Wallabies 2024

[rugbyAU]

"Lack of Australian presence in the finals ".

Brumbies have played finals every year since 2014, except 2018. Steve Larkham coach 2014 - 2017, 2023, and Dan McKellar 2018 - 2022. Bernie hasn't yet missed making the finals. Now, there's a presence.

Never been in a GF though in past 9 years and where have the other Aussie teams been at the deep end?

 

[Members Section]

Ikitau & Neville both started. Agreed Lonergan was great off the bench, which is why I never understood him being "too small" this year when he wasn't last year

He's always been too small, doesn't win contact at international level

 

[Slim 293]

Ikitau & Neville both started. Agreed Lonergan was great off the bench, which is why I never understood him being "too small" this year when he wasn't last year

I wasn’t really referring to Neville…

Ikitau started, and Samu and Lonergan both came off the bench, but all three had a big role in that victory.

 

[Slim 293]

He's always been too small, doesn't win contact at international level

I feel that’s one of those copy and pasted opinions, that’s not entirely true…

 

[Tomthumb]

He's always been too small, doesn't win contact at international level

Totally disagree, he's not a battering ram but his footwork makes him highly effective

"Too small" always seems to ignore the fact Ardie Savea & Kwagga Smith are two of the most effective forwards on the planet. And Michael Hooper was hardly a giant

 

[Slim 293]

On paper, he’s also “bigger” than the Bok’s starting hooker from the weekend…

But bigger isn’t always better… just look at the Wallabies.

 

[Derpus]

I feel that’s one of those copy and pasted opinions, that’s not entirely true…

This obsession with sizes is highly indicative of mental incapacity IMO. Best player in the world right now is tiny by number 8 standards. Best winger weighs 75kg.

You need some big lads but not every player needs to be big.

 

[Highlander35]

Certainly not every player needs to be huge and sometimes it's to detriment, but tight 5 players in particular seem to be getting physically monstrous.

 

[Slim 293]

And we probably could’ve done with more than one player out there who provided pressure at the breakdown… like every other nation…

It’s all pretty irrelevant anyways as I’m sure he, and anyone else, still would’ve looked lost out there in Eddie’s 4D play.

 

[stillmissit]

No decent lineout options with Bobby V at 6, even though La Rochelle proved what an effective weapon Skelton is yet we refuse to use it. Hooper/Leota allow for another one.

Wilson and Hooper are reasonable options in the lineout as is Wright. If it was Hooper 8. Wright 7 and Valetini 6 I argue that our lineout options would be greater...

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Hooper isn't an 8. You need someone that can get moving off the back of a scrum immediately.

There are some blokes we have to work around to solve the supposed line out problem and Valetini is one of them. He has consistently been one of the Wallabies best in sides going backwards. He and Bell carried the pack.

 

[Derpus]

And we probably could’ve done with more than one player out there who provided pressure at the breakdown… like every other nation…

It’s all pretty irrelevant anyways as I’m sure he, and anyone else, still would’ve looked lost out there in Eddie’s 4D play.

Maaaate while we are all playing checkers Eddie is playing ultimate frisbee with a dog.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

 

[Tomthumb]

Hooper isn't an 8. You need someone that can get moving off the back of a scrum immediately.

There are some blokes we have to work around to solve the supposed line out problem and stuffing Valetini is one of them. He has consistently been one of the Wallabies best in sides going backwards. He and Bell carried the pack.

True although having watched the number 8's in the QF, Valetini's lack of footwork into contact is glaring in comparison. He just runs straight into people, much like Harry Wilson, and international defenses are too good for that

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I don't see an 8 in Aus that offers what other have so I still think he's our best option. He might go straight but he often makes meters. Defensively he is putting good contact in also.

 

[rugbyAU]

I honestly don’t know why Wilson didn’t get a look in at least for the TRC sure he dosent make enough post contact metres and fitness could be better but his work ethic, defence etc are all good

I’d look at him, Valetini & Gleeson before considering Hooper at 8

 

[Tomthumb]

I don't see an 8 in Aus that offers what other have so I still think he's our best option. He might go straight but he often makes meters. Defensively he is putting good contact in also.

Oh I agree he's our best. But he could be so much better with ball in hand. He's got the talent

He makes meters, but it often leads to slow ruck ball as he doesn't attack weak shoulders. If he did he could be as good as anyone in the world

 

[stillmissit]

I suspect Hooper will be as good (or better) an 8 as Valetini and I have always thought V was a better 6 than an 8. Jed Holloway was an excellent 8 forced into the row and then as a 6. We need to use players where they are best and not use them to fill holes.

 

[stillmissit]

I honestly don’t know why Wilson didn’t get a look in at least for the TRC sure he dosent make enough post contact metres and fitness could be better but his work ethic, defence etc are all good

I’d look at him, Valetini & Gleeson before considering Hooper at 8

Gleeson is only a 7 option at the international level, he runs like an RL player with little smarts about him. Hooper has more upside and Wilson is the better 8 atm. Agree re his weaknesses though and would like to see him progessing faster rather than learning how to run like Bobby V./

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

So you're saying he has the ability to use some late footwork and actually execute the draw & pass unlike any of our current pack?

Wilson still has a really high ceiling to his play. Hoping a change in coach (not saying Thorn was a problem) might be a bit of a restart for him.