wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Thug. Once a thug, always a thug. Ask Travis Hall.
Wallabies 2020
- Thread starter A mutterer
- Start date
Thug. Once a thug, always a thug. Ask Travis Hall.
Jimmy_Crouch
Peter Johnson (47)
BPA just put his hand up............. to be last in the queue of hookers
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
Thank heavens Rennie hasn't put Thorn in charge of the Wallabies line-out!
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Lolesio was very impressive. Daugunu, on the other hand, really needs to be told to fix his tackling technique right now. Maybe he needs a brain transplant.
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
Check out this time stamp from this Robbie Deans interview from 2018:
"We came 2nd in the world for 3 years, but inevitably.. it wasn't good enough."
Sums it up perfectly really. Australian rugby fans have such unreasonably high expectations considering the large majority of their best athletes are gobbled-up by other codes. No other top rugby nation has the sheer disadvantage of having to compete with American-type insular sporting entities like Rugby-League, AFL, Cricket, in Australia. Rugby is on-par with ballroom dancing
(Latest research from Australia shows that rugby union ranks alongside ballroom dancing in terms of participation levels. Rugby is less popular in Australia than ballroom dancing, ten pin bowling and darts - RugbyPass) https://rugbypass/posts/rugby-is-less-popular-in-australia-than-ballroom-dancing-ten-pin-bowling-and-dar/1481148165291835/
in terms of popularity in Australia (behind Rugby League, AFL, Cricket, Swimming, Cycling, Basketball, Football, Tennis, Athletics, Golf, Surfing, Gymnastics, Martial Arts and even Recreational Dancing) yet the fans expect their Wallabies to be world-beaters. I suppose because it's an aspect that's ingrained in their sporting culture - overachieving and punching above their weight. It's something that's been evident for a long time.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
I had the exact same thought. Latu may well be the second OS pick.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Fingers crossed for Uelese to round out the 3.
The lineout was poor, but I don't think it's fair to blame Paenga-Amosa. Most of the lost throws were on target but Neville snatched them by reading the play and out-jumping his opponent.
Froggy
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
The last couple of weeks have clarified a few things in my mind. I'll start with the front row, add posts on other positions later. FF (Folau Fainga'a) is the best 2 we have onshore, and has to get the gig. If they bring Latu back, he's better IF he's fit, but that's a big if. Uelese is our obvious back-up, but it just depends on whether we can get enough duct tape and tie-wire to hold him together. BPA is a good player, but I dread the thought of losing a test in the last five minutes due to a shit line-out throw.
For mine Slipper must start at loose head. He is just as good around the park as Sio, but a much better scrummager. Sio off the bench.
While I'm a big AAA fan (and this isn't just one of those backhand compliments, I genuinely think he's a class player) Thor has made himself impossible to leave out. AAA off the bench.
For mine Slipper must start at loose head. He is just as good around the park as Sio, but a much better scrummager. Sio off the bench.
While I'm a big AAA fan (and this isn't just one of those backhand compliments, I genuinely think he's a class player) Thor has made himself impossible to leave out. AAA off the bench.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Maybe with Uelese injury theyll do a sneaky and get 3 O/S players.
I do think If Simmons, Phillips and Hanigan (all leaving and average) are in the squad, then Blyth should be there.
I do think If Simmons, Phillips and Hanigan (all leaving and average) are in the squad, then Blyth should be there.
rugboy
Jim Clark (26)
I think Philip has played well this season for the Rebels and is definitely a step up on the Tahs boys. I understand given his age that Neville isn't a long term option, but they could do a lot worse given his excellent performance last night.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Noticed that too and I think it might've just been a mistake
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
Does anyone actually have details of Ueleses injury?
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Always play your best team. Should be in the squad IMO.
Im worried about the Wallaby lineout.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
FTFY.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Froggy, the front row really needs to be looked at with a very critical analytical examination.
Scott Sio's scrum performance last night should be examined. It looked like a couple of penalties that went against him were dubious to say the least, and many posters are saying the same. Sio's problems up until now have been related to pulling the opposition THP down as he moves his bind to under the body and has his elbow pointing to the ground. I don't think there was one instance of that happening last night. It was the opposite where the Reds front row, Tupou and BPA, were first to be popped out of the scrum. Those were wins to Sio and FF (Folau Fainga'a), but the penalties went to the Reds. In general play, Sio and Slipper play different games. Sio looks to dominate in contact while Slipper is a little more nuanced. Scott had a very strong game in open play in his 50 - 60 minutes, while Slipper had a tiring Tupou to cope with at scrum time towards the end. I would persist with Sio to start for the Wallabies with James on the bench.
OTOH, Taniela Tupou had a very quiet game for him. Definitely a couple of scrums where he looked to be displaced by Sio, and there apparently is some thought that he doesn't always stay straight when pushing. The last scrum of the night was instructive, I thought. Tupou was angled in at about 45 degrees before the ball was even fed, so it looks like there might be some fire behind the smoke. We certainly don't want one of our most valuable and dangerous Wallabies being whistled out of the game in test matches if there is anything suspect about his scrummaging. We won't be able to rely on an impartial referee's apparent lack of knowledge about scrums to gain ascendency.
Alan Ala'alatoa last night was the busiest front rower on the ground. Don't think he had any issues at scrum time at all, and he constantly made ground through the tackle. In fact, he was the pick of the THPs on display in the final. Defense wise, he was significantly superior to Tupou who missed a couple of critical tackles in the lead up to Brumbies tries. Either AAA or Tupou, if his technique is clear, will more often than not finish on top of the opposition in upcoming tests. I would prefer Tupou to start, but not if he's got question marks. Time for some close analysis of his scrumming technique I think.
With the hookers, I think FF (Folau Fainga'a) has established himself as the front runner. I am still questioning Uelese's suitability. It has looked to me during the SRAu competition that he has some deficiencies in defense. Seems to fall off a lot of tackles and that could be a weak point of his.