Bledisloe #4 New Zealand vs Australia Nov 7 2020

[dru]

Besides the fact that TK is not even in the squad,
.

You did not ask who FP would propose limited to previous selections by others.

I’m with you all the same, Petaia at 13 if fit is one of the few locks in that back line.

 

[Rob42]

You did not ask who FP would propose limited to previous selections by others.

I’m with you all the same, Petaia at 13 if fit is one of the few locks in that back line.

Yeah, I haven't rewatched the game, but what did Petaia do wrong? To me, he's a perfect 13 - a big, elusive runner who almost always seems to break the first tackle, and often the second and third ones as well. He's what Israel Folau wanted to be in the 13 channel.

 

[eastman]

TK is our most solid, effective 13, I would play Petaia on the wing for a while, he is like a lot of young extremely talented backs, passing is something he only does if he has exhausted every opportunity - he doesn't put his teammates into better positions enough

It was one of IF major weaknesses as well and is quite apparent when compared to both the AB centres - they just do the basic so well

Have you ever seen Kuridrani pass? Reverting to Kuridrani would be regressive- 13 hasn't been one of the positions where we have been noticeably struggling and Petaia is one of the few players in the back line with ability on-par with the All Blacks. His errors are coachable-- it's up to the coaches to absolutely hammer into him more respect for the pill.

 

[eastman]

Yeah, I haven't rewatched the game, but what did Petaia do wrong? To me, he's a perfect 13 - a big, elusive runner who almost always seems to break the first tackle, and often the second and third ones as well. He's what Israel Folau wanted to be in the 13 channel.

He has a tendency to overplay his hand and makes mistakes. If he can temper this- all good.

 

[eastman]

Or we could just revert to White, JOC (James O'Connor), Hodge, Kuridrani et al - combinations that have been winning us the big games consistently for years.

 

[Joe Blow]

Petaia is solid defensively. It’s a shame he doesn’t have To'omua inside him to break him in. Hopefully having JOC (James O'Connor) back will help steady the ship. Then Rennie needs to decide who will be at 12. I thought Simone did some good things

 

[Silverado]

Yeah, I haven't rewatched the game, but what did Petaia do wrong? To me, he's a perfect 13 - a big, elusive runner who almost always seems to break the first tackle, and often the second and third ones as well. He's what Israel Folau wanted to be in the 13 channel.

He had an ordinary first half, poor ball security and speculative passes that were turned over. He showed more in the 2nd half with his ability to elude tackles, but aside from the try where he took.the tackle and we retained possession, he forced his hand too much. He's only young, and once he gets that out his game he'll be world class

 

[Brumby Runner]

I agree that it’s unlikely TK will be selected, I assume he has been playing in the Cambra comp though? Rennie says JOC (James O'Connor) is fit for next week.

I get your concerns re Hooper but as you say he is a remarkable player and the back row is all about balance so it can be worked around. In an ideal world he’d be 8 inches taller and playing 6, but he ain’t and who really gives a fuck about the number on his back. He simply has to be there. That said, I don’t mind exploring alternatives for captain, but who in the current 23 is locked in, and capable?

In my ideal world, KOB, Liam Wright would not only play 7 but would be captain.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Slipper or AAA.
Personally, I like the idea of To'omua as Captain. But if we are doing the usual building to the next World Cup then it might only be temporary anyway, and I can't any of them doing that much better then Hooper. At least Hooper always leads with effort and workrate.

And I do think a Naisa, Wilson, Hooper backrow is pretty damn balanced.

No reliable lineout jumper in that lot Seb. That is the unbalance that accompanies Hooper at 7. My backrow for Bledisloe 4 would be 6 Wilson (or Valetini - we really are missing a proper hard man), 7 Wright (captain), 8 Naisarani.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'd certainly like to see a few players who haven't played a game get a crack in this one.

Harry Johnson-Holmes to replace Sio.
Trevor Hosea to replace Simmons.
JOC (James O'Connor) to start if healthy and Will Harrison to replace Lolesio.
Maddocks either at 15 or 23.
Hodge probably to 12 with Simone dropping out.
Wright to replace Daugunu.

Agree with all but Hodge to replace Simone at 12. Simone is the most creative backline player we have and will get better and better with game time.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Actually, Colby Fainga'a captained that Junior Wallabies team...

And played 6 to Hooper's 7 - same old, same old. But it was the correct selection then. Never was since.

 

[Viking]

No reliable lineout jumper in that lot Seb. That is the unbalance that accompanies Hooper at 7. My backrow for Bledisloe 4 would be 6 Wilson (or Valetini - we really are missing a proper hard man), 7 Wright (captain), 8 Naisarani.

​

ah good point. I always assume these tall backrowers can jump. Surely Wilson and Naisa can add this to their game.

I hope Wright can step it up it up. My thoughts on him throughout Super XV was he was a bit small and lacked a bit of strength for Test rugby, but then I changed my mind during the finals where he really stepped it up. Then it all came crashing down again on his last Test. He looked totally out of his depth and even got stripped by a halfback. I back him to bounce back but maybe he needs another year or two in the gym.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Or we could just revert to White, JOC (James O'Connor), Hodge, Kuridrani et al - combinations that have been winning us the big games consistently for years.

But, but... don't forwards win us the game and the backs decide by how much? Can't see much happening against the ABs while we persevere with a couple of the forwards who have been fixtures during the worst period in history for the Wallabies.

 

[Brumby Runner]

​

ah good point. I always assume these tall backrowers can jump. Surely Wilson and Naisa can add this to their game.

I hope Wright can step it up it up. My thoughts on him throughout Super XV was he was a bit small and lacked a bit of strength for Test rugby, but then I changed my mind during the finals where he really stepped it up. Then it all came crashing down again on his last Test. He looked totally out of his depth and even got stripped by a halfback. I back him to bounce back but maybe he needs another year or two in the gym.

Wright played out of position in Bledisloe 2. He is a 7, not a 6 though passable there too at Super Rugby level. I don't think there would be a player anywhere who hasn't had the ball stripped from them by one of the NZ No 9s. Doubt it will happen again any time soon.

 

[Viking]

Agree with all but Hodge to replace Simone at 12. Simone is the most creative backline player we have and will get better and better with game time.

I thought Simone was okay but after watching replay saw some pretty poor decisions. On the plus side I thought he held his own in contact. I think he can handle the physicality of Test rugby and the 12 position, and as you mentioned he is probably the most creative backline player we have. He was superb in super XV. I'd be happy to persist with him as long as Lolesio isn't at 10. With JOC (James O'Connor) at 10 will hopefully make him look a lot better.

 

[cyclopath]

​

ah good point. I always assume these tall backrowers can jump. Surely Wilson and Naisa can add this to their game.

I hope Wright can step it up it up. My thoughts on him throughout Super XV was he was a bit small and lacked a bit of strength for Test rugby, but then I changed my mind during the finals where he really stepped it up. Then it all came crashing down again on his last Test. He looked totally out of his depth and even got stripped by a halfback. I back him to bounce back but maybe he needs another year or two in the gym.

But obviously Hooper should be dropped now for him. Apparently.........

 

[Viking]

Wright played out of position in Bledisloe 2. He is a 7, not a 6 though passable there too at Super Rugby level. I don't think there would be a player anywhere who hasn't had the ball stripped from them by one of the NZ No 9s. Doubt it will happen again any time soon.

It wasn't just the strip though. Every contact he made looked passive. He looked like he was easily getting dominated in contact. I'm not buying into playing 6/7 had any effect on that. He didn't get caught out of position and I doubt he would have played any differently.

Although he did make a solid turnover. Which does give me hope.

 

[KOB1987]

No reliable lineout jumper in that lot Seb. That is the unbalance that accompanies Hooper at 7. My backrow for Bledisloe 4 would be 6 Wilson (or Valetini - we really are missing a proper hard man), 7 Wright (captain), 8 Naisarani.

The 7 is rarely a jumper. The fact that Wilson and Naisarani aren't great jumpers are their own shortcomings, not Hooper's.

 

[Viking]

Yeh and thinking about it more. Wright isn't tall enough to be a dominate jumper anyway. He may be good enough to win his own ball but he's not going to disrupt the opposition ball too often.

You really need a Hanigan or Higginbotham type backrower if you really want a solid line-out option who can compete on both attack and defence.

 

[RugbyReg]

Wright and Hanigan are both 194cm it would seem