Wallabies 2020

[fatprop]

Nasirani has looked like he has a few too many pies this season

 

[KOB1987]

I believe both Smiths are now eligible, certainly JP, and Orr has been great. I named Hoopert because he's a run-on in the best performing scrum, whereas Bell can't even make the weakest pack's starting side.

I think there's a fair bit of a development angle to the back end of this squad. Normally there would only be about 35 but because of Covid they've expanded it as they have to live in a bubble for nearly 3 months. It's a bit of gamble to pick someone like Bell on the off chance that we lose 2 of the 3 loose heads ahead of him, but in the event that doesn't happen we're far better off getting a player like him around the squad, he's going to play a heap of tests in his lifetime.

 

[fatprop]

ANGUS BELL????? Someone mentioned Swinton was a work experience kid then what is Bell, bring your son to work day? How can someone not in Waratahs run on team get in over proven players like Hoopert, Smith and Orr? I though the days of the Sydney media picking the team was over. And Pone? Who cares how big he is - his main job is to hold the scrum up.

He is their as a development option, he won't be near the real squad, but he has a tremendous upside at LHP in the future, we lack dynamic forward runners, have a LHP that can do that will be good over the next few seasons

His scrummaging will improve

 

[Joe Blow]

Orr unlucky. His scrumming has been solid and very good in general play. Blyth also unlucky but has a big future.

 

[TSR]

He is their as a development option, he won't be near the real squad, but he has a tremendous upside at LHP in the future, we lack dynamic forward runners, have a LHP that can do that will be good over the next few seasons

His scrummaging will improve

He must have been ecstatic to get the nod. I wonder if it’s occurred to him he is going to spend the next 12 weeks or so being training fodder for Tupou & Ala'alatoa.

The joys of being a young prop.

 

[fatprop]

He must have been ecstatic to get the nod. I wonder if it’s occurred to him he is going to spend the next 12 weeks or so being training fodder for Tupou & Ala'alatoa.

The joys of being a young prop.

The guy is something special, last year he played in the 1st grade SS grand final and then turned up and played in the colts grand final

 

[KOB1987]

Looking at the props there are actually 3 loose heads and 5 tight heads, but I guess HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is in there as the dual purpose option, and AAA could also play LH if we got a crisis there.

 

[gel]

Gee, that's a pretty "fresh" collection.

Good to see.

 

[TSR]

If HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is covering both sides as per the PONI list, I reckon he’ll spend a fair bit of training time at LHP

 

[qwerty51]

LH Props (4)
James Slipper
Angus Bell
Scott Sio
Harry Johnson-Holmes
TH Props (4)
Pone Fa’amausili
Taniela Tupou
Allan Ala'alatoa
Jermaine Ainsley
Hookers (4)
Tom Horton
Folau Fainga'a
Jordan Uelese
Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Locks (5)
Trevor Hosea
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Matt Philip
Rob Simmons
Ned Hanigan
Backrowers (5)
Liam Wright
Harry Wilson
Rob Valetini
Pete Samu
Lachie Swinton
Opensides (2)
Michael Hooper
Fraser McReight
Scrumhalves (4)
Nic White
Tate McDermott
Jake Gordon
Joe Powell
Flyhalfs (4)
Matt To’omua
Will Harrison
Noah Lolesio
James O'Connor
Centres (4)
Irae Simone
Jordan Petaia
Hunter Paisami
Len Ikitau
Wingers (5)
Tom Wright
Filipo Daugunu
Marika Korobiete
James Ramm
Reece Hodge
Fullbacks (3)
Tom Banks
Jack Maddocks
Dane Haylett-Petty

So 44 players, with room to to pick 2 overseas players to fill out the 46 man squad. The balabce seems really off for me. Obviously no Dempsey and Naisrani when he could've selected both since there's only 7 backrowers in total yet 8x 9/10s and 4 hookers. Sean McMahon anyone??? Only 5 locks also leads me to believe he'll be selecting an overseas lock. Not sure how Ainsley makes the team considering he's going to the Highlanders next year, we don't need 12 front rowers unless this is the squad that the Aus A 23 will be made up from too in that case we need a lock and a backrowers to make the 2x 23 teams.

I'll put 2 sides together, Wallabies and Aus A:

1. Slipper
2. Fainga'a
3. Tupou
4. Overseas Lock (Arnold, Rodda or Skelton)
5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Wilson
7. Hooper
8. Samu
9. White
10. JOC (James O'Connor)
11. Daugunu
12. To'omua
13. Petaia
14. Korobiete
15. Maddocks

16. Uelese
17. Sio
18. Ala'alatoa
19. Phillip
20. McMahon
21. McDermott
22. Simone
23. Paisami

Aus A:

1. HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes)
2. Horton
3. Fa’amausili
4. Hanigan
5. Simmons
6. Wright
7. McReight
8. Valetini
9. Gordon
10. Harrison
11. Wright
12. Simone
13. Ikitau
14. Ramm
15. Banks

16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Bell
18. Ainlsey
19. Hosea
20. Swinton
21. Powell
22. Lolesio
23. Hodge

So yeah, I think if you read between the lines we need a backrower and lock to make two 23 man squads.

 

[KOB1987]

Rennie on why Naisarani missed out: "We know what he is capable of but we’ve picked on form and we’ve constantly talked about earning the right to play and we think others have played better. He’s been given feedback throughout the comp and I spoke to him again this morning".

 

[Up the Guts]

He must have been ecstatic to get the nod. I wonder if it’s occurred to him he is going to spend the next 12 weeks or so being training fodder for Tupou & Ala'alatoa.

The joys of being a young prop.

There couldn't be any better way to improve.

 

[Joe Blow]

He put in a decent shift last night but other than that has been off the mark.

 

[Dctarget]

Hope they're managing Isi well and that he takes this in his stride to become even better instead of cashing it in and buggering off to France.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Rennie said those who were omitted, namely Naisarani, Dempsey and Kuridrani, the squad was picked on form and those who have missed out have had feedback on what they need to work on and the messages are petty clear on what that is.
Captain to be announced next week once the whole squad has been assembled.
With 5 locks named, he says Hanigan could fill in at lock and there are still discussions around bringing someone in from overseas but didn't really confirm if lock would be one of those positions.

 

[Cancelled Account]

I think you’d find Rodda is in.

 

[Dctarget]

I think you’d find Rodda is in.

Is that insider knowledge or your gut feeling?

 

[dru]

LH Props (4)
James Slipper
Angus Bell
Scott Sio
Harry Johnson-Holmes
TH Props (4)
Pone Fa’amausili
Taniela Tupou
Allan Ala'alatoa
Jermaine Ainsley
Hookers (4)
Tom Horton
Folau Fainga'a
Jordan Uelese
Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Locks (5)
Trevor Hosea
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Matt Philip
Rob Simmons
Ned Hanigan
Backrowers (5)
Liam Wright
Harry Wilson
Rob Valetini
Pete Samu
Lachie Swinton
Opensides (2)
Michael Hooper
Fraser McReight
Scrumhalves (4)
Nic White
Tate McDermott
Jake Gordon
Joe Powell
Flyhalfs (4)
Matt To’omua
Will Harrison
Noah Lolesio
James O'Connor
Centres (4)
Irae Simone
Jordan Petaia
Hunter Paisami
Len Ikitau
Wingers (5)
Tom Wright
Filipo Daugunu
Marika Korobiete
James Ramm
Reece Hodge
Fullbacks (3)
Tom Banks
Jack Maddocks
Dane Haylett-Petty

Thanks for that qwerty. My white board is full of scribbles trying to work it out.

 

[Cancelled Account]

Petaia got a head knock and failed a HIA. It has nothing to do with how durable his body is.

I find it a bit weird the number of people keen to write off his career - it’s almost like guys feel some sort of need to cut him down.

Petaia is a physical player and IMO is Australia’s best centre.

 

[Cancelled Account]

Is that insider knowledge or your gut feeling?

Bit of both. Heard it at the game on Saturday and now it makes sense.