Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
I see 9. Genia, 10. Quade, 12. To'omua, 13. TK as a pretty balanced combination. Kerevi off the bench to run over tired pricks.
Wallabies 2019 Thread
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swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
if and it is a massive if, Cooper continues in good form and the new selection panel picks him at 10 then it could be the selectors go with him and Genia and have either Meakes or To'omua at 12 , Kurandrani (imo) is far and away the best 13 playing. Otherwise we may continue to see the Cheika merry go round with Foley and Beale at 10/12 and both moving in defence. the Rebels are generally playing Cooper in the front line in defence, the exception being when it is obvious that a crash ball at 12 is coming from the scrum/lineout. I'd play both Beale and Hodge off the bench. I like Hunt (he is a very smart footballer) but cant see him displacing either To'omua or Kerevi from the match day 23. Personally, I'd be happy with any of To'omua, Meakes or Hunt at 12 and Kurandrani at 13.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
He's missed a bit of game time and he does shit that doesn't show up in stats, same as front rowers and
It was hard for me to see TBH from my ground level seats, but I do know he had been pretty good prior and this is based on form over the season so far, not just the one game.
Quade works well in the set up the Rebels (and Link's Reds) are running with Genia running the show as the key playmaker with Cooper running as a "Bealelike" 2nd playmaker sniping opportunities - now will Cheika replicate that? or require the 9 to shovel it out and expect the 10 to run the shop?
And if they do choose the current "Rebels" model. Who gets the bench options @ 9 & 10 to slot in seamlessly ...........................
Has Pocock ever been outstanding at Super Rugby level? Going purely off memory and nothing more, I can't recall him ever having a long, standout 'Player of the year candidate' season for either the Brumbies or Force.
He's a big game player, and tends to play best when the stakes are highest.
But maybe it's just my faulty memory/blinding provincial bias.
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Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
I don't think Cheika has a problem with Quade and won't hesitate to pick him if he continues this form. Pretty sure he was on record last year saying he had no issues with Quade (unlike Thorn) but couldn't pick a guy from club footy.
I don't have an issue with the Genia\Cooper nexus starting for the Wobs
I just think that if we really want to leverage their skillset, the the wobs need a change in game plan and player choice
dru
David Wilson (68)
This is the nub of it. IF you like Cooper, you have to think through the ramifications. I do, and I’d do my best to live with itincluding changes to the game plan this close to the RWC. Presuming his form trend continues.
But then I’m not the bloke in the hot seat. It’s going to be somewhat unexpected if it actually happens.
dru
David Wilson (68)
Little point unless it comes with a “finishing” game plan worked around the finishers.
I don't think much has to change to pick Cooper. In the first three games this season he's played good rugby and not taken unnecessary risks.
He's playing a role in a team rather than trying to be at the centre of everything the Rebels do.
The Rebels are playing a really flat attack and so far it is working really nicely. They have to give themselves options with the play out the back though because the flat attack only works as long as you're forwards are getting some dominance.
He's playing a role in a team rather than trying to be at the centre of everything the Rebels do.
The Rebels are playing a really flat attack and so far it is working really nicely. They have to give themselves options with the play out the back though because the flat attack only works as long as you're forwards are getting some dominance.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
I'm not sure the game plan will need to be radically changed, as you said Genia runs the show in a Rebels/Link setup but I think he was also running the show quite a bit for the Wallabies last year when we were rotating through different 10s. Strewthcobbler (who's almost always dead on about these things) observed the same phenomenon in the SA vs Wallaby test with Beale at 10:
swingpass
Peter Sullivan (51)
agreed, but any of Hunt, To'omua or Meakes at 12 and Kurandrani/Kerevi at 13 can probably do that - PROVIDED they have front foot ball, which means picking forwards who can win the collisions, so some combination of Arnold, Coleman, Philip, Rodda, Valetini, Naisarani, Cottrell, Solakaia-Loto (formerly Tui), Hanigan (if he continues to improve) and Samu in the back 5 plus Pocock or Hooper, however you wish to use them.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
We can just call him Lukhan?
Problem with getting 'front foot ball' in test rugby is that no team will ever have total supremacy in the collisions, unless someone is getting flogged. Even with our biggest bodies on and firing there will be plenty of possession where we don't have front foot ball.
dru
David Wilson (68)
No Wam, not really. Just a different game plan. I would say smarter.
But it doesnt work if the game plan isnt right, then the complaints about a 10 ad lib-ing it are correct.
ShtinaTina
Alex Ross (28)
Meakes is in Sth Africa (on his Instagram), Hanigan was sailing today on the harbour with the rest of the Wallabies (someones Instagram, I can't remember)
dru
David Wilson (68)
The image of WBs swanning around Sydney Harbour is going to be hard to dispel. But it’s unfair
Hope all the WBs kick in this weekend
pissedoffihavetoregister
Alfred Walker (16)
Have to say I have been impressed with Cooper underplaying his hand so far this year.
He isn't trying to do the really hard to do things, very often and he looks a lot more composed.
I worry that if we rely on Genia running the show (like the rebels are doing) giving passes 0-15 meters one off from the ruck the poms and the kiwis will love it as its easy for them to defend as they are pretty big.
He isn't trying to do the really hard to do things, very often and he looks a lot more composed.
I worry that if we rely on Genia running the show (like the rebels are doing) giving passes 0-15 meters one off from the ruck the poms and the kiwis will love it as its easy for them to defend as they are pretty big.
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