The Wallabies Thread

[Brumby Runner]

For at least the next 12 months, the World Cup Wallabies still based in Australia should basically make up the squad. Depending on Douglas's injury, the starting 15 looks like



As flr the bench, it'll depend. Hanson or TPN and Slipper or Smith are easy, tighthead a bit harder. One of Skelton or Vaea alongside Mumm, or Carter or McCalman. Stirzaker backup scrummie. Beale gets one bench spot, the other could easily be a playmaker, whether it's Lilo or a youngster like Debreczeni, or it could be the other one of Tomane/Speight, it could be Kerevi or CFS, could be a bolter like Dargaville, or come October, Sefa.

None of Mumm, Carter or McCalman have the impact on a game that is needed. Wouldn't be at all disappointed if they all miss out in favour of Vaea in present form, or Skelton if he can come back to his form a year or so ago.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'm not sure Godwin has the form any more to suggest he might make it at test level. Will have to show a lot of improvement in 2016 if he's to make it. Similarly, Timani, Reid and Butler are not yet test level players and unlikely to make it to the squad given the alternatives who are available.

I would think Colby would have more show than Reid if we are looking to fill a bench spot with a 7, but then there's Gill behind Hooper and Pocock. Not sure I fancy his chances. But it would hark back to U20s in 2011? when Hooper and Colby went head to head with Cane and Shields who both will become intrinsic parts of the ABs in 2016 imo.

Not for 2016, but longer term there were some very strong THPs turning out for Brisbane City, Qld Country and the Vikings. Won't be surprised if some of these get a chance in the squad before the 2019 RWC.

 

[KOB1987]

I'll put my hand up and say I was one of many who laughed at Bob Dwyer's suggestion of playing Beale on the wing. But now, after the world cup he's just had, I'm not so sure it's such a bad idea.

(This is of course assuming the Folau-to-13-Beale-to-15 thing doesn't happen).

I'll put my hand up and say I suggested it before the RC last year! And got poleaxed for it.

I think there's merit in folau and Beale in a dual fullback role.

 

[KOB1987]

None of Mumm, Carter or McCalman have the impact on a game that is needed. Wouldn't be at all disappointed if they all miss out in favour of Vaea in present form, or Skelton if he can come back to his form a year or so ago.

Mccalman had an awesome EOYT, super rugby season, RC and RWC (albeit with limited game time). He's not going to be left out of anything anytime soon.

Agree that jordy Reid needs lots of injuries to be considered. Vaea will get his turn but it's not yet.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I wouldn't write Godwin off yet. A bloke with that much class doesn't get bad overnight. I'd back Cheika and Bernie to get better results out of him than Foley has been.

Looking at the list of blokes who missed out this time, I think we've got a decent amount of depth and some lads who could take the next step with the right tutelage.

 

[the sabanator]

I expect, and hope, to see a bigger Rebels representation next year. I think they have the biggest collection of young talent in Super Rugby and with 4 years until the next Cup it's time to get these guys exposed and battle ready.

I also think we'll see some K-Hunt next year. He didn't suddenly become a crap player overnight. He was one of the best players in league, good at Biarritz and when they figure out how to use him (hopefully O'Connor has more of a clue than Dick Graham) he'll be a good player.

Kerevi I'm not so sure. He seems too slow for a international 12 but we'll see.

 

[KOB1987]

Thinking about To'omua, I just reckon cheika hasn't worked out his place in the world yet. He's a talent no doubt, but not creative enough for the playmaker role, and doesn't have a strong enough kicking game for the conservative option. He is brilliant at reading/organising defensive lines but that's not going to win big games. He'd probably actually be a very good 13, but has no experience there.


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[Pfitzy]

Holy fuckballs, Pfitzy agrees with me a bit.
Bookmarked.

Stop. Let's be clear: You are agreeing with me.

 

[Pfitzy]

My big concern with some of the players at the Reds is Dick Fucking Graham (hereafter referred to as The DFG). Guys like Frisby are exciting, and ripping it up at NRC level and to a degree at Soup.

But FFS can The DFG just find it in himself to wander off with Carmichael, hand-in-hand along a beach somewhere? And get eaten by crocodiles? We need all our franchises firing on all cylinders to keep this momentum going.

 

[cyclopath]

Stop. Let's be clear: You are agreeing with me.

Nah, I wrote that stuff first, you just don't bother reading.

But if you have Fardy locking in scrums, he will lose some dynamism around the park in terms of doing what he does so well in the loose, simply by dint of the energy expended in scrums. I can't agree that he should move anywhere - he is just too good at 6 to fiddle with it. Locks can still do work around the park, depending on your overall team balance, but Fardy's massive upside is what he does now. Plus, the extra weight perhaps needed would stunt his dynamism too.

A couple of pages back.

 

[Sword of Justice]

Simmons, Douglas, and Neville are all in good hands with Brad Thorn.

Second Row is the shit kicker position. Lots of hard work and not a lot of recognition because if you're doing your job well you can't be seen under the mountain of bodies that are doing whatever other rugby players do.

 

[the sabanator]

But FFS can The DFG just find it in himself to wander off with Carmichael, hand-in-hand along a beach somewhere? And get eaten by crocodiles? We need all our franchises firing on all cylinders to keep this momentum going.

Don't get your hopes up. The man has no shame.

 

[Pfitzy]

Nah, I wrote that stuff first, you just don't bother reading.

A couple of pages back.

Oh cyclo. So good with a scalpel and a penis, but not paying attention to genius in the fashion you should

Observe both my posts that preceded yours, and the path down which I was leading the hapless:

I can't remember if it is you or someone else who keeps shaking this can, hoping money will fall out, but let me ask - for the record, you understand:

Why, for the love of porn, would we move our best blindside, who has shown he is an 80 minute player for two seasons, to lock at any point except where everyone else available fell down a flight of explosive razor wire into a fucking meat grinder?

Answer at least one paragraph or three bullet points. Preferably to make sense.

....

Question: have you ever played second row?

As you can see, I was thinking it, but had to modify my language to a degree that left me apoplectic.

Plus I was trying not to shit myself with rage over at TSF simultaneously. A task that has killed mere mortals.

So well done for picking up on my vibe

 

[cyclopath]

Oh cyclo. So good with a scalpel and a penis, but not paying attention to genius in the fashion you should

Observe both my posts that preceded yours, and the path down which I was leading the hapless:









As you can see, I was thinking it, but had to modify my language to a degree that left me apoplectic.

Plus I was trying not to shit myself with rage over at TSF simultaneously. A task that has killed mere mortals.

So well done for picking up on my vibe

But I don't read your stuff!

 

[Pfitzy]

But I don't read your stuff!

Nah, I wrote that stuff first, you just don't bother reading.

This all makes sense now

 

[cyclopath]

This all makes sense now

I never said I wasn't a hypocrite!
Yeah, you did write it first, but in truth, I didn't read that before I wrote my bit.
But you got me!

 

[Viking]

Stopped you there. Buts have no place where we're going.

Unless you've packed a few hundred scrums at second row, you can't really appreciate what an energy-sapping, sweaty, c***stack of a gig it is. For the next couple of phases you're just trying to move as fast as possible to get the lactic acid out of your legs, and hoping the blood pounding in your ears will subside soon and not start leaking out your eyeballs. And that's just park footy from someone who played second row when we had too many props!

I found prop a shitload easier, and most front rowers do. When you understand that the power of the second row is what gives your scrum momentum, you get a picture of what pushing a truck up a slope feels like.

This is not a scenario into which you want your niggliest, best blindside thrown for any reason.

Firstly, he's not big enough.

Secondly, he's not powerful enough.

Guys like Simmons meet these criteria, even if his impact around the park is limited. Simmons is the kind of slow-burn athlete who has endurance style power delivery, but not impact or explosiveness. That's why he's rubbish at carrying the ball into contact, but can hold up a scrum.

Third, Fards is so fucking good at what he does now, why would you fuck with it? Why shorten his career by trying to make him something he's not?

No, we shall not put Fardy in the second row. Not unless the entirety of second row players in Australia are attacked by rabid lemurs and forced to escape into a pit of quicksand made from acid.

Pfitzy has spoken.

Fair points. I feel the about these rumours of moving Folau to 13.

 

[KOB1987]

Fair points. I feel the about these rumours of moving Folau to 13.

Not really, Folau is potentially a better 13 than 15 whereas Fardy is never going to be a better lock than he is a 6


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[Viking]

Not really, Folau is potentially a better 13 than 15 whereas Fardy is never going to be a better lock than he is a 6


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Assuming Folau can read defences in probably the trickiest defensive position in the game is just as bad as assuming Fardy can learn how to scrummage at lock. Especially given Folau's lack of rugby background.

Also, his high ball skills would sure come in handy at 13....

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I can deal with a potential move of Izzy to 13, given that AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) will no longer be playing test footy and thus be TK's backup. It does mean that we need to build some depth in the centres and at fullback though. I'm good with Kurtley moving back to fullback in the starting XV because he proved this season that he's good enough at the highest level again. Hopefully some young blokes like Kellaway can put some pressure on at Super Rugby level to keep our rock stars honest.