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Wallabies 2020

Derpus

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
Adam84 said:
I think the improve in success will be slow.. their is too much of a gap between the stars of the team and the new talent coming through.

Lack of a first choice 5, 9, 10, 12 and 15 is the first issue. But a lack of depth in experienced players ready to step up and fill gaps during injuries is the next issue, besides THP and 7/8, there’s a real lack of depth or options in the positions.

I hate the arbitrary Giteau law, but i really think they need to bring back Skelton/Arnold and Rodda for any test series this year, and potentially next year as well. Possibly consider bringing back Kerevi as well.
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Nah.

Given Simmo's form i'd be more keen on Arnold or Skelton (but mostly Arnold).

We lost Arnold at the height of his career. It's irritating.
 
Wilson

Wilson

Michael Lynagh (62)
Dctarget said:
If we had Arnold, Kerevi, Skelton/Coleman/Rodda hanging around I'd feel a bit better. Does overseas not value our props? Why have they all stayed here? Are Aussie locks a hot commodity?
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It's taken us a long time but we have learnt to value our props, both developing and developed. Hopefully locks are next.
 
TSR

TSR

Mark Ella (57)
Adam84 said:
I think the improve in success will be slow.. their is too much of a gap between the stars of the team and the new talent coming through.

Lack of a first choice 5, 9, 10, 12 and 15 is the first issue. But a lack of depth in experienced players ready to step up and fill gaps during injuries is the next issue, besides THP and 7/8, there’s a real lack of depth or options in the positions.

I hate the arbitrary Giteau law, but i really think they need to bring back Skelton/Arnold and Rodda for any test series this year, and potentially next year as well. Possibly consider bringing back Kerevi as well.
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I agree it might take 1-2 yrs, but on a comparative basis I still expect relatively quick improvement even if it doesn’t reflect to the Win column straight away. With regards to experience I expect these guys to form the core of our side - Sio, Slipper, Fainga’a, Ala'alatoa, Tupou, Salakaia-Loto, Hooper, Nasirani, White, To’omua, O’Connor, Petaia, Kuridrani, Koroibete & DHP. Fringe players will include guys like Banks, Maddocks, Wright, Samu & possible Dempsey. With the exception of Fainga’a, Petaia, Banks & Wright all of those guys have reasonable experience and provide a very solid nucleus to introduce all the wonder kids. I’d be surprised if there were statistically a much higher rate of debutants over the next two years and yet I still see the key guys been imbedded in the set up in that time.
 
Adam84

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Derpus said:
Nah.

Given Simmo's form i'd be more keen on Arnold or Skelton (but mostly Arnold).

We lost Arnold at the height of his career. It's irritating.
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I don't think Simmons is playing that much better then he has in previous years and I question whether any of it will translate to greater impact at test level, I think we simply have a lock shortage in Australia at the moment and Simmons stands out based on the comparative weakness of his competition. I still think adding Rodda, Arnold and/or Skelton to the squad would be a massive improvement on what we have now. And if all 3 were available it would force Simmons out.
 
Derpus

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
Adam84 said:
I don't think Simmons is playing that much better then he has in previous years and I question whether any of it will translate to greater impact at test level, I think we simply have a lock shortage in Australia at the moment and Simmons stands out based on the comparative weakness of his competition. I still think adding Rodda, Arnold and/or Skelton to the squad would be a massive improvement on what we have now. And if all 3 were available it would force Simmons out.
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Rodda's form wasn't any better at the start of the year and to be honest he's never been anything more than run-of-the-mill at test level.

Rodda might be a marginal upgrade on Simmons at test level if he was playing and showing some kind of form. But he aint.

If we are going to start breaking rules it won't be for Rodda.
 
Tahtrajic

Tahtrajic

Ted Fahey (11)
Derpus said:
Rodda's form wasn't any better at the start of the year and to be honest he's never been anything more than run-of-the-mill at test level.

Rodda might be a marginal upgrade on Simmons at test level if he was playing and showing some kind of form. But he aint.

If we are going to start breaking rules it won't be for Rodda.
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Simmons is the best lineout operator of the Aus lock playing in AUs at the moment.
I can’t remember ever seeing Rodda steal a lineout. So I’ll back Simmons and hope he can teach some of the untried youngsters.
 
Adam84

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Derpus said:
Rodda's form wasn't any better at the start of the year and to be honest he's never been anything more than run-of-the-mill at test level.

Rodda might be a marginal upgrade on Simmons at test level if he was playing and showing some kind of form. But he aint.

If we are going to start breaking rules it won't be for Rodda.
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Simmons has been run of the mill for years, he hasn't improved, his competition in Australia has merely declined.

arbitrary rule... and it wouldn't be for Rodda, it would be for the whole second row including Arnold and Skelton, depending on who is available and fit. Likelihood is that between them one or two may not be available.
 
Derpus

Derpus

George Gregan (70)
Adam84 said:
Simmons has been run of the mill for years, he hasn't improved, his competition in Australia has merely declined.

arbitrary rule. and it wouldn't be for Rodda, it would be for the whole second row including Arnold and Skelton, depending on who is available and fit. Likelihood is that between them one or two may not be available.
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I agree. Just sayin - Rodda is too. I'd be surprised if we throw out the Giteau law for an average test lock clearly more worried about his bank account.
 
Adam84

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Derpus said:
I agree. Just sayin - Rodda is too. I'd be surprised if we throw out the Giteau law for an average test lock clearly more worried about his bank account.
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lets be clear, I never suggested we throw out the law just for Rodda.. I said it would be done to bring back Arnold and Skelton as well.
 
wamberal

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
Wilson said:
It's taken us a long time but we have learnt to value our props, both developing and developed. Hopefully locks are next.
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There was a post a few days ago which compared the perceived value of all the positions. Once upon a time the tight head prop was the king. Now the locks are. Nothing to do with how much we value them, it is all about how much the richer NH franchises value them, which is a lot more than we can afford. In the meantime apparently our props can earn enough here to keep them happy.
 
TSR

TSR

Mark Ella (57)
Tahtrajic said:
Simmons is the best lineout operator of the Aus lock playing in AUs at the moment.
I can’t remember ever seeing Rodda steal a lineout. So I’ll back Simmons and hope he can teach some of the untried youngsters.
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If you haven’t noticed Rodda steal a lineout I can only assume you never watched him play. He’s a very good lineout jumper. Not as good as Simmons but the rest of his game is much better. He’s been comfortably our best performed international lock the last 2 yrs (Arnold was suspended then mostly overlooked by Cheika in 2018 and then Rodda was better at the World Cup). Rodda did come back from injury at the start of this year and was patchy in the pre-COVID super games, but then Simmons was horrible pre-COVID. In Super AU he has had two excellent games and a couple of not so good games. He gets a bum wrap on here a lot of the time but he hasn’t been great this year.

I don’t expect Rodda to be called back and I do expect Simmons to be included in the squad given the dearth of locks, but Rodda has been comfortably the better lock for at least 2 yrs.
 
upthereds#!

upthereds#!

Peter Johnson (47)
There is no doubt that Simmons is one of, if not THE the best set piece forwards in Australia. Thats scrums and lineouts. This is my opinion and the opinion of a recent wallaby tight 5 forward.

Victor Matfield wasn't an enforcer or a hit merchant, Bakkies was. Matfield was the set piece wizard. Get the balance right and everyone can excel at their specialties and be praised for it. Not many whinged about Simmons when he was partnered with Horwill and supported by Higs/Elsom/Samo etc.

The more time young locks like Blyth, Hosea, Swain and Frost can spend with him in and around National training groups, absorbing knowledge until he leaves, the better.
 
Dctarget

Dctarget

John Eales (66)
Wallabies backline if Rennie goes on form would have to be:
9. McDermott
10. JOC (James O'Connor)
11. Koroibete
12. To'omua
13. Petaia
14. Koroibete Daugunu
15. Maddocks/DHP

Genuine attacking threats across the pitch but more importantly, when was the last time we didn't have to hide anyone in defence? No weak links there, quite impressive. Good field kickers between 10,12 & 15. Could a more backs orientated person tell me if it's a problem having two left wingers?
 
Adam84

Adam84

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Dctarget said:
Wallabies backline if Rennie goes on form would have to be:
9. McDermott
10. JOC (James O'Connor)
11. Koroibete
12. To'omua
13. Petaia
14. Koroibete
15. Maddocks/DHP

Genuine attacking threats across the pitch but more importantly, when was the last time we didn't have to hide anyone in defence? No weak links there, quite impressive. Good field kickers between 10,12 & 15. Could a more backs orientated person tell me if it's a problem having two left wingers?
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I like it, but Koroibete is going to have his work cut out for him
 
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