Wallabies 2024

[Tomthumb]

20% for 2023
0% v tier 1
3 heavy defeats from 7 tier 1
First loss to Fiji
First time not out of RWC pool
2023 is not very pretty though
No game plan

Yes, you're correct with most of that

I'd push back on the "no game plan" though. They had a plan, it was either executed horribly (see Fiji game) or completely ill advised (Wales game). With more time in the saddle I certainly believe they can win with it

You seem intent on believing Eddie is the worst coach in the history of Rugby

 

[Slim 293]

Eddie this year has won 2 out of 9 = 22% win record
Rennie in 2020 won 1 out of 6 = 17% win record.

Ah, but under Rennie they only lost a third of their games in 2020.

 

[Linerunner2023]

Eddie this year has won 2 out of 9 = 22% win record
Rennie in 2000 won 1 out of 6 = 17% win record.

Yep wins against Georgia and Portugal
Wow massive wins for the wallabies

 

[Wilson]

Ah, but under Rennie they only lost 50% of their games in 2020.

And spent a lot of time kissing their proverbial sisters

 

[Slim 293]

And spent a lot of time kissing their proverbial sisters

Well, 4/6 tests were against New Zealand…

And my maths is terrible as their losing record was only 33% that year.

 

[7137]

How are Italy Tier 1

Because Tier 1 isn’t defined by those things.

 

[rugbyAU]

Eddie this year has won 2 out of 9 = 22% win record
Rennie in 2000 won 1 out of 6 = 17% win record.

4/6 tests against NZ > 2 in NZ
3 draws
only 6 tests against 2 nations
Can't really compare

 

[RugbyReg]

4/6 tests against NZ > 2 in NZ
3 draws
only 6 tests against 2 nations
Can't really compare

yeah you can - you said "He has the worst record for a wallabies coach for a season" and point to his win %age.

Rennie's one is worse.

Not saying Eddie has killed it this year - just that Rennie's first year in charge was pretty shite too.

 

[Slim 293]

This is an interesting comparison that requires some unpacking...


Rennie's winning % in his first year is lower than Eddie's, but it certainly reads much better:

1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses v New Zealand
2 draws v Argentina (who also notched up a win against NZ)


Eddie this year:

1 win against Georgia and Portugal lol

2 losses against New Zealand

1 loss each against South Africa, Argentina, France, Fiji, and Wales



There's so many "what ifs" in there due to Covid limiting how much test rugby was played in 2020, and this year being a RWC year...

For instance, and this is a doozy...


Would Eddie have won a single game this year if it wasn't a RWC year?

Instead of facing more top tier teams on an EOYT, he had token minnow victories in a RWC pool... fairly unconvincing victories.

 

[noscrumnolife]

There's so many "what ifs" in there due to Covid limiting how much test rugby was played in 2020, and this year being a RWC year...

You can play what ifs with any result till kingdom come. The results are the results, and you can usually twist them to support whatever narrative you want.

It's why results based analysis is very incomplete. I think it was wrong to sack Rennie in the World Cup year. I also look at the team he wanted to play and think the Wallabies would have been in a worse place post 2023, with no better than a wholly underserved SF appearance to show for it, then when he took them on. Is that all his fault - absolutely not. But for the love of god, surely there is no more juice left to wring from the Eddie v Rennie comparisons.

 

[Linerunner2023]

This is an interesting comparison that requires some unpacking...


Rennie's winning % in his first year is lower than Eddie's, but it certainly reads much better:

1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses v New Zealand
2 draws v Argentina (who also notched up a win against NZ)


Eddie this year:

1 win against Georgia and Portugal lol

2 losses against New Zealand

1 loss each against South Africa, Argentina, France, Fiji, and Wales



There's so many "what ifs" in there due to Covid limiting how much test rugby was played in 2020, and this year being a RWC year...

For instance, and this is a doozy...


Would Eddie have won a single game this year if it wasn't a RWC year?

Instead of facing more top tier teams on an EOYT, he had token minnow victories in a RWC pool... fairly unconvincing victories.

That’s right if not for RWC Eddie would not have recorded a win

 

[Slim 293]

You can play what ifs with any result till kingdom come.

Thank you, I will…

 

[noscrumnolife]

Thank you, I will…

Ok, I'll play a what if. What if Karl Dickson didn't play a moronically long advantage in Bledisloe 2 this year? What if Quade hadn't made a dumb late shot v Argentina and gave them the penalty that walked them up the field to win the Test in Sydney? The comparisons would start to look very different.

But I don't do that, because it's silly and pointless. You can criticise Eddie, but you don't need to spin Rennie as this great coach who had the Wallabies absolutely humming in order to do so.

 

[fatprop]

bang on - and we have Tupou and Bell really only. Frost with an off-season in the gym and on BokPills. Valetini perhaps.

Looking further afield I think there is potential with:

- Josh Nasser
- Harry Wilson (but needs a harder edge to his game)
- Langi Gleeson
- Lachie Lonergan
- Hooper (see Frost)
- Pone (but with minutes under his belt which he likely won't get)
- Eloff maybe
- LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
- Vaiolini Ekuasi (when / if eligible)
- Leafi Talataina
- Siosifa Amone
- Felix Kalapu
- Jeremy Williams maybe

They mostly look under muscled and carrying too much body fat, they all need more work in the gym and less time in the kitchen, and I include the backs in this

We need units who can dominate contact, get up, rinse and repeat

 

[Tomthumb]

they all need more work in the gym

Nah, they need more work on the field. I'm sure Pone and Nongorr can squat a ton but they cant prop a clothesline. Skill, technique & nous is what we need, not a generation of power lifters

 

[Agent]

Very few of our squad will come out of the RWC 'smelling like roses', but I think a few players will. What does everyone else think and who are the players on the rise?

I'll answer my own question by saying Bell and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase).

 

[Sword of Justice]

Very few of our squad will come out of the RWC 'smelling like roses', but I think a few players will. What does everyone else think and who are the players on the rise?

I'll answer my own question by saying Bell and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase).

McReight is one I'd say. It's just about balance in the pack. With that he could be a world beater.

I'll say Porecki didn't disgrace himself by any means either. Possibly under the radar developing really nicely even if he'll never be in a world xv.

 

[noscrumnolife]

Very few of our squad will come out of the RWC 'smelling like roses', but I think a few players will. What does everyone else think and who are the players on the rise?

I'll answer my own question by saying Bell and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase).

Vunivalu, funnily enough. I remain unconvinced he's worth ploughing resources into. But he's certainly improved a lot.

 

[LeCheese]

Very few of our squad will come out of the RWC 'smelling like roses', but I think a few players will. What does everyone else think and who are the players on the rise?

I'll answer my own question by saying Bell and Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase).

For mine, stocks have risen (in varying degrees) for:
- Bell
- Mark N (Nawaqanitawase)
- McReight
- Vunivalu
- IFL
- Donaldson
- Perese
- T Hooper
- Valetini
- Skelton

 

[rugbyAU]

McReight is one I'd say. It's just about balance in the pack. With that he could be a world beater.

I'll say Porecki didn't disgrace himself by any means either. Possibly under the radar developing really nicely even if he'll never be in a world xv.

Porecki was solid sure, but not test quality, none of our hookers are other than BPA

McReight definitely good always tries hard, but needs more turnovers and a bit small. Would be good to see Gleeson get a look it at 7