Wallabies 2020

[barbarian]

I love Hosea, but if we're bringing him in I'm not sure it's for physicality. He's young and relatively lean, so I think if that's what you are after you would be better off with Simmons or Neville.

 

[Tex]

Hosea is very raw. There'd have to be a few injuries in camp before you'd start him in an international

 

[Dctarget]

Interesting that To'omua hasn't been released and is still training. I thought they said it was 6 months at least.

 

[Braveheart81]

Interesting that To'omua hasn't been released and is still training. I thought they said it was 6 months at least.

I think it is on the basis of still being treated/rehabbed by the medical staff whereas those other guys have basically been sent on their way for their Christmas break.

 

[Tex]

He's also single and would be coming back to Melbourne. Makes sense to hang out with your mates, get elite rehab and not be in plague-ville.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

I can't get my head around the idea that some people are suggesting making wholesale changes to the team that beat the ABs a bit over a week ago. There will be enough changes through injury/suspension. Although possibly JO'C will come back in for Hodge and maybe DHP for Banks.

 

[Tex]

yeah it's a level of cookery we should keep in reserve for when the argies beat us, not when we should reightly be proud as punch about doing the kiwis

 

[barbarian]

I can't get my head around the idea that some people are suggesting making wholesale changes to the team that beat the ABs a bit over a week ago.

Yeah but if we replicated our Brisbane performance vs the Argies, would we win? All well and good to beat up on struggling opposition with Hodge at 10, but when we face the best we've got to put our best XV on the park.

 

[Drew]

The ABs couldn’t unleash their “let them make a mistake and we score an awesome try on counterattack” tactic because Argentina made very few silly errors. We had everything stick in Wellington and came close, we had nothing work in Sydney and got belted. Brings up two things: can Argentina replicate that error free performance and to beat the ABs (this really shouldn’t have to be spelled out) don’t make silly errors and give them the ball in broken play situations. Easier said than done I guess

 

[dru]

Yeah but if we replicated our Brisbane performance vs the Argies, would we win? All well and good to beat up on struggling opposition with Hodge at 10, but when we face the best we've got to put our best XV on the park.

We are Aussies Baba, so reverse it. Ask the Argies if they replicated their performance against us would they win?

It is not time to experiment with a B team. It IS time to have every confidence in the strongest team we can put forward for this game. based on us. Not changes around Argie.

Let’s go, should be a great game.

 

[TSR]

Yeah but if we replicated our Brisbane performance vs the Argies, would we win? All well and good to beat up on struggling opposition with Hodge at 10, but when we face the best we've got to put our best XV on the park.

Haha - well played.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Hooper is the Wallaby captain. He will not be dropped.

Out of interest Wamb, will Hooper be available to captain all of the Wallabies tests next year? If not, he will only have two tests left before he has to be replaced. I'm not sure that being captain right now would be enough to secure his spot if the coaching group thought he needed a nd rest or if they wanted a different approach against the Pumas.

 

[Drew]

Interesting question (even if not directed at me). JOC (James O'Connor) or To'omua would be the elder statesmen that would be close to first choice, maybe???? AAA would be another, but props never play a full match. White? All except AAA could lose their spot not that far down the road. Does Philip have any leadership role with the rebels?

 

[Brumby Runner]

I love Hosea, but if we're bringing him in I'm not sure it's for physicality. He's young and relatively lean, so I think if that's what you are after you would be better off with Simmons or Neville.

If by physicality we mean better ability to carry the ball to and through a defense then Hosea has it over Simmons in spades. Not to forget he also hits harder and more effectively in his tackles too.

 

[Brumby Runner]

One of the hoary old chestnuts that often gets rolled out by coaches is that we don't focus on what the opposition does, we just worry about our own game. That often covers them from making changes to the team. They really should be structuring the team to beat the opposition they are facing and if that means a specific change or two to a winning team then so be it.

 

[dru]

One of the hoary old chestnuts that often gets rolled out by coaches is that we don't focus on what the opposition does, we just worry about our own game. That often covers them from making changes to the team. They really should be structuring the team to beat the opposition they are facing and if that means a specific change or two to a winning team then so be it.

First a coaching team needs a good understanding as to who the A team is. Then the coaching team needs to understand what game and strategy best suits that group. Then this must be inculcated through the wider playing group. Followed by a detailed knowledge of what the alternative players bring, how this might work with game play tweaks. And finally, if the player strengths align, and the alternative game play strategy can be harnessed by the coaching team.

Then BR. Then you would be right.

It’s not a hoary chestnut. We’re just not there.

WBs to focus back on their own systems and strengths and double down. For the next test, that’s what I want.

 

[Braveheart81]

Out of interest Wamb, will Hooper be available to captain all of the Wallabies tests next year? If not, he will only have two tests left before he has to be replaced. I'm not sure that being captain right now would be enough to secure his spot if the coaching group thought he needed a nd rest or if they wanted a different approach against the Pumas.

Yes. He is just missing Super Rugby.

 

[Derpus]

That seems like a good time for McReight to get some starts to me. After another full season of Super Rugby and with Hooper coming off a sabbatical.

 

[wamberal]

Likely won't be dropped. This is not the Chieka era anymore. I don't believe Rennie has many favourites and I doubt he would hesitate to drop even the Captain for poor form (or someone with better form).

But on form, he will not be dropped.

Sorry, but I disagree. The captaincy of a national team should not be decided on a match by match basis.

 

[wamberal]

Out of interest Wamb, will Hooper be available to captain all of the Wallabies tests next year? If not, he will only have two tests left before he has to be replaced. I'm not sure that being captain right now would be enough to secure his spot if the coaching group thought he needed a nd rest or if they wanted a different approach against the Pumas.

I was not thinking about next season, my guess is that Rennie would not want to annoint a new captain just yet, chopping and changing the most senior playing position is not something to be done lightly. That said, I have never been a great fan of Hooper as a captain. But who is next?