Wallabies 2023

[Digestif Palu]

This is it. No one doubts Hooper's talent, and in a conventional year what you'd expect is for him to have accumulated about 4-6 caps, across June (although I guess it's July now) Internationals, the RC and the EOYTs, depending on fitness of players in his position and availability of A tours, and ready to return to the Brumbies with knowledge of the required standards and his personal requirements to nail himself in the team.

But it's not a regular year, and particularly with a brand new coach and a lot of players to either be brought back from injury or integrated into the squad for the first time, the space to ease players in isn't there. If he's capable of providing more to that 33 in 9 weeks time than the likes of Leota, Kemeny or Holloway (presuming for mine that the backrow group will be composed of Valetini, M Hooper, Samu, Gleeson and two of that group) listed) we will see it.

Alternatively you could give still give him a solid batch of games, knowing what you get with Jed and Leota? As long as he’s managed well and we don’t end up with a Lolesio situation. The advantage for Hooper is that he covers 2row, 6 and 7 in an emergency or if Eddie feels adventurous. He’d be very handy on the bench too.

 

[stillmissit]

I wonder how many high balls Tom Wright will get? This could be the making or the end of him as a full back. Never been a fan and convinced Kellaway is better, pity he's injured.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

The highball doesn't worry me too much he doesn't seem poor at it. He's poor when given the opportunity to think. Absolutely elite at choosing the wrong option.

Kick to him just outside the 22m and have the defensive line about 20m ahead of him and strap yourself in for the show.

 

[Highlander35]

Alternatively you could give still give him a solid batch of games, knowing what you get with Jed and Leota? As long as he’s managed well and we don’t end up with a Lolesio situation. The advantage for Hooper is that he covers 2row, 6 and 7 in an emergency or if Eddie feels adventurous. He’d be very handy on the bench too.

In isolation, I think this is a reasonable point. But specifically there are a small handful of considerations, that for me make... coddling? T Hooper a potential hiding to nothing:

(a) Leota has played 0 minutes this season: he realistically needs to play in at least 3 of the remaining fixtures to be in serious contention, and so committing to Tom means you effectively rule him out entirely, and his inclusion in spite of that suggests EJ (Eddie Jones) has bigger plans for him than just training.

(b) Blindside is clearly not the only forward starter under contention: while Eddie has indicated Skelton will be there, whether his partner is Frost or Arnold is up in the air. I think both "obvious" pairings for 4/6 (Frost/Hooper & Arnold/Holloway) need to trialed and trialed early, and having Hooper play when he has a big chunk of his Brumbies core alongside him is the way to go: as Tupou and Bell reach fitness and/or depending on how Arnold performs, they may go from 4 other Brumbies in the starting pack to 1 in the remaining fixtures.

(c) EJ (Eddie Jones) has noted somewhere (forgive me for not having it on hand) that he increasingly sees the number 8 at scrum time as very specialised position. Unless you're running a 6 forward bench, I would argue that Samu & Gleeson in particular would be the first look in picks for the 20 jersey for that reason alone: in the event Valetini is forced from the field, both of them have substantial experience sitting at the back of the scrum to help secure set piece ball.

 

[wamberal]

One of the advantages of T Hooper over Holloway is that he is better over the ball.

Whether he can do the job at the lineout remains to be seen but he looks quality to me and keen to see what he can do with his chance.

He's also huge.

 

[qwerty51]

He’s not bigger than Holloway.

 

[Tomthumb]

He’s not bigger than Holloway.

Maybe not on the scales but in terms of impact into contact he is

 

[John S]

Maybe not on the scales but in terms of impact into contact he is

I don't think that means what you think it means.

 

[KOB1987]

I’ll be happy to see him go well, being a Central West NSW product.

 

[Doritos Day]

How have we gotten this far and not a single journo has asked Eddie about the risks/approach to selecting multiple underdone players with reference to his Saracens contingent at England?

It's one of the most important dynamics in the squad given the stack of normally first choice players returning from long term injury.

 

[Slim 293]

He’s not bigger than Holloway.

He’s definitely taller, and despite being listed as being significantly heavier, is probably closer to Holloway’s listed weight.

So, he likely is “bigger”…

 

[Slim 293]

How have we gotten this far and not a single journo has asked Eddie about the risks/approach to selecting multiple underdone players with reference to his Saracens contingent at England?

It's one of the most important dynamics in the squad given the stack of normally first choice players returning from long term injury.

How many “underdone” players are there?

It would seem he’s being cautious considering the number of players not playing, or starting…

 

[KOB1987]

How many “underdone” players are there?

It would seem he’s being cautious considering the number of players not playing, or starting…

I pondered on that post for a while. I can find Quade, who I think needs to prove he is able to perform at the top level now, and Kerevi on the bench, which seems somewhat conservative. That is all.

 

[Doritos Day]

How many “underdone” players are there?

It would seem he’s being cautious considering the number of players not playing, or starting…

I meant in the wider squad.

Quade, Kerevi, Bell, Tupou, Leota, Philip.

 

[eastman]

I meant in the wider squad.

Quade, Kerevi, Bell, Tupou, Leota, Philip.

They are some of our best players- what else would you do? Omit them?

 

[Doritos Day]

They are some of our best players- what else would you do? Omit them?

The exact same could've been said in the English scenario.

Leota and Philip I would, yeah. The others are too far above their replacements to ignore but that's why I'm surprised at the lack of discussion. Hypothetically, having 6 of the 23 off limited minutes feels like a recipe for disaster.

 

[KOB1987]

The exact same could've been said in the English scenario.

Leota and Philip I would, yeah. The others are too far above their replacements to ignore but that's why I'm surprised at the lack of discussion. Hypothetically, having 6 of the 23 off limited minutes feels like a recipe for disaster.

If they were all in the 23 I would agree with you but only 2 of them are. I suspect the idea is to give them minutes in the 5 games between now and the RWC. I guess Eddie wants those guys training with the squad rather than at a gym back home and it seems the squad for these first 2 games is to give these blokes a chance to prove their fitness before the Bledisloe, 2 of them get that chance this week, of the other 4 Tupou and Bell might be given a bit more time after the game v Argentina, but I doubt that Leota and Philip will be.

 

[stillmissit]

Any guesses at a score in Eddies first game in a long time?

I think the game is 50/50 but not a draw.

 

[dru]

Any guesses at a score in Eddies first game in a long time?

I think the game is 50/50 but not a draw.

No-one taking you up on it? I'm hopeful, worried about a blow out in the last 20 at height but given I'm hopeful I'll call it for:
W 18: Bok 12

 

[Marce]

I'm not sure which jersey they are gonna wear tomorrow. They made a video with the new one:


But then they took a photo with the last season kit lol