rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
That's my concern as well. Samu and Hooper are both only 100kgs.
Why not start Wright and Wilson.
Wallabies 2020
- Thread starter A mutterer
- Start date
That's my concern as well. Samu and Hooper are both only 100kgs.
Why not start Wright and Wilson.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
me too
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
Having two midgets in Hooper and Pocock at 7 and 8 last year didn't go so well against big packs like England did it?
The Wallabies did better in the Perth test when Pocock was injured, because it forced Cheika to select a bigger body at 6.
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
I agree with this - Samu played the same role for the Crusaders in their 2017 campaign. He usually came on for Taufua and provided really good impact off the bench. But I think that at 102 kgs he's just too light to start at Number 8.
Wright is a chunk taller than Samu but I'm not sure he plays a more physical game. They're both listed at very similar weights.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Wright's 96kg.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Also, Cane and Savea are both ~100kg. Obviously, Savea is extraordinarily strong but we're not giving away too much weight with Hooper and Samu + another big body.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
if either get a start it will be at 6. But there's no issues size wise having one of those blokes there and either Samu or Wilson at 8.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
If we really wanted size we could pick 6. Valetini 7.Hooper 8. Wilson but that really throws out the lineout balance and I think Samu has had a lot more impact than Valetini anyway.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
The more I think about it the more I want that quartet (Hooper, Samu, Wilson, Wright) as our match day back row (plus sub). It covers all the bases for mine.
Zero_Cool
Arch Winning (36)
I think for Bled 1 we will see something like:
1) Slipper
2) Fainga'a
3) Tupou
4) Simmons
5) LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6) Wright
7) Hooper
8) Willson
9) McDermott
10) O'Connor
11) Daugunu
12) To'omua
13) Petaia
14) Koroibete
15) Banks
16) BPA
17) Sio
18) Ala'alatoa
19) Philip
20) Samu
21) McReight / Valetini
22) White
23) Hodge
Front row selects itself; Sio vs Slipper is much of a muchness. I'd have Simmons in for lineouts to begin at least, maybe later in the season you can move away form him but the AB's will probably lock in on that as being an area of weakness.
And for those reasons, I think Wright has to be in our starting back row he offers 90% of Hanigan's lineout work without the sacrifices he makes, he is really good getting over the ball and an abrasive presence in the middle of the field as well as out wide. For the first few games at least you have to start Hooper although I'd be tempted to have a good hard look at McReight at some point as he offers a Pococok like presence on the ball and a little bit more direct running than Hooper, but you can't start him against the AB's surely? And given the other two who largely select themselves and Willson's work in the finals, I think his selection is forced because you need that abrasive runner - but also Willson offers more in defense than an Isi for example. I think we have to have at least one of Samu or Wright starting, but probably not both unless we go with Wright at 7 and Samu at 6.
The backs mostly pick themselves, Lolesio was good, but you can't pick him at flyhalf game 1 against the All-Blacks. Fullback is an obvious issue but IMO Banks is done just enough but any of the 3 or Hodge could be in with a look.
I think because of the very flexible backline we have Hodge & White is probably enough to cover any backline issues we have (Tate actually looks alright on the wing haha). That way we can have Samu cover any backrow issues and probably even play lock if NEEDED, and McReight / Valetini can come in to break the game open. If Rennie goes with the more traditional split I'd expect to see Lolesio or Paisami on the bench, MAYBE Simone.
1) Slipper
2) Fainga'a
3) Tupou
4) Simmons
5) LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6) Wright
7) Hooper
8) Willson
9) McDermott
10) O'Connor
11) Daugunu
12) To'omua
13) Petaia
14) Koroibete
15) Banks
16) BPA
17) Sio
18) Ala'alatoa
19) Philip
20) Samu
21) McReight / Valetini
22) White
23) Hodge
Front row selects itself; Sio vs Slipper is much of a muchness. I'd have Simmons in for lineouts to begin at least, maybe later in the season you can move away form him but the AB's will probably lock in on that as being an area of weakness.
And for those reasons, I think Wright has to be in our starting back row he offers 90% of Hanigan's lineout work without the sacrifices he makes, he is really good getting over the ball and an abrasive presence in the middle of the field as well as out wide. For the first few games at least you have to start Hooper although I'd be tempted to have a good hard look at McReight at some point as he offers a Pococok like presence on the ball and a little bit more direct running than Hooper, but you can't start him against the AB's surely? And given the other two who largely select themselves and Willson's work in the finals, I think his selection is forced because you need that abrasive runner - but also Willson offers more in defense than an Isi for example. I think we have to have at least one of Samu or Wright starting, but probably not both unless we go with Wright at 7 and Samu at 6.
The backs mostly pick themselves, Lolesio was good, but you can't pick him at flyhalf game 1 against the All-Blacks. Fullback is an obvious issue but IMO Banks is done just enough but any of the 3 or Hodge could be in with a look.
I think because of the very flexible backline we have Hodge & White is probably enough to cover any backline issues we have (Tate actually looks alright on the wing haha). That way we can have Samu cover any backrow issues and probably even play lock if NEEDED, and McReight / Valetini can come in to break the game open. If Rennie goes with the more traditional split I'd expect to see Lolesio or Paisami on the bench, MAYBE Simone.
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
Where does Lukhan Salakaia-Loto fit in all of this? He's such an impressive physical specimen at 123kg, he's a freak. Despite the criticism of Cheika for selecting him in 2018 he played at 6 in the Perth win last year (in Pococks absence) and looked pretty good I thought.
If Samu is deserving of a bench spot do you put Lukhan on the Wallabies bench solely as lock cover?
We are assuming Arnold and Rodda/Skelton are starting at 4,5 right?
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) for me has shown this year that lock is his best position. He's been outstanding there, but I think he's a bit short of the pace required to play 6.
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
Rennie isn't bringing back Skelton is he?
Skelton and Arnold locking duo with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) on the bench would've been incredible.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Except none of them call a lineout
sendit
Bob Loudon (25)
Genuine question, how hard is it to actually call and run a lineout in a professional team?
Happy to be challenged on it but i can't see it being THAT hard