Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Derpus]

At no time during the EOYT did Kepu show better form at THP than Ala'alatoa. Selecting on form, then Kepu in the LH side and AAT on the TH side.

Interested too to see how you rate Uelese, McMahon, Tui, Banks, Hodge and Beale on recent form? Uelese hasn't played, for what, 6 months? McMahon has been playing where? Tui, Hodge and Banks haven't played since the Super season finished and Beale has been so seriously out of form on tour that it is time he was retired from the Wallabies altogether.

Otherwise a lot of the selections are on the right track.

I probably should question Naisarani though, because he again hasn't played since the Super season ended so no recent form to judge him.

Havnt they all played since the end of Super? Hodge and Tui definitely. Even Banks got a few minutes off the pine im pretty sure.

I'd still take Beale to the world cup but i don't think i would be starting him. He'd be handy off the bench. To'omua or Kerevi to 12.

 

[RugbyReg]

Salakai-Loto (Tui) and Hodge played tests.

Banks a little but also played NRC. As did Naisirani

 

[Brumby Runner]

R3, I don't have many issues with your selections, just the foreword that they are being picked on recent form. Those mentioned were where I was querying the recent form.

I agree, that we need to get away from quite a few of the recent team incumbents if we want to see improvement. I would add to your prospective changes, the likes of Daugunu, Pulu, Valetini, Philip, Cottrell, ASY (Angus Scott-Young). None have recent form, as in later than last Super season, but all should be in the mix for consideration next year.

 

[Rebels3]

R3, I don't have many issues with your selections, just the foreword that they are being picked on recent form. Those mentioned were where I was querying the recent form.

I agree, that we need to get away from quite a few of the recent team incumbents if we want to see improvement. I would add to your prospective changes, the likes of Daugunu, Pulu, Valetini, Philip, Cottrell, ASY (Angus Scott-Young). None have recent form, as in later than last Super season, but all should be in the mix for consideration next year.

Valetini and Philip i think could be the biggest movers come RWC squad, both good shouts

 

[southsider]

1) Sio
2) Fainga'a
3) AAA
4) Rodda
5) Coleman
6) Mcmahon
7) Pocock
8) Nasarani
9) Genia
10) Cooper
11) Koro
12) Kerevi
13) Kurindrani
14) Folau
15) Banks

16) TPN
17) Kepu
18) Thor
19) Tui
20) Hooper
21) Gordon
22) Beale
23) Hodge

Keep the brumbies front row together, although happy to swap out Fainga'a for BPA or ulese if they have a good super year. experience coming off the bench in kepu and TPN with thor to provide impact on tiring defence (his time to start will come after the world cup)

Rodda and Coleman in the row, Tui off the bench again trying to get that x-factor going, i like arnold but Tui's versatility got him over the line. Potential with Tui to be subbed out with Philip depending on super form

Back row fairly self explanatory, lots of go forward and decent lineout options. Hooper to come on last 20-30 for Mcmahon and go nuts. Potential for Valetini to sub in for nasarani if super form is good.

Genia a given and i like gordon over phipps, would actually have liked Ruru to be given a shot at this level but too late now. Cooper at half, think he will be in for a big year and Foleys upside of being mr reliable is now gone, may as well go with the more skillful option also like how he takes ball to the line and puts people into space which is needed with the big bodies in the backline

Have Kerevi at inside with Kurindrani to help with his defensive work from outside. If Petaia has a massive year then straight swp for Kurindrani

Koro with a new defensive structure where he isnt running a marathon a whole game would be great, Folau on the other wing and to switch to fullback on defence for kicks, Banks at the back as he has speed, can kick and has a rugby brain, i feel DHP is too much of a mixed bag and buckles under pressure. Beale and Hodge to cover the whole backline where needed

 

[Derpus]

I like that team but will McMahon be available? i guess Dempsey in if not (or maybe Jones?)

 

[KOB1987]

There has to be a big asterisk next to Cooper but if he carries his NRC form to Soup and then to the RC then yes. If not it will be Foley or To'omua. McMahon unlikely so yes for Dempsey and Naisarani has to step up otherwise Hooper + Pocock is still better than the alternatives.

 

[southsider]

I like that team but will McMahon be available? i guess Dempsey in if not (or maybe Jones?)

who knows, if not id go either

tui starting at 6 arnold to bench

tui starting 6 philip to bench

straight swap for Valetini

 

[southsider]

There has to be a big asterisk next to Cooper but if he carries his NRC form to Soup and then to the RC then yes. If not it will be Foley or To'omua. McMahon unlikely so yes for Dempsey and Naisarani has to step up otherwise Hooper + Pocock is still better than the alternatives.

If cooper bombs before then id go a straight switch for To'omua. keep his job simple tackle hard and let the big bodies make all the meters

 

[Rebels3]

Nice team Southsider.

I went To'omua at 13 simply so we aren't so blunt

 

[southsider]

Nice team Southsider.

I went To'omua at 13 simply so we aren't so blunt

haha didn't realise you'd put one up on the previous page. They are very similar arent they

 

[Derpus]

I also think that Colemans selection should be under question. He's been very poor this year.

 

[KOB1987]

We are now officially in the pool of death again as Fiji's defeat of France on the weekend has put them into the top 8 on the rankings - is that the first time? FRA and ARG who are with the Dodgers in what was previously the pool of death are now 9 & 10.

I still maintain that Cheika and his assistants are tied to the RWC results almost exclusively for their bonuses/KPIs, and therefore a lot of the 'raised eyebrow' stuff we have seen over the past couple of years is with a longer term goal of the RWC. I doubt they expected it to be so much at the expense of everything else, I suspect they figured they could meander through with an 'acceptable' set of results.

But with only 4 tests now until the RWC kicks off I think it would be seriously counter-productive to put a broom through. If everything over the past 3 seasons has been with the RWC in mind then we may as well just let it play out. I do think there will be some fall out at the great Dec 10th meeting though, just not Cheika. I actually think a Cheika/Johnston JV could work well together.

No doubt the primary objective is to beat Wales & Fiji and top the pool - if we do that we then have to (likely) navigate through either France or Argentina into a SF against Ireland. If we come 2nd then we likely have to play England for the right to play NZ in a semi. If we come 3rd then we don't need to worry about it!

 

[Slim 293]

I also think that Colemans selection should be under question. He's been very poor this year.

Yep, although it's been suggested that it's due to an injury......... in which case he shouldn't have been playing.

But I also would put forward that Arnold, Rodda and Simmons all had better Super Rugby seasons than him anyways.

 

[Rebels3]

I also think that Colemans selection should be under question. He's been very poor this year.

He hasn't reached the heights of the previous 18months, but thought he's finished the season fairly well in the European tests.

I left him out of mine purely because Arnold was the form Aus lock in Super Rugby and Rodda has been the only player on the European tour that will come back with an enhanced reputation to what he went there with. Also missed out on the bench because doesn't cover that 6 spot.

 

[chasmac]

Some general principles that must be adhered to in next years lineups.
1) Backs to do their own defensive work.
2) Back 3 with speed plus kicking.
3) Front row that can maintain parity or dominate a scrum.
4) No Pooper / No Dempsey + Pooper. Need more traditional backrow with more line bending.
5) Lineout with size in the backrow.

Also, haven't seen K Hunt mentioned here. If he gets to S15 and hasn't lost any speed then he certainly should be in the mix.

 

[southsider]

I also think that Colemans selection should be under question. He's been very poor this year.

he has a bit of goodwill in the bank though, i think he will come good again sooner rather than later

 

[southsider]

But with only 4 tests now until the RWC kicks off I think it would be seriously counter-productive to put a broom through. If everything over the past 3 seasons has been with the RWC in mind then we may as well just let it play out. I do think there will be some fall out at the great Dec 10th meeting though, just not Cheika. I actually think a Cheika/Johnston JV could work well together.

Theres only been a little bit of research around it but there's evidence that shows that especially short term, team performances improve when a coach is fired and a new one comes in. Happens semi regularly in the NRL

 

[KOB1987]

It certainly happened when Cheika took over, and Eddie's earlier results with England were astounding compared to the more recent ones. In this instance I'd be more concerned about them having to start from scratch (i.e. abandon 3 seasons worth of training) with only 4 games till it kicks off, and also I think tournament play suits Cheika more. I think we have nothing to lose by keeping him now, I understand the counter-argument that we have nothing to lose by changing as well - BUT it does depend on who the alternative is.

 

[RugbyReg]

Some general principles that must be adhered to in next years lineups.
1) Backs to do their own defensive work.
2) Back 3 with speed plus kicking.
3) Front row that can maintain parity or dominate a scrum.
4) No Pooper / No Dempsey + Pooper. Need more traditional backrow with more line bending.
5) Lineout with size in the backrow.

Also, haven't seen K Hunt mentioned here. If he gets to S15 and hasn't lost any speed then he certainly should be in the mix.

do not expect Hunt to get Super Rugby minutes.