Wallabies 2023
- Thread starter RugbyReg
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TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Why? What exactly is the useful comparison you think applies here.
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
How old was the guy who won it in 2003?
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
24 years old.
He had been a pro since 1997, first debuted for England in 1998, had already been a Lions #10.
Won the Six Nations and captained them just before the RWC.
I'm not sure this is a gotcha, you can't argue Carter or Lolesio are in any way comparable to Jonny.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Sorry - that doesn’t address anything. What are your actual criticisms of Cooper that are relevant to your insistence that Foley must be picked.
I’ll put down some of my objections and you can respond to them if you like and quote 2011 as you feel it is relevant.
- I know you place a very high importance in the goal kicking of the 10. Fair enough. Foley has had has memorable days but he’s far from a consistently reliable goal kicker at test level
- he has no ability to relieve pressure with his kicking game. Teams will pin us.
- when he’s under pressure in attack he is prone to closing down in attack
- he’s defence is poor. Yes, I know he made a great try saver on the EOYT. It doesn’t change the fact he is consistently poor
At his best Foley was a solid option who did well on front foot ball. And he is capable of a great day off the tee. His day is passed.
If Jones sees differently then I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and cheer for him wholeheartedly. But he was terrible last year.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
I think you need to read my posts again. I've said my preference is 1. Quade 2. Foley 3. Hybrid 10 in either Hodge/JOC (James O'Connor) (you can't have 3 pure 10s in a RWC squad of 33, the 3rd 10 needs to be able to play somewhere else)
I offered up Quade's performance in 2011 as a reason not to pick young 10s in a RWC squad.
I'm not sure how a guy who lost to France and Ireland by a combined 4 points was "terrible last year". Many better teams than us have done far worse... not to mention nearly being NZ in Melbourne too.
I offered up Quade's performance in 2011 as a reason not to pick young 10s in a RWC squad.
I'm not sure how a guy who lost to France and Ireland by a combined 4 points was "terrible last year". Many better teams than us have done far worse... not to mention nearly being NZ in Melbourne too.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
Fair enough. Which of my criticisms of Foley do you disagree with.
And sorry - yes, I do realise we are talking about the number 2 choice here. But I think we both agree the back up is going to be very important.
To be clear - I don’t dispute that it isn’t ideal to have to back a rookie. But I just don’t see Foley as a good option. I’d have to review the game but didn’t Foley cost us one of the tests last year by not completing a simple draw and pass. Those are the sort of decisions he makes too often for me.
whitefalcon
Ron Walden (29)
John Ulugia to get a call up and become the next Josh Mann-Rea
Misunderstood fan
Jimmy Flynn (14)
Donaldson can play fullback. JOC (James O'Connor) isn’t in the mix. Your hybrid is either Hodge or Donaldson. I still think Carter is the best option outside of Quade. Foley ain’t much chop but Eddie has him in there atm.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
If I were Souths I’d be making a few phone calls
PhilClinton
Mark Loane (55)
I think Quade is playing better footy at test level than he was during his ‘prime’.
It’s horses for courses with him though, the bloke has a knack for knowing where the space is and setting a good attacking platform, when you put a bloke like Kerevi outside him, QC (Quade Cooper) doesn’t overplay his hand.
TSR
Andrew Slack (58)
It’s a rugby blog mate. And a completely valid discussion. No one is being disrespectful towards each other.Gee it will be good when both Quade and Foley retire from the game completely
Maybe my criticism of Foley might seem harsh. It’s always easy to be critical from the safety of my keyboard. But it’s not personal against the guy. I think my criticisms are quite valid. But I’m happy for Qwerty to disagree.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Rather depends on whether we've had a look at Gordon before the RWC
RebelYell
Arch Winning (36)
Beat me to it!
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
True but he doesn't include anyone else in his planning according to reports from his time in England.
So I hold my point that his planning is lacking as it always must be when you rely on only your views.
I heard a story from a guy around the wallabies in the RWC 2003 when we knocked out NZ that the guys decided to ignore Eddie's plan and play how they wanted to..
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
Ghost, you are most probably right but Eddie has brought several youngsters into this squad and he is either looking to next year or believes his own BS that 'if they are good enough they are old enough'. Never seen him do that yet.