Wallabies 2020

[Slim 293]

A lot of talk about the backrow this week.........

Naisarani had another standout performance.........

Hooper absolutely dominated Wright......... "dominated" being the most appropriate PG term I could use.........

Wilson was also completely ineffective, and probably was the worst performing 8 of the round.

On form:

6. Valetini
7. Hooper
8. Naisarani

Would need two excellent line out jumping locks to compliment that backrow.

 

[Adam84]

Was Valetini really the form 6 of the round?

 

[KOB1987]

Was Valetini really the form 6 of the round?

Based on just this one round i’d be picking Dempsey at 6.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

On selecting the Wallaby 23 up until this round it was like the final piece of the jigsaw was being put together - with this round it is like someone kicked the jigsaw puzzle of the table and scattered all the pieces. And now having to almost start all over again.

 

[TSR]

Based on just this one round i’d be picking Dempsey at 6.

Generally I don’t think he’s been great this year, but if Dempsey can keep playing like that he would be a very good pick at 6.

 

[KOB1987]

Generally I don’t think he’s been great this year, but if Dempsey can keep playing like that he would be a very good pick at 6.

For sure, he needs to keep it up. Out of curiosity I ran the stats anyway, based on this it could Valetini’s defence that lets him down. Your test #6 needs better tackle stats than this, they are worse than all of the #10s we were looking at yesterday.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Based on just this one round i’d be picking Dempsey at 6.

But Dempsey played 8, KOB. Admittedly he put in an excellent shift but I thought the rules are that players were to be picked in the position they played.

So, on form over the whole of the year, then Valetini is the man.

6 is a bit of a problem this week for the TOTW, as is LHP.

 

[KOB1987]

But Dempsey played 8, KOB. Admittedly he put in an excellent shift but I thought the rules are that players were to be picked in the position they played.

So, on form over the whole of the year, then Valetini is the man.

6 is a bit of a problem this week for the TOTW, as is LHP.

This isn’t team of the week voting here, just a general discussion. For the record though, for TOTW you can pick someone in a position different to what they played but unless lots of people do the same thing he’s unlikely to get the gong in the team. A couple of people picked Harry Wilson at 6 last week for example.

On form over the whole year Valetini is YOUR man, not necessarily everyone else’s.

6 is a bit of of a selection headache overall, not just this week. In a good way though, there are a lot of contenders.

 

[TSR]

The risk is getting too caught up in outlier performances and pushing or ditching players on the basis of these.

I think Dempsey has had some good games and, when he has been at his best he is a very good backrower. A lot of the emerging candidates have been consistently better - but they weren’t on the weekend.

On the other hand Hooper demonstrated again he is consistently excellent. During the week I questioned whether we would be better off looking at Wright in the 7 jersey to strengthen the lineout. I think Hooper shut that argument down.

The problem I see is that if Hooper & Nasirani are lock ins for 7 & 8 then we need a 6 who is a front line lineout option. The problem is that most of the most consistent performers aren’t really (unless you consider Wright a candidate). Samu & Wilson are my preferred picks for 6. Both are okay in the lineout, but neither are front line jumpers. Valetini gets used rarely.

However Dempsey would be a very good fit for the profile of player that (IMO) we need in the 6 jersey. So I would see him very much in the picture if he can demonstrate the form from yesterday (albeit against a pretty poor Reds showing).

 

[Bobby Sands]

I think we should wait a week to qualify that performance.

I don't think the Tahs are all of a sudden pace setters, and the Reds battlers.

Lets see how both the sides go this week or next two weeks if there's a bye.

 

[TSR]

No - that’s fair Bobby. 100% agree and I don’t suddenly have Dempsey in front of Wilson or Samu.

But I do think having a strong lineout is essential and finding the right mix in the back row will be strongly influenced by that.

Hooper and Nasirani were already front runners for their position (IMO) so picking them as lock ins wasn’t a reaction to one good weekend - although it did kill off any doubt for me that they might consider Wright in front of Hooper. So whomever is going to play 6 needs to be a jumper - simple as that.

 

[Silverado]

I think we should wait a week to qualify that performance.

I don't think the Tahs are all of a sudden pace setters, and the Reds battlers.

Lets see how both the sides go this week or next two weeks if there's a bye.

Agree. The Tahs were dreadful v Rebels just one game ago but sublime this week.

 

[Blackadder]

Big shout out to Tom Horton who was down the pecking order at Hooker at the start of the year to now not only starting but playing well.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Big shout out to Tom Horton who was down the pecking order at Hooker at the start of the year to now not only starting but playing well.

Thought he looked very good.

Goes to show that club rugby in Australia is pretty good when compared to returning hookers from European clubs etc.

 

[Braveheart81]

Well that was certainly a big weekend in terms of mixing up the perception of potential Wallabies. A bunch of players who were barely on the radar are now right in the frame and some who seemed like they were almost guaranteed starters a few weeks ago are no longer.

Matt To'omua looked fantastic in the 12 jersey for the Rebels and surely has to play there. JOC (James O'Connor) is solid at 10 but with the steady hand of To'omua at 12, maybe one of the youngsters will get the nod with Harrison potentially the favourite with his goal kicking a big plus. Lolesio is still to come back and with Deegan now starting he has a chance to build on an excellent game against the Brumbies.

Jack Dempsey now has to be considered and could be an excellent option at 6. Prior to this weekend you wouldn't have had him close to the squad but that was a brilliant performance.

Trevor Hosea keeps playing strong games for the Rebels and could potentially be the lock bolter in the squad, leapfrogging Swain, Frost and Blyth.

Jake Gordon is a real contender for the squad as well with a great performance in his first start for the season. You'd have to assume that Tate McDermott will be back starting for the Reds but squad spots are pretty open at 9.

James Ramm is proving very elusive. I think he's well behind Koroibete and Wright but he's probably leapt ahead of a few vying for the squad (notably Kellaway who has been quiet for a while after being on fire early in the year).

 

[Rebels3]

Ramm has been consistently great. He joins the extended lineup on what is now one of our most loaded positions in the country been left winger. Koroibete, Wright, Daugunu are all left wingers as well, it would be interesting to see one of these guys have a few games on the right to get their bearings as I presume we will select one of them to run on the other touchline. Wright would probably look the best fit as I think he looks more comfortable passing and stepping off both feet than the others.

 

[Joe Blow]

Dempseys problem is lack of consistency. He can put in a good performance like yesterday and then look totally disinterested the following week. I see he and Samu as very similar players with Samu way ahead on the pecking order.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

You would have to think a probables vs possibles game would be useful to slot in before bledisloe (I am assuming no Rugby Championship) which would attract interest and be useful as bledisloe warm up.

 

[rugboy]

Ramm has been consistently great. He joins the extended lineup on what is now one of our most loaded positions in the country been left winger. Koroibete, Wright, Daugunu are all left wingers as well, it would be interesting to see one of these guys have a few games on the right to get their bearings as I presume we will select one of them to run on the other touchline. Wright would probably look the best fit as I think he looks more comfortable passing and stepping off both feet than the others.

Wright looked good when he came on as a replacement pre-COVID against the Tahs on the right wing and then went on to score a double.

15 is starting look a bit uncertain. DHP's injury means we might not see him again this campaign, at best he will be under done. Banks early form has completely deserted him. Maddocks, if he can play like on the weekend would be great but like most of the Tahs he needs to find some consistency.

 

[sendit]

You would have to think a probables vs possibles game would be useful to slot in before bledisloe (I am assuming no Rugby Championship) which would attract interest and be useful as bledisloe warm up.

i would be very interested in making it a 2 or 3 game series - Chance to try different combos, players that get shown up have a chance at redemption, possible movement between the two teams

not sure if that would be everyones cup of tea though