Wallabies 2023
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
Lightblue
Arch Winning (36)
Yes…. full of opinions…. with many no true knowledge of the game. You have to laugh. There is definitely no correlation between amount of posts to intelligent posts that’s for sure.
Marce
John Hipwell (52)
Eyes and Ears
Bob Davidson (42)
That’s fine, that’s your opinion but your point above was that he shouldn’t be picked for the Wallabies because of a penalty last night. My opinion is that the penalty last night was a call that Paul W shouldn’t have made and I won’t be hanging a player on that action.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Some people were calling for his wallaby selection after 15 mins last week, it’s only fair one mistake works as the counter argument
Tomikin
David Codey (61)
Its his face... his probably the most polarized Tah now that Beale / Foley's left... oh accept maybe Hooper .. but Hooper is outstanding so we have to put up with him.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Breaking the losing streak would be a great outcome IMO.
Rebel man
John Thornett (49)
He is just not really a test player.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
No no and no. Hanigan was very good before he left for Japan and also last week of the bench in first game back. You don’t crucify a guy over 1 mistake. Calls like he has no wallaby future is just wrong. Ned cops a lot of unjust criticism because selected early for wallabies and perhaps before ready but is that his fault? He also has steadily improved and top super rugby player and to blame one player over a loss is over the top. Tahs had plenty of chances to win the game and didn’t as they were ordinary against a blues side who changed 13 players for this game.
Give at least Hanigan more matches since back from Japan before writing him off for more then just 1 mistake!
Last edited:
Rebel man
John Thornett (49)
What he did before leaving is irrelevant. He went to Japan and gave up his spot. He has to earn it back now and as of yet he is nowhere near that
Or Rennie can select who he wants? If he thinks Hanigan offers something and is in the frame for the RWC next year he's quite likely to pick him.
I think what he did before is entirely relevant because Rennie was clearly a fan of what he had to offer and that will be the primary reason if he gets selected again at the moment.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
I think it’s comments like yours about Hanigan deserving a spot after a cameo off the bench which causes people too rebut and ‘crucify after one mistake’.
A bit of restraint both ways would avoid these discussions. Let him earn his spot by playing a few games displaying good form.
OK, so does this approach work with injured players? or players being selected from overseas? or players playing shit teams?
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Plenty of players far better then Hanigan have lost their positions through injury, going overseas or playing in shit teams.
Rebel man
John Thornett (49)
Just gift a jersey to a bloke from NSW after playing div 3 rugby in Japan because he wears the sky blue
Rebel man
John Thornett (49)
He chose to go overseas. He chose to play div 3 rugby in Japan. It’s also horses for courses.
My original post was somewhat tongue in cheek but I also think it would have been potentially influential.
My take is that it is never a level playing field in terms of selection being based on long term performances. Historical play and how the coach views a player has a huge impact on selections.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
No it’s not a level playing field, and our individual opinions of ‘long term performances’ is subjective, so the suggestion his historical performance at test level will weigh heavily in his favour is questionable. Especially as other candidates have emerged in his absence, and played consistently through the season at a higher level.
The backrowers picked in March for the camp were Hooper, Leota, McReight, Samu, Swinton, Valetini and Wilson. Easy to leave out Swinton and pick Hanigan for example.
It's fine to suggest that someone like Seru Uru is more deserving of a spot in a squad now based on 2022 form but that doesn't mean that is who Rennie is going to pick.
I would say Hooper, Leota, McReight, Valetini and Wilson are obvious selections in the squad. After that it is a little less certain. Samu is probably likely and Rennie used him as a bench option a lot last year but likewise, he's also dropped him a couple of times.
There's definitely a backrow spot in the squad that is pretty wide open.
It's fine to suggest that someone like Seru Uru is more deserving of a spot in a squad now based on 2022 form but that doesn't mean that is who Rennie is going to pick.
I would say Hooper, Leota, McReight, Valetini and Wilson are obvious selections in the squad. After that it is a little less certain. Samu is probably likely and Rennie used him as a bench option a lot last year but likewise, he's also dropped him a couple of times.
There's definitely a backrow spot in the squad that is pretty wide open.