Wallabies 2023

[dru]

The return of Foley is interesting. I'd welcome him back, and expect him to prove his strength to take a position in the WBs. If he returns he should absolutely expect to fight for a slot. I'm happier with the concept of Foley at 10 than Beale. But we should also expect Beale to do whatever he can. What I expect to see is the current options to work through the whole thing.

It's a great thing to see guys like this looking to return and to have an impact.

 

[Joe Blow]

You have got to have those utility players in the setup. They are invaluable in certain times, as Hodge and both AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) have proven. Giteau also played all over the place.
I like Petaia at 13 as well and think he will end up there a la Morty. For now he is good in the back 3.

 

[Viking]

Didn't he keep getting selected in various positions because he was generally the best available for that role?

If he was only ever considered a 13 then we would have gone many tests selecting an inferior fullback or wing. If the 13 was unavailable then a decision is made on whether your team is better by moving AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to 13 and bring in another wing or leave him on the wing and bring in a 13. It's a case of whether your next best 13 or wing is a better player on a relative basis.

The Wallabies have mostly had specialists in each position. We've rarely had players who move around a lot and those that could play multiple positions tended to stay in the same position for extended periods of time.

I agree with the first paragraph. But I thought AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was a better 13 then Horne but was shifted to fullback as we were lacking depth there. I feel Horne was selected on potential, not because he was the best 13 (as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was).
I feel the same about Petaia. Banks is a better 15.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Beale, Hodge, JOC (James O'Connor) are a few players that come to mind who never nailed down a specialist position.

 

[Slim 293]

I agree with the first paragraph. But I thought AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was a better 13 then Horne but was shifted to fullback as we were lacking depth there. I feel Horne was selected on potential, not because he was the best 13 (as AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was).
I feel the same about Petaia. Banks is a better 15.

AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Beale, Hodge, JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) are a few players that come to mind who never nailed down a specialist position.

Here's the thing...

During those two seasons (2010 and 2012) that Rob Horne was the starting Wallabies outside centre, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was playing fullback at the Brumbies, and then the Waratahs where Horne was also the starting outside centre...

 

[Braveheart81]

Isn't that the whole point though? Deans viewed AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15 and Horne at 13 (or Cross at various times through that period) as a better option than AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13 and whoever else at 15

When Beale emerged he took the 15 jersey and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) switched back to being the first choice 13.

Did any of these players really suffer from getting moved around? AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) still played 24 tests at fullback which makes him a more experienced test fullback than Tom Banks for example.

If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was in the side currently he'd have played more tests at 13, wing and fullback than any player in the squad.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Banks, Kellaway, and Wright have all been good under the high ball.

I’d say Kellaway is sound under it. Everything Wright does makes me nervous but he’s getting better. Banks was at best a 50/50 every time.

 

[Adam84]

Kellaway>Wright>Banks>Hodge have been my ratings of fullbacks this season for work under the highball

Petaia's 5mins wasn't enough to assess

 

[Hogie]

Looking ahead to RWC 23, I have absolutely no problem with Kellaway, Wright, Petaia and Hodge being our 14/15 options with Koroibete and Vunivalu taking the 11 jersey. Mixture of youth and experience who I expect only to get better over next 12 months.

 

[whitefalcon]

I think Kellaway is probably a better 15 than Wright but Wright seems to have the ability to double as a playmaker that we don't see much of. I noticed him coming into first receiver a bit on the weekend and thought he did well.

I'd be happy with them both in the team with either 14 or 15 on their back.

 

[Marce]

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Wright but Wright seems to have the ability to double as a playmaker that we don't see much of.

I like this point. I think you want your Wingers to offer another aspect to their game than what we assume is their job of get the ball and run. Players like Drew Mitchell and Cory Jane made this their schtick and geez it's a pressure release for the team when needed.

 

[Viking]

Isn't that the whole point though? Deans viewed AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 15 and Horne at 13 (or Cross at various times through that period) as a better option than AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13 and whoever else at 15

When Beale emerged he took the 15 jersey and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) switched back to being the first choice 13.

Did any of these players really suffer from getting moved around? AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) still played 24 tests at fullback which makes him a more experienced test fullback than Tom Banks for example.

If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Adam Ashley-Cooper) was in the side currently he'd have played more tests at 13, wing and fullback than any player in the squad.

Well this is going no-where. I have more traditional views and prefer players have more experience in one position and you think otherwise. Agree to disagree.

 

[Viking]

I’d say Kellaway is sound under it. Everything Wright does makes me nervous but he’s getting better. Banks was at best a 50/50 every time.

I honestly can't remember Kellaway being tested under the high ball often but he is such a smart and clinical rugby player it certainly passes the smell test. I wonder how many games he has played at fullback now.

 

[Froggy]

I think Kellaway was pretty much always a fullback at school and U20's level. It was really only at Super rugby level that he switched to wing, and even then played some fullback at the Tahs.

 

[wamberal99]

I think Kellaway was pretty much always a fullback at school and U20's level. It was really only at Super rugby level that he switched to wing, and even then played some fullback at the Tahs.

I'm pretty sure he played wing in the under 20 team. He broke a try-scoring record?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Kellaway one wing and I think Brad Lacey the other. I also think Kellaway's record still stands.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Yes he did. He was dynamite in that U20 side.

 

[dru]

Think we'll take the Argies again.
Think we may again surprise the Boks in Australia. One each perhaps. Well, with luck and perfect planning. And the injury sheet reducing (for goodness sake.)
Then we will have had the best preparation for a Bleidsloe in just ages. Just when the All Blacks are completely at 6's and 7's.

It doesn't make us world beaters but 2023 could be looking up.

 

[dru]

Or not. Swallows and all that.

 

[Marce]

Think we'll take the Argies again.
Think we may again surprise the Boks in Australia. One each perhaps. Well, with luck and perfect planning. And the injury sheet reducing (for goodness sake.)
Then we will have had the best preparation for a Bleidsloe in just ages. Just when the All Blacks are completely at 6's and 7's.

It doesn't make us world beaters but 2023 could be looking up.

Michel de Nostredame usually Latinised as Nostradamus