Wallabies 2024

[TSR]

I think it says more about how poor our depth at wing that we are even considering Flook, and have selected Pietsch.
Its not an exaggeration to say that neither would make any starting side of the NZ teams; we’re really missing Petaia.

I disagree on Flook.

 

[TSR]

And he’s a better winger than Josh Flook, especially considering the style of rugby they play.

But that’s part of the thing, right. The NZ wingers all have the benefit of playing on the end of NZ back lines and behind NZ forward packs which, regrettably are mostly a level above the Aussie sides at the moment. It’s a sum of all the parts thing. Flook is an excellent winger who happens to be preferred at 13 in the current set up.

 

[Derpus]

And he’s a better winger than Josh Flook, especially considering the style of rugby they play.

He is an awful winger. I question your judgment.

 

[TSR]

As an example look at how much better Chase Tiatia looked as a winger when he was at the Chiefs. Not to say he’s been bad at the Force, but IMO there is a significant difference

 

[fatprop]

As an example look at how much better Chase Tiatia looked as a winger when he was at the Chiefs. Not to say he’s been bad at the Force, but IMO there is a significant difference

That fits with the Bed Darwin model of cohesion and why so few ponies (for the aus example) demonstrate the same level quality when turning out for a shittier program

 

[WoodysRFC]

Highlanders maybe at best- he would not make any other teams (and we can do the exercise and list them too).

Nareki and Tavatavanawai, I doubt it.

 

[KOB1987]

I haven't been following Kerevi closely of late. How is he travelling? At 30/31 and with some of the injuries he's had, he is getting on somewhat.

I can't answer that, and it's not easy to find out. As someone else said Kerevi on one leg is better than some of those other options. Is he injury prone or was it just that one injury that kept him out for a while? He wasn't great for us last year but I'm inclined to put that down to coaching/game plan/environment.

 

[Tomikin]

Not to mention that the armchair pundits feel that they have more capacity to make an informed decision than a coach/coaching team who has been on the ground at many games, seen all the things we don't see on TV, spoken to their Super Rugby coaches and in the case of Schmidt is now involved in the process of selecting his third international squad having been in the Ireland and All Blacks setups. I don't know, I just suspect they might know what they're doing and why.

Bet you said the same about Eddie.. it's a forum we are allowed opinions.. and for what it's worth we can have different ones.

 

[emuarse]

What does this mean?

On the old hobby horse again KOB. For your edification, there are 10 Brumbies in the squad and I expect all 10 will be in the 23 for the first test.

My expected team for June 6 is:

Slipper, Faessler, AAA, Frost, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Valetini, McReight, Cale, White, Lolesio, Kellaway, Paisami, Ikitau, Daugunu, Wright.

Bench : Pollard, Hodgeman, Tupou, Smith, Hooper, McDermott, Donaldson, Flook

Interesting, not a single Tah and that's too many, but would you believe 23 Wallabies.

I can't help thinking that Reds coach Les Kiss & Joe Schmidt have coached together previously.
That Kiss's style of coaching would be similar to Schmidt's with a northern hemisphere flavour.
Kiss has done very well with what he had to work with in the Red's this year, beating the Chiefs 25 -19 in their round game,
just losing to the Hurricanes 38 -33, beating the Highlanders 41 - 0, and losing 41 - 34 to the Blues. No other Australian side has scored as many points against the Kiwi teams during the rounds. And going down to the Brumbies by just a point.
Schmidt would be impressed by these numbers against the Kiwi teams.
So he might well be wanting to maintain the nucleus of the Reds team who would be familiar with Schmidt's coaching style a` la the Kiss.

 

[Tomthumb]

I can't answer that, and it's not easy to find out. As someone else said Kerevi on one leg is better than some of those other options. Is he injury prone or was it just that one injury that kept him out for a while? He wasn't great for us last year but I'm inclined to put that down to coaching/game plan/environment.

He wasn’t just ‘not great’ last, he was diabolical

 

[stillmissit]

He wasn’t just ‘not great’ last, he was diabolical

I suspect he will still be there at some stage, assuming fitness.
I cannot imagine a better 12 at 30 should be at his peak.

 

[Yoda]

He is an awful winger. I question your judgment.

I seem to remember you had quite an unhinged view of young Donaldson and how hopeless he was. “He’d be lucky to be a 4th grader” ! Not one, not two but now 3 Wallaby coaches have selected him to play at the highest level. Many would question your rugby iq and judgement. Love the Derps!

 

[molman]

I can't answer that, and it's not easy to find out. As someone else said Kerevi on one leg is better than some of those other options. Is he injury prone or was it just that one injury that kept him out for a while? He wasn't great for us last year but I'm inclined to put that down to coaching/game plan/environment.

I don't disagree that Kerevi is genuinely world class when he is fit and on his game. But it's been awhile since I've seen him deliver one of those performances, so was curious where he's at atm.

 

[capalaba]

Jake is one of the correct picks. I wouldn’t have Pietsch there, and 50/50 on Gleeson.

Pietsch gives us some physicality in an otherwise small backline. He does have some toe and can finish. Daugunu also gives us some size.

 

[fatprop]

Jake is one of the correct picks. I wouldn’t have Pietsch there, and 50/50 on Gleeson.

Pietsch has a very solid workrate - he works hard off the ball and defends quite effectively

I agree on Gleeson, run will into brick walls all day, when he catches the ball

 

[Yoda]

Pietsch has a very solid workrate - he works hard off the ball and defends quite effectively

Needs an in and away or some swerving in his game. Still remember how easy Carter Gordon took him over the touch line on his long run down the sideline for what seemed a certain try. Young Ryan would have put Gordon off with some jinking. Just saying.

 

[molman]

Bet you said the same about Eddie.. it's a forum we are allowed opinions.. and for what it's worth we can have different ones.

I get it @Tomikin. It's a forum where people chew to fat and put forward assertions on this or that.

As for Eddie, I think I may have called Eddies RWC squad interesting or something to that effect. I hardly had a lot of confidence after the internationals/TRC leading into the RWC, but his earlier squads up to that point were hardly all that left field sans Vunivalu which like most I couldn't work out why he was included.

 

[fatprop]

Needs an in and away or some swerving in his game. Still remember how easy Carter Gordon took him over the touch line on his long run down the sideline for what seemed a certain try. Young Ryan would have put Gordon off with some jinking. Just saying.

I don't think he thought Gordon was going to get near him, happy to see someone better run out, but whoever is picked has to be prepared to chase kicks hard, defend hard and work hard to be an option for the kick receiver in counter

 

[Yoda]

I don't think he thought Gordon was going to get near him, happy to see someone better run out, but whoever is picked has to be prepared to chase kicks hard, defend hard and work hard to be an option for the kick receiver in counter

A good winger puts doubt in the defender’s mind. Especially in the play I was describing.

 

[Tomikin]

I don't disagree that Kerevi is genuinely world class when he is fit and on his game. But it's been awhile since I've seen him deliver one of those performances, so was curious where he's at atm.

He was coming back from major injury...