Yeah Dru, Rennie via lifting a large rock of injuries has found a few diamonds, not sure if he would have picked any of them without all the injuries. Some of the posts here are a bit OTT regarding our chances in the RWC.The Italy debacle remains sour. Probably always will.
I'd say Rennie has done fine in developing a spread of talent across the squad, a good thing. But neither Aus A nor the teams that fronted Italy/Wales are going to be ideal against the top 5 in the RWC.
Player development at Super leads to at least our conundrum at 2 and 10. Similar the back three though that is actually getting somewhere.
Injuries though, huge issue. And while discipline performance against Wales was actually very pleasing, it has marred the team for far too long.
Rugby Australia definitely needs to step up.
Came on when we were in the shit.. ended up winning..Only having 6 tired backs against you when you are fresh can do that
They will 100% need to be heavily load managed through next year and I think they are important enough to warrant some security in terms of their squad positions.I suspect they may make it to the RWC but I think Slipper and Hooper will struggle in 23.
The best thing about it was that it was the young blokes driving the bus for the comeback. A rookie front row holding their own and a young backline directed by Ikitau getting the win. Samu(not so young) and Tate upping the pace of the game. Great game to watch and congrats to the Wallabies.That last 20min period really was one for the ages.
Wallabies again showing that they seem to play to the level of their opposition.
ha....no mention of Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase)'s shite tackle that led to the Wales try? He was epic but to overlook that when calling out Petaia is a little dare I say blue eyed.
Tomikin, this is the best game I have seen from Lonergan and if he continues in 23 he should be the starter in the Brumbies. Hooker is another of those positions which will be closely watched next year.Came on when we were in the shit.. ended up winning..
I also think Lonergan played better than FF (Folau Fainga'a) (Folau Fainga'a), suppose though the Welsh team was tired...
I think you are correct but I don't like cotton wooling players.They will 100% need to be heavily load managed through next year and I think they are important enough to warrant some security in terms of their squad positions.
Tomikin, this is the best game I have seen from Lonergan and if he continues in 23 he should be the starter in the Brumbies. Hooker is another of those positions which will be closely watched next year.
Fainga'a has already moved to the Force for next year.Longergan, Pollard, Fainga'a - three into 2 will not go.
If we had a draft system of some kind, one of the 3 would be at another province getting important game time.
I thought Petaia played well enough, so don’t get the attention. His efforts off kick restarts was fantastic.View attachment 15014
Weren't you the one saying at the start of the international season "no provinces, just Wallabies!" or similar? My memory isn't what it used to be...
So let's restate the obvious: your favouritism for, and inability to be critical of, certain players is well known, and TBH getting quite tiresome.
The only reason you're using the term "blue eyed" is because I, as a Tahs supporter, called out a great performance from a NSW player, and dared criticise a QLD player for a couple of mistakes he made. Funny thing is, they're all Wallabies, right?
It was nothing to do with where they came from. Was I supposed to talk up his performance today? I can do a blow-by-blow if you like.
Let's be honest about Petaia: he's got size, pace, and talent. Like Nawaqanitawase, in a lot of ways. Physically gifted and could have long and stellar careers ahead of them.
Similarly they share flaws e.g. looking for offloads that aren't really on, as one example.
The issue is Petaia has been on the scene for 3 years, had his barrow pushed relentlessly by certain parties, and yet is incredibly inconsistent when he is on the park and not crocked. That may yet happen to Nawaqanitawase, and certainly he pushed too hard in his games with the Tahs.
I would honestly love to see Petaia get more time injury-free at what appears to be his favoured position - fullback - and stay fit long enough to stake a claim for that gold 15 jersey.
That hasn't happened. He's struggling to get that time even in his home state. No amount of defensiveness from you is going to change that, so take the comments for what they were, and not some form of broadside attack on the Moreton Bay Penal Colony or its players.
FF (Folau Fainga'a) playing for the force next season, if you missed itLongergan, Pollard, Fainga'a - three into 2 will not go.
If we had a draft system of some kind, one of the 3 would be at another province getting important game time.
Came on when we were in the shit.. ended up winning..
I also think Lonergan played better than FF (Folau Fainga'a) (Folau Fainga'a), suppose though the Welsh team was tired...