Wallabies 2021

[liquor box]

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.

The concept of an "X" factor off the bench has always baffled me, it is almost an admission that the starting team is expected to be behind at the end of a game and that the game plan is not good enough to win unless you stop following it.

I would rather plan to be ahead and have replacements that can hold their own without being unconventional or relying on a single act of brilliance to win a game. This is why I would prefer a player like Hodge, Jock Campbell or Hamish Stewart off the bench than Petaia.

 

[dru]

Well, that’s not that bad?

especially when 23 is pretty much guarantee as his LEAST involvement. We've got s good one here.

 

[Drew]

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.

I couldn’t see him playing 10, but he does cover the 12-15 positions as well as the strike player off the bench that could open up another spot for a specialist 10/12 off the bench.

 

[Brumbieman]

You’re kidding me? Simone over To'omua? That undermines anything else you have to say.

Absolutely, at 12.

To'omua ain't a 10, and he's behind Paisami and Simone at 12.

Sorry, i've gotten ahead of myself, To'omua's been wonderful in setting up multiple tries for the Rebels tonight, against the FORCE, with 35mins of front foot dominant ball.

Oh that's right, he's not set up up shit so far has he? You want him running your test backline? Give me a break. Or give To'omua one, he could certainly use at least one tonight!

 

[Brumbieman]

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

He has? I remember the Reds being well beaten until the Brumbies were down to their 5th choice prop, against Tupou, and they weren't in it until then. I'll give JOC (James O'Connor) credit for controlling the comeback and he did a superb job, but that's precisely why i'd include him in my 23, but have him coming off the bench as a calm, experienced player, rather than starting him and then waiting until the 78th minute to bring fresh/inexperienced legs on, which achieves fuck all.

If To'omua can set up a single try/linebreak in this/ensuing games, i'll reconsider but he's no where near the convo at test level 10, or 12 atm.

 

[Joe Blow]

He has? I remember the Reds being well beaten until the Brumbies were down to their 5th choice prop, against Tupou, and they weren't in it until then. I'll give JOC (James O'Connor) credit for controlling the comeback and he did a superb job, but that's precisely why i'd include him in my 23, but have him coming off the bench as a calm, experienced player, rather than starting him and then waiting until the 78th minute to bring fresh/inexperienced legs on, which achieves fuck all.

If To'omua can set up a single try/linebreak in this/ensuing games, i'll reconsider but he's no where near the convo at test level 10, or 12 atm.

Yes, I agree that To'omua should not be our starting 10. The Rebs couldn’t score a try for love or money with him there, but I’d start him ahead of Lolesio at this point.

JOC (James O'Connor) has been a standout. The question will be, can you carry Lolesio in a 23 with JOC (James O'Connor), To'omua and Hodge?

 

[Brumby Runner]

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

Sir Up the Guts. Has a good ring to it.

 

[RugbyReg]

Yeah. I’m off To'omua after tonight. That was shocking.

 

[Dctarget]

Yeah if To'omua threw those passes in Gold I'd be crying. On form 10. JOC (James O'Connor) 12. Paisami 13. Ikitau.

Still a heap of games for form to change.

 

[Brumby Runner]

MT should have played himself out of Wallaby contention last week. He had a shocker then and followed up with another tonight. As I said last week, I have long been a fan, but he is no longer playing at test level with distinct deficiencies in his game management, passing (especially) and kicking game, long or short.

I would now add that I reckon none of the players on show tonight would have improved their chances of being Wallabies this year.

 

[Purce]

Think you guys are overreacting a bit. Go back and actually watch To'omua during the match. He was good in the first half besides 1 poor long pass attempt to Wells when under advantage. He created a couple of half chances they couldn't take. The 2nd half he put in a similar pass to Hodge and a crap midfield kick off a lineout. Everything else he executed well. Passes infront of the ball receiver, making good decisions as to who to pass to, defense solid as usual backing up/supporting well and running hard.

The long pass and kicking are clearly part of the game plan and you cannot blame that on him. The execution you can but not the game plan. The Rebels are a very average rugby team at the moment, if you put MT in at 10 for the Reds or Brumbies you'd probably be talking about him in a different light.

He is a very very good 12 and a serviceable 10. I don't think there is any chance that Simone will be starting ahead of him at test level, Simone has no physicality. They may go with Paisami / Ikitau or Petaia but I would be pretty shocked to see Simone starting ahead of either of them.

 

[Purce]

The concept of an "X" factor off the bench has always baffled me, it is almost an admission that the starting team is expected to be behind at the end of a game and that the game plan is not good enough to win unless you stop following it.

I would rather plan to be ahead and have replacements that can hold their own without being unconventional or relying on a single act of brilliance to win a game. This is why I would prefer a player like Hodge, Jock Campbell or Hamish Stewart off the bench than Petaia.

I think it has traditionally been about taking advantage of tiring defences and players.

 

[James GC]

I think we can safely put to bed all the pre game talk regarding RH at 15 for the wallabies, also looked like he took a good knock at the end there so be hard to press his non existent claims to the 15 spot.on the sidelines.

 

[Jimmyjam]

Simone's hard ceiling is Super Rugby without question IMO. I'd have Stewart, Paisami, To'omua all in the Wallaby team in front of him. Nothing personal, but the bloke has had a few highlights but doesn't bring anything to the table that would have him in front of the other 3 mentioned. Anyway, we shall see what Rennie thinks soon enough.

 

[Adam84]

Matt To'omua just seemed to run out of ideas to score points if the opposition wasn’t commuting an offence, some of his long passes into touch were just shocking and lazy, it was pretty poor game control from someone with his experience

 

[Derpus]

Simone's hard ceiling is Super Rugby without question IMO. I'd have Stewart, Paisami, To'omua all in the Wallaby team in front of him. Nothing personal, but the bloke has had a few highlights but doesn't bring anything to the table that would have him in front of the other 3 mentioned. Anyway, we shall see what Rennie thinks soon enough.

In his second appearance he was the only bloke in our entire backline that could draw a defender and then pass. He's still behind To'omua (just) but there's no way he should be discarded in gold because of Sydney.

 

[Forcefield]

I don't think To'omua as a 12 should be judged on To'omua as a 10. He was shit at 10 last season and there were numerous calls to bring Deegan in. He was subsequently great at 12 in the tests he played. I love what I am seeing from Paisami, but To'omua is a proven test level 12. I'd still select him.

I haven't watched every Brumbies game, but from those I have I'd say Simone hasn't done anything that warrants being part of selection discussions. Ikitau on the other hand....

 

[barbarian]

It's weird to toss out a bloke as experienced as To'omua based on one average game against the Force in April.

 

[Merrow]

Yes, I agree that To'omua should not be our starting 10. The Rebs couldn’t score a try for love or money with him there, but I’d start him ahead of Lolesio at this point.

JOC (James O'Connor) has been a standout. The question will be, can you carry Lolesio in a 23 with JOC (James O'Connor), To'omua and Hodge?

After last nights game I can’t see Hodge anywhere near the 15 or 23. Apart from a long range goal, he was very poor

 

[mst]

It's weird to toss out a bloke as experienced as To'omua based on one average game against the Force in April.

Usually I would agree but I think he has been on a downward trajectory for awhile. It his reputation not performance that's keeping him playing. Aside from his kicking he really is offering less each season.