Wallabies 2020

[Dctarget]

- Mentioned that Harry Wilson has some work to do polishing rough edges, but sees potential

Lends me to think Samu has 8 sewn up for test #1.

 

[Number 7]

Just watched the YouTube clip of Dave Rennie posted by Rugby Pass on youtube. Good 7 minute video.

A few call-outs:

- A lot of video analysis has gone into reviewing games - particular emphasis on work ethic
- The coaching team had originally selected a smaller squad, but increased the number off the back of SANZAAR's annoucement of 46 per team. I suspect (reading the tea leaves here), but many of the more 'controversial' selections such as Ikitau, Fa'aumusili, Horton, Hanigan et al were the additional players added.
- He specifically mentioned that they will have the opportunity to add in replacements. There is a chance for redemption.
- Noah Lolesio is fit and ready to play. They see a massive upside in him.
- They like what they see with Ikitau and are keen to work with him over the next three months (he all but said "project player").
- JOC (James O'Connor) has given them confidence that he can run the ship at 10. Similarly To'omua.
- A number of players impressed late (including Force players) who weren't in discussion three months ago
- Isi, Dempsey, Jock and Kuridrani were all offered feedback throughout the year. It sounds like the changes that they wanted to see weren't made.
- Called out Brad Thorn for giving the young kids a crack.
- Mentioned that Harry Wilson has some work to do polishing rough edges, but sees potential

The comments about JOC (James O'Connor) @ 10 were interesting to me because in the initial PONI squad he was nominated as a 12. Whilst there wasnt a lot of detail from Rennie, this superficially seems to be a shift in attitude towards JOC (James O'Connor)'s positioning without reading too much into it. If true I like it as I think he has really developed as a 10 this year and I never thought I'd see that in the post-Deans era. I'm a lot more comfortable with a JOC (James O'Connor)-To'omua 10/12 combo than I was at the start of the year.

 

[Up the Guts]

Don't get the Campbell love, ill admit i haven't watched him specifically but from my general observations tends to make a few mistakes and doesn't seem to have the x-factor to make up for it - Not to say he wont be worthy in the future, just don't understand anyone advocating for him now when there's clearly better options

Last year after Folau’s exit Strewthcobbler made the point (haven’t heard from SC all year either, hope he’s alright, he really knew his stuff) that teams might start looking at the high ball as a strategy against us again. A back three with Campbell, Daugunu, and Koroibete would be peppered under the high ball, imo and really I think we’d need to play DHP alongside those two on the wing.

 

[fatprop]

Swinton over Dempsey is the one I really do not get. I thought Dempsey was a shoe in. Finally getting back to that form he showed when he debuted for Wallabies. Has been very dynamic this year.

Swinton, if you ignore the overexcited dumb, gets up and does good work again and again - hard. Runs hard, tackles hard, hits rucks hard That type of aggression and anger has it's place

I don't see him being near the 23, but he has been way more consistent than Dempsey, who picks his moments too often and drifted in and out of matches

 

[Up the Guts]

Swinton, if you ignore the overexcited dumb, gets up and does good work again and again - hard. Runs hard, tackles hard, hits rucks hard That type of aggression and anger has it's place

I don't see him being near the 23, but he has been way more consistent than Dempsey, who picks his moments too often and drifted in and out of matches

I really don’t remember Swinton’s aggression making much of an impact aside from the first match against the Reds.

 

[Joe Blow]

Lends me to think Samu has 8 sewn up for test #1.

I don’t know. Sounds like Rennie is impressed with Wilson as well. Wilson has a bit more size on his side.
The real surprise could be Wright at 6. Those three with Hooper would be a good set of backrowers in a 23.
Our back row stocks are very strong, not just at 7 this time.

 

[Braveheart81]

Unless we have an incredibly successful test season which forces continuity you'd imagine that a fair chunk of the squad will get some test time this year.

There's probably only a few who you'd think are no chance of playing a test and are genuinely just there for development purposes.

 

[Zero_Cool]

I head some stuff from Beth Newman (one of the Rugby Australia reporters) said Isi wasn't fit enough, he had missed 2 or 3 games while he was healthy because he was unfit. And ultimately Rennie (presumably with Wessels input) decided he's simply nowhere near his fittest, and that until/unless he's fit enough he won't be a Wallaby. (Obviously that decision was enabled by Samu and Willson being at least 'as good' at 8.)

 

[Up the Guts]

I head some stuff from Beth Newman (one of the Rugby Australia reporters) said Isi wasn't fit enough, he had missed 2 or 3 games while he was healthy because he was unfit. And ultimately Rennie (presumably with Wessels input) decided he's simply nowhere near his fittest, and that until/unless he's fit enough he won't be a Wallaby. (Obviously that decision was enabled by Samu and Willson being at least 'as good' at 8.)

Spend a month doing shuttle runs and you’ll be in the squad unfit or maybe see you next year unfit?

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

I really don’t remember Swinton’s aggression making much of an impact aside from the first match against the Reds.

Where he also turned it over four times and gave away four penalties. Couldn't believe the smoke being blown up his a*se after that game.

 

[KOB1987]

I head some stuff from Beth Newman (one of the Rugby Australia reporters) said Isi wasn't fit enough, he had missed 2 or 3 games while he was healthy because he was unfit. And ultimately Rennie (presumably with Wessels input) decided he's simply nowhere near his fittest, and that until/unless he's fit enough he won't be a Wallaby. (Obviously that decision was enabled by Samu and Willson being at least 'as good' at 8.)

That kind of reconciles with what I heard, that he’s a lazy trainer.

 

[Up the Guts]

Where he also turned it over four times and gave away four penalties. Couldn't believe the smoke being blown up his a*se after that game.

It’s strange, as a schoolboy he was left out of rep sides for his unchecked aggression, now he’s seemingly getting into them because of it.

 

[Uh huh]

Kuridrani's omission has been coming for some time. He's made a bit of a habit in recent years of being consistently underwhelming for the Brumbies but then showing up and making decisive plays for the Wallabies. As we would all hope would happen with a new coach though, reputation isn't enough to get you selected and he can't complain about being left out after the season he's had.

 

[Braveheart81]

I head some stuff from Beth Newman (one of the Rugby Australia reporters) said Isi wasn't fit enough, he had missed 2 or 3 games while he was healthy because he was unfit. And ultimately Rennie (presumably with Wessels input) decided he's simply nowhere near his fittest, and that until/unless he's fit enough he won't be a Wallaby. (Obviously that decision was enabled by Samu and Willson being at least 'as good' at 8.)

This is the piece you are referencing.

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/07/30/super-rugby-au-rebels-wessels-naisarani

"The 25-year-old suffered the injury during isolation training but it was his slow return to full fitness after the injury that has held him back in recent weeks.
Wessels said there were simple fitness benchmarks Naisarani had to meet before returning to the matchday 23."

 

[Purce]

Don't get the Campbell love, ill admit i haven't watched him specifically but from my general observations tends to make a few mistakes and doesn't seem to have the x-factor to make up for it - Not to say he wont be worthy in the future, just don't understand anyone advocating for him now when there's clearly better options

He is a very skillful player with great game awareness and foresight. Unselfish and extremely good at setting up those around him. Steps in well at 1st or 2nd receiver and executes all the 1%ers/off ball stuff well. Great acceleration and guile.

His size is what will let him down. Affects his clear outs, defense and contact in heavy traffic.

If you could put his brain in Maddocks or DHP body I think he would be a star.

 

[Purce]

Swinton, if you ignore the overexcited dumb, gets up and does good work again and again - hard. Runs hard, tackles hard, hits rucks hard That type of aggression and anger has it's place

I don't see him being near the 23, but he has been way more consistent than Dempsey, who picks his moments too often and drifted in and out of matches

I was excited about Swinton after that reds match however he failed to live up to that mark IMO. If he could bring that physicality to every match then I'd be all for him being in the squad.

I feel like Dempsey has played consistently better through Super AU hence my surprise. I do live in hope that he can get to a point in his career where he is ably to consistently produce performances like that Bledisloe match he played soo well in.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Petaia is a big boy. I would have thought bigger than TK. Certainly looked like it when he trampled over him a couple of times last time they played - and that’s not meant to be as disrespectful as it no doubt sounds, but Petaia will get us over the gain line.

Petaia not debated as gem and get over the gain line but concerns over his body holding up means we need a Kerevi in squad mix. I am concerned about backline depth behind the starters

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I was excited about Swinton after that reds match however he failed to live up to that mark IMO. If he could bring that physicality to every match then I'd be all for him being in the squad.

I feel like Dempsey has played consistently better through Super AU hence my surprise. I do live in hope that he can get to a point in his career where he is ably to consistently produce performances like that Bledisloe match he played soo well in.

Yeh I thought Dempsey showed signs of getting back to his best while Swinton had one strong match to me and then failed to match the hype. Still a player btw that no doubt has lot of growth and potential.

 

[Dctarget]

French lock report:
Toulouse fans have been more impressed with Richie and prefer him over Rory so far.
Skelton dropped the ball a lot and played below his size.
Rodda was good in a poor team.

 

[Rebels3]

He is a very skillful player with great game awareness and foresight. Unselfish and extremely good at setting up those around him. Steps in well at 1st or 2nd receiver and executes all the 1%ers/off ball stuff well. Great acceleration and guile.

His size is what will let him down. Affects his clear outs, defense and contact in heavy traffic.

If you could put his brain in Maddocks or DHP body I think he would be a star.

Maddocks is 2 yrs younger than Campbell. Let’s see what his decision making is like in 2yrs time.