Wallabies v Springboks - Adelaide Oval, Sat 27th August, 2022

[dru]

Also I'm not sure what more Campbell has to do to get a look in at 15. He is our only proper 15 running around in Oz now. Hodge starting 15 is just another bandaid. I like the guy but he is bang on average at everything he does except kicking long with average accuracy. He can have all the guts in the world but that doesn't make him a test match player. Mr Fix It he is, a starting test 15 he is not. I'll be more tha happy if he goes out and is MOTM but I highly doubt it.

I would agree with "why no Jock?" but we are sitting at 7 in the rankings against the current world champions and on the back of a bad run of results with some real issues to be asked of the players. It's not a good time to blood a new player. It's a very good time to lean on experience if it has a good chance of being up to the game. And the 6/2 bench, which I do agree with, results in few bench options for Jock. I'm not surprised he missed the cut here. Finding the right time to do it is getting harder, but now just isn't the time. imho

 

[Viking]

I agree Dru, chucking Campbell in for this first test against the Boks, would probably be the hardest challenge for a test level fullback. With no Quade, Kerevi, etc. Experience is needed in the backline, that's probably a big reason Hodge was selected slightly ahead of Campbell.

 

[Purce]

I would agree with "why no Jock?" but we are sitting at 7 in the rankings against the current world champions and on the back of a bad run of results with some real issues to be asked of the players. It's not a good time to blood a new player. It's a very good time to lean on experience if it has a good chance of being up to the game. And the 6/2 bench, which I do agree with, results in few bench options for Jock. I'm not surprised he missed the cut here. Finding the right time to do it is getting harder, but now just isn't the time. imho

Good response and I see the merit in it. I see it a different way which is that one is clearly the better 15 and isn't being selected. If we are talking about who to select at 23 with a 6/2 bench then I'd take Hodge every day for his versatility, no question. FWIW i would have played Kellaway at 15 and had Hodge at 23 of they were set on this squad for the game.

Im not trying to shit on Hodge, I think he is a solid player as well as a great bloke. Imo he isn't the answer to our questions at specialist positions, particularly when we have other better options available.

 

[Braveheart81]

Anyone got a reliable pub for watching rugby in the Inner West of Sydney? There is NRL at the same time so would need somewhere that prioritizes the rugby.

 

[Latts1992]

Anyone got a reliable pub for watching rugby in the Inner West of Sydney? There is NRL at the same time so would need somewhere that prioritizes the rugby.

Glebe Hotel always has rugby on.

 

[KOB1987]

Anyone got a reliable pub for watching rugby in the Inner West of Sydney? There is NRL at the same time so would need somewhere that prioritizes the rugby.

It’s only just inner west but Bar Broadway would probably be a good bet!

Wallabies pub baron Bill Young expands his property empire with Bar Broadway buy

Prominent hotelier and former Wallabies prop Bill Young has made his latest move in the ongoing battle of the pubs.

www.realcommercial.com.au

if youre looking at the more western end of the inner west it also mentions they own the Illinois at Five Dock

 

[Tomikin]

Hasn't been mentioned much but do we not all think it is stupid as fuck that Rugby Australia have put a test match

A. In Adelaide (what are sales like?)
B. At 3pm on a Saturday when rugby watching public will be at club and school boy games? It boggles my mind. I know someone at the game will let the score out before I have the chance to say shut the F up.

Also I'm not sure what more Campbell has to do to get a look in at 15. He is our only proper 15 running around in Oz now. Hodge starting 15 is just another bandaid. I like the guy but he is bang on average at everything he does except kicking long with average accuracy. He can have all the guts in the world but that doesn't make him a test match player. Mr Fix It he is, a starting test 15 he is not. I'll be more tha happy if he goes out and is MOTM but I highly doubt it.

Hodge is reliable... lots of Test match experience and has performed well in tests... big bodied, a pretty decent boot.. playing the world champs who love to go to the air and attack the fullback and wingers...

I think Campbell's pretty good, but not really the game where you want a fullback with no experience at test level or really against an attack like the Bok, hiding to fucking nothing.

 

[KOB1987]

Hasn't been mentioned much but do we not all think it is stupid as fuck that Rugby Australia have put a test match

A. In Adelaide (what are sales like?)
B. At 3pm on a Saturday when rugby watching public will be at club and school boy games? It boggles my mind. I know someone at the game will let the score out before I have the chance to say shut the F up.

Also I'm not sure what more Campbell has to do to get a look in at 15. He is our only proper 15 running around in Oz now. Hodge starting 15 is just another bandaid. I like the guy but he is bang on average at everything he does except kicking long with average accuracy. He can have all the guts in the world but that doesn't make him a test match player. Mr Fix It he is, a starting test 15 he is not. I'll be more tha happy if he goes out and is MOTM but I highly doubt it.

I don’t mind the Adelaide thing, I believe it’s sold out?

As for the timing, not great - although it’s back to the good old days. I distinctly remember watching a Bledisloe that was in NZ from a pub in Glen Innes on a Saturday lunchtime and then bolting off to play in a semi final. That was before night games were a thing though. Test and club rugby clashes were pretty much the norm.

 

[Tomikin]

Good response and I see the merit in it. I see it a different way which is that one is clearly the better 15 and isn't being selected. If we are talking about who to select at 23 with a 6/2 bench then I'd take Hodge every day for his versatility, no question. FWIW i would have played Kellaway at 15 and had Hodge at 23 of they were set on this squad for the game.

Im not trying to shit on Hodge, I think he is a solid player as well as a great bloke. Imo he isn't the answer to our questions at specialist positions, particularly when we have other better options available.

You shit on him pretty hard though... Kellaway would have been 15 if he wasn't coming back to fitness and Hodge 23, but its the opposite and Hodge is starting and covering 10.

I think its a stretch to say Campbell is clearly a better 15, it would be arguable... what we do know is that Hodge has test experience and clearly the 10 cover.

As much as Rennie said it was close between Campbell / Hodge I dont think it was ever that close

 

[Viking]

I agree with Tomikin. We aren't talking about super rugby, then I would tend to agree with Purce, Campbell would clearly be the better 15.

Test level is a different story. If it was clear, Campbell would be selected. But currently, experience counts a lot at test level, especially with Quade and Kerevi out. Hodge clearly offers something Campbell doesn't and this is more important at test level.

If Hodge has a blinder, I can't see any reason why he can't hold the position until RWC. Likewise, if he performs poorly, Campbell would get his shot.

 

[Purce]

You shit on him pretty hard though... Kellaway would have been 15 if he wasn't coming back to fitness and Hodge 23, but its the opposite and Hodge is starting and covering 10.

I think its a stretch to say Campbell is clearly a better 15, it would be arguable... what we do know is that Hodge has test experience and clearly the 10 cover.

As much as Rennie said it was close between Campbell / Hodge I dont think it was ever that close

I disagree with you saying I shit on him pretty hard and think I am pretty balanced in my critique of him. I don't think he is a test match specialist player, as 95% of pro rugby players in Aus aren't. He has been given more opportunities to prove he is than just about anyone I can recall. He is versitile and can cover a few positions if absolutely needed and I believe that's his ceiling in test match footy... Not a starting 15.

Jock has most definitely been the better 15 over the past several years. If you can't see that then there is nothing more to say. As I said if you're picking a number 23 then Hodge gets the nod every day of the week as IMO the only position Campbell is is fullback, and a better 15 than Hodge he is.

He may have experience however that doesn't mean he is the best player for the job.

I don't want to hijack this thread going on and on about Hodge as many have done before. My original point was mainly that I am disappointed Campbell didn't get the nod at 15.

 

[Purce]

In any case, as I said before, I would be stoked if Hodge goes on to win man of the match and somehow goes on the be the best 15 in history. However I don't think he will and we are wasting precious time trying to find our fullback 1 year out from the world Cup.

 

[Tomthumb]

Hasn't been mentioned much but do we not all think it is stupid as fuck that Rugby Australia have put a test match

A. In Adelaide (what are sales like?)
B. At 3pm on a Saturday when rugby watching public will be at club and school boy games? It boggles my mind. I know someone at the game will let the score out before I have the chance to say shut the F up.

Also I'm not sure what more Campbell has to do to get a look in at 15. He is our only proper 15 running around in Oz now. Hodge starting 15 is just another bandaid. I like the guy but he is bang on average at everything he does except kicking long with average accuracy. He can have all the guts in the world but that doesn't make him a test match player. Mr Fix It he is, a starting test 15 he is not. I'll be more tha happy if he goes out and is MOTM but I highly doubt it.

A. It’s in Alexander because the tourism board there prob got involved as they have been desperate to promote tourists yhere
B. It has to be on that time to accomodate the woman’s curtain raiser

 

[Lightblue]

Hasn't been mentioned much but do we not all think it is stupid as fuck that Rugby Australia have put a test match

A. In Adelaide (what are sales like?)
B. At 3pm on a Saturday when rugby watching public will be at club and school boy games? It boggles my mind. I know someone at the game will let the score out before I have the chance to say shut the F up.

Also I'm not sure what more Campbell has to do to get a look in at 15. He is our only proper 15 running around in Oz now. Hodge starting 15 is just another bandaid. I like the guy but he is bang on average at everything he does except kicking long with average accuracy. He can have all the guts in the world but that doesn't make him a test match player. Mr Fix It he is, a starting test 15 he is not. I'll be more tha happy if he goes out and is MOTM but I highly doubt it.

Hodge has played as many Tests as he has because he IS a Test player… he is a great super sub and rarely ever lets his country down. His versatility has not enabled him to lock in any one position but these days a Test team needs a Reece Hodge. Although I do rate Campbell as a fullback, my guess is he will get some game time on the end of season tour. Rennie has 4 tough tests ahead and the Wallabies need to win at least two.. I guess they figure it would be unnecessary pressure for Campbell if he was in the running for today’s Test?

 

[PhilClinton]

I like how Stan have a continuous stream setup for the three games today. Really good, no need to flick games over.

Maybe I’m in a good mood, even SBW isn’t making me want to melt my ear drums today.

 

[LeCheese]

I like how Stan have a continuous stream setup for the three games today. Really good, no need to flick games over.

Maybe I’m in a good mood, even SBW isn’t making me want to melt my ear drums today.

Yep, a really nice surprise. They've spruiked 'festival of rugby' a lot though - not sure that's how I'd describe a wallaroos/wallabies back-to-back fixture, but hey, one step at a time.

 

[PhilClinton]

Yep, a really nice surprise. They've spruiked 'festival of rugby' a lot though - not sure that's how I'd describe a wallaroos/wallabies back-to-back fixture, but hey, one step at a time.

I’ve got mates and colleagues at the game and feedback has been positive. They’re Brisbanites so the only downside they’ve said so far is watching footy at an oval is somewhat annoying, but we are spoilt with Suncorp.

 

[Derpus]

Anyone got a reliable pub for watching rugby in the Inner West of Sydney? There is NRL at the same time so would need somewhere that prioritizes the rugby.

I dont think ive ever seen Rugby on at the pub since the Stan switch.

 

[PhilClinton]

Geez spruiking the Australia v Namibia game in Adelaide back in 2003 as a pump up is odd

It’s like bragging about beating up your younger sibling

 

[dru]

Geez spruiking the Australia v Nambia game in Adelaide back in 2003 as a pump up is odd

It’s like bragging about beating up your younger sibling

Hard to avoid - it's the last time we were here wasn't it? RSA is not Namibia.