dru
David Wilson (68)
Crazy if he's not in the 23. In fact starting.
The Wallabies Thread
- Thread starter KOB1987
- Start date
Crazy if he's not in the 23. In fact starting.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Yep if he was a kiwi we’d be talking about how we’d never be able to stop him and how our whole defensive setup would have to change to take care of him. To start he would probably edge out Koroibete and we could play DHP at 14 and Folau at 15 (although ideally those two would have swap the numbers on their backs).
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
More the fact that he has improved his athleticism immensely since last year. The jury was out on him, now it's delivered its verdict.
Yeah, he's gained a level of fitness this year while losing 12kg. Read here: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/better-fitness-boosts-big-waratahs-winger
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
IMO I’d still have Koriobete in front of him.
But he is certainly a much improved player and is really putting his hand up.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Sexton will stick a kick in behind every time he touches the ball.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Maybe he won't tour?
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Taqele would likely fill in for Foley in the frontline if he gets a gig and if he is on the wing we'd have sweeper in place for those kicks (watch Hegarty cover them for the Waratahs). As far as defensive changes go in the backline it's actually a relatively simple and logical change for the bigger/less mobile guy to move in tight and the smaller more mobile guy to move out wide.
Edit: Also note in a short interview Taqele did with SBS he says dropping weight has helped him turn and cover kicks in behind.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
Funny how people forget that Lomu had massive issues with turning and chasing the ABs made sure that the 15 was in position to sweep and the counter was very effective because teams often expected to get more pay from the tactic than they did.
However given the demonstrated skills of the Australian coaches to select players and develop systems in conjunction with said selection to ensure players are not exposed in that sort of fashion (eg Rona and Kerevi in defence situations they simply were not equipped for) I do not doubt that Taqele would be significantly exposed.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
I agree but the whole edifice of Australian Rugby has no ethical standing and makes decisions on the whims of the coaches with regard to issues like this.
If they select him I doubt they will make the requisite changes to balance the side, same as when Skelton was selected, or last year's favourite Hanigan. I do not argue for his selection, though I do not have an issue with it as he has given service to Australian Rugby THIS year, unlike my arguments against the prior selections of Elsom and Vickerman (and the Giteau rule) which allows a player to be selected without having given that service to the game here in the year where they will be taking the ARU coin.
What exactly changes in the game plan though? You try and get the ball to your wingers in space.
Certainly with the form Taqele is in it is worthwhile giving him a crack with less space against the defence but it's not like they're trying to do anything particularly different.
He's making a strong case to beat out Koroibete or Naivalu for a wing spot (I think the other winger will be DHP for the second fullback role) or to wear the 23 jersey.
That would be monumental news.