Tomthumb
Colin Windon (37)
He didn't exactly set the world on fire with his 2 starts this year
Bledisloe 2 2023 @ Dunedin 12:35PM Sat 5 Aug
- Thread starter rugbyAU
- Start date
LeCheese
Peter Johnson (47)
Didn't Tate used to kick, or am I going insane?
Edit: RugbyPass stats have him at 1/1 penalties for the Reds in 2021, and 1/1 conversions for the Wobs in the same year
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Wilson
David Codey (61)
Dctarget
John Eales (66)
Thanks mate, was struggling to find it.
Dctarget
John Eales (66)
I think that Chiefs v Reds game has gone a long way to influencing Eddie for this Bled team with McDermott and McReight. Shame we can't fit in McWilson too
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
We still only scored 1 try with him.
(I actually think he did quite well in attack, we had more than enough breaks for 3-4 tries but we couldn’t finish them off, compare this to NZ who always do and our maul was poor)
But the amount of times I’ve seen the Wallabies heads go down from easy early penalties missed is too many. It was the same story in Pretoria
The Ghost of Raelene
Andrew Slack (58)
We're giving teams a potential double digit point head start....
Digestif Palu
Stan Wickham (3)
Results aside, I love that a coach has finally dropped some out of form (or just not as good as the less experienced) older players. Given his hand has been forced at 7 otherwise he's made some tough calls in backing the younger halves, arguably should have done it from the get go but everything is clearer in hindsight. It certainly didn't look like he would go that way initially when he selected Hooper and Slipper as captains.
I'll shout it from the mountain tops but experienced does not mean the safer option, especially in our case where a lot of these players don't have consistent performances at this level.
In terms of specifics though, no kicker does seem like a bad call. Carter has obviously got enough on his plate without adding goal kicking to it. Arnold for Skelton looks like a bad call on paper. Backrow I'd personally have liked to see 6. Leota 7. T Hooper with Gleeson bench but nothing wrong with what he's gone with. I know Perese isn't popular here but I also would like to see him at 13 but again just wish listing.
Hopefully the boys find their mojo, have a bit more creativity in attack, grit in defense, go up the guts and rip the NZ dicks off. Go well.
I'll shout it from the mountain tops but experienced does not mean the safer option, especially in our case where a lot of these players don't have consistent performances at this level.
In terms of specifics though, no kicker does seem like a bad call. Carter has obviously got enough on his plate without adding goal kicking to it. Arnold for Skelton looks like a bad call on paper. Backrow I'd personally have liked to see 6. Leota 7. T Hooper with Gleeson bench but nothing wrong with what he's gone with. I know Perese isn't popular here but I also would like to see him at 13 but again just wish listing.
Hopefully the boys find their mojo, have a bit more creativity in attack, grit in defense, go up the guts and rip the NZ dicks off. Go well.
Mr Pilfer
Bob Loudon (25)
I agree would have liked to see that backrow, also I hope Pete Samu is still in the reckoning as I think he is the perfect bench impact.
I am also hoping that he has picked Arnold to start as last chance saloon and if he doesn't impress then he will miss the squad and bring in another lock (Phillip/Neville/Lukhan etc) and his foreign player spot can be given to Sio
Samu isn't in the squad currently so doesn't seem likely.
There are currently 37:
Props: Bell, Slipper, Tupou, Lambert, Fa'amausili, Nonggorr, Schoupp
Hooker: Porecki, Uelese, Faessler
Lock: Skelton, Arnold, Frost, Philip,
Backrow: Leota, Valetini, M Hooper, T Hooper, Holloway, Gleeson, McReight
Halfback: McDermott, White, Lonergan
Fly half: Gordon, Cooper, Donaldson
Centre: Kerevi, Petaia, Ikitau, Foketi, Perese
Back three: Koroibete, Nawaqanitawase, Kellaway, Vunivalu, Pietsch
So there's four to drop out of there for the RWC squad. I'd be surprised if anyone else comes in.
I would say one prop for certain, one back three player (Vunivalu or Pietsch as Perese also covers wing), one backrower are the most likely cuts. The last player to miss out could be both another back three or another backrower. Both Pietsch and Vunivalu could get cut if Donaldson is your backup fullback. Otherwise do you risk only two options at 10 and drop Donaldson?
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Agent
Bill Watson (15)
Derpus you forgot to mention the 8-10 f&(%ing box kicks that will yield next to nothing and invite the AB's to counterattack from inside our half!
Or they could pick Ryan Lonergan or they could pick Ian Prior or Reece Hodge or any number of players.
Fact is, they haven't. The question was around what happens if Gordon's kicking goes tits up.
RugbyPass is wrong on this occasion.
LeCheese
Peter Johnson (47)
Not the first time and won't be the last - for both my memory and RugbyPass
Viking
Mark Ella (57)
It could also just be strategic. We know what Samu brings and he isn’t exactly going to bring anything extra above his normal output if he played the last 3 tests.
Might as well see what lesser known players are like in the squad to get a good look at them.
I think Samu is a lot easier to gauge from past performances and could slot back into the squad easily too.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Do you really buy that? Players like Samu aren’t in because he’s a known entity? He’d literally be the only one if that’s the case.
Why would that not apply to someone like Porecki most of all to give Faesslar a run if that’s what Eddie is doing.
It appears guys like Samu, Gleeson, Hodge and Wright are cooked.
Why would that not apply to someone like Porecki most of all to give Faesslar a run if that’s what Eddie is doing.
It appears guys like Samu, Gleeson, Hodge and Wright are cooked.
Digestif Palu
Stan Wickham (3)
I'd tend to agree aside from Gleeson, as he hasn't played and is still in the squad. Unlike the others. Possibly in the same boat as Fez.