Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[qwerty51]

Well yeah that would be ideal.. but he's not and does that mean we just discard him? We discarded Nadolo and he took 4 years to be the player he is now. Taqele is at that stage now.

 

[Chris McCracken]

We're discarding him? I think not.

If we're working on the logic of capping him because he will probably get better, then we should cap the entire U20s squad now. Because they'll be getting better over the next few years, too.

 

[qwerty51]

Are the u20s squad scoring freakish tries in Super Rugby?

It's not like he'd the worst Test player ever. Clear flaws but he has size and can score 20m out 1 on 1 80% of time I reckon. Pretty valuable trait. Our backline needs guys like him given the ball we can get to him.

 

[Chris McCracken]

Actually, worse than that, what I said is a complete logical fallacy - as are all the reasons I've heard for capping him - other than those who believe he's ready now. That's the only reason that's valid, IMO.

 

[TOCC]

Well yeah that would be ideal.. but he's not and does that mean we just discard him? We discarded Nadolo and he took 4 years to be the player he is now. Taqele is at that stage now.

A player signs overseas despite the Wallaby coach talking up his Wallaby credentials and that is considered as Australian Rugby 'discarding him'?

Scotland Rugby Union and Glasgow were willing to put more money on the table and the player took the opportunity.. If Wallaby aspirations were at the top of his priority list then he probably wouldn't be going..

 

[Tomikin]

Where do people see big T sit at the moment well who behind...
Horne
Speight
Tomane
JOC (James O'Connor)

then a pack of Cummins, Big T, and thats all I can think of, JOC (James O'Connor) could fall into this group and Cummins could go up (experience). But really his not that fair off getting a cap.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Cap players because they deserve the cap - anything else is bullshit to current and past players

 

[Tomikin]

Oppssss, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) .. would be in the first group..

 

[qwerty51]

A player signs overseas despite the Wallaby coach talking up his Wallaby credentials and that is considered as Australian Rugby 'discarding him'?

Scotland Rugby Union and Glasgow were willing to put more money on the table and the player took the opportunity.. If Wallaby aspirations were at the top of his priority list then he probably wouldn't be going..

I'm not saying we should pay him more but give him a cap, that costs nothing.

This would be my order

-Mitchell
-Speight
-AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
-JOC (James O'Connor)
-Naiyaravoro
-Horne
-Tomane
-Naivalu
-Betham
-Cummins

 

[Slim 293]

Are the u20s squad scoring freakish tries in Super Rugby?

It's not like he'd the worst Test player ever. Clear flaws but he has size and can score 20m out 1 on 1 80% of time I reckon. Pretty valuable trait. Our backline needs guys like him given the ball we can get to him.

I think you're exaggerating his abilities just a bit.........

 

[qwerty51]

I think you're exaggerating his abilities just a bit...

Not really? What other wingers would've scored the last 2 tries he did. He was marked and the defenders had plenty of time to tackle him but couldn't. Only other players who can do that atm are Savea and Nadolo.

 

[TOCC]

Players abilities in the eyes of fans seem to improve 20% as soon as they sign a contract to play overseas, conversely they also tend to decrease 20% if they sign a contract to move interstate.

 

[Gnostic]

I'm not saying we should pay him more but give him a cap, that costs nothing.

Its value is not monetary and shouldn't be considered in such a light. Anybody looking at it such a light is not fit to represent the country regardless of their skill.

One point people are overlooking is that maybe the bloke is just a man of his word, a radical concept I know, but maybe he believes in honouring a deal he made.

 

[Slim 293]

Not really? What other wingers would've scored the last 2 tries he did. He was marked and the defenders had plenty of time to tackle him but couldn't. Only other players who can do that atm are Savea and Nadolo.

The last try he scored where he got on the outside of his much smaller opponent?

 

[Gnostic]

Not really? What other wingers would've scored the last 2 tries he did. He was marked and the defenders had plenty of time to tackle him but couldn't. Only other players who can do that atm are Savea and Nadolo.

I don't agree with that at all. There are plenty around the world, just none in Australia.

Just in NZ there are probably four or five others, like Osbourne, and still others who'd do it through pace and evasive skills like Nanai-Williams.

In France there are bloke like Rene Ranger, George North the list is extensive.

As I said there are plenty, and while I do think he is a talent I like Cyclo and others have posted there remain a few glaring flaws in his game, not least of which is a lack of a turn and chase and defence.

 

[Slim 293]

He's a massive unit, and occasionally he's able to use that size to overpower his opponent......... but that's about it...........

That's a good asset, but it's not quite enough and it's not necessarily going to translate to test rugby as we saw last year with Skelton whose size was easily accounted for (excluding the French test) after making a mockery of Super Rugby defences..............

We've got plenty of wingers who have been able to get through multiple defenders and score some amazingly "freakish" tries in Super Rugby through their pace, elusiveness or strength...........

And the comparisons to Lomu, Nadolo and Savea are ridiculous.......... those guys are way way more skilful, rounded players.........

Personally, looking at big wingers, I much prefer the look of Naivalu, but unfortunately his situation is different.

At the moment Speight, Horne and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) would have to be locks for the squad, and then we need to look at the likes of JOC (James O'Connor), Cummins and Tomane............ and then there's Mitchell possibly............

I don't think we have enough tests going in to the RWC to be testing any other fringe players.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Not really? What other wingers would've scored the last 2 tries he did. He was marked and the defenders had plenty of time to tackle him but couldn't. Only other players who can do that atm are Savea and Nadolo.

Shit I've seen a great fantastic Super 15 winger last year - made the Wallabies on the back on those performances - Henry Speight

He was pretty terrible at test level.

Its a big step up. Hopefully Henry can do a lot better this year for the wallabies - if he gets chosen

 

[BDA]

TPN is out for 3 weeks with concussion. His RWC is in major doubt.

I think people are over stating the significance of TPN's recent concussion. He's been cleared to play and apparently hasn't suffered from any of the side effects that some athletes experience after sequential concussions. Berrick Barnes' situation was much worse back in 2011 when he was feeling the side effects of several concussion. Despite all the discussion of retirement at the time, the bloke is fit as a fiddle these days.

Yes TPN has a bad history of knocking himself out, but that's mostly because he's reckless on the field and often leads with his head.

Cheika has mentioned that he's keep him in cotton wool for the final series.
If he's not injured come the WC, Cheika will select him. He's one of the keys to our world cup campaign. We don't have another hooker that is as powerful in the scrums.

 

[BDA]

Re our wingers, I'd probably rate them in this order:-

-Speight
-JOC (James O'Connor)
-AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
-Mitchell
-Horne
-Tomane
-Naiyaravoro
-Cummins

Naiyaravoro could very well have more potential than a few of the above, but currently he's not as well rounded as any of the above.

A player's weaknesses are generally amplified as test level. I think the good test teams would take advantage of the weakness in his game more so than our other options. His defence and positional play in inconsistent. His kicking is weak. His handling lets him down at times. His decision making is yet to really be tested. The strong parts of his game scream test prospect, but the weaker parts of his game scream test liability.

If I've missed something and Cheika thinks he offers more than our other wing options then by all means choose him. At the end of the day Cheika's at the helm for the 3 years at least, so if he's decided that he wants Naiyaravoro to be a part of the team next year and beyond then he should choose him. However I think that's going to be difficult given the amount of talent we have in that position. I can't imagine Chieka is too worried about being short on class wingers going forward.

 

[BDA]

I presume Skelton is your bench TH? smart play sir.