Joe Blow
John Hipwell (52)
Tizzano carrying into the teeth of the pasty Lions on first phase
Wallabies v Lions Game 2 MCG 26 July
- Thread starter rugbyAU
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Tizzano carrying into the teeth of the pasty Lions on first phase
Linerunner2023
Billy Sheehan (19)
Same risk the boks take on a 6-2 or even 7-1
dru
Jason Little (69)
No. It's not.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
I like our team, there is a decided uplift in grunt with Gleeson, Skelton and Valetini included. It's clear we're going to try and take them on up front and so we should. With some front foot ball I would the backs should be able to create enough chances.
whitefalcon
Bill McLean (32)
rugbyAU
Chilla Wilson (44)
Schmidt said it would be Potter in the presser
JackJill
Ted Fahey (11)
Hoping/praying that we don’t knock it on a lot on a wet night in Melbourne. The weather definitely suits their style and dreadful rain they are used to playing in up there. God if I was Joe Schmidt I’d be screaming at them before they go out to (legally) smash Tom Curry in the opening minutes and make him wish they sent his brother instead.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Gee mate, if you worried about rain, just fill the team with Queenslanders, they well used to rain this year.
wamberal99
Cyril Towers (30)
If the Saffers can do it, we can. Sure there are risks. No risk, sometimes no reward.
Tomthumb
Ken Catchpole (46)
The Saffers can do it because they have an amazing amount of depth at present. WE just had 2 injuries last week and it completely doomed us
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
All our hookers are much of a muchness. Fez fluffed a couple of crucial lineout throws, one of which arguably took away any chance of us winning the test match. It's an old school dropping, Porecki gets a chance now to prove his lineout throw and perform chop tackles on Curry.
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Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Like your thinking LR23. Agree on Valetini and Skelton being improvements. Also Gleeson on the bench will add starch to both attack and defence later in the game but not sure it needs a 6-2 bench. I'm still not a fan of two No 7s on the bench. Even a 6-2 bench would be stronger with Hooper there instead of Tizzano so I think Joe has missed a trick with that one.
With you on Porecki. Looks smaller and plays smaller than both of Faessler and Pollard and he's also very short of recent meaningful gallops.
Posters here will remind us that the number on the backs of players don't count for much. Not sure that's right but I would really like to see Sua'ali'i line up at 12 and Ikitau to revert to 13 even with the numbers the wrong way round.
Hoping for an improved performance from the Wallabies tgomorrow, but I'm not sold on the idea of a game plan built on playing safe for 60 minutges and then cutting loose when the bench comes on. Seems to ignore the fact that the Lions bench will be just as fresh as ours at the end.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
So, who is the backup winger if Potter is needed in the centres?
The Ghost of Raelene
Rod McCall (65)
Potter is the back up Centre. Everyone else can shift around and hell if needed Jake Gordon can go on a Wing.
I agree about Tizz. Sits in my mind like Lynagh. He either starts or misses the 23 due to being such a specialist.
I agree about Tizz. Sits in my mind like Lynagh. He either starts or misses the 23 due to being such a specialist.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Tizzano a specialist? I don't really see it. He's there to make lots of tackles over the last 15 mins, have a few carries and score a try (his real specialty)
Talk about numbers not mattering - he's more like a 6/8 than a 7. If Schmidt wanted breakdown threat he would have picked Hooper
Talk about numbers not mattering - he's more like a 6/8 than a 7. If Schmidt wanted breakdown threat he would have picked Hooper
TSR
Steve Williams (59)
For any misgivings I might have about Porecki he now appears to be the number one pick (when fit) for the last 3 Wallabies coaches and it says something that Schmidt has rushed him back to start as soon as he has been available.
I don’t believe coaches at any level always get it right - but you have to acknowledge they see a lot more of these players, have a lot more analysis available and have a much clearer picture on how individuals fit into a broader structure. Clearly Porecki brings enough that he is considered worth backing.
I don’t believe coaches at any level always get it right - but you have to acknowledge they see a lot more of these players, have a lot more analysis available and have a much clearer picture on how individuals fit into a broader structure. Clearly Porecki brings enough that he is considered worth backing.
Hooper can make the tackles, carries better and pilfers as much. Covers entire back and 2nd row. Pollard can score the rolling maul try.