Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Brumby Runner]

Neither here nor there, but a mate of mine who was a decent prop thinks that Harry Lloyd from the Force was the best scrummaging prop in the NRC by a country kilometer.

He was. Got on top of every Th he played against. And is more than handy in open play as well. Definitely one for the future.

 

[Slim 293]

^^^ He really should be playing Super Rugby.........

 

[RugbyReg]

Barring injuries, I think the forward pack is relatively settled. One of the few pleasing aspects of the tour has been our second row - Rodda and Coleman have stepped up, and the performance of the lineout has been greatly improved.

You'd suggest hooker is still wide open, though I think Latu staked his claim fairly well on the weekend.

It's the backs that are just so murky. Quade is definitely not out of it for that reason. Wide open for a bolter like Petaia to come through with a good Super season.
.

I'm not convinced. I think the likes of JP Smith, Lukan Salakai-Loto, Isi Naisirani, Matt Philip and Luke Jones all are very much in contention for next year. Plus, as you say, the 2 jersey is very much up in the air.

 

[barbarian]

I suppose I meant the wider squad. In the backrow I'm not sure exactly who will be taking the field, but I'd wager it's some combo of Hooper/Pocock/Dempsey/Naisirani/Tui with Samu/Jones/Cottrell there or thereabouts.

Still plenty of room for bolters, but I can't see anyone coming from radically left field. The backs though, could be anything.
.

 

[Up the Guts]

Wouldn’t count Valetini out of the squad if he gets a full super season under his belt.

 

[KevinO]

why Jim? Is he even coaching at the moment?

Someone big and scary to keep the kids in line.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

They could do a lot worse than a team of Vern Cotter and Rob Penney.

No nonsense there.

 

[Derpus]

Someone big and scary to keep the kids in line.

Isnt that just Cheika?

 

[RugbyReg]

For the sake of throwing something up here I'd go:

Hookers - Folau Fainga'a, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tolu Latu
Props - Taniela Tupou, JP Smith, Scott Sio, Alla Ala'alatoa, James Slipper
Locks - Matt Philip, Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman, Lukhan Salakai-Loto, Luke Jones
Backrow - Isi Naisirani, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Jack Dempsey

Scrumhalf - Will Genia, Jake Gordon, Nick Phipps
Flyhalf - Matt To'omua, Quade Cooper
Centres - Tevita, Kuridrani, Samu Kerevi, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Jordan Petaia
Back 3 - Dane Haylett-Petty, Israle Folau, Marika Koroibete, Jack Maddocks

That's 31. I recognise there will be perceived bias here and it may be actual bias, if it is it was unintended.

Players who played this year but are dumped are: AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper), Foley, Timu, Ainsley, Powell, Hanigan, Samu, Simmons, Naivalu, Kepu, Banks, Robertson.

Players who feature who did not play this year are: Naisirani, Smith, Slipper, Petaia, Jones, Philip, Cooper.

Obviously it is all form dependent and that is nowhere more relevant than Cooper over Foley. Basically that spot should go to whomever has the better Super Rugby season.

 

[Joe Blow]

Uelese will be our starting rake if fit. If TPN can get there he will also be seriously considered.
Kepu will be one of the first selected props.
Tom Banks has another Super Rugby season to reinforce his claims.

Isi is untested at the top level. I’m not convinced he is the powerful backrower we need. Hopefully Valentini has a full Super Rugby season as well and Cottrell and Higgs push their claims. Experience will be paramount.

A lot will depend on who the coach is.

 

[Derpus]

Obviously it is all form dependent and that is nowhere more relevant than Cooper over Foley. Basically that spot should go to whomever has the better Super Rugby season.

I think, either way, both should be in the squad. People rag on Foley a lot, and sometimes it's warranted.

But Beale and To'omua are both categorically worse at 10 than Foley. They are in no way viable back up options. Throw Maddocks and Hodge onto this pile as well. Plus, playing either of them at 10 diminishes our 12 stocks.

If you don't bring Quade bring Stewart.

 

[TSR]

You appear to have missed Rory Arnold Reg, in both the selected group and the group left out. If he has another Super rugby season like this one I believe he will make the cut.

Also, I am backing Banks to make the cut - although that does depend on him jumping someone like Maddocks in the pecking order and that seems a challenge at the moment. Or, possibly, one of Beale or Hodge being left out (with To'omua covering 12).

With regards to Naisirani - he has potential - but didn’t he get dropped during this year’s super season? At the very least I remember him not being quite the World beater it was assumed he was going to be.

But, all in all, I think that is a pretty solid squad.

 

[wamberal]

I have high hopes for Valentini.

 

[Slim 293]

Also, I am backing Banks to make the cut - although that does depend on him jumping someone like Maddocks in the pecking order and that seems a challenge at the moment. Or, possibly, one of Beale or Hodge being left out (with To'omua covering 12).

I'm not sure why he hasn't already...........

His form at the tail end of Super Rugby was far more impressive, and so far Maddocks does not seem to be physically ready for test rugby.

 

[TSR]

I'm not sure why he hasn't already.....

His form at the tail end of Super Rugby was far more impressive, and so far Maddocks does not seem to be physically ready for test rugby.

Yeah - I find that one pretty hard too. I would have loved Banks to be given a more substantial shot. I really think he looks the goods.

The only thing I can come up with - and this is pretty abstract - but with our lack of depth at 10 & Hodge having previously been viewed as back up there and introduced to test rugby via the wing - maybe Cheika is thinking he can build some extra cover at 10 by giving Maddocks as much test experience as he can.

Drawing a long bow, I know, but that was the best I could come up with.

 

[Up the Guts]

Banks is the best cover defender in Australia, I’m not sure why that was never valued in a side so bad at reorganising the defensive line post turnover.

 

[TSR]

Plus he is quick, has a great boot, reads play.

I guess in my assessment be possibly benefits from having not had to have played substantial minutes - players just aren’t going to look as good in a team that is struggling - but I am still not sure why we wouldn’t have wanted to give him more of a shot.

 

[Derpus]

Plus he is quick, has a great boot, reads play.

I guess in my assessment be possibly benefits from having not had to have played substantial minutes - players just aren’t going to look as good in a team that is struggling - but I am still not sure why we wouldn’t have wanted to give him more of a shot.

Guys like Valetini are getting a bit of this. They show some promise at lower levels but don't get exposed to the shit show and so they look good by contrast.

Dempsey was getting this too, and he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire since his return (he's been solid though).

 

[Up the Guts]

Guys like Valetini are getting a bit of this. They show some promise at lower levels but don't get exposed to the shit show and so they look good by contrast.

Dempsey was getting this too, and he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire since his return (he's been solid though).

Valetini is just a flat out beast. I remember him man handling Naisarani 5m out from his own line in the NRC as an 18 year old and forcing a turnover.

 

[TSR]

Dempsey has been a bit so/so for mine - although I note plenty of others thought he was good in the last game.

But I really think he was thrown in it. For the second year he has had most of the year out injured and gets thrown in to test rugby with minimal prep. That’s a very tough ask - and I do think he showed some signs of why he is highly rated.

I just wonder if he could have done with a proper preseason.