Bell is so underdone, I wonder if there wasn't the idea of using the Aus A games to get him more match fitness rather than straight back to test rugby
Wallabies v Argentina @ CommBank Stadium 7.45pm Sat 15/07
- Thread starter Dctarget
- Start date
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
Of course - but purely in regard to his capabilities as a defender, he is typically very solid in both the tackle and general positioning/reading
Mr Pilfer
Alex Ross (28)
Much happier with this team, no real bizarre Eddie selections this time. Look forward to seeing what this locking combo can do. Shame Kellaway not back.
Hodge would give more versality at #23 and I think he will end up there for world cup but very happy we get to see more of Carter
Hodge would give more versality at #23 and I think he will end up there for world cup but very happy we get to see more of Carter
Marce
John Hipwell (52)
At Super Rugby level? Yes, I have. Hodge is good at Super Rugby and a completely disaster at international level. What's the point?
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
The point is that we could be doing a lot worse than having Gordon defend in the 10/12 channel
Members Section
John Thornett (49)
Dont hate it, would have liked Hodge at 23 if we are going down the 6/2 we have no centres cover in this side
Lorenzo
Colin Windon (37)
At the risk of re-igniting an argument that has surely taken place (but i have missed), am I the only one that after seeing Mark N (Nawaqanitawase)'s performance in the EOYT, could never conceive of a situation in which Vunivulu was selected over him, absent Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) subsequently failing repeatedly in tests? I've no strong view on Jones either way but when i saw that prior to the SA test, I did wonder if he'd been watching the same rugby I was..
John S
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Quite a few people were wondering the same thing when last week's team was released - you're not alone.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Certainly a lot less leftfield than last time. Some notable and encouraging inclusions.
I can't see his thought process on that one either. Maybe it was to throw Vunivalu a bone and see if he could step up? Basically a challenge. Challenge not accepted apparently.
I think it's a case of trying to find out whether certain players should figure in the RWC calculations. I don't think it was a case of thinking Vunivalu was higher up the pecking order than Nawaqanitawase.
Lorenzo
Colin Windon (37)
That does make some sense, though you'd think as a new coach coming back with a certain degree of hype around you, you might select your (true) 1st XV for your first test back, against SA in SA.
I am coming around to the conspiracy that he knew a first up win in Pretoria was unlikely so he threw some scapegoats in there in Hodge, Vunivalu and Tom Hooper (Gibbon and Nonggorr too perhaps but that was more about availability). He gave himself someone to blame after the inevitable loss, show his team he was serious about dropping people (gave him a target for his yelling) and protected his preferred team (clearly this one) from a first up loss.
I'm not sure it's really a conspiracy. I think he would have certainly known a win was very unlikely given it's literally never happened at Pretoria before.
I do think that some players were picked who were clearly not in his best 23 but he wanted to see how they fared.
The number of people tipping a Wallabies win in the thread last week was somewhat insane.
Froggy
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Not exactly as I would have done, but I like this a lot better than the side selected against SA. I think Frost is dead unlucky and Uelese lucky, but most of the other selections are pretty easy to justify. Personally I would have gone with Faessler off the bench, and a 5/3 bench if you want to play Gordon (who I would have started with). As some have said, if Kerevi breaks down we have a problem. I would probably be inclined to shift Quade to 12 in that case, he would be of assistance to Gordon and has played there before at test level once or twice I think.
molman
Jim Lenehan (48)
Is there actually any logic that the Australia A game is going to be less of a risk to a player than the Argentina game? If Topou or Bell are at risk of re-injury then surely any game is potentially going to hold equal risk. Heck, Samu re-injured himself somewhat having a run around in that BaBa's game. I'm not convinced that the Tongan's are going to be playing at magnitudes lower intensity than Argentina when playing at home in front of their families and country people.
Feels like a illusory truth effect fallacy to me.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Like your optimism Reg. But Slipper looks to be jaded from too much rugby to me and could be an early injury away from injecting Bell into the game with SFA game time under his belt. Persisting with Porecki who has little presence in open play could backfire if injury prone Uelese has to be used early. Then with an untried second row with plenty of questions about their workloads and effectiveness, and a No7 who will be an improvement but still with questions about the suitability of a smaller player in the backrow, the whole pack could prove to be no more effective than last week.
Depending on the game plan, the backline might see as little ball as last week too. If we are continually defending out wide, I can see Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) having the same problems as Vunivalu had last week, though his positioning should be levels above Vunivalu's. But he is not a strong tackler.
To come out on top in this game, Eddie will need to lose his kick at all costs plan, and every player will need to be performing at a level so far missing from the team last week. I have severe doubts those conditions will be met. I think another loss is well and truly on the cards.
Depending on the game plan, the backline might see as little ball as last week too. If we are continually defending out wide, I can see Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) having the same problems as Vunivalu had last week, though his positioning should be levels above Vunivalu's. But he is not a strong tackler.
To come out on top in this game, Eddie will need to lose his kick at all costs plan, and every player will need to be performing at a level so far missing from the team last week. I have severe doubts those conditions will be met. I think another loss is well and truly on the cards.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
Not enough Brumbies in there? Close to the most morbid preview I have ever read.
Last edited: