Wallabies 2023

[TSR]

I think it is one of the things I liked about Rennie was his bringing in (? forced to) uncapped players and giving them a chance. The pity was that most of them didn't make the step up or didn't have confidence in themselves.
Note on confidence, I believe confidence must be founded on competence and that is the issue, we are not building serious competence by skills training and playing enough to turn skills training into auto reflex ability.

Very good point on confidence and I think it is a place where guys like Ikitau & Frost has adapted much better to test rugby. Their core skills are good and they just have to execute them at a higher level.

A lot of guys have been thrown in without the same level of time/opportunity to develop their base game. I think that was the foundation for our earlier disagreement around Carter Gordon. I didn’t think his base game was ready - you did. I’m very happy for him that you appear to have been proven right.

Nawaqanitwase is another interesting case in point. From what I’ve read, when Coleman dropped him last year he was very clear on simplifying his game and getting him to concentrate on doing the basics well. He still has some way to go - but the EOYT was an obvious success in that regard.

 

[TSR]

TSR the issue seems to be that at test level they are mostly experienced at losing.

That can't be attributed to all of the experienced players though. Over the years we hjave usually had a strong and more than adequate scrum and lineout. We have also had the occasional match winner (Koroibete, Kerevi types) who can put sting into our attack. It is areas like the breakdown and game management where we have been behind the best. Our breakdown work has been looking better at Super level this year with the likes of Neville, Frost, Holloway, Gleeson, Gamble, McReight and Wilkin. But our No 10s are still behind some of the opposition in their game management with Carter Gordon being the sole 10 showing that, at least at Super level, he has the full range of skills required.

I think the opportunity is there now for a changing of the guard at both Nos 7 and 10, and hopefully EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones) can see that too.

Some interesting points BR.

Not sure I agree on our set piece. I feel it’s been more a point of weakness than a point of strength. We don’t seem closer to finding a hooker who is a consistent thrower. Neither Slipper nor Ala'alatoa are great scrummagers, but they are still better than the current back ups. I feel like our locks have room for improvement there too - but I’m not going to pretend I am savvy enough to be able to work that out through the TV screen.

On the note about the 10s, you’d have to be very happy with the way Lolesio is responding to missing the test squad. I’m still not sure that he will become a fixture at test rugby, but you have to give him credit for constantly rising to challenges. He’s won a test series v France, been MOM for a Super AU final straight back from injury, got experience v the All Blacks. I feel like this year he is really progressing in terms of game management. Maybe a combination of Larkham and experience will be the making of him.

I still have hopes for O’Connor. There have been a couple of times this year I think he’s looked every bit the guiding hand we want with the capacity to flick a switch and spark a line break or try. But then other times he’s looked out of sorts. And his recent test history hasn’t been good - whatever the reasoning.

Ideally my 3 would come from Cooper, O’Connor, Gordon & Lolesio - depending on Cooper’s fitness and O’Connor’s form. If we end up pinning our hopes on Gordon and Lolesio than personally I still think we are a long way ahead of last World Cup when we had an out of form Foley, out of favour Cooper and out of the sick bay Lealiifano.

With regards to the breakdown - I’m not convinced. I think it’s been a constant source of weakness in our teams. We really need someone who plays hard on the ball. I don’t know that we have that person who is going to make the final 23. Failing that, across the board we need to be better at it. I don’t personally think I’ve seen that improvement

 

[TSR]

BR, agree with both of the highlighted parts of your reply. Will EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones) have the cajones to pull the trigger on Hooper and put him on the bench for the RWC? There will be a fair amount of resistance to that call yet, you and I agree Hooper must be replaced as starting 7, the big question is by whom?
My view is: Samu plays too open, Gleeson hasn't the skill set yet, McRight has shown little this year so who is the obvious incumbent?

Interesting. I think McReight has been one of Qlds best each week. I know Qld have been generally poor, but he, Petaia, Wilson and Flook have been first class. The question with McReight is whether he is strong enough, both over the ball and in the tackle.

 

[Brumby Runner]

BR, agree with both of the highlighted parts of your reply. Will EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones) have the cajones to pull the trigger on Hooper and put him on the bench for the RWC? There will be a fair amount of resistance to that call yet, you and I agree Hooper must be replaced as starting 7, the big question is by whom?
My view is: Samu plays too open, Gleeson hasn't the skill set yet, McRight has shown little this year so who is the obvious incumbent?

Liam Wright ticks a lot of boxes and is a front line lineout jumper to boot. We could do a lot worse.

 

[TSR]

Liam Wright ticks a lot of boxes and is a front line lineout jumper to boot. We could do a lot worse.

Yeah - good point. I meant to mention him. Has been in good form too.

Timing of his broken hand has been terrible though.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Some interesting points BR.

Not sure I agree on our set piece. I feel it’s been more a point of weakness than a point of strength. We don’t seem closer to finding a hooker who is a consistent thrower. Neither Slipper nor Ala'alatoa are great scrummagers, but they are still better than the current back ups. I feel like our locks have room for improvement there too - but I’m not going to pretend I am savvy enough to be able to work that out through the TV screen.

On the note about the 10s, you’d have to be very happy with the way Lolesio is responding to missing the test squad. I’m still not sure that he will become a fixture at test rugby, but you have to give him credit for constantly rising to challenges. He’s won a test series v France, been MOM for a Super AU final straight back from injury, got experience v the All Blacks. I feel like this year he is really progressing in terms of game management. Maybe a combination of Larkham and experience will be the making of him.

I still have hopes for O’Connor. There have been a couple of times this year I think he’s looked every bit the guiding hand we want with the capacity to flick a switch and spark a line break or try. But then other times he’s looked out of sorts. And his recent test history hasn’t been good - whatever the reasoning.

Ideally my 3 would come from Cooper, O’Connor, Gordon & Lolesio - depending on Cooper’s fitness and O’Connor’s form. If we end up pinning our hopes on Gordon and Lolesio than personally I still think we are a long way ahead of last World Cup when we had an out of form Foley, out of favour Cooper and out of the sick bay Lealiifano.

With regards to the breakdown - I’m not convinced. I think it’s been a constant source of weakness in our teams. We really need someone who plays hard on the ball. I don’t know that we have that person who is going to make the final 23. Failing that, across the board we need to be better at it. I don’t personally think I’ve seen that improvement

Generally been happier with the way Noah has been playing but I reckon he had a fairly poor game against the Drua last night. So did quite a few others of the Brumbies, I might add.

The thing with Noah, is that he is becoming a fairly experienced player atm, as you've noted, and he can play at test level satisfactorily even if a bit mechanical and not so innovative as we might want. But Carter Gordon has that flair in spades. I'd like to see them both go to the RWC with hopefully Quade as the No 1 in the spot.

 

[stillmissit]

Interesting. I think McReight has been one of Qlds best each week. I know Qld have been generally poor, but he, Petaia, Wilson and Flook have been first class. The question with McReight is whether he is strong enough, both over the ball and in the tackle.

I've been a big fan of McRight but his breakdown work is not up to scratch and whereas I always imagined him as the logical replacement for Hooper and better over the ball. I don't think that based on what I have seen this year.

 

[stillmissit]

Generally been happier with the way Noah has been playing but I reckon he had a fairly poor game against the Drua last night. So did quite a few others of the Brumbies, I might add.

The thing with Noah, is that he is becoming a fairly experienced player atm, as you've noted, and he can play at test level satisfactorily even if a bit mechanical and not so innovative as we might want. But Carter Gordon has that flair in spades. I'd like to see them both go to the RWC with hopefully Quade as the No 1 in the spot.

What do reckon on Rory Scott?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Rory's a good player but I wouldn't think he'd be in Wallabies discussions yet.

 

[stillmissit]

Rory's a good player but I wouldn't think he'd be in Wallabies discussions yet.

I watched him last night and was impressed with him. Very strong tackler-critical for us ATM. Got around the pitch well and seemed pretty well organised.

Hard to imagine that we have a problem replacing Hooper when we normally have loads of good to excellent 7's.

 

[Wilson]

I watched him last night and was impressed with him. Very strong tackler-critical for us ATM. Got around the pitch well and seemed pretty well organised.

Hard to imagine that we have a problem replacing Hooper when we normally have loads of good to excellent 7's.

He's a good young player but I can't see how you'd elevate him above McReight, Hooper, Wilkin or Wright for work over the ball and tackling/defensive work at this stage. I expect he'll get a chance in Australia A this year but won't be near the wallabies without an injury crisis.

 

[qwerty51]

I'd take Reimer over Scott, Reimer is probably our best on-baller although that looks like his only quality atm. Brumbies are playing them well in tandem with Reimer finishing off.

 

[stillmissit]

I'd take Reimer over Scott, Reimer is probably our best on-baller although that looks like his only quality atm. Brumbies are playing them well in tandem with Reimer finishing off.

I have noticed that about Reimer and he's good at it but we need the full package and ATM I can't see anyone who is that package.
Any ideas?

 

[stillmissit]

He's a good young player but I can't see how you'd elevate him above McReight, Hooper, Wilkin or Wright for work over the ball and tackling/defensive work at this stage. I expect he'll get a chance in Australia A this year but won't be near the wallabies without an injury crisis.

If he's what I saw last night I would take his D work over McRight, not sure about Wright didn't see much of him in the MP (Moana Pasifika) game.

 

[qwerty51]

I have noticed that about Reimer and he's good at it but we need the full package and ATM I can't see anyone who is that package.
Any ideas?

Gleeson. Test rugby is no longer about small 7s. He's got the size, pace and ball carrying/link role someone like Josh vdF, Kolisi, Cros/Ollivon do.

 

[Wilson]

If he's what I saw last night I would take his D work over McRight, not sure about Wright didn't see much of him in the MP (Moana Pasifika) (Moana Pasifika) game.

Wright didn't play the Moana game, he's out with a broken hand.

My point about Scott was more to the complete game - Scott has good defensive work but has not really shown anything over the ball yet. A little bit of link play at times maybe. The rest of the options have all have strong defensive work and more to their game right now - work over the ball, link play, lineout work, etc.

 

[whitefalcon]

McReight was great in the Moana Game.

 

[Derpus]

McReight pretty clearly the next cab off the rank at 7 unless, as BH pointed out, Eddie goes with a bigger player. If he does that could be anyone.

 

[Silverado]

McReight pretty clearly the next cab off the rank at 7 unless, as BH pointed out, Eddie goes with a bigger player. If he does that could be anyone.

He seems to he going big all round.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'd take Reimer over Scott, Reimer is probably our best on-baller although that looks like his only quality atm. Brumbies are playing them well in tandem with Reimer finishing off.

Luke Reimer is very good over the ball but he suffers the same ailment as Hooper and to a lesser extent McReight. He is easily shrugged off tackles and then becomes a bit of a defensive liability.