Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Slim 293]

I tend to agree Slim. Most of the turnover ball on the Brumbies' throw have been when Mann-Rea is the thrower. I think some posters equate lost ball at the Brumbies' lineout with FF (Folau Fainga'a) when his throwing this year has been at least consistently quite good.

He was good last year as well, after some teething issues in the first couple of rounds..........

 

[TSR]

Slim - happy for you to correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t he get called for a bunch of crooked throws in his Wallaby games?

Look - I like the bloke. He is my preferred starter. And I am not saying he is consistently bad (nor is BPA). But both have room for improvement, IMO.

Now, if I a have falsely recalled what happened at test level then fine, I apologise.

For the record BR - I am believe I am perfectly capable of distinguishing the difference between a bad throw and a misfiring lineout.

Anyway, I’m leaving it at that so if I have got my history wrong then, again, I apologise.

 

[Derpus]

It's kind of hard to judge individual players on the collective clusterfuck that was the Wallabies lineout last year.

 

[Up the Guts]

If I recall correctly, last year BPA’s throws were very good up until he played in the June test series at which point they went off. FF (Folau Fainga'a) struggled at the start of the season for the Brumbies but then came good as the season progressed. Both those guys haven’t had issues this season from what I’ve seen.

 

[Slim 293]

Slim - happy for you to correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t he get called for a bunch of crooked throws in his Wallaby games?

Probably, but that was with a non-functioning Wallaby lineout.......... you often see throwers beginning to throw a little more crooked towards their side when things are not going well.

It's the same issues someone like Stephen Moore had for most of his time with Cheika (and briefly on the 2009 EOYT when we were without Vickerman and Sharpe), and I would rate him as being one of the most reliable throwers around.

 

[Up the Guts]

^^^
I think our lineout was ok in 2017 but has struggled in most other years since 2015.

 

[Slim 293]

If I recall correctly, last year BPA’s throws were very good up until he played in the June test series at which point they went off. FF (Folau Fainga'a) struggled at the start of the season for the Brumbies but then came good as the season progressed. Both those guys haven’t had issues this season from what I’ve seen.

Yep..........

The Brumbies lineout wasn't very good for the first couple of rounds last year with new combinations, but once it settled it was solid..........

And BPA was almost a different player before and after that Irish series.

 

[Derpus]

Yep....

The Brumbies lineout wasn't very good for the first couple of rounds last year with new combinations, but once it settled it was solid....

And BPA was almost a different player before and after that Irish series.

Sounds like a confidence issue.

 

[Dctarget]

I'm still backing Uelese in to come good. He should be back any round now and a super season is a long time. Expect him to be in the 23.

 

[Derpus]

I'm still backing Uelese in to come good. He should be back any round now and a super season is a long time. Expect him to be in the 23.

When was the last time he played? his reputation seems to have grown in his absence.

 

[Dctarget]

When was the last time he played? his reputation seems to have grown in his absence.

Start of June last year, went down playing the Blues in Auckland.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

I'm still backing Uelese in to come good. He should be back any round now and a super season is a long time. Expect him to be in the 23.

I read something last week in one of the papers that said he may not be back till as late as round 8.

 

[Derpus]

Doesnt seem reasonable to pin your hopes on someone so injury prone.

 

[KOB1987]

Too many Brumbies KOB - honestly.

McCaffrey should only be considered at No 8 where he played, so he is competing with Naisarani who gets the nod. No 6 then should be a pick between Cottrell, who had a strong game against the Landers, Tui who was somewhat hot and cold against the Cru, and Samu who was very effective against the Hurricanes.

Pocock then comes into consideration at No 7. Apart from the YC which I think was deserved he was a real pest at the breakdown. Wright also played strongly for the Reds.

In my book, Cooper again had a better game than CLL. Neither of the players at 10 for the Reds should be considered.

Think English probably gets in at 13 too. TK was a lot quieter than the previous week.

Dempsey just can't be in the TOTW when he didn't even play. Plenty of candidates for the bench back row spot - Cottrell, ASY (Angus Scott-Young), McCaffrey, even Higgers had a good cameo off the bench.

It's a FORM team of the week, so in form players who had a bye still need to be unseated by someone else, Dempsey has been demoted to the bench but Folau kept his spot, and Beale and Kepu dumped entirely.. Obviously it's only hypothetical and I wouldn't expect it to be selected as such. The original team is at the top of the previous page and I'm going to update it each week just for shits and giggles. As always the actual Wallabies team that is picked will be a mix of form and incumbency.

 

[RugbyReg]

Might as well put this here. Some stats for you to digest.

Take from it what you will but a few top level observations (noting also the Brumbies are the only team to have played 3 games v 2).

- Reds focus is obviously defense with lots of good tackling being done.
- In terms of workrate Isi Naisirani is a clear stand out (although he hasn't made a lot of metres in attack - but he's generally running into the heart of the opposition D).
- Peter Samu is also producing eye catching numbers (with the extra game).
- Caleb Timu is perhaps undervalued when you combine both tackle effectiveness and run effectiveness.
- Izzy, as always, leading the attacking numbers. But strong forward attack effectiveness too (and Jake Gordon the only non-outside back on the leaderboard).

 

[RugbyReg]

And then I forgot the missed tackles (min 5 tackles).

Foley and Cooper having a nice battle but it's clear that Peni's long troubled defensive issues continue.

Tahs in general struggling

 

[barbarian]

- In terms of workrate Isi Naisirani is a clear stand out (although he hasn't made a lot of metres in attack - but he's generally running into the heart of the opposition D).

This could be a divisive statement, but is Isi Naisirani the second coming of Cliff Palu?

People want him to be bulldozing people in attack and defence, but in reality he's just a hard worker with an above average physical presence.

I bloody love that (as I loved Cliff), but others may not.

Either way he has put up a good showing so far this season.
.

 

[Up the Guts]

I think Naisarani is a more Kieren Read type 8 than a Vunipola.

Also some very interesting numbers Reg. Kerevi doesn’t appear on the poorest tacklers list now he’s playing predominantly at 12.

 

[Slim 293]

I'm not surprised about Peni being up there......... I feel his redemption began and ended against the Chiefs.

 

[Derpus]

Interesting to see little Joe Powell getting stuck in on Defence.