Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Brumby Runner]

I’m going with the following after 6 rounds

1. Sio
2. Fainga'a
3. AAT
4. Rodda
5. Jones
6. Dempsey
7. Pocock
8. Naisarani
9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Folau
12. Kerevi
13. Hunt
14. Maddocks/Banks
15. Beale

16. Rangi (but prob won’t happen)
17. Slipper
18. Tupou
19. Arnold
20. Hooper
21. Salakaia Loto
22. Gordon
23. Hodge

RY that's close to mine at this time too. I'd have CFS at 13 on his most recent form, Folau at 14 because he won't need to pass from left to right which he seems incapable, maybe Daugunu or Cam Clarke or Newsome at 11 and Maddocks at 15.

I would not have both Hooper and Pocock in the 23. Only one No 7 is needed - I'd prefer Pocock when fit but Hooper otherwise. Foley probably then comes on to the bench as 10 cover.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Simmons has won a Super Rugby title and played in World Cup final (which were both pre 2018). Not many others currently playing in Aussie rugby have done that I think.

Australia doesn't have a centralised system which means each state plays a different style of rugby. When you then bring a matchday Wallabies 23 together it makes it harder to achieve understanding if guys come from different systems.

Our wallaby openside (Hooper) is a Waratah, most regular fly-half (Foley) is a Waratah, most regular 12 (Beale) is a Waratah, most regular 15 (I Folau) is a Waratah, most capped and most experienced lock (Simmons) is a Waratah and our most capped and most experienced prop (Kepu) is a Waratah.

That to me is a spine of players which you build a Wallaby team on. It's easier to then complement them with New South Welshmen in a Wallabies team because they play with them at the Tahs and have a greater level of understanding amongst each other.

Looking ahead, I believe the 2023 World Cup will be the time for the Wallabies to be built around the Queensland Reds and players like Rodda, Hockings, Scott-Young, Wright, McDermott, Stewart, Tupou and Petaia.

I question how you view the year on year deterioration by the Wallabies since 2015 with that spine of players? Does success on the field rate second to the selection of Waratah players in the Wallabies side?

 

[Derpus]

Hunt at 13 is not a good idea.

 

[Derpus]

I question how you view the year on year deterioration by the Wallabies since 2015 with that spine of players? Does success on the field rate second to the selection of Waratah players in the Wallabies side?

Don't take the bait BR

 

[Bandar]

I question how you view the year on year deterioration by the Wallabies since 2015 with that spine of players? Does success on the field rate second to the selection of Waratah players in the Wallabies side?

I can't see how the state team someone plays for is relevant - surely we are picking the best possible AUSTRALIAN team. Australian rugby is in a heap of shit mostly to this sort of state based parochialism (not just in relation to player selections)

I think we can assume that the Wallaby selectors will want the best team regardless of where they play their super rugby

 

[Brumby Runner]

That is a sensible assumption Bandar - just hope it works out in practise.

Parochialism on the part of posters really isn't a big issue. Only if it is apparent in the National Coach's selections does it become an issue, and I have a suspicion it has been apparent over the past 4 - 5 years.

 

[Derpus]

That is a sensible assumption Bandar - just hope it works out in practise.

Parochialism on the part of posters really isn't a big issue. Only if it is apparent in the National Coach's selections does it become an issue, and I have a suspicion it has been apparent over the past 4 - 5 years.

There is absolutely no evidence to suggest such a bias.

Most people who claim Cheika has a bias are basing their accusations on the assumption that a) Quade should have been 10 over Foley or b)the Pooper should have been binned and Pocock started at 7. Problem is, both of these assertions are themselves based on parochial bias.

The fact that the worst result last year coincided with only 2 Tahs starting suggests that most of the Tah players have been selected on merit not bias.

 

[Rebels3]

Hunt at 13 is not a good idea.

I don’t understand why.

If Kerevi is rightfully placed at 12 we need a 2nd player capable of distributing the ball in the front line, he’s also able to be used to bosh the ball forward. Defensively his tackling is second to none in Australia and is agile enough to cut down the space between centre and wing on a compressed defense (this is where Kerevi gets caught out at 13). He’s also a good 2nd kicking option and runs incredibly straight with ball in hand which means in attack he doesn’t cramp the space of his outside winger or incoming fullback. Probably behind Kurindrani only in players in Aus capable of cleaning out a ruck when outside man is isolated.

So far this year in his only appearance at 13 was the man of the match against the Sunwolves.

His downsides are that he’s prone to injuries (due to his kamikaze style) and can drift up high when looking to dominate in a tackle. He’s the sort of guy that would be very physically demanding to go 80mins against.

 

[Derpus]

Because 13 is a specialist defensive position that requires excellent positioning. He could cut the mustard at 12 but i would not feel comfortable with him at 13.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Backing up Derpus; 90% of being a good 13 is defensive positioning and decision making. The mental side of this part of the game is so key. Not to say that someone who can't play the position well is "stupid" or "lacks rugby smarts", but it's like how some guys are playmakers and some aren't.

It's why Kerevi has issues defending at 13 despite being a very effective tackler: most of the defensive work of a 13 is reducing space and options for the attacking team before they even get into a position to be tackled, and the good 13s are the ones who can do this and then decide to tackle at the right time.

Why aren't we talking about Hunt at fullback? His best games of professional rugby union have come at 15, and we already have a blodoy good 12 in Beale. Yes, Beale could shift to fullback, where he is worse than he is at 12, but why? To fit Hunt at 12, where he is less good than he is at 15? That thinking is entirely backwards.

 

[Derpus]

Probably because DHP is better (if he can find any kind of form that is) and Folau is otherwise the go-to fullback.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

You don't want to stuff around at 13 in defence. It's the hardest position on the park in that respect and my view is that you want somebody experienced and capable there at test level. I'd be happy forgoing some attacking capability to have a rock solid defender in that channel.

 

[Derpus]

You don't want to stuff around at 13 in defence. It's the hardest position on the park in that respect and my view is that you want somebody experienced and capable there at test level. I'd be happy forgoing some attacking capability to have a rock solid defender in that channel.

Exactly, which is why i think TK is a no-brainer.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Probably because DHP is better (if he can find any kind of form that is) and Folau is otherwise the go-to fullback.

Yeah, appologies on the lack of clarity; if Hunt is in the conversation, why are we supposedly happier to shift Beale around than we are to put Hunt in the gap?

I wouldn't even have him in the team at the moment.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Exactly, which is why i think TK is a no-brainer.

Likewise. TK is by far the best outside centre in Australia.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Saw an interview somewhere(?) in which the player/coach was saying that OC is not as difficult a place to defend as it once was because teams are now playing with the openside winger up with the two others back in the yo-yo.

It's now the winger who has the harder decisions, and even then it's easier because they have the much closer sideline to help

 

[RoffsChoice]

Yeah, we saw that with Folau on the wing in the Gold Coast game last year, and the SA-Arg tour afterwards. The Wales game in particular was a really bad example of his poor decision making in the line, whereas he has developed a good sense of positioning at fullback.

 

[Up the Guts]

We’ve got an extremely good attacking 13 in Kerevi (whose defence is improving) and we’ve got a very good test match proven all round 13 in Kurindrani. How does Hunt get a look in before either of these two?

 

[fatprop]

Yeah, appologies on the lack of clarity; if Hunt is in the conversation, why are we supposedly happier to shift Beale around than we are to put Hunt in the gap?

I wouldn't even have him in the team at the moment.

I don't think Hunt is in the mix to start, bench at best

I do think we need a second playmaker in the team

"If" we play closer to the ruck with Genia as primary playmaker (al la the Rebels\old Reds game plan) then Cooper as secondary playmaker will be sufficient

Genia
Cooper
Maddocks
Kerevi
TK
DHP
Folau

If we require the 10 to be primary playmaker - playing wider - playing the second line of attack behind the pods, then we need a 12 or 15 as that secondary playmaker
I have been proposing Beale to 15, but he isn't getting enough game time there so far so ...

Genia
Foley
Maddocks
Kerevi
TK
Folau
Beale

 

[Derpus]

I don't think Hunt is in the mix to start, bench at best

I do think we need a second playmaker in the team

"If" we play closer to the ruck with Genia as primary playmaker (al la the Rebels\old Reds game plan) then Cooper as secondary playmaker will be sufficient

Genia
Cooper
Maddocks
Kerevi
TK
DHP
Folau

If we require the 10 to be primary playmaker - playing wider - playing the second line of attack behind the pods, then we need a 12 or 15 as that secondary playmaker
I have been proposing Beale to 15, but he isn't getting enough game time there so far so .

Genia
Foley
Maddocks
Kerevi
TK
Folau
Beale

Not at all convinced Maddocks is a better test winger than Koro or Sefa. He's fast and nimble but he's also very light. I think we need at least one hard hitting, hard running winger. I would prefer Sefa given we already have one league convert throwing hail mary's on the opposite wing.