Wallabies 2020
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hifflepiff
Charlie Fox (21)
Yeah, if we've learn't anything, It's that Maddocks is firmly a fullback.
Monster boot, good in the air, great line runner, solid distributor.
He has everything to succeed in the 15 jersey.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Yes, stats can be manipulated to suit an argument. The ones I was looking at I think included the pre-Covid games, these ones look less comprehensive. At the end of the day we can argue black and blue who is the better option, the thing we don’t see is how they perform in training camp. That appears to have been Cheika’s issue with Banks, he didn’t cut it in his high intensity camps which were notoriously brutal. That doesn’t mean it was the right approach, in fact results suggest it wasn’t. I hope they are all included initially, and if we bring home the Bledisloe I don’t really care who is picked!
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Could be at #23 though. Banks could be selected on the wing, has a motor. And DHP has been several times.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Banks is not a winger. We’ve tried him there before, he struggles in defence.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
So do most actual wingers. Name one who can attack and defend above average. I think that’s why most test teams have 2 fullbacks, defence in test matches is about territory, not tackling. Hence players with a strategic kicking game.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
This begs the question - for those who know a lot more about Dave Rennie than me, is he one that plays a conservative game, or does he roll the dice and play for the 50/50’s? Therein may lie the answer.
Eddie rolls the dice but it went pear in the RWC final. Less pear the first time around.
I’m not entirely sure what Cheika did. Tried to find a balance which didn’t work out either.
Jake White definitely in the former camp.
Rod Macqueen definitely the latter and it worked for the amount of time that was necessary.
Erasmus the former, which has also worked out.
Eddie rolls the dice but it went pear in the RWC final. Less pear the first time around.
I’m not entirely sure what Cheika did. Tried to find a balance which didn’t work out either.
Jake White definitely in the former camp.
Rod Macqueen definitely the latter and it worked for the amount of time that was necessary.
Erasmus the former, which has also worked out.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Banks’ defensive positioning on the wing is the problem. Pick him at fullback or leave him out of the starting side.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Two proper wingers it is then. One of DHP, Banks and Maddocks will be 15, one will be #23, the other will be trying again next year.
hifflepiff
Charlie Fox (21)
On current form you'd have to have Daugunu and Koroibete on the wings, with Wright as a close third.
rugboy
Jim Clark (26)
To be fair if current "form" is the sole selection criteria you'd have Daugunu and Wright. That said Koroibete will be the first winger picked.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
100% two proper wingers, proper positional play for wingers in both defence and attack has been underrated by the wallabies for too long.
As far as fullback goes, I feel Banks is the leading contender from the season as a whole and he'd be my pick to start, but if he doesn't start I'm not sure I'd have him in the 23 - DHP and Maddocks both offer more coverage from the bench. Depending on the split Hodge could possibly take that bench spot too, but he'll need to show a bit more on the field for that.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
I also didn’t rate Maddocks but he was really good for the Tahs against the Reds and Force. If he plays out the rest of the competition in that form I’m happy for him to be considered.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Muirhead doesn’t seem to get many mentions - and I guess he’s seemed behind Wright & Kata, but I thought he was outstanding on the weekend. Probably the best winger - even given Ralston’s double.