Wallabies 2019 Thread

[fatprop]

I just think any form at all will see Petaia in the side. I can’t remember ever having such poor outside back talent.

Last year I had the pleasure to have a drink with Lee Grant at a Tahs match (ex of these parts and quite the expert on youth rugby)

He stated that there is a load of great forwards coming through but bugger all quality backs, this is just the beginning

 

[barbarian]

perhaps play Tupou on the wing?

He's probably more mobile than Taqele.......
.

 

[BDA]

Yeh I really thought we struggled last year because we lacked a genuine ball running centre that could get us over the gainline. I think Kerevi is a key factor this year given that he is one of those rare players that can consistently get a team on the front foot. I was impressed with how he's matured at inside centre for the Reds this year. His defence has been for the most part excellent.

 

[Derpus]

Last year I had the pleasure to have a drink with Lee Grant at a Tahs match (ex of these parts and quite the expert on youth rugby)

He stated that there is a load of great forwards coming through but bugger all quality backs, this is just the beginning

That's alright, we can just do what every other test nation does and import Fijians/Tongans.

 

[Derpus]

Yeh I really thought we struggled last year because we lacked a genuine ball running centre that could get us over the gainline. I think Kerevi is a key factor this year given that he is one of those rare players that can consistently get a team on the front foot. I was impressed with how he's matured at inside centre for the Reds this year. His defence has been for the most part excellent.

Not saying he is anywhere near as good right now, but Simone looks like he could be another hard running 12 with a fairly well developed skillset. He was about the only player getting the Brumbies over the line against the Jaguares.

 

[Joe Blow]

In what will most likely be our backs picked we will have Genia, Foley, Kerevi, Beale and maybe Banks. That’s more than enough x-factor.
DHP and Koroibete have their moments in attack as well.

 

[Joe Blow]

We need solid set piece ball and a pack going forward. The rest will come.

 

[Derpus]

We need solid set piece ball and a pack going forward. The rest will come.

I agree. Foley and Beale always look great behind a dominant pack.

Problem is, when was the last time they were given that platform by either the Wallabies or the Tahs? 2015?

 

[RugbyReg]

Last year I had the pleasure to have a drink with Lee Grant at a Tahs match (ex of these parts and quite the expert on youth rugby)

He stated that there is a load of great forwards coming through but bugger all quality backs, this is just the beginning

dunno. Petaia, Lucas, Harrison and Loloesio seem pretty damn high quality. Obviously the other 20s backs have some ability too. Then there is the young bunch playing Super Rugby in McDermott, Stewart, Maddocks, Ikitau, etc.

And there are a handful of pretty talented ones coming through up here too in the likes of Gordon and Pasitoa.

I'm not too concerned yet.

 

[fatprop]

There are some interesting questions about the props & hooker selections.

I would guess we will start with the ponies front row, but who do we finish with?

Robertson or Slipper or Kepu at LHP

Kepu or Tupou or Robertson at THP

Uelese or Latu at Hooker

Dunno, do we go for scrum effectiveness or around the ground effectiveness?

 

[Derpus]

Slipper, Latu, Tupou would be my pick off the bench

 

[Joe Blow]

Slipper, Uelese and Tupou offer the best of both worlds. Hopefully this year we will come home with a very strong scrum.
Kepu has enormous experience and can open up a defence. Robertson will hold his own at scrum time and take the ball up all day.

So nice to have that depth.

 

[John S]

Geez no Phipps nor Hanigan. Waratah conspiracy theorists' heads exploding.

Someone will still think there's too many Tahs.

 

[Tomikin]

Yeh I really thought we struggled last year because we lacked a genuine ball running centre that could get us over the gainline. I think Kerevi is a key factor this year given that he is one of those rare players that can consistently get a team on the front foot. I was impressed with how he's matured at inside centre for the Reds this year. His defence has been for the most part excellent.

TK off the Shoulder of Kerevi for an offload is going to be amazing.. Plus TK is a wicked defender, and I know he doesn't get the wraps but I have seen him pinball defenders off him when his running hard.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Last year I had the pleasure to have a drink with Lee Grant at a Tahs match (ex of these parts and quite the expert on youth rugby)

He stated that there is a load of great forwards coming through but bugger all quality backs, this is just the beginning

Good to hear he is still well!

 

[Braveheart81]

Uelese and Latu. One played 3 games and the other was done for drink driving recently. Laughable. I know Fainga'a was always gonna be starting but surely there is better players to back him up.

Rugby Australia has decided the punishment for Latu. Whether or not it was sufficient is debateable. The reality is that most people who admit their guilt and plead for mercy get a second chance. Most people whether they are professional sportspeople or otherwise won't get fired by their employer for drink driving.

It shouldn't be the coach who makes a judgement whether the punishment handed down by the employer was sufficient. Cheika deciding not to select Latu on the basis of his in match discipline is another issue. That would have been perfectly valid.

Latu has two yellow cards in 13 tests and they were both last year which certainly makes his case worse. He's then got the suspension from this year against the Sunwolves. Clearly he is a hothead and discipline is his greatest issue on the field. He's certainly talented though and I think has the potential to offer more than Mafi or Paenga-Amosa.

Whether he ultimately goes to the RWC or TPN takes his place remains to be seen. Hooker is clearly a position that is an issue for us and that is definitely why Latu has scraped in.

 

[Derpus]

Latu has the potential to be the best hooker we have. He's just got to get his head right.

Problem is, the mental element of his game seems to be, if anything, deteriorating. I think Cheika is giving him a chance to show his maturity but i really, really doubt he will make the cut into the RWC squad.

 

[Tomikin]

Someone will still think there's too many Tahs.

Im surprised Phipps didn't make it, but you gotta reward form, but there are some lucky Tah's there, in the likes of say Latu (talented but a nob) and Dempsey, but as others have put it he has had an awesome game against the All blacks . The rest are pretty much mainstays in the team, in Hooper, Simmions, Kepu, Robertson, Foley, Beale.

And I guess AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is the Old Half Dead Outside Back we take with us to every WC.

 

[Benaud]

perhaps play Tupou on the wing?

Fainga'a wouldn't be out of place either.

 

[BDA]

I thought phipps was a certainty after they trodded him out for the unvieling of the jersey

Re my early comment regarding our backline i think our backline my only concern is goal kicking. Foley usually pretty accurate but he doesnt have the consistency of the like of farrell