Wallabies 2024

[eastman]

I don't understand how one of our centres is up for grabs and the other is rusted on as far as those here are concerned. From what I've watched they have both been average and they should be looking over their shoulders at the next guys coming through.
Granted Paisami should be looking harder.

Ikitau doesn’t make 4 mistakes a game, and is occasionally threatening with the ball.

There’s a clear difference.

 

[stillmissit]

I think Ikitau's been pretty solid, by far our best option at 13

Oops! misread Wright for Ikitau.

Please let's not attack the best back we have atm.

 

[Tomikin]

Neither of us knows, I did watch him in a couple of games late last year and he looked like a decent FB which Wright is not, a great attacking player but not a FB's backside.

Lol still picking Kellaway champ..

 

[Slim 293]

Nic Bishop quite scathing of Harry Wilson over at Rugbypass:

Does Joe Schmidt need to change his Wallabies captain?

Harry Wilson has handled the role with admirable maturity, but may not be guaranteed a starting spot.

www.rugbypass.com

Flip the coin over, and doubts remain over his ability as the primary first-wave carrier and his positioning in defence. Wilson does not puncture the line often enough and his hands can be suspect. On defence he is an excellent hitter but not a great mover.

It's probably reaching that point where Schmidt will want to settle on a full time captain.

McReight is probably the best option, and I'd rather not see Valetini coming off with 20mins to go.

 

[stillmissit]

Lol still picking Kellaway champ..

Kellaway is the better FB than Wrght but doesn't bring the attacking flair BUT Maddocks is a real FB and Wright ain't and never will be.

 

[stillmissit]

Nic Bishop quite scathing of Harry Wilson over at Rugbypass:

Does Joe Schmidt need to change his Wallabies captain?

Harry Wilson has handled the role with admirable maturity, but may not be guaranteed a starting spot.

www.rugbypass.com

It's probably reaching that point where Schmidt will want to settle on a full time captain.

McReight is probably the best option, and I'd rather not see Valetini coming off with 20mins to go.

We need to focus on our 80min players and Bobby V is one of those along with Ikitau. I hope Bell also becomes one.
Agree with bolded.

 

[Tomthumb]

The more I watch Ikitau the more I believe he should be moved into 12. Has all the tools and would solve a huge issue

 

[drewprint]

Nic Bishop quite scathing of Harry Wilson over at Rugbypass:

Does Joe Schmidt need to change his Wallabies captain?

Harry Wilson has handled the role with admirable maturity, but may not be guaranteed a starting spot.

www.rugbypass.com

It's probably reaching that point where Schmidt will want to settle on a full time captain.

McReight is probably the best option, and I'd rather not see Valetini coming off with 20mins to go.

It’s a fair analysis. Some clearly poor defensive choices made. I really like Wilson but I’ve generally been keen on having Hooper at #6 instead. But Williams pushed out to #6 if Skelton is brought in makes sense too.

 

[Tomthumb]

Kellaway is the better FB than Wrght but doesn't bring the attacking flair BUT Maddocks is a real FB and Wright ain't and never will be.

No.

 

[cyclopath]

I think Kellaway might be better as a fullback than as a winger.
However, I don't think he is better than Wright in either position, currently. Different question, maybe, if he was in the form he showed a couple of years ago in Tests, but he has been well down on that form lately.

 

[eastman]

There was some chat here about JS playing 12. But if I look at Ikitau’s attributes compared to the chosen one; he seems more like an inside centre to me.

He has a short passing game, a good left foot boot and is relatively robust in traffic. If anyone watched JS in his union days, he wasn’t exactly running strong lines and getting over the advantage line.

 

[Dctarget]

The more I watch Ikitau the more I believe he should be moved into 12. Has all the tools and would solve a huge issue

Really? I think he needs the extra space at 13 to get to the defender's vulnerable shoulder. Don't think he's got the acceleration or power for 12 (or even the distribution).

 

[eastman]

Nic Bishop quite scathing of Harry Wilson over at Rugbypass:

Does Joe Schmidt need to change his Wallabies captain?

Harry Wilson has handled the role with admirable maturity, but may not be guaranteed a starting spot.

www.rugbypass.com

It's probably reaching that point where Schmidt will want to settle on a full time captain.

McReight is probably the best option, and I'd rather not see Valetini coming off with 20mins to go.

None of our back row are athletic enough to be world class to be honest, and Wilson is the least athletic of the bunch.

Sititi showed more in one game then Wilson has in five seasons.

 

[Derpus]

Nic Bishop quite scathing of Harry Wilson over at Rugbypass:

Does Joe Schmidt need to change his Wallabies captain?

Harry Wilson has handled the role with admirable maturity, but may not be guaranteed a starting spot.

www.rugbypass.com

It's probably reaching that point where Schmidt will want to settle on a full time captain.

McReight is probably the best option, and I'd rather not see Valetini coming off with 20mins to go.

Wilson is definitely good for at least one knock on per game.

 

[Dctarget]

Nic Bishop quite scathing of Harry Wilson over at Rugbypass:

Does Joe Schmidt need to change his Wallabies captain?

Harry Wilson has handled the role with admirable maturity, but may not be guaranteed a starting spot.

www.rugbypass.com

It's probably reaching that point where Schmidt will want to settle on a full time captain.

McReight is probably the best option, and I'd rather not see Valetini coming off with 20mins to go.

That's really grim reading. I really like Harry but the four dropped carries and the defensive misreads, even before you get to his lack of post contact metres, is undefendable.

 

[Derpus]

There was some chat here about JS playing 12. But if I look at Ikitau’s attributes compared to the chosen one; he seems more like an inside centre to me.

He has a short passing game, a good left foot boot and is relatively robust in traffic. If anyone watched JS in his union days, he wasn’t exactly running strong lines and getting over the advantage line.

JS would be defending and running a crash ball from 12. If we were setting up to distribute wider you'd expect Wright to step in.

I doubt we'll see JS at 12 though.

 

[Backintheolddays]

I sympathise with the coaches, who do they build a team around. I’m quick to criticise but the reality is the talent bubbling up to put pressure on isn’t there.
None of our starters in any position would get a look in at a top tier nation. Not one. That is a damning indictment on the state of the game.
Joe has two options, go all out attack or build the foundations and focus on no mistake footy. Think he has gone the latter but the cattle are not executing.
Wright for all his attacking talent ( and is exciting to watch) continues to make poor decisions and gets in the way with tight carries which helps his stats but puts the team on the back foot.
Similarly Wilson has awesome ticker but frankly is not test standard, regardless of the stats. I question the effectiveness of his carries and tackles despite the high volume. He isn’t worrying opponents.
Joe has a tough gig and I do not see the decision making at the top of the tree improving anything for the next generation.
I despise private equity but see as the only long term solution to get the numbers back into grass roots.

 

[Tomthumb]

Really? I think he needs the extra space at 13 to get to the defender's vulnerable shoulder. Don't think he's got the acceleration or power for 12 (or even the distribution).

Ikitau has great distribution skills, a big boot and the ability to have quick feet in close quarter scenarios

I think we worry too much about 12's being battering rams. The role is really getting over the advantage line, and Ikitau can do that with the best of them

 

[stillmissit]

I sympathise with the coaches, who do they build a team around. I’m quick to criticise but the reality is the talent bubbling up to put pressure on isn’t there.
None of our starters in any position would get a look in at a top tier nation. Not one. That is a damning indictment on the state of the game.
Joe has two options, go all out attack or build the foundations and focus on no mistake footy. Think he has gone the latter but the cattle are not executing.
Wright for all his attacking talent ( and is exciting to watch) continues to make poor decisions and gets in the way with tight carries which helps his stats but puts the team on the back foot.
Similarly Wilson has awesome ticker but frankly is not test standard, regardless of the stats. I question the effectiveness of his carries and tackles despite the high volume. He isn’t worrying opponents.
Joe has a tough gig and I do not see the decision making at the top of the tree improving anything for the next generation.
I despise private equity but see as the only long term solution to get the numbers back into grass roots.

Agree with all of this apart from PE.

 

[Wilson]

Does Swinton get a clean slate by switching competitions? Or is it all linked up?

It's supposed to carry over, I'm sure at the very least the international ones do and you can't do tackle twice for a reduction.