Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Probably doesn't need to be pointed out but all of Noah's form is from this year, ZC.
Wallabies 2020
- Thread starter A mutterer
- Start date
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
I just want the best talent out there and they can build combos from there.
Aaron Smith didn’t play with Barrett or Mo’unga until international level, same with Faf and Pollard, Farrell and Young’s etc.
But if you pick you have to stick.
Personally would rather two guys with potential to be 8-9/10 players with average cohesion that can build, than two 7/10 guys with good cohesion that isn’t going to be any more than what’s currently on offer.
Good thing about cohesion is that it’s easier to achieve than talent, if you’re prepared to be patient.
Aaron Smith didn’t play with Barrett or Mo’unga until international level, same with Faf and Pollard, Farrell and Young’s etc.
But if you pick you have to stick.
Personally would rather two guys with potential to be 8-9/10 players with average cohesion that can build, than two 7/10 guys with good cohesion that isn’t going to be any more than what’s currently on offer.
Good thing about cohesion is that it’s easier to achieve than talent, if you’re prepared to be patient.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
That's fair. As long as he picks and sticks over a period sufficiently long to build cohesion.
Can't recall the Wallabies ever doing that.
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
Yep patience is the key. Tough in the modern world
Tex
Greg Davis (50)
A fair observation. He's 23 and will hopefully learn how to be effective beyond the flashier hole running that he excels at. Sometimes you need to be more of a Faf de Plessis and block stoically for a few days, rather than a Glen Maxwell and go out in a blaze of glory.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I would go even further to suggest that not only do the first six months of this year not count for 2020, but neither do the first eleven weeks of Super Rugby Au..........
Therefore, it is important that we only evaluate form starting from Saturday 19th September.
rodha
Dave Cowper (27)
Ok, here's the side I hope Rennie names this Friday (tomorrow):
1 Sio, 2 Fainga'a, 3 Tupou, 4 Philip, 5 LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), 6 Valetini, 7 Hooper, 8 Wilson, 9 McDermott, 10 O'Conner, 11 Wright, 12 Simone, 13 Petaia, 14 Koroibete, 15 DHP.
16 Uelese, 17 Slipper, 18 Ala'alatoa, 19 Hosea, 20 Samu, 21 Gordon, 22 Lolesio, 23 Daugunu/Hodge.
Imagine the damage a fresh Lolesio and Daugunu could do off the bench.
Lolesio at 10 with O'Conner shifting to second-five (for the last 20 minutes).. Boom.
1 Sio, 2 Fainga'a, 3 Tupou, 4 Philip, 5 LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), 6 Valetini, 7 Hooper, 8 Wilson, 9 McDermott, 10 O'Conner, 11 Wright, 12 Simone, 13 Petaia, 14 Koroibete, 15 DHP.
16 Uelese, 17 Slipper, 18 Ala'alatoa, 19 Hosea, 20 Samu, 21 Gordon, 22 Lolesio, 23 Daugunu/Hodge.
Imagine the damage a fresh Lolesio and Daugunu could do off the bench.
Lolesio at 10 with O'Conner shifting to second-five (for the last 20 minutes).. Boom.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
That could work. One would think it will be pretty close to that.
I would like to see Uelese start, To'omua at 12 and Wright at 6.
Zero_Cool
Arch Winning (36)
Nah, Uelese has still yet to play enough continuous Rugby at a high level to justify his selection. A lot of potential, but this year was his biggest stint of continuous rugby -- in his career. But even still he's yet to REALLY step up and play to his potential. And you'd need one of Wright or Samu starting otherwise you've not got enough jumpers. Maybe you could make do with Simmons & LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) at lock but the AB's lineout looks like it could be an area of weakness, so 3 genuine jumpers is a minimum.
I'll leave the Daugunu vs Wright debate - I'd back Daugunu but Wright has his merits too. IMO Daugunu is just that x-factor.
And obviously, I think Lolesio needs a soft introduction to test rugby -- throwing him head first into the trans-tasman is a really good way to make sure he drowns. Briniging him off the bench would be a much better option. The backline permutations are interesting. Jordie to the wing, O'Connor to 13 is one of the more interesting ones.
I'll leave the Daugunu vs Wright debate - I'd back Daugunu but Wright has his merits too. IMO Daugunu is just that x-factor.
And obviously, I think Lolesio needs a soft introduction to test rugby -- throwing him head first into the trans-tasman is a really good way to make sure he drowns. Briniging him off the bench would be a much better option. The backline permutations are interesting. Jordie to the wing, O'Connor to 13 is one of the more interesting ones.
Jimmy_Crouch
Ken Catchpole (46)
Will Harrison's first Super Rugby match was a start for the Waratahs was against the Crusaders in NZ. There is never a good time to "blood" someone in a test match v NZ. Just let the boy play.
I also reckon it's probably harder getting used to the speed of the game coming off the bench.
It's not like it's a realistic option that we're bringing them on with 20 minutes to go with the game in the bag and they can have a cruisy introduction to test rugby with no pressure on them.
It's not like it's a realistic option that we're bringing them on with 20 minutes to go with the game in the bag and they can have a cruisy introduction to test rugby with no pressure on them.
Tomikin
David Codey (61)
Not a bad A team..
You just can't see the future, this is a side looking ahead, it is the vibe
Zero_Cool
Arch Winning (36)
That argument about Will Harrison is disingenuous 1) the Waratahs had on one better, 2) the Waratahs were a very young team with basically zero expectations.
Playing Will Harrison against the Crusaders is nothing like the Wallabies who are a long way from the Wallabies having to play Lolesio you can't throw guys in the middle of the ocean and expect them to swim. Sometimes you do it because you have to, or you do it because you're in a situation where you can justify it. We can't afford to spot the AB's a game or two while we risk Lolesio getting acclimated to test rugby.
O'Connor starting is the first best option, To'omua might be a viable option, but Lolesio is a risk, we have everything to lose and nothing to gain by starting him. Bring him off the bench for game 1. I don't see the aversion to testing him before we throw him in the deep water. We have no idea the performance we are likely to get out of our squad. If we get flogged by 20 in game one then I'm all for throwing the dice, but starting him is a big unnecessary risk.
Playing Will Harrison against the Crusaders is nothing like the Wallabies who are a long way from the Wallabies having to play Lolesio you can't throw guys in the middle of the ocean and expect them to swim. Sometimes you do it because you have to, or you do it because you're in a situation where you can justify it. We can't afford to spot the AB's a game or two while we risk Lolesio getting acclimated to test rugby.
O'Connor starting is the first best option, To'omua might be a viable option, but Lolesio is a risk, we have everything to lose and nothing to gain by starting him. Bring him off the bench for game 1. I don't see the aversion to testing him before we throw him in the deep water. We have no idea the performance we are likely to get out of our squad. If we get flogged by 20 in game one then I'm all for throwing the dice, but starting him is a big unnecessary risk.
I would pick JOC (James O'Connor) to start as well. All I was saying is it's not necessarily an easier task for him to come off the bench to start his test career (although it's how many players get introduced).
Personally I probably wouldn't have put Lolesio on the bench and would have picked him to start one of the later tests.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
That's one of the more impressive efforts I've seen from our resident selectors so far. Personally, I would still have Ala'alatoa in the starting No 3 with Tupou on at halftime. The benefit of AAA's solid play is best felt at the beginning of a game while the tearaway element in Tupou will be irresistible in the second half. While I have been thinking White and To'omua over McDermott and Simone, if the latter two are ready in Rennie's eyes, then I'm happy to go along with him. I do think, though, that White would be a better, more experienced option on the bench than Gordon.