Wallabies 2020

[Zero_Cool]

Sure the team is shit -- but the question isn't is the team shit, but is Hooper's leadership poor?
Just a few of the stories in the last month on the topic of Hooper's captaincy:

Is this the last Test of Hooper’s captaincy?
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...y/news-story/99b872d88a125db68a01aacd103d26ac

Wallabies need to consider appointing a co-captain to relieve the burden on Michael Hooper
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...r/news-story/14615350478d6cff3d1996d6b82d9c75

Criticism of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper unjustified, Stephen Moore says
https://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story...michael-hooper-unjustified-stephen-moore-says

Young buck shuts down Wallabies leadership talk as O'Connor return nears
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/...chael-hooper-question-arises-tri-nations-2020

Michael Hooper needs to show some respect
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/...chael-hooper-question-arises-tri-nations-2020

So obviously there is at least SOME merit to the argument that MAYBE Hooper isn't the best captain going around World Rugby.

 

[Viking]

In my analogy, these would be the guys that debuted within a year or two of Deans starting coaching who had just started playing Super Rugby (David Pocock, James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Sekope Kepu).

I don't think the situation is massively different. Most of the players who would be identified as being our stars under Deans were barely on the Super Rugby scene when he started his tenure as coach.

By the time we get to the 2023 RWC I would expect we'll be looking at a similar situation to Deans in 2011 where we have a number of superstars with a solid chunk of test experience maybe halfway through their international careers and some very experienced players near the end of their test careers.

The biggest difference between the starting squads Deans and Rennie have is Rennie doesn't have many guys who clearly have a year or two left of test rugby at most, are solid but not amazing but can help ease in the next generation. Those guys have gone overseas.

Except there was no covid-19 season in Dean's tenure.
A full season of Super XV or Super 12, is not equivalent to one season of Super Rugby AU. They have played maybe 1 games against a much stronger NZ or SA team.

Although I do agree, the difference is not huge. BUT there is a difference, in my opinion Rennie has inherited a less experienced team then Deans.

All we really have to do is count the caps of both 23's on average in the first season. No I can't be bothered doing the research myself but I would bet a million bucks Rennie's team as much lower caps and that's with Simmons with the majority increasing the average.

 

[Cancelled Account]

Any predictions for the final game team wise? Assuming JOC (James O'Connor) is the only one reutrning from injury. Wasn't LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) close to returning or did i imagine that?

1. Sio 2. Fainga'a 3. Ala'alatoa
4. Phillips 5. Simmons
6. Hanigan 8. Wilson 7. Hoops
9. White 10. JOC (James O'Connor) 11. Koroibete 12. Paisami 13. Petaia 14. Wright 15. Hodge
16. Amosa 17. Bell 18. Tupou 19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 20. Wright 21. Lolesio 23. Banks

With most likely normal squad of 33 in 2021 (after Super Rugby, so Phillips should be here) WHO has taken their chance in this larger squad and will be heavily involved next year, and who won't be.

I feel Powell, Simone and Samu will never be seen in gold again and Ikitau will never be a wallaby

Bench scrum half?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Any predictions for the final game team wise? Assuming JOC (James O'Connor) is the only one reutrning from injury. Wasn't LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) close to returning or did i imagine that?

1. Sio 2. Fainga'a 3. Ala'alatoa
4. Phillips 5. Simmons
6. Hanigan 8. Wilson 7. Hoops
9. White 10. JOC (James O'Connor) 11. Koroibete 12. Paisami 13. Petaia 14. Wright 15. Hodge
16. Amosa 17. Bell 18. Tupou 19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 20. Wright 21. Lolesio 23. Banks

With most likely normal squad of 33 in 2021 (after Super Rugby, so Phillips should be here) WHO has taken their chance in this larger squad and will be heavily involved next year, and who won't be.

I feel Powell, Simone and Samu will never be seen in gold again and Ikitau will never be a wallaby

Wait til the Brumbies kick the Reds arses again and take out SRAu21. We'll see who's there or not.

 

[Brumby Runner]

So you are saying Hooper should go for goal more but the kicker is a 65% (granted there are reasons) and not back the lineout? You do realise he did both during this match.

I've got a better idea why don't the players just execute their skill areas. BPA throwing straight, Phillip calling the right jumper, jumper catching it and the rest of the forwards correctly setting the maul.

Surely Simmons was the lineout caller. I'm told he's the best in the world.

 

[Silverado]

Sure the team is shit -- but the question isn't is the team shit, but is Hooper's leadership poor?
Just a few of the stories in the last month on the topic of Hooper's captaincy:

Is this the last Test of Hooper’s captaincy?
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...y/news-story/99b872d88a125db68a01aacd103d26ac

Wallabies need to consider appointing a co-captain to relieve the burden on Michael Hooper
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...r/news-story/14615350478d6cff3d1996d6b82d9c75

Criticism of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper unjustified, Stephen Moore says
https://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story...michael-hooper-unjustified-stephen-moore-says

Young buck shuts down Wallabies leadership talk as O'Connor return nears
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/...chael-hooper-question-arises-tri-nations-2020

Michael Hooper needs to show some respect
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/...chael-hooper-question-arises-tri-nations-2020

So obviously there is at least SOME merit to the argument that MAYBE Hooper isn't the best captain going around World Rugby.

What about Hamish Stewart? Seriously though, Hooper may not be the best in world rugby, but who in Oz rugby would be better. From the Super Rugby rugby sides that are represented , Wright will be flat at making the 23 when Swinton comes back, AAAAA will be a 40 minute player, To'omua is injured and Simmons is leaving and a lot of poster's head woul explode if he got the job, despite his recent form. The only other candidates I can think of are JOC (James O'Connor) or Nic White, but don't know how much experience they have at skipper

 

[wamberal]

The captain has to be an unquestionable starter in the national side. How many of those are there? Counting.......

 

[7137]

Lots of people rag on Hooper with “take the points”. But sometimes when you have the momentum you need to press it. Would we have got the yellow on them had we taken points at the first instance? Would we have even got repeat penalties in their red zone?
The penalty to win the game that Hodge missed was not any harder than the ones Hooper turned down. Would people be just as happy with a missed penalty or would they be ragging on him for giving up the momentum?
If BPA could throw a line out we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

 

[Zero_Cool]

In my option the problem wasn't as simple as 'taking the three' or 'going to the corner' but that he would go to the corner repeatedly, have the opposition under crazy pressure then let them off the hook letting Argentina off the hook for the YC and likely try in the first half. This was after yelling at the referee and destroying any hope of a positive relationship there. But in general Hooper's decisions of when to kick to the corner and when to kick for goal has in general shown a lack of feel for the game, plus he pretty much always pisses off the refs. I think a lot of people agree, hence the numerous stories.

But if the lineout was the issue then why didn't we got to the scrum that we were dominating especially in the first half.

 

[Silverado]

In my option the problem wasn't as simple as 'taking the three' or 'going to the corner' but that he would go to the corner repeatedly, have the opposition under crazy pressure then let them off the hook letting Argentina off the hook for the YC and likely try in the first half. This was after yelling at the referee and destroying any hope of a positive relationship there. But in general Hooper's decisions of when to kick to the corner and when to kick for goal has in general shown a lack of feel for the game, plus he pretty much always pisses off the refs. I think a lot of people agree, hence the numerous stories.

But if the lineout was the issue then why didn't we got to the scrum that we were dominating especially in the first half.

The captain is usually making decisions under the coaches orders having discussed game plans and strategies before and during the game (You don't think trainers are just running on to supply water do you?) If they go against coaches orders they generally don't stay captain for long

 

[The Honey Badger]

What about Hamish Stewart? Seriously though, Hooper may not be the best in world rugby, but who in Oz rugby would be better. From the Super Rugby rugby sides that are represented , Wright will be flat at making the 23 when Swinton comes back, AAAAA will be a 40 minute player, To'omua is injured and Simmons is leaving and a lot of poster's head woul explode if he got the job, despite his recent form. The only other candidates I can think of are JOC (James O'Connor) or Nic White, but don't know how much experience they have at skipper

Phillip??

think he will be round for a while

 

[TSR]

I don’t understand the criticism of Hooper’s dialogue with Williams.

Williams telling Hooper that what he said to Matera was ‘between him and me’ was extremely bizarre and clearly Hooper had a right to know if Argentina were on a warning. It clearly threw Hooper but I thought he was quite restrained in his tone.

Referees are absolutely entitled to respect, but so too are the captains and I thought Williams was quite belittling.

 

[Silverado]

Phillip??

think he will be round for a while

Isn't he off for a bit next year? If not, we could do worse, but I don't think Hoppers term is up yet

 

[The Honey Badger]

The captain is usually making decisions under the coaches orders having discussed game plans and strategies before and during the game (You don't think trainers are just running on to supply water do you?) If they go against coaches orders they generally don't stay captain for long

A good captain will always TAKE THE POINTS, what happened in the Argentina game was inexcusable

Always respect the opposition

 

[The Honey Badger]

Isn't he off for a bit next year? If not, we could do worse, but I don't think Hoppers term is up yet

Hes a dick if he leaves now, this is his time.

 

[Silverado]

A good captain will always TAKE THE POINTS, what happened in the Argentina game was inexcusable

Always respect the opposition

That would have been my strategy too, but I once was captain for a coach who always wanted to keep the pressure on to get max points. He was an ex Wallaby from Randwick who believed in running rugby so we werent allowed to kick. I didnt agree with it, but as vaptain my jod was to carry out his plans. All I'm saying is that there are 2 options and the coach has the say in what option to take

 

[Up the Guts]

Fairly sure if Rennie wanted them to take the points, the tee would have been run out after Hooper turned down the first shot. Seemed more of a consistent ploy to me, although not one I necessarily support.

 

[Silverado]

Fairly sure if Rennie wanted them to take the points, the tee would have been run out after Hooper turned down the first shot. Seemed more of a consistent ploy to me, although not one I necessarily support.

Exactly

 

[upthereds#!]

Bench scrum half?

oops. I think Mcdermott. Can't see this kicking game that gordon is meant to be bringing

 

[Cancelled Account]

oops. I think Mcdermott. Can't see this kicking game that gordon is meant to be bringing

McDermott is our future. If he can master his box kicks, then we’ll see him as a regular starter in 2021.