Wallabies 2024

[Yoda]

Nobody is suggesting shoehorning a player in, Burke, Mortlock and Eales weren't exactly shoehorned in. I'm just making the point that it shouldn't necessarily be Gordon who has to kick goals, and it doesn't make him ineligible to be our 10 because he's not a goal-kicker. For example, if we were to pick Ryan Lonergan at 9 (who would be my first choice at this point of time) hew can kick goals.

Agree that the 10 doesn’t always have to kick. Lonergan looks well positioned going forward and was definitely shafted in not being picked for the World Cup. That being said in the Australian A side it wasn’t as though he was outstanding and kicked at 100%.

 

[fatprop]

Bell? Valetini? Frost?

Valetini doesn't dominate at test level, he is a solid test player at best, but so far his quality at Super Rugby level hasn't been delivered at test level

 

[Slim 293]

Valetini doesn't dominate at test level, he is a solid test player at best, but so far his quality at Super Rugby level hasn't been delivered at test level

I don't think he had a good test year, this year... the prior two years he was pretty good.

 

[Dctarget]

Valetini doesn't dominate at test level, he is a solid test player at best, but so far his quality at Super Rugby level hasn't been delivered at test level

Yeah I was quietly disappointed with him this year, didn't have his past impacts. Was always dealt with easily and didn't hit notably hard in defence.

 

[Slim 293]

I thought that with the exception of Bell, Skelton and Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase), no one had a glowing test season.

 

[fatprop]

I don't think he had a good test year, this year... the prior two years he was pretty good.

Agreed, pretty good and the best 6/8 selection we have, but he isn't "dominating" at test level

 

[Yoda]

My wishful thinking for next year.

Lonergan and Lolesio Wallaby 9&10 providing the combination from their playing at the Brumbies. Tate to come on in the last 20 for maximum chaos.

Not sure. Let’s wait and see. Noah will have to improve a fair bit to nail Test 10 jersey. Has had 17 tests… Maybe his French stint has helped? Keen to see Ryan go next year as I thought he was shafted big time on a spot for RWC . Especially since he was in all the camps.

 

[Yoda]

Not bad Lolesio will be our 2nd best 10 now and he’s a solid goal kicker they’ll be obviously playing together in a likely successful brumbies side that should make final 4 again next year, and Lonergan starting, Tate off the bench works well

Second best 10? In your opinion. He’ll be lucky to get starting gig ahead of Debreczini at the Wild Horses!

 

[eastman]

Agreed, pretty good and the best 6/8 selection we have, but he isn't "dominating" at test level

He seemed to regress this year, regardless I think we have tended overuse him- especially as a running option off the lineout.

If he added a little variation to his game (basically some passing) and more footwork in contact- he could be world class.

 

[whitefalcon]

He seemed to regress this year, regardless I think we have tended overuse him- especially as a running option off the lineout.

If he added a little variation to his game (basically some passing) and more footwork in contact- he could be world class.

Teams know what we are going to do with Valetini off the lineout so they know how to defend him now.

We've been using him to crash it up in the 10 channel for too long.

 

[stillmissit]

Without trying to belittle the need to improve the pack, a good halfback can still look good when the pack is getting beaten up. Exhibit 1: Ken Catchpole played behind beaten packs for much of his career but still looked great. His ability to clean up shit ball and hit his 10 with it accurately was legendary. Sadly most of you have never seen him, but 50+ years later I still remember him.

I saw replays of the last couple of years he played and the story of his groin getting torn by Colin Meads was a rallying cry for a while against the AB's.
He and Farr-Jones are the best 9's I've seen, Gregan was kept on too long when Chris Whittaker was better than him.

 

[Slim 293]

Gregan was kept on too long when Chris Whittaker was better than him.

Whittaker was certainly much better at keeping the bench warm...

 

[stillmissit]

Yeah I was quietly disappointed with him this year, didn't have his past impacts. Was always dealt with easily and didn't hit notably hard in defence.

BobbyV has always hit the opposition too high.

 

[stillmissit]

Whittaker was certainly much better at keeping the bench warm...

Did you watch the Tahs V Brumbies game where Whittaker played all over Gregan and still warmed the bench thanks to Eddie.

They didn't call him 'Splinters' for nothing.

 

[Slim 293]

Did you watch the Tahs V Brumbies game where Whittaker played all over Gregan and still warmed the bench thanks to Eddie.

Hmmmmm... don't think so?

It definitely wasn't a finals game.

 

[wamberal99]

I saw replays of the last couple of years he played and the story of his groin getting torn by Colin Meads was a rallying cry for a while against the AB's.
He and Farr-Jones are the best 9's I've seen, Gregan was kept on too long when Chris Whittaker was better than him.

I was at the game when Catchy was maimed. If something like that happened today the offending player would probably be banned for life.

 

[KOB1987]

McKellar was already an assistant in this position and was passed over for Jones, he then got offered a head coach role overseas that is much better than sitting as an assistant to Jones.

If he does well there, he can apply for the position in 5 years. Although there was some Num nuts saying that Jones is to be sacked and Morgan Turinui was to lead the charge in a worldwide search for a coach.

... I suspect Jones ain't going nowhere at least for 12 months..

How is this numnut looking so far?

 

[Shuteshieldfan]

What are some way too early predictions for what our 1st XV will be for the first test next year?

 

[Slim 293]

Rugby News: 'Men don't cry' - Wallabies legend's saddest outburst yet, plans revealed for Club World Cup

He is undisputedly one of the greatest rugby players Australia has ever produced but David Campese has been increasingly hitting "old man shouting at…

www.theroar.com.au

He is undisputedly one of the greatest rugby players Australia has ever produced but David Campese has been increasingly hitting “old man shouting at clouds” areas this year.

Rugby’s great rent-a-quote popped up during the World Cup in paid “exclusives” claiming Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick were killing rugby – that international rugby is a “joke” and a “farce” and generally moaning about the game that brought him his fortune.

Campo is at it again this week in another paid gig where he goes full dinosaur...

It's a shame when once great players seek to tarnish their reputations by descending into completely irrelevant flogs...

David Campese blasts weeping Wallabies: 'Men don't cry'

Australia rugby legend David Campese has lambasted Wallaby World Cup stars as cry babies in an uncensored, explosive interview.

www.cityam.com

“Men don’t cry. I am really sorry but I have never cried in my life. Yes, I was disappointed, I was pissed off that I lost, but we never cried.

“And then look at yourself on the big screen. Guys, really, you can have emotions if you win the World Cup. I have never cried because I have won a World Cup or lost [one].

“That’s me, I am old school. Get on with life. You’re there to do a job, you’re paid to do a job. It’s your job to go out there and do your best.”

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

Does any feel as if Rennie was the reason we saw a lot of players play really well and then play shit under Eddie?

I feel as though a lot of players wanted to play for Rennie, was one of his assets.