TRC Round 1: South Africa v Australia, Sunday 21 July 1:05am AEST

[Derpus]

Let's not forget Cheika is not the only selector now.

The choice between Lilo and Foley will tell us a lot about this new regime.

If they pick Foley it is the same old Cheika selections favouring the incumbents and will lead to probably more similar selections - Beale/Simmons etc

If they pick Lilo they will be rewarding form for once so hopefully they go that way.

Did the selectors call you to inform you of their opinion that Foley should be behind Lilo? I missed the press release.

Fucken nonsense.

 

[Scoey]

Anyone want to pose a guess as to how many times we've seen a Kerevi/Kuridrani 12/13 combo for the Wallabies? I'm curious. As long as the other backline selections complement the bash brothers midfield it is easily my preference. I'm keen to see what Kerevi v2.0 (ie can pass and kick a bit) can add to the combo. I know they've played together a few times but would it be more than say half a dozen times?

 

[Derpus]

Anyone want to pose a guess as to how many times we've seen a Kerevi/Kuridrani 12/13 combo for the Wallabies? I'm curious. As long as the other backline selections complement the bash brothers midfield it is easily my preference. I'm keen to see what Kerevi v2.0 (ie can pass and kick a bit) can add to the combo. I know they've played together a few times but would it be more than say half a dozen times?

I thought it was only twice?

The first two England tests, then To'omua started the last at 12. Then TK got dropped for Kerevi, then vice versa. Then various injuries and plenty of Beale at 12 (and Foley for a while).

Maybe they started together for the Irish tests as well?

 

[Up the Guts]

Let's not forget Cheika is not the only selector now.

The choice between Lilo and Foley will tell us a lot about this new regime.

If they pick Foley it is the same old Cheika selections favouring the incumbents and will lead to probably more similar selections - Beale/Simmons etc

If they pick Lilo they will be rewarding form for once so hopefully they go that way.

Foley was dropped last year.

 

[Braveheart81]

Anyone want to pose a guess as to how many times we've seen a Kerevi/Kuridrani 12/13 combo for the Wallabies? I'm curious. As long as the other backline selections complement the bash brothers midfield it is easily my preference. I'm keen to see what Kerevi v2.0 (ie can pass and kick a bit) can add to the combo. I know they've played together a few times but would it be more than say half a dozen times?

I reckon it's only six times. Twice against England in 2016 and then four times on the 2017 EOYT.

 

[Scoey]

Cheers team. Marries up with how i remember things too. I'll be pretty excited to see Kerevi v2 and Kuridrani team up again then.

 

[Ulrich]

So the Saffas consider our Test to be of diminished importance like a soccer friendly?
The schedule has been out for ages. The Argentinians have the same one-week turnaround, having to play in Buenos Aires and then Suncorp. Australia has the same, J'burg then Suncorp a week apart. NZ ditto - Buenos Aires to Wellington.
The problem is a shared one so flying 15 Springboks to NZ is an "up yours" to Australia.

No matter what the coach says, I guarantee some of his best players will be "rested" for the game against the All Blacks.
Hope we smash 'em.

NZ does it every single year with some players coming over to SA early and the rest playing Argentina. They also do it then touring the PI and sometimes Europe too, depending who they play. Then people wonder why they have depth. It is because everyone gets a chance, everyone is fit, everyone is match ready.

I wish SA would do it more often, particularly with northern tours.

Erasmus also has not had much time to give everyone an opportunity having only started last year. He has to do the best with what he's got. Playing group & time wise.

Hell, we gotta prepare for playing Japan before the RWC. That's the important one - he he

 

[Scoey]

Couldn't resist and checked the matches. Kerevi has only ever started at 12 for the Wallabies 6 times and on each occasion he's played with Kuridrani at 13.

I went back to 2016 and found we've used 13 different midfield combos in 42 matches.

Foley/Kerevi 8
Kerevi/Kuridrani 6
Beale/Kuridrani 6
Beale/Kerevi 5
Hodge/Kuridrani 4
Beale/Hodge 3
To'omua/Hodge 3
Hunt/Kuridrani 2
Beale/Folau 1
Hunt/Horne 1
Godwin/Kuridrani 1
Giteau/Kuridrani 1
To'omua//Kuridrani 1

 

[Derpus]

Couldn't resist and checked the matches. Kerevi has only ever started at 12 for the Wallabies 6 times and on each occasion he's played with Kuridrani at 13.

I went back to 2016 and found we've used 13 different midfield combos in 42 matches.

That's not what you want really is it.

 

[Braveheart81]

You can pretty much guarantee that of the 8 tests where neither Kuridrani nor Kerevi played 13, neither of them were available.

For a lot of the tests where they didn't play together, one was unavailable. The third England test in 2016 and 2017 Ireland series are ones where they were both available and not both picked. Kerevi has had about 5 tests on the bench where Kuridrani started and therefore both were available too.

 

[Braveheart81]

Christy Doran is reporting that Nic White will start and Genia will come off the bench.

 

[Scoey]

That's not what you want really is it.

Not really but in there we had the inbound Test series when the Lions were over in NZ where we played Scotland, Fiji and Italy I think? So fair to say a few of those were "experimental".

 

[Brumby Runner]

Lighten up fella. Perhaps read my subsequent post. As someone else pointed out, I don't recall this time last year that anyone was claiming the Waratahs should have a mortgage on most of the positions.

The majority of people feel that it was the tight 5 where the Brumbies exerted most of their dominance and thus that's where you would expect most of the rewards towards their players should come. They will have 4 of the 6 front row spots plus Arnold. Powell, Lealifano and Banks are all worthy of further investigation but the jury is out on whether their form was more a result of the go forward provided by the pigs.

Just give the sarcasm a rest, please. It doesn't do you any credit.

On the question of Powell, although I believe your comment again was mainly sarcastic or tongue in cheek at best, I would point out that he was the best performing No 9 over the whole of the Super season, and has earned his spot in the touring squad. Aussie that is to be clear. But I have no problem that he should be third in line at the Wallabies for the start of the test season given the experience of both Genia and White. If either of those falter, he should come in on the bench. He should not be left out altogether though, as was pretty much the case under Cheika in recent years, but be given 15 - 20 minutes in one or two games to give particularly Genia a rest. Whoever the third No 9 is at RWC should also get good time off the bench in one or two of the lesser lead up games.

 

[Joe Blow]

Christy Doran is reporting that Nic White will start and Genia will come off the bench.

Interesting. Maybe with an eye on the following week?

 

[Strewthcobber]

5 tests until the world cup. Got to see if White is up to it

 

[KOB1987]

Interesting. Maybe with an eye on the following week?

Interesting indeed. I haven't done any research into which 15 players the Saffers sent to NZ but allegedly it's their first XV. That being the case, our selections cold be responsive to who we're expecting them to pick this weekend, and not necessarliy reflective of our best XV. Perhaps some of our first choices will be saved as 'finishers' this weekend?

 

[cyclopath]

Christy Doran is reporting that Nic White will start and Genia will come off the bench.

Interesting. I hope it's because White is playing the house down in training. I hope it isn't because Genia needs a kick up the arse.
I wonder if it will at all influence other selections, given White's kicking from hand ability, and maybe partly goal-kicking as well?

 

[Braveheart81]

5 tests until the world cup. Got to see if White is up to it

I reckon this could be spot on.

With Phipps and Gordon waiting in the wings I think there could be a bit of seeing whether the somewhat untested players are the best options or go back to old faithful (Phipps).

 

[Derpus]

Interesting. I hope it's because White is playing the house down in training. I hope it isn't because Genia needs a kick up the arse.
I wonder if it will at all influence other selections, given White's kicking from hand ability, and maybe partly goal-kicking as well?

I heard from a Chiefs fan (not terribly reliable) that his box kicking has been pretty poor/worst aspect of his game.

 

[Ulrich]

Interesting indeed. I haven't done any research into which 15 players the Saffers sent to NZ but allegedly it's their first XV. That being the case, our selections cold be responsive to who we're expecting them to pick this weekend, and not necessarliy reflective of our best XV. Perhaps some of our first choices will be saved as 'finishers' this weekend?

Still to be announced.

Won't necessarily be "best XV", players such as Etzebeth and Lood will stay as far as I know. They lack game time.