Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Viking]

I wonder how much more experimenting with the backline will happen? For example:

Wings: Petaia, Koro
FB: JOC (James O'Connor)

I like that way better then Hodge, Beale, Koro. Although JOC (James O'Connor) at FB might be risky, not sure how much time he has spent there but he is generally a player who makes low errors and handles pressure well (on the field - not so much off it).

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I guess you arent an obnoxious fluffybunny

I'd like to think not, but that's for others to decide!

 

[cyclopath]

I wonder how much more experimenting with the backline will happen? For example:

Wings: Petaia, Koro
FB: JOC (James O'Connor)

I like that way better then Hodge, Beale, Koro. Although JOC (James O'Connor) at FB might be risky, not sure how much time he has spent there but he is generally a player who makes low errors and handles pressure well (on the field - not so much off it).

I agree, I think we'll see Petaia on the wing. Real speed, great runner and dangerous. Exciting. Not sure O'Connor will appear at 15 but you never know. If not Beale, I'm expecting DHP to be the 15, and hopefully in previous DHP form!

 

[Namerican]

The backline is still a puzzle. Beale can't play 15, that seems clear. Can Petaia play wing now? Can DHP or O'Connor play 15 and not have a mental explosion? Is Hodge really an international winger? What is AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) there for exactly? If Hodge, O'Connor and Kurindrani can all play in the centre, with Beale in a pinch, what's his purpose? 5th reserve?

I can't understand why a reliable specialist winger wasn't chosen? I'm thinking of Speight or Rona. They aren't spectacular, but they aren't likely to blow the game and they meet the basic requirements of the position.

Using the below I'd roll with that and if behind in the score swap Beale/Petaia in for Speight/DHP at some point. Use To'omua or Hodge in case of injury.

I'd have:

Starters:
CLL
Koro
Kerevi
JOC (James O'Connor)
Speight
DHP

On the team/bench:
Beale
Hodge
To'omua
Foley
Petaia
Kurindraini

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Some sharp-eyed observers have noted that when TGC named his squad the mics were numbered 3, 6 & 0 plus the players walked down steps with the numbers 36-00 next to them:

Spooky!

EDIT: apparently it was Australian Broadcasting Corporation presenter Lindsay McDowens who first noticed it & put the pics up online.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

#LMFAO

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Listen I’ve thought more about this AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) situation, and i tried to reason the decision with thinking that he offers versatility across a number of positions. But reality is the only real position he offers depth in is at outside centre, he doesn’t have the speed or agility to play wing or fullback anymore.

Realistically i think the only reason they have him there is to hedge their bets in case Petaia is a complete dud, which i think is a poor reason for squad inclusion.

I get the AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) angst but it is not AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) being chosen over Banks but rather DHP over banks given Banks rightly or wrongly could only have been selected to cover 15. The problem is that given no other specialist wingers selected for RC squads meant no other wing cover option was likely to be considered.

For me it is a pity that perhaps speight and pulu were not given a look in the RC but equally I think to me this highlights the issue I have previously raised is we lack test quality wingers with X factor and speed.

Banks unlucky but his place was taken by DHP not AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

 

[tragic]

Geez, that's just a load of rubbish, really. His kicking success rate is higher than Lealiifano's. And no, I'm not saying I'd play him ahead of Lilo at all. And he does tackle in the front line. Sure, he doesn't destroy people, but he puts his body on the line. Just hyperbolic crap, really.

Nah
It may be a tad facetious but it’s grounded in fact.
His tackling is poor
His goal kicking is not international standard.
His poor kick exits had us consistently pinned in our 22.
We may have been bereft of alternatives over the last few years, and it is clearly a little tongue in cheek for effect, but you can’t fault the content.

 

[flat_eric]

No Samu is such a headscratcher from my armchair perspective. Disappointing that he fell out of favour given the excitement around him last year. His form this year still warranted his inclusion in the Wallabies setup IMO.

 

[kiap]

Banks unlucky but his place was taken by DHP not AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

Who was dudded out of their place then so AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could get a concession ticket seat?

Was it Samu?

Powell?

 

[cyclopath]

Nah
It may be a tad facetious but it’s grounded in fact.
His tackling is poor
His goal kicking is not international standard.
His poor kick exits had us consistently pinned in our 22.
We may have been bereft of alternatives over the last few years, and it is clearly a little tongue in cheek for effect, but you can’t fault the content.

Yeah, I can. And did.

 

[tragic]

Yeah, I can. And did.

Well that certainly added a lot to the conversation

 

[Adam84]

I get the AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) angst but it is not AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) being chosen over Banks but rather DHP over banks given Banks rightly or wrongly could only have been selected to cover 15. The problem is that given no other specialist wingers selected for RC squads meant no other wing cover option was likely to be considered.

For me it is a pity that perhaps speight and pulu were not given a look in the RC but equally I think to me this highlights the issue I have previously raised is we lack test quality wingers with X factor and speed.

Banks unlucky but his place was taken by DHP not AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper).

nah I don’t agree, I see little point in AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and would have preferred both Banks and DHP, or any variety of Speight/Navailu instead of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). He was a good player, but he has lost speed, agility and explosiveness, he is a wasted spot.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Who was dudded out of their place then so AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) could get a concession ticket seat?

Was it Samu?

Powell?

Well argument by others been we have too many loose forwards and obviously taking a risk only taking 2 9's....so I guess take your pick.

nah I don’t agree, I see little point in AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and would have preferred both Banks and DHP, or any variety of Speight/Navailu instead of AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper). He was a good player, but he has lost speed, agility and explosiveness, he is a wasted spot.

Balance wise would have been a waste taking both DHP and Banks. For me would have preferred taking extra loosie, say Samu or better specialist winger (but for me no one given opportunity to show what they could offer in RC say a Pulu or Speight and would have hence been hard to pick one of them)

 

[Viking]

Balance wise would have been a waste taking both DHP and Banks. For me would have preferred taking extra loosie, say Samu or better specialist winger (but for me no one given opportunity to show what they could offer in RC say a Pulu or Speight and would have hence been hard to pick one of them)

DHP over Banks a poor decision too on current form.

Although if another specialist winger were chosen such as Rona or Speight I don't think there would be as much confusion.

 

[Adam84]

Well argument by others been we have too many loose forwards and obviously taking a risk only taking 2 9's..so I guess take your pick.

Balance wise would have been a waste taking both DHP and Banks. For me would have preferred taking extra loosie, say Samu or better specialist winger (but for me no one given opportunity to show what they could offer in RC say a Pulu or Speight and would have hence been hard to pick one of them)

Sure...so by that reasoning it’s also a waste taking AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) over a loosie or specialist is winger as well

 

[emuarse]

Sure. it’s as much of a waste is taking AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) over any of them

I'm assuming Cheika wanted AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in that at the beginning of the year he said come back & play for the Waratahs, and he'd see him have a chance of playing in the RWC.
So Cheika made a commitment, which isn't so appealing now.

 

[wamberal]

I'm assuming Cheika wanted AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) in that at the beginning of the year he said come back & play for the Waratahs, and he'd see him have a chance of playing in the RWC.
So Cheika made a commitment, which isn't so appealing now.

There are three selectors, one of whom is senior to Chubby in the pecking order. I would not have picked AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), most of us, maybe all of us, would not have. But either Johnson or Snoz must have agreed to pick him.

 

[cyclopath]

Well that certainly added a lot to the conversation

You posted an opinion as fact. I disagree with your premise. What else is there to say?

 

[Bobby Sands]

Nah
It may be a tad facetious but it’s grounded in fact.
His tackling is poor
His goal kicking is not international standard.
His poor kick exits had us consistently pinned in our 22.
We may have been bereft of alternatives over the last few years, and it is clearly a little tongue in cheek for effect, but you can’t fault the content.

Does anyone who wants Foley over Christian really want the best for the Wallabies? It reminds of partisan rubbish from Kentucky (Mitch McConnell etc) party before country etc.