Wallabies 2019 Thread

[Derpus]

Hard pass. I can see us being in a battle with a Northern Hemisphere team being up by 2 only for Latu to give another stupid penalty away.

Winning knock games is all about reducing your mistakes and Latu is known to have a fair few in him. Compare Latu to the other 'possibles' of say Mafi, Uelese and Rangi, while neither of those three will 'win' you the game individually, they sure as hell are less likely to lose you it.

This may scream provincial bias (and ill accept it) but if you want an unremarkable player that will just do the basics at a passable level surely its Fitzpatrick?

 

[KOB1987]

Hard pass. I can see us being in a battle with a Northern Hemisphere team being up by 2 only for Latu to give another stupid penalty away.

Winning knock games is all about reducing your mistakes and Latu is known to have a fair few in him. Compare Latu to the other 'possibles' of say Mafi, Uelese and Rangi, while neither of those three will 'win' you the game individually, they sure as hell are less likely to lose you it.

Not necessarily advocating for Latu, but it's impossible to select a team that doesn't carry any risks. You have to try to assess the risks and weigh them up against the positives. It's easier to try to coach discipline into a player than it is to coach them into getting bigger.

Fainga'a self selects as the #1 option, I think TPN should be on the plane as a dirt tracker and as injury cover, it would be out of Latu and Uelese as the third option for mine, and this player is also the bench option for the big games. You're trading off inexperience for discipline with the selection.

 

[Froggy]

While I think Latu is a terrific talent, I wouldn't consider him for the Wallabies at this stage. In fact he should even be questionable for the Tahs, he has to show some discipline, both on and off the field, otherwise he may finish up being a tragically wasted talent.
While Fitzpatrick is a wonderful servant for the Tahs, I don't think he's a test footballer. I also think TPN's test level days are behind him. I would select Uelese, but with some trepidation, he has played very little football, he has to show he is still the player he was two years ago. That means you need one more, and my choice would be Mafi. While he's not the complete package yet, he's only 22, and I think is a genuine potential test hooker.

 

[Bobby Sands]

While I think Latu is a terrific talent, I wouldn't consider him for the Wallabies at this stage. In fact he should even be questionable for the Tahs, he has to show some discipline, both on and off the field, otherwise he may finish up being a tragically wasted talent.
While Fitzpatrick is a wonderful servant for the Tahs, I don't think he's a test footballer. I also think TPN's test level days are behind him. I would select Uelese, but with some trepidation, he has played very little football, he has to show he is still the player he was two years ago. That means you need one more, and my choice would be Mafi. While he's not the complete package yet, he's only 22, and I think is a genuine potential test hooker.

Bang. On.

 

[formerflanker]

I agree Genia is our half the most capable of excelling at test level. He’s just not playing to standard. If Cheika can get him to that before the first game then that’s the best out come.

Player selection aside, the biggest issue with the attack last year was the absurd wide/wide pattern they tried to play which had little to no success. That and our poor kicking. The biggest issue with the defence was the shuffle the deck chairs approach.

Our biggest problem is not whether or not we overhaul the players but whether or not we overhaul our strategy and whether our players can adapt in time if they do.

3 selectors and a Director of Rugby - surely some things like selections and strategy will change.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Anyone catch Wayne Smith's article in the Oz today about how the Wallabies may be better off without Izzy? Made for interesting reading and a point that I've been pondering myself. Maybe a different fullback with a more typical fullback skillset might be the better option. I thin so much attack has been run through Izzy that other areas of the game plan have been neglected, mostly to the cost of the team. As good as he is, the Wallabies win percentage is considerably higher with KB (Kurtley Beale) at fullback than him.

Food for thought.

 

[formerflanker]

Anyone catch Wayne Smith's article in the Oz today about how the Wallabies may be better off without Izzy? Made for interesting reading and a point that I've been pondering myself. Maybe a different fullback with a more typical fullback skillset might be the better option. I thin so much attack has been run through Izzy that other areas of the game plan have been neglected, mostly to the cost of the team. As good as he is, the Wallabies win percentage is considerably higher with KB (Kurtley Beale) at fullback than him.

Food for thought.

An issue the selectors have been mulling over for some time I imagine.
I don't think Israel's aerial skills were utilised enough near the try line.
A gut feel and without statistics to back up this claim, I guess that league players circumvent stern defence with more kick-passes into in goal than Foley did while Israel was at the Waratahs and Wallabies.

 

[KOB1987]

Anyone catch Wayne Smith's article in the Oz today about how the Wallabies may be better off without Izzy? Made for interesting reading and a point that I've been pondering myself. Maybe a different fullback with a more typical fullback skillset might be the better option. I thin so much attack has been run through Izzy that other areas of the game plan have been neglected, mostly to the cost of the team. As good as he is, the Wallabies win percentage is considerably higher with KB (Kurtley Beale) at fullback than him.

Food for thought.

 

[Derpus]

I guess most of Beale's appearances at fullback came back when we wern't awful.

 

[Braveheart81]

I guess most of Beale's appearances at fullback came back when we wern't awful.

I think this is relevant. Two of the last three years have been diabolical and Folau has played fullback almost exclusively during that time. I don't think that is down to Folau playing fullback. He's clearly been one of our best players and has won the John Eales Medal multiple times.

The thing we are going to miss most from Folau is his try scoring ability. His record there is phenomenal and replacing that could be very difficult. It's all very well talking about other fullbacks having a more classic skillset but quantifying how much advantage that gives you is difficult.

DHP has scored 7 tries in 31 tests. All but one of those starting and mostly on the wing. You also can't argue that it's hard to score tries out on the wing.

Personally I think Beale will get the first shot in the 15 jersey.

I think DHP will be preferred on the wing ahead of Banks and Banks will be battling with Maddocks for a squad spot. Potentially neither will go to South Africa.

31 player squad for South African tour:

Props: Sio, Slipper, Ala'alatoa, Tupou, Robertson (I'm predicting Kepu will get left at home for this one to rest. He's played too many minutes this season).
Hooker: Fainga'a, Uelese, TPN
Lock: Rodda, Arnold, Simmons, Philip
Backrow: Hooper, Jones, Naisarani, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Dempsey, Valetini (Samu misses through injury)
Scrum Half: Genia, Phipps, White
Fly half: Foley, Leali'ifano
Centres: Kerevi, Kuridrani, Hodge, To'omua
Back three: Beale, Koroibete, DHP, Banks

Powell is the most controversial omission but I think Genia and Phipps will still be the preferred combination and Cheika will be keen to get a better look at White.

 

[KOB1987]

I guess most of Beale's appearances at fullback came back when we wern't awful.

I also agree that it is relevant to point that out. However you can also argue that we were less awful when Beale has been fullback. Statistics, you can easily use them to suit your argument.

I do think Beale will be given first crack at fullback v RSA, however other combinations of 14/15 will be tested off the bench, and in the Argentina match.

 

[Up the Guts]

I’m more concerned with how we’ll deal with high ball without Folau. We couldn’t deal with it pre-Folau and the ABs would regularly bomb it to great effect. DHP will likely start to deal with it in my opinion.

 

[Braveheart81]

DHP will likely start to deal with it in my opinion.

Out of Beale, Banks and DHP, I think DHP has been comfortably the worst under the high ball this season.

 

[Derpus]

DHP has been disappointing in Super Rugby this season.

I'd rather Beale or Banks first. Personally, still prefer Beale. But the defensive trade-off is big.

And yeah, the high ball is going to be fun. That was an ABs classic pre Folau. Big up and under and you could be almost assured the ball would come cannoning off Beale's chest mid-flight.

I don't think it will be as much of a weapon now though, given high balls aren't contested as fiercely.

 

[fatprop]

Out of Beale, Banks and DHP, I think DHP has been comfortably the worst under the high ball this season.

I was a little sceptic of DHP, but the quality of his work at 15 is quite impressive, very safe, gets past the first defender, makes good decisions

Beale? I wouldn't start him, he hasn't been safe enough at 15 and struggles on kick return against set defenses and ends up getting smashed or going sideways

Banks? Has real pace and a good kick, if we think we need more "magic" - he gets the nod over DHP

But I think we will go the the big power game in the centres and pace on the wings with ball players at 9 (genis & white) & 10 (Foley, Lilo or Cooper) so a calm 15 (DHP) I think will fit the role

 

[barbarian]

I've said it before, so forgive me for repeating myself. I want to see Banks given a shot at some point, but I fear he's Jesse Mogg 2.0 - good at Super level, but his physical deficiencies may prove too great to thrive at test level.

We haven't seen enough to confirm that assessment though, and I'd love him to prove me wrong.

 

[Tex]

James O'Connor signed with Queensland from 2020, he's on a plane to Australia and is immediately eligible to join the Wallabies training squad.

Big news.

Hopefully his head is properly screwed on and he fulfills the deep deep pool of talent he was blessed with.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

​

"I'm back, baby!"

 

[Derpus]

Not keen.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I've said it before, so forgive me for repeating myself. I want to see Banks given a shot at some point, but I fear he's Jesse Mogg 2.0 - good at Super level, but his physical deficiencies may prove too great to thrive at test level.

We haven't seen enough to confirm that assessment though, and I'd love him to prove me wrong.

What are his physical deficiencies that concern you Barbs, and whatever they are, do you think they leave him more deficient than KB (Kurtley Beale) is in defense?