Wallabies 2023

[Doritos Day]

Last few pages of this thread are some of the worst ever. Shithouse takes flying everywhere.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Why are we still doing this?

Last year included an embarrassing series loss to an England team badly out of form, a 40-14 loss to NZ, 48-17 to Argentina, 24-8 to South Africa, lose 4 out of five on the spring tour, with the only win being against a woeful Welsh side that sacked their coach straight after the game

3 years and a 35% win record isn’t improving

Tom, I think I've seen this comment from you in the past, maybe someone else, but nevertheless it is wrong. It was two wins from 5 games, victors over both Scotland and Wales.

 

[KevinO]

They lost 9 tests last year

Context matters.

First off, they also beat South Africa, Argentina, Scotland, Wales and England.

Second, they were beset with injuries and lack of availability of key players due to being overseas.

Third, they would have beaten NZ if not for the Reynauld controversy/timewasting. Similarly they lost to full-strength Ireland/France squads, on the road, by a combined 4 points. Include the loss to NZ and that's 3 losses to 3 of the top 4 teams by a combined 6 points. Yes, the point is to win the game, but margin of victory is an indicator of overall performance.

Fourth, if you watched the games you could see they were playing better and improving as the year went on.

Fifth, who cares about the Italy game when it is effectively an Australia XV.

Sixth, who gives you a better chance at winning? The team that lost by 3 points to Ireland, in Ireland, or the team that lost 43-12 to South Africa's B Team?

Full strength Ireland? Don't think I count Jack Crowley playing only his 2nd test match and first test starting as full strength. Then add Jimmy O'Brien on the wing for only his 2nd or 3rd cap and Joe McCarthy on debut off the bench. Also scrum half playing first game back from injury, Irish backline was out of sorts that game.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I don't think anyone 'read' it into your criticism. You did literally drop him from your Bledisloe squad

That's right and is not altogether mysterious. If the selectors wanted to see how someone like Pietsch would go, then 11 is the spot and Marika is not a bench cover player. He is not dropped from the squad and will inevitably find his way back into the starting side.

 

[fatprop]

That's right and is not altogether mysterious. If the selectors wanted to see how someone like Pietsch would go, then 11 is the spot and Marika is not a bench cover player. He is not dropped from the squad and will inevitably find his way back into the starting side.

Marika will be the first back picked

 

[stillmissit]

Carter on the bench gives us very good cover at 10/12 and even 15 at a pinch. Bring him on at 10 whenever possible or where he is needed when not.

Joe, my preference for Gordon would be to cover 10/15 and that's it! He could prove he can step in anywhere in the backline in an emergency, but that ain't what he should be used for. I suggest 15 because he has played a bit there, has good speed, kicks well and can tackle. Could be a good cover but we won't know until he has to do it and that is unlikely in Super Rugby as he will start at 10.

 

[stillmissit]

Marika will be the first back picked

Funny how we get so off track on player selections. Can BR just leave that up to me?

 

[Tomthumb]

Tom, I think I've seen this comment from you in the past, maybe someone else, but nevertheless it is wrong. It was two wins from 5 games, victors over both Scotland and Wales.

Funniest part of all this is they were a Blair Kinghorn kick and Wales not knocking on 5 meters out and they go 0 from 5 on that tour

Building nicely!

 

[dusk]

Moving on from this shit show.

Predicted team against NZ in Melbourne.

1. Slipper (Bell to come on at half time)
2. Porecki
3. 7A's (Tupou to come on at half time)
4. Skelton
5. Nick Frost
6. Jed Holloway
7. Hooper
8. Valetini
9. White
10. Cooper
11. Marike
12. Kerevi
13. Foketi/Perese
14. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase)
15. Kellaway

16. Faesselar
17. Bell
18. Tupou
19. Arnold
20. Samu
21. Mcdermott
22. Gordon
23. Petaia

Assuming both Kellaway and Petaia are fit, if not then Hodge slides into the 23.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I like that team.

I'd hope they would also give Faesselar half a game. Porecki is clearly rated the no.1 so lets establish the no.2

I know he's been a 12 at the Tahs but I'd go Foketi at 13. He's defensively very good and Perese has been mostly down this entire year following injury with only a couple high moments. I worry about Kerevi, Perese sounding exciting but in reality looking slow and clunky.

 

[John S]

I'm sort of the same - like it, but Kerevi looked off the pace on Saturday. Other than that let's give it a burl.

And before anyone pipes up - I'm not sure if there is a better option for 12 at the moment,

 

[Tomthumb]

Kerevi has really been looking too slow for international rugby these last two weeks. Hopefully has has another gear but if not Eddie has a decision to make

 

[HogansHeros]

Kerevi has really been looking too slow for international rugby these last two weeks. Hopefully has has another gear but if not Eddie has a decision to make

Yeah his chase in support of Gordon when he took off down the sideline showed how off the pace he was

 

[wamberal]

Kerevi has really been looking too slow for international rugby these last two weeks. Hopefully has has another gear but if not Eddie has a decision to make

Eddie has lots of decisions to make, too many this close to the RWC.

 

[rodha]

Eddie has lots of decisions to make, too many this close to the RWC.

That's because it's Rennie's team & Eddie is ultimately still figuring out how to understand Rennie's team... that's a bit of a problem, eh?

After 3 constructive years Rennie knew his team very well... which buttons to push... how to get the most out of his big names - do you think it's a coincidence that Cooper, Kerevi, Koroibete, Valetini, etc.. are all playing worse under Eddie?

Do you think Rugby Australia now understand the importance of familiarity, cohesion & alignment in a coaching staff this close to a World Cup?

 

[SouthernX]

Do you think Rugby Australia now understand the importance of familiarity, cohesion & alignment in a coaching staff this close to a World Cup?

I think there’s some benefit to blowing it all up just before a World Cup. Our best result recently was when Link suddenly quit and we had to parachute in Cheika.

Cheika took the boys all the way to the final. I suspect some of the success is the unknown of Cheika and doing something outside of the text book.

Unsure how this relates with Eddie though… I’m sure his game plan and strategies have been cross examined multiple times by all the other national coaches

 

[Tomthumb]

I think there’s some benefit to blowing it all up just before a World Cup. Our best result recently was when Link suddenly quit and we had to parachute in Cheika.

Cheika took the boys all the way to the final. I suspect some of the success is the unknown of Cheika and doing something outside of the text book.

Unsure how this relates with Eddie though… I’m sure his game plan and strategies have been cross examined multiple times by all the other national coaches

I Honestly don’t see the downside. We were losing consistently and making the same mistakes for 3 with Rennie anyway, so why not try something new

 

[Linerunner2023]

Kerevi will get there, he is only a couple of games back from an acl injury
Once he and Quade click - Kerevi is so vital for this backline - actually the most important player in the team
We have no one like him, would be the most dominant centre atm

In terms of Sua'ali'i there is something completely wrong with Aus rugby if he comes straight into the wallabies! After watching him I’ve got little confidence in what he will offer

 

[dusk]

Kerevi will get there, he is only a couple of games back from an acl injury
Once he and Quade click - Kerevi is so vital for this backline - actually the most important player in the team
We have no one like him, would be the most dominant centre atm

In terms of Sua'ali'i there is something completely wrong with Aus rugby if he comes straight into the wallabies! After watching him I’ve got little confidence in what he will offer

After tearing up schoolboy footy in year 9/10 and making AUS schoolboys in year 10, you have little confidence in what he will offer? Your point about him playing for the wallabies this year is warranted, but you can't deny this kid has incredible talent and will do wonders for union.

 

[dru]

Kerevi will get there, he is only a couple of games back from an acl injury
Once he and Quade click - Kerevi is so vital for this backline - actually the most important player in the team
We have no one like him, would be the most dominant centre atm

Woulda-shoulda-coulda? The problem is that not every sportsman returns from ACL with the same speed he had before it. I'm hoping that Kerevi does indeed "get there". But I'm not convinced it is automatic. We have not seen any chance for him to play rugby before the Wallabies and it is a pretty poor place for him to be proving his fitness. So far without success.