The Wallabies Thread

[fatprop]

Obviosuly. Discussing player selections is a cometely different issue to discussing coaching and management appointments or at least who their replacement should be. Players are selected from a pool of players who have already signed contracts with the ARU making themselves available for higher selection, coaches and management are not.

That doesn't make management or coaches above criticism, I get a little tired of this demand that we shouldn't criticise Pulver/Cheika/Clyne/Grey unless you can name the replacement who could start in the job tommorow. There's an enormous amount of variables when it comes to management and coaching recruitment that it would be a pointless game of hypotheticals. Does that mean we shouldn't discuss the respective underperformance though? Absolutely not.

Mate, I just dislike complaining without solutions.

I would suggest " There's an enormous amount of variables when it comes to management and coaching recruitment that it would be a pointless game of hypotheticals." is just not correct and this is no different from the player selection arguments that keep the pages turning over here in "pointless hypotheticals".

 

[TOCC]

Mate, I just dislike complaining without solutions.

I would suggest " There's an enormous amount of variables when it comes to management and coaching recruitment that it would be a pointless game of hypotheticals." is just not correct and this is no different from the player selection arguments that keep the pages turning over here in "pointless hypotheticals".

Mate, there's been no shortage of suggestions for solutions, from player selection to coaching appointments and game plan implementation, some crazy, some not so crazy. You haven't agreed with them, thus you don't feel they are credible solutions.

People have the right to hold accountable those who fulfill representative and professional roles within the game. Those playing in the jerseys, coaching the team or running the organisation are the custodians of the game at this point in time. They aren't above criticism or praise, even if someone can't name a worthy replacement for Pulver, or name a coach who is available to take over Grey or Larkham, doesn't mean that questions shouldn't be asked of their performance.

what is it you suggest we do on these forums if we aren't to objectively analyse the performance of the team?

 

[TOCC]

I think Cheika is a good coach, and he has an engaging personality which clicks with the players, media and fans.

But, i believe he also needs to adapt his game plan, in the post RWC era, Wallabies have won only 44% of their test matches. He has also hired a defensive coach from the team with Australias worst defensive record, and an attacking coach from the team with Australias worst attacking record. Losing at home to Scotland team lacking their B&I Lions players was close to embarrassing and additionally letting the Italians come close to beating the Wallabies at Suncorp would have been a disaster.

I dont like all of his selections, and some decisions like taking Koroibete on the Spring Tour last year before playing a game of Super Rugby sent the wrong message to players and fans alike, playing players out of positions and more recently, the lack of a backup specialist 5/8 is concerning.

But, i don't think he should be replaced just yet, he strikes me as the person who can adapt, i still think he is the right coach for Australia for the rest of 2017, there are 10 test matches to go this year and a match against the Barbarians, i hope to see some improvement.

Realistically i don't see Australia beating the kiwis at all in 2017, nor do i think they will win away in South Africa or England. I do expect them to win against South Africa(home), Argentina(Home and Away), Japan(Away), Barbarians(home) and Scotland(Away). Win those and he will be nudging back over 50% win ratio.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

^^^"know what I mean?"

 

[Brumby Runner]

TOCC, as you say, Cheika's record in the post RWC period is around 44% If he wins 5 out 10 upcoming, as you have surmised, that will not get him back over 50%. In fact won't make much difference at all. But it does raise the question, at what point will Cheika's appointment become dubious? What if he fails to win 5 out of 10 in the remainder of the year. It is a big assumption to think that the Wallabies might beat the Saffas here, or Scotland in Scotland.

Where do we go it he only achieves say 2 or 3 wins? He must be held responsible for his lack of achievement at some time, surely.

 

[KOB1987]

There's actually 11 tests, we play Wales in between Japan and England

 

[fatprop]

I think we are a chance of winning 3 to 6 at best

We aren't good enough to beat the kiwis or england or the boks in SA

New Zealand--vs--Australia - Loss
Australia--vs--South Africa - Chance
Australia--vs--Argentina - Win
South Africa--vs--Australia - Loss
Argentina--vs--Australia - Chance
Australia--vs--New Zealand - Loss
Japan--vs--Australia - Win
Wales--vs--Australia - Win
England--vs--Australia - Loss
Scotland--vs--Australia - Chance

 

[Beer Baron]

I think we are a chance of winning 3 to 6 at best

We aren't good enough to beat the kiwis or england or the boks in SA

New Zealand--vs--Australia - Loss
Australia--vs--South Africa - Chance
Australia--vs--Argentina - Win
South Africa--vs--Australia - Loss
Argentina--vs--Australia - Chance
Australia--vs--New Zealand - Loss
Japan--vs--Australia - Win
Wales--vs--Australia - Win
England--vs--Australia - Loss
Scotland--vs--Australia - Chance

I wouldn't pencil in the Wales win just yet. history is just that

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[TSR]

Leaving aside the selection issues, I am hoping that Cheika & Grey use the relatively long lead in time to -
- introduce a new, more aggressive defensive pattern
- spend a lot of time on our kick strategy, including a strong emphasis on kick chase (I found Cheika's admission that they don't focus on practicing their kick-chase because they are too busy practicing 'playing footy' an incredibly concerning comment - I hope like hell I somehow missed that he was joking). Plan to make use of Beale/Hunt/DHP.
- whilst trying to bring the players fitness up to scratch, I hope there is a big emphasis on support play, work ethic & dirty work

Of the 3, I think the third most likely as that actually seems in line with Cheika's mind set. Unfortunately I am not confident on the first 2 which really does
make me wonder what Cheika & Grey are thinking

 

[ShtinaTina]

Where are the rest of the players not selected for the Wallabies?

QC (Quade Cooper) was dropped. Don't think sugarcoating it helps. Hard to argue he had a good year and is only considered due to a lack of 10's. So why shouldn't he be off enjoying his time with the rest of the players not selected for Wallabies duty. It means SFA and I am quite happy TBH. A fresh QC (Quade Cooper) is very good for the Reds next year.

It was an observation, nothing more.

 

[TOCC]

Meanwhile QC (Quade Cooper) is having a rest in Bali

This is due to the RUPA EBA and the later finish of the Shute Shield and NRC.. Players have a mandated number of weeks a year holidays, previously they would take them after the end of the NRC and before the Super Rugby pre-season, however with the Shute Shield finishing later and the Fiji's inclusion in the NRC adding in an extra round this means the players now can't take all their holidays after the NRC, instead they have to take them now. So most non-Wallaby Super Rugby players are on holidays until next week, and will then return for club rugby/NRC. Wallaby squad members will miss part of the Super Rugby pre-season(usually the period before Xmas) and return early January

It's a ridiculous scenario given the June test series just occurred, but technically they weren't able to take holidays during that period.

 

[upthereds#!]

I think we are a chance of winning 3 to 6 at best

We aren't good enough to beat the kiwis or england or the boks in SA

New Zealand--vs--Australia - Loss
Australia--vs--South Africa - Chance
Australia--vs--Argentina - Win
South Africa--vs--Australia - Loss
Argentina--vs--Australia - Chance
Australia--vs--New Zealand - Loss
Japan--vs--Australia - Win
Wales--vs--Australia - Win
England--vs--Australia - Loss
Scotland--vs--Australia - Chance

I'm calling 6/10 wins.

 

[Ruggo]

So it's in the bag that we will beat Japan. Wow, looks to me we aren't in any position to make such assumptions.

 

[Gnostic]

So it's in the bag that we will beat Japan. Wow, looks to me we aren't in any position to make such assumptions.

Agree Ruggo, Mafi, has been the best forward in Australian Rugby this year and Leitch pretty handy as well, if Japan can build around them again like they did at the RWC against SA the Wallabies are ripe for the taking.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think Cheik is currently our best coach and as such back him to coach the national side. With that said, I agree with others who want him to adapt the current game plan, because other sides have moved on where we haven't since RWC2015. I think we have most of the cattle required, with a couple of notable exceptions (such as a viable alternative 10), but we're using them incorrectly or in the wrong positions in some cases. What I really want to see from the current training period into TRC is for there to be a clear honing of our skills and some changes in the shape of both our attack and defence.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think 6 out of 10 or 11 should be the minimum we demand, but I expect it will be fewer than that. We have Buckleys in the three NZ tests, very minimal chance v SA in SA and more than likely lose three of the tests v Argentina (2), SA at home, Wales and Scotland. That would result in 7 losses and 3 or 4 wins depending on the Baa Baas match having test status.

I think such an outcome would be totally unacceptable. Cheika, Grey and Larkham should terminate their appointments if that happens.

 

[Joe Blow]

That sounds like some more depressing results coming up. Hopefully the ARU has a backup plan if we do continue to have less than satisfactory results. Somehow I doubt it though.........

 

[Quick Hands]

I wouldn't pencil in the Wales win just yet. history is just that

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I wouldn't pencil any win in at the current time. The only game that I would have any confidence at all is the Japan test, Argentina in Perth looks the next best chance, but I wouldn't even back the Wallabies with your money let alone mine.

 

[Forcefield]

I've worked out why Fardy was dropped. Cheika was concerned that his tape over mouth strategy might not go down well with Fardy's beard. So Fardy will be joining the team in two weeks when the mouth taping is finished and the rope carrying is in full swing.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...-makes-wallabies-tape-over-mouths-in-training

 

[lpd]

Right. Here's a team I think would be best placed to win 6 or 7 tests this year.

15. Beale
14. Folau
13. Kerevi
12. Khunt
11. DHP
10. Foley
9. Genia

8. Timani
7. Hooper
6. Fardy
5. Coleman
4. Arnold
3. Ala'alatoa
2. Moore (c)
1. Sio

16. TPN
17. Cowan
18. Kepu
19. Carter
20. Hardwick
21. Powell
22. Hodge (Would like to see Lealifaano potentially come in here later on)
23. TK