Wallabies v France, Paris, Sun 6th Nov 7am AEDT

[Slim 293]

Surely we don't put both Samu and Gleeson on the bench? Neville replaces Hanigan and Samu replaces Gleeson.

Oh definitely, that's actually what I was going for...

4. Neville Skelton
5. Frost
6. Holloway

19. Hanigan Neville
20. Gleeson Samu

Hanigan and Gleeson both drop out of the side.

 

[qwerty51]

I know I'm getting ahead but what do we think we're looking at v Italy?

1. Gibbon
2. Fainga'a
3. Talakai
4. Skelton
5. Swain
6. Hanigan
7. McReight
8. Gleeson/Samu
9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. Mark N (Nawaqanitawase)
12. Foketi
13. Petaia
14. Campbell
15. Hodge

16. Lonergan
17. Robertson
18. Tupou
19. Neville
20. Samu/Gleeson
21. McDermott
22. Lolesio
23. Kellaway

 

[Dctarget]

I know I'm getting ahead but what do we think we're looking at v Italy?

1. Gibbon
2. Fainga'a
3. Talakai
4. Skelton
5. Swain
6. Hanigan
7. McReight
8. Gleeson
9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase)
12. Foketi
13. Petaia
14. Campbell
15. Hodge

16. Lonergan
17. Robertson
18. Tupou
19. Neville/Frost
20. Samu/Hooper
21. McDermott
22. Lolesio
23. Kellaway/Banks

Bit nervous to run out with a complete B side.

 

[Derpus]

Id be very surprised if it wasn't a full strength side with a little rotation.

 

[qwerty51]

Bit nervous to run out with a complete B side.

Yeah it's risky but necessary imo - I'd rather we lost to Italy with a B side than lost to Wales with a full strength side.

Slipper, Porecki, Ala'alatoa, Holloway, Valetini, Ikitau all need rests / a break from 5 Tests in a row. Plus Frost played huge mins lately with Aus A and now these Tests.

 

[Slim 293]

Bit nervous to run out with a complete B side.

Agreed...

Valetini could do with a rest as I believe he's the only player to start every test this year.

Definitely start Lolesio* and add Donaldson to the bench.

And maybe just a couple of changes where we want to look at possibilities - maybe Campbell and/or Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase)?

*I can't remember - is Foley unavailable for the Welsh test? If so it would be important to start Lolesio against Italy.

 

[qwerty51]

Foley is unavailable for Wales (so too Skelton).

 

[LeCheese]

Valetini could do with a rest as I believe he's the only player to start every test this year.

I thought there would be more Valetini chat this week - in my eyes, his decision making was pretty average at times and he looked a bit out of sync with those around him (e.g. his pop pass to Tate off the deck). He's had a strong season, but as you said, due a rest.

 

[Dctarget]

I thought there would be more Valetini chat this week - in my eyes, his decision making was pretty average at times and he looked a bit out of sync with those around him (e.g. his pop pass to Tate off the deck). He's had a strong season, but as you said, due a rest.

I think our backrow was pretty disjointed as a unit. I liked what Holloway did solo but yeah, we were solidly outplayed by the Scots there.

 

[Braveheart81]

It's interesting that McDermott featured in some MOTM voting here but the overall consensus seems more on the side of starting White ahead of him against France.

I certainly lean on the latter side and think that outside of the early break he made, he had a pretty poor game.

My take is that he's likely to get a few chances on this tour to determine where he sits moving forward but could easily fall back down to third choice again. There's some clear deficiencies in his game that I think Rennie holds pretty front of mind.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I would like to see Tate start again against France as he's one player who is capable of threatening the defensive line close to the ruck with his snipes. His passing game really went off late in the game but maybe Nic White needs to come on a bit earlier off the bench. Overall, I would not say he had a poor game. I would not like to see Tate fall back the 3rd No 9 as the other two have somewhat similar games. Tate has the difference.

I reckon Andrew Kellaway had a poor game as he was significantly below his usual standard. I will get lynched here, but I reckon Hooper also had a poor game, not just because he is usually better, but because he hardly showed up in action at the breakdown, and when he was there he wasn't overly effective. Watson had a much superior No 7 game for the Scots. Porecki is another like Hooper who has not enough physical presence for his role.

 

[swingpass]

I will get lynched here,

lynched ? they shoot horses don't they

 

[Derpus]

I would like to see Tate start again against France as he's one player who is capable of threatening the defensive line close to the ruck with his snipes. His passing game really went off late in the game but maybe Nic White needs to come on a bit earlier off the bench. Overall, I would not say he had a poor game. I would not like to see Tate fall back the 3rd No 9 as the other two have somewhat similar games. Tate has the difference.

I reckon Andrew Kellaway had a poor game as he was significantly below his usual standard. I will get lynched here, but I reckon Hooper also had a poor game, not just because he is usually better, but because he hardly showed up in action at the breakdown, and when he was there he wasn't overly effective. Watson had a much superior No 7 game for the Scots. Porecki is another like Hooper who has not enough physical presence for his role.

Samu has very little over the ball game and McReight is about the same size as Hoops (maybe even smaller?).

Who are you suggesting we pick?

 

[Braveheart81]

Yet in the stats Hooper is credited with one turnover won and Watson with none.

Both teams lost 4 breakdowns on their own ball. Scotland's breakdown success was slightly higher because they had more rucks in possession. Neither side really had good clean ball through the game.

I don't think Hooper was amazing but he was pretty good, particularly for someone who hasn't played for over three months.

Watson had a good game for Scotland as well. Overall he probably did have a better game than Hooper in that he could have been Scotland's best player. They're not really directly playing against each other though. One 7 playing well doesn't mean the other 7 must have had a poor game. That concept seems far more relevant for players 11-14 and 1 vs 3 and 3 vs 1.

 

[Tomikin]

I know I'm getting ahead but what do we think we're looking at v Italy?

1. Gibbon
2. Fainga'a
3. Talakai
4. Skelton
5. Swain
6. Hanigan
7. McReight
8. Gleeson/Samu
9. Gordon
10. Donaldson
11. Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase)
12. Foketi
13. Petaia
14. Campbell
15. Hodge

16. Lonergan
17. Robertson
18. Tupou
19. Neville
20. Samu/Gleeson
21. McDermott
22. Lolesio
23. Kellaway

10. Lolesio 22. Donaldson, if your going to have Lolesio as your backup on the bench, he has to start at some point, so he gets Itay and then Wales and Donaldson can play of the bench

 

[stillmissit]

I think we start White and bring on Tate at the back of the game to change the pace.

Agree Joe, it is going to be essential to have some speed at the backend of this game and that is what Tate brings.

 

[Dctarget]

Yet in the stats Hooper is credited with one turnover won and Watson with none.

Both teams lost 4 breakdowns on their own ball. Scotland's breakdown success was slightly higher because they had more rucks in possession. Neither side really had good clean ball through the game.

I don't think Hooper was amazing but he was pretty good, particularly for someone who hasn't played for over three months.

Watson had a good game for Scotland as well. Overall he probably did have a better game than Hooper in that he could have been Scotland's best player. They're not really directly playing against each other though. One 7 playing well doesn't mean the other 7 must have had a poor game. That concept seems far more relevant for players 11-14 and 1 vs 3 and 3 vs 1.

Stats don't really describe how messy the ball was though. Maybe four official turnovers but there were heaps of shit passes/runs because of tough ruck ball.

 

[qwerty51]

What use is Lolesio starting against Italy? We know what we have with him, Donaldson needs a chance before the RWC to show if he can overtake him. Won't find that out off the bench.

 

[stillmissit]

Yet in the stats Hooper is credited with one turnover won and Watson with none.

Both teams lost 4 breakdowns on their own ball. Scotland's breakdown success was slightly higher because they had more rucks in possession. Neither side really had good clean ball through the game.

I don't think Hooper was amazing but he was pretty good, particularly for someone who hasn't played for over three months.

Watson had a good game for Scotland as well. Overall he probably did have a better game than Hooper in that he could have been Scotland's best player. They're not really directly playing against each other though. One 7 playing well doesn't mean the other 7 must have had a poor game. That concept seems far more relevant for players 11-14 and 1 vs 3 and 3 vs 1.

BH, I think the difference was in the BD ball speed, ours was slowed by the scots almost every time and their ball was quick and distributed better.
I didn't expect too much from Hooper's first game back. He will be up for this top-level contest. Don't care whether McRight or Samu is on the bench but we need to bench Hooper early in the 2nd half as I suspect he will go flat out this week.

 

[whitefalcon]

10. Lolesio 22. Donaldson, if your going to have Lolesio as your backup on the bench, he has to start at some point, so he gets Itay and then Wales and Donaldson can play of the bench

Yep, if Noah is playing Vs Wales he has to start the week before and I'd argue also against France.