Wallabies vs Lions , 19th July Suncorp

[Slim 293]

Kellaway has test match experience in the centres… it’s hardly a crazy idea for him to provide cover there.

 

[Ignoto]

Kellaway covering the centres? Yeah that’s a disaster waiting to happen

Pony up your 23 then. It's easy to be a critic when you have no skin in the game.

Schmidt has had long enough in the job to have given at least 1 start to Lynagh before the first Lions test if he thought he
was in the frame

I've literally explained why Tom is being picked. If Noah was fit he would be starting and Ben would still be on the bench.

It’s simply a numbers game, Ben covers 10/15, Tom covers 10. Unless you're picking JOC (James O'Connor) for the bench spot, it sounds like Ben will be the utility back.

 

[michaelhoops]

From reports, the backline is:

9 - Gordon
10 - Lynagh
11 - Jorgensen
12 - Ikitau
13 - JAS
14 - Potter
15 - Wright

21 - McDermott
22 - Donaldson
23 - Kellaway

WHERE IS JOC (James O'Connor)

 

[Spamnoodle]

WHERE IS JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)

In the squad with all the rest of them? Is this a trick question?

 

[Strewthcobber]

The original comment suggested Schmidt hadn’t built much cohesion. Firstly, he’s not a miracle worker, he’s only had a year with the team. And secondly, this is backline have worked together more than you think. The centre pairing in particular is probably the most cohesive it’s been for a while.

Paisami and Ikitau must have played 20+ tests together?

(I'd absolutely pick the current partnership though, even if they are still getting to know each other)

 

[michaelhoops]

Backline, I think, would do the job

9. Jake Gordon
10. Tom Lynah
11. Max Jorgenson
12. Hunter Piasami
13. Len Ikitau
14. Tom Wright
15. Joseph Akuso- Suallii

21-Mcdermott
22- Dangnu
23- JOC (James O'Connor)

Close picks-
-peachy
-Kellaway

 

[Derpus]

Havnt done a 23 in ages so here is what I'd roll with:

1. Bell
2. Faesler
3. 7As (Allan Ala'alatoa)
4. Williams
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson
9. White
10. Donaldson
11. Pietsch
12. Ikitau
13. JAS
14. Jorgensen
15. Wright

16. Slipper
17. Pollard
18. Tupou
19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)
20. Gleeson/Hooper (both in great form)
21. McDermott
22. JOC (James O'Connor)
23. Daugunu/Kellaway/Toole (don't think it really matters, honestly, if JAS or Ikitau go down we've lost the series).

 

[Slim 293]

19. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)

Not in the squad… it would have been to be Skelton, with Frost likely starting.

 

[rugbyAU]

Backline, I think, would do the job

9. Jake Gordon
10. Tom Lynah
11. Max Jorgenson
12. Hunter Piasami
13. Len Ikitau
14. Tom Wright
15. Joseph Akuso- Suallii

21-Mcdermott
22- Dangnu
23- JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)

Close picks-
-peachy
-Kellaway

Looks good, but it's not what Schmidt is going with

 

[Wilson]

The original comment suggested Schmidt hadn’t built much cohesion. Firstly, he’s not a miracle worker, he’s only had a year with the team. And secondly, this is backline have worked together more than you think. The centre pairing in particular is probably the most cohesive it’s been for a while.

It was an accurate observation, while also noting that the selection wasn't necessarily wrong. The backline definitely hasn't worked together more than I think, and like the original poster I'm not necessarily disagreeing with the selection, but to suggest a centre pairing in their ~5th start together, with both of them only having about that many professional games in those positions is at all cohesive is frankly ridiculous.

More broadly, if you think single digit games together for most of the direct combinations in this backline is even remotely representative of cohesion then I think you probably need to revisit the theory and the many writings and podcast appearances where Darwin talks about it.

 

[Derpus]

Not in the squad… it would have been to be Skelton, with Frost likely starting.

To hell with the rules

 

[michaelhoops]

Looks good, but it's not what Schmidt is going with

agreed

 

[michaelhoops]

If JOC (James O'Connor) is not in the team at all we are screwed, we will loose by 50 with lynah and donno together

 

[Major Tom]

It was an accurate observation, while also noting that the selection wasn't necessarily wrong. The backline definitely hasn't worked together more than I think, and like the original poster I'm not necessarily disagreeing with the selection, but to suggest a centre pairing in their ~5th start together, with both of them only having about that many professional games in those positions is at all cohesive is frankly ridiculous.

More broadly, if you think single digit games together for most of the direct combinations in this backline is even remotely representative of cohesion then I think you probably need to revisit the theory and the many writings and podcast appearances where Darwin talks about it.

Cohesion is interesting. Is hunter and lens combo more cohesive than JAS and lens that are fresher? I do take your point though.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Cohesion is interesting. Is hunter and lens combo more cohesive than JAS and lens that are fresher? I do take your point though.

By definition, yes they are. Doesnt mean you should pick them though.

What it means is all else being equal, JAS and Ikitau will be a better combo after playing 20 tests together than they were after 5 tests together

 

[Tomthumb]

Pony up your 23 then. It's easy to be a critic when you have no skin in the game.



I've literally explained why Tom is being picked. If Noah was fit he would be starting and Ben would still be on the bench.

It’s simply a numbers game, Ben covers 10/15, Tom covers 10. Unless you're picking JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) for the bench spot, it sounds like Ben will be the utility back.

I understand the reasoning, my problem is starting Donaldson over Lynagh twice last year if that was in fact the case. The fact that he didn’t makes this feel like quite a panic move and I hope it doesn’t hinder Lynagh’s development by throwing him to the Wolves

My 23? I’d have Donaldson and Pietch starting and Potter on the bench

 

[michaelhoops]

I understand the reasoning, my problem is starting Donaldson over Lynagh twice last year if that was in fact the case. The fact that he didn’t makes this feel like quite a panic move and I hope it doesn’t hinder Lynagh’s development by throwing him to the Wolves

My 23? I’d have Donaldson and Pietch starting and Potter on the bench

No JOC (James O'Connor) is mad

 

[Tomthumb]

No JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) is mad

Picking him after him not being involved with Schmidt’s Wallabies at any stage over the past year isn’t mad at all

What’s mad is throwing a 22 year old in for his first test start vs the Lions outside a 9 he’s never played with before

 

[Derpus]

By definition, yes they are. Doesnt mean you should pick them though.

What it means is all else being equal, JAS and Ikitau will be a better combo after playing 20 tests together than they were after 5 tests together

Yeah Darwin himself states that two 8/10s with no cohesion will still be better than two 6/10s with great cohesion.

 

[Yoda]

I hope Lynagh has a blinder and puts this circular argument to bed once and for all.


I reckon he's right up to the task.

But say he is destroyed? People will say "Why did we rush the young bloke in"...