formerflanker
Ken Catchpole (46)
In front of Willie O? ha!
(absolutely no Manly bias here, I promise!)
Wallabies 2021
- Thread starter KOB1987
- Start date
(absolutely no Manly bias here, I promise!)
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
I would pick a couple ahead of Gavin, I suppose, if the chips were really down. But he was a wonderful footballer. (If I were biased, I might go for Steve Tuynman!!)
Willie O. was an accidental Wallaby, after all.
But a pretty good one. I reckon his kick return at the start of the second half of the 1991 RWC was the real turning point, put the Poms right back on their heels.
Hardtackle
Charlie Fox (21)
I would pick a couple ahead of Gavin, I suppose, if the chips were really down. But he was a wonderful footballer. (If I were biased, I might go for Steve Tuynman!!)
Willie O. was an accidental Wallaby, after all.
Mark Loane was handy.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Originally, played out his final years in Gunnedah though. David Lyons, another Wallaby #8 was also from Cumnock. NSW Country was a bit of a #8 factory there for a while, add in Dave Carter from Quirindi.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Warren actually, schooled in Orange.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
A mate of mine played with him in the national team, he said the only problem with Loane was, nobody (including Loane himself) knew where he was going to run when he had the ball. Very gifted player, for sure.
Kevin Ryan was outstanding, of course. So was John O'Gorman, who was in the side that should have beaten the Boks in 1963, in South Africa. Probably our best national performance, I reckon, all things considered (South African refs!)
Duncan Hall Jr was really good too, pity we could not keep him!
So what's our lineup for the first Bledisloe? The key dilemmas:
Does Tupou start or come off the bench?
Has Swain earned a starting spot?
Swinton or Valetini?
McDermott or Nic White?
To'omua or Paisami at 12?
Banks or Hodge or both?
Assuming JOC (James O'Connor) isn't going to be right for the first game, here's the team I am picking:
Slipper
BPA
Allan A
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Swain
Swinton
Hooper
Wilson
White
Lolesio
Hodge
Paisami
Ikitau
Marika
Banks
Bench: Uelese, Bell, Tupou, Philip, Valetini, McDermott, To'omua, Kellaway
Does Tupou start or come off the bench?
Has Swain earned a starting spot?
Swinton or Valetini?
McDermott or Nic White?
To'omua or Paisami at 12?
Banks or Hodge or both?
Assuming JOC (James O'Connor) isn't going to be right for the first game, here's the team I am picking:
Slipper
BPA
Allan A
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
Swain
Swinton
Hooper
Wilson
White
Lolesio
Hodge
Paisami
Ikitau
Marika
Banks
Bench: Uelese, Bell, Tupou, Philip, Valetini, McDermott, To'omua, Kellaway
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I understand that Tim G had something to do with Harry's early rugby tutelage. You could hardly think of a better teacher.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
Lots of questions around fitness - O'Connor, White, Petaia, Vunivalu, Perese, Kaitu'u and Swinton all may or may not be available for that first game, and could be short on game/training time.
Of those White, Petaia and Swinton look most likely to be ok and I'd probably have them all in the 23 if that's the case.
Of those White, Petaia and Swinton look most likely to be ok and I'd probably have them all in the 23 if that's the case.
Wilson
Phil Kearns (64)
eastman
John Solomon (38)
With regards to Banks vs Hodge are you essentially trading off slightly better attack (Banks) for slightly better defence (Hodge)?
I'm expecting arguments that Hodge offers a second- ball player (it's more likely that whoever plays will 12 fill in at first receiver far more frequently) and a long-distance goal kicker (he misses far more than he makes), but those minor points of difference are surely cancelled out by the fact Banks can and does step into 10 when needed, as well as being our strongest kicker for touch.
I think Banks has earned another shot. His kicking for touch on Saturday was particularly impressive, and he didn't really do much wrong despite being dealt a tough hand losing both wingers. But I'd be lying if I said I was confident of him holding the jersey through the Rugby Championship.