Wallabies 2020

[Froggy]

It's very easy to just blame everything on Cheika, however as much as Cheika had outstayed his usefulness, coaches don't fall off tackles, throw bad passes, lose the ball in contact, kick straight to the opposition or enter rucks from the side. A coach shares the responsibility for a loss, but always with 23 players.

 

[Slim 293]

It's very easy to just blame everything on Cheika, however as much as Cheika had outstayed his usefulness, coaches don't fall off tackles, throw bad passes, lose the ball in contact, kick straight to the opposition or enter rucks from the side. A coach shares the responsibility for a loss, but always with 23 players.

You certainly couldn't blame Cheika if any player had kicked a ball in any situation.........

 

[Sully]

I think our showing at the world cup can be squarely placed on Cheika. We have the player to be ranked several places higher up the world rankings and should have made the semi finals.

We tried to play a ridiculous high paced, high possession, ball in hand game that put pressure on our guys to be perfect. And when our players tired, and they were always going to, they made mistakes. Saying that the coach never threw a bad pass etc only tells half the story.

One of the most telling statements, for me, that Cheika made during his tenure was 'the players aren't fit enough to play my game'. And yet for years he sent out player not fit enough with the same game plan over and over. No matter who was playing, who we were playing and, no matter what the weather the same game plan.

Our player may not have the smartest rugby brains in the world but the have good skills and fitness. If..... And it's still a big if, we get a good coach at the end of this year I'd expect our win ratio to go up 5-10 percent pretty quickly.

 

[Brumby Runner]

An excellent post Sully calling it exactly as it was.

 

[Lorenzo]

It's very easy to just blame everything on Cheika, however as much as Cheika had outstayed his usefulness, coaches don't fall off tackles, throw bad passes, lose the ball in contact, kick straight to the opposition or enter rucks from the side. A coach shares the responsibility for a loss, but always with 23 players.

This is a lazy analysis.

Every team in the comp made mistakes, both forced and unforced. The big question in rugby is: where are you making them? A mistake in the opposition 40? We can work around it, very probably. Between the 40s? Probably. Inside 40? Maybe. Inside 22? Getting dicey now.

Unless you are saying that players 9, 10, 12 and 15 would have been permitted by Cheika to completely reboot the gameplan without punishment, then he has to take the lions share of the responsibility. Never mind that we have had the 8th ranked defence in th big10 over the last 4 years yet the defence coach remains employed. How does that work?

Yet again, the RWC proved to be mostly about defence, field positioning and goal kicking and yet again, australian rugby walks away looking like we only just found out about it.

 

[upthereds#!]

Ireland Series - July

HC - Rennie, AC - Wisemantel, FC - Stiles, DC - Taylor

HK - Uelese, Fainga'a, Amosa
FR - Sio, Slipper, Ala'alatoa, Thor, Robertson
LK - Rodda, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Simmons, Jones
BR - Dempsey, Samu, Naisarani, Valetini, Hoops, Wright
SH - White, Powell, Mcdermott
FH - Foley, To'omua, Deegan
C - Hunt, Hodge, Petaia, TK
OB - Banks, DHP, Beale, Koroibete, Hodge

 

[Derpus]

Would prefer current forwarda coach of Laurie over Stiles.

 

[Show-n-go]

Ireland Series - July

HC - Rennie, AC - Wisemantel, FC - Stiles, DC - Taylor

HK - Uelese, Fainga'a, Amosa
FR - Sio, Slipper, Ala'alatoa, Thor, Robertson
LK - Rodda, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Simmons, Jones
BR - Dempsey, Samu, Naisarani, Valetini, Hoops, Wright
SH - White, Powell, Mcdermott
FH - Foley, To'omua, Deegan
C - Hunt, Hodge, Petaia, TK
OB - Banks, DHP, Beale, Koroibete, Hodge

Think HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) will overtake Robertson

Drop Simmons, he isn’t making it through to the next World Cup, there’s enough experience in the squad between Roda and Jones, chuck Phillip or Swinton in there or even one of the other reds locks

Leave White in Europe, use the opportunity to give Gordon a proper crack at starting or blood someone else

I’d get rid of DHP too, not making the next RWC cycle and getting too slow, not sure who I’d chuck in there though maybe Morea or Wright/Kata depending how they go in super

 

[upthereds#!]

Think HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) will overtake Robertson

Drop Simmons, he isn’t making it through to the next World Cup, there’s enough experience in the squad between Roda and Jones, chuck Phillip or Swinton in there or even one of the other reds locks

Leave White in Europe, use the opportunity to give Gordon a proper crack at starting or blood someone else

I’d get rid of DHP too, not making the next RWC cycle and getting too slow, not sure who I’d chuck in there though maybe Morea or Wright/Kata depending how they go in super

Rennie has already said there is no 'rebuilding' excuse and he wants positive results immediately, so I can only see those players being dropped if it's based on form, not whether they may or may not be involved in 4 years time.

 

[upthereds#!]

Would prefer current forwarda coach of Laurie over Stiles.

Agreed - but Stiles, not LF, has been mentioned on regular recent occasions as an RA target.

 

[cyclopath]

Agreed - but Stiles, not LF, has been mentioned on regular recent occasions as an RA target.

LF is definitely an RA target / hope. I think they need to sort the details wrt Brumbies responsibilities, to which he is committed, first though.

 

[upthereds#!]

Hope so! Though Having both would be nice! Forward play/ Set piece

 

[Silverado]

Ireland Series - July

HC - Rennie, AC - Wisemantel, FC - Stiles, DC - Taylor

HK - Uelese, Fainga'a, Amosa
FR - Sio, Slipper, Ala'alatoa, Thor, Robertson
LK - Rodda, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Simmons, Jones
BR - Dempsey, Samu, Naisarani, Valetini, Hoops, Wright
SH - White, Powell, Mcdermott
FH - Foley, To'omua, Deegan
C - Hunt, Hodge, Petaia, TK
OB - Banks, DHP, Beale, Koroibete, Hodge

Although we are skinny at 10, Deegan seems a big call since he hasn't proved himself at Super Rugby yet. I'd also have JOC (James O'Connor) in the squad at least

 

[RugbyReg]

Deegan would be my choice as Wallaby 10 at the moment. I think he is a wonderful player with the type of all round game that has been lacking in our 10s of late.

 

[Brumby Runner]

And that would allow To'omua to slot into No 12 where we look a bit thin too.

 

[Derpus]

Fingers crossed Deegan and Lolesio take to Super Rugby fairly well - else we are going to be short at 10 again.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Rennie has already said there is no 'rebuilding' excuse and he wants positive results immediately, so I can only see those players being dropped if it's based on form, not whether they may or may not be involved in 4 years time.

I think I've also seen a comment attributed to him to say that older, established players won't be automatic selections if form doesn't warrant selection. I'd think the likes of Simmons, DHP, Hunt and Beale might fit into that category.

I agree that White should be left out of the squad until he actually arrives back in the country, but why in any sense would Foley be there at No 10? He lost his spot in the 23 this year after a string of unimpressive appearances over recent years. I cannot see him being brought back under the Giteau rule (or whatever surpasses it).

 

[Derpus]

I guess because now without Lilo we are even shorter on 10 stocks.

 

[Silverado]

Deegan would be my choice as Wallaby 10 at the moment. I think he is a wonderful player with the type of all round game that has been lacking in our 10s of late.

He's looked good for the Force in GRR and NRC, but I'll reserve judgment until I see how he performs against the Crusaders et al.

 

[Lorenzo]

Wallabies nab Storm star Suliasi Vunivalu for 2021