The Wallabies Thread

[Jimmyjam]

I'll go so far as having a crack at what the Wallaby XXIII will look like for the 2019 RWC. Not a bad looking crew if I do say so myself!

TT
Uelese
Sio
Coleman
Tui
Dempsey
Hooper
Naisarani
Genia
Foley
Korebeite
Beale
Kerevi
Hodge
Folau

Kepu
Latu
Slipper
Rodda
Pocock
Gordon
Naivalu
Maddocks

 

[TSR]

We have pretty orite depth at Lock right now. Not quite England '5 world class locks on the bench' levels but Coleman, Arnold bros, Matt Phillip, Rodda, Tui.

S'not bad.

I guess you could also add the low impact high workrate blokes like Douglas, Enever... Simmons

Douglas isn’t a low impact lock. His form has been shit for a few years and he has struggled with meaningful work rate & accuracy but his last two games have shown what he brings to the table in form. He has consistently led the defence line, tackled strongly and cleaned out strongly. He needs to sustain this to get back into calculations but his impact is not the issue.

 

[Derpus]

I'll go so far as having a crack at what the Wallaby XXIII will look like for the 2019 RWC. Not a bad looking crew if I do say so myself!

TT
Uelese
Sio
Coleman
Tui
Dempsey
Hooper
Naisarani
Genia
Foley
Korebeite
Beale
Kerevi
Hodge
Folau

Kepu
Latu
Slipper
Rodda
Pocock
Gordon
Naivalu
Maddocks

Pretty good. Kepu will stay ahead of TT i reckon. Seriously doubt Latu will make it, given the game time he's getting at the Tahs.

Not sure why you'd have both Maddocks and Naivalu on the bench. More likely to be one or the other with Kerevi on the bench and Kuridrani starting.

 

[Jimmyjam]

Pretty good. Kepu will stay ahead of TT i reckon. Seriously doubt Latu will make it, given the game time he's getting at the Tahs.

Not sure why you'd have both Maddocks and Naivalu on the bench. More likely to be one or the other with Kerevi on the bench and Kuridrani starting.

IMO Maddocks gives you cover at 10, 11,14,15, Naivalu gives you 11,13,14, Gordon is quick enough to play wing if needed and Beale, Folau and Hodge can all play multiple positions at v high level. plus Kerevi gives you 12 & 13.

Maddocks and Naivalu both have very serious gas, give you significant bench versatility and are both potential game breakers.

I can't see Kuridrani making it to be honest, just a bit too much of a one trick pony for mine. I'd have either Kerevi or Hodge both in front of him. Hard hitting and running but lacking the footwork and passing of the other two.

I was tossing up TT and Kepu for starter and it will really end up a coin toss, but with the current TT trajectory he may just edge ahead. Either way it works for me. Also depending on fitness I would prob have TPN in front of Latu, once again that was a spot with a few questions yet to be answered however I think that squad in form will give RWC a bit of a shake!

 

[TOCC]

I can’t see both Maddocks and Naiavau on the bench, if it came down to it Maddocks offers greater versatility.
The other backs spot would go to someone like Paia’aua or Lealifano. Ideally To'omua, but he isn’t coming home anytime soon.

Kuridrani is playing in an out of form team, but on his day he one of the top 5 outside centres in the game. He doesn’t have some of the flair of Kerevi, but he runs fantastic lines and is a solid defensive player. He is a player coaches love because he does what’s needed, Kerevi still isn’t doing that. TK will 100% be in the mix come 2019.

 

[eastman]

It's quite disappointing in a country of talented outside backs that the best outside centre in Australia is unable to beat a man on the outside with little ball- playing/ offloading skils. It's also disappointing that Kuridrani has not developed his game at all since he burst on the scene and will be severely hampered as his athleticism wanes with age.

 

[fatprop]

When has Kuridrani ever looked more than average in the early Super Rugby rounds, he will be there by the time it actually counts

 

[TOCC]

When has Kuridrani ever looked more than average in the early Super Rugby rounds, he will be there by the time it actually counts

Conversely Kerevi has consistently looked like a world beater at Super Rugby level but struggled to convert that to test level

 

[fatprop]

Conversely Kerevi has consistently looked like a world beater at Super Rugby level but struggled to convert that to test level

It is why I don't get too excited about the form (or lack of form) in the early rounds of test players. This comp gets hard in the later rounds and at the moment we haven't played any decent sides where guys like Kerevi get their defensive decision making really questioned

 

[Derpus]

Conversely Kerevi has consistently looked like a world beater at Super Rugby level but struggled to convert that to test level

Disagree. He looks as good in attack for the Wallabies as he does for the Reds. He looks as bad in defence for the Reds as he does the Wallabies.

He's sort of a glass cannon at the moment. A little passing and tackling training, though, and he'll be at least back up to Beale for 12.

 

[wamberal]

Will we see the Foley/Beale axis in action? Or will Kurtley be on the bench?

 

[Scrubber2050]

A season and a half is a long way off to be picking a side.

A few blokes are automatic selections and form doesn't really count. I put Hooper, Genia, Foley, Beale and Folau
in that category.

Hopefully all available positions are based on Super form in 2019.

 

[Tomikin]

TK is the enigma he will be outside centre for the Wallabies based completely on his ability to defend.. Also his not bad in attack for his job running straight and hard.

Sent from my HTC 2PS6200 using Tapatalk

 

[Brumby Runner]

I agree with TOCC and others that Kuridrani will continue to edge Kerevi out of the national side, even though at the moment I wouldn't be unhappy to see him (Kuridrani) dropped to the bench by the Brumbies to get his head/fitness or whatever into gear for the Super Rugby season.

On the basis of no evidence at all so far this season, Pocock will displace someone at 6, 7 or 8 for the RWC. Hopefully at 7 when Hooper can fill his made-for role off the bench.

I will be surprised if both of Foley and Beale remain at the top of their games by RWC 2019. Foley seems to already be having trouble, or is being marked down in comparison with Lance while Lealiifano and Stewart could yet surpass both of them. Beale is really only one serious injury away from retirement, I believe. I will be surprised if he is still in the mix come RWC.

The one real omission from your side appears to be DHP. I think we'll see him emerge as the No 15 , or retain one of the wing spots, for the RWC. Omitting him is like leaving Ben Smith out of the ABs.

A couple of others who will likely be in the mix are Matt Philip and Rob Valetini. Both would add a lot of aggression to the side, and Valetini just might lock in the No 6 spot by that time.

 

[Derpus]

On the basis of no evidence at all so far this season, Pocock will displace someone at 6, 7 or 8 for the RWC. Hopefully at 7 when Hooper can fill his made-for role off the bench.

Only happen if an 8 materializes.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Only happen if an 8 materializes.

Naisarani by RWC time.

 

[RugbyReg]

Naisarani by RWC time.

What’s his contract situation? I worry Fiji will swoop him and pick him.

 

[Derpus]

What’s his contract situation? I worry Fiji will swoop him and pick him.

Yeah bet he can't wait for that sweet sweet Fiji money.

What was it, £50 a match?

He's an in form player in a position where we literally have no one. He stands to benefit greatly from a little delayed gratification.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Yeah bet he can't wait for that sweet sweet Fiji money.
He stands to benefit greatly from a little delayed gratification.

"Tantric" Payout!!!

 

[TOCC]

Yeah bet he can't wait for that sweet sweet Fiji money.

What was it, £50 a match?

He's an in form player in a position where we literally have no one. He stands to benefit greatly from a little delayed gratification.

Its more then just money for some, and even if it is all about money he stands to earn more playing test rugby for Fiji whilst signed to a Top 14 team then he does playing Super Rugby and Wallabies in Australia.