Wallabies 2021

[TSR]

From what I’d seen I thought Fa’amausili’s scrummaging looked pretty good for a guy starting out. I just thought he had a whole lot of work to do on work rate and involvement. His skill base seemed pretty good.

I rate Ready in a similiar manner. Skill set he is better than any of the others IMO, but he is not nearly fit enough and he won’t get a shot unless he gets his work rate up.

BR - the Brumbies have a good couple of young guys coming through. There is a lot to like about Swain, but my first impression is Nick Frost is the one who could really kick on and be a great foil for someone like Hosea. I just suspect this year is a season too early from him. I’ll be really interested as to what they get out of Hooper as well. From the very little I’ve seen he looks a 2-3 year project, but raw materials are there.

 

[RugbyReg]

Because I’m bored and I’d like to try and start some discussion, I thought I’d put together a ‘rookie’ 15 for discussion.

I used the following rational -
1. They had to be someone who had I felt had a genuine chance of featuring in a Gold jersey this year

2. They had to either have no or limited test caps. Where possible I tried to pick someone uncapped, but there were a couple of positions where I just can’t see an uncapped player forcing their way into contention. So, in keeping with point 1, I selected someone with limited caps in those spots

1. Angus Bell Cameron Orr
2. Andrew Ready
3. Pone Fa’amausili
4. Trevor Hosea
5. Angus Blyth
6. Lachie Swinton Fergus Lee-Warner
7. Fraser McReight Carlo Tizzano
8. Rob Valetini Brynard Stander
9. Tate McDermott Ryan Lonergan
10. Will Harrison
11. Suliasi Vunivalu
12. Joey Walton
13. Len Ikatau
14. James Ramm
15. Jock Campbell

Obviously not all these guys are going to crack it, but I found it an interesting enough exercise anyway. There are also guys like Darcy Swain who I haven’t picked because I’ve ranked him behind Hosea & Blyth but who will could certainly be in the mix.

So, who did I miss & who have I picked who people disagree with. Where I have picked someone already capped, are there any uncapped players who may stake a claim?

Just to go pure uncapped. I think Orr was excellent last year (as was Matt Gibbon) but we have immense depth at LHP because I think Zander and Wagner are two to watch as well.

FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) is close already.

With Hooper gone (is he back for tests) we are likely to need two 7s anyway, so McReight and one other. I suspect Tizzano will be close to that spot come year end.

Stander was close to Wallaby contention last year aparently.

Plenty of depth at 9, but Lonergan perhaps the best of the uncapped with a goal kicking game that is very much needed.

 

[eastman]

Pone’s rugby league-style hit up off the line drop- out was quite possibly the rugby highlight of 2020.

 

[wamberal]

Pone’s rugby league-style hit up off the line drop- out was quite possibly the rugby highlight of 2020.

And a pointer to what he might be capable of after a bit more experience at the top level. I still see him as a potential #8.

 

[TSR]

When is the last time we’ve seen a super rugby level player completely change positions.

Even Nasser moving from Prop to hooker is pretty unprecedented at this level.

I think a few years ago Nigel Ah Wong played a bit of both wing & flanker.

The game keeps evolving and there will always be firsts I guess, but I think it is highly unlikely. Happy to hear other examples of people have them.

Plus, if you look at the top level THs they haven’t been just scrummagers for some time. They have to either be dynamic attackers & defenders like Tupou or tight play work horses like Ala'alatoa.

Prop is his spot - he just needs a few more years to hone his craft/get better at it.

 

[Adam84]

I’m going to throw a smoky in the mix for fly half. Jake McIntyre...
for all the potential that Harrison, Lolesio, Gordon etc possess, McIntyre has a wealth of experience and game control.
He also understands French rugby, which is something which could help come the June test matches

 

[Adam84]

Pone Fa’amausili won’t play 8 whilst in Australia, maybe in France where they have slower pitches and enjoy the bigger boys. But not in super rugby. Just look at the 8s which we have had like Naisarni, Wilson and even Pocock, they’re much leaner and more mobile. Same in kiwi land.

 

[upthereds#!]

Just to go pure uncapped. I think Orr was excellent last year (as was Matt Gibbon) but we have immense depth at LHP because I think Zander and Wagner are two to watch as well.

FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) is close already.

With Hooper gone (is he back for tests) we are likely to need two 7s anyway, so McReight and one other. I suspect Tizzano will be close to that spot come year end.

Stander was close to Wallaby contention last year aparently.

Plenty of depth at 9, but Lonergan perhaps the best of the uncapped with a goal kicking game that is very much needed.

I prefer a fully uncapped also, however atm I would have Cusack over Tizzano, Prior over Lonergan and Stewart over Walton

 

[TSR]

Cusack is an interesting one. I think he’s been superb for the Brumbies but it often seems to me he isn’t that highly rated.

When it comes to the Wallabies though do also wonder if his boat has sailed. Similar for Prior. There is a fair bit of competition in both their spots and if they haven’t got their foot in the door by now I feel they would have to really play the house down to get a crack in front of some of the younger guys.

 

[molman]

I prefer a fully uncapped also, however atm I would have Cusack over Tizzano, Prior over Lonergan and Stewart over Walton

I think it's a little early to draw conclusions on some of those players, esp. Tizzano who caught my eye in NRC but hasn't had a lot of Super Rugby time being stuck behind Hooper. The exciting thing is that we should get to see all these players have reasonable game time this season to draw some informed conclusions.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to Tizzano. I thought at U20s he was a large step down from Fraser McReight, and I've seen little or nothing from him at the Tahs to suggest he would be Wallaby potential any time soon. I would really like to see Jahrome Brown get more time at 7 for the Brumbies. The little time he's had on the field I reckon he has the typical skills of a NZ No 7. He could have a big year if he stays fit and is given opportunities. He is one of those fortunate players like CFS and Jordan Petaia to have scored a try with his first touch of the ball in Super Rugby.

 

[TSR]

I think it's a little early to draw conclusions on some of those players, esp. Tizzano who caught my eye in NRC but hasn't had a lot of Super Rugby time being stuck behind Hooper. The exciting thing is that we should get to see all these players have reasonable game time this season to draw some informed conclusions.

Are you mad????

It’s pre-season.

We should be anointing these guys the next John Eales and then crucifying them when they fall short.

In all seriousness though I don’t see the problem shining the light on a few of these young guys. If nothing else it gives us something different to talk about. It’s only when people take it too seriously it becomes a problem. Like most topics really.

 

[upthereds#!]

Cusack is an interesting one. I think he’s been superb for the Brumbies but it often seems to me he isn’t that highly rated.

When it comes to the Wallabies though do also wonder if his boat has sailed. Similar for Prior. There is a fair bit of competition in both their spots and if they haven’t got their foot in the door by now I feel they would have to really play the house down to get a crack in front of some of the younger guys.

I guess I wasn't looking at it from the uncapped who could be capped in the future - just picking a current best Uncapped.

Honestly the only guys in that list who will more likely then not get capped are Hosea and Vunivalu.

Couple like Pone, Blyth and Ikitau are coin flips

Any one else would be lucky or is still some time down the track to even guess about once some incumbents have moved on and they have become regular starters.

 

[Forcefield]

I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to Tizzano. I thought at U20s he was a large step down from Fraser McReight, and I've seen little or nothing from him at the Tahs to suggest he would be Wallaby potential any time soon. I would really like to see Jahrome Brown get more time at 7 for the Brumbies. The little time he's had on the field I reckon he has the typical skills of a NZ No 7. He could have a big year if he stays fit and is given opportunities. He is one of those fortunate players like CFS and Jordan Petaia to have scored a try with his first touch of the ball in Super Rugby.

Of couse Tizzano was a step down, McReight is freakishly good and was a year older. But if you thought the step down was large, I'd suggest you rewatch those 2019 U20 games. Tizzano was far from terrible. And he can hardly be judged for not getting much game time behind Michael Hooper.

 

[Tomikin]

Of couse Tizzano was a step down, McReight is freakishly good and was a year older. But if you thought the step down was large, I'd suggest you rewatch those 2019 U20 games. Tizzano was far from terrible. And he can hardly be judged for not getting much game time behind Michael Hooper.

It be interesting to see if he starts infront of Gamble at the tahs..

 

[dru]

I’m going to throw a smoky in the mix for fly half. Jake McIntyre.
for all the potential that Harrison, Lolesio, Gordon etc possess, McIntyre has a wealth of experience and game control.
He also understands French rugby, which is something which could help come the June test matches

Before Jake left the Reds I never considered him Super quality, though it was not the best environment for an up and coming 10. Has he improved in France? Greatly?

 

[molman]

Are you mad????

It’s pre-season.

We should be anointing these guys the next John Eales and then crucifying them when they fall short.

In all seriousness though I don’t see the problem shining the light on a few of these young guys. If nothing else it gives us something different to talk about. It’s only when people take it too seriously it becomes a problem. Like most topics really.

All it's done for me is re-enforce what a loss the NRC was in getting a better insight into where some of the next tier of players were actually at...

It be interesting to see if he starts infront of Gamble at the tahs..

If Gamble can find consistency you could be right, he's looked good for periods of games... still feel like Tizzano might have a little more runway than Gamble.. still a really young lad (not that Gamble is exactly old either...).. either way healthy competition for spots is good... been too much drop off in a lot of our teams once the starter wasn't available...

 

[Ignoto]

When is the last time we’ve seen a super rugby level player completely change positions.

I know it's not completely change positions, but Slipper and Kepu changed from the opposite sides.

Horwill moved from 5 to 6 about 10 years ago

 

[Adam84]

I know it's not completely change positions, but Slipper and Kepu changed from the opposite sides.

Horwill moved from 5 to 6 about 10 years ago

Greg Holmes swapped sides as well, was a LHP for first half of his career, but found his place as a THP and that’s where he earned the bulk of his wallaby caps.

 

[TSR]

All true. There have also been plenty of guys who have changed positions (multiple times) in the backline and moved between lock & backrow.

I guess I was more asking if there was anyone at high level which have made a position change which requires significantly different core skills as is being suggested with Fa’amausili moving from Prop to number 8.