Wallabies 2020

[Rebels3]

He’s stated he will be back for the second part of Super Rugby next year. Kinda like how To'omua was last year.

 

[qwerty51]

He’s stated he will be back for the second part of Super Rugby next year. Kinda like how To'omua was last year.

Well unless he's signed a contract he shouldn't be picked.

 

[TSR]

Unfortunately we are in a position where we are going to have to make some sort of concession with our lock selections.
I just don’t have faith that LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Simmons, Blyth & Swain is a group (for example) that we can take into an All Black test series.

Either we recall one or both of Skelton & Arnold or we pick Philip. And probably still pick at least one of the others.

 

[Slim 293]

If Philip has signed a contract for the following season and is available, I'd definitely pick him.........

If we can pick Arnold or potentially Skelton on some kind of new o/s policy than great.

Throw in LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and one or two of the young up and comers......... also, potentially someone like Neville if he continues his pre-COVID form...........

No need for Simmons.

 

[Brumby Runner]

No - Mitch Short isn’t in the mix because his personal form doesn’t warrant it. Harrison’s personal form does.

Louwrens is a bit down the pecking order for me, but in a field of 5 for two spots (assuming White is first pick) he has a chance.

Also I think you’re over-playing the Rebels forward performance last week. Sure, they had some good parts and they did well in the scrum, but Powell & Lolesio had plenty of front foot ball.

In general play, I agree. But they didn't have front foot ball behind the scrum going backwards.

Again, I would have to question whether Harrison is showing good form or not after the game against the Force. Mostly just transferred the ball to an outside player without threatening the defensive line. Didn't take the line on more than once or twice, had some reasonable kicks and some poor ones. Nothing to stand out in a mediocre kind of game.


That's how he appeared to me. And that's why I see him as being Foley-esque. It will be a matchup with Lolesio next week worthy of the entry price itself.

 

[KOB1987]

^^^^^I think you have your Lolesio blinkers on BR but yes, next week will be interesting for the 10s.

 

[TSR]

Absolutely I’ll cop that he didn’t play the house down yesterday. I was also waiting for him to flatten up the line and have a crack, because he’s a good ball runner.

But NSW clearly adopted a strategy to kick long and kick early and it won them the game. He was a key part of that.

Yesterday demonstrated his lack of experience and the risk of him at a higher level. He’s certainly going to have to play better then that to challenger for a Wallaby spot - but I maintain your not comparing apples with apples. You should maybe consider that the one game Lolesio didn’t have Simone outside him (but still Powell, TK & Banks from memory) he looked average. Meanwhile, Harrison is playing with a bunch of guys in their first Super rugby year, a second string half and a journey man whose best position is unclear. But look - I’m not going to convince you so I’ll leave it at that.

 

[TSR]

On a kinda related note, I find it odd that so many fans can clearly identify our lack of effective kicking costs us so much under Cheika but bemoan teams kicking in conditions clearly conducive to playing field position.

 

[KOB1987]

On a kinda related note, I find it odd that so many fans can clearly identify our lack of effective kicking costs us so much under Cheika but bemoan teams kicking in conditions clearly conducive to playing field position.

I had the same thought when people were whingeing about it. Selective criticism.

 

[barbarian]

Judging Harrison and all the U20s crop on a game-to-game basis is a bit silly. They are so young and if we set the bar at consistent excellence then we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.

The only one of the U20s who has produced consistent excellence is Harry Wilson. That guy is very good. To still be going hard in the 78th minute (and beyond) was incredibly impressive.

No idea how we manage a backrow of Hooper, Wilson and Naisirani but I feel like we might have to try it at some point.

 

[upthereds#!]

Judging Harrison and all the U20s crop on a game-to-game basis is a bit silly. They are so young and if we set the bar at consistent excellence then we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.

The only one of the U20s who has produced consistent excellence is Harry Wilson. That guy is very good. To still be going hard in the 78th minute (and beyond) was incredibly impressive.

No idea how we manage a backrow of Hooper, Wilson and Naisirani but I feel like we might have to try it at some point.

I don't think its tough to manage at all. Wilson played no.6 for Australian U20 and no.5 at School. Could easily play 6 for Wallabies, at 195cm tall.

Him, Swinton, Naisarani and Valetini are all relatively close in height and weight and will cover the 6/8 spots well. Wright and Samu are both great bench options, very versatile (assuming Hoops Starts)

 

[eastman]

That's how he appeared to me. And that's why I see him as being Foley-esque. It will be a matchup with Lolesio next week worthy of the entry price itself.

Foley's best attribute was his ability to take the ball to the line and threaten through short-passing or running himself. Regardless of how his form was towards the latter half of his career, he was very handy during his peak.

I haven't seen anything from Harrison yet to suggest that he has a similar short-passing game or even a running game on par with Foley. The main similarity seems to be that they both wear blue no. 10 jerseys?

 

[Up the Guts]

I just don’t understand why we need to trash one player to justify selection of another. Lolesio and Harrison are both good up and comers, for me Lolesio is slightly more physical and takes it to the line better than Harrison so I have him ahead. That’s not to say Harrison doesn’t have a running game, he steps off his left well and I recall linebreaks made by him against the Reds and Brumbies this year.

 

[eastman]

I just don’t understand why we need to trash one player to justify selection of another. Lolesio and Harrison are both good up and comers, for me Lolesio is slightly more physical and takes it to the line better than Harrison so I have him ahead. That’s not to say Harrison doesn’t have a running game, he steps off his left well and I recall linebreaks made by him against the Reds and Brumbies this year.

Agreed. I'm not saying he's terrible, he has a good kicking game and seems composed, but just that there's nothing to suggest that he's the second coming of Bernard Foley as some posters are positing.

 

[cyclopath]

Agreed. I'm not saying he's terrible, he has a good kicking game and seems composed, but just that there's nothing to suggest that he's the second coming of Bernard Foley as some posters 1 poster are is positing.

Just the one who needs a new Waratahs player to whine about.

 

[whitefalcon]

The scrum pecking order is strange in Aus.

There is a high possibility that our best TH might well be our best LH in AAT.

AAT has been playing TH for years now.

Was he a LH as a junior?

 

[wamberal]

On a kinda related note, I find it odd that so many fans can clearly identify our lack of effective kicking costs us so much under Cheika but bemoan teams kicking in conditions clearly conducive to playing field position.

It is possible to chew gum and fart at the same time. The quality of the kicking is one thing, killing what is pretty much an exhibition game with excessive and ineffective use of the boot is quite another. The Kiwis seem to manage to kick properly, and do not overdo it. We had "forcings back" at times during our two games. That will not bring the crowds back, and it will not win games against good opponents. Giving possession away is just dumb rugby, a lot of the time.

 

[Braveheart81]

It is possible to chew gum and fart at the same time. The quality of the kicking is one thing, killing what is pretty much an exhibition game with excessive and ineffective use of the boot is quite another. The Kiwis seem to manage to kick properly, and do not overdo it. We had "forcings back" at times during our two games. That will not bring the crowds back, and it will not win games against good opponents. Giving possession away is just dumb rugby, a lot of the time.

Dumb rugby is when you run it back when you're isolated or not running it back after a bad kick when the opportunity is there.

The conditions were pretty terrible in the Reds vs Rebels game and favoured kicking for territory. The conditions were better in the Tahs vs Force game and largely, the kicking duels ended when someone spotted a good opportunity to run it back.

Maybe we could have avoided the kicking duels by just putting up a contested kick first up which one side would probably knock on. Then we could have a scrum instead.

 

[Up the Guts]

There are more opportunities for a side to run the ball successfully when they have established kicking dominance because it forces the opposition to drop players out of the line. How many times have we seen the Wallabies trapped in their own half in the last decade because they lacked a kicking game?

As for crowd numbers, well they don’t really matter this year but winning games is going to be the best thing to get people back through the gates. If that’s by kicking more then so be it. Hunt’s two successful kicks were certainly well received where I was sitting.

 

[Rob42]

There are more opportunities for a side to run the ball successfully when they have established kicking dominance because it forces the opposition to drop players out of the line. How many times have we seen the Wallabies trapped in their own half in the last decade because they lacked a kicking game?

As for crowd numbers, well they don’t really matter this year but winning games is going to be the best thing to get people back through the gates. If that’s by kicking more then so be it. Hunt’s two successful kicks were certainly well received where I was sitting.

Yes, Hunt's kicks were good strategy and good execution even if there was no 50/22 rule. Whilst I confess I might have been one of those in the crowd shouting for the Tahs to run rather than kick early in the second half, they knew better. That strategy made it clear to the Force that there wasn't going to be any easy territory gained through the boot, especially when the Force couldn't rely on their lineout. Then the Tahs' improved defence showed that there would be no easy metres with ball in hand (generally). That's how you manage a game when you have those resources available.

It's pleasing to see a young side learn that territory and defence are building blocks to success in rugby.