Wallabies v Italy, Florence, Sun 13th Nov 12am AEDT

[Braveheart81]

We are extremely lucky not to be 0-2. We should be picking a strong squad and not rotating unless absolutely necessary

By the same token we're unlucky not to be 2-0.

Small margins for sure.

I think there's a fair bit of pre-planning with 5 tests across 5 weeks that we have to get a bit of rotation into the side to ensure we don't hit a brick wall in the last two games.

 

[RedOrDead]

It's becoming increasingly evident that we need players who can slow the ball down, and be a threat to pilfer around the ball. Hooper is not that anymore. Our props, with the exception of Tupou, can't pilfer.

I'm not sure if it's a Rennie game plan, to leave the pilfer and focus on setting up the defensive line. Whatever the reason is, I personally think it needs to change.

Additionally, with the ball in hand, we are frustratingly slow at the breakdown.

Something needs to change.

 

[Viking]

I doubt the lack of pilfer is a Rennie plan. I think it's moreso a lack of skill from the players.

 

[Viking]

I think one of our worse issues seems to be we cannot defend for long phases without a penalty/card and we cannot attack for long phases without a turnover. Ireland seem to be the masters at this at the moment.

 

[RedOrDead]

I think one of our worse issues seems to be we cannot defend for long phases without a penalty/card and we cannot attack for long phases without a turnover. Ireland seem to be the masters at this at the moment.

Seems strange that we very rarely attack the breakdown yet still concede a ridiculous amount of penalties...

 

[Derpus]

I think one of our worse issues seems to be we cannot defend for long phases without a penalty/card and we cannot attack for long phases without a turnover. Ireland seem to be the masters at this at the moment.

On attack our ruck security is absolute trash. We often fail to get over the advantage line (except when Valetini is running it), we don't seem to commit numbers and we miss the first clean-out a lot.

On defence we concede because we are under pressure, not because we are trying to pilfer illegaly. We actually barely ever try and pilfer anymore or even get in a position where we could be penalised for an illegal pilfer.

On the plus side our set piece is pretty ace - no team has really dominated us at any particular aspect of set piece (except maybe exits if you count that).

Basically - take the 2011 Wallabies and just swap everything. Can we attack or dominate a breakdown? fuck no. Can we scrum, lineout and maul? yeah pretty good.

 

[dru]

On attack our ruck security is absolute trash. We often fail to get over the advantage line (except when Valetini is running it), we don't seem to commit numbers and we miss the first clean-out a lot.

On defence we concede because we are under pressure, not because we are trying to pilfer illegaly. We actually barely ever try and pilfer anymore or even get in a position where we could be penalised for an illegal pilfer.

On the plus side our set piece is pretty ace - no team has really dominated us at any particular aspect of set piece (except maybe exits if you count that).

Basically - take the 2011 Wallabies and just swap everything. Can we attack or dominate a breakdown? fuck no. Can we scrum, lineout and maul? yeah pretty good.

I think we can bank on the maul. Also that the scrum will be somewhere between competitive and dominant. Exactly how it goes depends on specific personnel availability. The line out performance is a recent (welcome) development and so far is based on specific personnel - Porecki throwing, Holloway calling from 6, and our usual starting Aus-based locks jumping. Swap that around with obvious changes - Holloway out or on the bench, Porecki to bench, Skelton starting, back row selection based on jumping - and it is not so much that the line out doesn't work. But so far it is unproven. And shaky. It would be the same situation with injuries to key players.

Pretty impressive how each of those items is going when we have the key players in the starting 15.

Unfortunately, if we change up to improve the ruck - eg Fainga'a and Skelton for go-forward- then line out is unproven again. It is a work in progress and in spite some of the response on G&GR, I think Rennie and co. do have the team building/developing. It is a little late imo to still be experimenting and to front Italy with an improved Australia A gives me the heebie-jeebies. We were rank 9 before we started the tour for god's sake. It isn't arrogance under the circumstances, but it is riskier than simple rotation.

 

[Members Section]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/...t/news-story/b6e0663ff5b204e0e55e7021377a87e4

Few changes predicted here, hope we don't take them too lightly & it balls up in our face.

Well done on AAA becoming a wallaby captain. 2 Brothers captaining 2 different nations this week is something very rare

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

It's becoming increasingly evident that we need players who can slow the ball down, and be a threat to pilfer around the ball. Hooper is not that anymore. Our props, with the exception of Tupou, can't pilfer.

I'm not sure if it's a Rennie game plan, to leave the pilfer and focus on setting up the defensive line. Whatever the reason is, I personally think it needs to change.

Additionally, with the ball in hand, we are frustratingly slow at the breakdown.

Something needs to change.

It's where a guy like Lonergan could add some value.

Not going to write Hooper off just yet, but it has never been the main asset of his game. McReight and Luke Reimer for mind would be 2 of the best on ballers in the country. Unfortunately, very same same physically with Hooper so not much chance of them ever being on the field at the same time.

 

[Adam84]

BPA was always solid over the ball as well, played as a second fetcher at the Reds

 

[Slim 293]

BPA was always solid over the ball as well, played as a second fetcher at the Reds

It's certainly a skillset that is becoming more common for hookers..

Lonergan is also pretty good here, but there's obviously other aspects of his game he needs to develop.

 

[stillmissit]

I am also wondering if we are not taking Italy seriously enough. As things stand in the top 10 you drop off by 10% and you're gone.
I would rather risk running some guys who should take a break, than wasting an excellent start to a poor game against Italy.

 

[Joe Blow]

Latu is very good over the ball. It will be interesting to see how he goes in Super Rugby next year.

McReight is our best on baller and has a very good all around game. He must be pushing to start again. Hooper is Hooper so he cannot be counted out for now.

 

[RebelYell]

Clearly BPA has committed to international unavilability, otherwise he would be 100% in the mix. Wonder if it means he will play for another nation when eligible (I think Samoa, but could be wrong..)

 

[RedOrDead]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/...t/news-story/b6e0663ff5b204e0e55e7021377a87e4

Few changes predicted here, hope we don't take them too lightly & it balls up in our face.

Well done on AAA becoming a wallaby captain. 2 Brothers captaining 2 different nations this week is something very rare

West Harbour boy too. Bring back footy in Western Sydney.

 

[PhilClinton]

Clearly BPA has committed to international unavilability, otherwise he would be 100% in the mix. Wonder if it means he will play for another nation when eligible (I think Samoa, but could be wrong..)

There could be other reasons - big stretch to say clearly he's made himself unavailable and wants to play for another country.

He's only 26 and was playing well when he went overseas, very much in the fold for a home world cup in 2027.

 

[Braveheart81]

Seems strange that we very rarely attack the breakdown yet still concede a ridiculous amount of penalties...

On attack our ruck security is absolute trash. We often fail to get over the advantage line (except when Valetini is running it), we don't seem to commit numbers and we miss the first clean-out a lot.

On defence we concede because we are under pressure, not because we are trying to pilfer illegaly. We actually barely ever try and pilfer anymore or even get in a position where we could be penalised for an illegal pilfer.

I think it's largely down to us still getting beaten in the contact zone on both sides of the ball.

We're not making enough dominant tackles so we have few opportunities to pilfer or attack the breakdown in general to slow the ball down. We're having to resort a lot to trying to hold the ball carrier up in the tackle as our option to slow the play down and give our defence more time to reset but then that gives zero chance of contesting. If the tackle gets to the point where the ball carrier has knees on the ground and the referee calls to release then there is no breakdown to contest.

In attack we get isolated too often or caught behind the advantage line leading to prime opportunities for the opposition to try and pilfer. At the back end of the French game we got a bit more go forward with Skelton etc. and that seemed to improve things a bit.

I think our accuracy on our own ball has been lacking for several years and we miss too many cleanouts that are difficult but possible.

The starting point on both sides of the ball has to be more dominance in the collision zone. If we start winning those hits we'll start securing our own ball at a higher rate (and faster) and also start to win some turnovers.

 

[Members Section]

Clearly BPA has committed to international unavilability, otherwise he would be 100% in the mix. Wonder if it means he will play for another nation when eligible (I think Samoa, but could be wrong..)

Born in Auckland, just imagine he rolls out for the ab's

 

[Adam84]

Clearly BPA has committed to international unavilability, otherwise he would be 100% in the mix. Wonder if it means he will play for another nation when eligible (I think Samoa, but could be wrong..)

How do you know he just hasnt been approached?

 

[fatprop]

Latu is very good over the ball. It will be interesting to see how he goes in Super Rugby next year.

McReight is our best on baller and has a very good all around game. He must be pushing to start again. Hooper is Hooper so he cannot be counted out for now.

Doesn't it come down to the defending and cleanout accuracy creating the opportunities?