Wallabies 2020

[Bobby Sands]

It's strange as LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) does not have the lateral dynamics I would expect in a 6. I guess it's how you want to play the position. He is a 4 for me.

100%

Awful at 6 imo.

 

[Zero_Cool]

The problem for LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) is he's never been picked as an X consistently enough to develop all those physical attributes. Last year he was a lock converting to 6 for the Wallabies, now he's kinda a 6 converting back to lock. Once he's consistently a 4 or 5 or 6 for long enough I suspect those features will develop and follow.

Thankfully he's basically locked in at Lock for the foreseeable future for the Wallabies and the Reds.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

100%
Awful at 6 imo.

I've prefered watching LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at lock but Simon Raiwalui disagrees.

 

[Derpus]

Rennie has been quoted a couple of times recently to the effect that it's time for some of the older Wallabies to be dispensed with to get awsay from the last ten or so years of under-performance. Assuming, that's a correct quote, I'd hazard that DHP could be among those who will miss out along with TK and Simmons. Interesting times ahead indeed.

Has he actually? can you show me the linky link. Id be interested to see what he had to say.

 

[Bobby Sands]

I've prefered watching LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at lock but Simon Raiwalui disagrees.

Thanks god we pushed him out the door.

Another Cheika crony/ yes man / old ally.

The Wallabies coaching setup is seriously world class now, god that's refreshing.

 

[KOB1987]

I'm really disappointed to see Andrew Ready left out. I thought he was surely in our top 3. Showed good work ethic to force his way into the starting XV, and has been our most consistent scrum/lineout/maul hooker. He probably fairly could feel very hard done by.

But that's a lot of players from the Waratahs considering there form.

I think you are stuck in the pre Covid comp. Waratahs form was pretty good in the second round, they beat everyone except the Brumbies, including a thumping of your lot, who are actually the form team.

Also, all of those players were named in the PONI 'squad', except for Dempsey and it's not a real surprise that he has been added in.

 

[Braveheart81]

But that's a lot of players from the Waratahs considering there form.

It's apparently going to be around 46 players to begin with and given the Waratahs won 4 games, the Rebels 4 games, Reds 5 games and Brumbies 6 games I wouldn't expect a massive disaparity between the teams in terms of selections in a large squad.

If we're talking the last round of matches (so form over the last 5 weeks), the Reds and Waratahs won 3 each and the Brumbies and Rebels 2 each.

 

[upthereds#!]

Bell is the super lucky one - but not when you assume his involvement is for the development that being in teh squad brings, rather then actually being considered the no.3 LHP and therefore ready for test matches.

 

[Braveheart81]

It's not the official squad, Rennie won't even be there. Just a training squad with the S&C coach but given he wasn't picked now it's hard to see FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) featuring this year.

Wisemantel and the S&C Coach John Pryor are running the camp.

Rennie and Taylor can't join because they're in Queensland and would need to go into quarantine upon returning to Queensland if they came to NSW.

I believe that if the Rebels lose next weekend their Wallabies squad members will join this camp in Sydney but if the Reds lose then the whole thing might move to Queensland.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I was wondering where they would do for wallaby squad - good to see keeping players of Poni around and in train on squads under Scott in Sydney to keep them conditioned. Congrats to force and nsw players who made initial squad.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I don’t think FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) is Wallabies material. The omission of Robertson is odd, however that is probably a pointer to the loose heads from the remaining squads. They are all pretty good, particularly that the Brumbies have two of them. Harmichael being left out is pretty meh, I’d pick him over Kyle too but it’s a lineball one, neither are frontline contenders, I don’t mind having Godwin hanging around the squad.

I would also have hunt over Godwin every day...hunt maybe moreso missing out because of age, as doubt either of them would be starting 23 so Godwin for development / future purposes. FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) not had enough games at 6 with lots of competition so agree not this year but hope force keep him at 6 and see where he goes. I also would like to see Ready in the mix as been solid last few games and shown can throw straight!

 

[Highlander35]

Godwin is what? 27 now? I like him as a player and think he probably deserves an opportunity at a higher level, but unless something just "clicks" for him I'd imagine there's not a substantial amount of raw development left.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yeah, I don't get it. He isn't very elusive with ball in hand and makes poor decisions too often. He tends to get isolated and is forced to give away a penalty for holding on.

His defence is great but that's not enough. Really not excited by the prospect of him joining the Tahs.

 

[Derpus]

Yeah, I don't get it. He isn't very elusive with ball in hand and makes poor decisions too often. He tends to get isolated and is forced to give away a penalty for holding on.

His defence is great but that's not enough. Really not excited by the prospect of him joining the Tahs.

Much rather keep Hunt or give more game time to Moeroa and Walton. That said, if we sign Godwin and release Foketi that's a net gain.

 

[RebelYell]

I think we're pretty quick to write athletes off these days.

Would be disappointed if by age 27 a player can't be significantly improved by good coaching

 

[Braveheart81]

Much rather keep Hunt or give more game time to Moeroa and Walton. That said, if we sign Godwin and release Foketi that's a net gain.

I reckon Foketi is better than Godwin.

If it comes down to Hunt not getting another contract I think it is because we already have Moeroa signed and can't afford Hunt. He'd be good to keep but he's only available for about half the games and he's not likely to get less injury prone.

 

[Up the Guts]

I've prefered watching LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at lock but Simon Raiwalui disagrees.

When the Reds had Rodda and Hockings earlier in the year didn’t Thorn play LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at 6? They must see something at the professional level we’re not.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think we're pretty quick to write athletes off these days.

Would be disappointed if by age 27 a player can't be significantly improved by good coaching

Sure, but you're also then not signing someone else who might be better currently or have a higher ceiling because they are of similar standard now but younger.

 

[fatprop]

I reckon Foketi is better than Godwin.

If it comes down to Hunt not getting another contract I think it is because we already have Moeroa signed and can't afford Hunt. He'd be good to keep but he's only available for about half the games and he's not likely to get less injury prone.

Yeah, not particularly excited by Godwin, he just doesn't have enough good touches per minutes on the field

I like Hunt, but he be old, there are those moments when they have to be moved on

 

[Bobby Sands]

I think we're pretty quick to write athletes off these days.

Would be disappointed if by age 27 a player can't be significantly improved by good coaching

I rate Godwin, certainly well head of Joey Walton (who I can't make tops or tails of).