. Hell the ABS have Richie and Barrett's x 2 in the 23 who kick at goal.

Tell the backs to be better and you can pick whoever you want at fullback.

 

[Derpus]

I dont know what all the fuss is about. Kellaway would be there if he or anyone in that backline was capable of kicking at the posts.

Just highlights how one dimensional our backline options are when you compare us to other nations. Hell the ABS have Richie and Barrett's x 2 in the 23 who kick at goal.

Tell the backs to be better and you can pick whoever you want at fullback.

It is a skill literally any player can develop, too. But there's no point complaining about the systemic inadequacies of Australian rugby at the pointy end of a RWC. Unless you are Pfitzy.

 

[fatprop]

Just to add to the fun, "if" Donaldson gets injured we are likely to see Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) at 15 for the Wobs ..................................

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Petaia not more likely to move back and Foketi to the Centres?

 

[fatprop]

Petaia not more likely to move back and Foketi to the Centres?

So Kerevi would play 80?

 

[KOB1987]

So Kerevi would play 80?

Against this lot I reckon we would see 12. Foketi 13. Suli provided we have a decent lead, if not Kerevi might go more than 40

 

[Derpus]

Against this lot I reckon we would see 12. Foketi 13. Suli provided we have a decent lead, if not Kerevi might go more than 40

Yes lets put the most positionally challenged back we have in the most positionally challenging role.

 

[LeCheese]

I'd hazard a guess JOC (James O'Connor) would come straight in should we lose a centre