Wallabies vs Lions , 19th July Suncorp

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Finn Smith and Tom Lynagh are the same height, only a few kg difference and aged less than a year apart. Will be a good battle, but it does feel like an established pro up against a youngster with potential.

Finn Smith has looked out of his depth at times in comparison to other 10s on tour even in a stacked side. But at 23 he has over 110 pro and Tests games already under his belt.

 

[emuarse]

I'll bet my left testicle (lost my right one some time ago on a wager), that Joe Schmidt will throw in one or two unexpected players into the starting 15.
Maybe because of niggles, or a player showing real promise during training runs, or for a better combination.
Squeek, squeek.

 

[Tomthumb]

Finn Smith has looked out of his depth at times in comparison to other 10s on tour even in a stacked side. But at 23 he has over 110 pro and Tests games already under his belt.

I wouldn't say he's looked out of his depth, just seems to be figuring out how Farrell wants to play. Guy has looked a special talent at every level

 

[Major Tom]

Irrelevant. Its gonna be Finn Russell at flyhalf anyways. Marcus smith on the bench.

 

[Slim 293]

I'll bet my left testicle (lost my right one some time ago on a wager), that Joe Schmidt will throw in one or two unexpected players into the starting 15.
Maybe because of niggles, or a player showing real promise during training runs, or for a better combination.
Squeek, squeek.

You could be onto something... like any of the players discussed in the last few pages who are rumoured to be starting?

 

[Tazzmania]

I didn't watch many Force games? Is Nick CDC that good/test quality?

Yes, he is test quality, no nonsense player that can hit hard and gives 110% week in week out.

12 Games at an average of 69 minutes per game
82 Runs for 159m
12 defenders beaten, 2 offloads
189/206 tackles (92%)
5 Handling errors

Was also Force man of the year for what he contributes on and off the field, great bloke very good player, someone you want in the trenches with you.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Finn Smith and Tom Lynagh are the same height, only a few kg difference and aged less than a year apart. Will be a good battle, but it does feel like an established pro up against a youngster with potential.

I'd say Finn Smith is highly unlikely to be near the test squad.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'd say Finn Smith is highly unlikely to be near the test squad.

Got my Finns wrong, or my Smiths wrong

 

[Brumby Runner]

Ah, ok. If you're referring to Russell I'd guess he is a substantially bigger body in both height and weight.

 

[Adam84]

Yes, he is test quality, no nonsense player that can hit hard and gives 110% week in week out.

12 Games at an average of 69 minutes per game
82 Runs for 159m
12 defenders beaten, 2 offloads
189/206 tackles (92%)
5 Handling errors

Was also Force man of the year for what he contributes on and off the field, great bloke very good player, someone you want in the trenches with you.

I think he has played extremely well this season for the Force and earned his spot in the team, i do however think he played a bit average in the Force vs Lions

 

[Dctarget]

Yes, he is test quality, no nonsense player that can hit hard and gives 110% week in week out.

12 Games at an average of 69 minutes per game
82 Runs for 159m
12 defenders beaten, 2 offloads
189/206 tackles (92%)
5 Handling errors

Was also Force man of the year for what he contributes on and off the field, great bloke very good player, someone you want in the trenches with you.

I thought I'd do a comparison of Gleeson, Valetini & CdC.

Fortunately they all played quite similar players so I didn't have to faf around too much with averaging out over minutes played.

All stats taken from Rugbypass, so hopefully they're consistently inconsistent.

Observations:
- You're not losing anything with Nick in defense, he tackles at the same percentage, is even better at defensive rucks. But you lose out on pilfering with him.
- Attack is his big weakness, just doesn't run the ball as much. Langi is the most destructive runner by far. Nick and Rob actually have similar effectiveness per run but Rob does run the ball 2.2x more often.
- I didn't expect it but Nick is the most ill-disciplined by far, though he is actually used in the lineout much more (once a game).

 

[A mutterer]

He had a handful of very good games to start the year then it tapered off a bit like their season.

Put in the moment I think he'd go after some guys which is valuable. Seems a more controlled Swinton.

Swinton is the hero we need right now to give those buggers some old school proper what-for ...

 

[Major Tom]

Finn Russell - 182cm, 87kg
Finn Smith - 178cm, 87kg
Marcus Smith - 175cm, 76kg
Noah Lolesio - 180cm, 89kg
Tom Lynagh - 178cm, 83kg
Ben Donaldson - 184cm, 84kg
JOC (James O'Connor) - 181kg, 93kg
Damian McKenzie - 177cm, 78kg
Richie Mo'unga - 176cm, 85kg
Beauden Barrett - 187cm, 91kg

Basically, we're splitting hairs here. Barrett a clear outlier.
I think Lynagh could do with adding a few kgs but he's 22 so it will certainly come with time. Obviously, not in time with this series.
He's got some strengths that will be suited for test football. His lack of size is being a bit exaggerated I feel.

 

[Major Tom]

I thought I'd do a comparison of Gleeson, Valetini & CdC.

Fortunately they all played quite similar players so I didn't have to faf around too much with averaging out over minutes played.

All stats taken from Rugbypass, so hopefully they're consistently inconsistent.

Observations:
- You're not losing anything with Nick in defense, he tackles at the same percentage, is even better at defensive rucks. But you lose out on pilfering with him.
- Attack is his big weakness, just doesn't run the ball as much. Langi is the most destructive runner by far. Nick and Rob actually have similar effectiveness per run but Rob does run the ball 2.2x more often.
- I didn't expect it but Nick is the most ill-disciplined by far, though he is actually used in the lineout much more (once a game).

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Good work Adam.
How did Tom Hooper compare? Or did he play more as a 2nd rower?

 

[KiwiM]

Beauden Barrett - 197cm, 91kg

*187cm

 

[Major Tom]

*187cm

At 197cm what an outlier that would be!

 

[Ignoto]

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

we'll never know if this was the team or not

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I thought I'd do a comparison of Gleeson, Valetini & CdC.

Fortunately they all played quite similar players so I didn't have to faf around too much with averaging out over minutes played.

All stats taken from Rugbypass, so hopefully they're consistently inconsistent.

Observations:
- You're not losing anything with Nick in defense, he tackles at the same percentage, is even better at defensive rucks. But you lose out on pilfering with him.
- Attack is his big weakness, just doesn't run the ball as much. Langi is the most destructive runner by far. Nick and Rob actually have similar effectiveness per run but Rob does run the ball 2.2x more often.
- I didn't expect it but Nick is the most ill-disciplined by far, though he is actually used in the lineout much more (once a game).

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This just tells me it's a downgrade to the 23. Tackle machine yep but also not a ruck threat. Might establish some of the issues at the Force that they don't have a back row that pressures for the ball at all.

CdC gets in a lot of handbag fights and nonsense like that. If picked he needs discipline to be on point.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

This just tells me it's a downgrade to the 23. Tackle machine yep but also not a ruck threat. Might establish some of the issues at the Force that they don't have a back row that pressures for the ball at all.

CdC gets in a lot of handbag fights and nonsense like that. If picked he needs discipline to be on point.

Or he just needs to make sure the bloke who gets carded with him is better than he is... net gain