The Wallabies Thread

[Derpus]

Anyone who watched the 6 nations closely know how strong the Irish scrum is?

 

[Homer]

When is the squad due to e announced?

 

[Braveheart81]

When is the squad due to e announced?

Wednesday week (30th of May) on Kick and Chase apparently.

 

[Brumby Runner]

You don't choose your THP or reserve THP for their ability to run the ball, ever.

You choose the units who are most effective at scrummaging, they are the foundation of the set piece, if the are not a pot plant that is a bonus, but the core skill has to be scrummaging

AAT has been very strong at scrum time all year. Certainly not a big step down from Kepu, and maybe on par. Only problems with the Brumbies' scrum seem to have been on the LH side.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Presumably the Pooper's primary weakness is the lineout? How does Tupou fix that.

He doesn't, he fixes their poor line-bending ball running.

Timu, Rodda and Coleman are the only line-out jumpers we are likely to have starting, Rodda and Coleman are very good jumpers and Timu is under used at the Reds but capable (mostly from watching his NRC form where he was used more).

 

[Slim 293]

AAT has been very strong at scrum time all year. Certainly not a big step down from Kepu, and maybe on par. Only problems with the Brumbies' scrum seem to have been on the LH side.

It was on the weekend, although a few penalties went the Brumbie way as well........... but Sio has also generally been good in the scrum this year..........

 

[Jimmyjam]

When is Lukhan Tui back? He's a possible 6 and solves a bit of the backrow line-out/ball carrying conundrum....

 

[Zero_Cool]

When is Lukhan Tui back? He's a possible 6 and solves a bit of the backrow line-out/ball carrying conundrum..

Yeah, I think he's back soon. I think he would need to spend a lot of time at 6 to be Wallabies 6 ready but given how the Reds back row is going at the moment I don't think he's likely to get any time at 6. He could be an option but is not likely to be ready this season.

 

[Micheal]

Just a thought - if Timu is injured etc. would Wells be a chance to play 6 for the Wallabies come June with a Hooper / Wells / Pocock backrow?

Until this year I thought the bloke was absolutely shite but he's been tackling the house down, making some pretty superb runs with the ball and jumping in the lineout?

Would prefer Higgers but Cheika isn't a fan.

 

[Derpus]

Arg no. He's been better than i expected this year but he's still bang average.

 

[Up the Guts]

Arg no. He's been better than i expected this year but he's still bang average.

He’s turning into a good Super Rugby player thanks to his speed and skills being pretty good for a guy playing 8. Whether or not these attributes would allow him to flourish at Test level where the athleticism goes up a notch is another matter.

 

[wamberal]

Either or both of the 6 and 8 has to have bulk or height. Preferably both. One of them has to be strong enough to be able to bash and barge, and disrupt the opposition, in attack and defense.

 

[Joe Blow]

Michael Wells is an great prospect. Might be too early for him?
He’s has excellent skills and is very busy. Line out work is pretty sharp as well.

 

[wamberal]

Michael Wells is an great prospect. Might be too early for him?
He’s has excellent skills and is very busy. Line out work is pretty sharp as well.

With the Pooper? No thanks. Maybe for the Midget World Cup.

 

[Derpus]

With the Pooper? No thanks. Maybe for the Midget World Cup.

Yeah, there are times where i feel all tingly inside, talking about some of the talent at our disposal. Particularly the front row right now.

Then people start talking about Wells for a Wallabies jersey and it all goes away.

 

[RugbyReg]

Wells is a fine Super Rugby player but just that. He's another Richard Brown type (and countless others - Jake Schatz, Curtis Browning etc).

I see nothing that suggests he's cut out for Test rugby

 

[Zero_Cool]

Either or both of the 6 and 8 has to have bulk or height. Preferably both. One of them has to be strong enough to be able to bash and barge, and disrupt the opposition, in attack and defense.

Honestly, I've been saying it for a while I'm not entirely sure we should be selecting both Pocock and Hooper, ultimately I think you pick Pocock over Hooper, but that's really not important to this point what's important is that we really can't keep picking both too many of the same weakness that amplify each other leaving us no forward pack balance.

The only problem with this is we haven't really had a genuine 6 step up (yet) maybe Higgers could be an option if he can keep on the field and find some form. But guys like ASY (Angus Scott-Young), Wells, Holloway etc could be options but need time to get to test level. Timu & Valetini could be an option if Valentina were healthy.

 

[Derpus]

Thing is we cant relegate one of our two best test quality back-rowers to the bench when we only have two test quality back-rowers.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Thing is we cant relegate one of our two best test quality back-rowers to the bench when we only have two test quality back-rowers.

Higgers isn't even getting close to that conversation? He play pretty well last week, has been a very good test quality player for a long time, obviously he's gotta prove himself to be at that level over the next two games but he can't play 6 in a successful Wallabies team while we wait on the young guys coming through?

Obviously Timu should be locked in at 6/8. So really we have 3.

 

[Derpus]

Higgers isn't even getting close to that conversation? He play pretty well last week, has been a very good test quality player for a long time, obviously he's gotta prove himself to be at that level over the next two games but he can't play 6 in a successful Wallabies team while we wait on the young guys coming through?

Obviously Timu should be locked in at 6/8. So really we have 3.

I think the bold part is pretty open to debate. Also, Timu has never played a test so it remains to be seen.