Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Warpath]

One things really lacking for the Wobs over the weekend was a 13... if you combined folau and Naivalu, you could get a decent 13, Kerevi was a game changer when he came on, unfortunately it was to the expense of Naivalu who was the one defending that channel, we know kerevi moves around the field which means when he was on the other side (left wing), no one was defending the Folau channel thus a few tries ran in that way later in the game. Folau prancing around on the left wing let to another AB try.. DHP' s form has slightly dripped , might be a good idea to move Folau back to 15 for a while and drop DHP for a while with Banks on bench covering wing/fullback and marika/sefa on the wing with Samu at centre. DHP is like the very lite-version of Ben Smith (though he looks like his bigger twin lol) might be wise to develop a younger fullback (banks) instead...they wasted too much on Maddocks who IMO is inferior to Banks..

 

[Up the Guts]

might be wise to develop a younger fullback (banks) instead.they wasted too much on Maddocks who IMO is inferior to Banks..

Have to agree here. Maddocks was excellent in the first half of Super but Banks was probably the best Australian back bar Taqele in the second half of the season. I would have liked to see him start a few times in the RC, particularly given cover defence was an issue and he’s the best cover defender in Australia.

 

[Derpus]

Have to agree here. Maddocks was excellent in the first half of Super but Banks was probably the best Australian back bar Taqele in the second half of the season. I would have liked to see him start a few times in the RC, particularly given cover defence was an issue and he’s the best cover defender in Australia.

I think his real time will come post RWC19.

Maddocks and Banks both appear to have high ceilings. Maddocks in particular is too small to finish chances most other wingers would. He could easily go the way of Kellaway and lose his pace when he puts on size.

 

[Joe Blow]

Maddocks is a 5/8 by trade. Maybe best to develop him in that role from here on in? He’s still young and will get stronger over the next few years.

 

[RugbyReg]

Maddocks is a 5/8 by trade. Maybe best to develop him in that role from here on in? He’s still young and will get stronger over the next few years.

what does that mean? He played it at school did he not? Was that for the 3rds?

 

[Bobby Sands]

what does that mean? He played it at school did he not? Was that for the 3rds?

I'd like to see him playing there.

He will not be an elite wing, that is clear as day.

He will be a fullback/10.

 

[Joe Blow]

what does that mean? He played it at school did he not? Was that for the 3rds?

I think he is listed as a 15 at the Rebs but played his junior footy at 10. Maybe in the 3rds but I would guess in the 1sts. He was at Scots then playing for a while at Easts.
It’s not as if we need any future prospects at 5/8......

 

[Joe Blow]

Yes, the 3rds apparently

 

[Warpath]

Hodge is the player the Rebels should have developed at 10, he was an u20 10, then moved to fullback cause 10's were not in demand and now plays wing centre..not maddocks, who is more of a wing cum fullback than vice versa..

 

[Derpus]

Hodge is the player the Rebels should have developed at 10, he was an u20 10, then moved to fullback cause 10's were not in demand and now plays wing centre..not maddocks, who is more of a wing cum fullback than vice versa..

Bloke just doesnt have a passing game.

 

[dru]

Yes, the 3rds apparently

I’m starting to like this Maddocks.

 

[Up the Guts]

I'd like to see him playing there.

He will not be an elite wing, that is clear as day.

He will be a fullback/10.

Yep, Maddocks is a very good footballer but specialist wingers tend to be freaky athletes like Folau and Ioane these days. Don't think he is quite fleetfooted or evasive enough to take on the combined wing/fullback role like Ben Smith.

Not sure how he is going to get much game time at 10 next season with Quade at the Rebels but I'd like to see him at fullback permanently so he can try and lock down that position for now and then transition to 10 later on if he's good enough like Barrett, Bernie etc. have/did. I think we're at danger of not getting the most out of players like Hodge and Maddocks if they consistently play utility roles.

 

[Dctarget]

I’m starting to like this Maddocks.

This gets brought up every few months.
He was a grade cricketer and wasn't even going to play rugby in year 12 to focus on cricket and his HSC. He even initially turned down a spot in the U20s NSW team. He played a few games for the 3rds but mostly ran water for them.

Interestingly enough he cites the reason he lost love for rugby was because of his school's very professional approach to it. How formulaic and to the letter their rugby was, it had no inspiration or creativity. Sounds familiar hey.

Fortunately for Australia he had a few good pieces of advice after school and decided to give rugby another crack.

 

[Dctarget]

Dave Wessels, Cheik and Steve are all on the same page. They see me as a five-eighth down the track. That’s not something you can pick up quickly down at the park on your own. I understand it’s a long-term thing. I still consider myself a fullback now but, with a lot of hard work, I’d like to think I could make the switch to No. 10 in 12 months or so.

Jack Maddocks talking about his role at fly-half dated 23.02.18

 

[Derpus]

Jack Maddocks talking about his role at fly-half dated 23.02.18

Given their depth, Maddocks could sit on the bench and play understudy to Quade with 20-30 at the tail end of each game at 10.

 

[Dctarget]

That quote above is from Maddocks' piece on PlayersVoice, which is a pretty interesting site where you get in depth, sometimes quite personal pieces by athletes. I recommend it to anyone who has a few minutes, they've got good pieces by Beale, Hodge, To'omua and more.

I just found one from Koroibete from June this year. And after reading it I think he's one of my new favourite players. I didn't really have a proper understanding of his background, I knew he came from Fiji to play league but that's about it.

He grew up in literally a one room place, where him, his two siblings and his parents all slept. There was one bed for the kids, and if you didn't get there first you slept on the floor. Amazingly tough childhood, working in the fields from a very young age.

Great read, one of my favourite quotes is about how he used to walk six kms to school each morning,

"It was a hilly track, gravel, and you’d walk bare feet. If one of your mates had thongs you’d ask to borrow one, and you’d walk with one thong. Halfway there you’d swap thongs."

Incredible story and a very humble man. Good on him, I hope we look after him.
https://www.playersvoice.com.au/marika-koroibete-bushman-became-wallaby/#y2StJbAj69GHkhDu.97

 

[CarnTheBrumbies]

Okay it has been a long without this old man posting but quite frankly I'm fed up with our lacklustre performances. What are we 3/11? It is time for a change... Cheika to go, Larkham to go, Grey to go, Raiwalui to go go. Jake White to come in with a decent attack coach that I'm unsure of yet. At the moment I see no clear strength in the team, no go to, no point of difference, just consistently below NZ standard across the board. Pooper time is over, even though I rate Hooper (not as a captain), Foley and Beale are too inconsistent at this level. So I nominate a different approach with a clear game plan similar to that of RSA and ENG.
Here it is, my squad for the RWC, slightly bias but keep Simmons, Phipps and Hanigan long gone.
1. Sio
2. FF (Folau Fainga'a)
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Arnold
5. Coleman
6. Dempsey
7. Pocock (c)
8. Naisarani- unproven, but physical and can line out jump
9. Genia
10. To'omua
11. Naivalu
12. Kerevi
13. Kurindrani
14. DHP
15. Folau
16. TPN
17. Kepu
18. Thor
19. Luke Jones
20. Hooper
21. Gordon
22. Foley
23. Banks
Slipper
Uelese
Rodda
Tui
Valetini- after a break out year in Super Rugby
Powell
Beale
Korobeite/Hodge

Let me know your thoughts but time for a change, CTB out

 

[dru]

Interesting group especially lining them up with Jake and the likely game plan.

You'd need to make a value judgement comparing:
a) Cheika and current squad undoubted and very slow rate of improvement
b) How quickly Jake could change the systems, fine tune the play and get the game plan properly implemented

Definitely needs something at the latest after the next RWC that completely ditches Cheika's intended succession plan.

 

[CarnTheBrumbies]

Interesting group especially lining them up with Jake and the likely game plan.

You'd need to make a value judgement comparing:
a) Cheika and current squad undoubted and very slow rate of improvement
b) How quickly Jake could change the systems, fine tune the play and get the game plan properly implemented

Definitely needs something at the latest after the next RWC that completely ditches Cheika's intended succession plan.

See where you are coming from but the ultimate goal is the RWC next year.
Jake was the first person that came to mind as he has done it all before with proven results. Agree that the team may not fit his so called play style but as a tactical coach with an attacking style coach, I would like to see where it goes.
I believe the biggest issue is with Cheika and his culture. You take a look at the Brumbies the year Jake White came in and immediately transformed the team from last in the Aussie conference to one spot off the finals. This was arguably due a shift in culture and attitude.
It is time for a change, we saw the transformation that the Boks took after dumping Coetzee. Chieka's time should be up

 

[Anthony Smith]

1. Sio
2. FF (Folau Fainga'a)
3. Ala'alatoa
4. Arnold
5. Coleman
6. Dempsey
7. Pocock (c)
8. Naisarani- unproven, but physical and can line out jump
9. Genia
10. To'omua
11. Naivalu
12. Kerevi
13. Kurindrani
14. DHP
15. Folau
16. TPN
17. Kepu
18. Thor
19. Luke Jones
20. Hooper
21. Gordon
22. Foley
23. Banks
Slipper
Uelese
Rodda
Tui
Valetini- after a break out year in Super Rugby
Powell
Beale
Korobeite/Hodge

Let me know your thoughts but time for a change, CTB out

Beale to 15, Folau to 11 and I'll agree this would be our best team