TRC Round 2: Australia vs Argentina @ Brisbane - Saturday 27 July 2019

[Slim 293]

If only we had a powerful ball carrier in the centres who runs good angles.........

 

[Joe Blow]

Heres the team I'd run out (ignoring potential injuries):

1. Sio
2. Fainga'a
3. AAAAAAAAAAA
4. Rodda
5. Arnold
6. Jones
7. Hooper
8. Naisarani
9. Genia
10. Lilo
11. MK
12. Kerevi
13. TK
14. Banks
15. Beale

16. Slipper (Honestly wouldnt bring HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) back if he's on protocol. Get in a proper scrummager like Smith)
17. Latu (fuck it, someone has to pilfer)
18. Tupou
19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (hes a fucking second rower)
20. Samu (form backrower not even in the squad?)
21. White
22. Foley
23. JOC (James O'Connor) (just to have a geez)

Players dropped:
Hodge, DHP, To'omua, Kepu, Dempsey

Tactical changes:
Tell the lazy fluffybunnys to get off their asses in the defensive line and push harder.
Tell Hooper to try a pilfer once or twice.
No second man wrap around thirty passes to the right 3 metres backwards plays.
TK to crash up of the first phase in set plays, as he is supposed to.
TAKE THE FUCKING POINTS ON OFFER - god damn. You might go for the try if you are the All Blacks and your scrum is on the up. None of this is ever the fucking case for us.

Edit: if you were so inclined to start Beale from the bench for the super sub role, drop JOC (James O'Connor) and bring in a second proper winger, ideally Pulu.

If Samu not available then maybe Wright on the bench? I think they might start Valetini at 6. We need a specialist blindside.
Lilo will release TK more effectively.

 

[Jets]

As good a chance of playing with 14 with Tupou starting, to be fair.

Not really, the Tupou yellow on the weekend was questionable. Latu looks to push the boundary in most games he plays.

Also my theory on starting Tupou is that it will make him a better bench option at the RWC.

 

[Derpus]

If Samu not available then maybe Wright on the bench? I think they might start Valetini at 6. We need a specialist blindside.
Lilo will release TK more effectively.

Jones is a specialist blindside who can cover lock. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is the opposite.

I wouldnt be upset if Valetini starts over Jones - but i dont think it would be rewarding form (not that we do that).

 

[Silverado]

Not really, the Tupou yellow on the weekend was questionable. Latu looks to push the boundary in most games he plays.

Also my theory on starting Tupou is that it will make him a better bench option at the RWC.

Whether Tupou should have been carded is debatable, but coming in late, when we had been awarded a scrum 5 meters out to give away a penalty doesn't show much rugby smarts

 

[wamberal]

The only reservation I have about Jones is that when he had his chance a few years ago, he just did not step up. He looked a bit overawed, frankly.


Maybe he is over that. One would hope so.

 

[Joe Blow]

The only reservation I have about Jones is that when he had his chance a few years ago, he just did not step up. He looked a bit overawed, frankly.


Maybe he is over that. One would hope so.

He was thrown in against the French too early and then canned. It was very poor player management, as we have come to expect in Oz. He’s stronger and a much better player now.

 

[KOB1987]

Was just listening to the Rugby Ruckus, Turinui reckons Dempsey is the man to give us the over the ball presence we were missing on the weekend. I tend to agree, I don't think the 5cm we lose by playing Dempsey who is a good jumper anyway and easier to lift when we already have 3 core jumpers will make an ounce of difference to the lineout.

They were also on board with the Koroibete/Beale/Banks back three although not opposed to putting DHP in his proper position of fullback and keeping Beale on the bench.

 

[Braveheart81]

He was thrown in against the French too early and then canned. It was very poor player management, as we have come to expect in Oz. He’s stronger and a much better player now.

He was 23 at the time and had played close to 50 Super Rugby games. I really don't think it was too early. He debuted in a pretty cruisy home series against and underwhelming French side.

The biggest reason he didn't get a continued run was because he got completed overshadowed by Sean McMahon on the 2014 EOYT who then became the preferred player to fill the 6 jersey (and also cover other backrow positions) and went to the 2015 RWC.

He then went overseas for three seasons.

The alternative was not selecting him to play any tests. Would that have been better player management?

 

[Joe Blow]

He was 23 at the time and had played close to 50 Super Rugby games. I really don't think it was too early. He debuted in a pretty cruisy home series against and underwhelming French side.

The biggest reason he didn't get a continued run was because he got completed overshadowed by Sean McMahon on the 2014 EOYT who then became the preferred player to fill the 6 jersey (and also cover other backrow positions) and went to the 2015 RWC.

He then went overseas for three seasons.

The alternative was not selecting him to play any tests. Would that have been better player management?

He only played that one test I thought and was it not in the second row as replacement? I seem to recollect him being replaced by Skelton in the next test.
He may have had a run on that EOYT. He was not a test lock at that point without question.

 

[Tex]

I've seen some shitty rugby over the years but Jones' test debut was by far the worst of the lot. Not him personally, but the level of entertainment for an international level test match. Woeful.

We won 6-0 in front of an empty Etihad Stadium.

 

[Slim 293]

He only played that one test I thought and was it not in the second row as replacement? I seem to recollect him being replaced by Skelton in the next test.
He may have had a run on that EOYT. He was not a test lock at that point without question.

For his three tests.........

He came off the bench at lock in his debut against France..........

Then he started at 6 against Ireland, and came off the bench at 6 against England on the EOYT.

 

[footy1>31]

My backline for this game would be 9. Genia 10. Foley 11. Koro 12. Lilo 13. Kerevi 14. Kurindrani 15. Beale with White, JOC (James O'Connor) and DHP/Banks on the bench OR just White and JOC (James O'Connor) and an extra back-rower. Think its time to remould Kurindrani into a winger ala Rob Horne.

 

[Braveheart81]

He only played that one test I thought and was it not in the second row as replacement? I seem to recollect him being replaced by Skelton in the next test.
He may have had a run on that EOYT. He was not a test lock at that point without question.

He played 3 tests. Off the bench against France at lock, started at 6 against Ireland on the EOYT and came off the bench and played about 20 mintues at lock then 20 minutes at 6 against England.

I think it is 100% correct that he wasn't a test lock at that point. I also don't think he is now.

He was a 6 and McMahon proved to be a better 6. I'm not really sure what should have been done differently. Not pick him at all?

 

[cyclopath]

My thoughts for this game

I'd be tempted to start Tupou to disrupt the Pumas with some big hits, maybe get his hearing tested so he can hear the whistle.
Latu on the bench scares me, good chance we'll have to play with 14 men for a while.
Rodda was very quiet in SA, he needs to lift his game.
I'm not a fan of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6. His defensive work is sub par in the wider channels. I'd love Jones to get the start so we don't loose anything in the lineout.
Genia to start in his last game at Suncorp.
I'd like Lealiifano to start at 10, we know what Foley is so lets find out if there is any pressure on him in the squad.
Keep the centres the same. Samu had the most run metres last week and he needs to be at 12. Need to find ways to get TK the ball, I'd love to see him used off the lineout like the Brumbies do.
We need speed on the wings. DHP and Hodge are too slow. Koroibete needs to run an inside line off 10, like Digby used to, to put some questions in the rush defence. Don't know about the other wing, none picked in the squad so Hodge might stay there, I'd like Sefa of Pulu to have a run but it wont happen.
I'd keep Banks at 15, he played well in his first start and deserves another go.

Beale was really good off the bench and that's the role I'd like him to play. He is devastating against tired legs, rarely as effective when he starts.

In regards to a "second play-maker", I don't think one is required. If we vary our attack it will create opportunities. We need to put some short kicks in behind, I'd love to see Banks run the old Latham line close to the ruck so we can target the hole left by rush defence. Even the cross field kicks we employed against Ireland last year would make the defence question what they're doing. Have the 9 use the Gregan inside ball to a forward running and play in tight to catch the rush defence on the second and third phase. I guess what I'm after is some variety, we seem to have a plan A and just do that.

Good post! Agree completely.

 

[cyclopath]

My backline for this game would be 9. Genia 10. Foley 11. Koro 12. Lilo 13. Kerevi 14. Kurindrani 15. Beale with White, JOC (James O'Connor) and DHP/Banks on the bench OR just White and JOC (James O'Connor) and an extra back-rower. Think its time to remould Kurindrani into a winger ala Rob Horne.

You wot?

 

[Joe Blow]

He played 3 tests. Off the bench against France at lock, started at 6 against Ireland on the EOYT and came off the bench and played about 20 mintues at lock then 20 minutes at 6 against England.

I think it is 100% correct that he wasn't a test lock at that point. I also don't think he is now.

He was a 6 and McMahon proved to be a better 6. I'm not really sure what should have been done differently. Not pick him at all?

I think he could have been persevered with. His lineout ability was beyond McMahon. The lineout was the main bone of contention with the McPooper. It felt like he was discarded very quickly. Unlike Hanigan.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I think he could have been persevered with. His lineout ability was beyond McMahon. The lineout was the main bone of contention with the McPooper. It felt like he was discarded very quickly. Unlike Hanigan.

If Jones stuck around he probably plays almost every one of those tests of Hanigan.

 

[fatprop]

Jones is a specialist blindside who can cover lock. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is the opposite.

True, but against some of the bigger, more physical teams LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is a reasonable option

 

[Braveheart81]

I think he could have been persevered with. His lineout ability was beyond McMahon. The lineout was the main bone of contention with the McPooper. It felt like he was discarded very quickly. Unlike Hanigan.

He left the country. He played 3 tests in 2014, wasn't likely to get a look in during 2015 when he was well back in the pecking order and it was a RWC year then announced at the start of the 2016 season that he was leaving.

If he hadn't signed to go overseas I think he would have played a lot of tests by now.