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Wallabies 2025

Major Tom

Bob Davidson (42)
It doesn’t. Some of the Wallabies most clutch kickers of the pro era have been guys like Burke at 15, Flatley at 12 and nobody will forget Eales. Hooker doesn’t have to throw into the lineout either but as you come through now it’s an expectation of the position so a lot of guys who may be able to do it but play 13 shelve the skill.

It is important though and I can only imagine the diatribe on here if we said fuck it give a part timer a go then they miss a kick to win a Test.

There is also the aspect of having an elite kicker puts pressure on the opposition to not push it within 50 at ruck time because you may be punished. That opens up the attack for your side. No different in Cricket to knowing someone has a strong or weak arm and taking an extra single or saying no not worth the risk.
Well JOC (James O'Connor) missed those kicks against the spring boks soooo it’s not like we’re acing it atm.
Ultimately, if he doesn’t miss the kicks in front of goal (I think he missed a couple of them in the past) then I’m fine with him goal kicking.
Goal kicking is 1 aspect so I’m happy not to get carried away. What he lacks in goalkicking, he makes up with his defence and ball running.
I would have him on the bench for the spring tour which would allow us to go 6-2 if we wanted.
 

stillmissit

Jim Lenehan (48)
It doesn’t. Some of the Wallabies most clutch kickers of the pro era have been guys like Burke at 15, Flatley at 12 and nobody will forget Eales. Hooker doesn’t have to throw into the lineout either but as you come through now it’s an expectation of the position so a lot of guys who may be able to do it but play 13 shelve the skill.

It is important though and I can only imagine the diatribe on here if we said fuck it give a part timer a go then they miss a kick to win a Test.

There is also the aspect of having an elite kicker puts pressure on the opposition to not push it within 50 at ruck time because you may be punished. That opens up the attack for your side. No different in Cricket to knowing someone has a strong or weak arm and taking an extra single or saying no not worth the risk.
Agree, but it is a part of the expected skill set at 10 and I wonder if the coaches have others with a skill set to be practising it?
We have missed a few clutch kicks over the last few years, and most of us shrug and say it happens. Who can forget the long range kicks by Reece Hodge to win games, just missing the goal posts.
 

MarkJ

Jim Clark (26)
I reckon Schmidt values goal kicking, think it was a major reason why Noah appeared to be his preferred 10, and why Edmed is in favour now
 

TSR

Simon Poidevin (60)
I reckon Schmidt values goal kicking, think it was a major reason why Noah appeared to be his preferred 10, and why Edmed is in favour now
I’m pretty sure he came out and said exactly that. Pretty sure Lynagh is also on record as saying that after the 2024 Super Season one of Schmidt’s bits of feedback to him was his goal kicking needed to improve.
 

stillmissit

Jim Lenehan (48)
I hope we get smarter about when to take a kick at goal and when to go for touch. This is International rugby and small margins mean a lot.
The Spring Tour will be interesting to see if Schmidt makes some fine adjustments to the boys.
 

TSR

Simon Poidevin (60)
IMG_5592.jpeg
 

Brumby Runner

George Gregan (70)
I hope we get smarter about when to take a kick at goal and when to go for touch. This is International rugby and small margins mean a lot.
The Spring Tour will be interesting to see if Schmidt makes some fine adjustments to the boys.
We only know if it was smarter after the event. A case in point, the second Bledisloe where contrary to previous games the Wallabies kicked for goal on three occasions early in the match and still went down by more than a losing bonus point. Not a shining example of taking the points.
 

cyclopath

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
We only know if it was smarter after the event. A case in point, the second Bledisloe where contrary to previous games the Wallabies kicked for goal on three occasions early in the match and still went down by more than a losing bonus point. Not a shining example of taking the points.
But that is just poor application of statistical data. Anecdotal evidence is next to worthless. It's easy to judge whether taking a kick was smart or not after the fact.
Now if someone collated the data for penalty kicks taken, with success rates and positional data on the field including who took them, where and when they were taken you might get something. Oh, and look at whether the defending team were on final warning for a YC too.
Too many parameters to really know if taking the points is better, or not.
Of course, having a goal-kicker with an 85% or better success rate would help too.
 
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