Wallabies 2020

[Ignoto]

I don't think there is a right person, there are only options that are like the players, flawed

I don't mind a flawed person, because everyone will make mistakes in their lives. It's the people who never learn from their mistakes and continue doing the same thing over and over again is where you have a problem.

Hopefully that entire coaching backroom gets overhauled because outside of the forwards/Simon can you say has worked over the last two years?

 

[fatprop]

I don't mind a flawed person, because everyone will make mistakes in their lives. It's the people who never learn from their mistakes and continue doing the same thing over and over again is where you have a problem.

Hopefully that entire coaching backroom gets overhauled because outside of the forwards/Simon can you say has worked over the last two years?

I was more meaning ability wise than life choices, we have hookers who can't throw, centres who can't pass, a back row that is not dynamic enough; and a whole team that just doesn't work hard enough off the ball

 

[wamberal]

I was more meaning ability wise than life choices, we have hookers who can't throw, centres who can't pass, a back row that is not dynamic enough; and a whole team that just doesn't work hard enough off the ball

You omitted the ability to kick. I grew up in an era when kicking was the bugbear of the game. Today not being able to kick is the bugbear.

 

[fatprop]

You omitted the ability to kick.

And the want to chase those kicks

 

[barbarian]

I'm genuinely optimistic about the future of this team. Mainly because of our forwards.

Our prop stocks have never been better - Sio and AAA are now in the discussion for our best ever props, Taniela is a gun, and we've got arguably three other test standard props in Slipper, HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) and Robertson.

Would have loved to keep Latu but Fainga'a and Uelese will get better next year.

Lock is a bit of a short-term worry, but there's plenty of good young blokes coming through. And Rodda looks like a future captain.

And in the backrow we're overflowing, with plenty of 20s guys to come.

10 is completely barren, but if we find a good coach I'm hopeful we can find someone to steer the ship. And I'd argue someone like Deegan would have probably been just as good as Foley and Lilo were anyway.

 

[Viking]

You omitted the ability to kick. I grew up in an era when kicking was the bugbear of the game. Today not being able to kick is the bugbear.

This has always completely baffled me, as a nation were AFL is one of the national sports and our players are terrible kickers.

 

[Viking]

This is a problem we still haven’t solved since Foley went south. Too mua is non-sensical imho. He was 3rd string behind foley and llf so why on earth would he start now. I’d rather lose by 40 giving deegan, Lucas or some other 20 yr old a crack.

We need to stop being desperate recruiting has beens from OS to come back and be our saviours. Show some faith in the local.

#4 a halfback who has KPI’s related to how many steps he takes before passing (Genia almost owes my neighbour a new tv)
#5 bring back the torp

The problem if you don't start To'omua is your throwing a rookie into test rugby, in a natural leadership position. Ideally you want to ease him. So To'omua looks to start the season as he's the last man standing.

It's a big ask to chuck a rookie with only one season of super xv straight into organising the backline at the wallabies.

 

[barbarian]

This has always completely baffled me, as a nation were AFL is one of the national sports and our players are terrible kickers.

It wouldn't shock me to see Hodge given some time at 10 again in the next 12 months or so, and kicking is a big part of that.

His boot is so much better than anyone else here.

 

[fatprop]

It wouldn't shock me to see Hodge given some time at 10 again in the next 12 months or so, and kicking is a big part of that.

His boot is so much better than anyone else here.

I think there is a difference between having a big boot and having a big boot who can consistently clear, quickly from 10

and I would prefer to see White do the clearances, I have never seen the point to send the ball back 15 to make 30 when you can make the 30 or 40 from the back of a well constructed ruck

 

[dru]

One of the things we are hearing limits our exit ability, is the lack of left foot kickers in the backline.

How are we in the u20s? We talk about skills training, is it happening at this level?

 

[Viking]

It wouldn't shock me to see Hodge given some time at 10 again in the next 12 months or so, and kicking is a big part of that.

His boot is so much better than anyone else here.

I disagree, it's so slow and telegraphed he'll get charged down more times then Foley

 

[Viking]

One of the things we are hearing limits our exit ability, is the lack of left foot kickers in the backline.

How are we in the u20s? We talk about skills training, is it happening at this level?

I really don't understand why we don't utilise our halfback to clear from the base of the ruck. Half the other international team add 2 players to the back of the ruck, roll the ball back giving the halfback extra space. A simple strategy.

White has a big boot, and Genia has a good boot too. They could easily have a decent clearance.

 

[fatprop]

One of the things we are hearing limits our exit ability, is the lack of left foot kickers in the backline.

How are we in the u20s? We talk about skills training, is it happening at this level?

That would help, I remember being told that Warren Ryan spent the whole off seasons making his players pass only on their bad side (the same but different)

I also remember an interview with Link where he talked about the problems of getting players take the skill drills seriously and to stop f*cking around

 

[eastman]

Certainly will miss Arnold; he is unbelievable at maul time, and does a mountain of work otherwise.

Not so sure about Kertevi or Latu. Kerevi again today showed that he disrupts the attack as much as he gets it on the front foot with his penchant for dieing with the ball. I think we can find a more effective 12/13 combination without him.

Latu came good, but not what you'd say was exceptionally better than Uelese or Fainga'a. Really good back up available at hooker.

The No 10 spot looks to be the most urgent problem. Maybe Matt To'omua, but will he play 10 or 12 for the Rebels. Is Deegan ready to step up? I don't see any of the other young No 10s coming through being ready for test rugby next year.

Like Slim, I would like to see Pete Samu get some opportunities again next year. He makes more ground in contact than any other player in the country. Rob Valetini will also be in the frame for his hard as nails defense.

I'd say Latu is significantly superior to his competitors at the moment- I'm not sure where the love for Uelese has come from either. He's not good at the set-piece and his broken field play/ ball- running isn't at a Latu/ TPN- level either.

 

[Adam84]

I’ve often maintained that test rugby shouldn’t be a theatre for development, but I think this needs to change in 2020 and I think they need to focus on team development specifically in the key areas they’re lacking.

Don’t play To'omua at 5/8 just because he is the next best available, because ultimately he isn’t the long term 5/8 choice, select and focus on the player who is going to deliver long term benefit. I don’t know if that’s Deegan, Lucas, Harrison or whoever the other emerging 5/8s are, hopefully they will identify themeselves during the 2020 Super Rugby season, That doesn’t mean throwing him to the wolves from game 1, but ensure he gets plenty of game time and just riding the pine or bringing him on with 5mins to go in a game that’s already or lost.

5/8 is the biggest issue, the rest of the positions have someone who can fill them, but we lack any suitable 5/8 options.

 

[Lost]

If you make the wild assumption that the next coach picks the same players we are left with something like this as the incumbent side:

1. Sio
2. Uelese
3. AAA
4. Simmons
5. Rodda
6. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
7. Hooper
8. Naisarani
9. White
10. To'omua
11. Koroibete
12. JOC (James O'Connor)
13. Petaia
14. Hodge
15. Beale

16. Fainga'a
17. Slipper
18. Tupou
19. (Rookie)
20. Dempsey
21. Powell
22. Kuridrani
23. DHP

Which really isn’t too bad a base to work from. I suspect that Fainga'a will usurp Uelese as the starter, a youngster will start at lock ahead of Simmons and Dempsey will overtake LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), or perhaps LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) starts at lock. To'omua, kurtley and Kuridrani will all be phased out this cycle. Angus Crichton will return this cycle also.

Behind these blokes above there is a fair bit of depth in some areas. E.g. Robertson, Holloway, Samu, Gordon, Maddocks, Banks etc. The worry is what to do at 10, hopefully something really good transpires from these younger fellas.

We need to make deeper changes than that, many more need to move on permanently. New broom

 

[Adam84]

Halfbacks is an interesting one.

Powell might have more time in Wallabies camp, but I’m not a massive fan, he is 25 so he isn’t exactly a rookie anymore, he should be ahead of where he is. Likewise with Jake Gordon. I expect both to be involved in the wallabies in 2020 but don’t think they’ll cement themselves as the starting half.

Tate McDermott is a player who interests me for 2020, greater potential then the above two, his strength is his running game, and his passing game is still pretty good but needs a bit of work, likewise his game control. Really exciting player to watch.

 

[cyclopath]

This has always completely baffled me, as a nation were AFL is one of the national sports and our players are terrible kickers.

AFL kicking and rugby kicking are not analogous in many ways at all. The situations are different, the ball is different. Most of the skilled work is short accurate kick-pass. The longer kicks are uncontested at the point of kick mostly. And looking around the world, most rugby nations develop a kicking game without the input of AFL. The fix lies in-house, not from out-sourcing per se. But it requires a change in mentality at all levels with regard to kicking.

 

[Lorenzo]

Finding a decent 10 going to be the biggest problem for us.

. well after finding a new coach.

Finding a defence coach is going to be the most difficult problem.

The pool of head coaches is fairly obvious. Same with players.

Finding a D coach is difficult because the best guy could be hiding anywhere, largely unheralded.

 

[Silverado]

You omitted the ability to kick. I grew up in an era when kicking was the bugbear of the game. Today not being able to kick is the bugbear.

Totally agree Wam, I started playing in the Galloping Greens era when we ran from everywhere because possession was King. We haven't moved with the times. With the rucks contestable territory is King. Even the ABs get themselves out of the danger zone before putting on the razzle dazzle. Chip kicks in your own 22 is rugby suicide