Wallabies 2021

[barbarian]

This makes me nervous:

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...-save-france-test-series-20210530-p57wh4.html

Rugby Australia and the French Rugby Federation (FFR) will hold urgent talks this week to ensure the three-match Test series in July goes ahead after a French media outlet revealed the tour could be cancelled.
An article in Midi Olympique reported concerns of the FFR and the French national side about the demands of the July series.

 

[Wilson]

This makes me nervous:

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...-save-france-test-series-20210530-p57wh4.html

It's not a great sign, is it? Hopefully RA are lining up some backup options.

 

[Rebels3]

Tonga, Fiji and Samoa all playing in NZ at same time. Could look to bring them over

 

[Dctarget]

Bloody French. Classic FFR. They're meant to be on a plane in 21 days. Get your shit together.

 

[John S]

Points one and two just seem to be the lead up to their main point: the French clubs don't want to release players.

Well, that's my cynical view

 

[Derpus]

Points one and two just seem to be the lead up to their main point: the French clubs don't want to release players.

Well, that's my cynical view

This is 100% the reason. the FFR are their bitch.

Fuck French rugby. Stealing all our fucking locks and then not even having the courtesy of turning up. If they don't come I say we boycott them in any northern tour for the forseeable future. Petty? yes. Fuck it.

Edit: my respect for the Argentines and what they achieved continues to grow.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

For an idea of scale here, those speakers are actually 3 feet high.

Sully has a MASSIVE telly.

 

[Rebels3]

This is 100% the reason. the FFR are their bitch.

Fuck French rugby. Stealing all our fucking locks and then not even having the courtesy of turning up. If they don't come I say we boycott them in any northern tour for the forseeable future. Petty? yes. Fuck it.

Edit: my respect for the Argentines and what they achieved continues to grow.

Catch is if you did that, you make the FFR weaker and the clubs would become even more powerful.

Wouldn’t surprise me to see this moved to a 2 test series and Australian organizing another test against one of the PI opponents

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Time again to check who is players definitely in line as form for Wallabies 23. My stab for French series for our best 23 with injuries accounted for

1. Bell
2. BPA
3. Tupou
4. Hosea
5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Valetini
7. Hooper ( I don't think anyone unsurped him and given available expect to start)
8. Wilson
9. White
10. JOC (James O'Connor) (was concerned foirm slipping him out of contention but Sundays game nailed him back in)
11. Korobete
12. Paisami
13. Perese ( think he has overtaken Ikatau)
14. Vunivalu (don't care on criticism selecting him on so few games as seen enough - will get better with each test)
15. Banks
16. Sio / Pone (don't know)
17. Uelesse
18. AAA
19. Neville
20. McReight
21. Gordon (Tate not far behind but I think Gordon challenging White for form half).
22. Lolesio (covers 10/12)
23. Tom Wright

 

[Rebels3]

Time again to check who is players definitely in line as form for Wallabies 23. My stab for French series for our best 23 with injuries accounted for

1. Bell
2. BPA
3. Tupou
4. Hosea
5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Valetini
7. Hooper ( I don't think anyone unsurped him and given available expect to start)
8. Wilson
9. White
10. JOC (James O'Connor) (was concerned foirm slipping him out of contention but Sundays game nailed him back in)
11. Korobete
12. Paisami
13. Perese ( think he has overtaken Ikatau)
14. Vunivalu (don't care on criticism selecting him on so few games as seen enough - will get better with each test)
15. Banks
16. Sio / Pone (don't know)
17. Uelesse
18. AAA
19. Neville
20. McReight
21. Gordon (Tate not far behind but I think Gordon challenging White for form half).
22. Lolesio (covers 10/12)
23. Tom Wright

Pone is a TH and won’t be near the team. He’s been okay when not injured or suspended this year but okay isn’t good enough for wallabies

 

[TSR]

I would probably have Robertson at 1, but if not at least at 17.

Love McReight, but with Hooper in 7 I’d prefer a bigger back rower on the bench. Michael Wells would be my preferred at this stage.

Of course neither Robertson nor Wells were in the earlier squad. I know that is not the be—all but you’d still figure they have to really put their hand up.

I’m really not sure on who should be at 13. Perese is great in attack but the I’m not confident in his defence. I do think To’omua is making it harder and harder to pick him at 12.

Otherwise I’m pretty happy with that team.

 

[Joe Blow]

What is Slippers status? Sio looked good on the weekend. Bell and Robertson have both been consistently good and would not be out of place on the bench. Fotuaika has also been excellent.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Ok

I would probably have Robertson at 1, but if not at least at 17.

Love McReight, but with Hooper in 7 I’d prefer a bigger back rower on the bench. Michael Wells would be my preferred at this stage.

Of course neither Robertson nor Wells were in the earlier squad. I know that is not the be—all but you’d still figure they have to really put their hand up.

I’m really not sure on who should be at 13. Perese is great in attack but the I’m not confident in his defence. I do think To’omua is making it harder and harder to pick him at 12.

Otherwise I’m pretty happy with that team.

Forgot about Robertson yeh I agree better pick as reserve loose head then Sio. Yeh was concerned with mcreight size wise on bench as inhibits other effective backrow cover. Saw wells close up on Sunday at leichardt oval and man he was good and made some really good strong hits in defence and good around the ground.

Ie agree with Robertson and wells instead on the bench instead as better choices on form at the moment and wells for more backrow positions to cover. On Foukatai he was good for reds last week but not followed him close enough to know if he is other real contender.

 

[TSR]

The more I watch Wells the more I like him. Good all-round game, good work rate, great line out option and makes some very good reads in defence.

 

[Jimmyjam]

Time again to check who is players definitely in line as form for Wallabies 23. My stab for French series for our best 23 with injuries accounted for

1. Bell
2. BPA
3. Tupou
4. Hosea
5. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
6. Valetini
7. Hooper ( I don't think anyone unsurped him and given available expect to start)
8. Wilson
9. White
10. JOC (James O'Connor) (was concerned foirm slipping him out of contention but Sundays game nailed him back in)
11. Korobete
12. Paisami
13. Perese ( think he has overtaken Ikatau)
14. Vunivalu (don't care on criticism selecting him on so few games as seen enough - will get better with each test)
15. Banks
16. Sio / Pone (don't know)
17. Uelesse
18. AAA
19. Neville
20. McReight
21. Gordon (Tate not far behind but I think Gordon challenging White for form half).
22. Lolesio (covers 10/12)
23. Tom Wright

Pretty much agree, only a couple of variations I would make...

I'd swap AAA to start with TT coming on at H/T
IMO Gordon has gone past White so he starts with White on the bench.
I'd have Wright starting with Vunivalu on the bench for the time being, but will likely go past him sooner rather than later.
Slipper likely back soon and is in front of SIO IMO.
Doubt they'll run with a specialist openside on the bench with Hooper going for 80.... I'd be keen to see how someone like Uru went, he can also cover Super Rugby, 8 and 6.

How good is Perese going..... just about the form back in oz right now, on that form should start at 13.... he's been killing it in a poor team... A good mate of mine was right on the side-line at Wollongong and was blown away by the Perese hits, (both running and tackling) he was putting on the crusaders.. was also giving them a bit of lip as well apparently, but more importantly backing it up with performance.

 

[Derpus]

Love McReight, but with Hooper in 7 I’d prefer a bigger back rower on the bench. Michael Wells would be my preferred at this stage.

Sadly, Kiwis have managed Wells with consumate ease. I don't think he'll give us much at test level.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Pretty much agree, only a couple of variations I would make.

I'd swap AAA to start with TT coming on at H/T
IMO Gordon has gone past White so he starts with White on the bench.
I'd have Wright starting with Vunivalu on the bench for the time being, but will likely go past him sooner rather than later.
Slipper likely back soon and is in front of SIO IMO.
Doubt they'll run with a specialist openside on the bench with Hooper going for 80.. I'd be keen to see how someone like Uru went, he can also cover Super Rugby, 8 and 6.

How good is Perese going... just about the form back in oz right now, on that form should start at 13.. he's been killing it in a poor team. A good mate of mine was right on the side-line at Wollongong and was blown away by the Perese hits, (both running and tackling) he was putting on the crusaders.. was also giving them a bit of lip as well apparently, but more importantly backing it up with performance.

Uru started off on fire but I reckon wells the form backrower at the moment and covers 6,7 and 8. Yeh missing slipper. White will get the start due to incumbency but Gordon nipping at his heels and agree form half although was impressed with tate on Sunday but Gordon consistently produced this season.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Sadly, Kiwis have managed Wells with consumate ease. I don't think he'll give us much at test level.

Don’t agree he was was good against the highlanders and put in some big hits in defence.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Wells has surprised me this year with his form, but I'd personally go with either Fergus Lee-Warner or Uru on the bench as backrow cover. Both cover 4, 5 and 6 while Uru also plays 8. FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) particularly offers high class lineout option and hard man defence.

Liam Wright would also be a good bench cover as he can play 7 as well as 6 and possibly 8.

 

[The Nomad]

Will be interesting to see if Thorn picks Wright to start at 7 again this week. He is playing good footy wearing that jersey.