Wallabies 2023

[qwerty51]

It’s what might get Lonergan into the match day squads.

It should. It’s why he’s be my 20. over Tate.

But that’s not what I’m saying. This isn’t the NFL. Foley can’t just kick his goals and go off. He need to be up to standard across the board and I personally thought he was too far short last year. And it’s worth noting his last stints with both the Wallabies before that and with the Tahs he was also out of form.

in any case, while he has kicked some memorable goals under pressure. He has also missed plenty he should have got. He’s certainly not the goal kicking Messiah.

Edit: im Intrigued though - if that is your rationale, wouldn’t Lolesio be your preferred 10? Probably even in front of Cooper.

I don’t get the Lolesio comment, are you saying he’s a good goal kicker? Last match was pretty ordinary by him.

I would never characterise Foley as a kick machine. I just think he’s demonstrated clutch kicks in big moments and always been solid at Test level.
He’s no Mike Harris - he’s still a very capable playmaker and you’re making out he only has the playmaking ability of Harris but he was the 10 when our attack looked fine at stages.

 

[TSR]

I haven’t watched the Brumbies last game - Lolesio has seemed pretty consistent to me as a kicker. But I don’t have his stats. But yes - that was my point but it could be based on an actual incorrect assumption of his success rate.

With regards to Foley - I’d just be bringing up the same points again. We obviously disagree on his reliability as a kicker, his ability to consistently run attack and his overall virtue as an option at this time. Luckily for him Jones sees value in including him so I guess he has an opportunity to prove his worth.

 

[stillmissit]

Obviously but even a beaten pack will get pen goal opportunities, missing a penalty and a conversion could be the difference between winning and losing.
Every RWC winner has scraped by in the knockouts by a kick.

SA (vs Wales) 2019
NZ (vs SA) 2015
NZ (vs France) 2011
SA (vs England) 2007 (did win by 9 but it was all kicks!
Eng ..... 2003
Aus (vs SA) 1999

I think people are insane if they'd prefer Carter Gordon kicking our clutch goals instead of Foley.

I suspect there are some like me who would rather be in a position to lose a RWC on a kick than not get there at all...

 

[Tomthumb]

I suspect there are some like me who would rather be in a position to lose a RWC on a kick than not get there at all...

With bad goal kicking you aren't sniffing the RWC final

 

[cyclopath]

I have not watched every minute of every Brumbies game, but have seen most of them and if Lolesio is kicking at less than about 85% I'd be amazed. He's pretty good.

 

[LeCheese]

I have not watched every minute of every Brumbies game, but have seen most of them and if Lolesio is kicking at less than about 85% I'd be amazed. He's pretty good.

Can't find this season's stats, but last season he was 78% for the Brums and 89% for the Wobs

 

[Members Section]

Where do they actually train at sanctuary cove, is that what Eddie & Wisemantle were doing up there 4 days early putting posts up on one of the par 5's?

 

[Braveheart81]

Foley's best chance will clearly be if the number of international squad members is increased. If it remains at 3 I can't see him being included. I imagine Eddie Jones will be trying pretty hard to get the number increased though. He's not going to want an arbitrary rule to deny him what he thinks is his best squad. Likewise I think RA will acquiesce for the RWC.

I would be surprised if Foley isn't included in the squads as they go along this season. With doubts over Cooper's return, the uncapped Gordon and Eddie Jones seemingly not a fan of Lolesio, it becomes hard to leave Foley out. The desire will certainly be to have players that are potentially going to the RWC in and around the squad for as long as possible beforehand.

With a strong Japanese season and the time in the squad last year I'd guess that the assumption will be that it should work better this year than it did last year on a limited build up.

 

[stillmissit]

With bad goal kicking you aren't sniffing the RWC final

TT we don't have bad kicking it is just that Foley could be better. We have played with Foley where he missed critical kicks before.

 

[wamberal]

Kicking goals is nice, scoring tries is better.

 

[LeCheese]

Kicking goals is nice, scoring tries is better.

Both important, but I agree with the sentiment that we shouldn't be picking a 10 based on their spot kicking ability

 

[Dctarget]

My biases aside and putting on my Eddie hat, there are 20 short weeks till the RWC kicks off. I think we'll essentially see Rennie's preferred 23 too with little surprise.

The props will be Slipper & Ala'alatoa with Bell & Tupou off the bench if their recovery comes on in time.

Holloway will get in over Leota, I prefer Leota but not with this short run up.

I think Hooper could be past it but too big a risk to go without him. I would want Gamble but with half an injured season it's too late for him. Maybe Eddie's trick will be taking the captain armband off Hooper.

Only question mark for me is hooker and fullback. With BPA injured, it's wide open. I really thought Latu would've been the Waratahs preferred by now but clearly something's not working for him. I guess it'll be Porecki by default, Uelese is too much of a liability. I think Longeran is great but pretty similar to Harry Thacker who is brilliant but was overlooked by Eddie.

Fullback.. No idea. I'm going to choose Wright because he's actually been playing there.

1. Slipper
2. Porecki
3. Ala'alatoa (c)
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Holloway
7. Hooper
8. Valetini
9. White
10. Cooper
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Nawaqanitawase
15. Wright
16. Longeran
17. Bell
18. Tupou
19. Philip
20. Gleeson
21. Longeran
22. Foley
23. Petaia

 

[Braveheart81]

In terms of the Wallaby squad changes, the Ned Hanigan one is perhaps the most surprising. There didn't seem to be a hint of any concussion/head injury when he was brought off and then spoke to the commentators from the sideline.

 

[LeCheese]

In terms of the Wallaby squad changes, the Ned Hanigan one is perhaps the most surprising. There didn't seem to be a hint of any concussion/head injury when he was brought off and then spoke to the commentators from the sideline.

Delayed concussion can first present as long as 48hrs afterwards - obviously this is rare, but 6hrs or 'later in the day' is reasonably common

 

[Brumby Runner]

One aspect of Bernard Foley's goal kicking that hasn't been mentioned so far is his lack of distance compared with any and all of the alternative kickers. Anything beyond about 40m is out of reach for him and consequently, his success rate is largely built on taking the easier kicks. I don't think he provides sufficient improvement in accuracy to force his way over another 10 who is playing better in general play.

 

[SouthernX]

I saw Hanigan concussion on the field. He was clearly in pain after head knock however after an incident like this and in the heat of the moment in the rugby battlefield - you get up and you keep defending.

 

[Members Section]

I saw Hanigan concussion on the field. He was clearly in pain after head knock however after an incident like this and in the heat of the moment in the rugby battlefield - you get up and you keep defending.

He seemed fine in his interview at the 60m mark as well, must have showed symptoms the next day

 

[Braveheart81]

One aspect of Bernard Foley's goal kicking that hasn't been mentioned so far is his lack of distance compared with any and all of the alternative kickers. Anything beyond about 40m is out of reach for him and consequently, his success rate is largely built on taking the easier kicks. I don't think he provides sufficient improvement in accuracy to force his way over another 10 who is playing better in general play.

Is that so much the case?

Foley is a few metres shorter on his kicks than Cooper or Lolesio but we're not really seeing either of those guys take shots from 50m either. That seems to be White or Hodge.

Lonergan is certainly an option with the long range shots too.

I think Foley and Cooper's advantage in terms of selections will definitely be their experience. I can't see Eddie Jones opting for both Gordon and Lolesio in the squad.

 

[rugbyAU]

My biases aside and putting on my Eddie hat, there are 20 short weeks till the RWC kicks off. I think we'll essentially see Rennie's preferred 23 too with little surprise.

The props will be Slipper & Ala'alatoa with Bell & Tupou off the bench if their recovery comes on in time.

Holloway will get in over Leota, I prefer Leota but not with this short run up.

I think Hooper could be past it but too big a risk to go without him. I would want Gamble but with half an injured season it's too late for him. Maybe Eddie's trick will be taking the captain armband off Hooper.

Only question mark for me is hooker and fullback. With BPA injured, it's wide open. I really thought Latu would've been the Waratahs preferred by now but clearly something's not working for him. I guess it'll be Porecki by default, Uelese is too much of a liability. I think Longeran is great but pretty similar to Harry Thacker who is brilliant but was overlooked by Eddie.

Fullback.. No idea. I'm going to choose Wright because he's actually been playing there.

1. Slipper
2. Porecki
3. Ala'alatoa (c)
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Holloway
7. Hooper
8. Valetini
9. White
10. Cooper
11. Koroibete
12. Kerevi
13. Ikitau
14. Nawaqanitawase
15. Wright
16. Longeran
17. Bell
18. Tupou
19. Philip
20. Gleeson
21. Longeran
22. Foley
23. Petaia

I like that, but prefer Kellaway over Nawaqanitawase

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He seemed fine in his interview at the 60m mark as well, must have showed symptoms the next day

Could the Tahs have done an HIA on him post match noting he had a knock. If he had a headache or something like that post match and asked one of the trainers they are likely to have done it.