Wallabies 2023

[Slim 293]

We just proved we cannot defend a maul. No.

We didn’t have Swain…

And Neville is usually a strong maul wrecker as well.

But I don’t think maul defence is going to be skill set that sees Skelton selected if he still doesn’t posses the workload for test rugby.

 

[Slim 293]

I'd say Simone is now a shoe in for the spring tour with Paisami the last 12 standing...

 

[jl75]

Just wondering if this crop of players is the best running around in Australia atm. Is there any hidden talent or talent out there playing Union not league that just can’t get a look in because of selection bias or who you know or have a fantastic manager etc that are stuck at club level. It’s so frustrating. Just putting it out there.

 

[whitefalcon]

I wonder if Kuenzle can play himself into the squad at 12 from the Aus A squad?

I also really like the idea of Frost at 6. The kid is bloody fast and has a reasonable running game for his size (imagine when he puts some more muscle on, could be the next Fardy?)

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I wonder if Kuenzle can play himself into the squad at 12 from the Aus A squad?

I also really like the idea of Frost at 6. The kid is bloody fast and has a reasonable running game for his size (imagine when he puts some more muscle on, could be the next Fardy?)

Hodge & McReight were playing well in the Pacific Nations Cup and then went straight into the Wallabies squad so if he performs and they need someone of course he can.

 

[dusk]

Ok so we have an immediate concern over who plays 12 now (amongst many concerns).

Options are:

- Paisami is probably the front runner but I think his form has been down for about 12 months now. I do suspect he will get the gig though.
- Hodge in another spakfilla request to fill a gap just because he can.
- Beale. I guess. Outside Foley? Yikes.

I guess depending on how the Aussie A tour goes then perhaps Hamish Stewart is an option? And one I am warming to given the above.

Anyone else I missed?

Nick Chan could play 12 but would need more experience in super rugby.

 

[Lightblue]

Add Gordan to this list of experiment over

If you are talking 'experiments', does that mean Lolesio and Petaia are over too? Hardly shot the lights out...

 

[Viking]

Yeah I'm not sure it needs to be extended currently. At least not to more than 5.

This has been disappointing but if they can get Swain sort himself out with Rodda back, Neville, Frost and Phillip I think there is enough in that spot at the moment.

There was a lot of chat about no.7s overseas for a bit but the performances of McReight and Samu have put that to bed as well. Charlie Gambles eligibility should be followed as well.

Kerevi and Korobiete are walk up starters and then Banks does look like a genuine option with no out and out Fullback showing themselves at the moment.

I think Kellaway is doing well at fullback. He is so cool, calm and collected he really fits into test rugby well.
He's probably a better test fullback then Banks, but he's also by far a better winger then Banks.

So think a back three of 11. Koro 14. Kellaway 15. Banks is the best option we have.

Banks gets a bit of hate here but he's exactly what we need. Strong in the basics of the position without being flashy. Has pace to burn. But most importantly low error rate and solid decision maker. I'd take him any day over Wright or Petaia. His downside is he is a specialist 15 and a pretty poor winger.

 

[Members Section]

If you are talking 'experiments', does that mean Lolesio and Petaia are over too? Hardly shot the lights out...

I was talking about Gordan only, he has struggled & for me shouldn't been ahead of Tate.

 

[Viking]

Add Gordan to this list of experiment over

I think it was fair both White and Gordon got there chances. But given both haven't set the world alight. Surely Tate now gets his chance.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Banks gets a bit of hate here but he's exactly what we need. Strong in the basics of the position without being flashy. Has pace to burn. But most importantly low error rate and solid decision maker. I'd take him any day over Wright or Petaia. His downside is he is a specialist 15 and a pretty poor winger.

I've given Banks plenty of hate. I'm still not sold as an elite test Fullback, but currently I think he's the best Australian Fullback so he deserves it....

I feel he's a similar level as Gordon. They can be a force at the Super Rugby level but for whatever reason it doesn't translate to the Test level while some players who don't seem dominant at Super Rugby seem to handle Tests in their stride.

Kellaway is a smart footballer and tbh I didnt think of him in that moment. He's done nothing wrong in the 15 jersey.

 

[LeCheese]

Banks gets a bit of hate here but he's exactly what we need. Strong in the basics of the position without being flashy. Has pace to burn. But most importantly low error rate and solid decision maker. I'd take him any day over Wright or Petaia. His downside is he is a specialist 15 and a pretty poor winger.

I just can't see Banks being a part of that 'top 3' conversation, especially when he probably wouldn't be a hugely noticeable step up from someone like Kellaway. The other consideration being that his broken arm was a bad one, and could take an extended period to be good to go again.

 

[Viking]

I just can't see Banks being a part of that 'top 3' conversation, especially when he probably wouldn't be a hugely noticeable step up from someone like Kellaway. The other consideration being that his broken arm was a bad one, and could take an extended period to be good to go again.

Yeh but my point is, you shift Kellaway to the wing. In which case, Kellaway and/or Banks IS a huge step-up from Wright or Petaia.

EDIT: Banks is easily in the top 3 conversation. He was the incumbent after all. Just.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He's part of the top 3 conversation now with non of the overseas forwards really seeming any better than what we have. Korobete, Kerevi, Banks, Foley, Cooper

 

[RugbyReg]

Rugby Champs done so time for some stats thanks to what I assume are Opta Stats on the SANZAR site.

Defensive Players of the season:

1 – Fraser McReight – 49 tackles @ 92.45%
2 – Rob Valetini – 49 @ 84.48%
3 – Allan Ala'alatoa – 42 @ 93.33%
4 – Pete Samu – 38 @ 88.37%
5 – James Slipper – 31 @ 81.58%

Biggest Attacking Influence ((Clean Breaks + Defenders Beaten + Offloads + Try Assists) x Metres/Run):

1 – Len Ikitau – 91.67
2 – Pete Samu – 91.33
3 – Tom Wright – 90.40
4 – Marika Koroibete – 87.31
5 – Jordan Petaia – 65.71

Biggest Game Disrupter ((Clean Breaks + Defenders Beaten + Offloads + Turnovers Won + Line Out Steals)/ Minutes Played):
So basically who makes shit happen the most regularly (min 81 mins played)

1 – Pete Samu – 13.89 (basically does something game breaking every almost 14 minutes)
2 – Marika Koroibete – 18.80
3 – Len Ikitau – 22.43
4 – Rob Valetini – 26.11
5 – Hunter Paisami – 26.57

Work Rate (Minutes Played / (Runs + Turn Overs Won + Tackled):
(min 81 mins played)

1 – Taniel Tupou - 3.74 (does one of the above just under every 4 minutes)
2 – Pete Samu – 3.85
3 – Fraser McReight – 4.22
4 – Rob Valetini – 4.23
5 – Dave Porecki – 4.77

Uh Oh (Minutes Played / (Turn Over Conceded + Missed Tackle + Penalties Conceded + (Yellow Card x 3) + (Red Card x 5)):
Minimum of 81 minutes played

1 – Bernard Foley – 9.63 (basically stuffs up almost every 10 mins)
2 – Taniela Tupou – 11.22
3 – Jake Gordon – 12.00
4 – Dave Porecki – 14.30
5 – Nic White – 14.86

Worth noting the opposite stats:

1 – Allan Ala'alatoa – 47.43 (basically stuffs up once every 47 or so minutes)
2 – Rory Arnold – 40
3 – Folau Fainga'a – 39.67
4 – Len Ikitau – 39.25
5 – Reece Hodge – 36.50

So take from that what you will. I'll take from it that Samu and Ikitau were our most important players with Bobby V not far behind while McReight was an excellent fill in for Hooper.

Tupou's work rate surprised me but not his error rate. AAA is the clear preference for the THP jersey.

Composure in our halves is a real worry.

 

[LeCheese]

Rugby Champs done so time for some stats thanks to what I assume are Opta Stats on the SANZAR site.

Defensive Players of the season:

1 – Fraser McReight – 49 tackles @ 92.45%
2 – Rob Valetini – 49 @ 84.48%
3 – Allan Ala'alatoa – 42 @ 93.33%
4 – Pete Samu – 38 @ 88.37%
5 – James Slipper – 31 @ 81.58%

Biggest Attacking Influence ((Clean Breaks + Defenders Beaten + Offloads + Try Assists) x Metres/Run):

1 – Len Ikitau – 91.67
2 – Pete Samu – 91.33
3 – Tom Wright – 90.40
4 – Marika Koroibete – 87.31
5 – Jordan Petaia – 65.71

Biggest Game Disrupter ((Clean Breaks + Defenders Beaten + Offloads + Turnovers Won + Line Out Steals)/ Minutes Played):
So basically who makes shit happen the most regularly (min 81 mins played)

1 – Pete Samu – 13.89 (basically does something game breaking every almost 14 minutes)
2 – Marika Koroibete – 18.80
3 – Len Ikitau – 22.43
4 – Rob Valetini – 26.11
5 – Hunter Paisami – 26.57

Work Rate (Minutes Played / (Runs + Turn Overs Won + Tackled):
(min 81 mins played)

1 – Taniel Tupou - 3.74 (does one of the above just under every 4 minutes)
2 – Pete Samu – 3.85
3 – Fraser McReight – 4.22
4 – Rob Valetini – 4.23
5 – Dave Porecki – 4.77

Uh Oh (Minutes Played / (Turn Over Conceded + Missed Tackle + Penalties Conceded + (Yellow Card x 3) + (Red Card x 5)):
Minimum of 81 minutes played

1 – Bernard Foley – 9.63 (basically stuffs up almost every 10 mins)
2 – Taniela Tupou – 11.22
3 – Jake Gordon – 12.00
4 – Dave Porecki – 14.30
5 – Nic White – 14.86

Worth noting the opposite stats:

1 – Allan Ala'alatoa – 47.43 (basically stuffs up once every 47 or so minutes)
2 – Rory Arnold – 40
3 – Folau Fainga'a – 39.67
4 – Len Ikitau – 39.25
5 – Reece Hodge – 36.50

So take from that what you will. I'll take from it that Samu and Ikitau were our most important players with Bobby V not far behind while McReight was an excellent fill in for Hooper.

Tupou's work rate surprised me but not his error rate. AAA is the clear preference for the THP jersey.

Composure in our halves is a real worry.

Thanks Reg, some interesting insights in there. I particularly note the feature of Petaia and Wright (who is above Koro) in attacking influence which, given the above chat on wingers' effectiveness, is certainly something.

 

[Dctarget]

Not great tackle percentage for ol' Slips, run at him 5 times and you'll get through once.

 

[RugbyReg]

Thanks Reg, some interesting insights in there. I particularly note the feature of Petaia and Wright (who is above Koro) in attacking influence which, given the above chat on wingers' effectiveness, is certainly something.

A likely flaw in the methodology where I use metres / carry as a multiplier. As we know Koro does a lot more heavy work in tight so had a lot more carries but his M/C stat is lower than Tom’s. On the ‘composure’ stat (uh oh) he is almost twice as ‘composed’ as Wright.

Nor does this measure dumb stuff like quick taps (nor having your foot in touch while catching the ball with the line wide open).

 

[RugbyReg]

Not great tackle percentage for ol' Slips, run at him 5 times and you'll get through once.

Worse were:

Foley @ 42% (8 from 19)
Loloesio @ 63% (5 from 8)
White @ 65% (24 from 37)
Wright @ 67% (12 from 18)
Kellaway @ 67% (10 from 15)

 

[Dctarget]

Worse were:

Foley @ 42% (8 from 19)
Loloesio @ 63% (5 from 8)
White @ 65% (24 from 37)
Wright @ 67% (12 from 18)
Kellaway @ 67% (10 from 15)

Damn, hard to hide Foley when we need to hide the rest of the backline too.