The Wallabies Thread

[Braveheart81]

But he (Cheika) has been playing ducks and drakes with the locks for the past couple of years. First Simmons is in and then he's dropped. Carter gets a go and is discarded. Douglas doesn't even get a look in iirc. In the meantime, a couple of new blood replacements come in and prove to be the real deal, Arnold and Coleman. It is time that the present group of triers is either dispensed with, or that he just settles on which one he is willing to wear as the third string player and go with it.

Tui would be in the squad again and presumably next in line for a test debut if he wasn't injured. Rodda is now in that space.

I don't really see how it is better for the Wallabies to settle on one of Carter, Douglas and Simmons. Trying to get all three of them to improve and compete for the spot seems like the best option to me.

Longer term (and perhaps even this season) we won't need any of them regularly.

 

[Scrubber2050]

So what does Cheika strive for in a lock.
Essentials
Dynamite lineout jumper
Always get over the advantage line in attack
Dominant tackler each time
Get a turnover or 2
dominate rucks and mauls both in attack and defence
Back up forward runners
Catch and pass in attack
Scrummage excellently
play the 80

Other Attributes preferred
90 % successful goal kicker
90% Drop goal kicker.
Does the 100 sub 11 seconds

Chek's a hard man to please !

 

[fatprop]

But he (Cheika) has been playing ducks and drakes with the locks for the past couple of years. First Simmons is in and then he's dropped. Carter gets a go and is discarded. Douglas doesn't even get a look in iirc. In the meantime, a couple of new blood replacements come in and prove to be the real deal, Arnold and Coleman. It is time that the present group of triers is either dispensed with, or that he just settles on which one he is willing to wear as the third string player and go with it.

"Ducks and drakes" or just trying find units that will work and play the way he wants them to, so far we have two definites

 

[Scrubber2050]

That may change AGAIN - who knows ?

 

[mudskipper]

Carter's Super Rugby statistics were better than Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Izack Rodda and Adam Coleman, but Cheika opted to cut the 27-year-old before the Bledisloe Cup opener

 

[Braveheart81]

Carter's Super Rugby statistics were better than Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Izack Rodda and Adam Coleman, but Cheika opted to cut the 27-year-old before the Bledisloe Cup opener

 

[Mr Doug]

I don't have this issue on Chrome. I don't use any third party adblocker or anything like that.

I do!

 

[TSR]

I get frustrated with Cheika's selection policies, but on the other hand pretty much all of us have bemoaned the performance of our locks for years.

I assume Cheika would kill for one of them to demand inclusion in the 23. Preferably put pressure on Coleman & Arnold for a starting role.

 

[Scrubber2050]

I get frustrated with Cheika's selection policies, but on the other hand pretty much all of us have bemoaned the performance of our locks for years.

I assume Cheika would kill for one of them to demand inclusion in the 23. Preferably put pressure on Coleman & Arnold for a starting role.

Well we'll see how good Coleman is when he is targeted by the AB and Saffa packs.

Hopefully he comes through with flying colours

 

[TSR]

Well, he'll suffer by comparison unless the other 7 forwards come to play as well. Even then not too many get the better of Retallick, Whitelock, Etzabeth & co.

Even if he was the Messiah, it's an 8 man job.

But certainly he seems the lock most likely since Horwill was in his prime and doesn't seem the least concerned by reputations.

 

[dru]

Well, he'll suffer by comparison unless the other 7 forwards come to play as well. Even then not too many get the better of Retallick, Whitelock, Etzabeth & co.

Even if he was the Messiah, it's an 8 man job.

But certainly he seems the lock most likely since Horwill was in his prime and doesn't seem the least concerned by reputations.

Yep. Coleman is a keeper. I relish seeing him growing when up against the Kiwis and Springboks.

As you say. He needs a few others to come with him.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Well, he'll suffer by comparison unless the other 7 forwards come to play as well. Even then not too many get the better of Retallick, Whitelock, Etzabeth & co.

Even if he was the Messiah, it's an 8 man job.

But certainly he seems the lock most likely since Horwill was in his prime and doesn't seem the least concerned by reputations.

Well we only have a 7 man forward pack at the best of times.

Hooper need to be a part of the pack

 

[fatprop]

Well we only have a 7 man forward pack at the best of times.

Hooper need to be a part of the pack

How often do you think we see the whole forward pack at any ruck?

From memory there are two senarios

1/ the cleanout was crap
2/ there is a counter ruck call

Pretty well every other occasion we want to see a ruck managed by 3 or 4 units at most because there is no one available to do their job at that next phase; which is what the good side plan for (attacking that next phase)

 

[TSR]

Well we only have a 7 man forward pack at the best of times.

Hooper need to be a part of the pack

I'm pretty sure that, despite being used in the wider channels he still has the highest involvement stats in most matches he plays. Certainly in the top 2-3.

Out of interest, what is your opinion on Kieran Read?

 

[Scrubber2050]

I'm pretty sure that, despite being used in the wider channels he still has the highest involvement stats in most matches he plays. Certainly in the top 2-3.

Out of interest, what is your opinion on Kieran Read?

Read plays 8 I'm pretty sure

 

[Scrubber2050]

How often do you think we see the whole forward pack at any ruck?

From memory there are two senarios

1/ the cleanout was crap
2/ there is a counter ruck call

Pretty well every other occasion we want to see a ruck managed by 3 or 4 units at most because there is no one available to do their job at that next phase; which is what the good side plan for (attacking that next phase)

Of course not but I'd like to see IF he is capable of being a member of the 8 instead of cherry picking

 

[Viking]

How often do you think we see the whole forward pack at any ruck?

From memory there are two senarios

1/ the cleanout was crap
2/ there is a counter ruck call

Pretty well every other occasion we want to see a ruck managed by 3 or 4 units at most because there is no one available to do their job at that next phase; which is what the good side plan for (attacking that next phase)

For me, Hooper needs to hit more rucks. He is the most (or at least should be) effective player (when poey ain't there) at slowing opposition ball down, or making a pilfer. And he should also be a very good at cleaning out on attacking rucks.

Many will disagree, but I think if his priorities/mentality changes he could play the fetcher role.

So why on earth isn't he used more in that aspect? Your specialist fetcher is told by coaches not to hit rucks? Wtf?

The whole strategy just wrecks of inefficiency. Use your god damn 7, the most mobile player in the pack to attack opposition ball. For God's sake.

Especially now that Fardy to gone too.

 

[fatprop]

For me, Hooper needs to hit more rucks. He is the most (or at least should be) effective player (when poey ain't there) at slowing opposition ball down, or making a pilfer. And he should also be a very good at cleaning out on attacking rucks.

Many will disagree, but I think if his priorities/mentality changes he could play the fetcher role.

So why on earth isn't he used more in that aspect? Your specialist fetcher is told by coaches not to hit rucks? Wtf?

The whole strategy just wrecks of inefficiency. Use your god damn 7, the most mobile player in the pack to attack opposition ball. For God's sake.

Especially now that Fardy to gone too.

That isn't the way the Wobs (and most other countries) play, they commit as few as possible and fan out unless they get a dominant tackle, then they attack.

Under the current rules, the units slowing down the ball are all penalty magnets, Latu, Fardy etc

 

[Viking]

That isn't the way the Wobs (and most other countries) play, they commit as few as possible and fan out unless they get a dominant tackle, then they attack.

Under the current rules, the units slowing down the ball are all penalty magnets, Latu, Fardy etc

What a load of crap. Pocock destroys this strategy. Just refer to the RWC for this.

There is really no reason why a pack of 7 can't play the way you describe and have only ONE player prioritising fetching and slowing the ball down. A good seven will still pick his moments - so its not like they are losing anything.

 

[Braveheart81]

What a load of crap. Pocock destroys this strategy. Just refer to the RWC for this.

There is really no reason why a pack of 7 can't play the way you describe and have only ONE player prioritising fetching and slowing the ball down. A good seven will still pick his moments - so its not like they are losing anything.

Pocock is the best in the world at it.

Hooper's averages of pilfers and forced penalties have been up with the leaders in Super Rugby. Suggesting he doesn't do it because he isn't hitting every defensive ruck is just incorrect.

Few teams in World Rugby are flooding the breakdown in defence these days.

Certainly slowing down opposition ball is important but in terms of committing players, it is a compromise with keeping numbers in the defensive line.