Wallabies 2021
- Thread starter KOB1987
- Start date
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
Everyone keeps calling for Lolesio to start at 10 but he is no more ready now than when he took on the All Blacks, maybe less so having played no rugby since. I think we need to go with JOC (James O'Connor) for this match through default. Noah can be on the bench. He didn’t look great last week. Deer in the headlights stuff. It could backfire if he is not up to it and will cruel his chances of ever getting where a test 10 needs to be. While JOC (James O'Connor) has been largely ineffective as a playmaker he may come good this week. His Super Rugby form was decent and he has had a couple of weeks back in the saddle.
Put Perese in there close to him(13 would be my preference) to give him a good bail out option. Have Valetini, TT and Leota running off his hip all day for the short pass, Philip too.
Go back to simple territory based rugby that we played against the Boks for the first 60-70 minutes. Let’s get a win before heading home to lick our wounds and start to plan for next year.
Hooper has got to be odds on and Kellaway a good shout in his category too.
Put Perese in there close to him(13 would be my preference) to give him a good bail out option. Have Valetini, TT and Leota running off his hip all day for the short pass, Philip too.
Go back to simple territory based rugby that we played against the Boks for the first 60-70 minutes. Let’s get a win before heading home to lick our wounds and start to plan for next year.
Hooper has got to be odds on and Kellaway a good shout in his category too.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
France C and no they are not.
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
It pains me as a Reds fan to say this but quite possibly JOC (James O'Connor) looked decent because none of the other Super Rugby AU teams had any real quality playing in the 10/12/13 channel (pause for Brumbies fans to blow up).
He has looked pedestrian in the internationals, and yes has been out injured, but when you consider how much better QC (Quade Cooper) looked, for a bloke who's been playing second division in Japan, it hasn't been a great sighting by JOC (James O'Connor).
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
But he looked better than Noah in Super Rugby. No doubt JOC (James O'Connor) is not the long term 10, but on tour he remains the best option. Lolesio may develop into a good test 10, but hes not close yet. If he was then Rennie would have persisted with him through the RC and not reached out to Foley and then Cooper.
Quade was outstanding. Not sure what the 2nd division Japanese quip is meant to prove? Cooper is as fit as anyone in the squad and making 2023 will not be an issue from a fitness point of view. If Noah or one of the other young 10s stand up in Super Rugby next year that would be great.
What is important this week is getting a win to finish off the year.
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
Wasn't meant to be a dig at Quade, moreso ironic that Quade was shuffled out of the Reds essentially for JOC (James O'Connor) to take his position, and now QC (Quade Cooper) is seen as a far superior alternative, when he's running around in 2nd division overseas rugby, instead of 'top tier' Super Rugby.
In saying that - the form QC (Quade Cooper) has shown from playing club rugby for Souths to beating the Springboks, are two totally different players.
Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
Thats on Thorn. Same deal with Slipper when what he really needed was support.
QC (Quade Cooper) is displaying the same skills he always did, for Australia and Souths. He just has it together in the top two inches now. Best for Australian rugby to take advantage of that. He is a natural 10 with all the skills, always has been.
JOC (James O'Connor) is not a natural 10 and neither is Lolesio. They are both 12s converted. Well, JOC (James O'Connor) has played every position in the backs except for 9 but I would say he is a more natural centre.
Maybe Noah will come through or one of Harrison, Donaldson or Gordon will. But for now it is Quade and then daylight.
As said, we need a win this week and have just lost Hooper as well. We need JOC (James O'Connor) there for his experience and leadership. Maybe at 12 but I would wager that we will see him start at 10.
Probably for the Reds thread but while Thorn has had success he can be pig headed about things, maybe that's why he's been successful.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
I love Quade… but Quade during 2017-2019 wasn’t the same Quade who played test rugby this year, massive difference in maturity.
Quade might have always had the skill but it was his game control and decision making which went missing at times, he was poor in 2017 for the Reds, overplayed his hand in 2018 during the Souths semi-final and lost the game, started the season well in 2019 for Rebels before fizzling out. Wasn’t just Thorn who dropped him, so too did Cheika and Deans.
I‘d argue his performance this year could be attributed in part due to those key events over the years and i believe he has said as much.
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PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
Let’s be real, prior to a few months ago, Quade was a 501-1 shot of ever playing in gold again, mostly based around his last performances in Australia.
Let’s also not forget he was in Australia for ages in 2020 training with a club rugby side and making half comments about wanting a short term NRL contract. Commenters on here, myself included, were laughing at the fact that any team would consider signing a 31yr old Quade even to a short deal.
It has been a really good ‘I’ve still got it’ moment from Quade to show his worth this year.
Let’s also not forget he was in Australia for ages in 2020 training with a club rugby side and making half comments about wanting a short term NRL contract. Commenters on here, myself included, were laughing at the fact that any team would consider signing a 31yr old Quade even to a short deal.
It has been a really good ‘I’ve still got it’ moment from Quade to show his worth this year.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I thought the Japan game suggested that it was primarily Kerevi making him look so good. He even joined in on the intercept party.
He was still better than our other options but Kerevi was the game changer.
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
Agreed Kerevi was the real gun. But for QC (Quade Cooper) to even be considered for selection again, and actually play some of his better footy, I think is quite remarkable.