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Wallabies 2020
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sendit
Bob Loudon (25)
i think we can match them in the forwards, maybe even be ahead of them but i am pretty worried about our backs after seeing the North v South game........different level
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
The magic is that they can only field one backline and we only have to scrabble together 7 players in a backline.
Throw in Tate, Petaia, Koroibete & Daugunu who all have some serious game breaking x factor. Then hope JO'C, To'omua and DHP tackle their hearts out and ya know, hold it together.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
My thoughts exactly. I reckon our best bet is to play a Rebels/Brumbies spoiler style of rugby. If the game opens up we'll get torn a new one.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Went and grabbed Zer0's backline from the NZ thread:
9. Smith
10. Mo'unga
11. Clarke
12. ALB/Goodhue
13. Goodhue/ALB
14. Bridge
15. Barrett/McNuggets
That is a terrifying backline..... I'd argue that 4/7 of that backline is head and shoulders above their aussie counterparts (Smith, Mo'unga, ALB, Barrett). Then the other 3 ain't so obvious. So, if the moons align, we sacrifice a few goats, BB has a shit night it is technically possible.
9. Smith
10. Mo'unga
11. Clarke
12. ALB/Goodhue
13. Goodhue/ALB
14. Bridge
15. Barrett/McNuggets
That is a terrifying backline..... I'd argue that 4/7 of that backline is head and shoulders above their aussie counterparts (Smith, Mo'unga, ALB, Barrett). Then the other 3 ain't so obvious. So, if the moons align, we sacrifice a few goats, BB has a shit night it is technically possible.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Test rugby is a different beast to that North vs South Harlem Globetrotters stuff, I'm not reading much into it.
Walton is 8 years younger than Godwin.
What's there not to get about Walton? He's a great defender and has been solid in other aspects in his first professional season. Looks like a good foil for a more dynamic attacking centre but seems like you could build your backline defence around him.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
They usually do give us a thumping every year, too. Maybe not by 50.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Copy the Poms. Play the perfect game, no mistakes, fantastic defence, get into their faces and don't take a backward step.
15 on 15. They are mortal.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Yeah that's my hope. Fozzie ain't got shit, hopefully Rennie plays some 4-d chess with him.
Only since we started to be crap again
could not disagree more. Words/phrases like "terrifying" and "heads and shoulders above" are hyperbolic bullshit. That backline doesn't scare me. Nor do any of those players. Only Barrett as a player really worries me.
The system is head and shoulders above ours. But 7 names on a piece of paper/forum doesn't worry me. I reckon we are a better position to beat the ABs than we have been for the last 5 or so years.
Stop cowtowing to their self-professed aura.
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Bobby Sands
Guest
Oh yeah?
What's that.
Not only does he look better at lock, the Reds look better as well.
I think it's so easy to assume some of these blokes know more, but quite often (Cheika, Graham, etc) the pressure cooks their brain and like an offside trader they just keep leveraging up their trades to catch up on PnL.
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Bobby Sands
Guest
Don't see it personally.
But I am happy to be proven wrong - as obviously lots of people rate him.
An outside centre who is only useful on one side of the ball is pretty uninspiring for a professional rugby player in Australia in my opinion. Is that really his game? A defensive minded 13, who doesn't maker errors in attack, but also doesn't threaten the line or ball play?
With regards to Godwin, I just think he is a very smart footballer. Well rounded, without having any out and out weapons. But he ball plays, and is good on both sides of the ball.
sendit
Bob Loudon (25)
Better position than the last 5 years doesn't say too much though, in that whole time have we been able to put in back to back performances against them?
I think we are still 2 or so years away from consistently matching it with the AB's, but that's ok it's a work in progress and i think we will get there in time, i believe we will play semis or the GF at the next world cup and peak at the following and win that World Cup
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
I disagree with you. I think Reece, Bridge, J. Barrett and maybe Goodhue are products of their better environment and throw in any of our Aus players and you wouldn't see much difference. But I genuinely think the natural ability of Smith, Richie & BB are a level above ours regardless of our respective systems.
But as I said earlier, we only have to stick 7 players out there and they can beat them on their day as we saw in Perth, I'm quietly optimistic about the Rennie era.
His attacking stats this season are better than Magnay who has been judged to have had a decent season.
Godwin also offers little in attack.
I'm willing to give the first season player more leeway that they might improve than other guys who've played close to 5 and 10 years of professional rugby each.