Wallabies 2020

[Brumby Runner]

Yep, only 3 Tahs in the 23, and, as BR reliably assures us, FF (Folau Fainga'a) was the form hooker all year and should have been there, Hooper isn't a real 7 and shouldn't be there, and Beale should never be anywhere near a gold jersey, leaving you with the ideal number of Tahs

I know I come in for a whole lot of shit from certain quarters for many of my comments on Tahs players. But, I would remind the critics that not so long ago, the Tahs held a very favourable position with our so-called national coach. I think 3 Tahs in the team is probably close to the right number - I just wouldn't necessarily have the same three as finished there by the end of the RWC.

Certainly, I do argue and I believe I am right in saying that Folau Fainga'a was the form hooker in the Super season and after his off-field shenanigans Latu ought to consider himself very fortunate to even be in the squad, remembering that he mostly couldn't even swing a starting spot with the Tahs. Latu has a lot to be grateful to Cheika for his current status. He won't be there next year by his own choice.

I'll leave Hooper because that is one brick wall that has proven to be harder than my head.

Beale, on the other hand, is way past his best and has a history as long as my arm for poor behaviour. Along with many others (no Tahs supporters I'll wager) I have been opposed to his selection in our Wallabies since the Patston affair.

So, if it was to be three, I think I would have gone with Robertson as replacement for James Slipper, and maybe Curtis Rona in the outside backs. That's harsh on James but there's not much between those two Loose Heads.

The future looks a lot brighter for the Tahs with Robertson, HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Dempsey, Harris and Harrison and Nawaqanitiwase all coming through in the next year or two. It will be a whole lot easier to accept and like the Tahs selections with that failure of a coach and selector gone for good.

 

[Viking]

Yep, only 3 Tahs in the 23, and, as BR reliably assures us, FF (Folau Fainga'a) was the form hooker all year and should have been there, Hooper isn't a real 7 and shouldn't be there, and Beale should never be anywhere near a gold jersey, leaving you with the ideal number of Tahs

To be fair, he is spot on with Beale!

 

[Jets]

Yep, he was average, sometimes a unit will take those chances, make an impact and others don't. I see Jones as a solid pro clubman (in no way meant as an insult) not a test player

Dempsey does make that impact so he gets a chance

My only concern is that almost every other player had more chances than he did. I would have liked to see him start in a game and see how he goes.

 

[Derpus]

To be fair, he is spot on with Beale!

Beale was still able to offer more than Banks did, who was given first crack at fullback.

 

[RugbyReg]

Beale was still able to offer more than Banks did, who was given first crack at fullback.

agreed. I think Banks has been largely disappointing. He was fantastic a couple of years ago, but inconsistent since. Sure, definitely some touches of brilliance at Super Rugby, but not enough of it. Even NRC he's looked below par. Hope he picks up because he's a talent and he could have a Latho-like resurgence. But he needs to lift his game considerably.

He'd be below DHP, Maddocsk and Beale at 15 for mine.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Yeah Reg but how many chances have those blokes had that Banks hasn't?

It is apparent that the measuring stick is by no means "fair". There's definitely been Mitch Marsh/Stuart Law type scenarios that's for sure.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yeah Reg but how many chances have those blokes had that Banks hasn't?

It is apparent that the measuring stick is by no means "fair". There's definitely been Mitch Marsh/Stuart Law type scenarios that's for sure.

Life is rarely fair though.

Banks might find the next coach is super keen on him and wants to give him an extended run to see if he can make the position his own. Likewise they might be even less impressed and give him no opportunity whatsoever.

Maddocks has played one more test than Banks. He is seen as a better wing option though and I don't disagree with that.

Banks certainly loses out because he is seen as only being an option at fullback. That is going to push him down the pecking order for a bench spot and clearly was a big reason why he missed the RWC squad because for players outside the starting XV, versatility is very important.

 

[Derpus]

Life is rarely fair though.

Banks might find the next coach is super keen on him and wants to give him an extended run to see if he can make the position his own. Likewise they might be even less impressed and give him no opportunity whatsoever.

Maddocks has played one more test than Banks. He is seen as a better wing option though and I don't disagree with that.

Banks certainly loses out because he is seen as only being an option at fullback. That is going to push him down the pecking order for a bench spot and clearly was a big reason why he missed the RWC squad because for players outside the starting XV, versatility is very important.

It was interesting to see England carrying 5 specialist wingers, with Daly out of those just about capable of playing fullback (and still being pretty suspect in defence). Compared to our 1.

 

[RugbyReg]

Yeah Reg but how many chances have those blokes had that Banks hasn't?

It is apparent that the measuring stick is by no means "fair". There's definitely been Mitch Marsh/Stuart Law type scenarios that's for sure.

I think Banks has received opportunities he hasn't deserved based on form. So it balances out.

 

[Braveheart81]

It was interesting to see England carrying 5 specialist wingers, with Daly out of those just about capable of playing fullback (and still being pretty suspect in defence). Compared to our 1.

Sure, but that says more about the wingers they have available versus the ones we have available.

The 5 guys we started on the wing in the RWC have 116 test starts between them on the wing.

The 5 England players who started on the wing in the RWC have 119 tests starts between them on the wing. I didn't include Daly as he's become their permanent fullback (his last 20 tests have been at fullback). Anthony Watson has played a few games at fullback at test level too.

Like it or not, Hodge, DHP, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) etc. are our wingers (or at least have been through this cycle).

What will be interesting is how much that changes over the next few years. It does seem that we end up with interchangeable fullback/wing type players on the wing far more than specialist wingers who commit to that position and never really move.

 

[Derpus]

What will be interesting is how much that changes over the next few years. It does seem that we end up with interchangeable fullback/wing type players on the wing far more than specialist wingers who commit to that position and never really move.

Fuck me i hope we can find at least 1 other proper winger. DHP, Hodge and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) are not test standard wingers eh.

 

[barbarian]

We're in that golden period where people say 'well I can't wait for the next coach to finally dump [player X, who I hate] and pick the clearly superior [player Y, who I love]'.

Which is really nice until Player X gets picked in the first test and the coach then becomes rubbish.
.

 

[Slim 293]

He'd be below DHP, Maddocsk and Beale at 15 for mine.

Definitely not below Maddocks..........

 

[Viking]

Beale was still able to offer more than Banks did, who was given first crack at fullback.

Yes. Beale offers more in attack but he also offers more glaring weaknesses then Banks too. So it really depends what you value.

I much prefer to pick the player with less weaknesses then one who may have moments of 'x-factor' but comes with glaring weaknesses in defence, under the high ball, into contact etc. Especially if those weaknesses have been with the player their entire career and have shown little improvement.

Not that I'm a huge advocate for Banks these days. I'd probably have DHP as my number 1 fullback. Hodge, Banks, Maddocks can fight it out for second place.

 

[TSR]

For mine, guys like Maddocks, Banks et al have clear potential, but have failed to conclusively grab their opportunities.

That is not to say all the guys in front of them have clearly outperformed them or that a few guys weren’t given fortunate runs. But that’s sport. Cheika (IMO) proved to be a poor selector & strategist, but if it was any other coach over the last 5 years where the majority of players have been inconsistent to various degrees in their performances, then we would still have lucky/unlucky players at the selection table. The names may just have been different.

My hope is that Banks & Maddocks use it as motivation and come out and nail their spots next year as I think they both have potential to be very valuable test players, but I don’t feel either has much right really to feel aggrieved this year.

 

[Ignoto]

Before I go down and make an arse of my self, but isn't Banks a left footed kicker? If so, would have made a world of difference on restarts when they kept picking Isi out.

 

[TSR]

Before I go down and make an arse of my self, but isn't Banks a left footed kicker? If so, would have made a world of difference on restarts when they kept picking Isi out.

Based on the lack of strategic kicking we used in our attempted exits, I’m not sure it would have.

 

[cyclopath]

At a time when we have the likes of Valetini, Samu, Dempsey, Wright, Wilson and Leota all vying for the same spots, and all of whom have the necessary physique and ability to use it now, I cannot see where Ned Hanigan fits in.

Yeah, I was actually talking more about the Tahs, which is off topic. Not so much the Wallabies. Quite happy with how he fits in there (Tahs).

 

[TSR]

Ned has a big motor, is good in the lineout and doesn’t lack aggression. He just lacks the accuracy & muscle to go with it. If he works on that I reckon he’ll come right back into the mix.

Personally I hope he kicks on. He’s copped an awful lot of stick for a bloke whose biggest sin, as far as I can see, was to be rated by the coach.

 

[RebelYell]

Ned has a big motor, is good in the lineout and doesn’t lack aggression. He just lacks the accuracy & muscle to go with it. If he works on that I reckon he’ll come right back into the mix.

Personally I hope he kicks on. He’s copped an awful lot of stick for a bloke whose biggest sin, as far as I can see, was to be rated by the coach.

Well said. And is a genuinely friendly, popular bloke