Wallabies 2021

[Joe Blow]

JOC (James O'Connor) is on my bench.

Thats very generous of you Bman, especially so as he has been the standout 10 in SRAU this year.

 

[RugbyReg]

stuff you. I was avoiding the hard decisions!

15 Tom Banks
14 Tom Wright
13 Hunter Paisami
12 Matt To'omua
11 Marika Koroibete
10 James O'Connor
9 Tate McDermott
8 Michael Wells
7 Michael Hooper
6 Sean McMahon
5 Cadeyrn Neville
4 Matt Philip
3 Taniela Tupou
2 Folau Fainga'a
1 James Slipper

16 Alex Mafi
17 Angus Bell
18 Allan Ala'alatoa
19 Trevor Hosea Angus Blyth
20 Harry Wilson Angus Scott-Young
21 Nic White AN Other
22 Reece Hodge Andy Muirhead
23 Jordan Petaia Alex Newsome

McMahon would be the one player I'd pick from anywhere as part of the "Rennie Clause"

have updated my bench.

 

[Members Section]

15 Reece Hodge (watch this space over the back end of SRAU & SRTT)
14 Tom Wright
13 Hunter Paisami
12 Matt To'omua
11 Marika Koroibete
10 Noah Lolesio (perfect time to try him with matt t on his outside & Nic on his inside)
9 Nic White (no one could possibly manage an international currently)
8 Harry Wilson
7 Michael Hooper
6 Ned Hanigan (better player then is given credit for)
5 Isaac Rodda (should be back & quarantined in time)
4 Matt Philip (will be back & quarantined in time)
3 Taniela Tupou
2 Brandon-Paenga-Amosa
1 James Slipper

16 Folau Fainga'a
17 Angus Bell (not as sold as other atm but sio hardly been on the park)
18 Allan Ala'alatoa
19 Trevor Hosea
20 Fraser McReight
21 Tate McDermott (would love to see him get some good min off the bench to develop at the top level 25+ not less than 10)
22 James O'Connor (could come on in a couple of different roles & finish games)
23 Jordan Petaia

 

[rodha]

He probably thought Rennie was lucky not to have to go up against such test titans as Scotland or Samoa...

You're looking at it the wrong way mate. Robbo was an exceptional coach, he was simply an unfortunate victim of considerably average cattle & a severe lack of alignment between the Australian franchises at the time. If he'd been given the keys to that All Black machine in 2008, he would've likely won both 2011 and 2015 World Cups (with a spine of McCaw, Carter, Kaino, Rettalick, Franks, Whitelock, Read etc..) and finished his career as Sir Robbie Deans, knighted for his services to rugby. The first international coach to achieve back-to-back World Cup triumphs (as head coach).

 

[Up the Guts]

I’m just not sold on Reece Hodge at all. Are people including him in their 23 because of actual value he adds or just because they need to round out the numbers?

 

[Up the Guts]

You're looking at it the wrong way mate. Robbo was an exceptional coach, he was simply an unfortunate victim of considerably average cattle & a severe lack of alignment between the Australian franchises at the time. If he'd been given the keys to that All Black machine in 2008, he would've likely won both 2011 and 2015 World Cups (with a spine of McCaw, Carter, Kaino, Rettalick, Franks, Whitelock, Read etc..) and finished his career as Sir Robbie Deans, knighted for his services to rugby. The first international coach to achieve back-to-back World Cup triumphs (as head coach).

I reckon even I could have coached those 2011 and 2015 AB sides to successive RWC victories.

 

[Derpus]

I’m just not sold on Reece Hodge at all. Are people including him in their 23 because of actual value he adds or just because they need to round out the numbers?

I think he definitely adds value. Hes solid as fuck and will do a job across the park. Hes not game breaking, or even necessarily a starter. Very useful kind of guy to have around though. Plus he unlocks a 6-2 bench should Rennie want it.

 

[Rebels3]

I think he definitely adds value. Hes solid as fuck and will do a job across the park. Hes not game breaking, or even necessarily a starter. Very useful kind of guy to have around though. Plus he unlocks a 6-2 bench should Rennie want it.

100%. Given the numbers on the bench someone has to be able to cover multiple positions. Hodge off the bench means you technically don’t need to reshuffle a single player that’s already on the field.

Same if he starts, you can pick specialist on the bench knowing there is a player that can fill the gap

 

[Dctarget]

Dempsey got years of credibility from one losing performance against the ABs, Swinton's stock rides on 30 minutes. Hodge was flyhalf in our most recent victory; probably gets him at least into the conversation.

 

[Derpus]

Dempsey got years of credibility from one losing performance against the ABs, Swinton's stock rides on 30 minutes. Hodge was flyhalf in our most recent victory; probably gets him at least into the conversation.

Ay lets do it justice. Dempsey was MotM in a win against the darkness.

 

[rodha]

I reckon even I could have coached those 2011 and 2015 AB sides to successive RWC victories.

Could you have coached Australia to a near 70% win-record over arguably the most stacked & experienced Springbok outfit (between 2008-2011) in history?

 

[Rugbynutter39]

1. Slipper
2. BPA
3. Tupou
4. Philip
5. Neville
6. Valetini
7. Hooper
8. Wilson
9. White
10. JOC (James O'Connor)
11. Koriobete
12. To’omua
13. Paisami
14. Wright
15. Banks

Bench; Bell, AAA, Fainga’a, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Samu, Petaia, McDermott, hodge,

 

[dru]

I think he definitely adds value. Hes solid as fuck and will do a job across the park. Hes not game breaking, or even necessarily a starter. Very useful kind of guy to have around though. Plus he unlocks a 6-2 bench should Rennie want it.

100%. Given the numbers on the bench someone has to be able to cover multiple positions. Hodge off the bench means you technically don’t need to reshuffle a single player that’s already on the field.

Same if he starts, you can pick specialist on the bench knowing there is a player that can fill the gap

+1

Hodge close to starting, always, but we are strong enough we have specialists everywhere. He's get 15 for me if he played there in Super au. Definite bench for 15. and 12 and 13. And 11 and 14. I'd throw him at 9 if I was stretched. Hell or the loose forwards if things got really weird (we saw Samu on the wing didn't we.)

Hodge is a proven performer at all levels including the ABs. Hard to drop him from the bench.

And he's got this almighty hoof that goes the distance from pretty much any kick that the kicker does not want.

 

[RebelYell]

1. Slipper
2. BPA
3. Tupou
4. Philip
5. Neville
6. Samu
7. Hooper
8. Wilson
9. White
10. JOC (James O'Connor)
11. Koriobete
12. To’omua
13. Paisami
14. Wright
15. Hodge

Bench; Sio, AAA, Fainga’a, Rodda, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), McReight, McDermott, Banks​

 

[liquor box]

I was quite surprised by how average many of the Reds stats are. And yet their undefeated? Perhaps stats are meaningless after all.

A lot would depend on how the stats are calculated.

Running metres for props could easily be skewed towards a player like Fa'amausili as he regularly runs the ball back after a drop out and gets an easy 10-15m run with ball in hand where as other props may not get this opportunity and only run while in close contact with other forwards.

If a winger scores gets three clean line breaks of 20m then this is surely better than a single 60m line break, but if you take the average then the 60m player looks like a superstar.

The NFL and NBA have stats for score change while a player is on the field that shows whether a player is a positive or negative for their team while on the field, this is a good stat

 

[fatprop]

I’m just not sold on Reece Hodge at all. Are people including him in their 23 because of actual value he adds or just because they need to round out the numbers?

Hodge delivers to a consistent quality test standard across a number of positions, he is the ideal bench option

 

[eastman]

Hodge delivers to a consistent quality test standard across a number of positions, he is the ideal bench option

Hodge should be 23 and nothing more.

 

[Joe Blow]

Hodge should be 23 and nothing more.

Well, that’s not that bad?

 

[Drew]

The way the bench is structured 4 of the 8 are always specialists, the replacement halfback and front row. Then you need a lock and a loosie as injury cover/tactical replacement. In hodge you cover the rest of the backline and have the luxury of bringing on a strike player like Wright or dungunu off the bench if necessary.
The only player I could see filling his role is Wright, but you’d want him starting or at least not getting stuck in the “utility” role. I personally think he’s a tad wasted on the wing.

 

[rugboy]

The way the bench is structured 4 of the 8 are always specialists, the replacement halfback and front row. Then you need a lock and a loosie as injury cover/tactical replacement. In hodge you cover the rest of the backline and have the luxury of bringing on a strike player like Wright or dungunu off the bench if necessary.
The only player I could see filling his role is Wright, but you’d want him starting or at least not getting stuck in the “utility” role. I personally think he’s a tad wasted on the wing.

Given a probable starting combination of JOC (James O'Connor), To'omua, Paisami and Wright can cover multiple positions, I think Petaia is an ideal 23. He provides cover across a couple of positions and also gives the x-factor off the bench.