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Wallabies 2023

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I think Leota will be 6 and Valetini will be 8. That’s what Rennie will pick.

I don’t see Leota in the team in 12 months time. Perhaps even by the end of the year.

Holloway has proved at every level he’s not a backrower.

I’d have Wilson at 8 and Valetini at 6. Wilson doing the hard work and Rob making an occasional break and big tackle.

I agree with all this. I'd definitely have Holloway in the side but it would either be starting ahead of Philip or as the bench lock. He's definitely had a stronger season than Philip and is a more dynamic player in that option.

He's had his best season ever as a lock. Move him to 6 and he's nowhere near as dynamic a player for that position.
 

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
I understand why Holloway is getting categorised as a lock only but him playing there for the Tahs is more due to necessity for them rather than that being his best position? Are we correlating his form turnaround to a positional change or him going away, maturing and coming back a better player? Whilst he excelled in all the core aspects of a lock this season, his workrate was great and made numerous breaks running out wide. There's no reason he can't be a Test backrower. Seems even more relevant if Eddy plays Lawes at 6.
 

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
I take rugby body metrics with a pinch of salt. Eye test better. Not having Leota being 5cm shorter than Wilson at all.
 

Drew

Bob Davidson (42)
I understand why Holloway is getting categorised as a lock only but him playing there for the Tahs is more due to necessity for them rather than that being his best position? Are we correlating his form turnaround to a positional change or him going away, maturing and coming back a better player? Whilst he excelled in all the core aspects of a lock this season, his workrate was great and made numerous breaks running out wide. There's no reason he can't be a Test backrower. Seems even more relevant if Eddy plays Lawes at 6.
Agreed. If he was playing lock before he left, people would say he wasn’t a good lock. He had the physical attributes but went missing. He’s matured. Would he be a better 6/8 than any of the candidates? Maybe not, but judging him on his early career isn’t fair
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I understand why Holloway is getting categorised as a lock only but him playing there for the Tahs is more due to necessity for them rather than that being his best position? Are we correlating his form turnaround to a positional change or him going away, maturing and coming back a better player? Whilst he excelled in all the core aspects of a lock this season, his workrate was great and made numerous breaks running out wide. There's no reason he can't be a Test backrower. Seems even more relevant if Eddy plays Lawes at 6.

I think he has more upside as a lock (even at test level) given he holds his own with lineout, scrum and other core lock skills but is then an above average ball carrier and ball player.

In the backrow he's a slightly bigger body who has upside in the lineout but isn't an above average ball carrier or ball player.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
I guess the relevant questions are:

Do you think Rennie will pick Wilson or Valetini at number 8? Who would you pick personally?

Is the other one an option at 6 or will that job be won by Leota or Holloway?

If Wilson doesn't make the starting XV is he a bench option or will that be Samu covering the whole backrow?
Valetini @ 6, Wilson@ 8
 

qwerty51

Stirling Mortlock (74)
In the backrow he's a slightly bigger body who has upside in the lineout but isn't an above average ball carrier or ball player.
I know quite a few Tahs backs who would disagree with that this season... His offloading and passing whilst running has been terrific. How many times did he combine with Perese and Pietsch this season after breaks? He has pace, he'll be fine as a link player out wide.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I know quite a few Tahs backs who would disagree with that this season... His offloading and passing whilst running has been terrific. How many times did he combine with Perese and Pietsch this season after breaks? He has pace, he'll be fine as a link player out wide.

Yes and I think he is exceptional at that as a lock. He has clearly been the best Australian lock this season in that area.

As a backrower he's expected to be a better ball player. He's maybe slightly above average there. E.g. Leota is a better ball player than Philip.
 

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Forgetting that performance against the Baabaas - because it means precisely zero for England's chances out here - we need to think about set piece first and foremost, and how we're going to blunt England's forwards.

There are more lineouts than scrums in a game, so while we need to focus on being solid in getting the ball out on the deck, having enough targets at 4, 5, and 6 on the throw will be more important.

The back row therefore comes down to balance. Particularly against England with Itoje roaming around as a lock who plays like a blindside. You need someone who is an utter fluffybunny to get in his face all day and take him out of play as often as possible. Someone like Scott Fardy who wouldn't put up with Itoje's off-the-ball shit.

I think Holloway deserves a shot at lock based on his form through the season. There are plenty of other options, but I see him as the Brad Thorn style hard man who does the dirty work then shows up to give a nice ball to the winger. Team him up with a bigger guy like one of the Ponies' locks (except Swain who is a fucking penalty magnet despite all his good stuff) and you're getting there for a pack.

For me, Valetini is your blockbuster 8 running the hard lines, with Hooper a lock at 7. Samu is the ultimate bench cover.

Therefore, blindside is last man standing for selection in that pack. Is Wilson a better option at 6 compared to the other guys available? Will his attributes balance a likely pack of Slipper, Porecki, Ala'alatoa, Holloway, Another, Hooper, and Valetini?

Looking at the options, probably "yes"
 

Joe Blow

John Hipwell (52)
You cant say just cause he got a red card put a line through him, we had about 3 reds on the spring tour last yr alone
How many lines do we need? Besides the fact that he cant jump in the lineout and his pace is not what it once was, he is a penalty magnet(as always) and we have a bunch of very good young locks + Arnold.
 
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