Wallabies 2024

[dru]

But he’s the only guy that’s tasted success and knows how to win, he did a decent job in the chance he got and is one of the best locks in the world

Skelton is possibly one of the rugby players in the world, but his problem is the only role he can play is lock and his line-out input is limited at best. As an actual rugby lock, he is nowhere as good as Etzebeth or Retallick and the list of best locks has several others between them and Skelton.

This does not mean that he isn't great in a rugby team and all things being equal should be one of the first in the squad - even with the constraints it necessitates. The claim that Skelton is one of the world's best locks isn't a stretch, it's palpably incorrect.

 

[eastman]

Bloke can disrupt a maul but I don’t think he has a single fast twitch muscle fibre.

 

[Rebel man]

How can’t they lift him? It’s not that hard you have lifters squatting 300kg

 

[dru]

How can’t they lift him? It’s not that hard you have lifters squatting 300kg

It isn't the lack of lift, it is the lack of dynamism for Skelton to get airborne. When a large bomber aircraft takes off it needs a long runup. There is no STOL option. The jump is broadcast. So we do see it happen where there is a high likelihood of no jumping defence and when it puts him at the point of the maul - such as from a 10m lineout. And that works fine.

 

[Bullrush]

But he’s the only guy that’s tasted success, he's experienced, well respected by the playing group and coaches and knows how to win, he did a decent job in the chance he got and is one of the best locks in the world

Well….he’s not like one of the Top 5 locks at international level….

 

[Joe Blow]

But he’s the only guy that’s tasted success, he's experienced, well respected by the playing group and coaches and knows how to win, he did a decent job in the chance he got and is one of the best locks in the world

Not at test level. He is not the right guy….yet. He has been pretty good this year in a miserably failing team so likely worthy of the OS spot but nothing more. Previous to this year he was not great at test level when he agreed to play.
I don’t think you can build a team from here around a captain that plays offshore and is not always available.

 

[Joe Blow]

Another notch in the bow for disaster. Picking a captain to lead a very young group who has never captained a side in his career at any level.
EJ (Eddie Jones) special!

 

[Penriff_boy]

Has Eddie Jones been approached to join the Liberal Party yet?

 

[Members Section]

So after Monday morning we will about 9 months before our next test

assuming
July v Wales
@Suncorp
@Aami Park
@Alianz

RC
2 game tour to arg
v RSA Alianz/Suncorp
v RSA (does anyone know where this one is contacted to?)
v NZ Alianz/Suncorp & Eden Park

its going to be a long year

 

[KOB1987]

So after Monday morning we will about 9 months before our next test

assuming
July v Wales
@Suncorp
@Aami Park
@Alianz

RC
2 game tour to arg
v RSA Alianz/Suncorp
v RSA (does anyone know where this one is contacted to?)
v NZ Alianz/Suncorp & Eden Park

its going to be a long year

How is it any different to any other year except that our NH touring team is (currently) lower in the world rankings than the last few? I think at least every country will be in some degree of rebuild mode following the RWC?

 

[Members Section]

How is it any different to any other year except that our NH touring team is (currently) lower in the world rankings than the last few? I think at least everyone country will be in some degree of rebuild mode following the RWC?

Normally I go in with a lot more hope lol. We are closer to going 0 & 9 than we are 5 & 4

 

[SouthernX]

Has Eddie Jones been approached to join the Liberal Party yet?

Sorry this joke is way over my head.

Are you implying Peter Dutton is Dave Rennie?

The liberals could use a bit of youth movement and get rid of all those toxic veterans….

 

[KOB1987]

Normally I go in with a lot more hope lol. We are closer to going 0 & 9 than we are 5 & 4

Yes it certainly feels like that right now. I don’t know how many of the Welsh side are hanging up the boots but I suspect there will be a few. Barring the mass exodus that the loig media are banging on about I would expect our side to be favourites at home. The RC/Bledisloe will be business as usual. Surely a few of those Argentinians that have been around since they came into the comp will not be back on the field e.g creevy. Similar with quite a few of the Saffers. It won’t make any difference to NZ how many retire though.

 

[rugbyAU]

NZ are losing basically half of their starting team

Whitelock, Mounga’a, Fainga’anuku, Weber, Retallick, Smith, Frizzell, Barrett, Laulala, Savea & Coles

 

[SouthernX]

Do kiwis have the gitea law?

 

[rugbyAU]

Do kiwis have the gitea law?

Not yet

The'd be mad if they didn't make exceptions from next year

 

[KOB1987]

Do kiwis have the gitea law?

Looking at that list I wonder what they will call it. Surely not the Frizzell Law. The Savea Law or Ardie‘s Law probably has the best ring about it. (I realise it depends who they use it on)

 

[Doritos Day]

Savea is eligible for the All Blacks, as it is a designated Super sabbatical.

Fainga'anuku is another going overseas

 

[GPSlads]

Playing in a team full of international rock stars doesn’t necessarily make Skelton a leader.

I still think Skelton‘s impact is overrated- he’s world class but only in very limited areas (maul disruption and occasionally generating quick ball from static situations), and seems only to be effective in the NH style of stop/start rugby.

Give me one of the SA/ NZ locks in any Rugby Chanpionship game.

The fact he didn’t want to be captain was a red flag

 

[rugbyAU]

Savea is eligible for the All Blacks, as it is a designated Super sabbatical.

Fainga'anuku is another going overseas

As per my post above