Wallabies 2023

[qwerty51]

Got to laugh at these comments judging Arnold and Skelton from their EOYT cameos.

Go speak to anyone up north about their performances for two of the best clubs in Toulouse and La Rochelle. They wouldn't look out of place in a Champions Cup XV of the tournament for the last two years.

There is a fair argument about how much value we get out of them when they get brought into the squad so late however which is why I don't understand why they don't get brought in ASAP even if they don't play yet.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

What baffles me about Skelton is how can dominate at club level in very good competitions in Europe and yet at test level he's nowhere near as effective. Are the clubs using him better or is the step up to test level a bridge too far?

 

[qwerty51]

We haven't seen Skelton in a Test jersey since he moved over? You're judging him on a 30-minute cameo last year?

The Leinster pack (and others, like Toulouse) are pretty much Test packs so I don't think it's a higher step up.

 

[Derpus]

We haven't seen Skelton in a Test jersey since he moved over? You're judging him on a 30-minute cameo last year?

The Leinster pack (and others, like Toulouse) are pretty much Test packs so I don't think it's a higher step up.

Yeah he basically single handedly dismantled Leinster and they themselves just dismantled the All Blacks.

But once you get painted with a particular brush in Aus it just seems to stick. Hooper shouldve been a centre and all of that.

 

[Braveheart81]

What baffles me about Skelton is how can dominate at club level in very good competitions in Europe and yet at test level he's nowhere near as effective. Are the clubs using him better or is the step up to test level a bridge too far?

Give him a solid stint in a test squad and then see how it goes.

It will be interesting to see whether Rugby Australia budges on Rennie's request for another overseas player. It is insane not to continue to modify the rule to suit the circumstances in my view.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

But once you get painted with a particular brush in Aus it just seems to stick. Hooper shouldve been a centre and all of that.

Hooper 12 Kerevi 13 your suggesting?

Watched him play at 12 at Manly Oval once. Scored a nice try right under the posts.

 

[PhilClinton]

It will be interesting to see whether Rugby Australia budges on Rennie's request for another overseas player. It is insane not to continue to modify the rule to suit the circumstances in my view.

Rennie's less than stellar record has been featured a bit too much for my liking these last few weeks. As well as that chat about Eddie Jones coming back into the fold post-RWC.

I do worry that RA will stick their heels in and tell Rennie to work with what he's got, partly because it means they can fob him off if he doesn't succeed.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Give him a solid stint in a test squad and then see how it goes.

It will be interesting to see whether Rugby Australia budges on Rennie's request for another overseas player. It is insane not to continue to modify the rule to suit the circumstances in my view.

I guess the question is if Rennie has enough credit in the bank to take a punt on him at lock for an extended period. It might be moot anyway unless he can get dispensation for more O/S players. I'm interested in how his club teams cover for the fact that he's still not a lineout jumper to any large degree (that I can see anyway). It would change the shape of the pack for the Wallabies I would imagine.

 

[wamberal]

I do worry that Rugby Australia will stick their heels in and tell Rennie to work with what he's got, partly because it means they can fob him off if he doesn't succeed.

So they would prefer to write the RWC off this time around? It seems pretty clear that there is a succession plan which revolves around Rennie moving on after the World Cup.

At the end of the day we just do not have the depth of player resources now, or ever.

 

[Drew]

To me Skelton needs to be in the squad all the time if he’s to be considered. He’s a one of a kind player that you have to build a game plan/forward pack to accommodate his strengths and weaknesses. Someone like Coleman can slot into an existing structure and fulfill a role.

 

[Tah Man]

I think it is only Arnold who's world-class, we are yet to see what/if Skelton can bring to the Wallabies. His 30 mins v Wales had me looking at the stats to ensure he got a start!

Thought that 30 mins was relatively good TBH. Won a huge pilfer

 

[Bandar]

Yeah he basically single handedly dismantled Leinster and they themselves just dismantled the All Blacks.

But once you get painted with a particular brush in Aus it just seems to stick. Hooper shouldve been a centre and all of that.

But he used to play for the Tahs

 

[Viking]

Yeah he basically single handedly dismantled Leinster and they themselves just dismantled the All Blacks.

But once you get painted with a particular brush in Aus it just seems to stick. Hooper shouldve been a centre and all of that.

Judging a player's ability at the international level by looking at there last games at international level... it doesn't sound that ridiculous to me.

I think most, like myself, haven't seen that much of the NH games. It sounds like he is doing very well up there, which is great, still doesn't have runs on the board for the wallabies.

The Tahs dismantled the Crusanders, guess we should pick all Tahs next time we play the All Blacks.

 

[dru]

I do worry that Rugby Australia will stick their heels in and tell Rennie to work with what he's got, partly because it means they can fob him off if he doesn't succeed.

Phil, I mostly like your stuff mate, but honestly, that is an assinine statement. You might argue as to whether RA are effective but there is no way that they would knowingly and actively seek failure.

 

[Bandar]

The Tahs dismantled the Crusaders, guess we should pick all Tahs next time we play the All Blacks.

The melt down here would be amazing - BR would you survive????

 

[stillmissit]

Rennie's less than stellar record has been featured a bit too much for my liking these last few weeks. As well as that chat about Eddie Jones coming back into the fold post-RWC.

I do worry that Rugby Australia will stick their heels in and tell Rennie to work with what he's got, partly because it means they can fob him off if he doesn't succeed.

Phil, no thanks to Eddie Jones. I am still in re-hab after his last stint with the Wallabies....

 

[PhilClinton]

Phil, I mostly like your stuff mate, but honestly, that is an assinine statement. You might argue as to whether Rugby Australia are effective but there is no way that they would knowingly and actively seek failure.

Okay - I retract the point about them specifically wanting him to fail.

But I find it interesting that the head coach of the national team goes to RA, with what many believe is a fairly sensible request considering the circumstances, and they knock him back.

One can only assume their stance is they've already made a change to the eligibility rules for him last year, so he should work within those parameters.

Fair enough they aren't seeking him to fail, but I don't see this move as very supportive either. Would you agree?

 

[A mutterer]

Give him a solid stint in a test squad and then see how it goes.

It will be interesting to see whether Rugby Australia budges on Rennie's request for another overseas player. It is insane not to continue to modify the rule to suit the circumstances in my view.

do you actually want us to win or something???

 

[Adam84]

Okay - I retract the point about them specifically wanting him to fail.

But I find it interesting that the head coach of the national team goes to Rugby Australia, with what many believe is a fairly sensible request considering the circumstances, and they knock him back.

One can only assume their stance is they've already made a change to the eligibility rules for him last year, so he should work within those parameters.

Fair enough they aren't seeking him to fail, but I don't see this move as very supportive either. Would you agree?

Phil, 12 months ago Dave Rennie himself made comments against opening the gates on too many foreign based players, for fears it would create an exodus.

“It’s the dangers of doing that and the effect it’ll have on our local game,” Rennie said. “I honestly believe if we open the gates … that will have an effect on our game here on Super Rugby teams.

“It’s what happened in South Africa. They had a mass exodus of their top players. If we open the gates and pick wholesale then the lure of the Yen and the Euro [is huge] and the difference in money is phenomenal.

“Players will go in their droves because they can get three times the amount of money. It’d be difficult to keep people here.”

Dave Rennie says Wallabies will leave ‘in droves’ if we pick overseas players like Springboks

amp.smh.com.au

 

[PhilClinton]

Phil, 12 months ago Dave Rennie himself made comments against opening the gates on too many foreign based players, for fears it would create an exodus.

12 months ago everyone thought they’d be getting rich off Cryptocurrency and James O’Conner wasn’t about to run out for club rugby. It was a long time ago.

Regardless, I don’t think Rennie asking for one more player to added is going against comments he made 12 months ago.

Its kind of besides the point anyway. What I’m getting at is the fact that Rennie went to RA asking for some help, and they turned him back. I don’t think it’s a good look.