Wallabies 2023

[Tomthumb]

Uelese I’m surprised is there. His throwing just isn’t to the level required when under pressure. One thing I take exception with however is people calling him lazy, he actually has a solid work rate. His down side is his throwing and sometimes has hands like feet. But his work rate is solid, very good scrummager and as many mentioned injury prone.

He’s lazy in terms of impact

Don’t you find it ironic that Lonergan, an apparent midget, is much harder for opponents to tackle in contact than Uelese?

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I still don't think Folau Fainga'a is out of the picture. Given the quality of the other hookers, a good game against Tonga and performance on the training paddock could see him back.

 

[Wilson]

There's no more planned changes before the Springboks is there? This is the TRC squad. With only Cooper, Donaldson & Gordon in the squad that means we're pretty certain to see Carter get his debut. That's something to be excited about. Been a while since I've been hyped for a Wallaby flyhalf to debut.

Given the short turn around and long flight between the SA and Argentina games, there's a pretty good chance he'll get a start too, I'm not sure they'll want to risk Quade backing up so soon after his injury return.

 

[LeCheese]

For the lineouts won percentage, the Force were the top team with 88.5%. Reds 87.3%, Waratahs 86.8%, Brumbies 86.5%.

The Rebels were fourth last with 83.6%.

Given that is for a team and not specific players it's hard to take anything too definitive out of those top four Aussie teams as the gap between them is statistically insignificant.

Cheers - not sure what the commentators were quoting then. Maybe Faessler individually? Either way, from a fan's perspective, when Faessler's been on, I haven't been dreading the Reds' lineout like I have in recent years.

 

[Braveheart81]

Cheers - not sure what the commentators were quoting then. Maybe Faessler individually? Either way, from a fan's perspective, when Faessler's been on, I haven't been dreading the Reds' lineout like I have in recent years.

The Tahs and Reds were both right up there at various points in the season. The margins are very close so a few lost lineouts can shift the positions quickly.

Faessler's stats would have been better than the Reds overall stats likewise with Porecki at the Waratahs.

 

[Wilson]

Cheers - not sure what the commentators were quoting then. Maybe Faessler individually? Either way, from a fan's perspective, when Faessler's been on, I haven't been dreading the Reds' lineout like I have in recent years.

The Reds were leading lineout success towards the end of the season, the Drua game saw it drop back quite a bit though.

 

[Highlander35]

I'd take the best rugby players

All your other points are reasonable (if a little tiring), but this is amateur stuff.

International selection isn't reward for form. Selecting the "best players" available is fine when your professional scope is fine when you're looking at Tonga, or Spain, and your professional set-up can't support anything else. But opposition make-up, complementary skillsets, coachability, gameplan, all these things and more both do and must come into play in order to have the best chance at success. When you have 12 full time professionals in a position, that's a framework you should be using to assist in decision making.

 

[Wallaby Man]

He’s lazy in terms of impact

Don’t you find it ironic that Lonergan, an apparent midget, is much harder for opponents to tackle in contact than Uelese?

What are you talking about. He’s far from been a bulldozer but he’s pretty decent in contact. Generally gets front foot ball in tight without been a colossus. The two play different roles with ball in hand for the team. Uelese is often used as a settler for the backline to organise off first or second phase.

Sometimes people make strange comments

For the record I’d have Lonergan over Uelese

 

[Tomthumb]

What are you talking about. He’s far from been a bulldozer but he’s pretty decent in contact. Generally gets front foot ball in tight without been a colossus. The two play different roles with ball in hand for the team. Uelese is often used as a settler for the backline to organise off first or second phase.

Sometimes people make strange comments

For the record I’d have Lonergan over Uelese

Huh? I’m pointing out that Longergan is harder to bring down despite his size, and you didn’t dispute that at all

we will just have to Agree to disagree

 

[Tomthumb]

All your other points are reasonable (if a little tiring), but this is amateur stuff.

International selection isn't reward for form. Selecting the "best players" available is fine when your professional scope is fine when you're looking at Tonga, or Spain, and your professional set-up can't support anything else. But opposition make-up, complementary skillsets, coachability, gameplan, all these things and more both do and must come into play in order to have the best chance at success. When you have 12 full time professionals in a position, that's a framework you should be using to assist in decision making.

We aren’t talking about 2 good players with different skill sets, we are talking about 1 good player and 1 bad player

Let’s agree to disagree

 

[Wallaby Man]

Huh? I’m pointing out that Longergan is harder to bring down despite his size, and you didn’t dispute that at all

we will just have to Agree to disagree

I’m just saying Uelese receives the ball in different situations. Usually from a standing start 1m from the ruck and is immediately gang tackled for the vast majority of his hit ups. They don’t use Lonergan in the same situations because he’s considerably more dynamic it would be a waste of his talents because he wouldn’t be any more effective. He’s more likely to receive round the corner on a 2nd+ phase count because he’s more explosive. It’s two vastly different roles, he may well be less effective in the first situation because of his size, just like Uelese would be less effective around the corner in a multiphase attack because of his lack of mobility.

It’s far too simplistic to compare.

 

[Adam84]

This thread

 

[LeCheese]

This thread
View attachment 16661

 

[cyclopath]

Dane Coles also had an extraordinary skillset. What he lacked in size he more than made up for with his pace and ball playing ability.

Uelese has clearly been selected for his size as a different option. Porecki and Faessler are very similar in size and Lonergan a bit smaller. My take is that Lonergan would have needed to be seen as having a little bit more advantage around the field versus Porecki and Faessler to be picked to make up for his smaller size.

I tend to think Porecki will get first crack but Faessler could well be a fixture in the 23 this year. I think they've got quite similar games. Similar size, good around the park and solid at set piece.

Part of me wonders whether some of these third choice options in the main squad might be there for Jones to get a closer look at for longer but could easily drop out for the RWC squad for the player currently in the train on squad.

Scores highly on the fluffybunny-scale too. Probably an advantage at hooker.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Scores highly on the fluffybunny-scale too. Probably an advantage at hooker.

Is that ever the truth. Hookers and halfbacks are usually the mouthiest and worst blokes on the paddock. Dane Coles is the chairman of that particular fraternity. I'd love to see someone punch his lights out.

 

[Linerunner2023]

We are jealous of NZ
Their 4th choice booker - Asafo Aumua would be our first choice hooker, and he can’t make the all Blacks RWC side
Nz has both coles and Codie Taylor who have big skill sets like centres and get around the field very well, and then Samisoni taukeiaho and aumua who are both power house ball runners and scrummergers

and we have very little to crow about atm

 

[Adam84]

We are jealous of NZ
Their 4th choice booker - Asafo Aumua would be our first choice hooker, and he can’t make the all Blacks RWC side
Nz has both coles and Codie Taylor who have big skill sets like centres and get around the field very well, and then Samisoni taukeiaho and aumua who are both power house ball runners and scrummergers

and we have very little to crow about atm

Whilst true, doesn’t mean Coles isn’t a fluffybunny

 

[TSR]

Is that ever the truth. Hookers and halfbacks are usually the mouthiest and worst blokes on the paddock.

Hey hey ….: rule 6!!!!

Wait till I see you at the bottom of a ruck!

Completely agree on half backs though.

 

[Linerunner2023]

Out lack of hooker option is the only part of the squad no one seems to know

- was hoping Latu would come back in 2019 form but he unfortunately wasn’t, he is ready to get his pay day again in France
- porecki most solid - but was disappointing last end of year tour getting run over and penalaties against him and miss throws
- Lonergan is good but small, surprises he missed the main squad
- faseler come from no where but looks solid
- Asiata and Nasser haven’t improved on last year
- I think billy pollard his a big chance in the next few years, very mobile like a Taylor
- Fainga'a very inconsient
- kautia has gone backward
- uelese is a man mountain and does has potential, just needs to stay fit, focus and get confidence hence why Eddie has got him in there
- one surprise I though mafi would make the squad but missed selection in both, he would be neally one of my first picks

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

BPA got injured as well didnt he? Surely he would have been in the mix.

Pollard by 2025.