Wallabies 2023

[rodha]

I would consider Kellaway for 13, especially after his defensive effort against Wales last year…

But he might be looked at playing fullback in a fortnight.

If Rennie was still the coach I suggest he'd be doing exactly that, unfortunately Eddie has no clue, doesn't seem aligned with Australian rugby after being NH based for years, hasn't been observing Super Rugby closely enough judging by his selection of Hodge, Vunivalu, Hooper, Uelese, last week.

 

[Slim 293]

If Rennie was still the coach I suggest he'd be doing exactly that, unfortunately Eddie has no clue, doesn't seem aligned with Australian rugby after being NH based for years, hasn't been observing Super Rugby closely enough judging by his selection of Hodge, Vunivalu, Hooper, Uelese, last week.

Interesting, I was also going to suggest Eddie might need to drop Quade…

 

[KOB1987]

This World Cup cycle is largely a write off so on one hand it makes sense to start thinking ahead to 2025 and bring more of the next gen into the system. On the other hand, the thing that keeps us alive is the piss weak pool we have managed to jag in the World Cup, and if we are able to coordinate things such that we maintain possession and also make our tackles in the same game, and land a refereeing panel that doesn’t hate us as much as the other team we might actually make it to the quarters, and unbelievably a semi is not out of the question. Plus it could be counterproductive longer term to throw a few debutantes in ahead of a couple of Bledisloes.

 

[Joe Blow]

Bring on Flook. There is no reason not to. We have already lost out first two games. Flook is not going to be the difference for losing the next game against the All Blacks.

He looked good in his short time in the A game and has always looked assured, popping up in the right places both sides of the ball.

 

[rodha]

This World Cup cycle is largely a write off so on one hand it makes sense to start thinking ahead to 2025

Well that's not a great admission right now is it? Considering how things were building so very nicely under Rennie. McLennan spat the dummy I would suggest, see the problem with Eddie Jones, he's the type of coach who comes in to detonate everything and start all over again, unfortunately a 'great reset' was the last thing this team needed. They needed alignment and continuity going into 2023. All the structures and systems that Rennie had bedded-in over the last 3 years were showing us very promising pictures indeed.

C team beating Wales and coming within 1 point of France and Ireland, number 1 & 2 in the world respectively. Fisher was a huge loss, the Wallabies under Rennie/Fisher looked like genuine world cup contenders with an injury plagued team during the latter half of 2022 - toppled South Africa in Adelaide, oversaw three incredibly heroic fighting single point losses to rugby heavy-weights NZ, Ireland and France - and you could argue they were lost due to officiating error.

 

[KOB1987]

Well that's not a great admission right now is it? Considering how things were building so very nicely under Rennie. McLennan spat the dummy I would suggest, see the problem with Eddie Jones, he's the type of coach who comes in to detonate everything and start all over again, unfortunately a 'great reset' was the last thing this team needed. They needed alignment and continuity going into 2023. All the structures and systems that Rennie had bedded-in over the last 3 years were showing us very promising pictures indeed.

C team beating Wales and coming within 1 point of France and Ireland, number 1 & 2 in the world respectively. Fisher was a huge loss, the Wallabies under Rennie/Fisher looked like genuine world cup contenders with an injury plagued team during the latter half of 2022 - toppled South Africa in Adelaide, oversaw three incredibly heroic fighting single point losses to rugby heavy-weights NZ, Ireland and France - and you could argue they were lost due to officiating error.

If you think the Rennie Wallabies were going to elevate from the worst win/loss ratio ever, throw in a few worst losses ever BTW, to world champions, you are dreaming my friend.

 

[dusk]

He looked good in his short time in the A game and has always looked assured, popping up in the right places both sides of the ball.

He always seems to be in the Right place at the Right time, it's not a coincidence, he's a very smart and talented prospect.

 

[Froggy]

I really don't want to see Kerevi at 13. Cheika played him there and he was all at sea in defence, and the same happened last night. Keep him at 12! IMO the choice for 13 lies between Foketi, Flook and Perese, or perhaps Petaia if he's fit, but I'd rather seem him off the bench first start. Although I'm a Tahs fan, I think Perese's defence isn't up to test standard (he tackles fine, but he gets out of position a lot), so either Flook, who looks very solid at Super level but hasn't been tested at this level, or Foketi, who did play mostly 12 this year but has played a lot of 13, and may possibly be a bit stronger in attack than Flook.

 

[eastman]

And your reply is a juvenile reply. Where he ends up either centre or fullback, you don't have a clue. The idea remains valid that a guy like him with his size, speed and strength will not be an outside centre is well within reason. If he ends up playing there you will just be a part of the cheer/jeer squad. Your ability to ID talent is no better than seeing whats at the end of your nose.

Ever since you’ve joined this forum you’ve been pretty quick to criticise but sensitive yourself.

If you understood anything about backline players you’d realize that he doesn’t have the awareness (both defensive and with his options in attack) nor attacking style (tendency to try and always go outside players) to play outside centre at the highest level. He‘s a good talent and suited to wing and potentially eventually 15.

Looking forward to hearing more analysis from the 1960s like ‘they need more mongrel and hit more rucks’.

 

[qwerty51]

I really don't want to see Kerevi at 13. Cheika played him there and he was all at sea in defence, and the same happened last night. Keep him at 12! IMO the choice for 13 lies between Foketi, Flook and Perese, or perhaps Petaia if he's fit, but I'd rather seem him off the bench first start. Although I'm a Tahs fan, I think Perese's defence isn't up to test standard (he tackles fine, but he gets out of position a lot), so either Flook, who looks very solid at Super level but hasn't been tested at this level, or Foketi, who did play mostly 12 this year but has played a lot of 13, and may possibly be a bit stronger in attack than Flook.

Spot on with everything here. I like Flook but hard to debut at 13 against a roaring NZ backline, safe option would be Foketi at 13 I feel.

 

[NCT]

So do they persist with Kerevi and allow him to get back up to speed in test matches? He looked all over the place in defence last night, and yes he was playing 13 but it's not like normally he is in the forwards and got chucked into the backs. Just seemed all over the place, which a player of his experience shouldn't be. Put Flook into 13 but maybe other options at 12?

 

[qwerty51]

The RWC is the aim (although Eddie did say Bled too but that looks gone). We need Skelton, Quade, Arnold, Kerevi, Bell and Tupou playing as much as possible. There's only 3 games + Georgia/Fiji until Wales.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I would normally agree that the World Cup is no hope this year, but we have been given a dream draw so that is our only positive that we could get it all together and at least make a semi and then who knows

But like others have said, we have had 3 good coaches and results haven’t changed, we have 5 super rugby teams and only one is consistently good so yes the problem is the quality of the players available, we are just not good enough.

 

[qwerty51]

I think people need to relax, I still think it's too early to evaluate Eddie/the team. They now get 2 weeks at home to prepare, players are coming back and been in the environment for a bit now. The next 2 performances will tell us our chances at the RWC. I don't care too much about the last 2 results, we were up against settled coaches and teams.

 

[Marce]

Eddie has no clue, doesn't seem aligned with Australian rugby after being NH based for years, hasn't been observing Super Rugby closely enough judging by his selection of Hodge, Vunivalu, Hooper, Uelese, last week.

I dont think so. That's the roster he has. He can't pick Bundee Aki or Rieko Ioane. Has you seen Super Rugby? All Aussie teams suck, Brumbies was the best and almost all the team has been selected

 

[Marce]

Banks broke his arm again.

Call him:

 

[Marce]

I think people need to relax, I still think it's too early to evaluate Eddie/the team. They now get 2 weeks at home to prepare, players are coming back and been in the environment for a bit now. The next 2 performances will tell us our chances at the RWC. I don't care too much about the last 2 results, we were up against settled coaches and teams.

I'd like to have your calm. Maybe just maybe the WBs lose 5 in a row just to set the team for the RWC and then win 7 in straight and lift the trophy

 

[Backintheolddays]

Is Max Jorgensen injured? Surprised his name not coming up. Not big but safe and smart at the back. I’d be investing there.

 

[HogansHeros]

Is Max Jorgensen injured? Surprised his name not coming up. Not big but safe and smart at the back. I’d be investing there.

Injured

 

[stillmissit]

Ok in the games I've seen him play, but not so good that he'd be pushing for a return to international honors and definitely not as a o/s exception. If he was to return to Super Rugby maybe he could make a case, but I suspect his window has closed now with the next generation likely to be pushing for the FB spot after this RWC.

I am thinking that a sub standard Maddocks will be better than anyone we currently have. It is of course academic, as an O/S pick it won't happen.