RWC Pool D - Wallabies vs Wales - Sunday 29 September 2019 @ 5.45pm

[Braveheart81]

The crunch game of the pool.

The winner will top the pool and likely face France in a quarter final. The loser most likely plays England in the quarters and then the All Blacks in the semi-final.

For the Wallabies, Reece Hodge will be lucky not to be suspended. Expect Dane Haylett-Petty to replace him.

White, Leali'ifano and Beale all had poor to average games against Fiji and need to improve. No guarantees that all of them will see their name on the starting teamsheet again this week.

The forwards were generally good against Fiji. Whether Cheika and co. persist with the same backrow is uncertain. You'd figure that there is a reasonable chance LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) will start to increase our size and ensure the lineout is as strong as possible.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Think Genia and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) will come in, with White and Pocock to the bench. Got 80 minutes into Poey against Fiji, so mission accomplished there.

Hodge likely out, DHP in and that's enough changes.

Couldn't believe Hodge was taking those straight forward shots at goal. From 40+ fair enough but these were close ones. Was CLL injured?

 

[Braveheart81]

Couldn't believe Hodge was taking those straight forward shots at goal. From 40+ fair enough but these were close ones. Was CLL injured?

He passed on the kicking duties to Hodge after his second kick. Not sure if it was injury or form related. He didn't strike either of his first two kicks at all well (the first one was easy enough that it still went over. It was ugly though).

 

[VassMan]

Any chance of Petaia being back to replace Hodge?

 

[BDA]

i have a feeling that Goal kicking could be our undoing, as it was against Wales the last time we played. Lilo is looking like a 50/50 kicker right now. Call me crazy but with Hodge out, do you give the tee to O'Connor perhaps?

I agree with others that LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) should start at 6, with Pocock on the bench.

 

[BDA]

Any chance of Petaia being back to replace Hodge?

I'd say we'll see petaia against Uruguay and Georgia and then possibly in the quarters if he really shines in those games.

 

[VassMan]

I'd say we'll see petaia against Uruguay and Georgia and then possibly in the quarters if he really shines in those games.

Yeah fair call. I can dream though! I wouldn't be against starting To'omua either.

 

[Viking]

Yeh I'm keen for To'omua to start - and take the kicking duties. Lilo's way out of form and body probably needs time to recover.

 

[KOB1987]

Yeh I'm keen for To'omua to start - and take the kicking duties. Lilo's way out of form and body probably needs time to recover.

Nah fuck starting To'omua at 10, it's never worked, and especially against Wales, his kicking game is shite. If Lilo is dropped it will be for Foley.

EDIT: I know Foley's kicking game is shite too, but it's a different kind of shite. He doesn't make metres but at least he's accurate. To'omua will kick it straight to the opposition players in the best position to launch a counter attack.

 

[Braveheart81]

If Lilo gets dropped I'd expect Foley to start. I don't think To'omua will be started in the 10 jersey.

I don't expect it to happen. Continuity will be favoured with the thought that the players who underperformed can improve.

 

[fatprop]

He passed on the kicking duties to Hodge after his second kick. Not sure if it was injury or form related. He didn't strike either of his first two kicks at all well (the first one was easy enough that it still went over. It was ugly though).

A number of kickers are having issues with the balls

 

[Brumby Runner]

The crunch game of the pool.

The winner will top the pool and likely face France in a quarter final. The loser most likely plays England in the quarters and then the All Blacks in the semi-final.

For the Wallabies, Reece Hodge will be lucky not to be suspended. Expect Dane Haylett-Petty to replace him.

White, Leali'ifano and Beale all had poor to average games against Fiji and need to improve. No guarantees that all of them will see their name on the starting teamsheet again this week.

The forwards were generally good against Fiji. Whether Cheika and co. persist with the same backrow is uncertain. You'd figure that there is a reasonable chance LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) will start to increase our size and ensure the lineout is as strong as possible.

I do think LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) must come into the starting side to bolster the lineout against Wales. That means Poey to the bench, even though he would complement LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Isi if he were to play 7. If Hodge is suspended, that might save Beale's spot, but otherwise it probably should be DHP in at 15. An option would be Kuridrani on the wing. Would that improve or diminish the speed available out wide?

I'm not unhappy with White starting against Wales. They play the game he is used to after 3 or 4 years in Europe/UK. Both Willy G and Matt To'omua were very good off the bench and I expect they will play from there again this weekend.

 

[BDA]

I actually seem to have more trust in To'omua at 10 than a lot of people on this site. But I gotta agree with KOB and BH, we won't be seeing him start at 10 this world cup.

Actually To'omua coming off the bench is one of the few things that's works consistently well for us this season imo. He just suits that role so well and neither Foley nor Lilo offer the versatility to start from the bench. ​

I guess if you came up against England you could make a case for a defensively strong 10 like To'omua, to defend Tuilagi but otherwise....​

 

[BDA]

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) gonna have to watch his body height with ball in hand. The Welsh have in the past (including at the 2015 RWC) adopted the tactic of holding up the ball runner to start a maul and create a turnover. He's a ripe target.

 

[Viking]

Nah fuck starting To'omua at 10, it's never worked, and especially against Wales, his kicking game is shite. If Lilo is dropped it will be for Foley.

EDIT: I know Foley's kicking game is shite too, but it's a different kind of shite. He doesn't make metres but at least he's accurate. To'omua will kick it straight to the opposition players in the best position to launch a counter attack.

I think To'omua has a better kicking game then Foley.

 

[fatprop]

I think To'omua has a better kicking game then Foley.

We won't beat Wales by having a better kicking game, at best that will limit the amount of a loss.

This will be a ground war, one or lost on whether we can stop them on the gain line, have a functional set piece and cope with their blitz defense

 

[John S]

https://www.therugbyruckus.com/2019/09/23/the-hodge-tackle/

Morgan Turinui's take on the tackle.

 

[formerflanker]

https://www.therugbyruckus.com/2019/09/23/the-hodge-tackle/

Morgan Turinui's take on the tackle.

"If you believe it merited a Penalty try, Red card, Penalty only or play on or should result in a suspension to Reece Hodge then by the current laws of the game you are just plain wrong."
He really says what he means. No mucking around here.

 

[BDA]

Just watched the wales goergia game. Hard to take much away from it. Aside from some solid set piece work georgia didnt have much to threaten wales. Tbh its not a great warm up game for wales; they would have been better off playing a team that can at least challenge them a little in attack.

I cant say i really rate Wales and there was nothing i saw today that makes me think we shouldnt beat them. Then again a lack of tactical nous and a genuine goal kicker will probably sink us anyway

 

[cyclopath]

I think To'omua has a better kicking game then Foley.

Tactically, I agree.
I’d be surprised if his goal-kicking over time was at a higher %, though.
It seems to me that To'omua is being used specifically as the 10 or 12 sub.
If they decide not to start Leali’ifano then I think they will start Foley.
Personally, I’d persist with the current set-up, with maybe Genia starting.
Either way, our goal-kicking is gonna bite us on the arse.