Wallabies 2024

[JRugby2]

View attachment 20856

Iain has been reading my posts.

If this is the case and he goes to the wing - which of Jorgo or Kellaway gets the flight to Toulon/ Tokyo?

Kellaway clearly has an outstanding rugby brain and great decision making but some of his skill execution has let him down.

 

[Tomthumb]

Its hard to think of a time when our coaching stocks across the Super Rugby teams have been better.

Yeah, although none of them have really won anything

 

[Wilson]

If this is the case and he goes to the wing - which of Jorgo or Kellaway gets the flight to Toulon/ Tokyo?

Kellaway clearly has an outstanding rugby brain and great decision making but some of his skill execution has let him down.

It'd probably mean Jorgensen gets a bit more time to develop before being required too much a test level (which is set to happen anyway when a bunch of others return from injury). A back 3 of Kellway, Sua'ali'i and Wright looks pretty lethal, with all three being able to offer something at fullback when required and good utility to cover into the centres in case of injury. We haven't seen it yet, but I also wonder if Sua'ali'i might have the long kicking game we're looking for at the moment, at least off penalty clearances initially.

Long term though I have a feeling Wright is the one we'll struggle to keep in Australia. He's been on the scene for a while now and this year will really be driving up what he can ask for. I fear he'll soon be getting an offer that's too good to refuse, ala Tom Banks.

 

[Derpus]

If this is the case and he goes to the wing - which of Jorgo or Kellaway gets the flight to Toulon/ Tokyo?

Kellaway clearly has an outstanding rugby brain and great decision making but some of his skill execution has let him down.

Skill execution? Are you referring to the one pass he put down under pressure when we were chasing the game against Ireland?

He would probably go to the left wing which is where most teams put their strike/roaming winger. Jorgo to bench works for me.

The main flaw with the plan is that we don't have the centres for it.

 

[JRugby2]

Long term though I have a feeling Wright is the one we'll struggle to keep in Australia. He's been on the scene for a while now and this year will really be driving up what he can ask for. I fear he'll soon be getting an offer that's too good to refuse, ala Tom Banks.

I suppose the clear difference to me between the Wright and Banks arcs is that Banks never had the break out year in the Wallabies jersey that Wright has just had - and so when Banks got the monster offer, RA probably didn't see the value in matching.

 

[Derpus]

Wright looked more dangerous this year than Banks ever managed.

 

[Wilson]

I suppose the clear difference to me between the Wright and Banks arcs is that Banks never had the break out year in the Wallabies jersey that Wright has just had - and so when Banks got the monster offer, RA probably didn't see the value in matching.

Oh he absolutely looks better off this most recent season then Banks ever did, but Banks apparently got an offer of 1.4m per year, I don't think RA would be willing to match that if Wright was offered it. There's absolutely more to it than just money, but other factors can only make up so much of the gap.

Kerevi is probably the other good comparison - When he first left in 2019 RA offered him $800k per season compared to $1.2 million in Japan. At his most recent negotiations in 2023 it was $1 million from RA, compared to the Japanese deal he ended up signing that was more like $1.5 million. That's the sort of gap I expect Wright might be dealing with next contract negotiation. Takes a hell of a lot of extras to make up half a million per year.

 

[Brumby Runner]

No problem with critiquing. But that wasn't critiquing, that was criticising.

What did I say that's got so far up your nose? I acknowledged his strengths and noted that Ireland nullified them, which they did in spades. Others have (correctly) critiqued his tackling abilities and weaknesses, his positional play and his apparent lack of urgency in rejoining play. I don't take those comments as criticisms, but quite correctly identifying where he has to improve.

I rated him 3/10 as a test player. He has particular strengths and obvious weaknesses which any rational person would expect given where he has recently come from. I have no idea how he will go at Super Rugby level because he hasn't been exposed there yet. He has the opportunity next year to grow into the game and will undoubtedly be a better test player for that experience. But for the present, he is below par in the test arena. He is probably unfortunate at the moment that with Len Ikitau playing 12, we have no standout No 13s to take that spot and from whom he could learn the game.

I'm sorry if I hit a particularly sensitive spot with you but can only assume there must be a familial connection. Others who have responded just need to grow up, that means you D and Mr sarcasm himself, Pfitzy.

 

[JRugby2]

Oh he absolutely looks better off this most recent season then Banks ever did, but Banks apparently got an offer of 1.4m per year, I don't think RA would be willing to match that if Wright was offered it. There's absolutely more to it than just money, but other factors can only make up so much of the gap.

Kerevi is probably the other good comparison - When he first left in 2019 RA offered him $800k per season compared to $1.2 million in Japan. At his most recent negotiations in 2023 it was $1 million from RA, compared to the Japanese deal he ended up signing that was more like $1.5 million. That's the sort of gap I expect Wright might be dealing with next contract negotiation. Takes a hell of a lot of extras to make up half a million per year.

Can we offer him a Portuguese Chicken dinner at Hame's place?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Hopefully its just a case of a guy not being acutely aware of the language he's using and how it might be construed in the context of the story.

The only known facts are that his contract is up, he's deeply committed to his home life and that he's been loving his time in the wallabies set up.

Could go either way

He is also very comfortable in Ireland apparently and has a home and family there and more who are probably moving there soon. He has said he will discuss his future with his family. I would not be at all surprised if he decides to move permanently to Ireland. When is the question.

 

[Dctarget]

Oh he absolutely looks better off this most recent season then Banks ever did, but Banks apparently got an offer of 1.4m per year, I don't think RA would be willing to match that if Wright was offered it. There's absolutely more to it than just money, but other factors can only make up so much of the gap.

Kerevi is probably the other good comparison - When he first left in 2019 RA offered him $800k per season compared to $1.2 million in Japan. At his most recent negotiations in 2023 it was $1 million from RA, compared to the Japanese deal he ended up signing that was more like $1.5 million. That's the sort of gap I expect Wright might be dealing with next contract negotiation. Takes a hell of a lot of extras to make up half a million per year.

I would love the Japanese game to tank and those sweet yen to disappear. $1.5 mill to play for a disinterested audience is nuts.

 

[Derpus]

I would love the Japanese game to tank and those sweet yen to disappear. $1.5 mill to play for a disinterested audience is nuts.

Misconception of its purpose, though.

 

[Dctarget]

Misconception of its purpose, though.

A few more drug busts and the companies get sick of their honour being ruined by these gaijin addicts then

 

[Derpus]

A few more drug busts and the companies get sick of their honour being ruined by these gaijin addicts then

That sounds more likely to happen, yeah.

 

[Sully]

Re: Sua'ali'i
I think he has done pretty well for his first few games but I also think we will get a lot more from him once he gets used to playing both sides of the field. It obvious he is sticking to the right side while Loleseo and Ikitau are going where the weaknesses are.
The one time I did see him on the left was in support of Tupou for his break but his stayed in the wide channel where I thought he should have tried to get closer to give him an easier pass than the 15 metre one he was offering.
The Irish did a good job of shutting his offloads down and keeping him quiet but I think that will get harder as his feel for the game graws and he gets better.

 

[Pfitzy]

The one time I did see him on the left was in support of Tupou for his break but his stayed in the wide channel where I thought he should have tried to get closer to give him an easier pass than the 15 metre one he was offering.

Tupou should have given the ball to Williams straight away.

But yes, moving in for the pass or to support the potential ruck would also have helped.

 

[fatprop]

Did he actually win any high ball contests against Ireland? Sure, put pressure on the receiver, but I can't recall any forced dropped ball by the Irish. His high jumping/athleticism is his best attribute but the Irish were able to nullify it for the whole game. I wouldn't rate him more than a 3/10 overall, but with a season of Super Rugby under his belt, who knows? Maybe he should have had that season as his introduction before being thrown into the test cauldron.

He is never going to win most, but competitive kick chases are always a bonus for any team

 

[TSR]

He won the ball back off a kick directly before Jorgenson’s try.

 

[cyclopath]

What did I say that's got so far up your nose? I acknowledged his strengths and noted that Ireland nullified them, which they did in spades. Others have (correctly) critiqued his tackling abilities and weaknesses, his positional play and his apparent lack of urgency in rejoining play. I don't take those comments as criticisms, but quite correctly identifying where he has to improve.

I rated him 3/10 as a test player. He has particular strengths and obvious weaknesses which any rational person would expect given where he has recently come from. I have no idea how he will go at Super Rugby level because he hasn't been exposed there yet. He has the opportunity next year to grow into the game and will undoubtedly be a better test player for that experience. But for the present, he is below par in the test arena. He is probably unfortunate at the moment that with Len Ikitau playing 12, we have no standout No 13s to take that spot and from whom he could learn the game.

I'm sorry if I hit a particularly sensitive spot with you but can only assume there must be a familial connection. Others who have responded just need to grow up, that means you D and Mr sarcasm himself, Pfitzy.

I think this sort of comment is unnecessary, and ironic, given your tone about people who disagree with you needing to grow up.

 

[Derpus]

How was Sua'ali'i found out positionally? I don't recall a single break made by the Irish down the 13 channel. He also only missed one tackle (apparently, I didn't check).

I recall at least one occasion when he perfectly anticipated the play and cut down the receiving player behind the gainline. We defended almost perfectly across the board if you ask me.

And I, for one, don't mind a fractionally late hit on a playmaker as long as it's not with the intent to injure. Particularly when they get away with it.