Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Viking]

I have a feeling the reason AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is in is because Cheik wants specialist replacements for all positions. If TK goes down i wouldnt be shocked to see 12. Kerevi 13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)

Despite my dislike to seeing AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in the squad, he's still probably a better option then Kerevi at 13 - I never liked him at 13 he has less impact on attack and even worse in defence.

Even with Kerevi's superb season this year his defence is still a worry at 12, let alone 13.

 

[cyclopath]

JOC (James O'Connor) 12 with Kerevi at 13 is a possibility. (although I hate Kerevi at 13 he loses so much impact)

Although I agree To'omua and Hodge are lucky to even be in the squad, but then again same probably goes for JOC (James O'Connor).

The fair and likely outcome will no doubt be Kerevi and Kuridrani in the centres. Which leaves Lilo/Foley a 50/50.

Banks I think is by fair the best kicker for touch, very accurate and nice distance. But can he be used effectively exiting the 22? And then we lose the extra playmaker and spark without Beale at 15 - although his spark isn't much on current form.

So who would you pick at 10 and 15?

I'd still go Lilo and Bank but then again my Brumbies bias may be shining through.

As I've said previously, I think Leali'ifano and Foley are much of a muchness, so either / or, not too fussed. Banks deserves a go at 15, and if Beale is on the bench (which I think he will be) he covers a few positions (some at a pinch). Wouldn't be totally surprised to see Banks on the wing, though. We'll see.

 

[Brumby Runner]

JOC (James O'Connor) 12 with Kerevi at 13 is a possibility. (although I hate Kerevi at 13 he loses so much impact)

Although I agree To'omua and Hodge are lucky to even be in the squad, but then again same probably goes for JOC (James O'Connor).

The fair and likely outcome will no doubt be Kerevi and Kuridrani in the centres. Which leaves Lilo/Foley a 50/50.

Banks I think is by fair the best kicker for touch, very accurate and nice distance. But can he be used effectively exiting the 22? And then we lose the extra playmaker and spark without Beale at 15 - although his spark isn't much on current form.

So who would you pick at 10 and 15?

I'd still go Lilo and Bank but then again my Brumbies bias may be shining through.

A
What I like about Banks at 15, among other things, is his first option is to run the ball. It seems to be that he only kicks when the opposition has put in a particularly effective kick in general play that puts him and the team under pressure in the 22m area. When he does run it back, he does so with pace and directness that is missing from the likes of Beale.

 

[waratahjesus]

good luck to everyone that gets a run. hope they have a ton of fun and win a few along the way.

 

[TSR]

WJ - I wish I could like your post a second time just for your Avatar

 

[Warpath]

he rule usually is defensive 12, attacking 13.. maybe why cheika kept putting samu at 13.. but i think sometimes you have to change that rule like nz did with nonu/smith , kerevi/TK is the way forward if the wobblies want to make the QF at the RWC this year..

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I prefer to think of the centres combo as rapier and sledgehammer. With Kerevi improving his passing and other areas of the game, he now provides the skill set where you can play him with TK in the midfield. Previously I thought it was two blokes who were too similar.

 

[Up the Guts]

I think they misused Kerevi and TK before. They’d just use the two as battering rams with both of them basically just running hard unders lines back at the 10 alternatively. Kerevi’s real strength is his footwork, if you let him skip to the outside he’ll drop his arm and you’re going to get shrugged. TK runs very good lines first phase back into traffic, let him make the gain line and then use the quick ball to try and get Kerevi a one on one against defence on the run.

 

[Derpus]

I think they misused Kerevi and TK before. They’d just use the two as battering rams with both of them basically just running hard unders lines back at the 10 alternatively. Kerevi’s real strength is his footwork, if you let him skip to the outside he’ll drop his arm and you’re going to get shrugged. TK runs very good lines first phase back into traffic, let him make the gain line and then use the quick ball to try and get Kerevi a one on one against defence on the run.

Coaching position vacant next year lad.

 

[TSR]

Kerevi’s almost a different player this year. His defence was much improved last year, but got better again this year. His running meters and ability to break tackles have been phenomenal for the last 3 years. But where he previously rarely passed early or kicked and his offloading game was inconsistent, he is now varying his game much better, and his execution accuracy is much higher.

Reg already asked what/who was responsible for his improvement. I don’t know the answer - but if it was a person, put him in charge
of everything.

 

[Up the Guts]

Kerevi’s almost a different player this year. His defence was much improved last year, but got better again this year. His running meters and ability to break tackles have been phenomenal for the last 3 years. But where he previously rarely passed early or kicked and his offloading game was inconsistent, he is now varying his game much better, and his execution accuracy is much higher.

Reg already asked what/who was responsible for his improvement. I don’t know the answer - but if it was a person, put him in charge
of everything.

Yes, rather than Fox asking him week after week are you heading to Japan, when he clearly wasn’t going to answer, it would have been nice to hear a more productive question like “how have you added to your game?”

 

[fatprop]

Kerevi’s almost a different player this year. His defence was much improved last year, but got better again this year. His running meters and ability to break tackles have been phenomenal for the last 3 years. But where he previously rarely passed early or kicked and his offloading game was inconsistent, he is now varying his game much better, and his execution accuracy is much higher.

Reg already asked what/who was responsible for his improvement. I don’t know the answer - but if it was a person, put him in charge
of everything.

Kerevi’s passing game has improved because the support runners have been running better lines, more from depth, less from width

 

[formerflanker]

Kerevi’s passing game has improved because the support runners have been running better lines, more from depth, less from width

Ah, the old Rob Macqueen strategy.

 

[fatprop]

Ah, the old Rob Macqueen strategy.

And the way the French and Fijians run lines.

We have been following the Kiwis and their catch and pass across the field.

Last season you would watch Kerevi make a half break look around for a guy to pass in contact only to see the support holding width 5m laterally. This season we saw the runner from depth 1m away hitting the hole

 

[Up the Guts]

Kerevi’s passing game has improved because the support runners have been running better lines, more from depth, less from width

Agreed, I want to see Koroibete trailing in behind ready to receive an offload from Kerevi. Last year we parked him out wide on set plays even when his wing was on the short side, I think we forgot that wingers can be just as effective on the blind side as they can be in open space. CFS and Hegarty did a very good job this year supporting Kerevi.

 

[Strewthcobber]

This months Poey injury update has him probably coming back against Samoa, with a chance he doesn't play be fore the World Cup

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...e/news-story/7afb9a9baeb5e68f4c8ee36a533865b3

Wallabies matchwinner David Pocock expects to play before the September kickoff to the Rugby World Cup in a major sign he is finally winning his drawn-out battle against a tricky calf injury.
Pocock could actually be picked in the 31-man World Cup squad next month without playing since the last of his 138 minutes for the 2019 Brumbies in March.
He could be set for the World Cup tune-up match against Samoa in Parramatta on September 7 after the Cup squad is picked to get his game legs back for a bench role in the World Cup opener against Fiji in Sapporo on September 21.

June's update had him making it back in time for TRC

 

[Up the Guts]

This months Poey injury update has him probably coming back against Samoa, with a chance he doesn't play be fore the World Cup

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...e/news-story/7afb9a9baeb5e68f4c8ee36a533865b3

June's update had him making it back in time for TRC

Next month will have him available for the quarter finals? Poor guy, seeming unlikely we will see him in gold again.

 

[Slim 293]

He'll probably prove me wrong due to his freakish ability to come back from lengthy spells and be the best player in the team..........

But............

I'm not confident his selection in a RWC squad could be justified on one game prior to the tournament.

 

[Tomikin]

He'll probably prove me wrong due to his freakish ability to come back from lengthy spells and be the best player in the team....

But....

I'm not confident his selection in a RWC squad could be justified on one game prior to the tournament.

If we are going to risk a spot on anyone Pococks probably the guy to do it for. Although that's probably strange to say as his not a guaranteed starter.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think it will come down to who you're leaving out of the squad to include him. If it's a player who is unlikely to play outside of the Uruguay game then there's a strong chance you leave them out so you can include Pocock (who you'd put on the bench in your best 23).

It's going to be a big call naming him in the squad without having played a game though which is the situation now.

I guess if he still can't play for that Samoa game then you consider withdrawing him from the squad before the tournament starts.