Wallabies 2020

[Braveheart81]

My concern with him is that he is too indecisive (and sometimes too slow to the breakdown)

Which are the halfbacks you have no concerns about?

Two teams have non-eligible players as their second option (Maloula at the Reds and Lomani at the Rebels). Louwrens might not even be eligible.

It's a very short list of available options and we will pick three of them.

 

[fatprop]

Which are the halfbacks you have no concerns about?

Two teams have non-eligible players as their second option (Maloula at the Reds and Lomani at the Rebels). Louwrens might not even be eligible.

It's a very short list of available options and we will pick three of them.

White
McDermott is the obvious first choice,
Powell does enough good, he does a lot of solid things without ever being spectacular (he is the "Hanigan" of available 9s)

If White isn't picked, it is a real struggle to find a third that deserves a shot

 

[MarkJ]

I sometimes wonder if Powell and Hanigan would cop less flak if they had proper haircuts​

 

[fatprop]

I sometimes wonder if Powell and Hanigan would cop less flak if they had proper haircuts

Possibly, it makes their meh moments more noticable

 

[Ignoto]

If they're looking at changing the eligibility requirements, I wonder where they would leave Ian Prior?

 

[RoffsChoice]

Can someone explain to me, a simple forward, why Petaia's body & skills so suit him to 13 and not say fullback?

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Petaia would probably be a good fullback, but we have a few good fullbacks (to the point where we squeze them onto the wing just to get them into the side). We have a paucity of 13s who can defend the channel well (which is more than half their job) and Petaia is one of the ones who seems to truly understand defending that channel.​

 

[Slim 293]

If they're looking at changing the eligibility requirements, I wonder where they would leave Ian Prior?

Turning out for the Force against the Corona Invitational XV?

 

[VassMan]

If they're looking at changing the eligibility requirements, I wonder where they would leave Ian Prior?

Issak Fines was outplaying him at the Force last year and now he's Brumbies 3rd halfback.

 

[kiap]

Turning out for the Force against the Corona Invitational XV?

<ahem> That's the Brumbies in 24 hours time, Slim.

 

[Up the Guts]

The 9 selection will depend on how Rennie has us playing. Last year all our plays were run off the 9. I'm not sure Powell is as suited to that style as McDermott is. Anyhow, I think it's pretty clear White will be our first choice 9 and it will be a play off for the bench spot from the Super guys.

 

[Brumby Runner]

DHP is the only 15 we have now that constantly gets through the first tackle on kick return, it is a real strength that allows the backrow & supporting backs time to get in position to keep the ball.

True, he does that better than anyone. But in Banks' favour, he is more likely to spot where the defense is weakest and set up his winger for a good ground winning run. Which skill is best? Probably depends on the new Coach's game strategy.

 

[fatprop]

True, he does that better than anyone. But in Banks' favour, he is more likely to spot where the defense is weakest and set up his winger for a good ground winning run. Which skill is best? Probably depends on the new Coach's game strategy.

Ahh the Kurtley Beale approach ..........................

In test rugby against real sides? there isn't the space, there is a discipline defensive line, so DHP

Against lessor sides the same skill means a 50m run for DHP

 

[Viking]

DH-P, in 5 games: 2 handling errors, 2 turnovers conceded, 2 penalties, 10 tackles + 4 missed tackles

TB, in 4 games: 2 handling errors, 2 turnovers conceded, 2 penalties, 3 tackles + 1 missed tackles

No stats for poor kicks I see.

But still puts things into perspective. There is nothing between them. Happy with either at fullback, as long as none are on the wing.

 

[Viking]

Ahh the Kurtley Beale approach ..........

In test rugby against real sides? there isn't the space, there is a discipline defensive line, so DHP

Against lessor sides the same skill means a 50m run for DHP

Thats a good point.

I'm actually starting to favour DHP now, he really does always beat the first defender.

Either way, we'll have a solid player at fullback.

 

[Rebels3]

What game do people watch some times? Both DHP and Banks have been pretty good this year. They are two completely different players. One is super safe under the high ball, offers a genuine 2nd kicking option in the attacking line (note Banks doesn’t kick much at first or second receiver) and is better at beating the first man in counter attack. The other is a brilliant support player, is a better kicker in the back field and has the pace which causes opposition defenses to increase their spacing when in the 13 channel, he also offers little 1% like brilliant kick for touch.

I don’t see why the conversation on Banks moving to the wing for the Wallabies has never really existed. He’s much more suited to wing than DHP is, yet DHP gets selected there. All very strange.

Ultimately who gets selected might depend on the wing options or opposition. Back 3 like the back row is all about balance. If you’re playing an Ireland or South Africa with a heavy box kicking game, DHP would be your obvious choice. If you’re playing a team that plays heavy field territory like England or Wales then Banks would be the better option as he’s a better counter kicker in a kicking duel.

 

[KOB1987]

KOB, I understand exactly what you are saying and where you're coming from, but I believe you will prove to be wrong at the time. I reckon Rennie has had Scott Johnson watching all contenders extremely closely and will have been in touch with him constantly. It has been reported that the Wallabies coaching staff have been putting together their two teams each week during the Super Rugby comp.

That being so, I will be as surprised as you (would be if any miss out), but for the opposite reason, if players from the RWC all get a call up to the first test squad if they are not in form. On that topic, the likes of Simmons, Dempsey, Beale, Hodge and DHP have not been in form and would likely be rated quite a bit behind others in their spots atm. I think there will need to be a very noticeable improvement from these players for them all to be in favour when Rennie takes over.

If they are putting a team together based on weekly performances, Dempsey would have been in last weeks team, Simmons and DHP would have made the cut at least once, Kurtley maybe not but he’s had a couple of reasonable games. Hodge definitely needs to spark up. But still, shows how blinkered you are.

 

[Slim 293]

One is super safe under the high ball, offers a genuine 2nd kicking option in the attacking line (note Banks doesn’t kick much at first or second receiver)

Nope, this also describes Banks............

I don’t see why the conversation on Banks moving to the wing for the Wallabies has never really existed. He’s much more suited to wing than DHP is, yet DHP gets selected there. All very strange.

DHP has always looked more comfortable on the wing than Banks.

 

[Brumbieman]

Back on the coaching shenanigans - i'm just...baffled at the whole idea.

Fischer is the tech coach behind the Brumbies forwards dominance since JW took over, and as an assistant is far more available to take up a specialist assistant (his preferred role) with the Wallabies for half of the year.

McKeller is a young HC who's making some waves and getting the team to play attractive, winning rugby and is stable in the role.


Why in the fuck would you take the HC, and not his assistant who does the role they would want McKeller to do?

Why would that even pass the brainstorming butchers paper test? If getting McKeller some experience, he can still turn up during the test season and be a guest-coach!

 

[cyclopath]

Back on the coaching shenanigans - i'm just.baffled at the whole idea.

Fischer is the tech coach behind the Brumbies forwards dominance since JW took over, and as an assistant is far more available to take up a specialist assistant (his preferred role) with the Wallabies for half of the year.

McKeller is a young HC who's making some waves and getting the team to play attractive, winning rugby and is stable in the role.


Why in the fuck would you take the HC, and not his assistant who does the role they would want McKeller to do?

Why would that even pass the brainstorming butchers paper test? If getting McKeller some experience, he can still turn up during the test season and be a guest-coach!

I suspect you are missing quite a bit of the detail about the "behind the scenes" process of trying to get Fischer. He has not been "overlooked" and none of us are privy to all the detail as to why he did not sign. It certainly was not because they were not interested in him.

 

[barbarian]

Yeah clearly Laurie has been approached, and discussions have taken place. No idea why he hasn't signed on the dotted line, but I don't think the obvious answer is 'RA incompetence'.