Springboks v Wallabies, Loftus Versfeld, Sun 9th Jul 1.05am AEST

[Slim 293]

Around 5pm tomorrow I believe, unless you are in the camp that believes Christy Doran has already announced it. I’m not saying he’s wrong but a couple of selections seem a bit odd such as Hodge at 12 when Foketi is available and Holloway being left out when Frost is the only noted line out option in the starting side. We’ve seen these media ’announcements’ before and then found out they’ve been watching a bit of contingency planning at the training run, or someone hasn’t trained because of a niggle or a dodgy vindaloo or something. Not to mention Eddie likes to play mind games a tad. Anyways, we will know this time tomorrow.

Unlike some of the speculators, Doran’s mail has been consistently on the money in recent years…

If T Hooper is going to start I wouldn’t mind Holloway as backrow cover on the bench.

I can completely understand Hodge starting if Kerevi is being played off the bench.

He’s a reliable option that will provide plenty of cover with two specialist backs on the bench, and he possesses a big boot in a game played at altitude.

 

[qwerty51]

No Holloway with Skelton (and M Hooper, potentially Uelese and a debutant hooker!) terrifies me against one of the best lineouts in the world.

I am a big T Hooper fan and he is probably the closest replica to PSDT we have, but it's a big ask for him to come in on debut and boss the #2 lineout role here.

Vunivalu is the least surprising thing ever, Eddie has strangely loved him since day 1 for whatever reason.

 

[The Marketing Pigeon]

No Holloway with Skelton (and M Hooper, potentially Uelese and a debutant hooker!) terrifies me against one of the best lineouts in the world.

I am a big T Hooper fan and he is probably the closest replica to PSDT we have, but it's a big ask for him to come in on debut and boss the #2 lineout role here.

Vunivalu is the least surprising thing ever, Eddie has strangely loved him since day 1 for whatever reason.

Completely agree - would feel much safer with line out technicians like Holloway at 6 and Richie Arnold starting and bring on a Tom Hooper later in the game. A lot riding on a line out with scarce 3rd and 4th options

 

[Purce]

If the mail is true then it is classic Eddie challenging these blokes. Particularly Hooper, Vuni and Hodge imo.

If Hooper comes out and kills it I reckon you can pretty much guarantee he will be in Eddie's 23.

Vuni will have to show a huge amount of improvement off the ball. Would he be there if Petaia and Kellaway were available.? Let's see how he goes. Perfect opportunity to see what he has got.

Hodge I see as a bit of a challenge as well, step up and you'll firm for the 23 jersey. Wouldn't be my pick in a 23 but I can see the utility factor for a WC.

 

[Mr Pilfer]

I don’t hate the idea of Vunivalu starting. I don’t think he deserves it but there is the potential he could go well outside of quade and Ikitau and maybe having Koribete on the other wing will be a good example for him to follow.
Worst case he performs poorly as expected and then Eddie can hopefully put a line through him for good

 

[qwerty51]

I mean, the worst case scenario is we lose a Test match. I’d rather Eddie make these gambles against Argentina at home.

 

[Marce]

Hodge at 12? :shock:

 

[Doritos Day]

Agree there would be no asterisk, but unfortunately with the respect rugby has at the moment in Australia, playing this weaker team from a publicity point of view provides little benefit.

We lose - the Wallabies and Jones get hammered in the media for losing to a Boks team missing 13 key players. Net effect is we lose more credibility with the Australian public

We win - the Wallabies and Jones get pumped up by the media, but no doubt there will be plenty of jibes about “this was a Boks A team” and the public will see little value in the win. The same way when the NBL Adelaide 36ers beat the Phoenix Suns this year in preseason, no one actually cared, even though it was a huge deal for Aussie basketball.

Anyway, go Wallabies!

The Wallabies are not losing any credibility with the Australian public losing a match overseas at 1am. The only game that can move the needle in that sense - either way - is playing NZ, especially at home.

No one outside actual rugby fans would be able to name any Springboks.

 

[Doritos Day]

I mean, the worst case scenario is we lose a Test match. I’d rather Eddie make these gambles against Argentina at home.

Totally disagree, Australia needs to win its home games. Especially in Sydney, the record there is SO bad.

 

[Marce]

No one outside actual rugby fans would be able to name any Springboks.

What's the point? No one outside actual rugby fans in Australia would be able to name 3 current Wallabies. And if you don't count former NRL players is worst.

When Holloway responded to V'landys nobody knew who is him

 

[qwerty51]

I don't think that's that big of a deal. I couldn't name a single current Socceroo. I watched most of their WC games.

And you better believe if we beat the Springboks in SA - even if no one watched it - it will massively increase the next match's ratings. Eddie said it best, Australians love a winner.

 

[upthereds#!]

Around 5pm tomorrow I believe, unless you are in the camp that believes Christy Doran has already announced it. I’m not saying he’s wrong but a couple of selections seem a bit odd such as Hodge at 12 when Foketi is available and Holloway being left out when Frost is the only noted line out option in the starting side. We’ve seen these media ’announcements’ before and then found out they’ve been watching a bit of contingency planning at the training run, or someone hasn’t trained because of a niggle or a dodgy vindaloo or something. Not to mention Eddie likes to play mind games a tad. Anyways, we will know this time tomorrow.

Foketi has got nothing on a combination of Esterhuizen & Am. He would be ineffective. Hodge however, offers the biggest boot on the field, and a second voice outside Quade. I expect to see him at 1st receiver (leaving quade to roam wider) and fullback (for kicking duels with Leroux) more often then not. Those are vital roles - both spoken of by Eddie, and which Foketi can't fill.

This is even more necessary with neither Wing being a kicker.

IMO - NOT having Hodge on the field would be a blunder and 12 is the logical choice. Runner up choice would be Hodge to FB and Wright to Wing> Vunivalu. However expect to see some (attempted) Quade --> Vunivalu magic.


I like the look of Hooper - but I'm worried coming across arguably the best blindside in the world (PSDT) may be a baptism of fire that burns him.

 

[Marce]

I don't think that's that big of a deal. I couldn't name a single current Socceroo. I watched most of their WC games.

Exactly! That's the point. The Wallabies are match with the Socceroos right now. Few decades ago they were compare with Origin players, AFL superstars and cricketers

 

[Marce]

I like the look of Hooper - but I'm worried coming across arguably the best blindside in the world (PSDT) may be a baptism of fire that burns him.

There's no game time, you are ready or not. After that is a MUST win at home against Pumas, the Bledisloe, a warmp-up in France against them and the RWC

 

[Namerican]

Seems like Eddie's main goal here is to see what he has in multiple players given the short amount of time prior to the RWC. If they can't get the job done you know what Holloway, Porecki, Kellaway etc. can do. For the most part Vinivalu, Uesele, Hooper, Hodge can be swapped out for replacements without the team missing a beat.

Hodge I assume is more about achieving some kind of balance or having a #12 that can execute EJ (Eddie Jones)'s gameplan.

 

[Ignoto]

I don't think that's that big of a deal. I couldn't name a single current Socceroo. I watched most of their WC games.

And you better believe if we beat the Springboks in SA - even if no one watched it - it will massively increase the next match's ratings. Eddie said it best, Australians love a winner.

Damn Qwerty, I honestly don't know what else Sam Kerr needs to do be a name in your household.

 

[Tomikin]

sfsafsaddfa

Damn Qwerty, I honestly don't know what else Sam Kerr needs to do be a name in your household

 

[Braveheart81]

Damn Qwerty, I honestly don't know what else Sam Kerr needs to do be a name in your household.

She's not a Socceroo.

 

[eastman]

At a stretch I can see some similarities with a Quade/ Hodge and Smith/ Farrell axis that might be appealing.

Theres obviously a difference in quality though; we can expect Hodge to run hard, make his tackles and not do a whole lot more.

 

[Braveheart81]

Surprised about the lack of annoyance here for the weakened team the Boks have left us to face.

Pretty disrespectful. I understand circumstances of RWC year, wanting to test combinations etc. but if 13 front-line Boks have already travelled to NZ in prep for the next test, that's quite bad and also hurts the RC as a competition and brand.

It'll be pretty devastating to lose to these guys considering that as well.

I think you're overstating how much this actually weakens their side.

The players who have been sent to New Zealand early are Malcolm Marx (hooker), Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager (both locks), Franco Mostert and Jean-Luc du Preez (both utility forwards), Kwagga Smith (loose forward), Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi (both wings), Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel (both centres), and Kolisi.

Kitshoff was going to go too but he's now playing this game.

Marx is definitely in their best 23 but he's often used on the bench. Etzebeth and de Jager would both start in their best XV but the backrow is pretty equivalent. Kolisi is injured so he doesn't count. PSDT is playing this game and he's arguably their best backrower.

Faf du Klerk is their best halfback and Kolbe is a starting winger but I don't think Mapimpi and Kriel are currently in their best XV.

I think they've mixed and matched a bit who they sent over. You'd assume that all the players sent over early play next week against the All Blacks but I think we're a long way off it being true that their best 23 includes every player that was sent to NZ early. They have significantly better depth than we do and the side they have named is strong. They start as short priced favourites playing at home at altitude in what is a very challenging place for visiting teams to win. A win by the Wallabies would be a massive upset and pretty historic.